Little Filly Fluttershy looked around timidly at the excitement around her. It was flight day at the Pegasi Training School, and everypony was buzzing with energy, looping around and racing.
On flight days, the instructors would close off a large area, set up some obstacles, and let all the fillies and colts fly free and do as they please. And fly they did, all day long, screaming and yelling and have a grand time.
All except for little Fluttershy. She never was very good at flying. It wasn't that her wings were too weak or too small, or even deformed, she was simply too scared. The thought of being anywhere but down on the soft clouds frightened her and gave her the chills.
So she sat, alone, by the school wall, and watched silently as the other ponies frolicked. She would twiddle a hoof in the clouds, doodling whatever she could to eat away the time.
Today was no exception. Fluttershy found her favorite spot against the wall, gracefully sat, and began daydreaming. She pictured herself amongst the others, smiling and having a wonderful time. She could feel the air in her mane, the mist on her face, the wind whistling through her ears.
She looked down... And panicked. The clouds were so far below her, so far away. Her wings suddenly snapped shut, and she began to fall. She watched helplessly as the clouds rushed to meet her. She shut her eyes and waited for the crash.
When she opened them, instead of the approaching ground, she saw another young male Pegasus staring at her, confused. He was a dark gray color, and had a red streak through his black mane that matched his red eyes.
She gasped and fell back, smacking the cloud wall of the school with a thud.
"oh, gosh," he exclaimed, rushing up to her, "are you alright? I didn't mean to scare you."
Fluttershy rubbed the back of her head as she got back up. When she noticed the colt had gotten closer, she cringed back towards the wall, trying to make herself as small as possible.
"you're Fluttershy, right?" he had a concerned expression on his face, and he tried to reach out to her. She pushed back even further, letting out a small yelp. He pulled back, the concern now confusion. "you really are a shy little pony, aren't you?" he asked with a lopsided grin.
She avoided his grin and looked down at the ground, hiding her face in her mane. He shrugged, and sat against the wall next to her, looking up at the other pegasi flitting about.
Fluttershy chanced a look over at him, and saw his left wing was bandaged. It looked swollen and sore. He noticed her looking and turned. "this?" he gestured to the bandage, "I sprained my wing trying to do some fancy trick my friend showed me." she responded by looking away again.
The two sat in silence for a while. Gradually, and cautiously, Fluttershy sat back up and went back to doodling, always checking to see if the colt was looking at her. She was doodling a picture of a bird when a thud in front of her made her jump. She looked up and saw three big colts grinning wickedly down at her.
"look fellas," said the biggest one in the middle, "little Fluttershy still can't fly. You're so pathetic." they stepped closer to her, crowding her against the wall. From where they were, none of the supervisors could see them. "what kind of Pegasus can't fly?" they pestered, "are you some kind of freak?"
Tears began streaming down her face, and she let out a whimper. "look guys," the biggest one mocked, "she's gonna cry." they laughed together at her.
"hey," the dark colt called. The three pegasi turned to him, irritation on their faces. "you leave her alone." the three looked at one another, and laughed again.
"why should we?" the big one asked, walking up to the colt. "you got a problem with me talking to her?"
"yes," the colt replied, standing firm, determination in his eyes. He was face to face with the big pony, who stood a full head taller than him. "You have no right to talk to anyone like that."
"oh yeah, who's gonna stop me, you?" the two stood with their heads touching forehead to forehead.
"that depends, do you think you can take me?" Fluttershy gasped in shocked.
"why you little punk!" the big Pegasus jumped up on his hind legs and prepared to slam down. The colt smirked and rammed his head into his unprepared foe's chest.
The big Pegasus buckled and fell, grabbing his chest and gasping for breath. The two other ponies with him growled and moved in. The colt stood ready, and braced for the pounding. Fluttershy cringed as they pounced.
She opened her eyes again, and saw a supervisor, Soarin, hovering in front of the dark colt and glaring at the other three. "that's enough!," he ordered. The two lowered their heads and whimpered. "now, take Gale Wind to the infirmary, the principal will be there shortly to talk to you."
The two grabbed the big colt and flew off as fast as they could. Soarin turned to the dark colt and stared at him. The colt looked right back at him with the same determined face. "As for you, Redbloom," Soarin continued, "good job stickin' up for your friend."
Both of their faces lightened, and they laughed. Fluttershy sat up and looked at the two of them quietly, confused. Another Pegasus colt... no, an Alicorn colt, landed next to Redbloom and smiled.
"thank you, Namello," Soarin bowed his head, "for telling me what was happening."
"of course!" Namello practically shouted, "I've always got this colt's back."
"yes yes, now back to flying with you." with that, Soarin and Namello took off, leaving Redbloom and Fluttershy to sit.
Redbloom twitched his wing in an attempt to scratch it, and winced in pain, giving up and sighing. Fluttershy scooted slightly closer to him and hid part of her face. "thanks for sticking up for me," she whispered.
He turned to her, surprised. "what? Oh of course, nopony deserves to be bullied, ever."
"but nopony has ever stuck up for me before..."
What?!" he gasped, "why not?"
"well," she explained sadly, "nopony has ever really talked to me, unless they were a teacher. No one wants to talk to the Pegasus that can't fly."
"you can't fly?"
She hid her face even further, "no, I can't."
"well why not?"
"I'm too scared," she whispered.
Redbloom was silent for a moment, and Fluttershy thought he had walked off.
"well that's no good," he thought aloud. "No Pegasus should be scared of flying." he turned to her again, "what if I help you?" he asked.
Fluttershy uncovered her face. "What?"
Redbloom stared at her for a second, his face blushing. Fluttershy stared back, unsure of what to do. He shook his head. "I'm sorry. I could help you get over your fear of flying. That is, if you want."
Fluttershy looked at him, still confused. "why were you staring at me?" she asked.
Redbloom blushed again. "oh umm..." he stuttered, "you're just... really pretty."
Fluttershy looked at him again, her eyes filling with tears, but a smile on her face. "I would like that very much," she said in a normal voice. "do you really think I'm pretty?"
Redbloom looked away, "yes, you have really pretty eyes."
"nopony has ever said I'm pretty before," she whispered again, "thank you."
He started to turn towards her again, "well I, I mean-
Suddenly she was next to him, and she leaned against his shoulder trustingly. He stopped, stunned, and then laid his own head on hers. "Sometimes all we need, is a good friend," he whispered.
