It Had to Be You

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.