Bound Books

The Prompt: Pony A is seething with anger. Pony B tries to get Pony A to tell them what’s wrong.

They had all met in the library to discuss the situation. The five ponies scheduled a fake spa trip for around noon, because they all knew that that Rainbow Dash would never come to the spa while she was still breathing. Sure enough, Rainbow suddenly had plans to "uh... practice some tricks! Yeah! That's why I can't come. Sorry!"

When they made it to the library, seated around a table, Twilight had finally put her hoof down. "We all know why we're here."

Pinkie Pie shot her hoof into the air, rapidly gyrating in her seat. "A party planning committee! I only wish Dashie could have come!"

Twilight shook her head, as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. "No, Pinkie Pie. We're here because of Rainbow."

Pinkie Pie's eyes went round. "Ohhhhh... It's a surprise party!"

Rarity gently joined the conversation. "No, Pinkie darling. We're here because Rainbow has been so beastly this week. She's snapped at every one of us, has she not?"

A chorus of yes's came from around the table. "She even stormed away from mah orchard when Ah tried to confront her about it," said Applejack.

Twilight continued, "Well, we're meeting here to discuss it. Something's obviously wrong, and it's our duty as Rainbow's friends to try and figure out what it is. The only question is how."

Pinkie Pie jumped in her seat again. "Ooh! Ooh! I know!" She paused for dramatic effect. "A party!"

"No, Pinkie Pie." Twilight gently massaged her temple with the point of her hoof. "One of us needs to go and talk to her."

"Oh." Pinkie's face fell. "I don't think I can handle that."

Applejack nodded. "Neither can Ah. I don't think Ah can put up with her, not after what happened at Sweet Apple Acres."

"What about you, Rarity? Do you think you could talk to her?"

"Oh, no, darling. I'm simply terrible at speaking with our Dashie. Her normal lack of manners has waned even farther, believe it or not!"

"Especially since the beginning of this week. It seems like she's deep in thought about somethin' important to her, and it's affectin' her friendships," Applejack said.

Twilight grimaced. "Oh. Well, I guess I'll do it, then." She looked around the table.

A tiny "eep" drew her attention to her left. Sitting hunched down in her chair was Fluttershy, quivering madly. "I- I can do it."

Applejack shook her head. "Oh, no, sugarcube. Ah couldn't let ya do that. With the mood she's been in this week, she'll tear you apart."

"But I know her the best out of all of us, and maybe she'll listen to me."

"Applejack, darling. She might be right. She has known our Rainbow for the longest."

Twilight looked to Fluttershy. "Are you sure?"

"P- Positive." She quivered even more. She looked even more scared then the time she had faced down the dragon.

"Then, when we figure it out, we can have a party!" Pinkie Pie blasted the air with confetti, showering all the ponies present. Twilight cleared a space in the air with magic, then glared at Pinkie Pie. Shaking her head, she directed her gaze to Fluttershy.

"If you talk to her, you have to do it soon."

"I know. I'll go r- right away."

Twilight got up and put her hoof on Fluttershy's back. "Whatever happens, we'll stand by you."

All the ponies around the table nodded emphatically. Applejack wrapped her hoof around Fluttershy. "We'll always back ya, Flutters. No matter what."

"O- Okay. I guess I'll be going now, if that's okay." She shakily got up and walked to the door. Bracing herself, and trying to stop the shivers running up and down her body, she pushed the door open and walked into the bright sunlight.

She knew where Rainbow would be. During these hot days of summer, she always stayed near the Everfree, because of the perpetual cool breezes. There was a meadow around a minutes flight from Fluttershy's house where she always practiced.

Fluttershy launched herself unsteadily into the air. As she got closer and closer to the meadow, she could see the shape of a small cloud floating abnormally close to the grassy ground, maybe ten or fifteen feet above it.

She landed on the outskirts of the meadow with the same silence that accompanied all of her movements. As she neared the cloud, she could hear the muffled snores of her friend.

"Umm... Rainbow? Rainbow Dash?" She spoke this at a voice barely above a whisper. She called again, louder. "Rainbow Dash? Are you there?"

"Awww... five more minutejfijfefosf." Rainbow's voice broke off into a garbled snore. Fluttershy half-smiled to herself and jumped into the air again, slowly spiraling upward until she landed on the cloud.

The blue pegasus was sleeping, head rested on forehoof, her rainbow mane fluttering with each breath. Fluttershy was tempted to let her sleep, but the fear of her mission drove her on. She wanted this over with.

She leaned over and gently shook Rainbow. "Umm... Rainbow? Wake up."

Rainbow yawned, and without opening her eyes, said "buzz off."

"Oh. Oh." Fluttershy choked back a sudden sob. Now, her best and longest friend was shutting her out, too. "Sorry to bother you. I- I guess I'll be going."

Rainbow opened her eyes. "Wait! Oh, Fluttershy, I'm so sorry! Don't leave! I didn't know it was you!" She wrapped the now openly-crying Fluttershy in a hug. "It's okay. Don't worry."

Fluttershy whimpered. "Why have you been so... so mean, lately? It's like you're a different mare."

Rainbow hugged Fluttershy tighter. "I'm so sorry. I've just had a lot on my mind."

Fluttershy looked into Rainbow's eyes. "W-What do you mean? You can tell us, you know. W-We're your friends."

"It's... complicated."

"Y-You can just tell me, then. I won't tell the others if you don't want me to."

Rainbow Dash looked into the blue sky above. "Okay. Do you promise?"

"I promise," said Fluttershy, with more resolve in her voice than in her heart.

"I got accepted into the Wonderbolts," she finally said.

"B-But Rainbow, that's great news? Why would that make you sad?"

"The job is in Canterlot, and it's eight months before I get any leave or vaction. Eight months, Fluttershy! I don't think I could go for eight days without seeing y-" She stopped, but Fluttershy didn't notice. "Without seeing my friends," she finished lamely.

"But you have to go, Rainbow! It's your dream!"

Rainbow grimaced. "That's the problem. It was my dream, and it still might be. But you girls won't ever let me stay in Ponyville on your account, and I'm not sure I want to be pressured into this decision. That's why I didn't say anything."

Fluttershy shook her head. "B-But Rainbow, what about being the fastest flyer in Equestria? That's been your goal since I met you!"

Rainbow smiled wanly. "I can still be the fastest flyer in Equestria, in Ponyville... and besides, Ponyville has perks of it's own." Seeing the look on Fluttershy's face, Rainbow quickly reassured her. "That doesn't mean I'm not going, though! I still have three weeks to make a decision!"

Fluttershy suddenly smiled and broke the embrace. Three weeks was plenty of time to convince Rainbow to go with the Wonderbolts. "Well, that's good news, then. We all thought you were angry with us."

Rainbow suddenly looked crestfallen. "I'm so sorry about that, Fluttershy. I owe an apology to all you girls... but Flutters," Rainbow paused, searching for the right words. "I would hate myself if I ever did anything to hurt you, Fluttershy. You, more than any of the others."

"O-Oh."

Rainbow mistook her surprise for disbelief. "No, I mean it! You're kind, funny, cute... and every time I'm around you, I feel like I'm flying faster than ever, without even leaving the ground."

Rainbow looked Fluttershy in the eye. "I love you, Fluttershy."

"Eep," said Fluttershy, as she toppled sideways from the cloud. She hit the ground with a soft 'thump,' legs lying crumpled beneath her.

"Are you all right? Flutters? Oh, buck it, this is all my fault. I should never have said anything."

She started to fly away, but Fluttershy mustered her voice and shouted, louder than she had ever shouted before, "Rainbow, wait!"

Rainbow stopped in midair and hovered, close enough to touch. "I-" She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. "I love you too, Rainbow."

Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped. She suddenly started spinning around in midair, faster and faster, until she broke out of her barrel roll and scooped Fluttershy up in her front hooves. "I think we have something to tell our friends."

"Two things, actually. You still need to apologize for this week," Fluttershy said meekly.

"Let's go, then. I can get us there in ten seconds flat."

"Oh, really?"

"Really."