Now what do we do? (Patreon)

Fluttershy stared at Rainbow Dash in my Equestria dreamscape. For several seconds neither said a word. Then the yellow pegasus lowered her head and scuffed the floor with a front hoof.

     “Um, uh. So how long have felt this way about me?” Said the Element of Kindness. “Is, this um, um very recent?”

     Rainbow Dash nodded her head; her stare was also affixed upon the floor in front of her.  She swallowed; suddenly she found it very hard to speak. Finally in a soft voice she replied.

     “I, I just realized it a few hours ago. Link , Link Look, if you don’t want to talk about it I’m cool with that.” The prismatic mane mare closed her eyes. “And, and if you want me to leave I’ll be on my way now, before I…”

     “Don’t you dare just take off on me now Rainbow Dash!” Said Fluttershy in a surprisingly firm voice. The yellow chiffon mare had suddenly snapped her head up and was staring at Dash with a surprisingly serious expression. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath then she continued.

     “Running away won’t make anything better for us.” She said in much gentler voice. “Okay, I will admit this is, uh, unexpected but now what do we do? Ignoring the issue is not a good choice; we’d just be delaying the answer to the question. In the end we’d um, probably just start avoiding each other so we wouldn’t be constantly reminded of the question. Besides we’re um, members of the Elements of Harmony. We have to work together for uh, the good of Equestria. We have a duty to the Royal Sisters.”

     Dash nodded her head. Her stare had returned to the floor. Finally she asked the question she been dreading to ask. “Soooooo, Fluttershy. Do you feel at all toward me the way I feel for you? Understand it is not just physical. I just realized today how amazing some of the things you do are. You do all these cool, awesome things and yet you never toot your horn about it, or tell other ponies about it.”

     The light cerulean blue mare looked away at the far wall of the cottage. “Unlike me who loves to hear ponies tell me what an amazing and wondrous pony I am. I mean don’t get me wrong. I love to fly, and I thrill at challenging myself with difficult, physical stunts, but when I do succeed I yearn to hear praise from other ponies for my achievements.”

     Dash looked back at her friend. “While you’ve committed yourself to learning and helping the animals around Ponyville. Link Some of them quite dangerous, and yet you’ve never demanded that the community or your friends cheer for your success. That must require a special kind of strength. A belief that no matter what others think, you know that you are doing the right thing. Fluttershy do you understand what I am saying?”

     Fluttershy blushed a little. “Thank you Rainbow Dash. Those are very kind words, especially since you’ve been my friend and supporter for so long.” She looked her friend in the eye for a moment.

     “So, you want to know if I have any similar feelings for you?” She paused and looked away. “Well, you’re one of my closest friends, and we’ve been through a lot together. You’re physically a very attractive mare, especially since you started taking be care of your appearance. But….”

     She’s going to tell me no! Rainbow Dash’s heart was suddenly pounding in her chest.

     Much to Dash’s surprise, her friend shuffled slightly over to her and extended her right wing across Dash’s back and smiled at her. “But what I truly find beautiful about you is the passion that lives inside you. True your gusto for life often leaves me breathless, but it is that enthusiasm that makes you so vibrant and special to me. When you were dancing in Cloudsdale during the competition you positively glowing with life and confidence. It, it, was a very beautiful thing to behold.”

     Fluttershy gently booped Dash on the muzzle with her own.  She was blushing but she stared her friend straight in the eyes. “So now what do we do?”

To be continued.