Conflicting Love

Fear. Fear was the only thing going through Fluttershy's mind as she walked alone through the seemingly endless hallway. She jumped at every creak and even her own heavy breathing. She had been walking through this hall for quite some time but hadn't found any of her friends, a door to another room, or even a turn into a different hallway.

It's okay Fluttershy. You can be brave, be brave like Rainbow Dash. I'll find someway out eventually right? She continued to slowly walk down the corridor but began sprinting as soon as she heard something from behind her. If she had turned for just a second she would have seen a laughing draconequus. She continued to run as fast as she could even turning into a new hallway before bumping into something.

"Ow."

Fluttershy looked up from the floor to see Rainbow Dash rubbing her head in pain. "Oh I'm really sorry Rainbow. Are you okay?"

"I would be if you would just watch where you're going," She remarked.

"I... I'm sorry."

"That's what you always say Fluttershy. If you can't handle this then just leave and let the ponies who can actually do something get this done," Rainbow said glaring at Fluttershy.

"But I... I..."

Rainbow Dash turned around and began walking down the hallway while Fluttershy fearfully followed behind. "Why are you following me?"

"I... I don't want to be by myself in here."

"You're just pathetic you know that? You might be one of the Elements of Harmony but you're totally useless. You're afraid of everything, even your own shadow. You're afraid to tell ponies that you're afraid of something, if anypony even chuckles at you you start flooding your house with tears, your special talent is taking care of animals yet Angel has abused you more than anyone else has, you wouldn't even have your cutie mark if it wasn't for me, and if that's not enough you actually think that I would ever like you more than a friend. Yeah I know about your stupid little crush on me, everypony in Equestria probably knows. What makes you think that I would ever have feelings for someone who would just slow me down from becoming a Wonderbolt? In fact, the only reason that I'm even your friend is because my mom wanted me to be nice to the 'poor shy filly'. I never liked you, I don't like you, and I never will. So why don't you just do me a favor and get lost?"

Rainbow began walking faster as Fluttershy slowed down with tears pouring from her eyes from the hurtful words. Was everything that Rainbow said true? Had she never even seen Fluttershy as a friend? Why am I so useless?

Aw poor little Fluttershy.

Fluttershy immediately started to cower from the sudden voice speaking up in her head. W-what do you want?

Did those words hurt you? Don't you just want to hurt her back for it?

No, even though she hurt me doesn't mean that I should hurt her back. Especially when she's right about everything; my cutie mark, my talent, everything. I'm just the sensitive girl that no one likes or cares about.

Looks like Hurricane Fluttershy isn't so great after all.

Fluttershy sniffed at the name that Rainbow Dash and the rest of the Pegasi had given her for getting the tornado to eight hundred wing power. Rainbow was the one who was always there for me when I needed it. When I was scared of doing flight duty, she was there. But why isn't she now all of a sudden? She's the Element of Loyalty but she's abandoning me? She promised that she would never treat me like she did when we went up to get the dragon to move somewhere else for its nap.

"Y-you're wrong."

Rainbow stopped in her tracks in disbelief as she looked back at Fluttershy who had caught up. "What?"

"You heard me, you're wrong. I may be scared of a lot of things but that doesn't make me useless. Who was the one who stood up to that manticore? Me. Who was the one that convinced a dragon to leave Ponyville? Me. Who got the tornado to eight hundred wing power? Me. Who was the one you praised over yourself in front of Spitfire the captain of the Wonderbolts? Me.  Who is the one that was seen as an amazing model by a famous Canterlot celebrity? Me. Who's the one that was crashed more times than even Twilight could count? You. Who was the one that came to me to get a pet when you wanted one? You. Who was the one willing to run over a baby bunny? You. Who abandoned Rarity and Pinkie in the desert? You. You think that you're so great just because you can do a Sonic Rainboom when no one else can but do you see me bragging that only I can talk to woodland creatures? You think you're the best flier in Equestria, then why haven't the Wonderbolts accepted you yet? Because you're too cocky and headstrong to be one of them. I always had liked you ever since you stood up for me in flight camp and ever since the tornado I've been pushing myself to get faster and faster to impress you hoping that I could join the Wonderbolts with you. But I am useful even if you say I'm not. I'm going to find everyone and a way out of here, as you would say, in ten seconds flat."

Before Fluttershy had time to react, her wings and necklace appeared in their rightful places with her element glowing. She looked up just in time to see Rainbow Dash change into Discord in a flash. "Discord? But why? How?"

"Well what better way for you to express full kindness than hearing your idol berate you?"

"But I was so rude though."

"No, you were doing what you have barely ever done. You've been kind to yourself. You've always belittled yourself at every opportunity you had but this time you stuck up for yourself. By the way you might want to check on your friends. They look quite amusing," Discord said as he vanished.

Fluttershy was for a moment dumbfounded at what had happened. Had Discord been... nice, at least in his own way? But why and what did he mean by checking on her friends? She looked behind her to see Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash staring mouths gaped and eyes wide at Fluttershy's outburst. "Oh um, hi girls. Um... how much did you all here?"

"A lot," Rarity said.

Fluttershy gulped nervously as Rainbow walked towards her. "You... like me?" Rainbow asked though still a bit taken back.

Fluttershy backed away a few feet but nodded her head taking great interest in the floor. "Y-yes. But you don't need to say anything. I know that you wouldn't like me."

Rainbow fell silent which Fluttershy took for agreement until she heard her chuckle. "You're right Shy, I don't like you." In just a moment Rainbow pressed her lips on Fluttershy's causing the shy mare to be as shocked as they had been. Just as quick as it had happened, it ended. "I love you, you silly feather brain."

"You do?"

"Always have, and always will."

Applejack couldn't help but smile at the scene before her. Even though she had never really agreed with mares liking other mares but these were her friends. She found herself thinking about moments that she had shared with Applebloom; when she helped their mom raise her as an infant before she and dad had left, their bonding from the time the CMC had worked on the newspaper, celebrating after Applebloom had won the talent show for comedy, the tickle match after the cutie pox incident, comforting Applebloom after her nightmare the night before she had left, the two working together before the Sister Hooves Social. She couldn't help but smile from thinking back to everything. Two souls into one.

"What are you thinking about Applejack? Let me guess, it's about the pony you like," Rarity accused.

"Are you ever gonna stop with that?"

"Not until you admit it."

"Admit what?" Fluttershy asked walking back with Rainbow.

"That she has a crush on someone."

"Aha! I knew that something was up with her. So who is it?" Rainbow asked.

"She won't say nor will she even admit to liking them," Rarity explained.

"Because I don't have a crush on anyone."

"Okay then... do you love anyone?" Rainbow asked smirking.

Do I? She thought carefully of what to say. Rarity was 100% sure that she liked somepony but ponies are wrongs sometimes but the more she tried to say no, the more she thought of Applebloom. Her cute running, her sweet voice, the way her mane was done along with the ribbon, the adorable way she curled up, and those eyes. Those beautiful brilliant gamboge eyes that looked like a sunset. She could look into them forever if she could.

As much as it scared her, she knew she couldn't deny it any longer. She had been denying it for far too long. "... Yeah. I do."

I love her.