The Last Of Us

It was one of those very special midsummer nights in Ponyville. The temperature was mild, the sky was clear and the stars shone brighter than the sun at daytime.

In the sleeping city, there was one house that was dimly lit, though, with the first approach, it would not appear to be a place where somepony could live in.

It was a great tree in the middle of the little village, home of Twilight Sparkle and mostly unvisited library for everypony.

In it, she and her close friends where gathered around a little lamplight, all of them lying in sleeping bags and enjoying the gathering with food and short tales. They giggled through the night and took advantage of every second to make this special event to be remembered for ever.

Resting between Twilight Sparkle with Spike, and Rainbow Dash, was the young Pegasus Fluttershy. She was the only one to not constantly smile, worrying about the well-being of her little animal friends.

“...And then, Cheerilee said 'this isn't one of my students, this is my mother',” Rainbow Dash gaged, before bursting out laughing, causing the others, but Fluttershy, to do the same.

“Hah! Nice one, Rainbow,” Applejack complimented her, just as she realized that Fluttershy did not laugh and turned to her.

“Hey, Sugarcube. What's the matter? It's your birthday. You should be laughing more than Pinkie Pie, though I doubt that's possible,” she gave her best to comfort her, even though she fell on deaf ears.

“He, he. Applejack is right,” Pinkie Pie assisted her as joyfully as ever, before handing Fluttershy another slice of chocolate cake. “Maybe you are still hungry? My super-duper-yummy-cake will fill that hole in your stomach.”

But Fluttershy denied it and simply shook her head, gazing through a window in the direction of her home.

“No... thanks... I'm not hungry.”

“But what is it then?” Rarity asked her in bewilderment. “This just isn't right.”

“I'm just worrying about my little friends, that's all. I hope they are fine...” Fluttershy mumbled anxiously.

“But of course they are,” Twilight Sparkle consoled her. “They are smart animals, if not even a bit astute.”

“Yeah!” Spike supported her best friend, just as he approached the distressed Fluttershy and snuggled with her. “They are definitely clever. And if it makes you feel better, I'll be you angel for tonight.”

Fluttershy blushed, but unsurprisingly, she relished Spike's act of friendship and put a foreleg around him, gently stroking him and cuddling with him.

“Thanks, Spike. That is so... surprisingly sweet from you.”

He giggled, but smiled and savored it as well. “No problem, Fluttershy. You know me, always the goody two shoes.”

“Oh no!” Pinkie Pie suddenly shouted out loud. “What time is it?!”

Since she was already hyperactive and looked nervously in all directions, Applejack pressed one hoof of hers against Pinkie Pie's head and turned it in the direction of a clock.

“Here ya go, Pinkie.”

“Oh! Thanks AJ!” she gave her props, before cheering happily. “Yes, we still have 5 minutes, so it's not too late. Twilight, do you have it?”

“What shall I...” she asked confusedly, before fathoming what Pinkie Pie tried to tell her and nodding approvingly. “Yes. Fluttershy, please close your eyes.”

“B-but... then I see nothing but darkness. It is... scary...” she stuttered fearfully.

“Seriously?” Rainbow Dash questioned her irascibly, while the others starred at her in confusion.

Fluttershy smiled and chuckled joyfully. “Nope. Not seriously.”

“Did you just... play a prank on us?” Rarity asked her, before she and the others rolled on the floor laughing.

“Seems like you are now with us again, huh?” Pinkie Pie commented when they were about to calm down, to which Fluttershy nodded approvingly.

Fluttershy then closed her eyes, waiting for what is to come. It was obvious that a present was awaiting her, but to make her friends gleeful, she pretended to be completely oblivious.

“Alright. You can open your eyes,” Spike requested her, and so, she did.

As she opened her eyes, she saw something so beautiful, she could not comprehend it. Being held up in front of her was an amulet, made of pure crystal. It was in the shape of the butterfly that graced the Element of Kindness, attached to a soft, agleam tie. She was moved to tears, but was suddenly shocked when she saw who was actually lifting the amulet up.

“A-Angel? What are you doing here?” Fluttershy asked him, switching between gratification and worries.

“He was so keyed up that he wanted to give it yourself. After all, it was his idea,” Rainbow Dash explained her proudly.

“And now, you don't have to worry anymore,” Rarity stated gleefully.

“Come on!” Applejack pushed her slightly. “Put it on.”

She carefully took it into her hooves, and while she blushed and kindly smiled, she put it around her neck. The flickering light of the lamp reflected in the amulet, making it look like a dancing butterfly of fire.

“Wow...” Fluttershy astounded. “This is... beautiful.”

While everypony was glorying in the spectacle, Angel joined Spike and bedded herself next to him under Fluttershy's foreleg. As she felt that, Fluttershy turned her head to Angel, who had already closed his eyes and was about to fall asleep, and carefully, she stroke his head with her snout.

“Thank you very much, my angel,” she whispered, just as Angel felt asleep with a wide smile on her face.

Resting her head on the soft pillow of her sleeping back, she weakly gazed into the eyes of the other ponies; her very close friends.

“Thank you. This is the best birthday I ever had. Nothing could ruin it now...” Fluttershy expressed her gratitude to her friends, just as the others felt tired as well and began to fall asleep, too.

Closing her eyes, she felt the warmest feelings of all. Affection. Her friends were definitely the best friends you could wish for. Earnest, amiable and allegiant. For them, she would always be the kind pony she was, and just as she drifted off into the magical realm of dreams, the clock hit the first second of the next day.