Blushby ThePrancingMareChaptersContactInquiryConfessionContactRarity rushed through the streets of Ponyville, the speed of her dash picking up specks of mud of the soft, freshly rained upon earth, covering her pristine white fur with the little brow droplets. Her full fledged gallop startling a pair of window shopping mares as the fashion forward unicorn sped by. Rarity was barely recognizable appearing only as a blur of purple, white and brown. “ Oh this is dreadful!” Rarity wailed as she realized her flanks were beginning to sweat, her breakneck pace now carrying her out of the main part of town in the direction of the Everfree Forest. “ Fluttershy! Fluttershy!”, Rarity cried, pounding her front, right hoof on the door of the yellow pegasus' cottage. “ If you don't open this door immediately I shall have to force it open!” the frantic mare demanded. Within the cottage, Fluttershy flinched at the harshness of her friend's call, and, peering out one of the windows, noticed her animal friends had found the yells offensive to their ears as well, since there was not a single one remaining to be seen. She let out a sigh, not exasperated, but certainly rather resigned. As she made her way down the stairs to the ground floor, she noticed that Angel was rolling around on the floor, pulling her large, rabbit ears under her chin like the strings of a bonnet. “ Sorry,” Fluttershy apologized to the bunny, despite not truly having anything to do with the ruckus outside. As she neared the door, and was about to open it, the door flew open on its own, and she noticed the distinct aura of unicorn magic around the inner knob. Fluttershy let a small shriek of surprise escape her lips at the sight before her. The voice she'd heard before was definitely Rarity's, and being a unicorn Rarity could obviously have used her innate magic on the knob, but the thing which now stood in the open portal to her home looked nothing like Rarity. The royal purple mane was disheveled and out of place, with an assortment of leaves and branches mixed into the flyaway mop. The white covering the body may once have been the correct color, but now it was caked in mud with a dotting of small pebbles and miscellaneous grit mixed in. “ Oh Fluttershy! Thank goodness I've caught you at home!” a voice gushed from the mess of a mare before her, definitely confirming it as being Rarity. “ I should dread what would have happened if you'd been out! Oh it's awful! Simply awful!”, Rarity continued, her speech becoming faster and faster as she went. “ It's Apple Bloom! Why earlier she was trying to find her 'super special talent' and she thought she'd try herbal remedies, so she went out to Zecora's and there she did something wrong and when she drank it it did something terrible to her manners and so when she came back to my boutique she made an absolute mess of things! She ruined one of the new dresses I was working on! Oh the humanity of it all! So then I found Zecora and she said she couldn't do anything about until Apple Bloom at least sat still! Oh Fluttershy you must come help me! You must!” Rarity finished her lengthy, super sonic speed explanation with a sharp intake of breath. “ Umm... How could I even help Rarity? I'm not very good at forcing people to obey me,” Fluttershy stated in her soft, timid voice. “ Well it's so simple! Just use the Stare! That should at least keep her in place long enough until Zecora can fix this mess! Oh please Fluttershy! Won't you please come try?” “ I guess I will Rarity, I might as well at least try,” Fluttershy stated. “ Oh thank you darling, thank you!” Rarity rhapsodized. “ Come now, we've not much time to waste!” the alabaster unicorn continued, grabbing Fluttershy by the hoof and whisking her out the door in the blink of an eye. Upon reaching the glamourous boutique, the docile pegasus gasped as she entered the building. The sight before her was one she never wanted to see. Apple Bloom was in frenzy, knocking over mannequins, sending racks of dresses crashing to the floor, ripping and tearing fabric, both that which was unused, and that which had already been stitched into apparel, tossing it haphazardly throughout the space. “ Aah! Oh this is dreadful! Simply dreadful!” Fluttershy heard Rarity screech. She turned about to see what had cause the other mare's outburst, expecting it to be over her relatively trashed shop, but instead found that Rarity was looking at herself in a cracked mirror which had at some point been tipped over. “ I look absolutely awful!” Rarity continued, confirming her suspicions without a doubt. “ Fluttershy! You must do something about this now!” Rarity implored, now seeming to be brought back to reality in the sense that her business was of the most immediate concern. “ Okay Rarity... I'll do my best,” Fluttershy replied. “ Umm, Apple Bloom, Apple Bloom,” the pegasus called meekly. Despite the fact that the attempt to catch the filly's attention was palfrey at best, it actually succeeded, and with a smug smirk on her lips Apple Bloom sauntered over to the pegasus. “ Oh hiii there Fluttershy, what brings ya'll over to these parts a town? I'm guessin not your wings, since everypony in town knows ya can't fly,” the yellow filly remarked, her voice dripping with uncharacteristic malice. “ I umm... I... Y... You need to-to stop ruining Rarity's shop now, please,” Fluttershy stammered. “ Oh I ain't runinin it, I'm makin it look a lot better, not that that's hard,” Apple Bloom replied. Out of the corner of her eye, Fluttershy saw Rarity steaming at the remark as she said, “ Well... Whatever is it you're doing... you... you really need to stop it, right now.” “ But ah need to get mah cutie mark, ah wonder what it'll look like if super special talent is removin eye-sores,” the young pony mused maliciously. Seething, Rarity grabbed Fluttershy and spun her around. “ I told you you need to use the Stare,” Rarity whispered, “ Just talking to her isn't going to work!” “ Okay Rarity, if you say so,” Fluttershy replied, wheeling about and locking eyes with Apple Bloom, using the powers of her stare to make the filly listen to her. The end result was Fluttershy making Apple Bloom comply to sit still while Rarity fetched Zecora. “ Ah! So this is where that troublesome little one has gotten to!” Fluttershy heard the rich, accented voice of Zecora say, making the return of the other two mares, “ I have just the thing to cure you of your terrible behavior!” Zecora added, before tossing a pinch of sparkling blue powder on the small Apple family member. As the powder hit her face, Apple Bloom let out a small, high pitched sneeze, before her eyes drooped shut she hit the floor, snoring in a content, medically induced sleep. In the time Apple Bloom slept, Rarity tracked down Rainbow Dash, who flew off towards Sweet Apple Acres to retrieve Big McIntosh so he could bring Apple Bloom home, as Applejack had gone to Canterlot for an apple convention with Granny Smith. Simultaneously, Zecora explained to Fluttershy how, in an attempt to make a relaxation draught, Apple Bloom had confused the similar extracts of Hypertoni and Hypotonus roots, which instead of lowering stress, had had the affect of raising Apple Bloom's negative mannerisms. The zebra remarked that she considered an interesting fact, as the roots, which normally caused polar opposite affects, had simply caused different ones. Shortly after explaining this, Zecora bid farewell to Rarity and Fluttershy, leaving them alone with the still sleeping Apple Bloom. “ Oh! My hair is so awful! You don't mind if we move our spa trip up to tomorrow morning do you Fluttershy?” Rarity inquired. “ No, not at all,” came the soft spoken reply as the pegasus shook her head lightly to accompany her words. “ Well, I'll be upstairs for a minute to see what I can do about it in the meantime,” Rarity said as she started up the stairs. “ Oh Fluttershy, be a dear and if Big McIntosh comes explain what happened. Oh, and do say 'hello' on my behalf as well,” Rarity added, pausing as she said before continuing up to her room above. Within five minutes of the unicorn's departing, Fluttershy saw the usually steady paced red stallion gallop down the block, much the same as Rarity had earlier. The only difference being he was racing towards the boutique, instead of away from it. His blonde mane glinted in the now noon-time sun, his charging heightening the appearance the his hair was made of liquid gold. Fluttershy couldn't help but notice as the powerfully built earth pony racing along, oblivious to the many mare's heads which turned to face him as he dashed by. As he came to the door, Big McIntosh pulled it open with great and easily mustered force, and walked into the effectively desecrated shop. Fluttershy watched as his normally half lidded eyes opened fully, revealing those beautiful green irises, his sweeping around the space to take in a panoramic view of the carnage. She couldn't help but notice the splendor of those emerald orbs, as gentle and caring as his disposition. Goddesses was he perfect! Stop! Why was she thinking like this? Big McIntosh was her friend, just a friend! Why was she having these thoughts about him!? Unknown to Fluttershy, the concern she saw in his eyes had nothing to do with worry for Rarity's shop, at the moment, the well being of Apple Bloom was of the utmost importance to him. “ H-Hi Big Mac,” Fluttershy faltered, snapping the crimson colored stallion out of his nervous stupor. “ So I guess Rainbow Dash told you what happened?” she continued. “ E-Eeyup,” came the trademark response from the mild-mannered male of the Apple family. Aww, it's so cute when he says that. Wait... What! Cute?! Did she really just think it was cute?! Celestia what was happening to her?! Why was it so warm all of a sudden? “ So I guess you came to take Apple Bloom home then?” Fluttershy asked redundantly. “ Eeyup,” Big McIntosh said again. There it went again! That feeling in side her when he talked! Oh no! Maybe she was sick! She should probably go see Twilight about it, she'd know if there was something wrong with her. “ I'll umm... I'll go get her for you,” Fluttershy said sheepishly, turning around and walking only a distance of about five feet, where she got behind the sleeping filly and pushed her over towards Big McIntosh. As Big Mac bent down to grasp Apple Bloom's tail in his teeth, his red furred nose came into gentle contact with Fluttershy's. Surprised at the touch, the two share an awkward stare for a moment where neither one breathes. Fluttershy broke the fleeting second of togetherness they shared, closing her eyes and turning her head to the left as a pink blush rises in her cheeks. Unbeknownst to her, Big Mac blushed, uncharacteristically, as well, and if his coat didn't match the color of his heated cheeks so well, it would have been extremely obvious. As they drew apart, their heads resuming a normal height and distance from each other, Fluttershy managed to get out, “ I-I don't think she's hurt at all, at least not from what I could tell when I looked her over, but if she is, well... You know where to find me," breaking the thin layer of awkwardness which hung in the air. Continuing slightly shyly and awkwardly to say, "Well I guess I'll umm... see you later then, Big Mac.” In reply, Big McIntosh let out a , “ Eeyup,” the sound now muffled due to the fact his mouth was full of his sister's tail fur. As he was about to leave, Big McIntosh turned his head and fixed the butter colored pegasus with his gentle stare, " Thanks for this, Fluttershy... Ah'm not sure what Ah'd do if she got herself hurt," he said in his pleasant, deep voice, still muffled by the clump of magenta fur in his mouth. " N-No problem," Fluttershy said with timid smile, retreating into her mind as she thought about how Big Mac so perfect in every way she could imagine. He's just so handsome, his coat and his mane and his eyes, just so generically gorgeous! And then there's his kindness too, I don't think I've ever seen him be mean to anypony, and then he was so worried about Apple Bloom, Fluttershy was drawn out of her private musing as she heard the sounds of a muffled 'good-bye', and the door opening before his hoofsteps crunched on the dirt outside the boutique. As the door closed behind the red stallion, Fluttershy let out a breathy sigh. In her mind, her thoughts were primarily dominated by two things: the regret she'd severed that lovely, blissful, heavenly contact so quick and secondly, that she was glad no one had been around to witness that other than the two of them. Unknown to her, from the staircase, a pair of sparkling blue eyes had watched those last few moments of the awkwardly romantic interaction. Interesting, the purple maned unicorn thought to her self, containing her excitement for the moment, Very interesting... InquiryRarity let out a light, contented sigh, sliding her body into the large bath tub up to her neck. She felt the all the dirt that remained from yesterday's mad dash through the streets rinse out of her fur. Her luxurious purple was wrapped in a lavender towel after having undergone one of the most intense cleaning of its life, which truly was saying something considering it was Rarity. She placed a slice of cucumber over each eye, attempting to eliminate the dark circles left from a long night of tidying up the Carousel Boutique after Apple Bloom's rampage in it yesterday. Even with her eyes covered, the glamourous unicorn knew there was another presence with her in the large tub of water. Not that it was surprising, she had expected Fluttershy to actually come to their prearranged spa day after all. As she luxuriated, the mare turned things over again and again. She would have to approach the subject tactfully, using her full repertoire of social skills to subtly pull the strings so the conversation seemed natural and friendly, especially when she was dealing with someone as timid as Fluttershy. “ So Fluttershy, do you have anyone in mind to be your very-special-somepony come Hearts and Hooves day?” Rarity asked, breaking the companionable silence between the two mares. “ Umm... No, not really,” the pegasus replied in her usual, quiet manner. “ Oh come now darling, there simply must be somepony you would consider asking?” “ No... There really isn't to be honest with you.” “ Really? There's not one stallion in all of Ponyville you would at least consider?” “ Rarity, is there something you're trying to ask me?” “ What? Oh no no no no nooo, nothing of the sort, simply curious whether you had you eyes on anypony, especially with Hearts and Hooves day being so close at hoof and all,” Rarity gushed, trying to hastily cover her tracks. “ Umm... Rarity? Hearts and Hooves day isn't for another five months.” “ Really? Oh how silly of me, it's just I was talking to Sweetie Belle earlier and she was talking about how it was almost time to go back to school and how they were really going to find Miss Cheerilee a very-special-somepony this year for Hearts and Hooves day and I guess I just got the two mixed up,” Rarity explained, throwing in the last bit about Miss Cheerilee to see if the name affected Fluttershy one way or another. If the unicorn's eyes hadn't been covered, her probing would have been rewarded as she would have noticed the pegasus give the tiniest of flinches at the school teacher's name. A long pause in talking was maintained between the two, until Rarity once again broke it, “ So, remaining between us, if you could have your choice of any stallion in Ponyville, who would it be?” “ Rarity, are you sure there's nothing you're trying to ask me?” Fluttershy inquired, wary of her friend's sudden interest in her romantic affairs. “ Nothing of the sort, just a little idle chat between friends. Personally I don't think I could limit myself to just one admirer, but I wondered if you could and, in fact, would.” “ Really Rarity, I just don't think about stuff like that... And why would I need to when I have so many friends? Aren't friends more important than anything?” Fluttershy suggested in a stream of gentle words which made Rarity wonder if maybe she'd somehow only imagined what she'd seen yesterday. Oh come now Rarity! Don't be so gullible! She's just trying to throw you off! Now, if you ever want to really find out, you'll need to be much more subtle...She thought, chastising herself for her brash, and admittedly rather tactless initial approach. Following another length of time in which no one spoke, the dress maker began, “ I for one know that I cannot wait until apple cider season! I could really go for a cup of it right about now, what do you think?” “ I guess some cider would be rather nice,” Fluttershy stated, smiling her customary soft, kind smile. “ I heard from Applejack they have an entire section of that convention she and granny went to devoted only to hoof pressed cider. She said that if they learned a few new tips and tricks from some other ponies, then they might even make enough profit this year to finally get Granny Smith her new hip. Isn't that just wonderful?” “ Oh Rarity, that is wonderful, I hope that everything works out.” “ Not to mention, if Granny Smith can get her hip fixed, she can help out more on the farm, not a lot, obviously, but she can take some of the strain off Applejack and maybe even Big Mac too. Oh, wouldn't it be nice to get to know Big McIntosh some more? I mean he doesn't say much, but he's always seemed so nice, and then he's usually too busy to really socialize. I just think it would be a wonderful gift to him if after sooo many years of hard work, he actually got a little bit of a break. Don't you agree?” Rarity, said talking very quickly as she removed the cucumber slices from her eyes and sidled over toward the now rather nervous looking Fluttershy. Oh well done Rarity! Well done indeed! The perfect blend of subtlety and directness, not too much on either side. Well done! The unicorn congratulated herself. “ Umm... I g-guess that w-w-w-w-would be nice. H-He r-really does w-w-work hard all the time,” Fluttershy said, stuttering profusely. “ Oh dear, Fluttershy, whatever is the matter? Was it something I said?” Rarity asked, playing the part of the concerned oblivious friend expertly. “ Oh, n-n-n-no, it's nothing. It was just... just that when you-you mentioned...” “ Mentioned! Mentioned something? So I did say something! Oh do tell me what's wrong.” “ It's just that... that when you mentioned Big Mac... It's really that I... Oh Rarity, you'll keep a secret won't you?” “ Oh darling of course I can, you can rest knowing have my silence.” “ Thank you Rarity... I just need to say it to someone... I... I think I might be in l...,” Fluttershy began timidly. Finishing with a rapid, almost shouted, “ I think I might be in love with Big McIntosh!” “ I know, I saw you two together yesterday. So-” “ You saw us! I-I mean, you saw that umm... The umm...” “ The wee little touch? Yes I did, and I saw how it made you blush, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say he was a few shades redder than normal too.” “ You really think so?” Fluttershy asked, her tone showing her hopefulness a little too well for her liking. “ I most certainly do... Oh isn't this wonderful! You two are so perfect for each other! You're both so quiet and nice! Oh I can't wait to-” Rarity began, opening the flood gates on her contained excitement. “ Can't wait to what?” the pegasus interrupted, an uncharacteristic, almost accusatory question. “ Can't wait to tell the others of course! It will be so wonderful! And we'll all be right there behind you, we'll help you get him all right! We'll-” “ Rarity, there is no 'we'll', remember? You promised you would keep it a secret.” “ Well yes, but... I mean surely you don't really want to keep this all under wraps?” “ I do... At least until I can figure out what I'm feeling inside anyway... Please don't tell anypony Rarity? If... If I tell anypony else... I only want to do it when I'm really sure I am in love... Not if this is... something else... Okay Rarity? Please?” Fluttershy pleaded. “ Oh alright,” Rarity conceded. “ Ladies, it's time for your hooficures!” the spa pony, Lotus Blossom, called. “ Ooh yay! Come along now Fluttershy, let's get you all dolled up, I think you'll want to look your very best. I'm rather sure the next few days will be very interesting, very interesting indeed...” ConfessionTwilight Sparkle was in the process of levitating a particularly heavy tome off one of the shelves in the library, when she heard a soft tap on the front door. As she lowered the pink covered book onto one of the tables, she made her way over to the door which was so clearly the objective of somepony's hoof as the light tapping persisted. Opening the rounded, red piece of wood which sealed the entrance to the Golden Oaks Library, she beheld an extremely surprising sight. For on the other side of the door, stood a familiar yellow pegasus, quivering as her eyes glanced around somewhat nervously, her front right hoof raised to continue knocking. “ Oh, hi there Fluttershy. Is everything-” the purple unicorn started. “ No no no, everything isn't okay Twilight. Everything is bad, very, very bad,” Fluttershy said, speaking very quickly and agitatedly, although still in her usual soft tone. “ Okay, well, why don't you come in and tell-” Twilight started before being cut off again. “ Thank you Twilight,” Fluttershy stated, rushing into the library. “ So what is it that's-” Twilight started, before again being interrupted, causing her to narrow her eyes in annoyance. “ No, c-close the door first... please,” Fluttershy said, not dropping her politeness even in her distraught state. Twilight did as she was bid, sealing the portal once again. As she did, she saw a familiar red head move past the small window set in the door's center. At the same time she heard a small 'eep' come from behind her, and as she turned around, she saw that her usually mellow friend was now cowering under the table. “ Umm... Fluttershy? What's going on?” “ I-I'm sorry Twilight, for being s-so rude, it's just that, I came here to talk to you anyway, and then I saw... I-I suppose I should just st-start from the beginning.” “ That usually is a good place to start a story,” the book-wormish mare said in a kind voice, making what could easily have been a sarcastic remark if said by someone else. “ Well... It all-all began about three months ago, when we helped Applejack with the Fire Blight... and then... and then Big McIntosh... butterflies... nervous... hooves sweating... so perfect...” Fluttershy started explaining, faltering as her nerves got the better of her. “ So what you're saying is-” “ Twilight, would you please open a window, it's a little warm in here...” “ Sure,” Twilight said, walking over to one of the windows and opening it to its full extent. “ So what you're saying is that you get nervous when you're near Big McIntosh?” “ Yes... Well no... Well yes... Well, sort of,” Fluttershy said sputtering nervously as a light pink blush spread across her cheeks. “ So you mean that you're... In love, with Big McIntosh?” Twilight said, laughing hysterically in her head, not wanting to hurt her friend feelings, but the two of them together just seemed so unlikely. Not to mention she was imagining what a date between them would look like, maybe three words at most, and that was if one of them ever even got over their shyness to ask the other in the first place. “ Y... Y... Yes!” Fluttershy wailed, actually starting to sob and covering her eyes with her hooves. Twilight had no idea why Fluttershy was reacting so violently to the thought, and she assumed, Fluttershy didn't really didn't no either. Although after a length of time spent thinking, she realized it was probably just a lot of pent up emotions Fluttershy hadn't experienced before, and they were all being released at once in a torrent. “ Yes! I Love him! I love Big McIntosh!” Fluttershy cried out, almost hysterically, causing Twilight Sparkle to become increasingly concerned for the pegasus' mental stability at the moment. All of the yelling also attracted somepony else's attention, an extremely pink and excitable earth pony who happened to have been passing by the open window, and went completely unnoticed by the other two mares, even as their curly, magenta mane paused and rose with the rest of the inquisitive head. “ Fluttershy, it's okay, just come upstairs with me and I'll make you a cup of hot chocolate, and then we can...” Twilight suggested weakly. “ Th-Thank you Twilight. Th-That sounds lovely...” Fluttershy said snuffling, her wave of emotion passed, leaving her feeling worn and tired. With that, Twilight and Fluttershy trotted up the staircase and the pink head which had been listening, withdrew, shrinking down to its normal height off the ground. Oh my gosh this is so amazing! Fluttershy and Big Mac?! I need to get Fluttershy to tell him, so I can throw the biggest, bestest 'new-very-special-someponies' party ever! I should go to tell Rarity! But what if Fluttershy doesn't want other ponies to know? Oh well, I'll decide later, now I need to pick out a color for the icing!, Pinkie Pie thought, her mental processing going as fast as she normally spoke, as she trotted away merrily, indecisive between mint green or bubble gum pink on the icing. A short time later, Fluttershy finished the last drops of her hot chocolate, savoring the rich taste of the brown liquid rolling over her tongue towards her throat. She relished in the sensation as the last bead of liquid wound its way over her final taste buds. “ So, can you talk without sobbing now?” Twilight asked, once again a would sarcastic remark carrying actual meaning. “ Yes, I can,” Fluttershy replied after she's ingested the last of her drink. After Fluttershy didn't respond for a moment, Twilight, with a hint of exasperation creeping into her voice, said, “ Well go on then.” “ O-Okay. It all started about three months ago, when we were helping Applejack look for Fire Blight, and Big Mac was there, and as he was walking along, I, oh this sounds shallow, I noticed that he was rather, handsome. Then, Apple Bloom saw that one twig which had been infected, and so that made me think of how nice and kind and sweet and- I'm babbling now aren't I? Anyway, I-I noticed how... perfect, he was, and since then, I just... I just haven't been able to forget about it. No matter who hard I try, no matter what I do, I can't go back to just being his friend, even though I want to... So I came here because, I though, with your magic, you could... make me go back to just liking him as a friend. Please Twilight?” Fluttershy pleaded, rather out of breath after her lengthy ramble. “ Oh no, no no no no no. I can't,” the purple unicorn replied. “But why? I'd do anything, anything! Just please make them go away!” Fluttershy started to wail again. “ No, no more tears,” Twilight said sternly, “ It's one of the rules of magic, you cannot interfere with love.” “ But-But it's okay, I-I wouldn't tell anyone, you'd be doing me a favor, really,” the pegasus insisted in earnest. “ I'm sorry Fluttershy, I'd love to help you, but rules are rules. Can you imagine what it would be like if unicorns could use magic without guidelines? So as much as I'd like to do that for you, I can't, and as such, I won't.” “ Oh, okay,” Fluttershy replied, looking as though she'd been sentenced to a horrible fate worse than death. Twilight took pity on her depressed looking friend, which caused her to say, “ Although that doesn't mean I can't help you with... whatever exactly this is...” “ Really? How?” Fluttershy inquired. “ Well, first of all,” Twilight started, looking down the stairs into the first floor, a glowing aura accumulated around her horn as she levitated the heavy tome she'd set on the table earlier, up to her, “ We should start with explaining exactly what love is.” The student of Princess Celestia flipped through the pages to chapter three of The Intricacies of the Love, by H.P. Lovecolt. “ You might want to sit down,” Twilight instructed,“ this may be a while.” “ Really? You're certain she said that?” the white unicorn inquired. “ Yep, I heard it clear as day,” her pink friend replied. “ Well then we must set them up together somehow. Poor Fluttershy's too shy to do it herself, we shall have to help her,” Rarity stated. “ But we can't hurt her feelings either, in case she really doesn't love Big Mac,” Pinkie Pie replied. “ You're right, although I have very little doubt she's in love, you are right. We'll have to approach this gently. We just need to give her a slight nudge, not knock her out of the nest,” Rarity replied, emphasizing certain words so her sentence had the most affect. “ Yep!” Pinkie Pie replied, “ Now, what do you think, mint green or pink for the frosting?”
ContactRarity rushed through the streets of Ponyville, the speed of her dash picking up specks of mud of the soft, freshly rained upon earth, covering her pristine white fur with the little brow droplets. Her full fledged gallop startling a pair of window shopping mares as the fashion forward unicorn sped by. Rarity was barely recognizable appearing only as a blur of purple, white and brown. “ Oh this is dreadful!” Rarity wailed as she realized her flanks were beginning to sweat, her breakneck pace now carrying her out of the main part of town in the direction of the Everfree Forest. “ Fluttershy! Fluttershy!”, Rarity cried, pounding her front, right hoof on the door of the yellow pegasus' cottage. “ If you don't open this door immediately I shall have to force it open!” the frantic mare demanded. Within the cottage, Fluttershy flinched at the harshness of her friend's call, and, peering out one of the windows, noticed her animal friends had found the yells offensive to their ears as well, since there was not a single one remaining to be seen. She let out a sigh, not exasperated, but certainly rather resigned. As she made her way down the stairs to the ground floor, she noticed that Angel was rolling around on the floor, pulling her large, rabbit ears under her chin like the strings of a bonnet. “ Sorry,” Fluttershy apologized to the bunny, despite not truly having anything to do with the ruckus outside. As she neared the door, and was about to open it, the door flew open on its own, and she noticed the distinct aura of unicorn magic around the inner knob. Fluttershy let a small shriek of surprise escape her lips at the sight before her. The voice she'd heard before was definitely Rarity's, and being a unicorn Rarity could obviously have used her innate magic on the knob, but the thing which now stood in the open portal to her home looked nothing like Rarity. The royal purple mane was disheveled and out of place, with an assortment of leaves and branches mixed into the flyaway mop. The white covering the body may once have been the correct color, but now it was caked in mud with a dotting of small pebbles and miscellaneous grit mixed in. “ Oh Fluttershy! Thank goodness I've caught you at home!” a voice gushed from the mess of a mare before her, definitely confirming it as being Rarity. “ I should dread what would have happened if you'd been out! Oh it's awful! Simply awful!”, Rarity continued, her speech becoming faster and faster as she went. “ It's Apple Bloom! Why earlier she was trying to find her 'super special talent' and she thought she'd try herbal remedies, so she went out to Zecora's and there she did something wrong and when she drank it it did something terrible to her manners and so when she came back to my boutique she made an absolute mess of things! She ruined one of the new dresses I was working on! Oh the humanity of it all! So then I found Zecora and she said she couldn't do anything about until Apple Bloom at least sat still! Oh Fluttershy you must come help me! You must!” Rarity finished her lengthy, super sonic speed explanation with a sharp intake of breath. “ Umm... How could I even help Rarity? I'm not very good at forcing people to obey me,” Fluttershy stated in her soft, timid voice. “ Well it's so simple! Just use the Stare! That should at least keep her in place long enough until Zecora can fix this mess! Oh please Fluttershy! Won't you please come try?” “ I guess I will Rarity, I might as well at least try,” Fluttershy stated. “ Oh thank you darling, thank you!” Rarity rhapsodized. “ Come now, we've not much time to waste!” the alabaster unicorn continued, grabbing Fluttershy by the hoof and whisking her out the door in the blink of an eye. Upon reaching the glamourous boutique, the docile pegasus gasped as she entered the building. The sight before her was one she never wanted to see. Apple Bloom was in frenzy, knocking over mannequins, sending racks of dresses crashing to the floor, ripping and tearing fabric, both that which was unused, and that which had already been stitched into apparel, tossing it haphazardly throughout the space. “ Aah! Oh this is dreadful! Simply dreadful!” Fluttershy heard Rarity screech. She turned about to see what had cause the other mare's outburst, expecting it to be over her relatively trashed shop, but instead found that Rarity was looking at herself in a cracked mirror which had at some point been tipped over. “ I look absolutely awful!” Rarity continued, confirming her suspicions without a doubt. “ Fluttershy! You must do something about this now!” Rarity implored, now seeming to be brought back to reality in the sense that her business was of the most immediate concern. “ Okay Rarity... I'll do my best,” Fluttershy replied. “ Umm, Apple Bloom, Apple Bloom,” the pegasus called meekly. Despite the fact that the attempt to catch the filly's attention was palfrey at best, it actually succeeded, and with a smug smirk on her lips Apple Bloom sauntered over to the pegasus. “ Oh hiii there Fluttershy, what brings ya'll over to these parts a town? I'm guessin not your wings, since everypony in town knows ya can't fly,” the yellow filly remarked, her voice dripping with uncharacteristic malice. “ I umm... I... Y... You need to-to stop ruining Rarity's shop now, please,” Fluttershy stammered. “ Oh I ain't runinin it, I'm makin it look a lot better, not that that's hard,” Apple Bloom replied. Out of the corner of her eye, Fluttershy saw Rarity steaming at the remark as she said, “ Well... Whatever is it you're doing... you... you really need to stop it, right now.” “ But ah need to get mah cutie mark, ah wonder what it'll look like if super special talent is removin eye-sores,” the young pony mused maliciously. Seething, Rarity grabbed Fluttershy and spun her around. “ I told you you need to use the Stare,” Rarity whispered, “ Just talking to her isn't going to work!” “ Okay Rarity, if you say so,” Fluttershy replied, wheeling about and locking eyes with Apple Bloom, using the powers of her stare to make the filly listen to her. The end result was Fluttershy making Apple Bloom comply to sit still while Rarity fetched Zecora. “ Ah! So this is where that troublesome little one has gotten to!” Fluttershy heard the rich, accented voice of Zecora say, making the return of the other two mares, “ I have just the thing to cure you of your terrible behavior!” Zecora added, before tossing a pinch of sparkling blue powder on the small Apple family member. As the powder hit her face, Apple Bloom let out a small, high pitched sneeze, before her eyes drooped shut she hit the floor, snoring in a content, medically induced sleep. In the time Apple Bloom slept, Rarity tracked down Rainbow Dash, who flew off towards Sweet Apple Acres to retrieve Big McIntosh so he could bring Apple Bloom home, as Applejack had gone to Canterlot for an apple convention with Granny Smith. Simultaneously, Zecora explained to Fluttershy how, in an attempt to make a relaxation draught, Apple Bloom had confused the similar extracts of Hypertoni and Hypotonus roots, which instead of lowering stress, had had the affect of raising Apple Bloom's negative mannerisms. The zebra remarked that she considered an interesting fact, as the roots, which normally caused polar opposite affects, had simply caused different ones. Shortly after explaining this, Zecora bid farewell to Rarity and Fluttershy, leaving them alone with the still sleeping Apple Bloom. “ Oh! My hair is so awful! You don't mind if we move our spa trip up to tomorrow morning do you Fluttershy?” Rarity inquired. “ No, not at all,” came the soft spoken reply as the pegasus shook her head lightly to accompany her words. “ Well, I'll be upstairs for a minute to see what I can do about it in the meantime,” Rarity said as she started up the stairs. “ Oh Fluttershy, be a dear and if Big McIntosh comes explain what happened. Oh, and do say 'hello' on my behalf as well,” Rarity added, pausing as she said before continuing up to her room above. Within five minutes of the unicorn's departing, Fluttershy saw the usually steady paced red stallion gallop down the block, much the same as Rarity had earlier. The only difference being he was racing towards the boutique, instead of away from it. His blonde mane glinted in the now noon-time sun, his charging heightening the appearance the his hair was made of liquid gold. Fluttershy couldn't help but notice as the powerfully built earth pony racing along, oblivious to the many mare's heads which turned to face him as he dashed by. As he came to the door, Big McIntosh pulled it open with great and easily mustered force, and walked into the effectively desecrated shop. Fluttershy watched as his normally half lidded eyes opened fully, revealing those beautiful green irises, his sweeping around the space to take in a panoramic view of the carnage. She couldn't help but notice the splendor of those emerald orbs, as gentle and caring as his disposition. Goddesses was he perfect! Stop! Why was she thinking like this? Big McIntosh was her friend, just a friend! Why was she having these thoughts about him!? Unknown to Fluttershy, the concern she saw in his eyes had nothing to do with worry for Rarity's shop, at the moment, the well being of Apple Bloom was of the utmost importance to him. “ H-Hi Big Mac,” Fluttershy faltered, snapping the crimson colored stallion out of his nervous stupor. “ So I guess Rainbow Dash told you what happened?” she continued. “ E-Eeyup,” came the trademark response from the mild-mannered male of the Apple family. Aww, it's so cute when he says that. Wait... What! Cute?! Did she really just think it was cute?! Celestia what was happening to her?! Why was it so warm all of a sudden? “ So I guess you came to take Apple Bloom home then?” Fluttershy asked redundantly. “ Eeyup,” Big McIntosh said again. There it went again! That feeling in side her when he talked! Oh no! Maybe she was sick! She should probably go see Twilight about it, she'd know if there was something wrong with her. “ I'll umm... I'll go get her for you,” Fluttershy said sheepishly, turning around and walking only a distance of about five feet, where she got behind the sleeping filly and pushed her over towards Big McIntosh. As Big Mac bent down to grasp Apple Bloom's tail in his teeth, his red furred nose came into gentle contact with Fluttershy's. Surprised at the touch, the two share an awkward stare for a moment where neither one breathes. Fluttershy broke the fleeting second of togetherness they shared, closing her eyes and turning her head to the left as a pink blush rises in her cheeks. Unbeknownst to her, Big Mac blushed, uncharacteristically, as well, and if his coat didn't match the color of his heated cheeks so well, it would have been extremely obvious. As they drew apart, their heads resuming a normal height and distance from each other, Fluttershy managed to get out, “ I-I don't think she's hurt at all, at least not from what I could tell when I looked her over, but if she is, well... You know where to find me," breaking the thin layer of awkwardness which hung in the air. Continuing slightly shyly and awkwardly to say, "Well I guess I'll umm... see you later then, Big Mac.” In reply, Big McIntosh let out a , “ Eeyup,” the sound now muffled due to the fact his mouth was full of his sister's tail fur. As he was about to leave, Big McIntosh turned his head and fixed the butter colored pegasus with his gentle stare, " Thanks for this, Fluttershy... Ah'm not sure what Ah'd do if she got herself hurt," he said in his pleasant, deep voice, still muffled by the clump of magenta fur in his mouth. " N-No problem," Fluttershy said with timid smile, retreating into her mind as she thought about how Big Mac so perfect in every way she could imagine. He's just so handsome, his coat and his mane and his eyes, just so generically gorgeous! And then there's his kindness too, I don't think I've ever seen him be mean to anypony, and then he was so worried about Apple Bloom, Fluttershy was drawn out of her private musing as she heard the sounds of a muffled 'good-bye', and the door opening before his hoofsteps crunched on the dirt outside the boutique. As the door closed behind the red stallion, Fluttershy let out a breathy sigh. In her mind, her thoughts were primarily dominated by two things: the regret she'd severed that lovely, blissful, heavenly contact so quick and secondly, that she was glad no one had been around to witness that other than the two of them. Unknown to her, from the staircase, a pair of sparkling blue eyes had watched those last few moments of the awkwardly romantic interaction. Interesting, the purple maned unicorn thought to her self, containing her excitement for the moment, Very interesting...
InquiryRarity let out a light, contented sigh, sliding her body into the large bath tub up to her neck. She felt the all the dirt that remained from yesterday's mad dash through the streets rinse out of her fur. Her luxurious purple was wrapped in a lavender towel after having undergone one of the most intense cleaning of its life, which truly was saying something considering it was Rarity. She placed a slice of cucumber over each eye, attempting to eliminate the dark circles left from a long night of tidying up the Carousel Boutique after Apple Bloom's rampage in it yesterday. Even with her eyes covered, the glamourous unicorn knew there was another presence with her in the large tub of water. Not that it was surprising, she had expected Fluttershy to actually come to their prearranged spa day after all. As she luxuriated, the mare turned things over again and again. She would have to approach the subject tactfully, using her full repertoire of social skills to subtly pull the strings so the conversation seemed natural and friendly, especially when she was dealing with someone as timid as Fluttershy. “ So Fluttershy, do you have anyone in mind to be your very-special-somepony come Hearts and Hooves day?” Rarity asked, breaking the companionable silence between the two mares. “ Umm... No, not really,” the pegasus replied in her usual, quiet manner. “ Oh come now darling, there simply must be somepony you would consider asking?” “ No... There really isn't to be honest with you.” “ Really? There's not one stallion in all of Ponyville you would at least consider?” “ Rarity, is there something you're trying to ask me?” “ What? Oh no no no no nooo, nothing of the sort, simply curious whether you had you eyes on anypony, especially with Hearts and Hooves day being so close at hoof and all,” Rarity gushed, trying to hastily cover her tracks. “ Umm... Rarity? Hearts and Hooves day isn't for another five months.” “ Really? Oh how silly of me, it's just I was talking to Sweetie Belle earlier and she was talking about how it was almost time to go back to school and how they were really going to find Miss Cheerilee a very-special-somepony this year for Hearts and Hooves day and I guess I just got the two mixed up,” Rarity explained, throwing in the last bit about Miss Cheerilee to see if the name affected Fluttershy one way or another. If the unicorn's eyes hadn't been covered, her probing would have been rewarded as she would have noticed the pegasus give the tiniest of flinches at the school teacher's name. A long pause in talking was maintained between the two, until Rarity once again broke it, “ So, remaining between us, if you could have your choice of any stallion in Ponyville, who would it be?” “ Rarity, are you sure there's nothing you're trying to ask me?” Fluttershy inquired, wary of her friend's sudden interest in her romantic affairs. “ Nothing of the sort, just a little idle chat between friends. Personally I don't think I could limit myself to just one admirer, but I wondered if you could and, in fact, would.” “ Really Rarity, I just don't think about stuff like that... And why would I need to when I have so many friends? Aren't friends more important than anything?” Fluttershy suggested in a stream of gentle words which made Rarity wonder if maybe she'd somehow only imagined what she'd seen yesterday. Oh come now Rarity! Don't be so gullible! She's just trying to throw you off! Now, if you ever want to really find out, you'll need to be much more subtle...She thought, chastising herself for her brash, and admittedly rather tactless initial approach. Following another length of time in which no one spoke, the dress maker began, “ I for one know that I cannot wait until apple cider season! I could really go for a cup of it right about now, what do you think?” “ I guess some cider would be rather nice,” Fluttershy stated, smiling her customary soft, kind smile. “ I heard from Applejack they have an entire section of that convention she and granny went to devoted only to hoof pressed cider. She said that if they learned a few new tips and tricks from some other ponies, then they might even make enough profit this year to finally get Granny Smith her new hip. Isn't that just wonderful?” “ Oh Rarity, that is wonderful, I hope that everything works out.” “ Not to mention, if Granny Smith can get her hip fixed, she can help out more on the farm, not a lot, obviously, but she can take some of the strain off Applejack and maybe even Big Mac too. Oh, wouldn't it be nice to get to know Big McIntosh some more? I mean he doesn't say much, but he's always seemed so nice, and then he's usually too busy to really socialize. I just think it would be a wonderful gift to him if after sooo many years of hard work, he actually got a little bit of a break. Don't you agree?” Rarity, said talking very quickly as she removed the cucumber slices from her eyes and sidled over toward the now rather nervous looking Fluttershy. Oh well done Rarity! Well done indeed! The perfect blend of subtlety and directness, not too much on either side. Well done! The unicorn congratulated herself. “ Umm... I g-guess that w-w-w-w-would be nice. H-He r-really does w-w-work hard all the time,” Fluttershy said, stuttering profusely. “ Oh dear, Fluttershy, whatever is the matter? Was it something I said?” Rarity asked, playing the part of the concerned oblivious friend expertly. “ Oh, n-n-n-no, it's nothing. It was just... just that when you-you mentioned...” “ Mentioned! Mentioned something? So I did say something! Oh do tell me what's wrong.” “ It's just that... that when you mentioned Big Mac... It's really that I... Oh Rarity, you'll keep a secret won't you?” “ Oh darling of course I can, you can rest knowing have my silence.” “ Thank you Rarity... I just need to say it to someone... I... I think I might be in l...,” Fluttershy began timidly. Finishing with a rapid, almost shouted, “ I think I might be in love with Big McIntosh!” “ I know, I saw you two together yesterday. So-” “ You saw us! I-I mean, you saw that umm... The umm...” “ The wee little touch? Yes I did, and I saw how it made you blush, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say he was a few shades redder than normal too.” “ You really think so?” Fluttershy asked, her tone showing her hopefulness a little too well for her liking. “ I most certainly do... Oh isn't this wonderful! You two are so perfect for each other! You're both so quiet and nice! Oh I can't wait to-” Rarity began, opening the flood gates on her contained excitement. “ Can't wait to what?” the pegasus interrupted, an uncharacteristic, almost accusatory question. “ Can't wait to tell the others of course! It will be so wonderful! And we'll all be right there behind you, we'll help you get him all right! We'll-” “ Rarity, there is no 'we'll', remember? You promised you would keep it a secret.” “ Well yes, but... I mean surely you don't really want to keep this all under wraps?” “ I do... At least until I can figure out what I'm feeling inside anyway... Please don't tell anypony Rarity? If... If I tell anypony else... I only want to do it when I'm really sure I am in love... Not if this is... something else... Okay Rarity? Please?” Fluttershy pleaded. “ Oh alright,” Rarity conceded. “ Ladies, it's time for your hooficures!” the spa pony, Lotus Blossom, called. “ Ooh yay! Come along now Fluttershy, let's get you all dolled up, I think you'll want to look your very best. I'm rather sure the next few days will be very interesting, very interesting indeed...”
ConfessionTwilight Sparkle was in the process of levitating a particularly heavy tome off one of the shelves in the library, when she heard a soft tap on the front door. As she lowered the pink covered book onto one of the tables, she made her way over to the door which was so clearly the objective of somepony's hoof as the light tapping persisted. Opening the rounded, red piece of wood which sealed the entrance to the Golden Oaks Library, she beheld an extremely surprising sight. For on the other side of the door, stood a familiar yellow pegasus, quivering as her eyes glanced around somewhat nervously, her front right hoof raised to continue knocking. “ Oh, hi there Fluttershy. Is everything-” the purple unicorn started. “ No no no, everything isn't okay Twilight. Everything is bad, very, very bad,” Fluttershy said, speaking very quickly and agitatedly, although still in her usual soft tone. “ Okay, well, why don't you come in and tell-” Twilight started before being cut off again. “ Thank you Twilight,” Fluttershy stated, rushing into the library. “ So what is it that's-” Twilight started, before again being interrupted, causing her to narrow her eyes in annoyance. “ No, c-close the door first... please,” Fluttershy said, not dropping her politeness even in her distraught state. Twilight did as she was bid, sealing the portal once again. As she did, she saw a familiar red head move past the small window set in the door's center. At the same time she heard a small 'eep' come from behind her, and as she turned around, she saw that her usually mellow friend was now cowering under the table. “ Umm... Fluttershy? What's going on?” “ I-I'm sorry Twilight, for being s-so rude, it's just that, I came here to talk to you anyway, and then I saw... I-I suppose I should just st-start from the beginning.” “ That usually is a good place to start a story,” the book-wormish mare said in a kind voice, making what could easily have been a sarcastic remark if said by someone else. “ Well... It all-all began about three months ago, when we helped Applejack with the Fire Blight... and then... and then Big McIntosh... butterflies... nervous... hooves sweating... so perfect...” Fluttershy started explaining, faltering as her nerves got the better of her. “ So what you're saying is-” “ Twilight, would you please open a window, it's a little warm in here...” “ Sure,” Twilight said, walking over to one of the windows and opening it to its full extent. “ So what you're saying is that you get nervous when you're near Big McIntosh?” “ Yes... Well no... Well yes... Well, sort of,” Fluttershy said sputtering nervously as a light pink blush spread across her cheeks. “ So you mean that you're... In love, with Big McIntosh?” Twilight said, laughing hysterically in her head, not wanting to hurt her friend feelings, but the two of them together just seemed so unlikely. Not to mention she was imagining what a date between them would look like, maybe three words at most, and that was if one of them ever even got over their shyness to ask the other in the first place. “ Y... Y... Yes!” Fluttershy wailed, actually starting to sob and covering her eyes with her hooves. Twilight had no idea why Fluttershy was reacting so violently to the thought, and she assumed, Fluttershy didn't really didn't no either. Although after a length of time spent thinking, she realized it was probably just a lot of pent up emotions Fluttershy hadn't experienced before, and they were all being released at once in a torrent. “ Yes! I Love him! I love Big McIntosh!” Fluttershy cried out, almost hysterically, causing Twilight Sparkle to become increasingly concerned for the pegasus' mental stability at the moment. All of the yelling also attracted somepony else's attention, an extremely pink and excitable earth pony who happened to have been passing by the open window, and went completely unnoticed by the other two mares, even as their curly, magenta mane paused and rose with the rest of the inquisitive head. “ Fluttershy, it's okay, just come upstairs with me and I'll make you a cup of hot chocolate, and then we can...” Twilight suggested weakly. “ Th-Thank you Twilight. Th-That sounds lovely...” Fluttershy said snuffling, her wave of emotion passed, leaving her feeling worn and tired. With that, Twilight and Fluttershy trotted up the staircase and the pink head which had been listening, withdrew, shrinking down to its normal height off the ground. Oh my gosh this is so amazing! Fluttershy and Big Mac?! I need to get Fluttershy to tell him, so I can throw the biggest, bestest 'new-very-special-someponies' party ever! I should go to tell Rarity! But what if Fluttershy doesn't want other ponies to know? Oh well, I'll decide later, now I need to pick out a color for the icing!, Pinkie Pie thought, her mental processing going as fast as she normally spoke, as she trotted away merrily, indecisive between mint green or bubble gum pink on the icing. A short time later, Fluttershy finished the last drops of her hot chocolate, savoring the rich taste of the brown liquid rolling over her tongue towards her throat. She relished in the sensation as the last bead of liquid wound its way over her final taste buds. “ So, can you talk without sobbing now?” Twilight asked, once again a would sarcastic remark carrying actual meaning. “ Yes, I can,” Fluttershy replied after she's ingested the last of her drink. After Fluttershy didn't respond for a moment, Twilight, with a hint of exasperation creeping into her voice, said, “ Well go on then.” “ O-Okay. It all started about three months ago, when we were helping Applejack look for Fire Blight, and Big Mac was there, and as he was walking along, I, oh this sounds shallow, I noticed that he was rather, handsome. Then, Apple Bloom saw that one twig which had been infected, and so that made me think of how nice and kind and sweet and- I'm babbling now aren't I? Anyway, I-I noticed how... perfect, he was, and since then, I just... I just haven't been able to forget about it. No matter who hard I try, no matter what I do, I can't go back to just being his friend, even though I want to... So I came here because, I though, with your magic, you could... make me go back to just liking him as a friend. Please Twilight?” Fluttershy pleaded, rather out of breath after her lengthy ramble. “ Oh no, no no no no no. I can't,” the purple unicorn replied. “But why? I'd do anything, anything! Just please make them go away!” Fluttershy started to wail again. “ No, no more tears,” Twilight said sternly, “ It's one of the rules of magic, you cannot interfere with love.” “ But-But it's okay, I-I wouldn't tell anyone, you'd be doing me a favor, really,” the pegasus insisted in earnest. “ I'm sorry Fluttershy, I'd love to help you, but rules are rules. Can you imagine what it would be like if unicorns could use magic without guidelines? So as much as I'd like to do that for you, I can't, and as such, I won't.” “ Oh, okay,” Fluttershy replied, looking as though she'd been sentenced to a horrible fate worse than death. Twilight took pity on her depressed looking friend, which caused her to say, “ Although that doesn't mean I can't help you with... whatever exactly this is...” “ Really? How?” Fluttershy inquired. “ Well, first of all,” Twilight started, looking down the stairs into the first floor, a glowing aura accumulated around her horn as she levitated the heavy tome she'd set on the table earlier, up to her, “ We should start with explaining exactly what love is.” The student of Princess Celestia flipped through the pages to chapter three of The Intricacies of the Love, by H.P. Lovecolt. “ You might want to sit down,” Twilight instructed,“ this may be a while.” “ Really? You're certain she said that?” the white unicorn inquired. “ Yep, I heard it clear as day,” her pink friend replied. “ Well then we must set them up together somehow. Poor Fluttershy's too shy to do it herself, we shall have to help her,” Rarity stated. “ But we can't hurt her feelings either, in case she really doesn't love Big Mac,” Pinkie Pie replied. “ You're right, although I have very little doubt she's in love, you are right. We'll have to approach this gently. We just need to give her a slight nudge, not knock her out of the nest,” Rarity replied, emphasizing certain words so her sentence had the most affect. “ Yep!” Pinkie Pie replied, “ Now, what do you think, mint green or pink for the frosting?”
