The Butterfly Dragon

Twilight's jaw hung agape in disbelief. By the end of Fluttershy's tale, she had taken the mask down from the wall, and was holding it in her hooves. She looked softly upon it, smiling nostalgically. A few tears had formed in her eyes, which twinkled brightly with the perfect melancholy mix of happiness and sadness. She turned her gaze away from the mask, staring out a window into the Everfree Forest. She smiled happily, seeing that the rain had given way to sunshine, leaving glimmering puddles across the grassy landscape.

"Wow Fluttershy..." Twilight choked out, her mind still trying to process the tale she had just heard. "I had no idea..."

"I never expected you to know," she breathed happily. "After all. You're the first pony that has ever heard that story."

Twilight smiled sheepishly, turning away with a blush, wishing she had a mane like Fluttershy's to hide behind. She never expected to have been the first to hear such a tale from the timid pegasus. After all, it was a tale of adventure, which Fluttershy usually never did. Tales like that were far more uncommon than finding a diamond in a coal mine, and far more precious. Her smile grew as she realized just how much closer she was to Fluttershy than she had thought.

Fluttershy broke the short silence that had crept into the room, "It looks lovely out... Maybe we could go for a picnic." She grinned slyly, before adding, "If that's okay with you..."

"That sounds wonderful," Twilight replied with a happy smile.

"Good," Fluttershy huffed confidently, "because there's a lot more to that story, and some parts are best told outside." She smirked like a fox, catching Twilight off guard. The unicorn nearly spat the sip of tea she was taking out. Not only was the pink-maned pegasus before her almost completely out of her shell, but there was more to the already long story that she had yet to tell.

*

The warm afternoon sun had dried some parts of the rain-soaked ground. The two friends trotted slowly along, a pleasant conversation about tea being exchanged between them. They marched through the damp grass, making their way up a small hill. They reached the top of the hill, and decided to set up their picnic there. Twilight smiled, reaching into her saddlebags and removing a folded red-checkered blanket. She unfurled it, spreading it out upon the dry hilltop. Fluttershy set the basket she'd been carrying on her back down upon the soft blanket, a soft smile growing on her lips. The two laid down upon the blanket, a comfortable silence enveloping them. A warm midsummer breeze faintly rolled along, dragging with it the tantalizing scents of the Everfree Forest.

Fluttershy opened the basket, removing a loaf of bread and an assortment of sandwich-making foodstuffs. Twilight couldn't help but lick her lips at all of the delectable selections before her, including daisies. Fluttershy giggled girlishly, staring directly at the purple unicorn. She joined the pegasus in laughing at herself, their smiles widening further.

*

Both ponies grinned as they finished their lunch. Dark rainclouds were headed towards them, but neither of the really cared. Fluttershy reached into the basket, removing the mask that had been hanging on her wall. She smiled softly as she gazed upon it. She whispered quietly, "I told myself when I made this that I'd only show this to somepony truly special to me."

Twilight stared at Fluttershy with confusion now painted on her face. She shakily responded, "Like... Your Special Somepony?"

Fluttershy did not answer. She stood up, and backed away a few steps. "Please try to keep calm," she pleaded softly.

Twilight swallowed a hard gulp, realization slamming into her like the percussive wave of a sonic boom. Fluttershy liked her. No. Fluttershy liked Rainbow Dash, and Rarity and the others. Fluttershy loved her. And she was showing it by telling a story that nopony had ever heard before.

Fluttershy placed the mask over her face. For a few seconds, nothing effectively happened. But after a moment, a set of white draconic eyes opened within the ovals on the mask. The darkened carved lines flashed with bright white light. A sudden all-encompassing flash of light forced Twilight to shut her eyes and shield them with a hoof. Five seconds later, she opened her eyes again to see the creature that she had described in her tale standing before her. She stared at it, her jaw nearly striking the ground. Its large feathered wings were open fully, making it appear four times its size. Its tail lay neatly wrapped around its hind paws. It looked directly into Twilight's eyes, a soft, almost timid smile forming on the butterfly dragon's lips.

"F-Flutters-shy?" Twilight choked out. Her eyes were now wider than the speakers used at one of Vinyl Scratch's concerts as she stared into the butterfly dragon's eyes.

The butterfly dragon nodded, opening its mouth to speak. "Yes, Twilight," it replied with Fluttershy's voice. She let her smile widen. She took a hesitant step forward, bowing her now draconic head down to eye level with Twilight. She closed her wings, folding them to her sides. As she approached Twilight, the unicorn backed up unintentionally. Fluttershy simply nuzzled Twilight gently, a warm hum escaping her throat. Twilight froze at the contact, save for a tingle that ran down her spine. She looked at Fluttershy again, her eyes now calm. She let her smile return to her lips, as she returned the nuzzle. Fluttershy sat down, lifting her paws to the large facial scale. She lifted it off, the mask taking its original shape with a flash of white. With one final flash of light, Fluttershy was a pegasus again, laying next to Twilight with her left wing wrapped around the warm purple unicorn.

"I love you, Twilight."