A week later
Ponyville, outskirts near Fluttershy's cottage
Rainbow Dash flew along the bustling streets of Ponyville, on a mission. The athlete had to make sure her best friend was alright.
'Gilda really seemed to knock her about the other day... I just hope she's okay.'
Without stopping to knock, Dash burst through the front door of Fluttershy's house. She came to a sudden halt, upon the sight of her fears confirmed, there was Fluttershy, sitting on her couch, crying. Tears stained her pretty yellow coat and it was clear from the amount of moisture that she had been this way for a while.
"Fluttershy...!" Rainbow wasted no time as she dashed over to her, sitting beside her friend on the couch. "Fluttershy, I'm so sorry!"
"R-R-Rain...bow...?" Fluttershy looked up at her with teary aquamarine eyes and lowering her hooves from her face, "You're... you're here... I- I didn't- I thought..."
"What Gilda's done to everypony was just... ugh! Terrible! Even when Pinkie was trying to be nice to her by throwing her a party! And she just...! And you! How could she be so mean to you...?! I'm sorry I didn't believe you before Flutters, back when were... I'm sorry! And now I see I was blind all this time!" Rainbow felt tears of her own pool in her eyes, but she didn't fight them back. "Darn it! Now I'm crying! Ugh! This is just... look, I'm really sorry!" The distraught cyan mare held out her forehooves, "Can you ever forgive me?"
Sniffling, Fluttershy nodded before embracing her best friend, "Oh Rainbow... of course I do! It's not your fault, it's okay... I-I just... she hurt my feelings and roared in my face... Scaring me and my little ducky friends... I'm sorry you had to see me this way."
"Darn it, don't apologize for something like that!" Rainbow shook her head and held her best friend tighter.
Still moments passed as Fluttershy slowly dried her teary eyes upon Dash's shoulder. Several quiet moments passed with only the sound of the shy mare's sniffing ringing out.
Suddenly, the quiet voice of Fluttershy broke the silence, "remember...we're friends. Forever. Right?"
Looking up, Dash nodded as she wiped off her own tears before brushing a few strands of Fluttershy's mane out of her eyes, "Yeah...! Duh, I remember that. Friends forever. I never forgot that, Flutters."
"Do you... also remember..." Fluttershy blushed a bit as she did her best to summon the nerves to continue. "W-when you... kissed me? ...For the first time?"
Dash's instant reaction made it clear that she did.
While they had kissed quite a few times over the years, it was their first that truly cemented them. The bold mare's cheeks darkened and she no longer looked like her normal overconfident self. Fluttershy hesitated, but as she looked into her longtime companion's beautiful cerise eyes, a warm surge of confidence overtook her mind and heart. They say that sometimes, your heart did things you yourself are scared to do. Well, now was one of those times.
Fluttershy leaned in and kissed her best friend gently on the lips. All her troubles melted away at the touch of the speedster's lips and Fluttershy found the surprised mare kissing back in no time at all, with a passion to equal hers.
Angel bunny's jaw hit the ground as his caretaker continued to make out with her oldest and dearest friend. He then fainted, leaving the two connected ponies to continue on their passionate moment alone.
The impact was even greater for the two ponies involved in the kiss. Fluttershy's world disappeared from around her, nothing mattered, except the cyan mare who was kissing her back. This was mightier than ever before, it was amazing. For some reason, it almost felt like she was kissing a lover and not a friend. Her one true lover.
All the while, Rainbow Dash felt the same feelings return from when they'd shared a kiss back in their fillyhood and every kiss thereafter. Only they increased tenfold at this point. It brought with it a strong and fiery passion she never thought possible outside of her flying. Oh, but Fluttershy awakened that within her, and honestly, she loved it. She wasn't sure why her friend was kissing her, but if she didn't know better, she would say without a shadow of a doubt that it was because the pretty yellow mare was in love.
Regardless, Dash kissed her with passion, even going so far as to lay the creamy yellow pegasus down on the couch. Much like their first kiss, upon which she had placed her on the cloud. She relished how Fluttershy moaned, bringing her forelegs around her tighter and just kissing with more passion than before!
Daringly, Dash prodded her lips with her tongue, to which Fluttershy opened her mouth to grant access. Their tongues met for the second time in their lives, gently and yet full of fire as they engaged in a little intricate dance.
The two ponies pulled away from each other, both sporting light blushes and breathing heavily.
"Wow..." was all the young lovers could manage.
That one soft word, spoken softly as a single strand of saliva broke between them like a floating heart that opened both of their eyes to each other's true feelings.
All Rainbow Dash could think of was one thing. That thing was the mare in her forelegs. Sweet, innocent, beautiful Fluttershy. Giving in to her desires Rainbow Dash gently moved in. She gave her waiting mare a quick lick on the muzzle, confirming her need. With a wild grin of delight, she pressed her lips against Fluttershy's.
The normally timid mare was also burning with desire as she kissed back vigorously. They quickly broke into each other's mouths and began to explore the uncharted territories within. Fluttershy let out a small sensual moan as she ran her hooves through her friend's mane. As the shy mare continued her delicate dance with Rainbow, she ran a hoof gently down the cyan mares back. She reached the wings and began ruffling the powerful flight feathers eliciting a groan of pleasure from her companion, arching her back as tingles ripped along her spine.
In response, Dash reached her own hoof down to stroke it along the base of Fluttershy's wing, teasing the feathers. She growled sensually at the back of her throat at her companion's ministrations. Jolts of pleasure coursed through her body in ways she never imagined, it felt as if she were flying in a whole new kind of way. In any case, it was amazing what Fluttershy was doing to her.
Fluttershy moaned louder between kisses, now spreading her hind legs. She ran her hooves up the daredevil's back, still teasing her wings every now and then. To think that this little event of an apology and taking care of a friend led to a very heated makeout session. She wasn't complaining, this was something she had desired for quite a long time! It was true that she never forgot their first kiss, which in fact, still gave her shivers and tingles whenever she thought about it. Now to have the chance to kiss her again, in this way, with Dash fully responding in kind... it was breathtakingly amazing.
Enraptured, Dash ran both hooves down Fluttershy's sides, reaching her flank, and then going back up again to course through the soft, blossom pink mane. She couldn't believe how far this had escalated, but she was just loving it! A part of her wondered if Fluttershy would ever be up to making out with her again, and more often at that. She hoped so, for kissing Fluttershy was amazing, so thrilling! Not quite to the same level as flying, but still awesome as it always was. It also felt like something at the back of her mind was prompting her, urging her onwards. It was clear, this was much more than just a kiss between friends.
Fluttershy broke away, flustered and breathless. She gazed into those stunning cerise orbs and knew what she had to do. She inched her muzzle closer and closer.
Rainbow Dash grinned down at her, clearly happy to encourage her onwards.
This was it. She could feel a sense of courage within her heart, to finally go after what she dreamed of for a long time. Whatever it was, their kiss, or how tired she was of waiting for herself to be brave, Fluttershy couldn't stop the next words out of her mouth. "Rainbow Dash...? um... I have- something to ask you."
"Yeah? Go ahead, Fluttershy! Ask it!" Dash gazed down at her with a curious grin, butterflies invaded her tummy in a frenzy of nervous activity.
Taking a breath, Fluttershy worked hard to gather her nerve.
She took another slow breath, then another.
Slowly her breathing slowed to a more considered tempo. She could feel the courage she required to ask the biggest question she had ever.
At least she had a moment to breathe and be able to gather the right words. Words that had eluded her right up until this moment. She had to do this right, to make sure she could get her point across but without going too strongly. But then again, considering what had happened between them over the years, it almost seemed silly. They kissed, made out even, flirted with each other, and just barely skirted the lines between friendship and romance on these little occasions.
But now it was time to step beyond that line. Under no uncertainty. Fluttershy was ready for it, moreso than ever.
"Rainbow... You're my best friend... and I... I... I r-really... wanted... to tell you that I... um... well I wanted to know... I..."
"Come on, tell me!" The cyan pegasus urged her, eager, almost throwing her best friend into the air in excitement.
Fluttershy squeaked, but then, just came out with it. "Rainbow Dash, will you go out with me? I mean...! Um... Do you...want to be my special somepony?"
This was not the eloquently created question the daredevil had thought her friend was going to spring upon her and in her surprise, fell off Fluttershy, onto the floor.
"What?" The surprised mare slowly picked herself up.
"Oh my gosh! Dash? Are you alright?" Fluttershy gushed as she leapt off the couch to assist her friend.
"Yeah. I'm... fine." Rainbow gazed into the stunning aquamarine eyes in front of her. "Did you just ask me to be your special somepony?"
A very meek nod was the only answer forthcoming.
In the quiet cottage, nothing moved. Fluttershy couldn't bear to think what would happen next if her best friend said no. It might spell the end of their relationship forever. Now she regretted ever having said anything, wishing she could take it back and pretend it never happened. Losing the chance at them being lovers was better than losing her best friend.
Before her panicking mind could think of anything else, a smirk slowly spread across the cyan trickster's face.
"YES!" Dash soared up into the air Fluttershy clutched tightly in her forehooves.
The duo soared around the room several times, flying at breakneck speeds.
Just before Fluttershy thought they were about to break something, the driver settled down. Dash slowly calmed herself and placed Fluttershy on the couch in front of her.
Realizing her reaction, the cyan mare blushed and rubbed the back of her neck with her hoof, "I-I mean... yes! Yeah! I think. Yeah!"
Fluttershy blinked, utterly taken aback by her reaction. Not only in the fact that she said yes, but also in how she reacted. It barely even registered at first, to which Fluttershy had to take a few moments to recollect her thoughts. Her heart raced, her stomach uncoiled, and a warm wave of absolute joy overtook her body. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. To think it made Rainbow Dash just as happy, if not happier.
With a beaming, dazzling and loving grin, Fluttershy embraced her best friend... no, her marefriend, and giggled with glee. "Oh, Rainbow! I'm so happy! ...Thank you!"
Rainbow Dash affectionately ruffled her new marefriend's mane, wearing a massive heartwarming grin upon her face. "No, Fluttershy. Thank you."
The bold mare enveloped her partner in a loving hug and gave her a nuzzle which Fluttershy was more than happy to return. They slipped into a slow kiss, relishing the taste of each other, the way everything else just... disappeared. The way the world now seemed to make more sense as they kissed and kissed and kissed. The rough week now seemed like a distant memory.
All of a sudden, a loud rumbling echoed from the bold mare's tummy and she broke off from her ministrations to rub her offending belly.
Fluttershy licked her cheek. "Is my special somepony hungry?"
"Err yea. I guess I should have had lunch before coming..." Answered a very sheepish Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy gave her a quick peck on the cheek before walking off toward the kitchen. "Then how about I make my sweetie something special?"
A loud rumble answered the yellow mare who giggled as she disappeared around the corner.
Angel Bunny eventually recovered from having fainted out of sheer surprise. When he got up, he hopped over toward the kitchen where he smelled some food, he came across a very surprising sight. As Fluttershy was cooking, Rainbow Dash was occasionally snuggling up against her and even handing her something when she asked for it. All the while, the cyan pegasus had a big, loving grin directed right at the shy pony.
Angel couldn't believe this development, not in the slightest. His caretaker really did love the rainbow one, didn't she? He figured as much. What with how she talked about her all the time when there were no other ponies around and all. Fluttershy really wasn't subtle about her feelings around animals. Angel shook his head.
Oh well. He hoped she wouldn't forget to feed him. At least she was happy.
Regardless, he shot Rainbow Dash a very warning look. The daredevil just gave him a look that was both "Don't worry, I would never hurt her" and also "Watch yourself, buster" all at the same time.
Hm. He had to give her credit for that one.
Somewhere in the wild mountains of Yakyakstan
With a rush of moonlight, the dark interior of an expansive rough rock cave briefly came to life before it faded into complete blackness once more. The light blue alicorn who had arrived in the middle of the cavernous structure took a few moments to simply breathe and listen for any sounds that might indicate life around her. She realized that the teleport had perhaps taken a lot more of her magic that she assumed it would. The mare scoffed at her own lack of power and scuffed a forehoof on the rough rocky floor. The sooner she returned to her full alicorn form, the better.
After what could have been several minutes, Luna lit her horn and cast her gaze around the dark sandy brown walls of the cave she was in. The roughly hewn walls of the cave appeared even more degraded than last she had graced the place with her presence.
Satisfied that nothing sentient was observing her, Luna set off at a slow careful pace through the cave. After a few minutes walking in silence, she came to a cave in. Large boulders lay in her path and many smaller stones blocked her path upwards toward the ceiling. The princess called upon her magic and closed her eyes. After she could visualize the cavern up ahead she teleported. The cave fell into blackness once more and peace reigned.
The princess of the night appeared with a start and felt a tingle of pain from her tail. She turned to find that she had misjudged the extent of the cave in and her teleport had nearly left her inside a boulder. Her heart rate spiked as she fought back visions of the instant death she had nearly suffered. Death... all because the years had led to a dramatic shift in the environment. She steeled herself and took a deep breath. More care was required if she was to make it out of this cave. With a blast of magic, she cut the end off her tail and the shortened strands fell loose, freed from the ends that were still stuck in the rock they had materialized in.
The light blue alicorn strode away from the rock that had nearly been her demise. With a boost to her horns light, she picked out the old cobbled path that led to the center of the giant cavern she was in. She was close, she could feel it. The fog in the cave prevented her from seeing more than a few yards in front, but Luna could see that the blocked entrance behind her that branched out into a truly massive space. As her gaze returned to the front once more, the princess carefully picked her way along the path.
Luna paused as a series of flat tiles came into view just in front of her. Light blue wings unfurled and with a blast of stale air, she lifted off and flew over the patch of the pathway that looked a little too well cared for. With a clop-clop of hooves on stone she alighted on the other side and settled her wings. With growing confidence, she set off through the fog as it grew thicker and thicker till she could hardly see beyond her own snout. She brightened her horn's light and was disappointed to find it offered no further illumination in the dark fog.
The sound of hooves on stone slowed as the princess took greater care of her own steps. With an eye on the ground she navigated through the windy road and once or twice she spotted the edge. She had no intention of exploring the abyss. There was no telling what monsters were down in their depths. A sense of great evil up ahead drew her head upward. It was there, somewhere close in the fog. She could feel it.
A sharp clack rang out as hoof stuck hardened stonework. Luna winced and withdrew her hoof. She gazed down at the step and cursed softly under her breath. She should have remembered that was there.
The midnight mare carefully stepped up and reached out for the second step. She continued to slowly, carefully put one hoof in front of the other and she ascended and soon found herself out of the fog.
A fearful tingle shot up her spine as she beheld a chest on a short pillar. The rusty iron construct was closed but Luna could feel that the item she had come to check on was still inside.
That was it, she could go. It was here, it was safe.
Yet as she turned, the once dark mare felt a dormant part of herself drawn what was inside.
With a few short strides, she found herself in front of the chest and in another instant, it was open. The lone item inside was a smooth golden beak with a wicked sharp hooked tip. The gold was marred by splashes of red. Blood. The blood of Warbeak's long dead foes that had been sealed by his power to enrich the dangerous look this evil golden beak.
Luna shuddered. This was a bad idea, she should just close the chest and leave this place now.
Yet she did not.
The evil talisman called out and something inside Luna answered.
Ponyville, Fluttershy's cottage
The sweet twittering songs of birds came to her ears, a soft breeze blew, and the sweet smells of spring reached her nose. Wherever Fluttershy was right now, she didn't want to escape it, much less wake up from it. She had long since left the dream world, now awaking, but still kept her eyes closed. She did her best to go back to sleep. However, that was proving to be futile, despite how warm, so comfy she felt. But then the source of warmth moved, then breathed gently, Fluttershy blinked her eyes open. She found a blue face combined with a rainbow mane just inches away from her line of vision.
Rainbow Dash was with her in her bed, sleeping peacefully, with her forelegs around her in a protective embrace. Then the amazing memories from the day before hit her like a ton of flowers. It was amazing. Fluttershy blushed as the memories of the day before were rushing back to her. It hadn't been a dream at all. Not even the part where she had asked her new fillyfriend to spend the night.
Even though Rainbow Dash had moved out of the cottage after creating her cloud home over a year ago, she still visited often and would spend the night on some occasions. That had frequented a little less in the past few months, especially after Twilight Sparkle had come to Ponyville.
But last night, she remembered...
She remembered how they had spent the rest of the day together, just like old times. To the point that Fluttershy just didn't want her best friend-turned-marefriend to leave.
Fluttershy beamed, giggling at the sweet memory of them having admitted that they loved each other. What a liberating, beautiful feeling it had been! She sighed dreamily, holding her hooves over her heart, and glanced out the window. She could see Celestia's sun had long since risen in the cloudy sky, hear the birds singing, and the soft breeze yet again. It looked to be a beautiful day!
When she turned her head to face her partner, she was surprised to find a pair of cerise eyes looking back at her.
"Oh!"
"Good morning, beautiful." Rainbow Dash lovingly kissed her fillyfriend on the forehead.
Fluttershy sighed dreamily again, her smile returning, "Good morning, Rainbow..."
"What were you thinking of there, Flutters?" Dash slipped up beside her pretty yellow mare, slowly sliding all four hooves past her and locking them both in an embrace once more.
"Oh..." Fluttershy giggled, blushing a bit, "I was just so glad that yesterday wasn't a dream. I feel so happy... I... how long were you awake?"
Dash giggled at the memory. "Not long... You almost went too far there didn't you?"
Blushing all the more, Fluttershy hid her face in her neck, "Dash... are you never going to let me live that down?"
"Well- maybe... but it's so much fun." Dash grinned mischievously at her bashful companion.
The creamy yellow pegasus pouted.
"You are." The cyan mare licked the yellow muzzle in front of her, breaking her marefrined's sad face with a giggle. "And I gotta say... I never expected to get suckled."
"Um..." Fluttershy began, completely embarrassed by her own daring actions.
The shy mare looked away a little, unable to meet her mare's eyes. "W-what do you want to do today, if you're not too busy?"
"Well..." Dash drew her shy companion in with a powerful wing. "I was thinking you and I could go on a little date. We should probably tell our friends too. Then... Well... I'm sure we could find something." The bold pegasus wrapped herself around Fluttershy, tickling her nose with a cyan feather.
Giggles of delight escaped as Fluttershy beamed, "Oh, Rainbow! That would be wonderful! ...Yes, yes, we should tell our friends... Oh, they'll be so happy for us! I mean- well, they've teased us about being a couple a few times now."
Immature giggles escaped the trickster. "I guess they have. How about we prove them right?"
"Okay." Fluttershy delicately licked her mare, wrapping a wing over her too.
"You nervous?"
"A little... but... I have faith in them. They're our friends."
Dash grinned, kissing her beloved on the nose, "That's my cute filly. Be a big brave mare for your marefriend."
Giggling, Fluttershy smiled brightly at her encouragement, "For you, my love... I'll do my best."
Dash leapt out of bed and saucily waltzed out the door, giving her marefriend a sly wink before departing. Fluttershy blinked, but then hurried out after her.