Fluttershy and the Janitor

The group had promptly retired to the nearest empty classroom. The reactions among the various members varied, but it was clear that Rarity was among the most offended. She was positively fuming.

“That pervert!” she cried. “That despicable loathsome lecher!” She had grown so angry that her ordinarily ghostlike complexion had actually begun to redden. “That- -that- -Die haringe kont!”

Pinkie Pie gasped so hard that she nearly inhaled a chalkboard eraser that she had been holding. “RARITY!” she cried. “You can’t use language like that!”

“It means ‘butt’,” said Twilight. “In Dutch.”

“Wait a second,” said Applejack. “Since when do you know Dutch?”

“Since second grade,” said Twilight. “Why?”

“He did that on purpose!” cried Rarity, her voice rising shrilly as she ignored those around her. She removed her own sweater and slammed it down on Fluttershy so hard that Fluttershy was forced to gasp from the force.

“Rarity,” said Fluttershy, “no he didn’t. It was an accident. I slipped.”

“Don’t tell me what I saw, Fluttershy! I saw him push you into the water, knowing that you would get wet and that you were…well…you know…”

“As braless as Rainbow Dash?” suggested Applejack.

“Hey!” cried Rainbow Dash. “I wear a bra!” Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Sometimes…” Applejack continued to stare. “Alright, so I don’t! But I would if they made any in my size!” She turned to Rarity in a huff. “But I agree with Rarity! That perv totally knew what he was doing!”

“He did not,” said Fluttershy, attempting to be as assertive as possible. “It was an accident. And he apologized. And he was even being so nice before that.”

Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash stared at Fluttershy in shock. Pinkie Pie would have as well, but she was trying to find the chalkboard eraser she had just been holding and had a distinct suspicion that she may have eaten all or part of it.

“Nice?” said Applejack. “Fluttershy, I don’t think ‘nice’ is the right word.”

“But he wanted to show me his work,” said Fluttershy. “And he seemed so very proud of it.”

“Um, that’s not what he was trying to do,” said Rainbow Dash.

“Then what was he trying to do?”

None of them answered, as none of them wanted to crush Fluttershy’s adorable naïveté.

“What I can’t figure out,” said Twilight, “is why he was sleeping in a locker. I mean, if he also has a janitor’s closet, why wasn’t he in there?”

“Really?” asked Applejack. “Everything that just happened, and THAT’S what you’re thinkin’ about?”

“I’m thinking about several things, but that’s one of them, yes. I don’t know. I wasn’t really paying much attention to the whole exchange.”

“Well I really would have liked to see the closet,” sighed Fluttershy. “He seemed so eager to show me something.”

“I know,” grumbled Rarity. “It’s just a matter of what, exactly, he wanted to show you.”

“Don’t worry about it, Fluttershy,” said Pinkie Pie. “Just ask Rainbow Dash, and she’ll show you what it’s like to be in the closet!” Rainbow Dash glared, and proceeded to chase Pinkie Pie around the room.

“Well, maybe after class I can- -”

“NO!” cried Rarity. She had called out with such vigor that Rainbow Dash stopped chasing Pinkie Pie and Pinkie Pie jumped hard enough to knock at least six chalkboard erasers out of her hair.

“Oh…that’s where it went,” she said. “I’ve never been so glad I didn’t eat something before.”

“Fluttershy!” continued Rarity, holding onto the girl’s shoulders. “You must NOT go with him, or do anything with him! You need to stay away from him no matter what!”

“But why?” Fluttershy stared up with eyes filled with girlish innocence.

“She…he…um…because he’s just a bad person!”

“I don’t know,” said Pinkie Pie, flopping over a desk. “If I was Fluttershy, I’d think about taking him up on the offer. I mean, did you see that epic beard? I bet he knows how to party hard! With the operant word being ‘HARD’!”

“Pinkie! I’m trying to prevent something terrible from befalling poor Fluttershy!”

“What sort of terrible thing? Oh my!” Fluttershy pulled her arms close to her chest. “I just hate when terrible things befall me! Or anyone for that matter!”

“It doesn’t matter,” said Rarity. “Just stay away from him, and evertything will be okay.” She reached out and straightened the white sweater that she had loaned Fluttershy. As she did, Rarity suddenly sniffed. She leaned forward and sniffed Fluttershy.

“Five bucks on vanilla,” said Pinkie Pie.

“Ten for strawberry!” retorted Rainbow Dash.

“Ugh. Darling, the first thing you need to do when you get home is to wash that horrid residue off you. You smell like a mop. But for the time being…” Rarity produced the bottle of Flemish Innocence perfume that she had gotten Fluttershy. “Take this with you, won’t you?”