Chapter 2: A Friendship Problem (Or Lack of One)
Fluttershy woke up, sat on her bed with sleep still weighing on her mind, and spent a couple of minutes staring blankly as the drowsiness faded as much as it could. After letting out a satisfying yawn and stretching, she got out of bed and went through her morning routine to start another school day.
Once she was ready, she went downstairs to the kitchen and joined her family for breakfast. Her parents greeted her with a warm “Good morning,” while Zephyr just stared at her without saying a word. Fluttershy noticed but tried to ignore it for her own sake and to maintain the good mood she had had since yesterday. She preferred to think about the wonderful moment she had with Rainbow Dash rather than deal with any of her brother’s nonsense.
“So, sister,” Zephyr spoke in that exasperating tone he always used, “did you meet anyone interesting yesterday?”
Fluttershy almost spat out the fruit she was eating, coughing repeatedly until her eyes watered from the irritation. She looked at Zephyr, who had a victorious grin on his face, and then at her parents, who gazed at her with concern.
How Zephyr could be so precise was beyond her comprehension, but it was clear he did it to make her nervous in front of their parents. It was obvious he had noticed something yesterday when she got home and had held onto it all night just to bring it up at a moment like this, when he had the whole family’s attention. And gosh, Zephyr was such a pain when he set his mind to something—something he rarely did at school, where it actually mattered.
“Did something happen yesterday, Fluttershy?” Mr. Shy asked.
Fluttershy shot a hard glare at her brother and then turned back to her parents with a more relaxed face. She definitely wasn’t going to tell her parents—let alone Zephyr—that she had grown closer to the girl she liked, even if her mood made it obvious, even if her mood made it obvious.
She didn’t want all that attention on her. Even though her parents were just as reserved, because she wasn’t sure exactly how they would react to their daughter having a crush and being the one to take the first step. Zephyr would absolutely pester her all week just to get a shred of information to tease her about for an entire month.
And she was absolutely not having that.
“No, nothing,” Fluttershy replied calmly. “I don’t know what Zephyr is talking about.”
“Oh, come on, Fluttershy,” Zephyr said, widening that silly grin of his. “Yesterday, you came home grinning like a toothpaste commercial model. Plus, you were practically glowing. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I have a strong suspicion you met someone special.”
That was ridiculously accurate, Fluttershy thought as her body tensed in astonishment. Even she hadn’t realized how much her appearance had changed just from talking with Rainbow Dash for a few minutes the day before. She also hadn’t known that someone’s mood could reveal so much. Had her brother developed some kind of sixth sense, or was it just that obvious? Whatever the case, she needed to work on her emotions, so something like this wouldn’t happen again in the future.
“Fluttershy…” her mother said. “Is that…?”
“No!” Fluttershy took a deep breath and calmed herself. “Nothing happened yesterday. I left school with Rarity and came home a little late, that’s all.”
“Are you sure?” Zephyr asked.
“Very sure, Zephyr,” Fluttershy hissed, stabbing a piece of fruit with her fork.
“Leave your sister alone, Zephyr,” their father admonished him. “What Fluttershy does after school is none of our concern, as long as she doesn’t get into trouble. As parents, we respect her privacy.”
The rest of breakfast continued without further interruptions, and it wasn’t until they got into the car on the way to school that Zephyr started teasing Fluttershy again in the way only a brother could. She tried to ignore him as best as she could, and the best she could do was think about Rainbow Dash: Her smile, her distinct raspy voice that was impossible to forget, those bright cherry-colored eyes that shone like a beacon, her beautiful hair…
“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Zephyr whispered slyly. “You’ve got the classic love-struck face.”
“What do you care if I’m thinking about someone?” Fluttershy replied without taking her eyes off the road.
“I care because this is the first time I’ve seen you in love,” Zephyr said. “You’re not exactly expressive, so seeing such clear emotions on your face is, well, an unprecedented event.”
“So?”
“Tss… I’m curious to know which man managed to break into my sister’s introverted heart,” Zephyr remarked.
And with no further response from Fluttershy, the ride settled into the usual silence of the Shy family.
Zephyr’s words echoed in Fluttershy’s head, making her reflect on her romantic history and recall the few times she had had a crush. There weren’t many; however, she remembered a time when she had been attracted to her best friend Rarity for several months. It was embarrassing when Rarity found out and gently turned her down, though they had remained friends throughout the years.
But back then, it wasn’t that she had felt something particularly strong for her friend—rather, Rarity’s pure, selfless generosity had carved out a space in her heart that she had mistakenly confused with romance. It wasn’t like she had confessed, but her feelings had been obvious enough for a girl who constantly dealt with all kinds of admirers. And Rarity had thought it best to put an end to her best friend’s feelings before either of them got hurt.
Maybe Fluttershy really was too obvious with her emotions.
Fluttershy tried to push those thoughts away as she focused on the school day ahead. She didn’t want her brother’s words to disturb her more than necessary. Although she was eager to see Rainbow Dash again, she was also worried about how she would handle the situation if more people found out about it. Or worse, if all of this reached Rainbow’s ears.
When they arrived at school, their parents dropped them off at the entrance. Fluttershy quickly distanced herself from Zephyr and went straight to her locker to put away her things before her first class. Barely two seconds had passed since she opened her locker when Rarity approached, suddenly appearing at her side as if she had materialized out of nowhere. It was a common “skill” they used when one needed to tell the other something—or for the first time, when Fluttershy needed to share something.
“So, darling, do you think the whole day will be enough for you to tell me every single detail of your meeting with Rainbow Dash?” Rarity asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Honestly, Fluttershy was sure ten minutes would be enough to go over everything. But she couldn’t crush her friend’s expectations like that.
“Yes, I think so,” she replied, grabbing her materials for the first class. “Um, but it’s not really a big deal.”
“An absurd statement, Fluttershy,” Rarity dismissed her words with a wave of her hand. “For you, even the smallest step in love means a lot, so don’t downplay what happened yesterday.”
“Alright…” Fluttershy thought for a few seconds but gave up. “Where should I start?”
“Tell me what happened right after I left,” Rarity answered immediately. “I know I was spying, but I didn’t hear a word of your conversation.”
Yeah, that made a lot of sense. Fluttershy was about to recount her conversation with Rainbow when someone appeared behind Rarity. Both of them turned their attention to the person and recognized Dean Cadence.
“Rarity, Fluttershy, good morning,” she greeted them with that beautiful smile of hers. “Could you come with me to my office? It won’t take long. I need your help with something.”
“Um, sure…” Rarity replied, a bit confused.
Fluttershy simply nodded, and the two of them followed her. As they walked, a few curious glances overwhelmed the timid girl, making her feel as if she had done something wrong.
These were exactly the kinds of behaviors Rainbow was referring to—the students of Crystal Prep were notoriously unpleasant when it came to judging others, even someone like her, who was known for avoiding trouble and fulfilling her role as a student as best as she could.
Maybe Rarity brushed them off with an uncommon ease, but for Fluttershy, it was hard not to notice each and every one of them, no matter what she did.
Once inside, they found a girl with blue hair and glasses. Cadence took her place in front of the three and invited them to sit down.
“Thank you for coming after my sudden request,” Dean Cadence said in a friendly tone. “There's something I'd like to try with you two, if you don't mind. Don't worry, it has nothing to do with school matters. It's more of a request from a friend.”
“Well, Dean Cadence, I see no reason to refuse,” Rarity replied with a smile, easily engaging in the conversation. “What is it about?”
“It's about Twilight, right here,” Cadence gestured toward the girl standing beside them. “I assume you know her.”
“Of course,” Rarity answered with a nod. “She’s Crystal Prep’s top student. I’m not familiar with all her academic achievements, but I know she’s won many state and national competitions.”
“Actually, I took first place in all of them,” Twilight muttered.
“At least you know her for that… that’s something,” Cadence said, sounding a bit defeated. “And that’s basically what she has dedicated her life to, which isn’t bad at all—if only I weren’t worried she’s taking it to the extreme.”
“I still don’t understand why doing what the school expects of me is bad,” Twilight complained, crossing her arms and looking away.
“Twi, it’s not your academic performance I’m concerned about—it’s your social life,” Cadence explained. “No one is demanding that you lock yourself away in your studies and science projects, let alone that you be perfect in every subject taught at school. You don’t have to worry about that. You need to start taking socializing seriously, meeting people, making friends—doing the things that most persons your age do.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s important…”
“Why is it important?”
“Twilight, let me finish,” Cadence sighed. “It’s important because it will help you understand others better. If you’re unable to connect with people, then your adult life could become difficult, and you’ll miss out on countless opportunities that even your incredible intellect won’t be enough to guarantee. Trust me, it’s better to be well-rounded than to be perfect at just one thing.”
“But I am good at many things. What about the time I fixed Dad’s car when I was six? Or when I helped Shining with his university project? Or when I installed the security system for the whole house? It still works…”
“Twilight, you know that’s not what I’m talking about.”
“And friends? What exactly are they for? I don’t need to say I’m smarter than everyone. I’ll just prove it, like always,” Twilight said, raising her voice. “I can get anywhere I want if I’m capable enough. I don’t need anyone’s help.”
“And that’s why I called you two,” Cadence said, giving them an apologetic look. “Twilight doesn’t have the most… favorable perspective on the world around her, so I thought it would be best to ask for your help in changing that. Out of all the students at Crystal Prep, you two are the most approachable, and I trust that you can help Twilight adjust her way of thinking a little.”
“Are we really that exemplary as friends?” Rarity blushed at the compliment, smiling. “I mean, of course we’re amazing, but I didn’t think it was worth mentioning.”
Cadence smiled at Rarity’s reaction and nodded.
“Yes, you both have qualities that could positively influence Twilight. And, not that I’m expecting anything bad to happen, but you’re also more tolerant and kind when dealing with unpleasant situations,” she added, touching her cheek with a hint of guilt.
Fluttershy and Rarity exchanged a look of understanding before turning their attention back to Cadence.
“W-what exactly do you want us to do?” Fluttershy asked curiously.
“Not much, I hope,” Cadence said. “Just interact with her at school, at the very least. Twilight can be a little—or a lot—stubborn, but promise me you’ll at least try.”
“And is Twilight okay with this?” Rarity asked, glancing at the blue-haired girl.
“No, I never agreed to this,” Twilight frowned. “It’s a waste of time.”
“No one can be sure of that, Twilight,” Cadence responded, rubbing her temple. “It’s worth trying, and I’m going to do everything I can to make it work. So from now on, you’re not allowed to stay at school after classes. You have two options: go home or go out with your friends.”
“WHAT?! You can’t do that!” Twilight raised her voice.
“I’ve also confiscated the keys to your lab here, and you are completely prohibited from entering.”
“But it’s my lab! Principal Cinch gave it to me!”
Twilight stood up, fists clenched, confronting Cadence like a rebellious daughter. Fluttershy and Rarity remained seated, uncomfortably watching the confrontation.
“I’ve already spoken with everyone involved, including your family,” Cadence replied calmly. “And Shining is handling the storage of your equipment. Everything will be returned to you once we see progress on your part—or, on the contrary, if you prove that you truly don’t need anyone to live a good life.”
“This isn’t fair! All of that is mine! I worked to earn it!” Twilight shouted, not caring that Fluttershy and Rarity were there, or if anyone outside the office could hear her. “You’re taking away what’s rightfully mine just to force me into this ridiculous plan! How is this supposed to help me, Cadence?! What is your problem?!”
Cadence remained calm despite Twilight’s yelling, but her words made it clear that she wouldn’t back down from her decision. The tension in the room was palpable, and Fluttershy could feel Twilight’s inner conflict as she struggled with the idea of accepting help from others. Maybe the way Dean Cadence was trying to help her wasn’t the best approach—she simply couldn’t force her to do something she didn’t want to do, even if it was meant to benefit her in the long run.
Fluttershy knew all too well what it felt like to be forced to go against her nature. She had struggled both with herself and with others because of her reserved demeanor and shy personality. She understood what it was like to clash with the world just because she wasn’t like everyone else.
Was it right to force someone to change just to make them fit into a standard considered “appropriate”? She didn’t have an answer. Her feelings for Rainbow Dash had just given her a new perspective on the meaning of change for one's own good. But Twilight was a different story.
Eventually, Twilight realized her outburst and looked at the pair with embarrassment. She quickly grabbed her things and left, letting a heavy silence fill the room.
“I’m sorry you had to see that. Twilight and I have had arguments like this before, but this is the first time it’s escalated like this,” Cadence discreetly wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. “But I trust that you two will handle the situation better than I did. So, are you still willing?”
“Of course… We’ll do our best to get Twilight to open up to us,” Rarity’s words were hesitant but reassured Cadence. “Right, Fluttershy?”
“Um… yes,” Fluttershy responded with much less confidence, but with every intention of supporting her best friend. “I’ll do my best.”
“Oh, you don’t know how relieved I am to hear that,” Cadence sighed. “It’s embarrassing for a teacher to ask such a big favor from students they’re supposed to be helping, but I have no other choice. Really, I sincerely appreciate it.”
The situation with Twilight seemed more complicated than Fluttershy and Rarity had anticipated. Even so, they were determined to do their best to help her, even if they weren’t entirely sure how to approach it.
As they left Cadence’s office, Fluttershy and Rarity exchanged worried looks. They both knew it wouldn’t be easy to get Twilight to change her mindset, but no one could blame them for trying.
“What should we do?” Fluttershy asked, hoping Rarity had a plan.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Rarity admitted, frowning. “I’d hate to give Twilight more reasons to avoid interacting with people. But we need to approach her. The best thing I can think of is to keep things casual—meet with her as if we’re just getting to know her. You know, avoid talking about what just happened, at least until she feels comfortable with us.”
“She might bring it up just to get rid of us,” Fluttershy pointed out. “She knows Dean Cadence asked us to do this, so I doubt she wants us around… Ah, I-I’m not saying we should give up.”
“It’s okay, I get it,” Rarity reassured her with a comforting smile. “We’ll think of something during class. For now, we should head to our classroom. We’ll talk more later, alright?”
“Alright,” Fluttershy nodded.
And with that, they returned to their school routine.
Fluttershy pondered what kind of approach would be best; however, her lack of social experience was a major obstacle that kept her from thinking beyond avoiding everyone and hoping things would work out on their own. Usually, Fluttershy was the one on the receiving end, with people like Rarity being the ones to approach her. She had never imagined that this time, it would be her turn to try and break through the solid walls Twilight had built over the years.
How was she supposed to deal with something like this? Her hopes were pinned on Rarity, but it seemed like even the fashionista wasn’t entirely sure. Twilight wasn’t the kind of person you just walked up to—she was the kind you avoided, if only because she wanted you to. Doing anything else felt outright reckless, maybe even rude.
So what was she supposed to do?
Her thoughts drifted back to Rainbow Dash—her bright, confident smile and the unwavering self-assurance she radiated. Just thinking about her eased Fluttershy’s stress and cleared her mind.
Now that she thought about it, Rainbow could probably give her some advice. Three heads were better than two, and her personality—so different from both Rarity’s and her own—might at least offer a fresh perspective. Besides, it was a good excuse for their meeting that afternoon.
She already couldn’t wait to see Rainbow.
Fluttershy paced back and forth, her nerves on edge, her mind spinning around the same scenario to the point of desperation. She rubbed her sweaty hands together to calm herself, but it only made her fall further into a spiral of disastrous thoughts, paralyzing her and keeping her stuck in place. Her feet kept changing direction, debating whether to walk straight toward her destination or turn back and try again another time, something that had already happened more than ten times since she first considered it.
She knew she was a coward for not doing something as simple as approaching the person who had captivated her from the very first moment. But at the same time, she felt so intimidated that her reserved and fearful nature made her question the strength of that unnatural motivation. After all, it wasn’t in Fluttershy’s nature to muster the courage to take initiative; on the contrary, she was the type to run in the opposite direction because new things scared her.
Especially when it came to interacting with new people.
“But she's worth it…” she muttered to herself.
The problem wasn't that the person Fluttershy wanted to approach was unpleasant or anything like that. Rather, there were levels to consider, and they simply weren’t on the same one. The shy, pink-haired girl was far below other students her age who enjoyed a considerably richer social life.
Keeping that in mind, the woman who had occupied her thoughts for months was so far out of her league that the mere idea of trying to get her attention felt absurd. How could someone so amazing ever be interested in her? Surely she already had someone, or at the very least, dozens of far more interesting suitors.
Yes, it was ridiculous to even entertain the possibility of starting a conversation with a girl like that. But the thought excited her so much that she couldn't help but take the time to admire her from afar, no matter how creepy that might seem.
If only she weren’t such a coward. If only she could be lucky enough to run into her by accident again, like she had two months ago. Maybe then she wouldn’t be trapped in this endless debate, always talking herself out of it to avoid trouble.
“Fluttershy?” A familiar voice came from behind her. “What are you doing here, darling?”
Fluttershy flinched and froze in place for a few seconds before turning around to face her best friend. Rarity raised an eyebrow and approached her with curiosity.
“H-hello, Rarity,” Fluttershy replied.
“Well, what a surprise to see you here so late after class,” Rarity greeted her with a warm smile. “I thought you'd be home by now.”
“Um… That was the plan, but…” Fluttershy trailed off, retreating into her usual reserved demeanor. The embarrassment of voicing her feelings out loud made her face take on an adorable shade of pink.
Rarity glanced around for clues, but there was nothing unusual. Just the two of them standing in front of a convenience store. Perhaps Fluttershy had come to buy something, but that didn’t explain why she looked so anxious. It was as if she were waiting for something.
“Is something wrong?” Rarity asked. “If you need anything, just let me know.”
“I… Do you remember when I told you that there's someone I…?”
“Like?” Rarity added with a small smile. “Of course, I remember, Fluttershy. But you still haven’t told me who it is.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Fluttershy nervously played with her hair. “I should've told you when you first asked.”
“That doesn't matter anymore. In any case, it's up to you to talk about your love life,” Rarity giggled playfully. “Though, I’ll never say no to some good gossip. Especially from someone as reserved as you, darling.”
“Yeah… Thanks for being so patient with me,” Fluttershy responded, a bit more relaxed. “About the person I like… She works at that store.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow and looked at the convenience store, which was part of a 24-hour chain. She rarely stopped by that place and had never paid much attention to the employees, so she couldn’t recall any faces to analyze the potential benefits for her best friend. Still, whoever it was, Rarity assumed they must be someone similar to Fluttershy, which reassured her.
What truly caught her attention, however, was that the person was a woman. Well, from Rarity’s perspective, Fluttershy seemed more like someone who would prefer men, but it wasn’t surprising that the gentleness and understanding of a girl might suit her better. She could already picture it, someone just like Fluttershy, the two of them becoming the sweetest couple of their generation.
That was a lovely thought.
“So, do you know her name?” Rarity asked, trying to contain her excitement. “Who is the person who stole our shy girl’s heart?”
Fluttershy blushed deeply and hid behind her hair. This was the first time she was revealing the name of the person she liked. A fluttery feeling stirred in her stomach, and warmth swelled in her heart as she brought that special girl to mind. The sensation of being in love was both thrilling and comforting, filling her with a unique joy. One that could only come from a first love.
“Her name is… Rainbow Dash.”
“…”
An awkward silence settled between them, an unexpected unease creeping in, as if Fluttershy had just said something she shouldn’t have. A shiver ran down her spine, and she hugged herself in an attempt to regain warmth. Meanwhile, Rarity stood frozen, staring at her best friend in an unsettling, almost eerie manner.
“Rarity?” Fluttershy hoped for a reaction. However, all she got was a lifeless smile that only returned to normal once the fashionista snapped back to reality.
“Forgive me, darling,” Rarity said, her smile faltering for a brief moment. “Could you repeat the name?”
“Um… Sure. It’s Rainbow Dash. She goes to Canterlot High,” Fluttershy answered, her face now a bright red.
“Are you sure? Oh! Not that I mean anything by it, really!” Rarity quickly corrected herself. “It’s just… I know Rainbow Dash, and, well… she’s not exactly like you.”
“I-I know. And I think that's exactly why,” Fluttershy admitted. “She’s so different from me that sometimes I think we couldn’t even be friends. But that’s also what makes her so… attractive. I want to at least try.”
Rarity quickly adjusted her thoughts, giving Fluttershy a soft look. Even if she didn’t hold Rainbow Dash in the highest regard, it wasn’t her place to judge who her best friend fell for. What mattered was supporting her and giving the best advice she could. In the end, the most important thing was that Fluttershy was happy and felt safe with her decision, no matter the consequences.
Besides, even if Rainbow Dash wasn’t the most promising choice and was actually the opposite of what Rarity had expected, how could she discourage her friend like that? She would never dream of doing so, especially when Fluttershy’s eyes held a determination she had never seen before. Well… sort of.
“Alright, I think I understand,” Rarity sighed before smiling with some excitement. “What surprises me most is that you're so in love you're fighting against yourself. As a woman, I respect that.”
“But I think this is the best I can do,” Fluttershy admitted, sounding a bit defeated. “I've been here for twenty minutes and haven’t done anything… I… I want to approach her and talk to her. At least say hi. But it’s impossible.”
“I suppose you're right. Taking the first step can be tricky,” Rarity said, tapping her chin in thought for a few seconds. “But that's what friends are for. Let me help you with that.”
“Eh?! W-what?!” Fluttershy squeaked.
“What's the problem?” Rarity smirked, tossing her hair back. “You know I'm a woman of romance. I can’t just stand by when a friend is in need.”
“T-that fast?! I mean… isn’t it too soon?” Fluttershy fidgeted nervously. “Um… Maybe today isn't the best day.”
“Shh. Don’t say that, darling,” Rarity whispered, pressing a delicate finger to Fluttershy’s lips. “There’s no such thing as the perfect moment. Today is as good as any. And you’re already here… all you need is a little push.”
“It’s not just that, Rarity…” Fluttershy tried to protest, but she was already being pushed toward the store. “Can’t we really do this another time? I have homework, and I still haven’t fed my Angel Bunny. And I need to prepare some things for the animal shelter. Seriously, Rarity, today I just don’t feel… well.”
Rarity stopped and stood in front of her with her arms crossed, scrutinizing Fluttershy from head to toe. Whatever she was thinking, she had completely ignored Fluttershy’s words and seemed focused on something else entirely. One thing was certain, there was no turning back now. Once her best friend had made plans, she was unlikely to cancel them over such weak excuses.
In any case, her best option now was to focus on calming her panic and coming to terms with the fact that she would soon be talking to Rainbow Dash.
“Hmm… I don’t really like that you’re wearing the school uniform, but at least it’s elegant enough to make a good impression,” Rarity said, stepping closer to smooth out a few wrinkles and adjust some parts. “Even in this plain uniform, you still manage to look charming, so I approve. Of course, I don’t expect someone like Rainbow Dash to notice, but it’s better than nothing.”
Fluttershy felt even more nervous at Rarity’s words. The thought of her friend fixing her up to impress Rainbow Dash filled her with anxiety. However, she appreciated the support and gave a shy smile, one that didn’t last long once Rarity opened the door.
She didn’t even have time to prepare herself. Rarity was already inside, and she had no choice but to follow before her thoughts betrayed her. It was just about talking to a person, nothing more. She wasn’t going to ask her to be her friend, much less invite her out. She just had to get to know her.
Rainbow Dash yawned and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to stay awake. Her eyes filled with tears, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand before resting her chin on it, visibly bored and exhausted after a long day at school.
She wasn’t happy about having a part-time job, not at all. However, it wasn’t like she had many options besides complaining and dealing with boredom as the hours passed. It was the price she had to pay to earn money on her own terms, especially if she wanted a guitar that was truly hers.
Of course, her parents’ option was always there. They would give her more money in a week than she could earn in a month. But it came with the terrible downside of being constantly pestered to show the “fruits of her labor.” And that would be fine if her parents weren’t incredibly annoying beyond what was humanly possible.
Seriously, the way they constantly praised and took pictures of everything was absurd, even for someone with an ego as big as Rainbow Dash's. It was exhausting, and she found herself in need of some peace and privacy much sooner than she had expected.
So, as soon as she turned sixteen, she took the initiative to find a job and start earning her own money, with the added benefit of staying away from her parents for several extra hours. With that in mind, the job wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle, and boredom was a thousand times preferable to having her mother looking over her shoulder at everything she did.
She almost felt proud of her plan, except for the part where she actually had to work. At least she wasn’t stuck at home doing homework.
Rainbow Dash let out a long sigh as she looked around the store, desperately searching for something to entertain her. She pulled out her phone with the intention of breaking her record on Snake, but since she had already beaten it that morning in class, she immediately changed her mind and idly scrolled through the menu.
As she got lost in her thoughts, she heard the store door open and turned to look, watching two girls walk in. She quickly recognized their uniforms and watched the Crystal Prep pair with curiosity as they wandered through the aisles. It wasn’t common for private school students to go so far out of their way to shop at a store they likely considered low-tier. They usually preferred the mall simply because it had everything they needed and was much closer.
Both were certainly unique just by their looks and demeanor: one was a girl with long pink hair, with a shy and nervous expression on her face as she nervously entered the store. Followed closely by an elegant woman with exaggerated expressions, whom Rainbow had no doubt was part of the popular crowd. They were certainly beautiful, and Rainbow would have admitted they had an unusual grace, but the fact that they belonged to Crystal Prep quickly made her scowl in disgust.
Canterlot High and Crystal Prep had a rivalry that went back farther than Rainbow Dash could remember. The most obvious differences —like their students' attire or their clear financial advantage— had fueled an academic rivalry, where both schools constantly competed to prove their superiority.
At first, the competition was fairly even, with Canterlot proving that one didn’t need excessive funding to develop skills. But before long, Crystal Prep made it clear that dedicated teachers and outstanding facilities helped their students achieve a level of performance that was hard to beat.
Rainbow initially believed that she alone was enough to tip the scales. But year after year, she was forced to realize that Crystal Prep was a massive obstacle that took everything so seriously that if they didn’t crush their rivals, they considered it a failure. And so, they destroyed the girls' soccer team again and again, turning their matches into humiliations where Crystal Prep would mock Canterlot High before crushing them with an overwhelming score, making it clear who was the best.
“It's just the natural order of things,” Crystal Prep students had said.
It was hard not to be angry at that school, but she tried to downplay it as long as she could keep her pride intact and not get trampled by anyone. That didn’t mean she wasn’t uncomfortable seeing Crystal Prep students lurking around the store as if searching for something specific.
She pretended to be disinterested while keeping an eye on them, or at least tried to, until an actual customer walked into the store, demanding her attention. She quickly assisted him with a barely genuine smile before turning her focus back to the girls, but they had vanished. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she had to look around to make sure, as she hadn’t even heard the door open.
“That's weird.” She muttered, scratching her head.
She stepped out from behind the counter and walked through the aisles, wanting to confirm if those girls had actually entered the store or if her tired brain was playing tricks on her.
As she turned a corner, she tripped over something in her path that let out a squeaky noise like a rubber toy. Regaining her balance, she turned around to find the pair crouched beside the shelves. The pink-haired girl was rubbing the spot where Rainbow had accidentally hit her, while the purple-haired girl anxiously checked on her.
“What are you two doing?” Rainbow asked irritably.
The pale-skinned girl let go of her friend and stood up to face Rainbow with a frown.
“What do you think you're doing?” She shot back. “You walk around carelessly, and you still have that unpleasant attitude. The least you could do is ask if we're okay… Oh, Fluttershy, are you hurt?”
“It’s nothing, Rarity,” the pink-haired girl replied, taking Rarity’s hand to stand up.
“Of course it was something,” Rarity retorted angrily, shooting an accusatory glare at Rainbow. “This… employee rammed into you because of her carelessness. I suppose it was too much to expect anything good from a Canterlot High student.”
Rainbow took a step back, somewhat offended, and locked eyes with Rarity, who, for some reason, had started attacking her as if she had done something horrible. And how did she know what school she attended? Did she know who she was? A bad feeling settled in the back of her mind, making her wonder why these girls were even here.
However, Rarity might have had a bit of a point, as much as she hated to admit it. She had unconsciously walked into Fluttershy because of her curiosity, and, as expected from Crystal Prep’s delicate students, she had accidentally hurt her in the process. So, just this once, she would take responsibility. And, well, she was the employee here. The last thing she needed was for Rarity to cause a scene that would get her in trouble with her boss.
So, she approached Fluttershy and placed a hand on her shoulder. The pink-haired girl flinched at the sudden touch. Rainbow immediately pulled her hand back, raising both in a peace gesture.
“Sorry about that,” Rainbow stepped back. “I just wanted to make sure you're okay. I know it was my fault, but you two were also crouched there like you were planning something.”
“Incredible that you think we're that kind of people,” Rarity said irritably. Rainbow was starting to get fed up with all her drama. “For the record, I have no need for anything from this… quaint establishment.”
“I didn’t say that at all… wow. I just want to know what you were doing,” she clarified, turning her attention back to Fluttershy. “Anyway, you're not hurt, right?”
Fluttershy blushed and looked down once Rainbow's gaze met hers. This wasn’t how she had expected to meet her. But there they were, talking after so much time. Too bad her shyness and the unfortunate circumstances had made her freeze up in front of her.
The gears in her head began to turn furiously, desperately trying to bring her back to reality. The best she could manage was a rough yet soft response—one that at least made Rainbow lower her raised eyebrow when she didn’t see her react immediately.
“I-I’m fine…” Fluttershy replied, her heart pounding against her chest as if trying to escape.
“Hmm? Yeah? If you say so,” Rainbow nodded, not entirely convinced by that response. “Well, sorry then. Why don’t you let me make it up to you?”
Rainbow gave her a smile and stepped away toward the freezer near the counter, grabbed one of the popsicles, and offered it to Fluttershy, who took a moment to react before accepting it, looking a little confused.
“Do you think she’s a child who needs-” Rarity was about to argue with Rainbow again, but this time, Fluttershy spoke first.
“Thank you,” she said with a smile.
Now it was Rainbow’s turn to freeze and subtly avert her gaze. It only took a second for her to return to her confident demeanor as she scratched her cheek and smiled proudly at herself.
“Of course.” Rainbow said nonchalantly, shrugging. “So… all good? No hard feelings between us, right?”
“I wouldn’t say we’re good, but…” Rarity spoke up again.
“Oh, come on!” Rainbow groaned, running a hand down her face. “What’s your problem? I wasn’t even talking to you. You’re the typical Crystal Prep student, always complaining about everything.”
“And you’re a rude, ill-mannered… Ugh! I don’t even want to talk to you anymore,” Rarity crossed her arms and turned away.
The exchange between Rainbow Dash and Rarity had left a tense atmosphere among the three, putting Fluttershy in an awkward situation. She didn’t understand why they clashed despite having just met, but she couldn’t let things remain this way. The thought of her best friend and the girl she had romantic feelings for clashing didn’t sit well with her at all.
“Um, girls, please,” Fluttershy nervously intervened, trying to put an end to the argument. “I think we should calm down a bit. Fighting over something so small isn’t good.”
Rarity shot an annoyed glance at Rainbow Dash before turning her attention back to Fluttershy. Her expression showed a mix of irritation and disappointment. The fashionista realized that it was embarrassing to be carried away by prejudice, and the last thing she wanted was to ruin Fluttershy’s romantic future.
“You’re right, Fluttershy. I shouldn’t let someone like her get under my skin,” Rarity said with a sigh, trying to calm down. “I’m sorry, darling. And I forgive you too, um…”
“My name is Rainbow Dash, and I have nothing to apologize to you for,” Rainbow shook her head. “But whatever. We’re at peace… for now. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work.”
As Rainbow returned to her job, Rarity approached Fluttershy and motioned for her to follow Rainbow Dash.
“Come on, Fluttershy, you already did the hardest part,” Rarity said with a determined look. “Now, you have to keep the conversation going. Try to learn a little more about her.”
“W-what? That’s impossible, I feel like I’ve already done too much,” Fluttershy responded fearfully, shrinking in place.
Rarity walked alongside Fluttershy, grabbing a bottle of water before speaking again.
“I know it’s hard for you to start a conversation with new people. But you have to understand that to get close to someone, you need to push all those social insecurities aside,” Rarity said, giving her a light tap on the head with the bottle. “You can’t reach a girl’s heart if you’re too reserved and take two steps back every time you take one forward.”
“B-but…”
“No buts, Fluttershy,” Rarity interrupted her. “Either you have the courage to face the person you like, or you walk away knowing there will never be anything between you two.”
Fluttershy knew Rarity was right; even she understood the logic behind those words, and the conclusion was obvious. However, even though her mind was certain she wanted to get closer to Rainbow Dash, the rest of her body reacted in the opposite way, paralyzed by the fear of making a mistake or leaving a bad impression.
And it wasn’t like their encounter had been the most pleasant, but she was sure it was a rare stroke of luck that might not happen again. So she had to make a decision. The one her heart longed for, the one she had to fight for despite her lack of courage.
She wasn’t going to stop being the shy Fluttershy that everyone knew, but at the very least she could take comfort in knowing she had chosen the braver path.
“I… I’ll try,” Fluttershy finally said, inhaling and exhaling softly.
“Great, darling. I expected nothing less.” Rarity smiled with satisfaction. “And since you’re so determined, I’d better leave. Rainbow and I didn’t start off on the right foot, so I’d rather avoid her for now.”
“You’re leaving already? Now I’m not so sure about my decision,” Fluttershy said, starting to panic. But then Rarity grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “Rarity…”
“No negative thoughts, Fluttershy,” Rarity scolded her. “Focus and act. Don’t let silly, senseless thoughts tell you what to do. Just go to her, start a conversation, no matter how short, and move on with your life. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
Fluttershy nodded. Not that she could argue with Rarity.
“Okay, see you then,” Rarity said goodbye and approached Rainbow. “I’m taking this.”
Rainbow snapped out of her daydream and looked at Rarity, confused.
“You’re still here. I thought you had already left,” Rainbow huffed in annoyance. “And all that time just for a bottle of water. Did you check each one to see which best suits your refined palate?”
“It’s just water, silly. There’s no need to check anything, no matter how low its quality is,” Rarity replied in the same manner. “And it’s none of your business what your customers do. Your job is to serve me.”
“Of course, ma’am,” Rainbow gave her a fake smile. “Will you be needing anything else?”
“It’s miss, and no, I won’t need anything else,” Rarity responded without looking at her. “Have a good afternoon.”
“Uh-huh…”
Rarity left the store, and Fluttershy gathered her courage, pushing aside her overthinking.
“H-hi,” she approached, trying to put on a smile.
Unlike with Rarity, Rainbow’s expression softened when she saw Fluttershy, as she had no problem with her. That, and she didn’t want to scare the shy girl.
“Hey, what’s up?” Rainbow said.
“I was wondering if it’s really okay for me to take this without paying,” Fluttershy spoke, showing the frozen popsicle. “No, I should pay for it.”
“Huh? Don’t do that.” Rainbow stopped her before she could take out her money. “I don’t mind, I swear. It’s nothing. You know, it’s my way of apologizing for bumping into you. Besides, I don’t even know if it’s your favorite flavor.”
“Um, I see. Then, thank you. You didn’t have to go through the trouble,” she said with a sincere smile. “It was also my fault for standing in the middle of the aisle.”
“You’re nothing like the girl who was with you earlier,” Rainbow said, slightly surprised. “I thought everyone from Crystal Prep was an arrogant snob who did whatever they wanted.”
“Rarity isn’t usually like that. She’s much friendlier and kinder than she seems,” Fluttershy immediately defended her friend. “She was just a little upset.”
“Okay, okay. If you say so, it must be true,” Rainbow shrugged. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re much nicer to talk to. I mean, you’re not yelling at me or talking down to me like a typical Crystal Prep student. Ugh, I know enough of them to say that belittling others is their usual way of communicating.”
“Not all of them are that bad…”
“That bad,” Rainbow smirked.
“There are classmates who are actually very nice,” Fluttershy said quietly. “Unfortunately, they’re few compared to the ones you’ve met.”
“Yeah, it almost seems like if they don’t meet those criteria, they’re not allowed in,” Rainbow Dash joked. “But it’s pretty amazing that at least one person there isn’t a total pain. Where did you come from? Are you new or something?”
Fluttershy blushed slightly. The fact that Rainbow was willing to chat with her created a warm feeling in her chest that was hard to ignore. Her friendliness was a good sign Fluttershy couldn’t help but cling to.
“I’ve been at Crystal Prep my whole life, but my presence isn’t something most people notice,” Fluttershy replied, playing with her hair.
“I see. So we never had the luck of meeting at the annual competition between our schools,” Rainbow said, trying to recall anything unusual. She quickly realized she hadn’t even introduced herself properly. “Ah! My bad! I’m Rainbow Dash, student at Canterlot High. Heh. I just started talking to you like we already knew each other.”
“D-don’t worry,” Fluttershy replied. “I heard your name when you were arguing with Rarity… Um… I’m Fluttershy.”
“So I just met someone named Flutter[shy] who goes to Crystal Prep,” Rainbow looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. “That’s rarer than a shooting star. Should I make a wish?”
Was that a compliment? If so, Fluttershy felt like she was about to faint from excitement. Heat rose to her face, turning it crimson up to the tips of her ears. Suddenly, her vision blurred as a rush of overwhelming emotions hit her like a branch in the middle of a storm.
“… shy? Fluttershy?” Rainbow waved a hand in front of her face. “Are you still there? What happened?”
“Huh? Where…?” Fluttershy snapped back to reality and saw Rainbow raising an eyebrow. “S-sorry! I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s fine, girl,” Rainbow shook her head. “Anyway, I have to get back to work. If someone finds out I’m chatting with a customer for too long, I could get in trouble. Not that I want to kick you out or anything, really, you’re cool, but I can’t take too much free time.”
“Oh, s-sorry for taking up so much of your time,” Fluttershy said, lowering her head slightly. “I also have things to do, so I should go. Thanks for everything.”
“Nah, stop mentioning something so small,” Rainbow waved a hand dismissively. “But if you want to make it up to me, come by again sometime.”
“What?”
“If you want! Only if you want! I’m not trying to say anything else!” Rainbow laughed nervously, scratching the back of her head. “I-it’s just that it was nice talking to you, you know, for a Crystal Prep student… Ugh.”
“Then I’ll try to come by tomorrow, if that’s okay with you,” Fluttershy responded, hiding behind her hair.
“Really? Oh, of course, I’ll be here like always,” Rainbow nodded.
“Goodbye, Rainbow,” Fluttershy said as she walked out the door.
“See ya,” Rainbow smiled, her face lighting up red once Fluttershy was out of sight. “Ugh, that was embarrassing. What the heck just happened to me?”
Fluttershy left the store, her heart pounding harder than ever. She felt so good she wouldn’t even care if she dropped dead on the spot. She had achieved her goal of talking to Rainbow Dash and had even managed to form a small bond of friendship with her—far exceeding her initial expectations.
She couldn’t be happier, and tonight, she would fall asleep with a huge smile.
“I swear! I can’t believe they sell water like this! What if it makes me sick or…?” Fluttershy suddenly heard Rarity’s voice in the distance.
She only had to turn her head to see her best friend talking to a couple of guys with bored expressions about the horrors of buying low-quality products. However, Fluttershy was too dazed to pay attention. It wasn’t until Rarity noticed her presence that she stopped bothering the strangers and approached her, curiosity all over her face.
“Fluttershy, darling, how did it go with Rainbow Dash?” she asked. “Judging by your face, I assume everything went better than well, right?”
“Rarity? Why are you still here?” Fluttershy asked, genuinely curious.
“Honestly, darling, I simply had to spy on you two,” Rarity admitted, a faint blush coloring her face. “Then I saw people trying to enter the store, and I had to stop them. I couldn’t let anyone interrupt such an important moment. Nobody needs irrelevant characters in a love story. It’s so unaesthetic, darling.”
“Okay?”
“Anyway, knowing everything went as perfectly as possible, I’m off,” Rarity sighed tiredly, lowering her shoulders. “Opal and my designs are waiting at home. If I don’t tend to them today, I’ll regret it tomorrow. Especially Opal, she can be quite the diva when she wants to be. But at school, you have to tell me everything. Absolutely everything.”
“Of course, Rarity, I’d also love to get your advice,” Fluttershy said nervously. “This is the first time I’ve ever done something like this…”
“Say no more, Fluttershy.” Rarity raised a hand. “I obviously intend to give you all my help and make your first love story the best one. And if I have to deal with Rainbow Dash for the rest of my life, so be it—I’m doing it for my best friend.”
“I really appreciate it, truly,” Fluttershy gave her a smile.
“Now, I really have to go,” Rarity finally said. “There’s so much to do from now on. Oh! All this inspiration needs to be put to good use!”
Fluttershy watched Rarity walk away and couldn’t help but giggle. All that happiness had put her in an excellent mood, and even though she wasn’t sure about the future of her friendship with Rainbow Dash, at least for today, she was more than satisfied.
A great way to end the day.
“Oh no! Angel Bunny…” Fluttershy picked up her pace toward home and disappeared as she turned the corner.
Author's Note
This is the first story I’m sharing in English, and I’d be lying if I said I’m not embarrassed to show it to the public, no matter how few readers it gets.
I thought having the original version would help make the translation at least decent. However, it turns out I don’t even have a solid grasp of my own native language, which made everything else significantly harder. Now, I’m not even sure if doing this was a good idea.
The truth is, I just wanted to contribute my little grain of sand to this ship that I love so much and have been reading about for years. And seeing how inactive it has been, I thought this was my chance to do something. In any case, if it turns out to be a disaster, I wouldn’t mind taking it down and trying again next time… or stepping away entirely if it doesn’t even meet the minimum quality standards.
Anyway, hopefully, I’ll see you in the next part.
And please, if there are any writers reading this, write more FlutterDash stories… if you want to. Just know that you’ll always have at least one loyal reader.
