"Come on sugar cube we are almost there." Applejack said as sweetly as she could as Fluttershy slowly followed her. Applejacks eyes were locked on the treehouse, and stopped looking at it, only to make sure Fluttershy was still behind her. Fluttershy wasn't really looking where she was going only walking in a straight line, looking down. Applejack got to the door of the library and opened it for Fluttershy who seemed to be walking even slower now. Inside was all of her friends, they looked at her, physically she looked ok, her mane was a little mess up, and her feathers were a little ruffled, but for the most part she was fine, until Fluttershy raised her head and her friends saw her eyes.
There seemed empty as if she was even there. Rarity walked up to her, and placed her hoof on her shoulder, Fluttershy tensed up a little bit. Applejack walked in, closed the door and patted Fluttershy head and Fluttershy relaxed. Applejack looked at her friends faces, they all looked very worried, Pinkie almost terrified.
"What happened to her?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"That's why I had Twilight call you all here today." Applejack started.
"Her coltfirend is what Rainbow, I knew he was abusive, but I didn't do anything, until today. I went to see Fluttershy about some special dog food for Winona, and he was there, beating her badly. I don't know what she said or did but it must have made him mad. I ran in and tackled him as hard as I could, I sent him flying out the door. Afterwards, he just spat at me and left saying "Buck this, I don't need her". When I got her on her hoofs and sat her down, she was like this." Applejack explained.
"Who was her coltfirend? I'm going to beat his ass." Rainbow Dash raged. Then Twilight realized they never meet her clotfirend, before Fluttershy always kept them away from hi.
"That is a good question, who was he, did we know him" Twilight asked.
"No, I least I didn't know him, bit did hear Fluttershy said his name while her was hitting her. His name was Timeticker, he was strong, it took all my steght in the tackle to get him out of Fluttershy cottage. I think its save to say their relationship is over now" Applejack said. Everyone noticed when TImetickers name was mention Fluttershy shivered, closed her eyes and got low. Twilight walked up to her and Fluttershy started to softly cry.
"Please don't' hit me." Fluttershy whispered. Twilight looked at her puzzled and got down to her level, seeing a few tears sliding down her cheeks. Twilight nuzzled against her a little, Fluttershy jumped back at the touch.
"She really is in bad shape, isn't she?" Twilight said looking at the terrified Fulttershy shaking a few feet away. Pinkie pie walked over to Fluttershy and smiled at her, Fluttershy looked at Pinkie but didn't do anything, but stare. Pinkie Pie turned away a tears starting to form in her eyes, she couldn't look at Fluttershy like that anymore. Rarity gave pinkie Pie a hug trying to calm her a down a little bit, but Pinkie was starting to cry a little harder. Twilight looked at Fluttershy, and came up with a plan
"Listen up everypony, we shouldn't leave her alone while she is like this. Pinkie, Rarity can you take care of Fluttershys animal while we try to make her feel better?" Twilight asked. Pinkie turned around her eyes still red, and watery, at the same time Pinkie and Rarity nodded.
"Ok good, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, her confidence has been shattered try to boost her self-esteem again." Twilight said looking at them.
"No, problem, she can even stay over at my place while she's recovering" Applejack offered. Twilight noticed Rainbow Dash looked a little mad when Applejack offered her home to Fluttershy, but she wasn't sure why. After thinking about it a little she figured Rainbow Dash had been protecting Fluttershy since they were fillies, and it was hard for her to let that go of that role.
"Ok while you're doing that I'm going to report this Time Ticker to Celestia, and look for some magic that might help mend a broken sprit." Twilight said.
"Don't worry about your animal dear, they are in safe hoofs" Rarity said to Fluttershy as she walked towards the door. Fluttershy looked at her, but didn't say anything. Pinkie Pie followed Rarity, trying to not look at Fluttershy and went out the door and headed towards Fluttershys cottage.
"Let's go sugar cube, you had a hard day. We'll start healing you tomorrow, you just need to rest right now." Applejack said to Fluttershy as she walked out the door and headed towards the farm, and Fluttershy slowly followed. Rainbow Dash was about to follow them, but Twilight slammed the door with her magic before she could leave. Rainbow Dash jumped back and turned towards Twilight with an angry glare.
"What the hay, Twi?" Rainbow dash shouted.
"Listen, I saw you get a little angry at Applejack when she offered her home to Fluttershy. I understand why you got a little angery. You're over protective of her, I really do understand, but Fluttershy needs more than one ponies help right now." Twilight told her. Rainbow Dash felt something, like anger, sadness, and jealousy all in one emotion.
"You think you know Fluttershy better than me? I have known her sense we were fillies! I love her Twilight and if you think I'm going to let Appleja-"Rainbow Dash stopped and blushed, as she realized she shouted out her biggest secret to Twilight. Twilights eyes grew wide and looked at Rainbow Dash. There was an awkward silence for few minutes before Twilight broke it with a question.
"When you say love, you mean as a friend right?" Twilight asked, already knowing the answer. Rainbow Dashs blush got redder as she shook her head no. Twilight looked at her in shock, then realized a lot of things started to make sense to her. Rainbow Dash always protected Fluttershy, always made sure she was ok first, always went to her with a problem. Why she got a little mad and flew off when Fluttershy told them about her new relationship.
"Okay, so you love her, but listen Rainbow. She in very bad shape right now, do not start flirting with her. If she needs someone to hold you can, but that it, got it?" Twilight asked.
"Ya…I got it" Rainbow Dash answered looking a little bit disappointed.
"Good, now your free to go, and don't forget to help Applejack with Fluttershy tomorrow." Twilight said opening the door.
"I won't, in fact I'm looking forward to it." Rainbow Dash said with smile and flew off. Twilight didn't like the why she said that, but if she called to her, she wouldn't be able to hear her.
"The sooner I get home the sooner I can get to sleep and then I get to spend the whole day with Fluttershy… and Applejack." Rainbow Dash thought to herself as she flew into her house though a window. She started to go to her room until she realized it was still six o'clock. She sighed and sat down and decided to finish off her newest Daring Do book hoping to pass the time quickly.
Applejack and Fluttershy made it to the farm and started walking to the farm house, when they heard a voice call to them. They turned towards the voice and Fluttershy quickly got down, seeing who it was. Big Macintosh was waving to them, but stopped when he noticed Fluttershy was acting odd.
"Fluttershy, there is nothing to be afraid of its just Big Macintosh, he maybe big, but he is also very gentle." Applejack said quickly trying to calm her down.
"No, no, NO!" Fluttershy said and she took off flying faster than Applejack had ever seen her fly before.
"Fluttershy, wait, please come back!" Applejack shouted, but Fluttershy didn't hear her, soon she was out of eye sight.
"Did I do something wrong?" Big Mac asked walking over to Applejack.
"No, its ok, you didn't know, but don't talk to Fluttershy until further notice, understand?" Applejack asked sighing a bit.
"Yep." Big Mac answered. He was a little confused as to why he couldn't talk to her, but it wasn't any of his business. He went back to bucking the trees, as Applejack ran into town looking for Fluttershy.
Rainbow Dash sighed as she finished the last chapter of her book. It was only 6:30, and she wanted to go to bed, but knew she wouldn't fall asleep. She started to head towards her room to try anyway, when a knock was heard at the door. Rainbow Dash walked up to the door and opened the door. To her surprised Fluttershy was on the other side.
"Hey, Fluttershy I thought you were with Applejack." Rainbow Dash said looking at her a little confused. Fluttershy didn't say anything, instead she wrapped her hoofs around Rainbow and nuzzled into her chest and started to cry. Rainbow Dash held her, and let her cry as long as she needed to.
"Want to stay the night, Shy?" Rainbow asked, Fluttershy slowly nodded. Rainbow Dash picked her up, placed her on the couch and cuddled with her.