For Her Favor

There are several events in a young filly’s life that can be quite stressful: her first day of school, her first big dance, her first pimple, getting braces. However, there was one event that trumped all other disasters that normally plagued a young pegasus pony’s childhood.

Summer Flight Camp.

For Fluttershy, the arrival of this horrid event was an inevitability that she had dreaded for months. She had managed to fake being sick last autumn and missed attending Fall Flight Camp, but she knew the same trick would not work twice.

At that moment her door burst open and a pegasus stallion entered, a loud cheerful voice followed, “Up, up, up! Rise and shine Fluttershy, today’s the big day!”

Fluttershy attempted to retreat from the voice by falling back further into the security of her comforter, but she grossly underestimated her opponent. Fluttershy was then assaulted by the blinding light of the sun, her vision slowly adjusted as she was greeted again by the cheerful voice of her father, Fairweather, his smile bright enough to give the sun itself a run for its money.

“Now, dear I know you’re worried about getting sick again and having to miss another flight camp, which is why I had Gourmet make you a breakfast perfect for providing a young filly with the vitamins and nutrients to fight off any illness, and of course provide you with the energy necessary to make it through the harrowing challenges of flight camp, which I just know you’ll ace with flying colors,” said the proud father, his smile never faltering.

Fluttershy sighed, but then smiled as put forth her best effort to reciprocate her father’s enthusiasm. “Oh why thank you father, though you really shouldn’t have.”

“Nonsense, only the best for my future little Wonderbolt,” Fairweather interjected. “Now hurry up dear, breakfast and flight camp waits!”

Again Fluttershy breathed a heavy sigh before hesitantly getting out of bed, “that’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”

…

Despite her date the previous night, Fluttershy found herself up at her usual time just before the sun rose, which she preferred since it meant she would not have to suffer through the uncomfortable period of adjusting to the blinding light brought on by the sunrise. As Fluttershy fed her many animal friends, her mind went back to the various things she and her new friend Flo had talked about during their evening.

Well… have you considered furthering your education?

Flo’s words sank into her and settled in her like an ice cube in her belly. Fluttershy had always thought about going to school for learning how to be an official animal caretaker, she knew that doing so would allow her to not only do more to help her animal friends but also perhaps one day teach others.

Fluttershy’s School for the Veterinary Arts. She had to admit it had a nice ring to it, and she could even get Discord to help her design and build it.

Hmm…maybe I should first handle getting into Vet school first, before I consider any well-meaning, though admittedly problematic, draconequesses near any construction tools, she thought to herself.

Fluttershy finished feeding her fish, and then trotted around her cottage into her front yard to go check the mail. Upon opening her mailbox, Fluttershy noticed a blue envelope, with a rainbow-colored lightning bolt for a stamp. Of course, Fluttershy knew immediately who this was from, so she hastily opened it to see what it was. Naturally all that it contained was a letter, written in Rainbow’s signature sloppy writing, though Fluttershy had known Rainbow Dash long enough to be able to read her penmanship.

“To Fluttershy, hey it’s me Rainbow Dash. I wrote you this note because I had to get up early to go do weather patrol duties, which sucks. But, listen there’s something I want to talk to you about, so meet me at five o’clock on the hill just outside Sweet Apple Acres thanks,” she read out loud. She then looked down to Angel, who was munching on his morning carrot.

“Oh dear I wonder what it is she wanted to talk about? Well I better make sure and get my chores done extra early so that I can meet her on time,” she told Angel, who had already left once he had finished his carrot. “Oh well, I suppose I should get started then, la lala lala lala,” sang Fluttershy as she went off to do the rest of her daily rituals.

…

Fluttershy usually felt like she should have been born an earth pony, but at this moment she wished desperately to have been a unicorn. She knew that according to the Hearth’s Warming Eve story it was the unicorns who raised the sun and the moon before Princess Celestia came along. Fluttershy hoped that with enough magic she could move the sun backwards, make it yesterday again and then keep it that way forever so she would never have to worry about today coming.

Of course Fluttershy also knew that the last pony who messed with the sun and moon like that was sent to live on the moon all alone, and Fluttershy pondered if such a life might actually be better. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about being around other ponies, but she wasn’t sure how she would eat either.

Instead Fluttershy settled for procrastinating the old fashioned way, by brushing her mane over and over again, hoping her father had forgotten what day it was.

“Fluttershy, come on kid, breakfast is getting cold and you’re gonna be late!”

Of course he didn’t forget, she thought to herself.

Finally accepting her fate, Fluttershy trotted down the stairs and through the living room into their dining room where her father and mother sat waiting for her.

“Ah there’s my girl, ready to get underway with her flight training,” her father beamed proudly. As she took her seat at the table, he hugged her in his wing, and she merely nodded her head.

“Dear, are you sure you’re feeling well, I know last time you starting to feel clammy and you’re coat almost turned green,” said her mother, Sky Flower, recalling the incident last fall.

Fluttershy, despite her severe desire to fall desperately ill right that moment, knew that she couldn’t avoid this forever, and that she did not want to disappoint her parents either. So taking a deep breath, she put on a smile and looked up to her mother.

“Oh, umm yes I’m sure, I sure can’t wait to go to flight camp,” she said with as much false enthusiasm as she could muster. Her mother gave her a curious look that suggested she was not entirely convinced. Unfortunately any suspicions were quickly forgotten as Fairweather certainly had enough genuine enthusiasm for them all.

“That’s my girl! Oh I just know you’re going to do well,” he said as he hugged his daughter tightly in his wing.

After finishing her oatmeal, Fluttershy was handed her bag by one of the housemaids, she then got up from the table and hugged her mother.

Her mother, in an attempt to not be heard by Fairweather whispered into her daughter’s ear, “Just remember Shy, this isn’t about what your father wants, or what you think you’re obligated to do, try to have fun, makes friends, and learn to enjoy flying. We’ll be proud of you no matter what, flying prodigy or no.”

Fluttershy of course had no doubts both of her parents loved her unconditionally and in the case of her father his heart was in the right place, but it certainly helped the young filly to receive some reassurance from her mother.

“Thank you, mother, I promise to do my best,” she said warmly while wearing her first true smile of the day.

“She then trotted to the door, where the carriage that took the young ponies to Flight Camp was waiting. At the door her father stood proudly as he addressed his daughter, “Now go out there Fluttershy, and show them what you’re made of.”

Fluttershy merely gulped.

…

Rarity considered herself a mare of confidence, she knew where it was she wanted to go in life. She knew that a life of fame, glamour, and sophistication awaited her in Canterlot. She also knew her future would be one spent in the arms of her dashing prince that would come in and sweep her off her hooves. Tragically, Rarity’s night at the Grand Galloping Gala had successfully shot that part of the dream clear out of the sky. Her prince on that night had been anything but dashing, and that bit of reality had been a hard pill to swallow, though fortunately, like always Rarity picked herself up, brushed herself off and knew that the only path she had to take was the one before her.

The only problem was she found herself feeling incredibly lost.

With her princely fantasies sundered, Rarity began to question what was it that she wanted out of life, both professionally and personally. She was still a young mare with her whole career ahead of her, so she decided just to pour everything into that. She had even made a trip to Canterlot shortly before Twilight’s birthday to pick up supplies and hopefully spark her creativity. It was during this trip that she had met him.

Fancy Pants was a member of the Canterlot social elite, a true stallion of fortune and gentlecolt. Rarity had been entranced by him, and she had interpreted his kindness as a sign of his interest in her. Sadly, it became obvious quite quickly that Fancy Pants was but another fantasy beyond her reach. A married stallion already and in truth far too old for her, his kindness had merely been born of his good nature and genuine interest to be a friend to Rarity, and a friend only. Once again Rarity found her career advancing, but no prince to take her to the ball. Rarity began to wonder if it was prince she should be looking for. Perhaps instead what Rarity thought she needed was… a princess.

“Of course at the rate I’m going, I’m going to let that slip away from me as well,” Rarity thought to herself.

Rarity took a break from the self-introspective moping to fully take in just where it was she was going. She was not surprised to find herself heading towards the outskirts of Ponyville, in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Also it was the direction if Fluttershy’s cottage.

“No, not now Rarity, first things first you must sort out these feelings and thoughts, I think asking Twilight and Applejack for advice might be most advantageous,” she assured herself.

As Rarity passed through the front gate of Sweet Apple Acres, and pass the seemingly endless rows of Apple Trees, she had to admit that the farm was not without its charms. Sure Rarity had always been a city pony at heart, and she longed for bigger things, but one thing she had learned from her visit to Canterlot that one time was that while bigger, they were not necessarily better.

As Rarity finally made it to the Apple Family’s main farmhouse, she was greeted by a most interesting scene. The front door opened as Applejack walked out accompanied by Twilight, both of them looking slightly disheveled, but still quite happy. Rarity, being the well-informed mare that she was, already knew about recent developments that had occurred in their relationship. She of course would not discuss it until they would decide it was appropriate, since this was still a secret that Twilight and Applejack thought nopony else knew. Rarity certainly knew how it felt to have a secret and not be quite ready to make it known to others. So thinking quickly, Rarity jumped into the nearest bush before Applejack and Twilight noticed her.

Hmm, well this makes now the third time in only two days I’ve found myself hiding in some shrubbery, Rarity amusingly thought to herself.

As fate would have it, Twilight and Applejack briefly paused just next to where Rarity had chosen to hide herself, taking note of each other’s appearance. Twilight giggled while she fixed Applejack’s hat, who was busy trying in futile to fix Twilight’s mane.

“I must say Twi, you look a sight, hate to see how Rarity would act if she saw the state your mane is in,” Applejack said playfully as she continued to mess with the other pony’s mane, seemingly doing more damage than before.

Twilight only continued to laugh as she turned away from her friend, “Well, I wouldn’t ‘look a sight’ if someone was so grabby with my mane.”

“Hmm, I wouldn’t be so grabby with somepony’s mane if that mane weren’t so great to play with,” Applejack continued, as she had all but given up on straightening Twilight’s mane.

Rarity had grown to immediately regret hiding, as she now had to endure the cheesy, albeit slightly adorable, banter between the two lovers.

“Well I’m just glad, Fluttershy’s date seemed to go well, didn’t even need to use that magic charm of yours,” Applejack smiled as she held up a pendant that Rarity noticed looked just like the butterflies that made up Fluttershy’s cutie mark. This piqued Rarity’s curiosity.

“Well better safe than sorry, but you’re right, I guess all those weird occurrences on her other dates were just flukes,” Twilight responded as she took the butterfly in her magical grasp and put it in her saddlebag.

Strange occurrences? Oh dear! Do, do they know? Are they on to Rainbow Dash and I? What if they catch us, and what of Fluttershy? Oh no, this is terrible, I need to tell Rainbow Dash, we need to stop this! Rarity's mind had quickly descended into a garbled mess of panic.

In the midst of her worrying, she had not realized that Applejack and Twilight had continued walking, leaving her alone once again. Instead of doing the sane thing coming out from her hiding place, Rarity sat there and though about all that she had just witnessed and heard. She thought about Twilight and Applejack and their relationship, she thought about her secret being discovered, and most of all she thought about her situation, and how Fluttershy fit into it all.

While Rarity was truly happy two of her best friends had found love in one another, she regretfully admitted to herself that this only made her own lack of romance all the more difficult to accept. Her princely dreams had ended with anything but a happy ending, and now she found her hopes of winning Fluttershy’s favor quickly slipping through her hooves.

Oh merciful Celestia, is this it? Is this my life now? Too embarrassed by my friends and their love that I have to resort to ducking into common bushes now? So discouraged by my lack of romance in my life that I’m now reduced to jeopardizing other ponies simply because I’m too frightened to not be as brave as they were and at least try and seize some happiness for myself.

Once checking to see the coast had cleared, Rarity quickly exited the bush, looked down to the ground and breathed a heavy sigh.

Well I suppose I can just talk to Applejack later, no need worrying about it now.

As Rarity headed back down the road leading out of the orchard she noticed Big Macintosh was over by some of the apple trees. He waved at her, and she politely waved back to him. Applejack’s older brother had a unique talent for blending in with his environment despite his impressive size. He was also quite a gentlecolt, but he was also very taciturn.

Surprisingly, Macintosh came up to Rarity and asked her, “Well hello Miss Rarity, how has your day been?”

Despite being taken aback at Big Macintosh’s uncharacteristic forwardness, Rarity immediately recovered, “Oh why hello Big Macintosh…”

“Oh, please Miss Rarity, just call me Mac,” Mac interjected.

“Well only if you’ll just call me Rarity,” Rarity quickly added.

“Fair enough, so what brings you here to our humble abode?” Mac asked her.

“Oh well, I was hoping to speak with your sister about something, but well she was with Twilight, and they were in ‘that’ mood so I decided it’d best if I waited,” said Rarity, her voice plagued with doubt.

Mac of course knew that Twilight had stayed over for the night, and he also knew about their relationship, but he respected his sister’s privacy and so he had not told anyone about it.

“Well I say, I’m sorry you came all the way out her in the sticks for nothing.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble; in fact I occasionally need a break for my busy schedule so coming out her to get some fresh air is always a plus,” Rarity kindly responded as she looked up to Macintosh.

“Well I think that’s always a good thing, so I suppose I’ll leave you to that then,” Macintosh replied as he turned away and proceeded to resume his work.

“Wait, umm Mac, well you see the thing is, I really came out looking for somepony to talk to, but that pony was a bit preoccupied…” Rarity interjected before he could make one step further away.

“Let me guess: Applejack and Twilight,” Macintosh said flatly.

“Well umm, yes they seemed busy so I decided not to intrude, but I was wondering if maybe… I could have a minute of your time?”

After a brief moment of studying Rarity, Macintosh simply responded, “Sure.”

…

Fluttershy’s first day at Flight Camp had gone about the way she had expected except for one thing.

It had ended being even more terrible than even she had anticipated.

First she had tripped falling out of the carriage right outside the front gates when they arrived, then she couldn’t say ‘here’ loud enough during roll call so the instructor almost marked her absent, then she couldn’t lift herself off the clouds at all, and she was the slowest runner in her entire group.

Now during free flight time, Fluttershy had to sit on the clouds and watch as all the other fillies and colts practiced their flying. Fluttershy then looked up at one of the flight rings, she then put on a determined face as she hovered up and attempted to fly through it.

Okay, you can do this Fluttershy, do it for dad, she told herself.

With all the strength the young filly could muster she began to hover off of the ground. Slowly she came up to the flight ring and moved to go through it, but unfortunately her front legs, as long and lanky as there were, got caught on the ring and she fell through and fell on a cloud bank and began to slid down, before crashing through a flag and tumbling onto the lower clouds. After falling back down, Fluttershy struggled to escape the entrapment of the flag, only to be bombarded with laughter after she finally managed to free herself.

Two colts were laughing at her and began to mock her inability to fly. Though what happened next occurred far too quickly for her to notice at first. A small blue blur flew out of nowhere before her and she quickly realized it was a pony, who despite her tiny stature, gave off an overwhelming feeling of confidence, and her rainbow-colored mane certainly made her difficult to not notice.

“Leave her alone!” Said the pony, in high-pitch voice, which surprised Fluttershy, as she had at first thought she was a colt.

The filly and the colts went back and forth, and the name “Rainbow Crash” was thrown at the filly, who seemed to be only further angered by the moniker. Fluttershy quickly recognized the name. Rumors of a fast flying pony had spread throughout Flight Camp, though the word was that as fast as this pony was, she was equally clumsy. Before Fluttershy knew what had fully happened, the filly had accepted the challenge of the other two colts to a race. After picking a place and time they flew off leaving Fluttershy with her rescuer.

“Oh umm… thank you… Rainbow, umm…” Fluttershy said timidly, not sure about what to say next as she didn’t quite know her real name.

“Dash, it’s Rainbow Dash, hey but yeah no problem, somepony has to keep these losers in line,” the filly called Rainbow Dash said proudly holding her chest out dramatically. Fluttershy had to try and suppress her urge to laugh at the other pony’s display, but she knew it would be rude.

“So, I noticed they were calling you Klutzershy, but I doubt that’s your real name,” Rainbow Dash said nervously, her bravado seemingly waning.

“Oh, umm my name is Fluttershy,” she replied in her normal speaking tone, which was just barely above a whisper.

“Huh?” Rainbow replied, wearing a look of abject confusion.

“My name is Fluttershy,” she said slightly louder.

“Louder!” Replied Rainbow Dash, seemingly causing Fluttershy to shutdown.

“Oh, um sorry, it’s just I can’t hear what you’re saying half the time, you need to be more assertive, you know stand up for yourself, speak loudly!” assured Rainbow Dash, seemingly as if it were as easy breathing, well perhaps for Rainbow Dash it was.

Fluttershy, however, was an entirely different creature.

“Well, I suppose I could try harder to be louder, I’m sorry,” Fluttershy said as she attempted to hold back her disappointment in herself, as she feared her first attempt at making a friend would end in failure.

“Eh, it’s okay I’ll coach you through it, I mean with me helping you, you’re sure to become the second-most awesome filly in this camp easy,” Rainbow Dash confidently flew off towards the camp race track, as Fluttershy did her best to keep up.

Once Rainbow Dash arrived, with Fluttershy putting up a valiant effort to keep up, she turned to her new friend wearing her same confidant smile. “Okay, so here’s the deal, I’m gonna race these two flying snails and when I beat them, I’ll totally embarrass them enough to make the leave you alone, kay?”

Fluttershy was still having difficulty following all that was happening as everything was coming at her so quickly. She merely nodded weakly in affirmation. Dash then turned back before looking at her again, this time holding a checkered racing flag in her mouth.

“Uf can huld dis fwag,” Rainbow Dash muffled out. Fluttershy wore a confused look, but took the flag from Rainbow Dash, allowing to repeat herself. “I said you can hold this flag, every great racing pony needs some other pony to wave the start flag for them, usually that pony also kisses the race when they win, but kissing is gross so you don’ have to do that.”

Fluttershy immediately turned a bright shade of red, not unlike the single strip in Rainbow’s mane at the mention of kissing her. She then nodded and was able to flap her wings barely enough to land on the tiny cloud just in front of the start line. It was then that Fluttershy first noticed just how many of the other ponies had shown up, interested in the race about to unfurl.

Oh no, all these ponies are here, and they’re all looking at me! Well, most are looking at Rainbow Dash and those other two, but some of them are looking at me. Oh why did I agree to do this? No, no Fluttershy you can’t think like that, Rainbow Dash came to your defense, so the least you can do is wave this flag, what could possibly go wrong? Fluttershy internally ensured herself.

Rainbow Dash and the two colts stood ready, their backs arched and wings already fluttering as Fluttershy raised the flag. She then brought the flag down, and in just a brief instant she found herself falling from atop the cloud, falling quickly down to earth.

…

Rarity certainly found herself in a most peculiar predicament. She was walking with Big Macintosh of all ponies, one of the most reserved and secretive stallions she had ever met. Even more strange was that Rarity had called out to him to talk about her love problems of all things, something she wasn’t even sure he’d care to listen about. Still, she found the idea of talking to Macintosh about this to be far less awkward than with his sister or one of her other friends. Once she felt they had walked an adequate distance and were in no risk of being overheard or interrupted, Rarity cleared her throat to get Macintosh’s attention.

Macintosh stopped and simply looked at Rarity, making no noise and simply looking at Rarity, waiting for her to voice her concerns.

“So um Mac, I know this is invasive, but I was just wondering, have you ever erm… liked another pony?” Rarity questioned as she found herself unable to look at her companion and merely settled for rubbing her front arm awkwardly.

Mac continued to stand still, though his face took on a look of concentration as he moved the reed he was chewing on in his mouth. After just a few moments, that to Rarity felt much more numerous, Mac finally spit the reed out of his mouth and answered back, “Well Rarity, I’m not exactly sure, I mean yeah there are quite a number of ponies I found attractive, I am still a stallion after all.”

“Oh yes, quite the stallion at that,” Rarity added without thinking about it.

An uneasy silence descended on the two ponies. Macintosh merely stood there as Rarity’s eye opened wide with surprise.

Nice going Rarity, how about you try and not attempt to flirt with the pony you’re sharing your intimate feelings for another pony with hmm? Rarity thought as she mentally kicked herself.

Macintosh, thankfully, continued on as if he had not heard Rarity’s complement, “So, um, I take it your problems stem from somepony you’ve been smitten by?”

“Hmm, well I suppose you could say that, though truth be told I’m not entirely sure what my feelings are anymore,” Rarity sulked; her mane began to actually lose some of its volume as she looked away from Macintosh.

Rarity then took a deep breath and then turned back to Macintosh as she attempted to continue to sorting out her feelings.

“Well it’s just that, ever since I was a filly, I always had this one dream. I always knew that I would grow up, leave this place behind me, and go onto bigger and better things. I’d make beautiful dresses for royalty and for other important ponies, everyone would love my designs, and ultimately I’d feel like I had actually done something with my life. I suppose I figured that if I did something other ponies would see as worthwhile, a handsome stallion that would see me as something worthwhile would soon follow, a charming prince that would waltz in and sweep me off my hooves,” Rarity then trotted over to a small creek, and looked at herself in the reflection in the water.

“So you know how my friends and I went to the Gala?” She asked the stallion.

He merely nodded his head in reply.

“Well, I went there specifically to find my prince, and found him I did. Only problem was he turned out to be nothing that I wished he was. He was pompous, shallow, cared nothing about my happiness or how I felt. Worse yet, he was so rude to your sister, and she even let me and him eat some of her food for free. By the end of that night, I was ready to be as far away from him as I could be,” Rarity said as she fought to keep her anger from resurfacing as she recounted that night. She then sat down and continued to look into the creek, studying the reflection of the unicorn mare even more diligently.

“But, do you know what the worst part about that night was?” She asked Macintosh quietly.

This time Macintosh responded verbally, “Nope.”

“Looking back on it, I realize that I’m no better than he was, went there exclusively looking for a stallion, not because I found them funny, or nice, or charitable, I mean it wasn’t even because I thought he was cute primarily. No, I did it because I wanted to use him to fulfill my fantasies for a prince. I wanted him because I thought he could give me the life I wanted, and that he was just another accessory to my idealized life. He may have been a rude louse, but I wasn’t exactly much better.”

“Now listen here Rarity! That ain’t true, and I won’t let any pony speak that way about you, and that includes yourself!” Macintosh interjected, catching Rarity completely off guard. In all her years of knowing the Apple Family she had never heard the usually stoic Macintosh speak with such emotion, or so loudly.

“Now, I agree, you shouldn’t have tried looking to get with that prince fellow for the reasons you had, but that still doesn’t excuse the way he acted that night, and it doesn’t make you both the same,” he assured her, though Rarity was not convinced.

“But, how does it not?” Rarity asked the farmer, anger rising in her voice. “How are we not alike? We both wanted to be with the other for equally awful and petty reasons. If anything him being so awful was my just reward for being such a shallow, awful pony.” It was by this point that Rarity had begun crying.

Macintosh had been taken off guard by the display, since his greatest contact with mares extended to his family, and having Applejack as a sister often meant a severe lack of emotional outpouring. Still he again tried to break through to his friend.

“Rarity, I’m not saying you were in the right, but I also don’t think you deserved the treatment you got, I think deep down, you’re just lookin’ for a pony to treat you right.” Rarity nodded her head, still occasionally sniffling as she had calmed down.

“Well what’s wrong about that? I think everypony wants that, I see nothing wrong with it, shoot I’d like to find me a mare someday to treat me well, but I need to do the same to her, it’s kinda like… apple bucking.”

“Huh?” Rarity replied, whose lingering sniffling had been broken by her confusion at the stallion’s metaphor.

“Yeah, we here buck the trees, who then give us the apples we need to live, but we need to take care of the trees, else they’d die out and then we wouldn’t have anything to keep the farm going. The way I’ve always seen it, my family and this orchard are in a kind of relationship, and any relationship, whether it’s family, friends, or something more, needs that acknowledgement that we need to one another, and so we need to be right by each other. Understand?” Asked Macintosh, who had tried to explain his theory, seemingly losing confidence in it the longer the explanation went on.

For Rarity however, something seemed to have clicked in her mind at the stallion’s words, again it was this wisdom that Applejack seemed to posses, the whole reason for her coming her was for Rarity to try and tap that well of knowledge in hopes of finding a solution to her problems. Seems she could seek out any member of the family and she’d strike gold.

“You know Macintosh, I do understand,” she then walked up to Macintosh, and kissed him on the cheek, having to stretch on her hooves to reach his face. It was a simple gesture, especially considering the other gifts the Element of Generosity was known to bestow. For Big Mac though, it was more than enough. He was certainly grateful for his burnt red coat at that moment, as it hid his blush at the unicorn’s token of appreciation.

“Alright so now that you’re ready to talk, why don’t you tell me about this new stallion that’s got your tail all in a twirl?”

Rarity gave a girlish giggle as she replied, “Well, for starters this pony in particular is missing a certain something.”

…

“OhmygoshohmygoshagainIamsosorryIreallydidnotmeantoo,” said an overly panicked filly, her words a jumbled slur.

“It’s okay dear, we understand now please try and tell us again what happened,” replied an older pegasus mare, one of the camp instructors.

After the start of the race, nopony had noticed that Fluttershy had fallen off of the cloud and plummeted towards the earth. After finishing her race Rainbow Dash did not notice herself at first, having just earned her cutie mark, but once she realized she immediately went to go find her, the camp staff soon joined in the search. Eventually, Fluttershy’s parents were brought in. The search on the ground had gone on for hours by that point, and Celestia’s sun had descended over the horizon.

“Fluttershy dear! Honey where are you!?” Yelled her father Fairweather.

Her mother Sky Flower echoed her husband’s calls for their daughter, “Dear please answer, where are you?”

The two parent’s cries to their daughter only made the painful lump in Rainbow Dash’s throat larger, here she was just hours after making a new friend, and she may have accidentally killed her.

The search for Fluttershy carried on, as her parents, Rainbow Dash, and some of the camp staff called out to her in futility. Rainbow then meekly flew over to Fairweather and Sky Flower to try and and make amends to the parents of her new friend.

“Umm, I’m… I’m so sorry about what happened. I didn’t… I didn’t mean to,” Rainbow struggled to speak as she choked back tears, feelings of shame and guilt far beyond the young fillies years threatening to crush her. In all honesty, she knew that if anything happened Fluttershy’s parents would hate her, and she felt she deserved it. Dash always had trouble with making friends, and here her first one might be gone forever.

What happened next shocked the now openly crying filly. A pair of hooves wrapped her in a warm embrace, and she ceased her sobbing to see Fluttershy’s mother had wrapped her in her arms.

“Shhh, it’s alright dear, we know this was all just an accident, don’t worry we’ll find her and then everything will be alright,” Sky Flower said, most likely in an effort to convince herself as much as it was to calm Dash.

Fairweather turned from the emotional scene and continued to call out for his daughter, “Fluttershy, honey, where are you? He called out, still deprived the answer he desperately desired.

He then called out again, only this time quietly so that no other pony, even his wife nearby, would hear him, “Fluttershy, please, please be okay sweetie, I… I don’t care if you never learn to fly, I just want you back honey, so please come back to us dear.”

Almost immediately the search was party was startled by a rustling in a nearby bush, so one of the camp staff went to investigate. Much to their surprise a small rabbit popped out of the bush and then was surprised to find so many ponies, but immediately to a notice of Fairweather and Sky Flower. The small creature then did its best a pantomime as the ponies tried to decipher the rabbit’s message.

Annoyed, the rabbit jumped up and tried to grab onto Fairweather’s wing and pull him in the direction it came from. Confused, Fairweather looked to his wife, “Umm dear, what exactly is it doing?”

Sky Flower looked at the small animal, and then her face seemed to have lit up, “Dear, I know this might sound crazy, but I think he’s seen us before, or more like he’s…” she paused as she struggled with an idea, a hope, that she knew made no sense.

This seemed to have dawned on Fairweather as he put on the same expression of sudden clarity that his wife wore, “He’s seen a pony that favors us.”

Instantaneously, Fairweather, Sky Flower, and little Rainbow Dash took off in the direction the rabbit pointed. After a quick gallop through some brush, the three ponies came across a meadow where a crowd of woodland creatures had congregated.

In the middle she lay asleep, her pink mane, just like her mother’s was slightly messy. Her parents and the pony that had defended her were all shocked at the sight, but were overjoyed that she was unharmed, and Sky Flower and Fairweather immediately ran over to her. Some of the larger animals wore suspicious looks, obviously they had been there to protect the small filly, but they allowed the newcomers to approach her undeterred.

Fluttershy awoke, her teal eyes like her father's shinning brilliantly, to find her parents hugging her tightly and crying, all the while apologizing, and thanking Celestia she was safe.

“Mother, father, Dash? Wha… you found me,” she seemed part confused, but mostly equally overjoyed.

“Yes, dear! Oh we’re so glad you’re safe,” her mother answered.

“Oh honey, we thought we’d never see you again!” Her father proclaimed.

“Oh I’m fine, thanks to these wonderful animals, in fact I have something amazing to show you,” the normally shy filly told her parents excitedly.

Her parents, visibly confused by their daughter’s surprising demeanor, stepped back to give her space to show them her new surprise. She then proudly showed them her flank, where it was once bare, it was now adorned with a trio of butterflies. Fluttershy then recounted to them the story of how after she fell, she was saved by a cloud of butterflies. She then told them about how the animals took so well to her, especially after they were frightened by the loud explosion in the sky. It was at this point that Rainbow Dash, who by that point had done her best to make herself invisible to Fluttershy, stepped up and spoke nervously.

“Umm, Fluttershy, I’m… I’m so-sorry,” Rainbow tried her hardest to force out her apology, hoping desperately she could just disappear at that moment.

Fluttershy then gave the other filly a confused look, “But I don’t understand, what do you have to be sorry for Rainbow Dash?”

“What? How about how I almost got you killed! My first friend ever, I almost kill her, I’m supposed to be a Wonderbolt in the making, and I nearly make the biggest mistake ever, some great pony I am. I would understand if you hated me and never wanted to see me again,” Rainbow Dash then sank her head in shame and tried to turn away from Fluttershy.

Fluttershy however had other plans, as she took the filly in her hooves and held her friend tight.

“I could never hate you! You’re the first friend I’ve ever had too, and you saved me from those bullies, and if it weren’t for you I would have never gotten my cutie mark or discover who I am and what I’m supposed to do. Thank you Rainbow Dash, you’re the best friend I’ve ever had,” the filly said while tears ran down her face and got both hers and Dash’s coats wet, though neither cared in the slightest.

Fluttershy’s parents merely looked at their daughter, that morning as shy and fearful as ever, now much happier, having made a friend, and having found her true calling in life. Fluttershy then broke her hug, and went over to her parents and spoke up.

“Um mother, father, there’s something I need to tell you both. I don’t want to be a Wonderbolt, I don’t even enjoy flying all that much, I want to eventually move here, on the ground, and help take care of animals. I know you’re probably disappointed in me but this is just who I am, and you’ll just have to accept that,” Fluttershy then stood as tall as she ever did, in fact her parents noticed for the first time just how tall their daughter was when she stood up straight.

Skyflower then nudged her husband, who wore a look of shame as addressed his daughter, “Fluttershy, I just want to say I’m so sorry honey, I know I’ve always pushed you being a Wonderbolt, because truth be told I always wanted to be one. Sadly, I was never really that good, so I had to settle cheering for them on the sidelines, I had always hoped I’d have a child that would make it onto the roster one day, and well that was selfish of me and it was unfair to you. I’m sorry I pushed you into this.”

“It’s okay father, I’m just glad to finally tell you how I feel, and I just want you and mother to be proud of me,” the filly told her parents.

“Oh of course we’re proud of you little one, we’ll always be proud of you no matter what, and you’re father and I will both do better about paying better attention to your needs, if you’ll let us have a second chance,” Sky Flower nervously replied.

Fluttershy then hovered up to both her parents, the highest and longest her parents had ever seen her do, and she hugged both of them around their necks.

Rainbow Dash merely stood at a distance, in awe at the filly she saw before her.

…

Rainbow Dash stood still, her patience pushed to its absolute limit. She knew the time for her meeting with Fluttershy was nigh, but the waiting was still horrid no matter how little she had left to endure. After just another near unbearable moment of waiting Rainbow Dash heard a familiar noise.

“Umm, sorry Rainbow Dash am I late?” asked Fluttershy as she trotted up to the top of the hill.

“Oh no, of course not, right on time,” she responded.

“Oh that’s good, so what did you want to talk about?”

“Well, the thing is… I know you’ve been going out on dates recently,” Dash said, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Fluttershy. “Well the thing is, you see, umm…” Dash was then uncharacteristically at a loss for words.

After a moment of strained effort at forcing her question out, Rainbow Dash thought back to a moment years ago, when she first remembered seeing a filly stand her ground and speak her true feelings, Rainbow then turned to Fluttershy and did the same.

“Fluttershy look, we’ve known each other for a long time, and we’ve been friends for most of it, and while I am sad that we drifted apart, I’m even more grateful we managed to find each other again.” Rainbow Dash then took a moment to pause and catch her breath, Fluttershy stood as still as stone.

“So I know you’ve recently been trying to look for your special somepony, and I know this might seem strange at first, but I think I’d like to have a crack at being that pony. So would you like to go out with me Saturday night?”

There, I said it, ball’s in your court now Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash thought to herself, not that she could her herself over the pounding in her chest.

After what seemed longer than Celestia’s reign, Fluttershy finally opened her mouth.

“Sure, I’d love to.”