It was late evening by the time the girls returned to their dorm. They changed out of their damp clothes into new outfits. As Sunset dried her hair in the bathroom, Rainbow sat at her desk chair and tried to distract herself with her smartphone.

Over the roar of the blow dryer, Sunset asked loudly, “Still going to see Fluttershy?” She was in a new pair of jeans and a long-sleeved blouse.

Rainbow stood and poked her head in through the doorway to nod. Her eyebrow rose at the fresh makeup on her roommate’s face. “You going back out? I’d think with the rain, you’d stay in! It’d be miserable to ride around on the cycle, wouldn’t it?”

Sunset winced as she shut off the blow dryer. “I was wondering if I could tag along with you for a bit? I just wanna see how Flutters is doing, then I swear I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Sure, I don’t mind.” Rainbow moved away from the door and gestured at the digital clock they shared on the center table between their beds. “We’ve got a little time to kill, though.”

Sunset went to sit on her bed, then drummed her hands on her knees. The pair didn’t move for a moment.

Sunset spoke up first, her voice tentative. “Wanna… talk some more? About your parents?”

Rainbow glowered at her. “No.”

It wasn’t that Rainbow didn’t think her friend could help her work through it. She was just… weary of thinking about it. No doubt she’d have to retell the whole thing again soon, anyway. She just wanted a break, even if it was a short one.

Deep in her still rested the belief that she could make it through this ordeal with her friends. But this was only the start of the struggle. In the space between hope and reality, she still found time to despair. She didn’t want anyone to see that, though.

She was Rainbow Dash, and she was supposed to be tough. A leader. Leaders didn’t cry or complain. But she still hurt. She had no idea where to put that frustration. It was so fresh that it felt like she was still stuck at that horrible moment with Blaze. All Rainbow wanted to do was turn away from it.

She knelt down by Tank, who was peeking his little head out from under her bed. She pet him a few times before picking him up and settling on her mattress. Her laptop was still where she’d left it. She opened it and started tapping on the keyboard.

“How about we watch something, Tank?” Rainbow asked lightly. “Something with mutant ninja turtles, maybe?”

Sunset laced her hands together and leaned forward onto her knees. “Dashie…”

Rainbow didn’t lift her eyes from her computer. “I don’t wanna talk about it right now, Sunset,” she said firmly.

Sunset sighed but she didn’t press the issue further.

They spent the time doing their own thing. Sunset resumed her studying. Rainbow watched a show with Tank. When the tomboy’s alarm went off, the two girls left their dorm, Rainbow taking her study materials and laptop in a backpack, and Sunset an umbrella.

It wasn’t necessary. The rain had stopped. They walked at a brisk pace to Freenote Library where Rainbow and Fluttershy usually met.

“How are you feeling now? Physically speaking?” Sunset asked gently.

Rainbow glanced at her, a little annoyed at how close the question was to that other thing she didn’t want to talk about… But she figured it was pressing enough to warrant an answer.

“I’m all right,” she said. She rolled her shoulders and winced. “My shoulders ache, but nowhere near as bad as before.”

“That’s good.” Sunset laced her hands behind her back. “Are… we telling Fluttershy? Y’know. About what happened with your powers?”

Rainbow pursed her lips. “Seems dumb not to.”

“Including the part where your body started to change?”

Rainbow grimaced, her gaze turning down to her passing sneakers. She thought about it seriously for a moment. Then she nodded slowly. “Yeah. That too.”

“Okay…” Sunset kicked at a rock on the path and bit her lip. “Rainbow, about what caused this—”

“Sunset, I promised you that if it’s something I think you and the others need to know, I’ll tell you right away. But I really mean it. I won’t talk about it.” Rainbow looked at her solemnly. “If you meant what you said about respecting privacy the other night, then you’ll trust me.”

The tomboy shrugged. “From where I’m standing, there isn’t any risk to you or any of the other girls. All right?”

Sunset’s forehead wrinkled, but she bobbed her head in acquiescence. “All right.”

When they got to Freenote Library, they headed straight up to the third floor. Rainbow led Sunset to the usual study room, and there they found Fluttershy already taking out her things.

At the sight of Rainbow Dash, the shy girl dropped the binder she was holding and ran to hug her.

“Oh, Rainbow! I was so worried!” She pulled away and held Rainbow’s face, her eyes gleaming with concern and love. The tomboy closed her eyes at her girlfriend’s soft touch.

This. This was what she’d needed, so, so badly. Just being in Fluttershy’s orbit took the sting out of Rainbow’s new parentless life. If Sunset hadn’t been there, Rainbow would have clung to her girlfriend like she were a lifeline.

“How did it go?” Fluttershy asked with a little wince. She acknowledged Sunset with an almost apologetic tilt of her head, but her eyes quickly fastened back onto her lover.

Rainbow glanced over at Sunset, then sighed. “Sit down, babe. This’ll take a bit…”

By the time Rainbow got through recounting everything, Fluttershy was weeping silently, her hands gripping Rainbow’s like she was a treasure that had been damaged.

“I feel like I’ve caused you so much trouble, Dashie,” Fluttershy said through her tears.

Rainbow shook her head emphatically, pulling the animal lover into a hug. She had felt cold and numb through much of her account, but upon hearing her girlfriend say this, she felt a swift stab of heartache.

“This is totally not your fault,” she said. Her eyes pressed closed as her arms tightened around the other girl. “I told you, Shy. Whatever happens, you’re worth it.” She kissed Fluttershy’s forehead. Into her skin, she murmured, “The second Sunset reminded me of that, I was able to get control of my magic again.”

“If only I could have been there. I could have tried to use my magic to help you calm down!” Fluttershy sniffled.

“Shy, your calming aura doesn’t work on the rest of us, remember?” Sunset interjected quietly. “Rainbow was going to have to center herself the old-fashioned way, no matter what.”

Compared to everyone else, Fluttershy’s powers had always been more supportive in nature. In addition to her ability to fly and commune with animals, she could bring a powerful calm to any person within a close radius of her—provided they weren’t too infused with magic. Something about her power couldn't pierce through the veil of another comparable arcane source. Weaker subjects, she could break through to...though Rainbow always suspected that had more to do with Fluttershy's natural ability to soothe others than her asserting her will over anyone with her magic power.

Fluttershy’s shoulders hunched around her ears. “Our powers…” she pulled away from Rainbow to look into her face. “Rainbow, mine acted up, too!” She gestured at her head. “My hearing became so strong that I could hear people’s heartbeats!”

Rainbow’s eyebrows shot high. “Wow!” She looked sharply at Sunset. “Really?”

Sunset only nodded gravely.

Fluttershy fidgeted in Rainbow’s arms, bringing the tomboy’s attention back to her. “Not to mention I gained a strong sense of smell... and I think strong vision too? I didn’t have a chance to test out how far I could see. Bright lights bothered me, though.”

Sunset laid a hand on Fluttershy’s shoulder, and her gaze was bright with concern. “Were you able to regain control of your powers all right? No more major issues?”

Fluttershy shrugged. “I wouldn’t say I regained control of them so much as they just… faded away. I was able to finish my shift without any more major problems, thankfully.” Her eyes tensed. “Sunset, will our powers continue to do this?”

Sunset shook her head. “From the looks of things, no. I think you both just had very upsetting experiences tonight that acted as catalysts.”

She gestured at Fluttershy. “You had to perform surprise euthanasia,” next she gestured at Rainbow, “and you cut ties with your dad and learned your mom was still around.”

Rainbow looked at Fluttershy with shock. “You had to euthanize a pet?” Never in a million years would she imagine her girlfriend being able to do such a thing, and yet...

Fluttershy pulled away, her shoulders curving. “Yes…” Her hands wrung themselves. “I wasn’t supposed to, but no one else stepped up to do it, and it needed to be done, so—” her voice choked with sudden emotion, and she let her hair curtain forward.

“Aw, Fluttershy. I’m really sorry.” Rainbow pulled her back into a hug.

They stayed like that until Sunset cleared her throat. The pair turned to look at their friend, who seemed embarrassed for the interruption.

“Um, actually, if you guys are free on Friday, maybe we can try to run a few tests?” She held up her hands. “It’ll be good to have a clearer understanding of your new powers.”

Her face tensed a moment as she added, “I mean— as I said, I doubt we’ll see any more spikes like we did tonight, but you never know!”

“I’m certainly up for it!” Fluttershy said with an eager nod. She looked up at Rainbow, her thick eyelashes fanning. “Rainbow?”

Rainbow Dash grimaced. It wasn’t exactly how she wanted to spend her Friday, but…

She sighed. “Sure, whatever.”

Sunset gave a thumbs up, relief clear on her face. “Great!” Then suddenly, she chuckled. At their inquisitive looks, she asked, “Remember that time I accidentally sent one of my magic light flares into Mr. Doodle’s eyes during my driving test?”

Rainbow grinned. “Yeah! I remember Trixie complaining because he stopped doing tests for the rest of the day.” She mimicked the amateur magician with as petulant a voice as possible. “‘Which one of you magical misfits thought it was a good idea to blind the one person capable of giving the Great and Powerful Trixie keys to sweet, sweet vehicular freedom?!’”

Fluttershy looked at her sidelong, lips pursed with disapproval. “And then you made that comment about her mother sending Mr. Doodle racy texts.”

Rainbow snickered. “Well even for someone who was the head of the PTA, she spent waaaay too much time with the guy!”

“Rainbow, he was married!”

“So?”

“Anyways,” Sunset placed her hands on her hips. “My magic got out of control because I was super nervous during my test—”

Fluttershy nodded her head with a shudder. “Cranky Doodle was a scary driving instructor!”

“—And since I hadn’t learned to control my new powers yet, we almost crashed the car!” Sunset shrugged. “So mishaps, even on a smaller scale, can still have big consequences. We’re way more likely to lose control when we’re stressed. That’s why I want to ask you both to take it easy the next few days until we have proper time to get a handle on things.”

She squinted one eye. “I mean, I’d say maybe skipping tonight’s study session is worth it, but I know how badly you need this, Rainbow. Just promise you’ll both get plenty of rest and relaxation when you’re through.” She wagged a finger. “The key thing is to not let yourselves get too upset about anything. If stuff starts to get weird, just try not to panic. It’ll only make things worse!”

“Thanks, Sunset,” Rainbow Dash said. She smiled at her friend sincerely. “If you hadn’t been with me, things could have been much worse. You’re awesome. I mean it.”

“Yes, thank you so much, Sunset!” Fluttershy went to the redhead and hugged her. When she pulled away, her hands were clasped and her eyes shined with fresh tears. “I am grateful beyond words for what you’ve done!”

Sunset waved her hands in front of her, an uneasy smile on her lips. “Don’t thank me, guys. Really. I’m just glad I was of use in the end.”

She started to back toward the door. “Take care, Flutters. Dashie.” To Rainbow, she said, “I, um…” she rubbed one arm, her gaze dropping. “I might be out late tonight?” She peeked up again. “So don’t freak if I’m not in the dorm when you’re done, okay? I’ll be fine.”

Rainbow blinked at Sunset’s sudden diffidence but gave a thumbs up. “All right, Sun. No worries!”

Sunset gave her a pursed smile. She waved one last time to Fluttershy before leaving.

Fluttershy turned to Rainbow, her eyes gleaming with clear concern. “Dashie, maybe Sunset’s right… How about we skip working on your project tonight?”

Rainbow shook her head quickly. “No! I gotta work on this. I’ve only got three more weeks before it’s all due, and I haven’t even started my paper yet.” She sighed roughly and rubbed at her face. “This can’t wait.”

Fluttershy’s hand lightly touched her elbow. “I really think you need to rest… You’ve had an upsetting night.”

Rainbow made a face and turned away, toward the table. “So have you!” She set down her backpack and began to unpack its contents.

She needed to be strong.

Fluttershy appeared at her side, her brow furrowed. “Dashie, it’s true that ending a life was very upsetting for me, but that needed to happen. I’m at least comforted by the fact that I helped to end a poor animal’s suffering! What you went through doesn’t compare. Your pain is still perfectly valid, and we shouldn’t ignore it!”

Rainbow clenched a fist, then released it. She rubbed the back of her neck.

“Look—” the word came out more forcefully than she’d meant to and she pressed her hands together in front of her mouth.

After a deep breath, she tried again. “If it means so much to you, I guess I could skip my English Literature lecture in the morning… I’m still doing okay in that course, and I could steal someone’s notes later.”

She pulled out a chair and sat in it heavily. “I’d still go to the gym early, and later in the afternoon I have soccer practice at six.” She shrugged, looking up at Fluttershy with a frown. “With the game this weekend, I can’t skip those. Honestly, they’ll probably help me feel better.”

Fluttershy touched her hand. “Aside from my Chemistry Lab, I’m free for the day. I’d love to spend it with you if you’d like the company?”

Rainbow smiled. “Sure.”

Fluttershy returned the expression and sat down next to her. “Let’s get to work, then.”

They did just that.

Fluttershy helped Rainbow form a complete outline for her paper. The shy girl hadn’t been lying when she said she’d previously been drawing that part of the process out in order to spend more time together. Rainbow felt a small flicker of anger that she’d lost a week of progress to this, but she swiftly reminded herself that she had been planning much worse.

Apologies had already been given and accepted. She had no place holding on to anything, even in this, her darkest hour. The resentment vanished almost as quickly as it came.

With that finally done, they next went over key concepts, even going so far as to use the whiteboard in the room to write them down.

Rainbow tried to focus through the dense wall of information, but stray thoughts cut through her.

Dad was right, I can’t do this.

What if I lose my scholarship?

I have nothing to go back to if I drop out…

“Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow looked up with a start. Fluttershy was looking at her with wide eyes, her hands clasped at her chest and her chin tucked in.

Rainbow’s gaze dropped to her hand. She’d snapped her pencil in two, the top half laying atop her sloppily written notes, the bottom half still gripped tightly in her fingers.

Fluttershy stepped away from the whiteboard and placed a hand over Rainbow’s. Her beautiful blue eyes shined with understanding.

“Let’s go,” she whispered.

“Where?” Rainbow whispered back. Her throat was tight for some reason.

“To my favorite place.”

Now Rainbow’s eyebrows lifted. She closed her binder and stood.

When they left the library it was past midnight. This didn’t bother Rainbow. If she was going to skip English, then she could sleep in and go to the gym a little later while Fluttershy was still in class. Still, she looked at her girlfriend, worried that she would be exhausted tomorrow. She felt guilty for not insisting Shy go home and rest, instead.

Rainbow couldn’t even bring the thought to words, but she was afraid of being alone that night.

Fluttershy led her by the hand across campus until they arrived at one of the trailheads to Everfree Forest. When the shy girl boldly passed the signs and guards prohibiting entry after sundown, Rainbow whistled her surprise but followed.

As they delved deeper into the dark of the woods, Fluttershy turned bashfully to Rainbow and said, “Whenever I’m upset or anxious, I like to walk the woods at night.”

“Aren’t you scared?” Rainbow asked. “I thought you hated the dark!”

Fluttershy bit her lip and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s true that I was terrified at first,” she admitted. “But a few months ago, a hurt fox escaped a wildlife rehab center and fled into the woods. It was well past sunset, but I knew I couldn’t wait to save it. It wouldn’t last the night.”

A smile lit her face. “I called Applejack to help me, and she came right away.”

Rainbow felt an unpleasant lurch in her stomach and tried to ignore it.

Fluttershy continued, oblivious, “Thanks to her, I was able to go into the forest, and we found the poor dear very quickly!” She pretended to cradle a small animal in her arms. “I carried it all the way back to the rehab center. With the little fox in my arms, and Applejack at my side…”

She smiled softly and looked at Rainbow. “I think that helped me get over my fear of the woods at night.”

“So you just started night hiking after that?” Rainbow tried to keep her voice neutral. She repeated to herself that Fluttershy and Applejack were just friends, and always had been.

Fluttershy giggled, her hands lacing behind her. “Well, no. It started slowly.” She looked up, a thoughtful look on her face. “The first time, I think I heard an owl at the edge of the woods. I was curious, so I followed its voice for a little bit before I lost my nerve and turned back.”

She puckered her lips and tilted her head to the side. “The second time, I had stayed late on campus, and Star Weld wasn’t answering his phone. The buses weren’t running anymore, and I didn’t have money for a taxi. Then I had the idea to fly home, but I needed somewhere to sprout wings without drawing attention to myself, so…”

Rainbow nodded. “You came out here.”

Fluttershy ran her hands over the bark of a tree they were passing. “I went much deeper that time.” She put hands around her eyes like they were blinders. “I made myself ignore the shadows I passed and moved as quickly as I could until I came to a clearing.”

Her hands slipped back, combing through her hair. She looked serenely up at the canopy. “Once in the clearing, I… felt better. So much better. I found I liked how quiet everything was. The moon looked beautiful. It was very peaceful.”

The animal lover twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “The third time, I was upset.” She didn’t look at Rainbow when she said this, her voice going quiet. “Being that emotional, I didn’t have room to focus on my fear. I just wanted the shadows to surround me. To hide my tears.”

Rainbow’s brow tensed. “What were you upset about?”

“Nothing that matters now, Dashie,” Fluttershy said. She flashed a quick smile before picking up her pace. “The clearing I want to show you is close. Just follow me, please.”

Rainbow’s steps slowed, her chest tightening. It was me. She was upset about me.

Running a hand over her weary face, the tomboy hurried to follow her girlfriend. Fluttershy turned off the beaten path, leading them through thick underbrush before cresting a small incline.

At the top, Rainbow was startled to see a small field open up before them.

Fluttershy let out a relieved breath. An almost glowing joy lifted her features. “Here we are!”

The clearing was filled with wild meadowgrass that reached up to Rainbow’s knees. The space wasn’t a perfect circle. Rather, the tree line dipped in halfway through it. When Rainbow moved further into the clearing and looked around, she realized it was actually shaped like a kind of lopsided heart.

“Do you want a snack?” Fluttershy asked. She went to a large old oak that had a hollow in the middle of its trunk.

“Sure,” Rainbow said.

Fluttershy reached into the tree trunk and pulled out a small dark drawstring bag. Rainbow stared as her girlfriend opened it and removed a small snack packet. She approached, holding this out. The tomboy took it and realized it was trail mix.

Rainbow blinked. “Why was this in a tree?”

Fluttershy bit her lip and became suddenly very interested in the bag’s contents. “Um…” she shuffled a little on the spot. “Since I was hiking these trails day and night so much, I started leaving little caches in my favorite spots. Small things. Snacks and water, mostly.”

She winced and looked up at Rainbow as she set the bag down. “You think it’s strange, don’t you...”

Rainbow shrugged. “I mean, I was kind of surprised.” She gestured around them. “But if you really came out here a lot, then I guess it’s understandable?” She rubbed her neck, her eyes casting down. “Must’ve been useful even. Especially when you came out here last minute, like when you were upset…”

She pocketed the trail mix and stepped close to Fluttershy, taking her hands. “Fluttershy, be honest. How many times did you come here because of me?”

Fluttershy sighed, touching Rainbow’s cheek. Her brow wrinkled softly. “Dashie, I said that doesn’t matter anymore.” She lightly shrugged one shoulder. “And I’m afraid it’s not like I kept count.”

Rainbow’s lips thinned. “But it was a lot, wasn’t it?”

Fluttershy pouted as her frown deepened. “Rainbow, I’m afraid I had more on my mind than just your lack of interest in me. I’ve struggled with other things, too!”

Rainbow slouched, her cheeks burning. “Oh! Uh…”

“I mean, there’s my vet program, my co-op at the animal hospital, and I worry about Star Weld all the time!”

Rainbow nodded quickly. “Sorry, sorry! You’re totally right. It’s not like you didn’t have your own life, Shy.” She smiled apologetically. “I’m, er, kinda self-absorbed sometimes.”

Fluttershy flashed a tilted smile. “Sometimes?”

Rainbow Dash laughed at her girlfriend’s frankness. “Ouch! Okay, all the time.” She winked. “But I mean, gimme a break. I’m awesome, aren’t I?”

Fluttershy pecked her on the lips, her smile broadening. “Yes. You are.”

Rainbow pressed her forehead to Fluttershy’s, her gaze lowering. “Too bad my parents don’t think so…” she lamented quietly.

Fluttershy bit her lip and hugged Rainbow around the waist, pulling their bodies together. “Dashie, my heart hurts so much knowing that this happened to you.”

“It isn’t your fault—”

“Maybe it isn’t, but I just… I wish I could do something!”

Rainbow Dash stepped out of Fluttershy’s embrace and turned away, her expression darkening. Her scalp started to tingle…

“There isn’t anything you or anyone else can do,” Rainbow said. “Blaze never backs down, and I won’t either. I’m not going to crawl back to him!”

She heard Fluttershy step toward her. “And your mother?”

Rainbow could feel herself grow hotter. “I…”

The veins in her arms started to burn. The wind tore through the clearing.

Get a grip!

But how? How could she get a grip when everything was just bottled up, ready to spill out again? She’d kept her head for several hours now… She was tired. Fluttershy was here, the sweetness of her disposition loosening the tight guards Rainbow had around her feelings.

If only Rainbow’s feelings weren’t so dangerous.

“Dashie, I’m not afraid,” Fluttershy said behind her. “I know you’re worried about the magic getting away from you again… But I trust you, and I don’t want you to face this alone. Not even for a moment.”

Rainbow’s fists clenched. The words seemed to slip from her mouth, despite her efforts to remain stalwart. “I still don’t know about my mom.”

Like blood seeping through her armor, she kept going. The next sentence came after a long pause through gritted teeth. “I’m so angry at her, that I almost want to say, ‘Screw it, I never want to see her!’”

Her eyes squeezed closed, and the tears clung to her eyelashes. “But I kind of want to go and just ask… why? Why did she go? Why couldn’t she have taken me with her?”

Rainbow covered her face with one hand. Her voice became raked with her effort to keep her sorrow at bay. Even as she fought for some outward appearance of strength, the pain and endless questions kept pouring out of her. “Why wasn’t I a good enough daughter for my parents?”

Her hair stirred with the gusts that swirled around them. Rain droplets began to fall from the sky.

She was such an idiot. Now the storm would come back, and—!

Rainbow felt Fluttershy hug her from behind. She melted against her. Melted against that soft body that exuded everything her family never gave her. Compassion. Acceptance.

Love.

“Rainbow, you’re more than what they think of you,” Fluttershy whispered into her ear.

The wind streamed over them, and Fluttershy’s pink locks flew to join Rainbow’s, their colors dancing and weaving together on the world’s breath.

And still, more rain fell.

Fluttershy’s arms squeezed around Rainbow’s chest, and the tomboy’s arms went over hers, holding them there.

“You’re priceless,” Fluttershy went on. “Priceless to our friends. Priceless to me.” She shook her head gently, nuzzling just behind Rainbow’s ear. “But none of it matters until you believe it yourself.”

She kissed Rainbow’s neck, her lips moist and soft. Rainbow Dash shivered at the feel of her girlfriend’s sweet mouth on her skin.

Her head tilted to the side, silently begging for more.

More love, more caresses—

More distraction.

I can’t deal with this, Shy. Help me forget. I just wanna be with you until it all stops hurting.

And as far as Rainbow could tell, it would never truly stop. What was left of her family had been smashed to pieces. No reconciliation could take back the things that happened. The words that were said. All the years of bad choices. Even if they could somehow come together again, the stain of it all would remain.

Help me forget. Please.

Fluttershy felt a weird sense of power, such that she’d never known before.

When tending to a wounded animal, she was always aware of the vulnerability of her charge. She’d grown accustomed to it over the years—that sense of control over another’s life. In her kindness, she’d never dreamed of doing anything other than help the critters in her care.

But it never escaped her notice how her charges would succumb to her. How they would follow and obey her if she asked them to.

Now? With Rainbow Dash? The tomboy was so hurt and so lost, it was obvious that anyone with the right insight could tilt her anyway they’d like.

Rainbow wanted to escape her pain. She wanted to have the burden taken away. She wanted her future survival secured. Fluttershy could satisfy these desires in simple, brutish ways.

She could push Rainbow down and take her in the grass, balming her hurt with basic ecstasy. She could softly dissuade her girlfriend from seeking out her estranged mother, removing the pressure of a reunion. With enough coaxing, she could probably even convince Rainbow to return to her father, keeping their continued relationship a secret, thus simplifying tomorrow’s survival.

One way numbed the reality. Another way ran from it. The last surrendered to everything wrong with it.

And after everything was said and done, Rainbow would be like putty in Fluttershy’s hands, ever thankful for the easy out.

These realizations hit Fluttershy as she kissed Rainbow’s neck. It rushed to her, like the hot blood that thrummed beneath her lips as her girlfriend gave her better access. This was the same vulnerable place where her vampire persona had preyed upon her dear friend in a nightmare.

No.

Fluttershy pulled away, her love and sympathy stirring more than just her heart. She could feel her magic moving within her, warming her chest.

That isn’t who I am. I’ll never manipulate Rainbow or anyone else that way.

Rainbow wordlessly protested. She turned trying to pull Fluttershy back against her, and failed—

But I can’t give in to the urge to give Rainbow easy escapes, either. It won’t help.

Fluttershy tilted her head back and felt the mystical power erupt inside her, the electrifying energy taking hold of her body to lift her gently up into the air.

I’ll be there for her. I’ll love her like I always have.

The magic hummed that pleasant sound. She could feel her wings erupt from her back. They slid neatly through the discreet wing slits Rarity had cut into the back of her blouse.

But I have to give her enough space to process this.

When her wings had spread their full span, Fluttershy opened her eyes. Her hair was longer, magicked into its signature ponytail. Her ears sat atop her head, pony-like.

She simply must understand...

Rainbow had stepped back from her, one hand lowering as though she’d just shielded her eyes from the glow of the transformation. Her forehead wrinkled as she looked Fluttershy up and down. Her lips were slightly parted, the bottom one quivering.

The fear of having the magic twist her into something else was still there.

But Sunset was confident they wouldn’t have any more power spikes. Fluttershy trusted her judgment.

She smiled gently and held out her hand.

Rainbow must understand that she’s worth loving, no matter what.

Rainbow started to reach for her, but she faltered. She bit her lip and let her head hang. “Flutters, I dunno if I can do it.” Her voice became choked. “I wanna be with you, but I’m so messed up!”

She struck a fist over her heart with teeth bared. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Blaze is in here. So is Windy. I’m messed up like them both!”

Fluttershy’s brow creased, her eyes literally aglow with her elemental kindness. She knew Rainbow needed to figure some things out on her own… Those things would take time. But how could the seeds of healing sprout in such abject negativity?

Rainbow wasn’t just sad in the conventional sense—she believed something was wrong with her now. Like it was actually something she’d inherited from her parents, and that something was poisoning her magic.

Fluttershy could feel the pull of Harmony, the strange guiding law that had somehow bequeathed the Equestrian magic to her and her friends as guardians of this newly changed world. This mystical force asserted itself in her mind, raising her inspiration, even as somehow, somewhere, a guitar began to play softly.

Almost whispering the words, Fluttershy began to sing, even as her wings caught the air, lifting her up.

“Hey… it’s okay.
Don’t give up,
Don’t shy away.”

Fluttershy beckoned Rainbow with an inviting grin.

“My cloud is soft and comfy,
Won’t you drift with me today?”

Rainbow’s eyes widened, her hair whipping about her as Fluttershy ascended. She approached slowly, her face lengthening as the magical song washed over her, conveying every ounce of love and compassion in Fluttershy’s heart. Slowly, her hand reached up again.

Fluttershy continued, the music soothing even her regrets for the part she played in the recent drama. They were here now, and they could be free.

“I know it’s hard,
An uphill fight,
Sometimes it seems your might
Will give tonight.
I’ll hold you up with my two arms
And guide you back to flight.”

The animal lover was rising above the trees now, though she still leaned forward, hand outstretched. The magic of her flight never needed to heed such aerodynamic hurdles like lift or wind interference. Fluttershy rose, despite the gusts, despite the rain.

Rainbow Dash gazed up at her, a bright gleam returning to her eye. “Fluttershy!” She jumped up, reaching as far as she could.

Fluttershy let out a delighted laugh when Rainbow’s form erupted in light. Even through her sadness, Rainbow couldn’t let go of her determination to stand by those she cared about. Nothing would stop her from being at Fluttershy’s side, not even her own self-doubt.

Like always, the transformation was swift, and Rainbow’s wings spread their full proud length through wing slits in the back of Rainbow’s t-shirt. It seemed Fluttershy hadn’t been the only one to think of flying that night.

The tomboy still managed to be startled at her wing’s appearance, however, and so she dipped in the air, momentarily forgetting how to fly.

Thinking quick, Fluttershy caught her outstretched hand, keeping her in the air. At her girlfriend’s stunned look, she resumed singing.

“Just think of me,
Out in the stands,
Surrounded by all your
Adoring fans.
A whisper in the chaos,
That cheers your victory at hand!”

Rainbow’s gaze softened. Her wings flapped, slow at first, before gaining strength.

With an encouraging smile, Fluttershy flew skyward, through the gentle rain, her face tilted up to the clouds.

“My heart is there,
Under your wing.
It’s both scary and thrilling
Your prism lights
What I won’t say.
Moving me to sing—

Let’s chase the rain,”

Rainbow passed her, always the swift flyer, and as Fluttershy followed her through the thick, wet, cloud cover, she heard her lover join her song. Together they flew through the sky, eyes never leaving each other’s as they danced through the air.

“Oh, let’s chase the rain!
Let’s chase the rain
Yeah, let’s chase the rain!
Oh let’s chase the rain~”

Fluttershy felt tears, happy tears, fall from her eyes, as she caught Rainbow in a tight hug that was readily returned. Their wings curled over one another’s. The momentum of their upward flight carried them higher for a moment, before they started to fall together, ponytails lifting with the passing air.

The phantom music faded from around them, even as the clouds retreated, leaving the sky clear for the first time that day.

Fluttershy pressed her cheek to Rainbow’s and said into her ear, “Rainbow Dash… I love you.”

Rainbow’s arms squeezed around her.

“I love you too, Fluttershy.”

Then before they fell past the treeline, Rainbow Dash spread her wings and caught the wind, carrying them both up into the starry night sky.

You can hear Fluttershy's song here: https://soundcloud.com/cajeck/chase-the-rain

This chapter also touches on some of the world-building I did in my spinoff, I Feel A Song Coming On!, btw. It expands a bit on the phenomena of "bursting into song" as a function of the girls' magic.