"Thanks, Miss!" Dash called out as she rushed out of the classroom, Fluttershy hot on her heels.
The duo were eager to enjoy their lunchtime and headed straight for a bench near the clouds.
But, as luck would have it, they were also spotted entering the playground late by a certain group of colts.
Hoops strode up to the pair, just as they were about to begin eating. "I hear two losers are staying behind."
"So?" Dash shot back.
The colt scoffed. "So? Only losers need to stay behind when everypony else gets to go play. Are you dumb, Rainbow Crash?"
Rainbow Dash shot up, "Hey! I'm not dumb!"
"Then why do you need to stay behind?"
"I'm getting better. You're not."
"What are you, turning into some kinda teacher's pet?" Hoops advanced on the blue filly.
Fluttershy shrank backward as she spotted the building frustration and rage in her friend.
Dash tackled the colt. She pinned him down, "want me to smash you again?"
Wide eyed, Hoops stared up at the filly he had antagonized. "Go on then. I dare you."
Rainbow Dash caught sight of Fluttershy out of the corner of her eye. The poor lanky filly stared back, fearful. The yellow filly's pleading eyes snapped Dash out of her rage. She shoved the pinned colt hard onto the cloudstuff then strode off.
"Come on Fluttershy. Let's find somewhere cool to play."
"Okay…" The timid filly slips in behind her bold friend as the blue filly stalked off.
"Loser!" The call from behind rang out.
Fluttershy carefully glanced behind at the colt as more youngsters began to flock to the scene. "I'm proud of you, Dash."
Worry ate at the lanky filly as she waited and hoped for a response from her annoyed companion.
The blue filly led the pair behind a cloud pillar that stood at the corner of the playground. As soon as they were out of sight, Dash stomped her hooves and then leaned against the hardened cloudstuff. "Dumb Hoops. Dumb, dumb-"
"Sshhh..." Fluttershy gave her friend a quick hug. "You did so well, I'm so proud of you."
Breathing hard, Rainbow Dash turned to her friend. "You are? You really mean that?"
Fluttershy nodded briskly. "I do, I really am proud of you Dash."
A smile crept out across the young blue pony's face.
The family situation continued to improve for Rainbow Dash over the next month. She realized that not only was her father not drinking any yucky drinks that made him spend a night on the couch, but he was also participating in family life more often.
He even began dropping her off at school each morning.
Rainbow Dash especially enjoyed that.
However, one day, well into their school term, Rainbow Dash was in a grumpy mood. Like really grumpy.
Her Dad had slept in. Her mother had to fly her to school early because of work and the poor filly was left there board while she waited for Fluttershy to show up.
At lunch time, Fluttershy walked up beside the grumpy blue filly wearing a fake super grumpy look too. "I'm Rainbow Dash and I'm in a grumpy mood."
Dash shot her an annoyed glare and sat with a huff, her gaze upon the playground.
Fluttershy inched closer till her foreleg touched the seated grump. "I'm not really upset. I just want to cuddle with Fluttershy."
"Ssssh..." Rainbow Dash gave her friend a side eye.
"Come on... I know my grumpy best friend wants a hug." Fluttershy prompted, hooves outstretched and ready.
"Ugh.. fine." Rainbow Dash leapt up and gave her friend a tight hug.
Delight shot across Fluttershy's face as they held each other for a few moments.
Finally, the sounds of the playground broke through the two fillies' moment of bliss and they settled back.
"Thanks Fluttershy." Dash gave her friend a shy smile.
"Anytime Rainbow."
"Want to... I dunno, find a spare cloud to play on?"
"Okay." Fluttershy smiled and allowed her friend to lead the way.
The rest of the school year proceeded relatively smoothly for the two best friends. With her boundless energy and outgoing nature, Rainbow Dash discovered herself slowly becoming rather popular in her class too. She was the first to successfully fly the basic course during sports time at school. Soon after that, she began to play with many others in her class, enjoying the fellowship of her peers as well as their attention.
However, she always made sure to sit next to the shy filly in class, her best friend, Fluttershy.
After a long first year of school. Both fillies found themselves excited for the end of year holidays that they were about to share.
Fluttershy idly plays in the rainbow pond. Liquid rainbow flows around her hoof. She twirls it around, slowly and gracefully making rainbow swirls. Her hoof hits something warm and solid. She casts her gaze downwards to see her pillow. She pulls it out from the swirling currents, noticing it's a strange light blue instead of its usual puffy white. Confused she turns it over, examining it carefully. She notices nothing amiss so shrugs her misgivings off and pulls it against herself enjoying the warmth emanating from it.
A soft warm breath wafts her face tickling her nose. The creamy yellow filly continues to snuggle her cyan pillow her mind slowly drifts back into reality with warm breath that caresses her, coaxing her into life.
'Wait. Why is my pillow so warm and bumpy.' She realizes her whole body is wrapped in an embrace with something warm and cozy. A yellow eyelid groggily opens, allowing its shy owner a view of who or what is snuggled up with her. A yelp of shock rings out. "Dashie!?"
Two surprised fillies topple out of bed and collapse in a heap on the soft cloud floor. Cries of surprise escaped from both youngsters as they did their best to orientate themselves. The light blue fillys face is pressed up against her own, mirroring her look of surprise. They freeze, awkwardly, unsure of what to do.
A half asleep Rainbow Dash finally extracts herself from her best friend.
"Fluttershy wha..." then she remembers. It was just a sleep over. Or at least it was a peaceful sleep over untill they had rolled out of bed.
"Dash?"
"Yes?"
"Sorry."
"What? Why?"
"I had a funny dream. But I think it might have been because I accidentally started cuddling you in bed."
The blue filly gave herself a shake. Then burst out laughing, "okay? Now I wanna hear all about this dream. Fluttershy."
In Fluttershy's room, two fillies sat around the saddlebag belonging to Rainbow Dash. Said filly reached over to open her bag, grinning at her friend. "Right... let's see what I saved for my best friend."
"Ooh, what did you save?" Fluttershy asks.
Eagerly, the blue youngster digs into her bag, pulling out a few pencils and other stationery. After a few moments of digging, Rainbow proudly pulls out a rather crumpled looking item of paper.
"Ah... Is this your drawing Fluttershy?" Dash eagerly held it out for her friend to check.
"Yes...it is! I can smooth it out later, but I... drew that of us..." Fluttershy's eyes lit up as she beheld her drawing from the last day of school.
"Really?"
"Yes Look. I drew you, me, the ground, some flowers... and that we're best friends forever..."
A broad smile lights Rainbow Dash's face. "Nice. You can always be my snuggly wuggly." She then rolled around on the floor in hysterics at the random name.
"Ooh, snuggly wuggly? I like it!" Fluttershy claps her hooves in delight, giggling. As her laughter subsided, the shy pegasus did a quick search of her own saddlebag before pulling out a new drawing, one of a large and fluffy cloud house that floated above a collection of stick trees and what looked to Dash like funny blobs. "Ooh! And I also drew our dream home!"
"Dream home?" The questioning filly leans forward a little to get a better look.
Fluttershy was quick to start pointing out the aspects of the drawing. "Well, this is going to be our home when we're big! See? It's all big and pretty, with all the trees, some animals... And there's some space for you to run, fly and play around!"
"Are these all animals you've read about...?"
Fluttershy nodded, giggling. "Yes..."
"Okay... I sure hope they look cooler when we get to go and see them."
"Me too!" The creamy yellow filly hugged her friend. "Oh Rainbow, I'm so excited! I can't wait until we grow up!"
"That's like... forever away. I don't want to grow up. I'm cool as I am. I only need to get tall like you." The blue filly grinned appealingly at her companion.
"Oh... but what happens if I like you being short?" Fluttershy giggled.
Dash shot her friend an indignant look. "Don't call me short."
"How about... aerodynamic?"
Rainbow Dash cocked her head to the side. "What does that mean?"
"Oh.. um... it means you are able to slip through the air better than me."
A grin lit up Rainbow Dash's face. "Heh, I guess that is a funny way to put it. But yeah."
Fluttershy smiled back at her friend.
After a few peaceful moments, Rainbow Dash turned to her best friend with a grin, "wanna go for a flight?"
"Oh... okay. I- I can try."
"Great! Let's go!" Rainbow Dash led the charge outside, eager to stretch her wings.
The rest of the holidays passed all too quickly for the two happy fillies and soon enough, they were returning to school for their second year of learning.
"Alright class. I want to see how much your flying has improved over these holidays. I want you all to fly or glide over the playground's safety pit, to the wall at the edge of my classroom then for those who can, fly up to the cloud above me then glide back down. If you can't fly, please at least try when crossing the safety pit so I can observe and help you." Mrs Breeze addressed her class as they stood, ready for their first flying class of the year.
"Yes, Mrs Breeze." The second year class replied.
Dash crouched down in position, ready to charge with a massive grin on her face.
"Alright, go!"
Rainbow Dash took off and led the pack of students, her wings beating like crazy as she flew.
Most of the class managed to fly over and make the return trip. Derpy was one of about half the foals to not attempt the flight up to the cloud above their teacher.
Fluttershy trailed at the back and noticed that she was one of the few who after a brief attempt at flight, reverted back to a safe glide to return across the safety pit.
Rainbow Dash meanwhile stood victorious on the cloud above her teacher feeling on top of the world. As other students gathered around her, comments began to flow about how cool and awesome her flying skills were.
And she soaked the praise up like a sponge.
Following their teacher's instruction and comments, the young pegasi completed the set course once more, further complements flying the cyan furball's way. Dash lapped it all up, enjoying the spotlight thoroughly. A few more of her class members made it to the elevated cloud on the second try.
By the time the class had finished four passes of the set course, Fluttershy and Derpy were among the few remaining students to not fly to the cloud above their teacher.
The class moved on to a different set of exercises. The cocky multi-coloured filly remained top the whole time, eventually spinning around to see Fluttershy trailing at the back. The poor shy filly wore a downtrodden look on her face that drove a stake through the daring filly's fun.
As the class gathered around for a third activity, Dash sidled up alongside her friend. "What is it Fluttershy?"
The shy filly doesn't even meet her gaze, "nothing…"
"Oh... Okay then. Hey, wasn't that cool?!"
Rainbow receives a shy nod in confirmation.
Throughout the rest of the lesson, Rainbow Dash continued to gather a following at her constant showing off. The only pony not taking part in her ego boosting was her best friend Fluttershy who became more and more depressed the whole time.
As their lesson ended, Rainbow Dash bounded across to her friend, a pack of other youngsters following the blue filly. "Wasn't that totally cool? Best lesson ever!"
The egotistical filly turns to the small crowd. "Everypony. This is my best friend Fluttershy. Say Hi everypony!"
A rather unenergetic "Hi," rang out.
An awkward silence followed that made the shy filly feel even less welcome.
Rainbow Dash somehow seemed to miss the defeated sigh from Fluttershy as she turned back to her fellow classmates and resumed showcasing her cool moves.
The next week passed in a blur for the young Rainbow Dash, yet dragged on forever in Fluttershy's world.
The bold filly grew in popularity, an ego boost heightened by her prowess in their flying classes. That in itself wasn't so bad, at least, for the most part. Fluttershy was glad that her friend was getting some attention and recognition for her skills, that much she deserved.
The problem? It came at the price of Fluttershy herself being left in the dust. Always. Rainbow Dash was often hanging out with her followers, going out there and showing off. Whenever the yellow filly tried to approach her, the showoff was always too busy, or failed to hear her. Further days stretched into the longest week of her life.
On this particular bleak Friday, the very same thing was coming to pass.
Fluttershy hunkered down by herself in the playground near the puffy classroom blocks, watching as Rainbow pulled off little tricks for her followers. It hurt to watch, considering it was always 'their' thing, without a huge audience along with her. But what right did Fluttershy have to complain? No such right or chance.
'Am I...not good enough for her anymore?' The sad creamy yellow filly wondered, pawing at the hard cloud underhoof. 'Doesn't she want to hang out with me anymore? ...Of course not. I'm nothing like her. Nothing like them. I'm not cool, I'm not daring, I'm nothing. I'm just pathetic, shy, weak, lonely Fluttershy.'
Feasting her teal eyes over at her friend, her only friend. Her friend, now moving on to bigger, better things.
But she wondered sadly to herself...
Do those friends care? Did those friends really like her? Did those friends help her? Did those friends make her smile? Would they be there to hug her when she had a bad day?
Fluttershy picked herself up. She was getting nowhere with this. Standing up, she trudged away, sadly, with no more options. All she could do now was leave. Leave now before things become even worse. Her world felt like an emotional desert and she was trapped in the middle. So alone, more than she ever had ever been in her life. It was indeed lonelier to lose the perfect friend than to have never had one in the first place. Because now, she knew exactly how good it used to feel when Rainbow Dash was her special friend.
Fluttershy's head sank low as she plodded away.
Forget the rest of lunchtime. This day, this week was all too much.
"Jeez, what's got your feathers tied in a knot?" Dash stood staring at her friend who was hiding out behind their classroom.
Sighing, Fluttershy just gazed at her feet, "At least you had fun with your...friends."
Dash frowns, a little confused by this point, "Fluttershy, what's your problem? Why are you all upset? Please, talk to me!"
The yellow filly doesn't respond, sighing through her nose, casting her gaze away from the other little pony. Not one who enjoys being ignored, Dash marched over and sat down right in her best friend's face.
"Fluttershy, why are you so sad?" Confusion continued to etch itself across Dash's face, turning it into one of care. "Why did you suddenly storm off like that?"
Again, Fluttershy failed to answer.
"Fluttershy?"
Nothing.
Dash's eyes narrow warningly. "Fluttershy..."
"Just... leave me alone." Fluttershy whimpers, hiding behind her mane as tears pooled in her pretty little eyes.
"What?! Why would I do that?!" Exclaimed the surprised cyan filly. "What's going on?! Why would I do that?"
Sniffling, Fluttershy just buries her face in her hooves, making incoherent babbles.
"Will you talk to me?!"
"Why?!" Burst the upset Fluttershy as she finally turned around, sad and passionate tears running down her face. "Why would I when you won't talk to me anymore?! If you don't want to be my friend anymore... j-just say so!"
Eyes going wide, Rainbow Dash is taken aback by her shyer friend's passionate outburst. It was strange to think that such a shy, quiet, soft-spoken filly like Fluttershy actually has such firepower.
"Fluttershy..." Dash begins, faltering. "I don't want that! Why would you think I didn't want to be your friend?"
"You have far better friends! They're much cooler, much more interesting and daring than- than me!" Fluttershy wails softly, crying harder. "Just go... you don't have to worry about my ruining your coolness. You don't need me... So I'll let you go. You're free. You don't have to worry about weak, pathetic, stupid-"
"STOP!" Dash yells, her voice ringing louder than she intended, but it doesn't matter. She just could not bear to hear that. Fluttershy has problems, sure, but that doesn't mean she had to tear herself apart like this. "Fluttershy, stop saying stuff like that! You're my friend, too! Just because they are doesn't mean you're not!"
"You don't get it, Rainbow. I'm not like them, I never will be. I will only slow you down. That's all I've ever done..." Fluttershy whimpers, sniffling.
Shaking her head furiously, Dash placed her hooves on Fluttershy's shoulders, gently shaking the taller filly just a bit. "Fluttershy, stop it! That's not true!"
"Yes, it is! I just... Rainbow, please. Just make it easier for yourself. You don't have to be my friend, you really don't. I- I'll understand." The shy filly turned her gaze downwards.
"No! Fluttershy! I don't CARE about any of that! I want you there with me! You're my best friend!" Rainbow near-shouts, tears pooling in her eyes. Realizing this, she pulled away, wiping her eyes, quickly. "I don't want to stop being your friend! Those guys are cool and make me feel awesome. But Fluttershy, I still want you there with me. I can't explain it. I just- I don't want to stop being your friend, okay?! Your- your best friend."
Looking at her with wide, teary eyes full of surprise, Fluttershy is left speechless. It never occurred to her that Dash actually felt this way about the situation, about her. That an end to their friendship would hurt the cyan filly just as much, if not more if they stopped being friends. Why had she not thought of it that way? Did she really expect Dash to be so eager to end their friendship?
Heart falling, Fluttershy hugged her best friend tightly, trembling slightly with relief. Taken aback, Dash hugged her in return. If any of her followers saw this, yes, they wouldn't find her nearly as cool, but she couldn't care less about what they thought right now. Neither of them here would, those ponies would never know about this. It was between just her and Fluttershy. Nopony else. It was the Flutter and Dash Club, no members allowed except Fluttershy and Dash.
"I'm sorry..." Fluttershy murmurs, pulling away, and looking at her best friend tearfully. "I didn't want to lose you. But... I also didn't want to hold you back. You do have an image you want to maintain, and I-I understand."
"I know, I know! I'm Dash and I'm awesome!" Rainbow Dash smiled. The moment of confidence faded quickly and she grew softer once more, "I'm sorry I made you feel left out, Fluttershy. I just... just. Ah... why's this so hard?"
"I-it was one week." Teary cyan eyes glistened, pleading to her bold companion.
"I know. But that doesn't make it any easier!" The speedster raged at herself. "I'm a bad friend."
Fluttershy rubbed her hooves together nervously. After a moment or so, she smiled softly, holding her forelegs open in an invitation for a hug. "Would...this help, Dashie?"
"Okay. Just for you, Flutters." Wearing a smile upon her cyan face the bold filly wraps her friend in a joyful hug.
A tiny squee of happiness escaped the larger filly who felt herself fill with joy at the heartwarming contact with her best friend. The two fillies hugged tightly, cherishing the embrace. Even Dash can't help but feel such a happy feeling course to her heart. It is strange how Fluttershy can do that to her, but for once, she doesn't care. It feels nice to be able to share this kind of thing with her.
"You're not a bad friend..." Fluttershy murmured.
"I feel like it," Dash muttered as she withdrew. A sigh escaped the blue filly as she stared at her best friend.
The shy filly gazed back, happy to have her friend back. "Well, now you are the best friend I could ever ask for."
"Heh, thanks Flutters." Dash cleared her throat and glanced back to check that they were indeed still alone. "So uh... I know you don't like being the center of attention like I do. But I promise to invite you to join in if you promise me that you will let me know if really do want to or not. And if you feel like you are missing out. Okay?"
Fluttershy nodded. A slow smile spread across her muzzle. "That sounds nice, thank you, Dash."
"Yeah, well I feel like we could have saved you some pain if we had this chat before starting second year." A guilty laugh escaped the blue pegasus. "Anyway, I'm just showing off some of the cool techniques my brother taught me. Wanna join in?"
"Maybe... maybe tomorrow Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy replied, suddenly feeling very shy again.
"Oh."
At the put off look on the speedster's face, Fluttershy became alarmed. "I just mean um... I think I need a moment to relax. A-and it is nearly the end of lunchtime. So um..."
"I getcha." Rainbow Dash grinned back. "Will you at least hang out with me after school?"
"Yes!"
Relief flooded the speedy young filly. "Oh good. It feels like ages since we last got to hang out after school."
Fluttershy nodded meekly. "I know."
"Alright, see you later Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash eagerly hurried off leaving a smiling Fluttershy behind.
"It's a nice room… I see you've changed some of your posters." Fluttershy noted as she gazed around the packed room.
"It's an awesome room!" corrected Dash. "Look, the latest Wonderbolts poster. Don't they look awesome!?" The suddenly overexcited filly gushed, her forehooves held high in exclamation as she immersed herself in the glory of her heroes.
Every inch of the cloud walls was covered with Wonderbolts posters. Every lineup from shows over the past two years was on display for their adoring fan to see. Fluttershy could name none of the pegasi. While they did look cool, it was not long before her gaze returned to the filly at her side.
Fluttershy smiled fondly, more interested in Dash's excitement than anything else, "Oh yes, they do." The yellow filly slowly made her way to her friend's side, "and you will look even cooler than they do one day."
That put a cocky grin upon the future Wonderbolt's features. Dash turned to once again face the central poster of her heroes. She pictured herself up there with them, flying through the sky. Her body tilted and her wings flapped a little as she allowed herself to be captured by the daydream.
Just as it was approaching the good part where she would pull off some spectacular final move, the crowds cheers became giggles. "Huh...?" Dash blinked a few times.
She realized she had just made a huge fool of herself in front of everypony. More specifically, one pony. Her best friend and it was Fluttershy who had failed to hold back her giggles. A blush fell upon her muzzle. "Uh..."
"Sorry," apologized Fluttershy, feeling bad at laughing at her best friend. Her gaze fell upon the floor in shame. Rainbow Dash might not want to have a sleepover now that she had just laughed at her in the middle of an amazing daydream.
"Hey, Fluttershy... It's okay," comforted Dash as she placed a forehoof tentatively around her friend's shoulders. The daydreamer had spotted the look that covered her friend's face. Although she had no idea what she should do to ease the situation, Rainbow soon found herself gripped in a tight, thankful hug.
"Um... Okay..." She trailed off unsure as to why her friend was acting so strangely. Before her mind could wonder what the problem could be, she brushed the thoughts away. It was probably just Fluttershy being nervous old Fluttershy. As long as she was there to protect her from... whatever it was, they would both be fine.
"Rainbow? Would you like to play a game or something? I think it'd be fun if we could," Fluttershy asked with trepidation.
"Yea. That sounds like a cool idea," Rainbow Dash grinned back at her friend. "Got any ideas?"
"Um... maybe one or two," the shy filly smiled back at her friend.
"Dinner!" The strong voice of Gust carried through the hallways and into the room two young fillies were playing in.
Rainbow Dash bowled over her final miniature airship on the battleship board that sat between the two fillies, a bright smile lighting her face. "You sunk me. Let's go, food awaits!"
Fluttershy nodded, wide eyed at the sudden victory and her friend's eagerness, "okay."
The pair passed Blaze's private study and Dash couldn't resist checking. Sure enough, he was busy within. He sat at a table with a collection of different small clouds, colourings and a few small basins filled with water. The stallion was currently shaping a miniature rainbow coloured cloud into the form of a flying pegasus sitting on top of a white cloud podium.
"Hey, Dad."
"Dash?" The stallion startled and put a hole in the side of the white cloud.
"Oops. Uh... Sorry dad. Dinner time?"
Her father smiled at her. "One moment. Just as soon as I finish this..."
"Okay. And sorry again, I didn't think you would jump." A hint of a smile played at the filly's lips as she stared up at her sire.
The stallion simply shrugged. "That's okay. I didn't realize I missed the call of food. Anyway, I'll be there soon."
With a giggle, the two fillies left the stallion to his cloud art.
"Your daddy is really different," Fluttershy observed.
"Yeah. I never knew he could make cloud art." Rainbow Dash agreed. "But I guess it's just another cool thing since he stopped drinking those yucky drinks."
Author's Note:
Hi everyone.
I hope this author's note finds you well.
After much thought, I've decided to publish one last chapter after this one. A 'wrap up' of this story.
Crashing Angels is the first fan fiction I ever attempted (and published).
But after 12 years of writing, rewriting, questioning my story directions, getting stuck on things... I have grown so much as an author in these last twelve years and changed so much that it kind of got to a point a few years ago where it was getting harder and harder to continue this story that had been created by a young adult who had just started working in the film industry. I still work in the film industry here in New Zealand, but I no longer feel like that youngster who would turn up to every production possible wearing pony t-shirts.
Nowadays I'm mostly just in pink.
After struggling with not wanting to abandon my first story completely, I have settled on one last monster chapter as a way to wrap the plot of the story up. It won't be an in depth exploration into Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash's relationship as they grow up like I was going for. Rather, what I will be posting next will be a mixture of scenes and snippets that I have written over the years that tell of important moments to come. Some old, some recent. There will be a lot more telling rather than showing at times as these two grow up, find love and move to Ponyville.
I hope that sharing the rest of the story in a condensed form will be worthwhile as I feel like otherwise, Crashing Angels would simply sit as 'incomplete.'
As an idea of the ground we are about to cover, my planning document roughly outlined a hopeful 32-35 chapters. But we will finish at 19. I hope that what follows next will still be an enjoyable read for those who want to see where their tale goes.