Grand Galloping Gala: The aftermath of Flutterrage

by Ratnap

Rating: everyone
Tags: Fluttershy, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 5637

What had happened to Fluttershy in Celestia's garden and how is she going to handle it?

Fluttershy didn't show her best side during the Grand Galloping Gala at all. But why did she behave the way she did and how would her friends react to it? Will they still be her friends and what will she do to cope with it herself?

Warning:
I'm not a native speaker and I do some (or more a lot ) grammar mistakes and my wording is a little bit crude.

Published 2011-11-21 11:52:33 UTC
Last updated 2011-11-21 13:15:13 UTC

Grand Galloping Gala: The aftermath of Flutterrage

The Grand Galloping Gala finally came to an end. The whole gang of ponys plus baby dragon had spent another hour or two together with princess Celestia at Pony Joe’s donut bar. It was already past midnight so they couldn’t use Twilights enchanted apple coach to go back to Ponyville and had to walk.

Laughing and light chatter accompanied the group on the way home only sometimes interrupted by a deeper snore from the sleeping Spike on Twilight’s back. Although Fluttershy joined the conversation, at least when she was asked, her smile was a little bit forced and she looked away from the others more often than usual. But none of her friends seems to recognize it or weren’t about to ask her out.

As they reached Ponyville’s border the six friends said good night to each other and parted their ways to get a good hoof of sleep. As Fluttershy took off from the ground and heading towards her hut at the edge of the Everfree Forest she was followed by Rainbow Dash, who closed up to her rather fast and flew alongside the yellow pegasus.

“Hey Fluttershy!” she called out to her.
The addressed pony flinched for a second because of the unexpected approach and tried to force a small smile on her face as she looked to her friend.
“Uhm... Yes Rainbow Dash?” she asked slowly, not sure why she was following her, since Rainbows cloudhome was on the other side of Ponyville.

As usual Rainbow wasn’t a pony to waste any time and there wasn’t any to be polite and careful with wording either.
“So what was all the commotion about back in the ballroom?” She tilted an eyebrow and looked half sternly half worried to the pink maned friend of hers.
The expression she earned was puzzled to say the least.
“I... I don’t know. I was barely inside and it already looked like this.” She tried to explain. Rainbow was there before her so she must know more about it.

“Argh...” moaned the cyan pegasus. “I wasn’t talking about the mess inside the ballroom I was talking about you” she pointed a hoof towards Fluttershy. “I never saw you that angry before. If I ever saw you angry at all!” The voice of Rainbow was lacking her usual mocking tone and displayed more concern than one might have tought.
Fluttershy immediately looked back to the ground several yards below them.

“I...” her thoughts were running through her mind. She couldn’t possible say what happened back then so she tried to change the subject.
“I already was angry before.” She said quietly. “You remember that d...dragon? I got really angry at him, when I saw him threatening all of you.”
Her mane had fallen into her face so she could barely see where she was flying and how far away they were from her home. She just hoped that they would reach it soon.
“When I think back I’m really sorry that I scolded him so much that he started crying. I should apologize next time I see him.” She continued the mumble more to herself than to Rainbow.

“No Fluttershy!” Rainbow interrupted Fluttershys muttering. “If you had been that angry back then you would have given the dragon a hearth attack for sure!” she empathized her statement with a clop on her hooves. “That today was something different and I want to know what made you so upset.”

She didn’t respond to Rainbow und pretended to pay attention to the ground and the path up ahead when she feelt her flightpartner lowering her altitude and descended to the surface. Were they already at her cottage? She raised her head and looked ahead. Yes they had reached her home. She landed at the front of her door and did... nothing. She only stood there staring to the ground and not able to say a word.

Rainbow on the other hoof waited anxiously for a response and tapped her hoof rhythmically on the ground.
“So what?” She asked again, her impatience clearly shown.
The first answer wasn’t even audible. Some squeaks and squirmed words she couldn’t understand at all.
“Oh come on Fluttershy, I don’t want to eat you, I’m just worried.” It was particular hard for the cyan pegasus to express her concern so open, but what she had seen at the Gala wasn’t the fillyhood friend she thought to know.

“It was really nothing.” Finally the shy pony was able to bring up enough strength to speak.
“I just... well... got frustrated because the animals didn’t want me to get close to them.” She forced a smile on her face and stared back at the ground. It wasn’t too far away from the truth tough.
“That’s all, really.” Her voice again barely at the brink of collapsing into squeals again.

Rainbow Dash sighed. She knew Fluttershy was hiding something and she knew she could have forced it out of her when she pushed more into the timid mare. But it wouldn’t be right to dig further into the feelings of Fluttershy. She spread her wings and readied herself for the take off.
“If you say it wasn’t anything more, fine.” She said and took a last evaluating look at her friend. “Take care of yourself and don’t let the bedbugs bite you. See ya!” And with that she took off and dashed through the nightly sky. She would have all hooves full tomorrow morning. Some ponys have to be forced into doing what is good for them.

Meanwhile Fluttershy looked into the sky and followed the trail of Rainbow Dash with the eyes. She sighed as the blue pegasus vanished in the darkness and turned around to open her door. She was welcomed with the smell of animals and food, mixed with the heavy wooden cent of her house. She closed the door quietly and made almost no noise walking on the floor.
Normally she would have been swarmed by little critters and birds when she comes home but now all of them were fast asleep and she didn’t dare to wake them up.

Fluttershy slowly ascended the stairs to her bedroom. The full moon shed enough light to see her surroundings and made it needless to light a candle. Some moments later the rustling of feathers could be heard as she removed her once so pretty dress. She sighed quietly as she took a look on the fabric. It was torn, dirty and everywhere small broken branches and thorns. With other words, the dress was completly ruined. Rarity would be less than pleased with how she treated her gift.

Just another worry to add this night. She hopped on her bed and curled herself up on top of the blanket. A long sigh escaped her muzzle as she closed her eyes, already knewing that she wouldn’t get much sleep tonight when she heard something coming up the stairs. Her pale blue eyes opened again expressing a questioning look. Was she too loud and woke up one of her pets? The sound of little hops came closer and she saw some bunny ears approaching the top stair as Angel Bunny entered her bedroom and stared accusingly to Fluttershy.
Did she really think that she could get to bed without saying him good night?
Angel crossed his paws in front of his chest and shook his head in utter disbelieve.

“Oh... excuse me Angel Bunny I didn’t want to wake you up.” She reached out a hoof towards her dearest companion. Angel turned his head away offended, his whole pose being the personification of disappointment.
“I’m so sorry.” Fluttershy cried a bit when she rose and closed in to the small bunny rubbing her cheek on his tiny body desperately searching for comfort. He remained for another second or two in this pose before he turned around and pat Fluttershys cheeks to show her that he has forgiven.
“I’m so glad you’re here Angel.” She said and liftet the bossy little creature to snuggle him.
“You don’t know how afraid I was to lose all of my friends.” That being the first confession she allowed to slip her mouth. Fluttershy carried Angel back to her bed and curled up once more with the bunny between her hooves, the head resting right adjacent to him.
With Angel at her side she finally found enough peace to fall asleep. The next day would be thrilling enough for her.

She had almost forgotten the worries from last night and was tending to all the animals in and around her hut. All those were her friends, her beloved family and would never abandon her. She always feels so happy when she was able to take care of the adorable critters. Giving love to others alsways made her feel precious and she reflected the joy she was giving to others back to herself. The last night was just awful, when the animals in Celestia’s private garden didn’t want, or even appreciate her offering of kindness.

Fluttershy shook her head to banish those thoughts when a whoosh right behind her made her jump.

“Heya Fluttershy!” she heard the familiar voice of Rainbow Dash. The multi coloured mane framed a jovial smile.
Fluttershy already thought that she was back to resume the chat from the evening and thought about what excuses she could give when asked, but that wasn’t a reason for the polite pony to be rude at all.

“Good morning Rainbow, how can I help you?” she asked slowly. Maybe she wasn’t here for that reason and the response proved her right.

“I don’t need help. But Applejack does.”

“Oh... what happened? I hope nothing bad.” She cringed sligthly.

“Well...” the blue pegasus was searching for words.
“I may have startled all her animals with my latest trick.” She grinned at Fluttershy with far more enthusiasm than was proper for what she did.
“While she caught all the ground bound animals, a lot of the chickens flew into the trees where she can’t herd them.”

Fluttershy heard the story with growing eyes. How could Rainbow do such a thing and scare all the poor animals? She couldn’t believe it!

“I have to go!” she uttered, almost in panic, and unfolded her wings.
“Oh no, what if they’re hurt? I need my medics.” She turned around in her house and appeared moments later with two saddlebacks.
“Maybe I need also...” She turned around again when Rainbow Dash interrupted.

“Fluttershy!” The yellow mare shrieked and ducked for cover.
“You should be already on your way! There is no time to waste!”

“You’re right.”

Rainbow sighed, hopefully her plan would go well and give Fluttershy back the small amount of self esteem she used to have.

Fluttershy flew across Ponyville into the rising sun on her way to Sweet Apple Acres. She hurried since she knew that Applejack’s patience was almost as short as Rainbow’s. In her lively imagination she saw Applejack towing the chickens down with her lasso or bucking them out of the trees. Her visions weren’t too far off from the truth she found out as she arrived at the farm and saw Applejack cursing and shouting up a tree.

“Ya’ll come down right this instant!” she heard her yelling.

The pegasus hurried before her daymares would come true and landed only a few feet away from Applejack, who was about to buck the chickens out of the tree.

“Don’t do it Applejack!” Fluttershy intervened with an appalled shout. Shouting for the standards of the shy mare at least. Applejack froze in midmotion in an almost hilarous pose. The haunches pressed to her belly only standing on her front hooves and ready to buck. She was able to hold that pose for a second or two before she lost balance and stopped her descent with the snout on the ground.

“Oh... I’m sorry Applejack. I didn’t want to frighten you.” Fluttershy closed in to her friend and helped her get up. She took a careful look on the muzzle of Applejack if she wasn’t hurt and released a sigh of relief as she saw nothing but a bit of dust.

“Whoa Nelly where did ya came from?” Applejack said still feeling a little bit dizzy.

“Well Rainbow Dash told me...”

“RAINBOW?!” Applejack snapped.
“Ya sure make sure that Ah don’t catch her.” She stomped on the ground in anger.
“What was she thinkin’? Was she even thinkin’ when she flew right through every bawn and barn on the farm?!”

Fluttershy couldn’t hold a delightful giggle when she heard Applejack rhyming in anger.
“I’m sure she’s sorry for what she did, since it was she who sends me here to help you calm your animals.”

“Wait what? Ah don’t need no help! Even if I have to buck every single one of ‘em off ma trees or rope them down with the lass...” she noticed the horrified look in fluttershys eyes, she was even barely able to hide herself from such hideous spoken threats.
“Oh shoot.” Applejack kicked some dust and eyed apologizing to the small yellow mare.
“Ah think Ah got carried away a bit. It would be dandy if ya help me get them back into the coop.”

The faint smile returned slowy to Fluttershy and she nodded in response.
“I’m glad that you let me help you Applejack.”
She walked closer to the appletree and looked up to the branches and the frightened chickens. There wouldn’t be anything she could do from down here so she lept into the air and hovered between the branches of the apple tree.

The frightened chickens clucked nervous and tried to get away from the yellow mare. The sight made Fluttershy flinch while her hearth skipped a beat. Did she forget how to handle animals? Did she lose her special talent because she went so mad last night?
No!
She shook her head to cast those miserable thoughts away. She had no time to think about such nonsense. The chickens needed her help and no matter what she would do her best to calm them down!

She landed softly on the ground curiously watched by Applejack.
“Is something the matter sugarcube?” she was asked concerned. “Ya don’t look so fine.”

“No, it’s all right Applejack.” Fluttershy had her eyes focused on the birds in the tree determined to soothe them and get them back to their coop. “I have just to calm them down beforehoof. They are so startled that it was a bad idea to get so close to them so fast.”
She thought for a moment what to do, when she suddenly smiles and sat back on her haunches.

After clearing her throat she started to sing her most favourite tune. The soothing notes rose like a swarm of beautiful blutterflies, gently fluttering around the little animals in the tree. Fluttershy’s voice of hot milk with honey swirled around in the calm air and almost hypnotized every listener into a state of serenity. She kept up with her song for several minutes the chickens were already so peaceful that some of them almost fell to sleep when she ended the singing.

Several button eyes were locked on her and received a warm smile from the yellow caretaker.
“Everything is fine now, you don’t need to be afraid.” She cooed. “Come down and go to your nests again.”
One by one the chickens flapped their tiny wings and flew back to the ground, obidiently walking to their coop.

“Shoosh that was quite a sight Fluttershy.” Applejack had still some troubles to find her way back into the ‘real world’ “Ah’ll have to thank ya for yar kind help here. Ah don’t know what Ah’ve would done without ya.” The orange pony gave her friend a more than friendly nudge to the side.

“Oh... don’t worry Applejack.” Even this faintest of nudges make her rub her side a bit.
“In fact you helped me more than I helped you.” She turned her head while saying it and hid her face behind a curtain of pink hair.
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Did Ah? Ah don’t think that Ah made much more than staying at ya side and almost falling to sleep while ya sang.” She rubbed her neck and smiled sheepishly at Fluttershy.
“But whatever ya say Ah’m mighty glad that ya’re fine and were here to clean up the mess that Rainbow Dash made.” Her eyes went small, as she remebered who was responsible for this incident.
“Talking about that troublemaker, do ya know where she’d gone?”

“I... um... I don’t know... but I think I’m better off now you sure have still alot to do.” Fluttershy didn’t want to stay long enough so that Applejack could persuade her to tell her where Rainbow Dash went. She was sure that the cyan pagasus would apologize later to the earth pony, but it would be better for Applejack to calm down first.

The orange mare looked after Fluttershy as she left Sweet Apple Acres barely above the tree line. “Ah wonder what all the commotion was about.” She shook her head and returned to her work. Why should Rainbow panick all her animals and go to Fluttershy to help her calm them? That wasn’t neither normal for the carefree pegasus nor a prank, so why did she do it?
“Nah no sense to think about that feather brain.” She told to herself and went back to work. Apples don’t buck themself.

Fluttershy flew only a short distance when the saddlebacks with the medicaments and dressing material grew heavy on her. The hasty start and rush had made her tired of flying and she wasn’t far away from Ponyville either so she decided to walk the rest of the way back to home. As she got in sight of the Carousel Boutique at the edge of town she saw a multicolored blur leading away from it, wondering what Rainbow Dash might have wanted with Rarity.

She was barely within earshot when the door opened and Rarity went out of the house. The sign behind the window showed, that the boutique would be closed for a while. Quite uncommon for this time of day she wondered.
“Oh Fluttershy!” she was greated effusivley. “What a quite welcome coincidence to meet you here darling.”

“Hello Rarity.” She replied softly presenting a faint smile towards the white unicorn.
“Has something happened? Do you need help with Opalescence again?” She eyed carefully around her friend to search for a cat stinging on the fine mare in front of her.

“Oh nononono not such thing.” Reassured Rarity, “I was going to the spa to get rid of the filth I was exposed to yesterday.” She shivered in memory. “And I don’t mean the pie with it.” She stated dryly.
“Uhm... I can understand you...” her smile feeling a little bit off now.
“And that is the reason why I’m happy you’re here now Fluttershy.” Rarity pointed a hoof on her. “I desperately need somepony who understands me and here you are!” she gleamed at her. “Do you come and join me? Pleeaaaase?” she winked pathetically at Fluttershy.

She thought some seconds about it, still pursued by Rarity’s best puppy dog eyes and nodded. “I have enough time today and I would like to go to the spa to.” She finished her words with a demure smile.
“De~al!” Rarity sang. They spend the way to the spa talking. Or more accurately Rarity was talking and Fluttershy listening, only some nods, yes’ and maybes from her side. As usual Rarity ordered ‘the usual’ at the spa and within seconds both of them were already wrapped in hot towels on their way to the sauna.

Hot steam surrounded the two ponies melting away all their worries and tension.
“Aaahhh.” Rarity Sighed “I already feel better.” She glanced over to Fluttershy who had her eyes half closed seemingly in a world of harmony.
“So what is with you my dear?” Rarity cooed softly. “You barely told about your night and I’ve shewed long enough on your ears with my complaints about this insufferable pony I refuse to call a prince.” Her voice rose at the end of her rant a bit, but she felt back to a gentle smile right after it.

Fluttershy made herself smaller and looked down to the wodden planks on the ground.
“I... um...” she stuttered in desperate need for the right words.
“I was just... trying to make some friends?” She wasn’t sure if that would suffice to feed Rarity’s curiousity. Sadly, it wasn’t.

“Friends? Darling as I saw you burst into the ballroom I was mostly sure that you just had gotten the mitten.” The blush that was caused by this statement was hot enough to let the spa sisters make the next infusion of steam on Fluttershy’s head instead of the crackling hot stones.

Rarity.Had.No.Idea!

Rarity looked puzzled at the pegasus who seemed to melt any moment now. She had ment the comment in good fun, but this reaction? No it can’t be! The image that it implemented was too terrible to be true, but on the other hoof maybe that was the reason why Fluttershy never had engaged in a romantic relation. Not as far as she knew and Rarity knew almost all the gossip in Ponyville! Had she been turned down some time ago and feared rejection? Or worse can’t handle rejection at all?

Sure Rarity knew the feeling of a turn down. She had received some and gave even more. But she also knew the rules in this game and always stated her opinion firm, but polite. She could imagine vividly what an impact it would have on a kind soul like Fluttershy if somepony didn’t played by the rules.

All these thoughts circled through Rarity’s mind within a few moments giving Fluttershy the time to settle down, but not to answer yet. Rarity moved closer to her blushing friend and nudged her lightly with her nose.
“Ah come on Fluttershy, that was just a little joke.”
Fluttershy raised her head to peak under her hair towards Rarity, nodding shyly. The frightening thing was how right Rarity was with her mental assumptions. At least, partly.
“I... I know.” Her voice still trembling. She eyed to the side were Lotus was spraying water on the hot stones. She wasn’t really comfortable to talk about her feelings in company with somepony else. It wasn’t so that she didn’t trust the Spa twins and both Aloe and Lotus were very professional around their customers but still...

“It had hurt my feelings seeing the animals run away from me.” That was the most genuine confession she could made at this moment and Rarity accepted that. At least the ice was broken and the stage was prepared for the next attendant Rarity mused. She spent the rest of the visit with light shatter and innocent gossip. Loosen Fluttershy up a bit and let the spa twins work their wonders on her.

Fluttershy felt great when she left the spa together with Rarity. She hadn’t thought that the last night had left her with so much tension not only in her mind, but also in her body. Fluttershy bid Rarity a farewell before she left. She stifled a yawn and took a look to the sun. It was already past noon and the visit in the spa had made her tired. Maybe she makes herself something little to eat and then a short nap. Now she could tell why Rainbow always liked to take a nap after her work.

Talking about Rainbow Dash, she saw her again with Rarity in the distance and than taking up into the sky towards Twilight’s home. She surely was busy today and Fluttershy wondered what she could be up to. Rainbow was already gone when she arrived at the library seeing Twilight wave after the whether pony.

“Hello Fluttershy!” Twilight gazed over the freshly groomed coat, the ponycured hooves and oiled feathers. “You look simply beautiful, have you been at the spa?” Twilight smiled at her approvingly.
Fluttershy in turn flashed a blush and nodded tentative.
“Thank you… Rarity invited me to share some stories about yesterday.”
“I could guess that especially Rarity wants to talk about it.” She sneered and nodded towards the way of Fluttershy’s cottage.
“Are you going home? Do you mind if I come with you, I want to collect some herbs at the Everfree Forest.”
“I don’t mind at all Twilight. But are you sure you want to go inside the Everfree Forest? I can’t always be there to rescue you from the petrifying gaze of a cockatrice you know?” She told a little bit bantering.
“Don’t worry Fluttershy, I learned my lesson and don’t intend to travel very far or very long into the forest.”

Both of them were already on their way towards Fluttershy’s home when Twilight asked.
“I’m sure what Rarity told about the last night, but you haven’t said much yesterday, I’d love to hear what you did back then.”
“I… um... well… I was in the garden as you know…and… yes… you know…I was trying to catch the animals there.”
“Catch?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like you at all. What happened?”

The yellow mare sighed in defeat. It seemed that everypony and anypony knew about the incident and were determined to find out what was going on within her. With her head hanging low above the ground and flattened ears she responded.
“Was it really that obvious to all of you?”
“It kinda was, even I saw that something was wrong with you but nopony wanted to bother you with it while we were at the Gala.”
Fluttershy glanced under her hair to Twilight at her side only to see a warm, but concerned smile. It seems that it had no sense to struggle further.
“Alright… I tell you.”

Twilight waited patiently as Fluttershy made up her mind how to explain her feelings about the last night.
“You know I was never good in making friends.” Twilights only reaction about that was a slightly wider motherly smile.
“I tried, I tried quite often but it was really difficult for me to find anypony besides Rainbow when I was young. It was then when I got my cutymark and realized that I could make friends with animals far more easily.” She looked up to Twilight for any sign of disapproval, but found nothing more than an encouraging smile and a small nod.
“From this moment on I made my friends with animals big and small. I… I was really happy about it and almost collected them as my new little friends. More and more over the time. I…” she stopped to take a breath, growing agitated during the course of her speech.
“I feel good when I have all my little friends around me and keep my accompanied.”

Twilight nods as Fluttershy finished her reasoning. “But that doesn’t explain why you exploded at the Gala at all.”
“Well it kind of does.” She disagreed not so demure any more.
“When the animals fled me it stung in my hearth. I thought that I lost my ability to make new friends, maybe even lost my special talent completely.” She paused for several seconds to rearrange her thoughts again uninterrupted by Twilight.
“You could say I panicked then. I couldn’t bear the thought to be alone one time, without any friends, not able to make new ones and without any company.” Some single tears left her eyes.
“I know it’s selfish, but I wouldn’t suffer such faith and tried to make the animals my friends by force and startled them even more. I was desperate this moment and it got the better of me when I even shouted at them.”
Her nose almost swept the ground while saying this.
“Do you hate me now Twilight?” she asked worried, terrified and sad at the same time.

The first answer she got was a tender nuzzle at her neck and the comforting smile in Twilight’s purple eyes as she lowered her head to look at Fluttershy.
“No I don’t .” she said softly. “And so will everypony else. Nopony is without his or hers special fears and I’m glad you opened up and told them.”
Fluttershy found solace in Twilights gentle nuzzle and leaned her head against Twilight’s neck for a second or two.
“Thank you Twilight, that really means a lot for me.”
The magician smiled back at her. “So don’t be mad at yourself. I can understand your feelings and there’s nothing to be ashamed about it.” She turned her head in front of her. “And we’ve already arrived. I hope you feel better now?”
Fluttershy nodded. “Yes Twilight, thank you for your encouraging words.” She was really thankful it was like a heavy burden was taken from her shoulders now that she spoke true.

Twilight waved at her before she turned around and left towards the Everfree Forest. The Pegasus stayed in her yard for a while and watched the unicorn disappear amongst the rows of trees before she went into her house and took her well earned nap after a tasty dandelion sandwich.

She woke up an hour or two after laying to bed and started to prepare the second feeding for her animals. It always took quite a while because of the sheer amount of little companions, but it was a gift for her to take care for the small critters all around her. She hadn’t lied to Twilight at all, for her every single pet was a dear friend and it was her privilege to make them as happy and healthy as ponyly possible.

She was cleaning her rooms after the feeding when swift knocking on the door interrupted her work.
“I’m on my way.” She called and opened up a few seconds later. There was nopony at her door at all, only a floating balloon with a card attached to it.
Fluttershy carefully withdrew the card from the cord and let the balloon fly into the late afternoon sky. After unfolding the card something what looked suspiciously like one of Pinkie Pie’s party invitations.
It was one indeed. Pinkie Pie invited her to an “After Grand Galloping Gala” party at Sugarcube Corner. She didn’t really felt like party, but on the other hoof it would clearly wash away the last bit of sour memory she had from yesterday. Not to mention how sad Pinkie Pie would be if she didn’t attend to her party.

The party was about to start at the evening so she had some more time to clean up and prepare herself for the party. Already prettified from the spa sisters she only needed to brush her mane one more time after the nap and left for Sugarcube Corner.

The lights inside the bakery were dimmed and she couldn’t hear anything from inside. Was she too early? Or maybe she had missed the date for the “After Grand Galloping Gala” party? Fluttershy opened the door carefully and peeked into the semidarkness.
“Hello?” she asked quietly, not confident that she was right here.

“SURPRIIISE!”
From one moment to the other the light was lit and all her friends surrounded her with Pinkie Pie in the front bouncing up and down like a rubber ball on caffeine.
“Are you surprised? Are you, are you, are you?”
A smile brighter than Celestia’s own sun beamed into her face.
“Yes… I…”
“See? I told you all she would be surprised. She never would have guessed that the “After Grand Galloping Gala” party is instead a”
Pinkie Pie made a dramatic pause pointing in the back where a gigantic banner was draped reading.
“WE LOVE YOU ALL FLUTTERSHY!
party.”
Pinkie bounced around Fluttershy and shoved her further into the bakery between all of her friends.
“We were sooo worried Fluttershy. You were all so downie down and nopony knew what was wrong with you, but then Dashie asked you and had an idea to make you happy again, and we all worked together to make you smile and smack the baddie bad thoughts you had.”

GAAASP

“And now we’re all here to say you how much we love you and that you will always be our bestest best friend FOREVER!” The last word was emphasized with a several feet high jump and furiously waving hooves.
Fluttershy’s eyes were shimmering with a hint of tears as she turned towards Rainbow Dash.
“You organized all of it and informed the others?” she asked quietly.
“Kinda. I’m not all that good with the mushy stuff and may have just kicked the first stone to get all rolling.”
“Ah would have been glad if Ah’m would be the first stone to be informed Rainbow.” Applejack growled.
“Ya could’ve told ma what ya’re were up to Rainbow.”
“Oh yeah? I should have told everything to Miss “I can’t lie even if my orchard depends on it”?” Rainbow snarled in return.

But before it could escalate more Fluttershy felt around Rainbow’s shoulders and buried her face in the colourful mane.
“Thank you.” The voice was only a whisper, barely audible.
Fluttershy leaned back to get some distance to her foalhood friend. Happy tears rolling from her smiling face.
“All of you.” She looked around the room to every single friend.
“I should never forget again that no matter what I can always count on you as my friends.”

“GROUP HUG!” Pinkie yelled exited and pulled everypony close in for a very long and sentimental hug.
The party went on for several hours and lots of laughing, friendly teasing and singing could be heard through Ponyville.

~Fin~