Dash's Secret Diary

Dash's Secret Diary

by Twippledash

Chapter 2: Shy Love and Special Talents

Wow, this has been quite a week.

First of all, I was totally right! It even happened faster than I thought, I would have expected it to take a few months at least.

But no. It has been just like three weeks since I first saw Fluttershy eyeing Big Macintosh, and yesterday she already asked him for a date! And he totally accepted! Seems like some of those assertiveness lessons actually stuck to her—the Fluttershy I knew from flight school would never have been able to confess her love to anypony.

So they are having their first date tonight. I'm sure they'll do well, if a little awkwardly, both being so shy and all. In fact I couldn't have found a better mate candidate for Fluttershy even if I looked for a hundred years, they just seem to be a perfect match for each other. I really got to ask Fluttershy tomorrow about how their date went. I'm not myself into all that romantic lovey-dovey stuff, but I'd still do anything to help making Fluttershy happy and to assist her in her romantic endeavors whenever she needs any help.

But now I'm getting all sappy here, bleh! So let's move on to the next thing, something that happened earlier this week, four days ago.

Ponyville elementary school was having a talent show once again, this time only for solo performances. And believe it or not, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both got their cutie marks that day! What about the third Crusader, Apple Bloom then? She got her cutie mark just a few days earlier while she was assisting in building the new outdoor performance stage for said talent show. Her cutie mark is a toolbox, indicating her talent in building and fixing things. And there is also an apple emblazoned on the side of the toolbox, as would have been expected due to her being integral part of the Apple family.

But back to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. First was Sweetie Belle who—after some coaxing to get her on the stage—sang a song to the crowd. And she sure can sing! Her singing voice was just heavenly, even I was in a trance the whole time she sang and just couldn't resist listening through the whole song! I had never heard anything like that, she was just... No words could really describe how outstanding a singer she was. And sure enough after finishing her song, a cutie mark appeared on her flank; a silver bell surrounded by two black notes.

After Sweetie there were some other performances by various fillies and colts. Most of the performances were about average, nothing special, but at least there was quite much variety: magic show, some more singing, small-scale flight show, roller skating... And then finally it was Scootaloo's turn.

As she entered the stage, somepony in the backstage turned on some music and Scootaloo started her show. Solo performance dancing. At first her moves were a bit clumsy and awkward—likely due to nervousness—but as she went on she soon really got into it. She was doing fast spins, hops, balancing on one of her forehooves, even some tight aerial loops. All of her moves synchronized perfectly with the music playing on the background. It was very captivating, almost hypnotic, to just watch her dance around. As the music neared the end she made a loop, and then slowly descended during the final long note, landing on her hooves precisely as the music ended.

Loud cheers filled the audience once again, and like with Sweetie Belle, there was a flash of white light on Scootaloo's flanks. And there it was, her cutie mark; a pair of winged ballet shoes.

There was this hint of disappointment nagging at the back of my head, seeing her special talent didn't turn out to be anything flight related. Oh well, guess I can't get everything. Her performance was amazing so I shouldn't really complain, and I am still very proud of her!

Her performance was the last one, so I went to the backstage to congratulate both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, their Cutie Mark Crusading finally reaching its conclusion (maybe Ponyville could finally be free of their mischief? I don't think so, but one could always hope). Rarity was already there hugging her little sister. I was soon followed by my other four friends and Apple Bloom, all coming to congratulate the two newly marked fillies. Pinkie somehow managed to stretch her forelegs to impossible lengths and pulled us all in one big group hug. And then she zoomed off to prepare a party, leaving a bunch of written invitations for us in her wake.

Speaking of parties, Pinkie had already held four parties this week, counting the one mentioned above: one for Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, another one for them as one party apparently wasn't enough for two fillies getting their cutie marks, one for Apple Bloom so she wouldn't feel left out, and one without any apparent reason just because Pinkie felt like partying. And tomorrow she's going to have a party celebrating Fluttershy and Big Macintosh's first date. I think I'll never understand how that pink pony always has so much energy, it seems like she's somehow managed to get herself into a permanent sugar rush or something. Which I think is totally possible explanation, seeing how much candies and confectionery she eats every day.

This has been quite a long entry already, so I think now is a good time to wrap it all up. Besides, I just came from Pinkie's last party and I am quite tired. I'll probably write next entry tomorrow after Pinkie's party for Flutters and Big Mac, regarding their first date.

—Rainbow Dash

"I remember that day as clear as if it was just yesterday," Scootaloo sighed and glanced at the photos of her and the two former Crusaders on one of the living room walls.

"Like I and my old friends all remember the day when we got our cutie marks. It is really something you never forget," Rainbow said, also looking at where the orange pegasus was looking, then drifted her gaze over to the photos of her taken on the Summer Flight Camp where she got her own cutie mark.

"Yeah. It is the turning point in your life that quite much defines the direction you will be going for the rest of your life," Scootaloo said as she looked back at the cyan pegasus still sitting next to her. "I mean, it doesn't restrict you from doing whatever you like, but quite sadly many ponies think that to be professional in something one must have an appropriate cutie mark."

"That's just stupid, anypony can do anything they want despite their special talent. Take my old fashionista friend Rarity for example." She looked at the photos of her and her five friends on one wall, seeing the alabaster unicorn among them as she continued, "Her special talent is gemology and finding gems, but she isn't a gem miner or jeweler or anything like that. No, she had decided to become a fashion designer at a young age even before getting her cutie mark. She just utilizes her special talent in improving some of her dresses."

Scootaloo nodded approvingly. "Sure there is some exceptions, but usually the cutie marks actually match with what one pony likes to do and what they are good at. Me, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom all readily embraced our special talents, and I know you and most of your old friends did too."

"That's right," Rainbow said, stopping for a moment before asking Scootaloo, "Speaking of my old friends, have you seen Applejack lately? She's still living in Sweet Apple Acres with her extended family, right? I'm not in a shape of visiting Ponyville on a regular basis anymore like a few years ago, but the village is still close to my heart. Maybe you could tell if anything noteworthy have happened there?"

"Sure I can," the orange mare replied. "Though I don't think anything worth mentioning have happened since we last met. It is still just a quiet little village after all. About Applejack, she is still bucking apple trees in Sweet Apple Acres and living with her foals and grandfoals there. At least with those who have not moved away. There isn't really any visible sign of aging showing on her yet, except for a slightly slower pace and her taking breaks a little more often that before." Rainbow just looked at her, slightly amazed by her friend's endurance and willpower. Scootaloo noticed that and said, "Her age isn't really comparable with yours though, even if she is about the same age. You remember that pegasi have about ten years shorter lifespan than earth ponies?"

Rainbow blinked her eye a few times and put a hoof on her forehead. "Oh, yeah. Forgot about that for a moment, it's about the whole faster metabolism thing and such. And unicorns live even longer than earth ponies, having a few years longer lifespan on average due to their passive ability to channel way more magic than other races. I've heard apples are also quite healthy food, which would further explain her staying young and lively for that long."

"I guess so." Scootaloo looked back at the diary still lying open on the table and said, "How did this discussion sidetrack into pony lifespans and healthiness of apples anyway?" She shrugged and continued, "Oh well, guess we could move on the next topic. If I recall correctly, Fluttershy and Big Macintosh's first date wouldn't have gone much better than it did."

"Yep. As I wrote in the end of that last entry, there is more about that coming next. I hope that will refresh your memories like it have been refreshing mine."

"I'm sure it will," Scootaloo said as she turned on the next page.

Hopefully Pinkie will not find a reason to have a party for at least a few days... I'm sure Pinkie herself enjoys each and every one of her parties, but if you ask me, five parties in a week is way too much.

Anyway, about that date of Fluttershy and Big Macintosh...

It was a success! From what I've managed to get out of Fluttershy—which isn't really much more than just a few sentences—they first went for a dinner to a little restaurant in some secluded part of Ponyville. I didn't really get the name of that restaurant as she was more like squeaking than speaking, but I guess that doesn't really matter anyway. So after their dinner they went for a walk around the lake—just like I'd imagine any sappy romance novel would go like—and once the sun had already set they finally got back to Ponyville. Big Mac even escorted Fluttershy to her cottage like any gentlecolt would do.

And then comes the best part—they totally kissed at the end of their date! I mean, Fluttershy didn't outright say that they kissed, but once I asked about it I could see the answer from her fierce blushing and sudden awkwardness. I didn't press her further, but I got all the information I was looking for. Their date went well as a whole and I'm sure that one day they'll be living happily together as a couple.

I wonder when we'll see their offspring and what will they be like? Maybe it will take even a few years before they are ready to go that far with their relationship, but I'm sure it will happen eventually.

That's all for now. For some reason Scootaloo is calling for me at my front door... Oh, right! I forgot I had promised to give her some flying lessons today. I can't disappoint my number one fan, so I guess I got to go now.

—Rainbow Dash

"How come I always pop in somewhere in every one of these entries?" Scootaloo inquired the other pegasus.

Rainbow smirked. "That's not entirely true, there are some entries ahead where I don't mention you at all... But as I've said before you have always been important to me, like a sister I never had. Even if I didn't realize it back when I was writing these, it surely has always been somewhere in my subconscious."

"Anyway, I'm glad their date went well and they could be happy together at the time." Scootaloo then looked a little downcast as she continued, "I wish I could say they were living happily ever after, but, well... You know as well as I do what happened, and I'm sure there is something about that very unfortunate incident later in this diary as well."

"Yeah, we'll get back to that later... I don't really want to think about it more than what is necessary," Rainbow replied with a sad tone. She then put her smile back on and said, "Let's just move back to some happier memories for now."

"Well, I don't think there is much more to discuss about this entry, so maybe we should just continue reading?"

Rainbow just nodded as she turned the page once again, revealing the next entry for them to read.