Fluttershy was sitting on the sofa in her cottage one day reading the "Equestria Times" newspaper looking for any interesting stories or advertisements. So far nothing seemed to catch her eye.
When she got to the concert tour dates section, she nearly missed a breath when she saw that "Pegasus City" was posted; and that there was going to be a live performance tonight!
"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" she exclaimed bouncing around practically squealing which was a rare thing for her since she's normally the laidback and strong silent type of pony, but when it came to being a huge fan of a Electronica/Synthpop musical artist, a whole different side of her took place.
She became an instant fan after she heard his first single "Fireflies" play over every radio in Ponyville. She didn't know how it would affect other ponies but it sure had a deep impact on her. She fell in love with his voice and the music that went along with it. The atmosphere became more and more relaxing whenever she heard his songs so that's why she went out and bought every album possible whether it was an old one or a new release. The most recent album she bought was entitled "The Midsummer Station". Sure this album had a new pop/dance feel to it but being the loyal fan she is, she bought it and really enjoyed the songs especially the one entitled "Good Time". She even had posters hidden around her room. Whenever nopony or her animals were around, she would quietly pull out a big poster of his face from underneath her bed and start to madly make out with it. His face was just so bucking cute and irresistible that she just had to kiss it to death. If anypony saw her snogging an inanimate object, she'd definitely be taken to a mental asylum or get scrutinized by the citizens of Ponyville, even her own best friends because she wasn't sure if his music had any sort of impact on them so she never mentioned it when they were around.
After she tended to her animals, she grabbed her saddlebag and left her cottage saying goodbye to her pet bunny Angel. He gave a somewhat of a convincing wave as she headed out and locked the door.
She quickly trotted her way into town toward the store and bought herself a concert ticket for forty bits. She was so super excited that she was going to see her idol perform live on stage but somehow felt bad that she didn't buy one for each of her friends. She knew she loved them but she just wasn't sure if they were interested or not, especially the thought of them seeing her in such a ecstatic fan-girl state of mind.
She thanked the store vendor and slipped the ticket into the smaller pocket of her saddlebag.
'Okay now I just have to get back home before any of my friends find me here,' she thought to herself and cautiously trotted back to her home. She only made it a few steps before she was met with the wide excited grin of Pinkie Pie.
"Hi Fluttershy!" the pink mare exclaimed.
Fluttershy screamed and jumped up into the air using her wings to keep her in the air. She settled down and came back to the ground when she realized it was just one of her friends. She seemed rather unsettled through that Pinkie happened to be in the same area she was. She couldn't understand how Pinkie even got here, no one understood Pinkie's logics at all but decided not to find out.
"Pinkie, you could have given me a heart attack," Fluttershy timidly scolded putting a hoof to her chest to make sure her fragile heart was still beating properly, thankfully it was. "You know you shouldn't do that to me."
"I'm sorry, it's just that I'm so excited about tonight; are you excited?" Pinkie asked continually smiling while bouncing.
"Excited for what?"
Pinkie stopped bouncing and looked at her dumbfounded. "Don't tell me you forgot? You never forget this special day."
Fluttershy thought for a moment because she didn't know what Pinkie was talking about, then gave herself a facehoof when she finally remembered. Today was Rainbow Dash's birthday! Rainbow Dash was Fluttershy's best friend ever since they were fillies during Flight Camp which is where they met. She just couldn't believe that she suddenly forgot.
"Oh my! I must find a gift for her immediately!" Fluttershy said panicking.
"Isn't that why your here now?"
"Y...yes,"
"It seems to be like you were beginning to leave," Pinkie said growing a bit suspicious.
"Oh no, I was just going to another stall."
Pinkie's senses told her that Fluttershy was not telling the truth.
"Right," Pinkie said really dragging out the word.
"Well, what are you doing here then?" Fluttershy asked trying to change the subject.
"I'm here to pick up a surprise that Dashy wanted all of us to have during her birthday," Pinkie replied formally.
"What is it?"
"It's a surprise Fluttershy, I can't tell you or anypony," Pinkie replied growing more serious and annoyed.
Fluttershy hid behind her mane and whined at the reaction she was getting from her friend. Pinkie immediately backed off hating to see her get this way. She just sighed.
"I'm sorry Fluttershy, I didn't mean to get mad at you. I'm just concerned about you that's all."
Fluttershy poked an eye out and timidly said, "It's okay Pinkie, I understand. I suppose I was acting a bit weird, but I promise I'll give Rainbow Dash a present and show up to her party."
"Pinkie Promise?"
"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," Fluttershy replied doing the jesters. That made Pinkie a bit more happy.
"Okay, we'll see you tonight at Sugarcube Corner for the party," Pinkie said.
Fluttershy turned pale.
T....t...tonight?" she stuttered.
Pinkie grew suspicious again.
"Yes, why is that going to be a problem?"
"No, not at all. I just Pinkie Promised didn't I? That means I have to come." Fluttershy said with a nervous chuckle but Pinkie didn't join her. She stopped immediately.
"Uh.. yeah," Pinkie replied still suspicious. "Well I have to go. We'll see you tonight." She then trotted off.
Fluttershy just stood there for a bit before running back to her cottage to cry.
Her pets did everything in their power to comfort her but it almost seemed hopeless because she was truly wrecked. Her guilt was just too much to take. She first forgets her best friend's birthday, then she acts selfish for buying a concert ticket for only herself and not for her other friends.
"Oh what am I doing to do?" she sobbed on her sofa. "The concert is the same night of Rainbow Dash's birthday party which means I either go see the best musician in all of Equestria perform and be hated by all my friends, especially Dash; or I give the ticket to her but it would be a useless gift to her if she wasn't interested in such beautiful and optimistic music, also it comes at the cost of me not going!" she cried even harder while her pets hugged her even more.
Angel had enough of this and persistently tapped one of Fluttershy's arms to get her attention. She looked up at him with watery and puffy eyes. He gave her a few of his communication jesters. She hated the idea but she knew he was correct.
"Your right Angel, maybe I should just give her the ticket whether she likes it or not. I spent a good amount of bits on that ticket and if I spend anymore I'll be broke. She should understand that as a true friend," Fluttershy said calming down and becoming determined. Angel nodded in agreement.
"Okay, let's do this thing."
***
Sugarcube Corner
"This looks amazing Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said admiring the rainbow-colored decorations.
"Them treats look mighty tasty as well," Applejack said admiring the colorful treats laying on the table while licking her lips.
"I'd say their quite divine," Rarity added.
"Thanks to Spike and I for finding the right ingredients," Twilight Sparkle said with a content smile. "Or they wouldn't be as good as they are now."
"Aw you guys are so sweet!" Pinkie said blushing.
"Say, has anyone seen Fluttershy around?" Twilight asked concerned.
"I have, but she was acting very strange this afternoon," Pinkie said recalling the event.
"How so?" Rainbow asked. She wondered why her best friend in the world would start acting weird all of the sudden, especially on her birthday.
"Well it seemed like she was hiding something," Pinkie explained. "My Pinkie Senses told me that she was not being honest with me. It was something about tonight."
"Oh I hope the poor dear is alright," Rarity said.
"Did I do something to her and she's mad at me for it and won't attend the party?" Rainbow asked confused and a bit hurt.
"I don't think so. She Pinkie Promised, and nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise," Pinkie said a bit darkly. Thoose who broke a Pinkie Promise would be victims of Pinkie's wrath. Applejack should know because she experienced it once. Luckily she still was in one piece. Applejack still shook a bit even to this day.
Rainbow relaxed a bit but was still in doubt. "Okay,"
"It's goin' to be alright sugarcube. Shy's yer best friend. If she was angry at ya, she would've said somethin'," Applejack reassured Rainbow.
"Your right Applejack, I guess I'm being a bit paranoid," Rainbow said. "But it still doesn't solve why she is acting weird on my birthday."
"Hopefully she tells us when she arrives," Twilight said. "We're her friends so we have to help her."
All five friends agreed.
About five minutes passed since the party began, and there was still no sign of Fluttershy. Everypony was becoming worried, especially Rainbow Dash who had feelings of sorrow and anger. She couldn't understand why her closest friend in all of Equestria would abandon her on this suppose-to-be happy day. One part of her wanted to assume that Fluttershy was simply running late from picking up a special gift and was dragging it over; the other half wanted to either smack her across the face or just ignore her existence when she did decide to come through the door. Frankly she couldn't decide so she started to shed tears and sob lightly which normally wasn't her thing for being a bold-headed pegasus. Whenever her friends asked her if she was okay, she just said she had something in her eye or her allergies were acting up and that she's not a crybaby.
When all hope seemed lost, Fluttershy appeared in the door. Everyony was shocked and relieved, even Rainbow Dash who surprised herself by galloping over to her and hugging her tightly.
"Oh Fluttershy, I thought you would never come!" Rainbow said. This time she let her emotions out.
"Are you crying Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy asked.
Rainbow quickly let her go and quickly dried her eyes.
"Uh...no," she lied trying to regain composure.
Fluttershy smiled.
"It's okay Rainbow Dash. I'm so sorry I worried you."
"I thought you were mad at me or something."
"Oh no Rainbow Dash, you're my best friend. If I was upset with you, I would surely let you know it," Fluttershy explained.
"Told ya," Applejack chimed.
"Thank you Fluttershy. That's so sweet of you to say," Rainbow Dash said. She suddenly realized she was going soft again. "I meant that was pretty 'awesome' for you to say."
Fluttershy just chuckled, "Your welcome, I even brought you a gift."
Rainbow lighted up, "You did?"
"Yep, and here it is," Fluttershy said and put the concert ticket into Rainbow's hoof.
Rainbow Dash seemed confused at the gift she received.
"What's this Fluttershy?" Rainbow asked.
"A ticket to a Pegasus City concert. I know your probably not a fan of him but I spent forty bits on this ticket. You probably think I'm being lame for buying you a ticket to a band you may not like but you just have to go along with it. I could buy you some earplugs if you wish," Fluttershy said a bit assertive.
Rainbow Dash and the others looked at each other with confusion, but then they all smiled.
"Why Fluttershy, we 'all' got tickets for the concert tonight," Twilight said.
Fluttershy's eyes opened with surprise.
"Huh?" she asked.
"That was the surprise I was talking about," Pinkie said holding up the six tickets in her hoof.
"I don't understand. Why did it have to be the same night as Rainbow Dash's birthday?" Fluttershy asked.
"Because Fluttershy, we all are Pegasus City fans," Rainbow Dash said. "The concert is the gift I'm sharing with all of us."
"But you never told me, well of course I never told you I was a fan either," Fluttershy said feeling guilty.
"How come?" Rainbow asked.
"Because I was worried you guys would think I'm weird for liking a music artist who seems kind of out there," Fluttershy replied. "Especially you," she said looking at Rainbow Dash.
"Oh Fluttershy we would never judge you for your interests. We never judged you for being an animal lover, and we will never judge you for musical preferences," Rainbow said. Fluttershy smiled.
"Who can judge a pegasus who is so handsome and fashionable," Rarity said dreamily.
"Ah may not be on board with the techno/electric gizmo's he uses to make sound, but that music is the best darn tootin' ol' thing my ears have ever heard," Applejack proclainmed. "Even if it ain't country."
"I find his music to be quite magical," Twilight stated.
"For me, it makes just want to get up and dance!" Pinkie said bouncing once again.
"I admit maybe I wasn't a fan at first," Rainbow Dash confessed. "But I listened with an open mind and all that doubt about it just vanished. Kind of like the "Daring Doo" books." she looked over to Twilight as she said it which made her blush.
"Oh wow, I never even knew that," Fluttershy said and blushed.
"Feel like writing a letter to the Princess?" Twilight asked.
"Yes," Fluttershy said.
"Dear Princess Celestia,"
"Today I learned that you shouldn't be afraid to face your friends' opinions on your secret interests whether it's a hobby or a musician. Your friends love you for you, they will stay by your side no matter what. Who knows, they may actually like the same thing you do. I also learned that your friends are more important then a entertainment event or anything else, especially if it's their birthday."
"Your loyal subject, Fluttershy"
Spike sent the letter away by his magical fire breath.
"C'mon, the concert starts in half an hour. We don't want to be late," Rainbow Dash said.
"I just wonder what I'm going to do about this extra ticket?" Fluttershy asked holding it in her hoof.
Spike suddenly burped up a letter from the Princess.
"She replied," Twilight said. "What does it say Spike?"
Spike cleared his throat.
Dear My Little Ponies,"
"Can you please take my little sister Luna along to the concert? I can hardly sleep with her constantly pleading for me to take her. She's a huge fan of this artist. If you have a spare ticket, please give it to her. I'm begging you please take her with you! I don't know how much more I can take this!"
"Love, Princess Celestia"
The ponies just laughed and shrugged. Fluttershy gave Spike the ticket to use his magical fire breath to send it away. This was going to be a great night!
The six friends, along with a very excited Princess Luna gathered at the park where the concert took place. Apparently they got front row tickets which was even more exhilarating! After the opening band performed, everypony was screaming their heads off especially Fluttershy and Luna who seemed to scream the hardest when Pegasus City finally took the stage. The opening song was "Dreams and Disasters"
After the concert was finished, each pony's ear rang but it was totally worth being temporarily a little deaf. That was the best concert ever and Fluttershy and the rest of the gang were happy they all attended. Doing this made Rainbow Dash's birthday twenty percent cooler.
The End
