January 15, 1949

Rainbow Dash had now been working at Fluttershy’s Cottage for several weeks. These had been some of the greatest weeks in her life as she got to get to know her close friend even more. Additionally, she had gotten to appreciate why Fluttershy enjoyed taking care of animals. There were few things more satisfying than helping other creatures out, especially wounded animals.

This quality time with Fluttershy was only matched by spending time with her daughter Scootaloo. The two of them had grown even closer than ever before. While Scootaloo still couldn’t fly, she was becoming able to hover in the air for a few feet. Rainbow Dash hoped that she would be able to further develop this budding flying ability. Maybe someday Scootaloo could go onto become a Wonderbolt herself.

Rainbow Dash’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Fluttershy talking to her.

“What was that?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Oh I was just asking you what you wanted to do. I mean we are done early today, all of the animals have had their needs taken care of.”

“We could simply sit down and chit-chat. I for one am exhausted,” said Rainbow Dash as she curled up on the couch.

Fluttershy nodded her head in agreement and gently fluttered over and curled up next to Rainbow Dash.

“So what is it that you wanted to talk about?” asked Fluttershy innocently.

“Oh just, ‘stuff,’” said Rainbow Dash as she suggestively fluttered her eyes. Slowly, she slid closer to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy blushed in the face of Dash’s advances. Rainbow Dash took this as a sign that she wanted to continue.
“What kind of stuff?” asked Fluttershy.
“I’ve got a confession to make to you. Promise to keep it a secret,” started Dash.
“Okay. You have my word,” said Fluttershy, supportively wrapping her wing around her friend.
“I have a massive crush on a friend of mine and I don’t know whether or not they like me back. What do you think I should do?”
“Okay Dashie, here is what I believe you need to do. If this friend of yours is ‘single and ready to mingle’ and you know them really well, then you need you should come clean and let them know exactly how they feel. If they feel the same way about you then everything will be just dandy between the two of you. If not, then you’re no worse off.”
“Okay. In that case I have something else to tell you,” replied Rainbow Dash.
“Oh, what is that,” asked Fluttershy, curious.
“Ever since you and me were in high school, you’ve been a very close friend of mine. I was going through a tumultuous period in my own life then and you were there for me. I’d like to thank you for that.”
“Well you’re welcome Dashie. You have also been a great friend of mine all of these years,” said Fluttershy, pulling Rainbow Dash closer with her wing.
“But I view you more than just a friend,” blurted out Rainbow Dash.
“What do you mean, Dashie?” asked Fluttershy confused.
“I love you Fluttershy. As in I love you passionately and romantically.”
Fluttershy immediately scooted away from Rainbow Dash, a look of horror visible on her normally demure face.
“Rainbow! I can’t! I don’t swing that way!” said the panicky mare.
Rainbow Dash’s heart sunk, Fluttershy’s rejection causing her eyes to well up with tears. “You’re not going to cry, Dash!” she thought to herself as she struggled to keep her composure. She had feared that Fluttershy would react like this. She naively held out hope that Fluttershy would accept her love. Unfortunately she had been proven wrong.
“The very idea of you wanting to date me is gross! It’s unnatural!” lectured the yellow mare.
“I’ve felt this way about you for ten years. You were the mare that I loved. I’ve never dated anypony else because I kept on hoping that I would develop the courage to tell you how I feel. The least you can do is be respectful to me for being honest with you.”
“I’m sorry Dashie. I’ve been awfully rude to you. Please forgive me,” said Fluttershy staring down at the ground in front of her.
“It’s okay,” said Rainbow Dash as she embraced her friend. Feeling her friend tense up the moment she wrapped her hooves around her, Rainbow Dash decided to respect Fluttershy’s unease and pulled back.
“I know it’s a lot to take in. I just want you to understand that I love you not out of lust but out of a deep seated love for your personality. You’re like an angel in pony-form. I would like to have somepony like you beside me for the rest of my life.”
“Dashie, I appreciate the way you feel about me. I know that you’re not somekind of ‘sexal deviant or something’, but I just can’t do this.”
“If it’s because you're straight then I understand,” said Rainbow Dash trying to avoid having her friend feel bad about rejecting her.
“It’s not just that. I suppose that I could be open to dating another mare under different circumstances. However, it’s not safe to do that,” said Fluttershy, lowering her voice to a whisper, as if she was afraid that somepony might be listening.
“What do you mean?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Well it’s illegal to be a homosexual in Equestria. We could get put into prison or something.”
“Look Fluttershy, almost nopony enforces those laws anymore in Equestria,” said Rainbow Dash, dismissing her friends absurd claims.
“Even if we don’t go to prison, imagine if other ponies found out.”
“Look, the unspoken public secret around Ponyville is that Lyra and Bonbon are lesbians and you don’t see anyone giving them a hard time.”
“You don’t understand Dashie,” said Fluttershy, shaking her head. “If my parents found out, they would disown me. Their very permissive and kind, but even they have limits about what they’re willing to let their children do.”
“Really, so that’s the reason you’re saying no Fluttershy? Because you’re afraid of your parents disapproving of you? You’ve always let other people tell you what you can and can’t do.”
“No Rainbow, that’s not true. There’s no need to stoop to petty insults,” retorted Fluttershy, glaring back at Rainbow Dash.
“It’s true,” said Rainbow Dash smugly.
“At least you're lucky that you don’t have to worry about your parents turning their back on you,” snarled Fluttershy, referring to Rainbow Dash’s dead parents.
This remark made Rainbow Dash’s blood boil. How dare Fluttershy say that is was a good thing that her parents were dead.
“Oh yah, well buck you Fluttershy!” screamed Rainbow Dash at her lifelong friend, before turning and flying towards the door. Ignoring Fluttershy’s sobs, she swung open the door and raced back to Twilight’s Castle, blowing past her confused friend Derpy, the grey mail mare.