Fluttershy sighs as she wiped her brow of sweat, derived from hard work and stubborn animals. She's taken the precautions and routines she normally uses whenever there's a holiday or world-ending-event taking place which requires her to leave for however long. Angel's fed and has his storage for whenever he needs, the reptiles have their feeders and know how to share (she hopes), the birds normally feed themselves and the domesticated animals have been professionally managed by her, so they have been sent to the local adoption centre to be picked off by those who want a companion. She's done with her animals. Now, she needs to figure out how to deal with herself.

She trots along to her dining table, staring at the air-sealed bag of her issue. Meat. Fluttershy really doesn't want to hunt down wildlife.... It's not something she's entirely gotten over, much less used to right now... And there's also the fact that none of what she'd be doing would be a secret! It'd be obvious! Blood would run down her face and that usually takes a while to get off and eveypony would be hanging around to observe what she'd be eating! She's trying to keep it furtive... For everyone's sake.

Fluttershy scrunches her snout at the thought of being discovered. Not pleasant. She groans and shakes her head. 'I'll... I'll put up with it.' She sighs, resigning herself to a normal diet. The diet she should be having.

Removing those thoughts from the front of her mind, Fluttershy packs the remainders of her necessities into her saddlebags. The usual stuff, really. Toothpaste/brush, feather straightener and maintenance items, animal guidebook and her portable sleeping bag. Fluttershy quirks her lips into a satisfied smile. It was perfect! Now.... She should get going to meet the others at the train station...

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Rainbow Dash was ready. Nervous, but ready. She's been planning to confess to Fluttershy on this trip. Why? Why a trip? Why not someplace secluded and simplistic? Why not show off and be awesome, showing the pure passion and maddening love she had for Fluttershy? Why not any of those? Well, Rainbow would be the last pony to be brash about this. This kinda stuff was special, important and unique.

It could ruin a bunch or it could be literal heaven. She knows Fluttershy and she knows what she likes. She likes her for HER. Not her fame, speed, cool-as-hell mane or reputation. Just her. And really? Rainbow Dash is certain that that's why she loves Fluttershy. She's precious, perfect... Expects literally nothing from her besides her kindness and willingness to be patient with her and her anxiety. Fluttershy, to Rainbow Dash, is a perfect marefriend. And she's gonna show it to her!

Rainbow Dash uncharacteristically kicks her hind legs rapidly as she lays on her bed, giving an excited squeal. "Ooooh, this is gonna be EPIC! Just me and Fluttershy alone one night, when the other girls are asleep, get to talking and then... Then, I'll get closer.... Compliment her, get her cute little face blushin' and BAM! Romantic setting! Then I'll confess a-and... Hope for the best!" Rainbow Dash monologues to herself, blush growing as she reviews her plan for the Big Night. She's confident that it'll go well! Gotta focus on the positive!

Rainbow Dash has herself a few more minutes of Fluttershy-centric fantasies, before getting up and grabbing her saddlebags. Time for her to take her leave and meet the other girls.

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Pinkie Pie and Twilight wait for their friends at the station, excited and eager to go. They've been waiting for around 25 minutes, too excited to just sit around and think. They prepared the night prior, one over the moon with excited jitters and the other wanting to be RIGHT on time to greet her friends.
"So, Twily-Wily! Are you excited!!?? Think about it! Nature holiday! Six girls, ready to take on the myyyysteries of the forest! There's gonna be tension! Fear! Adventure! Drama! Roma-"

"Okay, Pinkie! Yes, I'm excited! But it's going to be a nice, calm holiday to unwind, not wind ourselves up! I'll be giving you lollies for whenever you BEHAVE! No scaring the other ponies visiting, either!" Twilight sternly sets the rules, bopping Pinkie on the nose. Pinkie reluctantly agrees, mainly for the offered goodies she's gonna get.

They continue to chat, occasionally playing a game of truth or dare whenever Pinkie gets fidgety.

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Applejack paces before Rarity. She's been frantic the entire morning. Rarity watches her with an exasperated expression on her face.

"I dunno, Rarity! What if she don't like me!? If-if she's into... I-I dunno, that weird Wonderbolt fella!? What's his name? Floorin'? I dunno if this is the right settin', neither! Dash likes speedy, cool places! Ain't that h-her whole gig?" Applejack's words frantically tumble out of her mouth as she tugs her stetson hat harder on her head.

Rarity sighs, waving a hoof dismissively. "Darling, please! Worry is not a good complexion! I tell Fluttershy this all the time! It will be fine! This holiday's nature resort will be perfect for her to slow down and enjoy the scenery! To relax and... See who's been waiting for her~! She'll accept you; You and Rainbow Dash are both alike in so many ways! You both love a challenge, are often filthy ruffians, love mud, play rough, and are equally as athletic--There's no reason for her not to simply ADORE you!" Rarity does her best to console her friend, lacing her words with an encouraging tone of voice.

Applejack's chest stops pounding enough for her head to clear. She sighs, releasing the tension. Rarity's words hit her deep. They really help... Maybe she'd join the spa a little more often.... Rarity really has good advice.

"Right.... You're right! I'm-a gon' git myself that featherfool!" She proudly raises her head and cracks her tail like a whip.

Rarity gives a polite squeal. "Yes, darling! Go to your love! I'm sure that, by the end of this trip, you and her will have kissed under the starry night!" Rarity fans her face as she wipes her proud tears. Applejack blushes at the thought, chuckling.

"Thanks, Sugar. Yer a real help."

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The rest of the girls meet up together, each of them talking to eachother happily as they get their private car in the train, as ordered. They set themselves up with the beds provided to them in the room; Six beds, in three groups of two. Rainbow Dash insisted on pairing with Fluttershy, explaining that she'd be her protector from the dark. Rarity had chosen to pair with Applejack and chose the furthest pair of beds from the rest, claiming that she and Applejack needed their space if the others would talk and disturb their sleep. Lastly, Twilight and Pinkie Pie paired up with the beds in the middle, yet had moved them to the top left corner of the train car.

"Now then!" Twilight began, clasping her hooves together. "We're all set up, so, what would we like to do first? We've got snacks, so grab your pillows and place them in a circle--Let's get started!" Twilight exclaims, excitedly using her magic to place the snacks in the middle.

"Alright! Hey, Flutters, wanna grab our pillows? I'll grab the snacks that I brought along!" Rainbow informs, dashing off to her bags to pull out a packet of marshmallows. Fluttershy giggles and grabs her pillow and Rainbow's in her muzzle, placing them next to eachother neatly, before resting her upper body on her fluffy pillow, relaxing her limbs. Rainbow Dash put on a funny display, sashaying comically over before plopped down next to Fluttershy. She earned a few giggles, winking to her little audience before placing the bag of marshmallows between her and Fluttershy. It seems they were exclusive to them only, expect if somepony asked.

"Twilight!! Can we pleeease play Truth or Dare?? I have sooo many good ones!!" Pinkie pleads dramatically, giving Twilight expert-tier puppy eyes. There were a short mutter of agreements from around the circle, the game has been decided. Pinkie Pie goes first, as she normally does.

"Hmmm...." She squints her sky-blue eyes, deciding who to wreak havoc on first. "Applejackie! Trrruth, or dare?" Pinkie Pie asks dramatically, waving her hooves like a stunned squid and rolling the 'R' to add flare. Applejack sighs, amused, before responding. "Dare." A common response from the Farm Mare.

Pinkie giggles. "Dare, ey? Welllll.... Welly well-well.... I dare you, to.... Bark like Winona, heeheehee!" Pinkie Pie barrels over in a fit of giggles at her non-optional dare.

Applejack sighs. This wasn't exactly a dangerous dare that was gonna impress Dash, but a dare's a dare. She cleared her throat and released a noise not unlike a yodeling behemoth. The members of the circle immediately burst into laughter, Applejack having successfully been made a fool out of. She blushed immensely covered her face with her stetson.

"Ugh... Never doin' that again..." She whispered harshly, shaking her head to possibly try and physically remove the embarrassing moment from her brain.

Twilight, getting over her snorting laughter fit, regained her complexion and looked around the ring, as it was her turn. "Hmmm... Fluttershy. Truth or Dare?" She had a mellow tone as she asked, smiling at her timid friend. She'd go easy on her.

Fluttershy perked up at the mention of her name.

"O-oh, uhm... Dare, please..." Fluttershy requested softly. She would've chosen dare, but Rainbow Dash was eyeing her, silently telling her to try a dare instantly. She knows it's only to help her, but, well, Twilight's dares are... Something.

Twilight clears her throat as she thinks of a suitable dare. "I dare you.... To... Oh! I dare you to purr! I've never heard a pegasus purr and I read that they actually have the ability, being so closely related to birds and cats like you are!" Twilight excitedly informs, eagerly leaning forward, eyes widening on anticipation. Fluttershy's feathers slightly flare in intimidation.

"O-oh, Twilight, uhm... Purring is, well, it's something we rarely can control... It usually happens when we're relaxed or content or, well..." Fluttershy discontinues that last part, blushing a slight tinge of red as she averts her eyes. Luckily, Rainbow was willing to finish it off.

"Orrr when we're gettin' real good chin rubbin'! Trust me, you've seen cats love it, but pegasi? We're all for it, too! Lemme demonstrate! You'll get your dare done this way, too!" Rainbow Dash mentions, seeming all too eager to give her friend some pega-scritches.

Rainbow Dash places her hoof underneath Fluttershy's chin and uses the tip to gently drag it back and forth, effectively giving Fluttershy some chin scritches. Fluttershy, unable to resist the pleasant feeling, closes her eyes and releases a small, yet audible purring sound, vibrating her throat and chest. This was heaven, to her.... So gentle and satisfying.... Who knew Rainbow Dash could be so good at this?

Rainbow Dash, internally, was losing it. Her heart was going at her chest, trying to break free and physically nuzzle up to Fluttershy itself. 'Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshthisistooheckinadorablewhattheactualhellohmygoshshe'sactuallyLETTINGmedothisohmygoshohmygosh-" is all you'd hear if you took a trip into Rainbow's head. Her mentality was going wild.

Meanwhile, Twilight was squealing along with Pinkie. "Oooooh!! That's so adorable! I've never heard you, or any other pegasi for that matter, ACTUALLY purr! I need to look into this more! Who knows what other stuff pegasus ponies like that cats like, too!?" Twilight exclaims excitedly, eyes latched onto the scene before her.

Rarity has a... Different take on this. She'd be squealing from the utterly adorable situation up in front too, but... That would be if her focus was entirely on the situation in the first place. She wraps a dainty hoof around Applejack's furred, burly hoof discreetly as she side-eyes her, concerned.

Applejack isn't happy. Her face shows a slight smile, but that's merely a front. A mask. Inside? She was seething with a jealous inferno of a rage. 'Fluttershy!? Seriously? Why's she doing that to her!? Why'd she even offer!? It's not like she HAD to! Fluttershy was nervous in the first place, she coulda gone without her affection! Twilight coulda studied some other pegasus or somethin'! Whew, calm down, girly... Rainbow Dash was just demonstrating... She said it herself. She's still gonna be yours...' Applejack comforted herself, releasing a large, silent breath from her nostrils.

She had to control herself from making a face as Rainbow Dash repositioned herself to lay her upper torso on Fluttershy's shoulders, resisting her head on Fluttershy's neck, cheek-to-cheek. 'Pegasi are just close-knit and affectionate to those they really like!' Rainbow Dash claimed when Pinkie teased her, which calmed Applejack down a smidgen. She still didn't exactly like it....

Rainbow Dash expertly shoves her blush right back down to her stomach when Pinkie Pie wiggles her eyebrows at her when the others weren't looking. Rainbow Dash feels really comfortable right now. She loves the feeling of Fluttershy's soft fur. She's lucky she can do this at all, really, but it's lucky that they did this all the time when they were back in Cloudsdale as teeny Fillies, so it's not as out of place. It's familiar to them both. Cuddle sessions between the two weren't rare and their friends knew that much. Luckily, they didn't make a big deal out of it, but Rainbow Dash frowned slightly as she noticed Applejack looking distant. She shrugged it off--Applejack thinks a lot. She's fine.

The game continued, dares and weird truths being delivered and undergone, making them either laugh or gasp in surprise or realisation. They kept going until they noticed eachother getting tired, Fluttershy being the first.

Rainbow Dash noticed her friend yawning a little and outstretched her wing to wrap around her friend's slim torso. "You tired?" She whispered gently, looking at Fluttershy closely with her ruby red eyes.

Fluttershy nods and leans against Rainbow Dash's side, causing Rainbow herself to burst into a dark shade of red. Thank Celestia the lights were off... Rainbow exited the circle after gulping down one more marshmallow, taking Fluttershy to her bed with their pillows. If Fluttershy was going to bed, she was, too. She was getting kinda tired anyway. Rainbow Dash heard the hushed whispers of her friends who were still chatting more so than playing games, and decided to make a move and wrap her wings around Fluttershy.

The sunshine-gold pegasus' eyes widened as the action. She looked up to face Rainbow Dash, who was looking rather sheepish. What could've been bothering her friend...? This action wasn't common, but she doubted Rainbow Dash would do this with company... Huh. It seemed she was wrong.... Not that she'd be complaining in the first place.... She nuzzles Rainbow's chest and falls asleep, the gentle vibrations of the train carrying them along was enough to knock Fluttershy out to dreamland.

Rainbow Dash was.... Finding it harder to sleep. She noticed the little nuzzle Fluttershy gave. Did this mean... She liked her? No, no... She couldn't be so arrogant. But.... It's nice to think that that was the reason... Rainbow Dash smiles contently as she hugged Fluttershy tighter and drifted off, too.

Author's Note

Another chapter done. I was bored, so why not? And yes, I added jealous applejack coz I like drama and unrequited love and I'm not really fond of appledash at all, so, yeah, I'm gonna deny aj her crushie. Have a good day/night, hope you fellas liked the chapter.