Warm golden sunlight poured into the windows of Rainbows' home as she hopped from her bed. The cerulean pony stretched and shook her mane into place as she made her way out the front door and onto her cloud porch overlooking ponyville. She looked down to the bustling expanse of the city sighing to herself as she thought about the day ahead, slowly, her gaze turned up to the sky.
"No clouds to clear today, it's really too windy to be flying anyway." The rainbow maned mare thought "Maybe I'll go visit Pinkie, she's always got something up her sleeve."
She rushed inside to put on her scarf, and then, in one of her favorite morning rituals , she dashed out the door and into the sky. Rainbow flew until she was but a brushstroke against the blue canvas of the sky. Once she reached the local park , and was sure there was nobody in the way, she closed her wings and dove, hurtling toward the ground ,and spread them again just before she reached the ground ,resulting in a gentle (and perfectly executed) landing.
"Rainbow!"
Dash looked around to find the pony who had called her.
" Hey Scoots, whats up?" She said as the young orange pegasus ran to her excitedly.
" That was AMAZING do you think you could teach me how to do that?" Scootaloo squealed, fixing her purple eyes on dash.
"Maybe some other day squirt, its a little windy, not good for beginners ya know."
"O-Kay!" Scootaloo exclaimed before rushing off to join Applebloom and Sweetie Belle a few feet away.
Rainbow followed the small pegasus with her eyes for a moment, watching her purple tail bob behind her. As she began walking away she clearly heard Scootaloo's excited bragging at Dash's offer. She couldn't help but smile to herself over her exaggerated description of the skills she expected to acquire.
Dash continued on her way, taking in the scenery of the crisp early fall, one of those days when everything seemed a little bit more vibrant than usual. It was glorious, and the usually impatient Dash found herself taking her time and enjoying the world around her.
Before she knew it she had reached Sugarcube Corner, and her stomach rumbled as though it were acknowledging that fact.
"Just in time." Rainbow thought jokingly as she pushed open the door. "Pinkie ,are you here?" She called.
"Over here!" The eternally bubbly pink pony exclaimed , poking her head out over an enormous, and rather ornate cake , eyeing it hungrily. With an obvious effort she looked away "Oh , hey Rainbow, Whatcha up to?"
"Not much, I was wondering if you were busy today, I don't have any weather control to do and was hoping we could maybe do some more pranking."
"Oh, sorry Dashie but I have to look after the shop while the Cakes are out doing some preparations for the festival."
"Oh my gosh, how could I have forgotten all about the festival!" Rainbow exclaimed " One of the biggest races of the year and I completely forget." She sighed slowly.
"Well I guess it doesn't matter now, it isn't until tomorrow anyway. So before I leave, got anything to eat?" Rainbow said spying a particularly delicious looking muffin on the counter.
" Oh , sure Dashie, here ya go." Pinkie said in her usual cheery tone, handing her the muffin she'd been eyeing.
" Thanks, see ya later Pinkie" she said wolfing it down quickly.
" You too Rainbow." Pinkie called after her before returning her hungry gaze to the cake once again."
Since Pinkie is out of the question maybe ill go visit Fluttershy, I haven't really spoken to her in a while anyway." Dash thought to herself
Rainbow made her way towards the Everfree Forest, as she approached Fluttershy's cottage a familiar feeling took over, her heart pounded a little faster as she walked up the short path to the door, she felt a little silly every time this happened. She always thought There is no reason to be nervous, I mean it's just Fluttershy, of all ponies.But it never failed. In fact, it had been that way as long as she could remember, since they had become friends really. She knew this just as she knew that as soon as she knocked on the cottage door Fluttershy's gentle voice would soothe her worry and fill her with warmth.
In being so wrapped up in her thoughts she barely realized she had already knocked on the door, suddenly she snapped back to reality.
"Oh, its you Rainbow, please come in."Fluttershy beamed , stepping back to allow her friend to enter her cottage.
Rainbow blushed a little at her awkwardness, glad that her friend was gracious enough to spare her by overlooking it.
"H-Hey Flutters," Dash said regaining her thoughts, "I've got a free day today and I thought i'd come see if you'd like to ,Ya know, hang out."
"Your timing is just perfect!" Fluttershy quietly exclaimed "Angel Bunny and I were just planning a picnic in the park later, I'd love for you to tag along, that is, if you want to."
Ah, good old Fluttershy, always so considerate and generous
Dash could tell she hadn't been expecting company, yet she still offered.
"Are you sure Shy? I don't mean to be in the way or anything."
"Dashie, you are my best friend, how could you ever think you were intruding?" Fluttershy spoke earnestly, " And anyway, it'll certainly be more fun with you around." Suddenly she turned " I mean, not that it isn't fun with you Angel." Angel gave the yellow mare a disdainful look, and the two pegasi giggled a little.
"Alright, I'll help you pack up then." Dash said, feeling a little guilty , she really didn't deserve a friend as wonderful as Fluttershy.
Together they gathered supplies for the picnic, Fluttershy made lunch while Rainbow gathered together plates, cups and plastic utensils, which she packed into a saddlebag.
"Hey Flutters, wheres a blanket we can use?" Dash inquired
"Oh yes, here you go." Fluttershy said handing her a simple, but rather beautiful lavender blanket.
Rainbow felt a little pang as she looked at the blanket.
" Fluttershy, is this..." Rainbow trailed off "Is this what I think it is?"
Fluttershy blushed a little and looked down, shuffling one of her front hooves against the cottage floor.
"Yea, I-it's the blanket you gave me when we were in flight school." She looked up, her face blossoming into a fresh shade of red. "I didn't think you remembered." She whispered, looking down again.
"Of course I remember, how could I forget? This blanket is like, the embodiment of our friendship." Rainbow looked down to the blanket "You remember why I gave it to you?"
"Its because I was crying, I had been bullied by those two colts and I had ran to our dorm, you had followed me, told me everything would be okay... And that you would be my new friend. That was your favorite blanket, and you gave it to me because you thought it was magic, that it would give me courage." Fluttershy looked up once again, a bit of her pink mane falling to her face in the process.
"Guess I was wrong about that last part , huh." Rainbow said with a small smile , moving to tuck the stray hair behind her ear.
"Yea, I guess you were." Fluttershy looked into Rainbow's eyes, and she returned the favor.
"You know, your eyes are the most beautiful shade of green" Dash said
Fluttershy smiled again shyly "Thanks but nothing could ever compare to that incredible rosy shade yours have always been."
Dash blushed a little "We should get going, don't want to waste the daylight!" She said before awkwardly turning to replace the blanket with one that wasn't quite so meaningful.
"Yea,don't wanna.." The yellow pony paused " waste time." She finally finished
(Did she sound... Disappointed? Oh well , a little more guilt to add to the steadily growing pile, not to mention, there was really no reason to be disappointed.)
After replacing the blanket, the two made their way to the park the tension slowly evaporating, soon they we're back to having their usual animated(mostly on Dash's end) conversations, which included a heavy dose of sentiment(this however, all Fluttershy), and as they prepared to leave both were very content.
"Want me to walk you home Shy?" Rainbow asked.
"Um, yea, definitely." Fluttershy replied as she picked up the last of the picnic supplies.
Finally,Dash picked up the blanket and threw it over her back, and they were on their way to Fluttershy's cottage. After a short peaceful walk the reached her home, when they had approached the door Fluttershy turned to Rainbow. Suddenly,there was that feeling again. (had Fluttershy always been this beautiful?)
"Uh,Thanks for lunch." Dash said (stupid, stupid STUPID. Why did she keep acting like this, and furthermore, why was her heart pounding?)
"Oh, don't mention it, anything for a good friend." The yellow pegasus replied " Goodnight Dashie."
Rainbow smiled "Goodnight Flutters." She stood on the pathway , watching as her pink tail dissapeard behind the door before turning to head home.