I felt the sun shine over me through the window, the warm embrace of its light wrapping around me as the tweeting of the birds I’ve come to love bring me out of the dream world. I sit up and rub my eyes, a yawn and a stretch before I slide out of my bed. I look at the clock and smile. Today is the day, the day I ask her, both exciting and terrifying at the same time. I would push away the second part until later today, where I fear I might talk myself out of it. I nod to myself, tell myself that I can do it if I try, but despite my own uncertainty, I manage to believe myself, for now.
I walk down the stairs from my bedroom, and am welcomed by the din of the animals eagerly awaiting their daily attention and of course food. Breakfast was a necessity afterall, wasn’t it? Seeds for the birdies, carrots for the bunnies, and a special ingredient for the carnivores. Rest easy, it’s not real meat, we found a workaround ages ago. After they were all fed, and as happy as could be, I grabbed a pen and paper. I sat down on the couch, put the paper on the coffee table and thought to myself.
“This has to be perfect… it has to be right, it can’t have many flaws, can I do it? I’ll try.” So I wrote and I toiled, and I tried my best, but no matter how hard I worked… or how hard I tried… I just couldn’t seem to find it in me, to write something I liked. I scribbled out papers, crumpled them up, rewrote it fifty times, but to no luck. I got rather frustrated, I was about to give up, tears ran from my eyes as I feel back on the couch. “Nobody will love me, I’m not good enough… how can I find inspiration? I want to give up! But… I can’t, I can’t give up, not now, I still have hope, I just need inspiration.” I said, wiping my tears, donned a bold face and got up from the couch. “Let’s do this.” I said, and stormed out the door, papers in tow, to the town I loved.
I looked at the trees, the grass and the clouds… nothing seemed to spark my mind, I felt kind of sad, what was I to do? I hung my head, and walked through the town, fought back the tears, didn’t want to make a scene.
But, as fate would have it, when I finally raised my head, I saw her, the princess. She was talking to a group of foals, helping them solve a friendship problem. She was so confident in her approach, knew just what to say, always bringing ponies together, so strong and kind. I felt a warm feeling abrew in my heart, rising up to my mouth, forcing a smile upon my face, as my mind lit up, and I knew I had found my inspiration. I could hardly wait, I ducked behind a building and began writing.
“Dear Twilight, I have never known a better friend than you. You helped me be a better pony when the world felt like it was falling apart, or when I wasn’t thinking straight. You’re an inspiration, a role-model, and I everyday that passes, and every breath I take, I begin to feel like I want you to be more… more than a friend, or a best friend even. I love you. Do you love me?” I wrote, folded it up, and wrote “To the princess.” on top, dotting the ‘I’s, with a heart.
“T-Twilight?” I asked, walking over nervously with the letter in my possession. She turned to me and smiled, I blushed, and hid my face, I knew it might give it a way, and the warm feeling in my stomach turned to a sinking one.
“Yeah, Fluttershy?” She asked, and I couldn’t bring myself to talk. I shoved the letter to her chest as she took it with her magic. “Huh?” She asked, looking down at it, then up at me, but I was already gone, too afraid to be there when she read it.
I ran all the way back home, hoping she wouldn’t seek me out, not yet, I was still too nervous, I could barely believe what I had just done… there was no going back, she was going to reject me, I knew it, and our friendship would never be the same again. I slammed the door behind me and jumped onto the couch, hiding my face, for no reason in particular, nopony was around, but I think I was so embarrassed I wanted to hide from even myself.
I stayed there like that, for an hour or more, talking myself down over and over. “She will reject it, you’re not good enough, you’re not good enough, you’re not good enough.” Over and over in my head, stopped only by the sound of a light knock at the door. My heart sank deeper than I thought was possible. Was that her? Did I even answer? I already knew what she would say! I got up from the couch, shaking, and over to the door. I opened it just a crack, and saw that it was her, looking through the crack, too nervous to open it all the way, to face her when she rejected me.
“Fluttershy? Are you alright?” She asked with a frown, a concern I knew was genuine, she was always looking out for her friends, no matter what, the thought comforted me just a little bit, but I didn’t say anything.
I merely opened the door all the way, and stood there, head hung low, hair over my face. “I-I’m sorry… Twilight…” I muttered out, feeling bad for even asking, when I knew she would never feel the same.
“It’s alright, Fluttershy. It’s more than alright.” She said, and I could feel a weird feeling building up inside of me again. I looked up at her, slowly, not believing she really thought that.
“R-really?” I asked, and she gave me a smile, a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts, and calm the most unnerved of souls.
“Really.” She said, and then pulled me in for a hug. I was surprised at first, but feeling her arms around me, I began to believe her for real. I hugged back, and began to tear up.
“Thank you.” I said, holding her as tight as possible, I didn’t want her to stop.
I wanted this moment to last forever.
The thing about love… is that nopony can ever be fully prepared for it. Nopony knows when their true love will trot into their life, or if they’re already there, when that love will be realized. The latter was true for me. When I got that letter from Fluttershy, confessing how she felt for me, and the love she felt… I was left speechless. Me and her have been best friends for… ages it seems like, I never thought we’d ever be anything more, it had never even crossed my mind. Yet… when I got that letter, and read the words inside, I saw her in such a different light. The poor thing seemed devastated, she apologized like she had done something wrong, but all she did was open up.
It was shocking, and sad at first yes, I felt bad for her. I couldn’t help but feel bad for her, I couldn’t imagine what it was like for someone as shy as her to write something like that, let alone deliver it. She must’ve been scared. Scared that I would say no, I wouldn’t feel the same, and then things would never be the same. After that moment, she knew we’d never look at each other the same way again. Little did she know, it would change for the better. For as sad as it was, I couldn’t help but feel a different way about it aswell… deep down, I just thought it was adorable, and flattered more than anything else. She went through so much strife… all the crying, all the fear, all for me. She thought I was worth it all, otherwise she wouldn’t have tried.
What did she see in me, that made me so worth it? Well, I guess she explained it in the letter, but I never really figured myself for the attractive type. We haven’t told the others yet, I’m afraid of how they’ll react. However, after that hug I knew for certain the feelings weren’t one way. I didn’t leave her that night, I couldn’t, she was too scared, too sad, too desperate. I didn’t want to leave her alone like that, so I stayed the night.
I woke up next to her in her bed, sat up and rubbed my eyes, she was still asleep. I slipped out of bed as quietly as I could, and made my way to the window. It was already pretty late, the sun was up, it was a bright summer day in Ponyville. I didn’t want to tell everypony… not yet, I would, but not today. Today, we would do something special, make her feel comfortable. She’d be too shy to ask, so I’ll have to do it. I didn’t want to wake her though, so I went downstairs, to prepare breakfast.
Her kitchen was surprisingly kind of a mess, an animal or two might’ve rummaged through the cupboards from the looks of it. The impatient looking bunny on the counter wearing a tiny chef’s hat was confirmation. “Angel Bunny, what are you doing?” I ask, but am only met with squeaks I can’t understand. “I.. can’t understand you, do you know where she keeps her strawberries? Apples?” I asked the bunny, but again, the talk was futile, it wasn’t until Angel gave up, and pointed to a cupboard that we made any progress. “Thanks.” I told him, before gathering the necessary ingredients. I was thorough to make sure this breakfast was at least decent. I mean, I had never really figured myself a chef in the past. Thankfully though, she had plenty of ingredients when I learned to find them. Quickly, the table became decorated with some chocolate chip pancakes, banana bread, juice, and a single muffin for added flavor.
I waited at the table impatiently for Fluttershy to come down from her bed. Perhaps she was distraught at first to wake up and see I wasn’t there, or perhaps what she expected. Whatever her initial thoughts, she wasn’t expecting a homemade breakfast to be ready for her when she got downstairs, I could see it in her eyes. She smiles so brightly when it came into sight, that I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Take a seat.” I told her, pulling out a chair. The smell of the food rose up and filled the room, an aroma that not only jump started her appetite, but both of ours, I sat down hastily with her, barely containing my excitement, barely able to resist digging in right away. I did dig in pretty quickly, but not before I took a second to appreciate it all.
“Thank you.” She spoke softly, looking over at me, a shared stare, a shared smile, then we ate. Once breakfast was finally concluded, and our tummies were full of delectable goodness, I got up slowly to finally ask her.
“Fluttershy?” I asked for her attention which she gave to me without hesitation.
“Yeah?” She replied, as I cleared my throat.
“I was thinking, that since it was such a nice day, and I really don’t want to confront the others about this yet, that we could take the day off, and go relax at the pond, I’ve already packed picnic supplies… for lunch.” I said, and of course it would be typical of me to plan this far ahead, and pack her favorite sandwiches. There was something wrong. For a second after I invited her, her face sunk, and she seemed very worried, I did not know why, but I didn’t want to pressure her into telling me either. She was quick to cover it up with a smile, so whatever it was, I hoped it was temporary.
“Y-yes… That would be lovely.” She finally replied, and I felt lighter than air, lifted by pure happiness.
On the way to the pond, we were intercepted by an excited looking Rainbow Dash, who landed in front of us as we made our way with the picnic supplies.
“Hey! Twilight, where ya’ going? Don’t tell me you forgot about our race today!” She said, and I froze up. Stupid, stupid, how could I forget? I had to act quickly, evasively, but with my tendency to freak out, I don’t think it went very well.
“Oh, that I uhm… right, well you see… my… wing is broken!” I managed to stutter, curling up my wing to make it convincing. “Oof ow my wing.” I said with a nervous smile, but Fluttershy was quick to come to my defense.
“Oh yes… I was just on my way, to take her to the doctor, poor thing.” She said, leaning against me as if I needed help walking.
“Right… well, I guess I’ll ask Derpy…” Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow and not seeming very convinced as she flew off, and I let out a relieved breath.
“That was close… let’s hurry.” I whispered to Fluttershy, as she nodded and we began to run.
The sun was shining blissfully overhead as we arrived at the pond, a twinkle of light reflecting across the water, a shine in her eyes as she looked upon it. Two shades of beauty, one in the water, and another standing next to me. A clement breeze rolled across us as I set the basket down, and eyed the lounge-chair on the side of the water left by Rainbow Dash.
“It’s kind of beautiful, isn’t it?” Fluttershy asks, looking out on the water, almost entranced by its supposed beauty.
“Yeah… I guess it is.” I said standing next to her, and following her gaze out onto the water.
“A delicate ecosystem… this water, houses its own, and is a source of refreshment to another. Underneath the pretty surface, is an even more intricate beauty underneath… fish, frogs, entire families of animals all swimming together at once.” Fluttershy explained with a smile, before looking over at me.
“Yeah, that is really magnificent, isn’t it? Many layers of beauty going on here. The surface, is just the beginning.” I reply, as she nods her head and holds out her hoof. I take her hoof into mine, as we turn to face each other. “Sort of like you… Fluttershy. On the outside, you have so many great qualities… everypony can see how much you care about animals, and... “ I begin to say with a blush. “How pretty you are, but beyond that layer there is an entirely different beauty on the inside… the care, the kindness, the amazing personality that I’ve always loved about you.” I say, as Fluttershy blushes just as hard.
Between the staring, the hoof-holding, the serene whistling of the breeze, and the faint splashes of the animals in the water, something came over me, a desire I have never truly felt before. I felt myself move forward, like it was almost subconscious, and I couldn’t stop myself before suddenly our lips met, and we kissed for what seemed like an eternity. Suddenly, all of my problems seemed to slip away, and before the kiss even came to conclusion I knew. I knew that no matter what happens after this, no matter what the others think, everything will be okay. So long as we have each other, nothing else matters.
Author's Note
Didn't plan on it originally, but why not? This time, I did it from Twilight's perspective, because that's just the mood I was in.
