As it usually did, a cry of excitement preceded the appearance of the cyan pegasus herself; a matter of inches from Fluttershy's muzzle, a fluffy white cloud met its end – or at least, the end of Rainbow Dash's hoof – bursting into a cooling shower of rain that drenched the pair of them.

        A throaty, crackly giggle rung out.

        Bucking clouds into oblivion, getting dirty, fighting her way out of a scrape or two … these were the moments that Rainbow Dash lived for. If she was in possession of a romantic bone somewhere in that sleek, athletic body, it was probably about the same size as her stapes.

        Fluttershy regarded her best friend with a smile, wondering about the twist of fate that had drawn them together; she enjoyed the quiet serenity of her cottage, tending to her many animal visitors, and the number of things that she had in common with Rainbow Dash was practically zero.

        Still, their relationship had endured – grown stronger, even – since their fillyhood days.

        “So. Looking forward to tonight?” Rainbow Dash asked, a smirk breaking out across her muzzle. “I can't believe it. After all these years, you're finally going on a date.” She mimed wiping a tear out of her eye. “I'm so proud of my little girl.”

        With a patient smile, Fluttershy absorbed her friend's mocking. “I'm scared,” she said, holding her hooves up in surrender. “I just want everything to go smoothly, but I don't know what to do, and I'm kinda close to freaking out.”

        “Freaking out isn't cool,” replied Rainbow Dash sternly, “so don't do that. It's lucky that you ran into me.”

        “It is?”

        “Mm-hm,” Rainbow Dash said, nodding. Puffing out her chest, she added, “You've gotta be awesome if you wanna win somepony's heart!” Performing a little aerial ballet around Fluttershy, she treated her to a couple of well-rehearsed karate chops and even a couple of flying kicks that she'd just learned. “Always show them your best side. Be confident and brave, even if it's the exact opposite of how you're really feeling! Nothing's gonna stand in your way of you've got the attitude, yeah!”

        Confident and brave. Much like Rarity's advice, it had been designed for another pony entirely, one who hadn't spent their entire life striving to be anything else but gregarious. Yes, there were times when being brave was necessary – rescuing a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest, for example – but to do so simply to win the approval of another? It felt like cheating. She wasn't so sure that she could do that.

        Rainbow Dash saw the doubt etched on Fluttershy's muzzle. “You don't want them to think that you're lame, do you?”

        “Goodness, no, that's the last I want!” Fluttershy frowned. “I just want them to like me for me, even if I'm not as courageous as … as other ponies.”

        “There's nothing wrong with being a bit outgoing, Fluttershy,” said Rainbow Dash. Her eyes scanned the horizon. “Well, I gotta get back to work now. Good luck tonight!” She zoomed off, leaving a polychromatic trail, to the next cloud on her itinerary.