Today's the day. I'm going to ask Fluttershy on a picnic. Or maybe I just won't get out of bed...

I walked out the front door and looked up at the sky. No clouds in sight and the sun shining over all Equestria. I had Celestia and Rainbow Dash to thank for that. It was a beautiful morning. I trotted along the road, heading for town. I paused as I passed Fluttershy's cottage. I wonder what she was up to? As if she had heard my question, Fluttershy emerged from her home with a box. And not just any box. It was a box wrapped in paper and a bow. Who was the present for? Fluttershy looked around the...sky? Why would she worry about the sky?

She spotted me and froze. I smiled and waved. One more look at the sky and she slowly began walking towards me. I waited for her at the edge of the path. "Good morning." Fluttershy set the package down and stared at the sky. "Hi Speedy." I looked at the sky with her. "You worried about rain?" She blushed and looked away. "Oh...no. I was keeping watch for Rainbow Dash." That explained the sky staring. "And what about the pres-" She pressed a hoof to my mouth. "Don't say it. She could hear you."  I nodded in understanding. The present was for Rainbow. Fluttershy slowly took her hoof back. I leaned in close and whispered into her ear. "What's the occasion?" This time we both looked around the sky. When we were both satisfied, Fluttershy whispered back to me. I almost couldn't hear her she spoke so softly. "Birthday." I nodded again. "And your going to hide it somewhere." She nodded.

It was too easy. I knew just where she could put the gift. "Follow me." I began tip-toeing away. Mostly for dramatic effect, but Fluttershy tip-toed right along with me. She was really being careful. We eventually got to my place. Fluttershy looked at my home and stopped. "Are you sure about this?" I smiled. "Never surer. She won't suspect a thing. Why would I have her present?" The idea seemed to connect in her mind because she nodded and followed me inside.

We put the present in a closet. "When's her birthday?" Fluttershy looked around nervously. My smile grew wider. "Don't worry. I don't think Rainbow can hear us in here." She visibly relaxed. "It's tomorrow. Thank you for the hiding place. I always pick the worst ones. She winds up finding them early." She looked around the room. "Oh my. You have a very...large collection." I stepped forward and motioned around the room. "This is my library and art studio." Actually it was a mess. A hundred or so books, very few actually on the shelf, and a drawing table with piles of papers and a jar of quills. Fluttershy looked around some more. "It's very...nice."

Her attention was drawn to a picture on the wall. While she looked at it, an idea came to my mind. "Hey Fluttershy." She turned to me, her mane bouncing as her eyes locked with mine. My heart melted a little. "Yes Speedy?" I shook my head to clear it. "I think I have a great gift for Rainbow Dash." Now I was getting nervous. I looked around the room and stepped closer to Fluttershy. I whispered the idea to her. Her eyes widened. "You could do that? How?" I winked at her. "You leave it to me. All it will take is a letter." A smile was forming on her face. "I know just the dragon you need."

I ran into the library. Twilight was just coming down the stairs. "Hey Twilight!" She hopped down the last two steps and grinned. "Hi Speedy. How's it going?" I stopped to catch my breath. Twilight waited patiently until I was rested. "Could Spike send a letter for me?" Her head tilted to the side. "Spike? I don't know. He's only ever sent letters to the Princess." I sat down on the floor. "Isn't it at all possible?" Twilight thought for a moment. She walked over to the bookshelves and began looking through the books. Eventually she smiled and returned with a large spellbook. "I'm sure we'll find what we're looking for in here. Why don't you write your letter while I find the right spell." She motioned me towards a writing desk as she opened the spellbook.

My letter was ready in no time and Twilight called Spike. Spike ran into the room. "Yes Twilight? Oh. Hi Speedy! What do you guys need?" I held up my letter. "I need your help with this." Spike looked confused. "You have a letter for Celestia?" I shook my head. Twilight stepped towards Spike. "I'm going to help you send Speedy's letter somewhere else." Spike still looked confused. "Can I actually do that? I've never tried sending letters to any other pony." I passed the letter to Spike. He held it up and turned to Twilight. "Well who am I sending it to?" Now it was Twilight;s turn to be confused. She looked at me. "Who are you sending it to?" I smiled and stepped closer. "Can you two keep a secret?"

Today's the day. I just hope she got my letter in time. I hate to bother her when she's on vacation, but I knew that this would make Rainbow's day.

We all met up at Fluttershy's. Everypony brought a gift. Pinkie had the most to contribute though. I don't know how she got all the decorations there so quickly, but she did it. I felt a little out of place but Fluttershy assured me that I was welcome. "You're our friend after all."

I'm their friend... Had I heard that right? I'm their...friend? I don't think I've ever been happier in all my life.

Pinkie had been staring out the window for a while now. All of a sudden she drew the curtains and ran behind a couch. "She's coming!" We ran for our hiding places. I wound up behind the couch with Pinkie. She had her hooves over her mouth. I could hear the muffled laugh behind them. The room was silent. Everypony was in place. And then the sound of an opening door broke the silence. We all jumped out of our hiding spots. "SURPRISE!"

Rainbow Dash loved it. I personally think she wasn't that surprised, but she loved it all the same. The party took off as Pinkie set up games and Applejack cut the cake. Twilight put on some music and they all started dancing. I was about to join in when my keen ear picked up a knock at the door. None of the others had heard it. Perfect. I walked over to the door and opened it an inch. I looked out and saw her. I quickly opened the door more, stepped out, and closed it again. "You made it!"  The mare smiled. "Nothing I wouldn't do for you cuz." I gave her a hug. "It's been a while. How've you been?" She shrugged. "Busy as usual. It's a good thing you caught me during my vacation." I smiled and gave her another hug. She laughed. "Are you just going to stand there hugging me or are you going to introduce me to your friends?"

I opened the door and slipped in. "Twilight!" Twilight stopped dancing and looked at me. I nodded and she smiled. She ran over and turned the music off. Everypony stopped dancing and looked around. Rainbow Dash spotted me first. "Speedy! Why'd you kill the music?" I smiled. "So I could give you your birthday present of course!" I opened the door all the way. "I'd like you all to meet my cousin, Spitfire." That's right! Spitfire, member of the Wonderbolts, is my cousin. Distant cousin yes, but we played together a lot growing up.

Rainbow Dash almost fainted. "Omygosh! Spitfire!" Spitfire walked into the room. "Hi Rainbow Dash. Good to see you again. Speed told me it's your birthday today." The mares all turned to me. Rarity was the first to speak. "Your cousin is a Wonderbolt?" I nodded. "She sure is. I asked her if she could come to the party and she was more than happy to." Spitfire shrugged. "To be honest, it's nice to come to a small party as myself for once. I go to so many of those big events in uniform. It gets dull after a while." She looked around. "Well what are we waiting for? Let's party!" Twilight hit the music and we all started dancing.

The party was a success. We danced and laughed until after sunset. I wasn't surprised halfway through to see Spitfire and Rainbow sitting off to the side talking. They were laughing every few seconds. A good indicator. But all good parties have to come to an end eventually. Rarity had to go finish a new design, Twilight needed to write a letter, and so on. One by one the mares left until it was Fluttershy, Rainbow, Spitfire, and me. Those two pegasi were still talking and laughing. When she settled down, Rainbow looked around the room. "Where'd everypony go?" Fluttershy walked over to her. "They all went home. It's late." Rainbow and Spitfire looked out the window at the night sky. "Woah. I didn't know it was dark already." Rainbow stretched her wings and stood up. "Thanks again for coming Spitfire." Spitfire stretched her wings as well. "No problem Dash. It was fun. Stop by my place in Cloudsdale tomorrow. We'll see if you're still the best young flyer."

Spitfire left and Rainbow watched her go. Then without warning, she hugged me. "Thanks Speedy."I chuckled. "Happy Birthday Rainbow." With that, she flew off. I walked back inside to find Fluttershy cleaning up. I started helping. She looked at me and smiled. "You don't have to do that." I looked back at her. "It's no trouble." And so we cleaned up together for an hour or so. We didn't speak once, just enjoyed one another's company. When all was spick and span I started for the door. "Speedy." I turned around to find Fluttershy right in front of me. "Thank you. You really made Rainbow's day." And then she hugged me. I didn't know what to do. But then my hooves took over and returned the hug. "It was nothing." She pulled away and smiled. "We're all lucky to have a good friend like you." I smiled and said goodnight.

I returned home to find Spitfire sitting inside. She got up when I entered. "There you are. I've been waiting for you." I walked over and we sat down. "Did you have fun today?" She smiled. "I did. It's nice to hang out with some regular ponies for once." I laughed. "What, I'm not normal enough for you?" We laughed for a few minutes. Spitfire stood up. "Rainbow Dash is a great pony. She'll make a great Wonderbolt in a year or so." She winked at me. "But don't tell her I said that. It'll spoil the surprise." I nodded. Spitfire walked to the door. Before she left though, she turned to me once more. "You're lucky Speed. You found some great friends." I smiled. Yes. Yes I had. Next Chapter: For Love And Dragons Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 44 Minutes