It was a lovely day in the small village known as Ponyville. Sitting on a restaurant's outside patio, however, was one pegasus struggling to enjoy that day due to a certain task.

"You don't have to drink it if you don't like it.", said the pale yellow mare.

Rainbow Dash stole a glance at her best friend as she held the cup of tea up to her lips."No, it's just tea. I'm gonna drink at least some of it."

Fluttershy took a quiet sip from her own tea and giggled at her friend's mental preparations to drink the substance. Rainbow wasn't a big fan of tea, Fluttershy and all of her friends knew, and so it puzzled her a bit to wonder why she was going through such great lengths to drink it . Perhaps she wanted to fit in with their friends and their tea-drinking ways?

The yellow Pegasi's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of glass scraping glass. The other mare had quite forcefully slammed the tea cup down, the brown liquid dripping from a corner of her mouth, Fluttershy noticed. She poorly stifled a giggle.

She asked, "Did you just try and gulp it all down in one go?"

Rainbow, her cheeks bulging and obviously full of tea, hesitantly nodded her head. In one quick motion, she swallowed the cup of tea taking refuge in her mouth and let out a few gasps.

"Uh, I guess it wasn't as bad as I used to think it was? Still didn't taste that good, though.", the blue mare said after catching her breath.

"I told you that you didn't have to drink it.", said the shy pegasus."Let alone try and gulp all of it down like that. And that tea was nearly scalding hot! It surely must've burned your tongue?"

Rainbow shook her head."No way, Fluttershy! I could totally handle it!"

The yellow equine wasn't buying it, but there was no use in arguing. Rainbow Dash was far too prideful to admit that she'd burned her tongue on some tea. Fluttershy took another sip from her own glass. She watched Dash carefully, studying the blue mare under her watchful gaze.'Maybe she is alright, after all? She does look fine..' She felt awkward tensions rising, and knew that Rainbow was becoming more and more uncomfortable as every second passed. The thought amused her. Finishing her tea, she opened her mouth to speak.

"So, Rainbow Dash, how was the whole Wonderbolts thing been going for you?"

"It's been going great I guess?". Rainbow looked surprised at the sudden question."And it's pretty fun, ya know? Maybe I could show you around the place sometime if you're up for it? They do some have great food in their Academy cafeteria that we could eat, too!"

Fluttershy cocked her head to the side, one ear leaning back. 'Is she asking me out on a date..?' she thought."Uhm..sure. Where should we meet?"

"We can meet right here at noon again! Or, uh, maybe at another table if this one is taken?"

The yellow pegasus nodded."Okay, it's a date."

"Wait, a da-"

Fluttershy quickly changed the topic, something she was prone to doing when she wanted to avoid awkward conversations." So how is Tank doing? I hope he's doing okay, he's such a nice little cutie. I'm sure you're taking very good care of him, but I just like to check on you and the girls' pets at times just to see how they are doing-"

A sudden flash of white caught Fluttershy's eye. She knew who it was before they'd even said anything.

"Hello, darlings!", declared the glamorous unicorn."Such a fine evening, isn't it? I apologize for my tardiness, for Sweetie Belle and Opal kept me far busier than I had planned to be."

Both Pegasi stared at Rarity, the light blue one speaking first.

"That's okay, Rare! You haven't missed anything, anyway."

"Just some small talk we were having while we waited for you.", Fluttershy added.

"Ah, I see.", Rarity said as she took her seat."Well, I'm glad I've not missed anything important." She lifted one of the menus on the table and glanced through the smooth, shiny, an sleek pages."Have either of you ordered yet? If so, I'm actually reconsidering on whether or not I want to order if it's taking this long-"

"No, we haven't ordered yet.", Fluttershy interjected, lowering her head and causing her mane to fall in front of her face."I-I wasn't very hungry.."

"Nah, I haven't ordered, either.", said Rainbow Dash.

"Hmm.", Rarity wondered aloud."Well, Rainbow, what do you think you'll be ordering?"

Fluttershy began to slowly lose focus on the conversation involving the other two mares. Her mind was more caught up in the many chores she had to finish that day: feeding more of her animal friends, cleaning their habitats, making sure each and every one of them was safe and okay. It was hard labour but Fluttershy enjoyed every bit of it if it meant that her feral friends were happy and secure. She wondered who would take care of them more properly tomorrow when she was out with Rainbow Dash. Surely she couldn't do all the chores by noon, at least not thoroughly that is.

Blue sparks of magic near her face summoned her attention.

"Fluttershy?", Rarity said curiously."Are you alright, love?"

She nodded."Yes, Rarity, I'm quite alright. Just thinking about my duties for tomorrow."

"If you think our, er...date will ruin your schedule then maybe we could meet at another time when you're less busy?", Rainbow suggested.

Before Fluttershy could answer, Rarity interrupted her.

"Date? What date?"

Fluttershy and Dash looked at one another, their eyes asking each other who was going to explain first. The shyer pegasus was just about to speak when Rainbow Dash began.

"Oh, it's really nothing. We were just gonna meet at the Wonderbolts Academy tomorrow and I was gonna give Fluttershy a tour of the place."

"And then we were going to have lunch at their cafeteria.", Fluttershy seemingly told her empty tea cup, as she avoided eye contact with both the mares in front of her.

"Oh, that sounds quite fun! I wish I could go, but unfortunately I will be very busy with sewing and babysitting Sweetie Belle tomorrow, not to mention I can't exactly walk on the clouds up there.", Rarity sighed."And I wouldn't want to be a burden to either of you and have you carry me around."

"Nonsense, Rarity, you wouldn't be a burden!". Fluttershy suddenly perked up and stared directly into Rarity's eyes for a few seconds before turning her gaze back to her tea cup.

"Yeah, it'd be nothing!", Rainbow said."And besides, you could always just ask Twilight to cast the cloud-walking spell on you again."

"Absolutely not.", Rarity muttered, turning up her nose."After I nearly became one with the ground at your one competition, I don't think I'll be ready to be up in the clouds for quite a while again."

Rainbow Dash snickered before standing up and flexing her wings. Rarity and Fluttershy gave her inquisitive looks, both obviously wondering if and where she was going.

"Welp, it's been nice talking to you guys, but I gotta get going. See ya later!", she replied to their quizzical stares.

Rarity answered,"So long, Rainbow Dash! Safe travels!"

Fluttershy added meekly."See you tomorrow."

Rainbow Dash gave her pale yellow friend one more glance before soaring off into the sky and soon disappearing into the distance. Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough.