Butterflies

Fluttershy could feel her face burning up in a bright red blush under her fur. She hid her face with her sleek pink mane and closed her eyes tight shut.

She could hear the ponies talking, why wouldn't she.

They were talking about her, laughing at her.

She knew it.

She knew it.

SHE KNEW IT.

Yet somehow, when she pricked her ears and tried to listen in there was no laughing. There was no shouting.

They didn't mention her. Not her name, not the colour of her fur, not how she looked, not how quiet she was.

Not how horrible and stupid and useless she was.

They weren't talking about her at all.

They were talking about themselves.

Why wouldn't they be? They were supposed to be. Supposed to be in school, sitting in a circle introducing themselves on the first day.

Why wouldn't they be? Who cared about her? Stupid little Fluttershy.

The filly who was such a big scaredy cat she couldn't even say her name.

She couldn't have people's eyes on her without breaking down.

She couldn't talk to anypony.

She couldn't.

She couldn't.

SHE COULDN'T.

Tears slipped down her cheeks, leaving dark tracks in her yellow fur.

"And you are?" She heard the teacher say, addressing her.

She couldn't see that she was crying because her head was low could she?

No, that wasn't it.

She just didn't care that she was crying. She just didn't care about her.

She felt sick to her stomach, she was sweating and she was going to throw up and-

"I'm Fluttershy..." She whispered, her entire body trembling.

"I'm sorry love, I didn't hear you. Could you speak up a bit?"