The different Painter... Chapter one
This is a re-write of 'Mixed Feelings'.
Just outside of Ponyville, a young-looking stallion Pegasus was pulling a large cart, covered in a large sheet. This certain pony was a shade of light turquoise, with a dark blue mane and tail; his cutie mark was a paint pallete with seven different colours on it; purple, red, orange, yellow, green, blue and brown. And in front of the pallet was a paint brush. His mane was slightly messy, but clearly, it naturally looked like that, and the same was with his tail.
"I'm so tired of moving... But it's for the safety of everyone here that I keep it safe..." The pony moaned, as he continued to head towards Ponyville.
Over in Ponyville, Pinkie was jumping up and down, setting up party decorations.
"Okay, this goes here, here and here! Ooh! What about here? Yes! Perfect!" Little did the pony wonder, that there was someone watching her.
"He he... The perfect candidate..." As Pinkie turned around, she dropped to the floor. "Fell just like a fly..." The mysterious figure grinned evilly.
Fluttershy was just outside of Ponyville, waiting patiently for Rainbow Dash to join her picnic she had planned.
"Do you think she forgot? What if she got lost? No... Rainbow doesn't get lost..." Fluttershy was worrying so much, that she hadn't realised somepony behind her.
"Hey, Flutters!" Fluttershy jumped, and turned around.
"You made it! I thought you forgot..." Fluttershy then lost all worry as she hugged her.
"Why would I forget a picnic with my best friend? I know I'm forgetful, but even I'm not like that!" As they pulled away from the hug, Fluttershy began unpacking.
"So, how are you, Flutters? Anything exciting happen lately?" Rainbow asked, as Fluttershy thought of an answer.
"No, not particularly... Anything new happen lately for you? I-if you don't mind me asking..."
"Well... Not really... I mean... It's nothing really... Um... Different..." Rainbow was staring at Fluttershy, but she shook her head.
"You okay, Rainbow? Is something the matter?" Rainbow was silent once more; and didn't understand why she was doing that.
"I... I don't know..." She couldn't take her eyes off of Fluttershy for some strange reason. "I- I... I gotta go! I... Umm... Just remembered something I need to do..." Rainbow flew off, leaving Fluttershy behind; confused and shocked.
"Oh... Ok, Rainbow..." Fluttershy sighed, staring at her picnic basket; a feeling of loneliness filled her. "What's up with Rainbow, lately? She's not acting her usual self..."
Up in a cloud, Rainbow Dash was sitting down, her head in between her hind legs facing down in sorrow.
"Uugghh... Why is this happening to me? This is the third time it's happened!" Rainbow stared at her hooves, completely oblivious on what she was feeling. "I need help... Someone whom I can trust..." She then headed towards the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.
Back down with Fluttershy, she was looking at all the food that she had worked hard to make; which was now going to waste. She sighed sadly.
"What a waste..." She muttered under her breath. She then got distracted by a noise, which sounds like a pony struggling. "I wonder who that could be..." As she peeked over the hill, she watched as a blue pegasus was close to collapsing from pulling an unearthly amount of weight in a single cart. She flew over to help the other pony. "Um... H-hey, there... Do you need a hoof?" The pony looked up to see a caring smile, plastered onto a yellow mare.
"Uhh... Thanks... But I've got this." He continued to pull on the heavy cart. Fluttershy was surprised at the young pony's strength. It was incredible.
"Oh, but you look exhausted! Come and at least take a break from pulling that thing... My friend needed to leave before we started a picnic... You're welcome to join me... If that's alright with you..." The stallion smiled at the pony's kindness.
"Sure, I guess just ONE picnic won't hurt..." He then took his harness off, and started to move his muscles about. "I've been pulling that thing for days, now!" He tried to rub his back, but it was too far for him to reach.
"Oh, let me help you there... Your muscles must ache from all that weight..." Fluttershy offered, and the pony just looked at her funny.
"Are you alright? You're being awfully nice to a pony you've never even met before..." He mentioned, which made her blush in confusion.
"Sorry... I'm just trying to be helpful..." Fluttershy just stepped back from him slightly. "I don't even know your name, and I'm offering to give you a backrub..."
"My name's Speedpaint. I'm just a traveler..."
"Well, Speedpaint, I- uhh... My name's... Um... Fluttershy..." She had been practising with Rainbow Dash to build up courage, which has helped her a lot.
"Well, Fluttershy, it's a pleasure to meet you, but I just can't accept these offers. It wouldn't feel right."
"Oh, but it's no problem! This food was just going to go to waste anyways..." Speedpaint couldn't say no to her face; so innocent and kind. Who in Equestria could say no to her?
"Oh, alright then!" He gave up, not wanting to upset the mare. "I think I might accept that backrub too..." He admitted, falling flat to the ground. Fluttershy smiled, and slightly giggled at him; really out of character for her.
"He he... Tell me if it starts to hurt, okay?" Speedpaint nodded.
As Fluttershy placed her hooves on his back, the first thing she noticed was that his muscles were actually very strong; unlike anything she had ever seen. Not even Snowflake's were this strong.
"Oh my... Your muscles... They're like... really tense! There's no way they could possibly be naturally that tough..." Speedpaint then got up quickly, before she got too suspicious.
"On second thought, I'm actually feeling a lot better now!" Speedpaint spoke quickly, as Fluttershy looked at him suspiciously.
"Oh... Okay then... We can still have a picnic..."
"Yeah..." As he sat down, he noticed Fluttershy looking at his cart. "I'm guessing you want to see what's underneath the sheet?"
"Well, I... Um... It's probably nothing anyway..." Speedpaint got up anyways, and moved up to the cart.
"It's just my art supplies... I'm not trying to Bragg... But I'm one of the best artists in Equestria..." Fluttershy slightly smiled at his statement.
"Really? That's pretty impressive!"
Over at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was lying next to a tree; it was her break, and she was having a little nap in the shade.
Rainbow slowly approached Aj, trying not to wake her up in a shock. She then saw her eyes open slightly.
"R- Rainbow?" Aj moaned, whilst rubbing her eyes with her hooves, she focused on her. "Oh, howdy there, partner! What can ah do fer ya?" Rainbow sighed lightly.
"I- I need to talk to you about something..." Aj's attention grew towards the rainbow mare as her ears perked up.
"Y'all right, Rainbow? You seem upset 'bout somethin'..." Rainbow breathed in deeply, whilst moving closer.
"Aj... I- I... I need advice..." Rainbow sounded a lot sadder than usual.
"Advice 'bout what? Rainbow, what are ya talkin' 'bout?" Rainbow sat next to Aj, and made sure nopony was around.
"I think I'm in love..." Aj stared at her for a second before speaking.
"Well... Um... I wasn't expecting this..." Aj breathed in. "Who be this pony you've fallen fer? What's his name?" Rainbow closed her eyes, and sighed quietly.
"It's... It's not... It's not a 'he'... It's... With a mare..." Aj was taken back for a moment, but then gently sighed.
"Ah... Never thought ya went that way..." Rainbow looked down in shame. "But ah ain't judgin' ya fer who you are... Who's this mare then?" Rainbow breathed in, making sure she thought her next words carefully.
"Okay, this mare... Who I... You know... Her name is... It's..." She gulped deeply, and breathed out calmly. "It's Fluttershy..."
"Fluttershy, huh?" Rainbow nodded.
"Applejack, I have no idea what to do... I'm so confused..." Rainbow sniffed slightly, and tightened her eyes closed. "She's the best friend I've ever had! She means too much to me for her to get hurt by me..." She then turned away from Applejack, and tried hiding her face.
"Rainbow... Look at me..." She refused to comply. "Rainbow! Ah understand-" Rainbow snapped violently.
"YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND! YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND... That's... The same gender as you..." Rainbow looked back at Aj, who looked shocked, and upset by her outburst. She ignored, and flew off in a burst of speed.
"Ah understand more than ya realise..." Aj spoke silently, and shed a single tear which sank into the ground, drying up almost immediately. She then made her way back to her barn, slowly pacing each step she made.