Going Public
Rating: T
Genre: Romance/General
Pairing: Fluttershy/Pinkie Pie
Summary: Pinkie and Shy haven't mentioned it to their friends yet. Set after "Over a Barrel."
A/N: An old fill for a prompt at the now sadly defunct MLP kink meme, which I decided to post here.
Going Public
It was Fluttershy's smile that gave it away.
Rainbow Dash spotted it as the gang stood waiting on the Appleloosa train station.
It wasn't shaky and hesitant and ready to be blown off by the next gust of wind. It was easy and unconscious, and Rainbow Dash suddenly got the feeling this was what Fluttershy smiled like when she was on her own, with only her pets to see her. But this one was aimed at Pinkie Pie, as the earth pony sidled up to her.
"Alright!" Rainbow cocked her head at them. "Is there something you guys aren't telling us?"
The two ponies glanced first at her and then at each other in confusion. Between them something unspoken seemed to pass, like golden thread hanging from their manes and sides. Then:
"Oh!" Pinkie Pie struck her hoof to her forehead in an 'of course!'-manner. "We're together."
"Together-together," Fluttershy gently clarified.
"What?" Rainbow Dash forgot to beat her wings, and thumped down on the platform's wooden floor. But before she could continue the train puffed into the station, and the whistle, the clatter, the screech of brakes, stalled all attempts at conversation for a minute.
"When? How long?" She squeaked out when it didn't feel like her ears were filled with wailing metal anymore.
"Since Winter-Wrapup," Pinkie replied as she bounced past her bewildered friends into the train car. Fluttershy followed at a more modest pace.
"Why the hay didn't ya tell us for?" Applejack asked once they were all onboard.
Pinkie shrugged, "You never asked."
"Are you angry with us?" Fluttershy's gaze darted between them, barely rising to meet theirs. Twilight was the first to speak up.
"Angry? No, not at all." She shook her head emphatically. "A bit surprised, yes, but not angry. I think it's wonderful news!"
"I agree," Rarity chimed in. "You simply must let me design your wedding dresses, I have the perfect idea!"
"Oh, that's - that's very kind of you, Rarity." Fluttershy shifted under the shine in her friend's gaze, wanting to show the enthusiasm ready to bubble over in her, yet fearing it'd be too rash. "But we haven't planned that far- for that yet – I mean, not that I don't want to-"
"We know what you mean, 'Shy." Pinkie scooted closer to her on the seat. "I know what you mean."
"All in due time!" Applejack settled the matter.
"But ifyou DO decide to get hitched," Rainbow interjected, "you will tell us beforehand, right?"
"Be sure of it." Pinkie promised, putting an arm around Fluttershy. The pegasus finally dared to smile, safe in the knowledge that their friends understood.
The train rolled out from the station, towards Ponyville and the sunset. In the steady forward lull, Pinkie slowly slumped into a doze against Fluttershy's wing. After one night apart, they had some cuddling to catch up on.