Where Your Heart Is

“Fluttershy? Fluttershy? Time to get up…”

Fluttershy stirred from her deep slumber, hearing a voice calling to her like an angel.

“Rainbow Dash? Are you here? Summer vacation’s started, so you couldn’t be… Could you?”

In her groggy state-of-mind, Fluttershy felt lost trying to put a finger on what she planned. She recalled something about Rainbow Dash, something involving the two of them doing something together. But it was summer, the last thing she wanted to do was get out of bed.

“Mmmph…” Fluttershy managed to say.

“C’mon, Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash sang quietly, before shaking one of her arms. “You need to get out of bed. We made plans, remember?”

Suddenly, Fluttershy’s eyes shot open and she remembered it all. Their special trip to an amusement park, just for two.

“Oh no! Today’s her special day and I slept in!” Fluttershy thought, panicking. “Darn it, Fluttershy, you ruined her morning!”

“Uh… Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash asked, awkwardly.

“R-Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy exclaimed, drowsily. “I’m so sorry! I swear I went to sleep at a decent hour!”

Rainbow Dash, however, was far from peeved. On the contrary, when she made eye contact with Fluttershy, a slight smile formed as if she discovered her cute side.

“I know,” Rainbow Dash nodded. “I figured you needed a wake-up call, just in case.”

Fluttershy turned her heard toward the clock, which read 7:05 am on display. The morning sun, still rising, gave her room a slight glow. She felt nothing but relief – having realized she did wake up at a reasonable hour.

“I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy mumbled. “You just startled me a little; you didn’t need to wake up early for me. This is your day.”

“It’s alright, I know how you are,” Rainbow nodded, her smile fading. “Honestly, I couldn’t sleep well last night, anyway.”

Fluttershy placed a hand on Dash’s shoulder, her friend turning toward her.

“Still thinking about ‘he who should not be named’?”

“Yeah, look…” Rainbow began, hesitantly. “I know you said I shouldn’t think about him, but… This is really hard for me.”

Fluttershy understood all too well, having thought about Rainbow Dash so much she barely slept. Back in middle school, they were inseparable 24/7, even when they were kids. But the last thing Fluttershy wanted to do was make Rainbow Dash feel miserable. She would blame herself if she made her best friend feel that way. A selfish ambition, this much she knew. But Fluttershy refused to let it weigh her down, for Rainbow Dash is still her best friend and her well-being means more than her own.

Feeling the past drifting her away, Fluttershy worked up a silly smile toward Rainbow Dash.

“Well, let’s not let that ruin your day,” Fluttershy commanded, playfully. “Today’s your big day and we’re going to have lots of fun, I just know it.”

Even though they are completely different, folks were right when they say Fluttershy shares a likeness to Pinkie Pie. Though she would like to think it’s because they are both determined. Even if not on a daily basis, Fluttershy’s demeanor is the first thing that would calm everyone around her. More than enough to make Rainbow Dash smile.

“Thank you, Fluttershy. That means a lot to me.”

Fluttershy hopped out of bed with newfound energy.

“Just need to take a quick shower and we’ll be on our way.”

“I doubt it,” Rainbow Dash smirked. “We both know you like long showers.”

“R-Right, of course,” Fluttershy blushed, scratching the back of her head. “Um… Could I maybe have some privacy, place?”

“Oh, uh, yeah sure. I’ll just grab a bite downstairs; take your time, the park doesn’t open for a couple hours.”

Fluttershy giggled. The more time they had to learn from one another, the more Rainbow Dash developed a way to use words purposely to comfort her friend. If Fluttershy were the Element of Kindness, Rainbow Dash, by default, was the Element of Comfort. The duo were dependable for one another, perhaps more than either realized.

As Rainbow Dash left the room, walking downstairs, Fluttershy approached the bathroom and closed the door. She turns the shower on, twisting the handle and with one hand tests the water for the right temperature. When it was just right, Fluttershy discards her evening wear to the side and cautiously steps onto the shower mat. Fluttershy felt the drowsiness leave her body once the hot water contacted her face. New energy brimmed with her, her mind running rabid of every possibility of her and her friend together. Riding roller coasters, running the obstacle course, possibly traversing the haunted house together…

On that note, Fluttershy couldn’t deny that image gave her chills. Growing up, she never loved haunted houses since she’s been a scaredy-cat since birth. But she knew she had to face her fears at some point in her life. This summer marked the conclusion to her pre-adult life. Though her feelings for Rainbow Dash remain unrequited, should she succeed at overcoming her greatest fear, maybe then it will cut one final thread to her chapter.

This summer, Fluttershy was ready and she’d face her fears for Rainbow Dash. After all, she was always there to push Fluttershy through hard times and she’s grown as not just a woman, but a person. If she didn’t own up to her fears now, she’ll never be able to face Rainbow Dash again.

And then… Her thoughts went to Soarin’, officially Rainbow Dash’s ex-boyfriend. Now to be fair, what Soarin’ did was unforgivable, not so much breaking up with her friend but the fact he couldn’t say so to her face. Yet in spite of what she thought, she knew better to get in between and cause further drama… Though her inner rage said otherwise.

“Even if he was forced to choose, why would Soarin’ ditch a perfect, loving, and sweet friend like Rainbow Dash?”

Then again, maybe this was a blessing in disguise… For her. But for Fluttershy, it had to be the ‘right time’ at the ‘right place’.

Turning the water off, Fluttershy grabbed a towel off the rack and dried all the excess water off her smooth skin. Quickly running to her room, careful not to slip, she quickly throws an outfit together: A long green dress, a pair of blue sandals, and, of course, a cloche hat she often wore on hot summer days. As she got dressed, she giggled to herself over how worked up she was. Still, when push comes to shove, there was nothing that could change her mind. Not that she ever had the mind for it, of course.

“Okay, Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy called out, dashing down the stairs. “Sorry I took so long; I just had to—”

Fluttershy skid to a halt and stared with her eyes wide. There was Rainbow Dash, in front of the stove… Cooking. She wore a cooking apron, likely brought from home, and she was cooking eggs and sausage while whistling a tune.

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy frowned, disappointingly. “What are you doing?”

“Uh… Cooking breakfast?” Rainbow Dash replied. “Kinda do that a lot.”

“No, no, no!” Fluttershy interjected, rushing to her side. “This is your special day. Why are ‘you’ cooking breakfast?”

“I dunno, just felt like making myself useful around here.”

Fluttershy couldn’t help but smile. On one hand, Rainbow Dash cooking them breakfast was very sweet of her, to the point she could be an angel. But on the other hand, it made Fluttershy feel guilty to let her friend do all the cooking.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Fluttershy asked. “You can’t be the only one doing all the work.”

“Well…” Rainbow pondered, for a moment. “These eggs could use a little salt. They’re almost ready.”

“Okay!” Fluttershy said, eagerly.

She grabs the saltshaker from the table, approaches the stove and shook the salt… A little too hard. So hard, in fact, she drowned the eggs much to Rainbow Dash’s surprise. On any other day, Rainbow Dash would chew out her friend for ruining a good meal… But after her meltdown last night, that was no way to treat a friend who’s always been loyal to her. What she did, however, was take the salt from her hand.

“I think that’s enough,” Rainbow chuckled, giving a thumbs up. “Good job!”

“Yay!” Fluttershy beamed. “Oh, Rainbow Dash?”

“Hmm?”

“I just want to thank you for your help. Not just this morning, but every time you come over my house. You do so much for me, you know?”

Fluttershy smiled toward Rainbow Dash, but in her mind she felt guilty. So guilty, her curiosity took over.

“Was Soarin’ ever jealous of me?” Fluttershy thought.

“Nonsense! It’s no trouble at all,” Rainbow Dash assured, placing the eggs on the plates. “We still got time before ‘Equestria Land’ opens, anyway. No rush.”

“What makes you think I was rushing?” Fluttershy asked, innocently.

Rainbow Dash turned to Fluttershy, an eyebrow raised.

“Well, for one, your dress is on backwards, and wrong side-out.”

“Oh!” She interjected, looking down at her dress. “I’ll fix it later. Right now, I’m kind of hungry.”

“Well then, let’s eat!” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, with dramatic fanfare.

True, the image of over-salted eggs put Rainbow Dash off, but she would do anything to please Fluttershy. At least she was nearly close to forgetting about… Soarin’. In that moment, she started to recall the agonizing, heart-wrenching details from yesterday. This didn't go unnoticed, as Fluttershy noticed her friend’s smile disappear.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Hmm? Oh, no, forget about it,” Rainbow shook her head. “Come on, let’s eat.”

“It doesn’t seem like nothing. Rainbow, you’re not thinking about ‘he who should not be named’, are you?”

Rainbow Dash kept quiet, but there was no fooling a friend who knows her so well.

“Look Fluttershy, I promise it’s not your fault. Like I said, I have a lot on my mind.”

Walking to the fridge, Fluttershy pulls out a carton of orange juice, and pours two glasses, one for Rainbow Dash and one for herself. The taste was sweet and delicious, just enough to help take Rainbow Dash’s mind off those terrible thoughts.

“I understand it’s hard, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy assured, with her most cheerful smile. “But it’s best to forget about him for the time being. This is your special day and he’s not going to ruin it for you.”

That smile… The one thing that kept Rainbow Dash in line from giving in to her negative emotions. Inhaling sharply, trying to down thoughts of Soarin’, her mind returned to the fun day they had to look forward to. Sitting at the table and grabbing her glass, Rainbow Dash turns to Fluttershy with a small, decent smile.

“Thanks, Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash thanked, taking a sip. “You do so much for me, you know?”

“Aw, d-don’t be silly,” Fluttershy blushed, turning away. “W-What are f-friends for?”

Rainbow Dash may not have noticed Fluttershy’s cheeks burning like they were on fire, but her smile grew. Even if her love for Soarin’ eventually nulls out, her friendship with Fluttershy still holds strong. She could never ask for a better friend in her life, as she ate every last egg to the yolk without an objection.