Friendship Is Kindnessby WatchTower1992ChaptersMLD & BGIChapter 2Chapter 4Chapter 6Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16EpilogueChapter 1Chapter 3Chapter 5Chapter 7Chapter 12Chapter 13MLD & BGINote: MLD stands for Mandatory Legal Disclaimer; BGI stands for BackGround Information. MLD: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and all characters, trademarks, etc. pertaining thereto are property of Hasbro. My Little Pony toys ©2010-2021 by Hasbro; My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic ©2010-2021 by Hasbro; all rights reserved; all credit granted wherever due. BGI: The Summer Sun Celebration for the 1000th year since the imprisonment of Nightmare Moon (from episode 101, Friendship Is Magic (1/2)) will take place—but not just yet. This will buy more time to focus on Fluttershy, because the story will be from her point of view. Twilight Sparkle’s role has been diminished with respect to the canon, but she will still have a role to play. She has already moved in to the Golden Oak Library in Ponyville. Author's Note Remember to look out for Lonesome Knight! Chapter 2“Erm—excuse me, Lonesome,” I told my husband after feeding my animals, “but—erm—I need to go out now.” “Could you take care of my animals while I’m out?” I asked him. “I’m no good with animals,” he objected. “But you found Angel for me!” I reminded him. “Returning animals to their rightful caretakers is one thing,” he explained to me, “but looking after them oneself is another.” “I’ll call Dr. Fauna for you,” he offered. “Do you remember where I always put my phone?” I inquired of him. “Yes,” he answered, “and I promise never to tell anypony else.” “Oh, thank you!” I told him, hugging him with my wings as well as my hooves. “Good-bye now,” I finally told him, and left my cottage to head for Ponyville proper. Chapter 4“Hello again!” cried Twilight Sparkle as soon as I trotted into the library. “Hi, Twilight,” I answered. The purple unicorn mare had no trouble hearing my voice, because libraries were quiet. “Twilight,” I told her, “I need to talk to you.” “What about?” she asked me. “Lonesome Knight—my husband,” I answered. “Was he mean to you?” she asked me. “No,” I answered. “He’s a kind stallion.” I explained, ”He just—erm—doesn’t like animals as much as I do.” “I’d love to help you, Fluttershy,” she told me, “so please tell me how I can help—OK?” I agreed to tell her all the problems that I had on my hooves. “Fluttershy,” Twilight finally told me, “what you and Lonesome need is another house!” “Another house?” I asked her. “Uh-huh,” she confirmed. “Goodness—I don’t know how to make a house big enough for the both of us,” I confessed. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy,” she told me. “All of my new friends will help.” “You have new friends?” I gasped. “Yes,” she confirmed. “We became friends at your wedding reception at Sugarcube Corner!” “You are all so kind!” I sighed, very grateful to hear that she had made some new friends. Chapter 6As soon as I arrived at my animal-friendly cottage, I saw my husband leaving my cottage! “Where are you going, Lonesome?” I asked him. “Remember how I told you that I wasn’t good at taking care of animals?” he answered with a question. “Uh-huh,” I confirmed. “Well,” he explained, “Dr. Fauna can’t visit anypony all the time; she has a busy schedule.” “However,” he continued, “I’ll still help you with your animals.” “But how?” I inquired of him. “I am very rich,” he explained. “I will buy you the supplies you need for all your furry and feathered friends.” “Oh, my goodness!” I cried with gratitude. “Not only are you kind; you’re generous, too!” “Are you going to the pet shop?” I guessed. “Right you are, Fluttershy,” he answered. Finally, we said good-bye to each other, and then, I trotted back inside my cottage to look after all my animals. Chapter 8Suddenly, a powerful noise made my animals start to chatter and twitter with fright! “Oh, my goodness!” I cried, also with fright. “What was that noise?” I wondered. “It sounds as though somepony is going to cut some trees down,” I thought, “which means…” “ANIMALS IN TROUBLE!” I shouted at the top of my voice, which was not very loud. “Now you stay right here,” I told Angel, cuddling him in an attempt to calm him down. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I left my cottage in a rush, hoping to find the source of the frighteningly loud noise. “FLUTTERSHY!” called Rainbow Dash, who saw me galloping down the path toward Ponyville. “You won’t believe this,” she told me, “but somepony is cutting the trees down at Sweet Apple Acres!” “Oh, no!” I cried, now in greater fright. “Grab on, Fluttershy,” she told me, hoofing me one end of some rope, which she had left over from construction practice. I grasped the end of the rope with my teeth and hung on to it—with both front hooves—for dear life! Rainbow Dash took off and flew me all the way to Sweet Apple Acres. Author's Note This chapter is a cliffhanger! Will Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy make it to Sweet Apple Acres before it’s too late? Will Fluttershy survive the terrifying flight on the way there? Find out in the very next chapter! Chapter 9The members of the Apple family were always hard at work, but right now, they were harder at work than usual. All of them—except Granny Smith and Apple Bloom—were cutting the apple trees that were devoid of apples. “STO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-OP!” screamed Rainbow Dash, flying into Sweet Apple Acres with me in tow. Everypony stopped cutting the trees immediately. Meanwhile, I—still dangling from Rainbow Dash’s rope—was about to crash into one of the apple trees! I needed to act fast in order not to get hurt! “Here goes nothing,” I thought, and let go of the rope. In a panic, I flapped my yellow wings with all my might! “Now hold your horses there, Rainbow!” retorted Applejack. “We’re busy cuttin’ down some of these here trees!” she explained. “I—WON’T—LET YOU!” shouted Rainbow Dash. “Do you realize that there are other animals living in those apple trees?!” she inquired of Applejack. “Do you realize,” countered Applejack, “that we need to cut ’em down to build a new house?!” “Whose house is it going to be?!” shouted Rainbow Dash incredulously. Author's Note SPOILER WARNING! Twilight Sparkle will make another appearance in the very next chapter! Chapter 10“GIRLS!” interrupted Twilight Sparkle, who had just arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow Dash and Applejack stopped arguing right away! “The house is for Fluttershy and Lonesome Knight,” explained Twilight to the other two mares. “Wait a minute!” she said. “Where is Fluttershy?!” she asked, because she couldn’t find me. “Hi, everypony!” I called as loudly as I could, and everypony looked up at me. “You’re flying!” cried Rainbow Dash, both surprised and proud for me. “Oh—my—goodness!” I cried, equally surprised, because I really was flying! “Well, I’ll be…!” gasped Applejack, who also saw me flying. I descended slowly, and when I touched the ground, I introduced myself boldly to Applejack. “Hello,” I told her. “My name is Fluttershy.” “And my name’s Applejack,” she answered. I told her why Rainbow Dash and I had come to stop her from cutting the apple trees down: I’m all in favor of a new house, and I know full well that building a house entails cutting some trees down, but it’s wrong to neglect the well-being of any of the animals who’ve gotten to those trees first! The trees are their homes! We should never take their homes away from them without permission or compensation. Author's Note Fluttershy is much less shy now, and that’s why she manages to give Applejack a lecture on being considerate to non-pony animals. Chapter 11“I’m a might sorry, Fluttershy,” apologized Applejack, starting to worry. “I didn’t know that I was supposed to share all these trees with them critters.” “Don’t worry, Applejack,” I answered, consoling her. “You learn something new every day!” “I reckon that’s the truth,” she confessed. “It sure is,” chimed in Twilight Sparkle. As Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and I were discussing a plan with Twilight Sparkle, guess who came galloping up to us! “HELLO-O-O-O-O, DA-A-ARLINGS!” sang Rarity, pulling a splendidly-decorated wagon full of fancy fashion supplies! “Oh, my goodness!” I cried as soon as I saw the white unicorn mare. “You look beautiful,” I told her, “just like a butterfly!” “Of course, I do, darling!” she answered. “I have a passion for all things bright and beautiful!” Then, almost forgetting to introduce herself to me, she added, “Oh—and you may call me Rarity!” “I don’t mean to be rude, Rarity,” chimed in Applejack, “but what the hay has that frou-frou outfit of yours got to do with this here apple orchard?!” “Well, you just listen, Applejack,” answered Rarity, a little insulted, “and perhaps, you’ll learn something useful!” She cleared her throat, and then, everypony else—including me—was all ears as Rarity gave us an explanation: Now, darlings, it just so happens that I am not just a fabulous fashionista but a darling dancer as well! It also just so happens that some animals are dancers, too! It is my opinion that if we can catch the animals’ eyes with charming choreography, then we can lure them out of harm’s way, and then, Applejack and her relatives can safely cut down all the apple trees we need for Fluttershy’s new house! “Any questions?” she asked us. Chapter 14Once I arrived at my humble but huge cottage, I read a notice nailed to its front door. “Meet me at the Golden Oak Library,” I read aloud. “Meet whom?” I wondered. I had no idea whom I’d meet at the library. I decided to follow the notice anyway. Off I trotted to the library. Meanwhile, at Sugarcube Corner, Twilight Sparkle, with her friends, was discussing where to build the new house. Their discussion went on long into the evening, and soon, it was closing time at Sugarcube Corner. “Fluttershy! You made it!” cried my husband as he saw me trotting into the library. “Hi,” I answered. “I wonder where we’re going to live from now on,” he told me. “I hope it’s not too far away from my old house,” I told him. “I hope so, too,” he agreed. “Oh, Twilight! Where are you?” I wondered, worried about my purple unicorn friend. Author's Note Twilight Sparkle still lives at the Golden Oak Library, so she will meet up with Fluttershy and Lonesome Knight very soon. Stay tuned! Chapter 15At long last, Twilight Sparkle trotted in through the front door of the Golden Oak Library. Princess Celestia was lowering the sun to make way for the moon. “Well, Fluttershy,” announced Twilight, “it’s official!” “My friends and I finally decided where and how to build your new house,” she continued. “Erm—excuse me—Twilight?” I interjected. “Yes?” she answered, acknowledging my interruption. “I’m not going to move in,” I told her. “I want my husband to own the new house,” I continued. “Are you sure you want to do that?” she asked me. “Did you think carefully about such a choice?” “Yes, Twilight,” I answered. “I did.” “I need to stay in my cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville,” I told her. “My animals need me to take care of them,” I explained. “I will go with my husband to welcome him to the new house,” I continued, “and I’ll even let him visit me at my house.” “Then it’s settled,” she concluded. My husband and I had already agreed on who should live where. I said good-bye to my husband and Twilight, and they said good-bye right back. I trotted all the way home in the dim light of the sunset. Meanwhile, in the library, my husband went to bed with Twilight. Chapter 16Princess Celestia raised the sun over the horizon and into Ponyville. Just like every other day, the sunlight shone through my cottage windows, but today, I woke up all by myself—immediately, no less! I got out of bed and made breakfast for all my diurnal animals. After feeding my animals, I trotted to the front door of my cottage and opened its upper portion to look outside. Pinkie Pie came hopping down the path to my cottage! As soon as I saw her, I trotted outside boldly to greet her. “Come quickly, Fluttershy!” she squealed. “Your surprise is ready!” I obeyed her by trotting alongside her into Ponyville proper. “SURPRISE!” shouted Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity. My husband, Lonesome Knight, trotted out of his new house to greet me. “Welcome to Ponyville—your new home,” I told him. As he and I gave each other a muzzle nuzzle, everypony around us cheered for us and wished each of us a long, happy life—wherever he or I was to spend it! EpilogueTo prepare for the upcoming 1000th anniversary of the regal Summer Sun Celebration, I trained a whole flock of songbirds to make all sorts of pleasant music, and after many months of such training, they became my personal songbird choir! But when the day of the Summer Sun Celebration came, neither Princess Celestia nor Nightmare Moon showed up in Ponyville! Author's Note The sequel to this story will focus on the attempts by the Mane Six to befriend Princess Luna by obtaining the Elements Of Harmony one at a time. Chapter 1Princess Celestia raised the sun over the horizon and into Ponyville. The sunlight shone through my cottage windows and woke my husband, who, in turn, woke me with a muzzle nuzzle. “Time to rise and shine, lovebird lover,” he whispered into my ear. The quilt on our bed was so warm and fluffy that I didn’t want to get out of bed yet. “Four more minutes, please?” I asked my husband. No answer came from him, because he didn’t hear me. While I was still in bed, my husband was in our kitchen making our breakfast. Being a unicorn, he had no trouble at such a task. By the time he finished, I was trotting carefully downstairs to the kitchen. I had finally decided to get out of bed. “Here you go, dear,” my husband told me, giving me my breakfast—a cup of non-herbal tea and a daisy sandwich. “Thank you,” I answered politely, and the both of us dug in. After my own breakfast, all I needed to do was give my diurnal animals their breakfast. My nocturnal animals were asleep at the time. Chapter 3On the way to Ponyville, I literally bumped into a blue pegasus mare! My collision with her left the both of us lying on the ground. “Oh, dear—I’m really, really sorry,” I told her, speaking as fast as a helpless animal fled. “Are you hurt?” I asked her, wishing sincerely that I could help her. “Nah—I’m OK,” she answered. “I’m used to it,” she explained. “Really?” I asked her, concerned for her health. “Crashing into things is scary!” I thought. The blue pegasus stood back up—which, unlike me, she could do easily—and shouted, “You bet your flank I am!” “Wow!” I exclaimed softly. “I’m Rainbow Dash,” she told me. “Nice to meet you!” “Erm—I’m—erm—Fluttershy,” I answered, swallowing air. “Say what?” said Rainbow Dash. “I didn’t quite catch that.” I made a motion with my front hoof, signaling for her to come closer to me, and once she was close enough, I whispered into her ear, “My name is Fluttershy.” “Wow—you’re a pegasus, too!” she exclaimed upon seeing my wings. “Yes,” I answered, “but—erm—I can’t fly.” “I could give you flying lessons,” she offered. “Erm—not now, thank you,” I answered. “I’m going to Ponyville.” “Where in Ponyville?” she asked me. “Well,” I began, “somepony moved in to Ponyville just the other day.” I continued, “Her name is Twilight Sparkle.” “I know her!” she cried upon hearing the name I mentioned. “She lives in the library!” “Could you show me the way?” I asked her, because I had never gone to the Golden Oak Library. “Please?” I begged her, pulling a puppy face. “Awww!” she exclaimed upon seeing my face. “Of course, I will!” she answered. “I know Ponyville like the back of my hoof!” Rainbow Dash guided me to the Golden Oak Library, flying slowly enough for me to keep up with her. Chapter 5The construction of the new house for my husband and me was under way. A white unicorn mare had drawn the blueprints for the house. An orange Earth pony mare was helping to make planks for the house’s frame. Rainbow Dash—the blue pegasus mare that I’d met earlier—was helping to make the planks stand up. All the while, a pink Earth pony mare was cheering the other three on—and ready to keep Parasprites away. All the construction work was going on in Ponyville proper. It was going to be difficult for me to say good-bye—whether to the house with all the animals that I knew and loved so much, or to my husband, whom I’d vowed to love. I told Twilight Sparkle about that dilemma, and this is what she had to say: Just because you’re going to have another house doesn’t mean that you must move in to it. You and Lonesome Knight can live together in either house, or you can live in separate houses. In both cases, I will support you every step of the way, regardless of which choice you make. Relieved to have heard Twilight’s advice, I told her, “Thank you for being so kind, Twilight.” I went back home immediately to tell my husband the good news that I’d just received from her. Chapter 7The white unicorn mare who’d drawn the house blueprints got a call on her household telephone. “Carousel Boutique!” she said after lifting its receiver with her horn. “This is Rarity!” “Mayor Mare speaking,” said the voice at the other end of the line. “I approve of your blueprints!” “Why, thank you, Ms. Mayor, darling!” cried Rarity. “I do hope they just adore their new house!” “So do I, Rarity,” answered the mayor. “So do I.” Rarity said good-bye to the mayor, who said good-bye right back, and hung up. Meanwhile, at Sweet Apple Acres, the orange Earth pony mare who’d helped to make the house frame rallied up the rest of her huge family—from near and far—to cut some apple trees down and make them into lumber. “Before we start cuttin’ down these here trees,” she announced, “we gotta buck all the apples off the ones we’re gonna cut!” “Eeyup,” agreed her elder brother, Big McIntosh. “Can I help you, too, Applejack?” asked her younger sister, Apple Bloom. “Sure, you can, sugarcube,” answered Applejack, and explained, “You and Granny can take the apples we buck and bake some delicious treats for us to eat when we’re all done!” Apple Bloom entered Sweet Apple Homestead to help Granny Smith, her grandmother, in the kitchen, and the rest of the Apple family got ready to do their part in the construction of the new house. Author's Note This story deviates from the canon ab initio, so none of the Cutie Mark Crusaders (Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo) has her Cutie Mark yet. Chapter 12After Rarity and I persuaded all the animals to evacuate their arboreal abodes temporarily, we put on a funny fashion show in their honor—to keep them company and to entertain them! When Rainbow Dash saw that all the animals were safe and out of the apple trees, she gave Applejack the green light to lead the rest of her family in cutting down some of the trees. When the Apples finished their work, they had cut one-third of the apple trees down! “We promise to replace your fallen trees fourfold!” vowed Applejack. “Oh—that would be so kind of you!” I sighed with gratitude. Just then, Granny Smith and Apple Bloom brought some apple-based baked goods out! “Mmmmm—such an attractive and appetizing aroma!” cried Rarity, smelling the baked goods. “Let’s go sell these delicious apple-based treats at Sugarcube Corner!” suggested Twilight Sparkle. She helped Applejack load the baked goods into Rarity’s wagon. Once all the baked goods were in the wagon, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and I said good-bye to Applejack—who said good-bye in return, as always—and headed for Sugarcube Corner. Chapter 13Meanwhile, Lonesome Knight had dropped off the pet supplies that he’d bought for me at my cottage. He didn’t stay at my cottage, because he wasn’t a good animal caretaker like me, but he did remember to nail a notice to the front door of the cottage. The notice said, MEET ME AT THE GOLDEN OAK LIBRARY. After nailing the notice, he set off for the Golden Oak Library and waited there—patiently—for Twilight Sparkle and me. “SURPRI-I-I-I-ISE!” squealed the pink Earth pony mare who’d led the mock construction project as all of us trotted into Sugarcube Corner. Her loud squealing gave me quite a shock! “Yes, sir-ee, Pinkie Pie,” agreed Applejack, “that was one humdinger of a surprise!” Twilight Sparkle, using her horn, lifted all the baked goods out of the wagon and lowered them onto the shelves of the bakery. “Ooooooooh—thank you, everypony, for all the sugary pastries you brought in!” cried Pinkie Pie. “Y’all are most welcome!” answered Applejack. “Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie; Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy,” said Applejack, bringing Pinkie Pie and me face to face. “Erm—hello,” I told Pinkie Pie, very softly. “Hi, Fluttershy!” she whispered into my ear. “I’m tickled pink finally to meet you!” “Guess what time it is, everypony!” she shouted. “It’s PARTY TIME!” Before the party began, Twilight Sparkle told me, “Fluttershy, you need to leave.” “But why?” I asked her. “It’s a secret,” she answered. “We’ll let you know when you may come back,” she told me. “Oh—OK, then,” I answered. “Good-bye,” I told her, and left Sugarcube Corner to head back home. Author's Note I apologize for Lonesome Knight’s long appearance gap; the protagonist of this story is Fluttershy, not her husband. Nevertheless, Lonesome is an important character, so I cannot omit him from the story.
MLD & BGINote: MLD stands for Mandatory Legal Disclaimer; BGI stands for BackGround Information. MLD: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and all characters, trademarks, etc. pertaining thereto are property of Hasbro. My Little Pony toys ©2010-2021 by Hasbro; My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic ©2010-2021 by Hasbro; all rights reserved; all credit granted wherever due. BGI: The Summer Sun Celebration for the 1000th year since the imprisonment of Nightmare Moon (from episode 101, Friendship Is Magic (1/2)) will take place—but not just yet. This will buy more time to focus on Fluttershy, because the story will be from her point of view. Twilight Sparkle’s role has been diminished with respect to the canon, but she will still have a role to play. She has already moved in to the Golden Oak Library in Ponyville. Author's Note Remember to look out for Lonesome Knight!
Chapter 2“Erm—excuse me, Lonesome,” I told my husband after feeding my animals, “but—erm—I need to go out now.” “Could you take care of my animals while I’m out?” I asked him. “I’m no good with animals,” he objected. “But you found Angel for me!” I reminded him. “Returning animals to their rightful caretakers is one thing,” he explained to me, “but looking after them oneself is another.” “I’ll call Dr. Fauna for you,” he offered. “Do you remember where I always put my phone?” I inquired of him. “Yes,” he answered, “and I promise never to tell anypony else.” “Oh, thank you!” I told him, hugging him with my wings as well as my hooves. “Good-bye now,” I finally told him, and left my cottage to head for Ponyville proper.
Chapter 4“Hello again!” cried Twilight Sparkle as soon as I trotted into the library. “Hi, Twilight,” I answered. The purple unicorn mare had no trouble hearing my voice, because libraries were quiet. “Twilight,” I told her, “I need to talk to you.” “What about?” she asked me. “Lonesome Knight—my husband,” I answered. “Was he mean to you?” she asked me. “No,” I answered. “He’s a kind stallion.” I explained, ”He just—erm—doesn’t like animals as much as I do.” “I’d love to help you, Fluttershy,” she told me, “so please tell me how I can help—OK?” I agreed to tell her all the problems that I had on my hooves. “Fluttershy,” Twilight finally told me, “what you and Lonesome need is another house!” “Another house?” I asked her. “Uh-huh,” she confirmed. “Goodness—I don’t know how to make a house big enough for the both of us,” I confessed. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy,” she told me. “All of my new friends will help.” “You have new friends?” I gasped. “Yes,” she confirmed. “We became friends at your wedding reception at Sugarcube Corner!” “You are all so kind!” I sighed, very grateful to hear that she had made some new friends.
Chapter 6As soon as I arrived at my animal-friendly cottage, I saw my husband leaving my cottage! “Where are you going, Lonesome?” I asked him. “Remember how I told you that I wasn’t good at taking care of animals?” he answered with a question. “Uh-huh,” I confirmed. “Well,” he explained, “Dr. Fauna can’t visit anypony all the time; she has a busy schedule.” “However,” he continued, “I’ll still help you with your animals.” “But how?” I inquired of him. “I am very rich,” he explained. “I will buy you the supplies you need for all your furry and feathered friends.” “Oh, my goodness!” I cried with gratitude. “Not only are you kind; you’re generous, too!” “Are you going to the pet shop?” I guessed. “Right you are, Fluttershy,” he answered. Finally, we said good-bye to each other, and then, I trotted back inside my cottage to look after all my animals.
Chapter 8Suddenly, a powerful noise made my animals start to chatter and twitter with fright! “Oh, my goodness!” I cried, also with fright. “What was that noise?” I wondered. “It sounds as though somepony is going to cut some trees down,” I thought, “which means…” “ANIMALS IN TROUBLE!” I shouted at the top of my voice, which was not very loud. “Now you stay right here,” I told Angel, cuddling him in an attempt to calm him down. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I left my cottage in a rush, hoping to find the source of the frighteningly loud noise. “FLUTTERSHY!” called Rainbow Dash, who saw me galloping down the path toward Ponyville. “You won’t believe this,” she told me, “but somepony is cutting the trees down at Sweet Apple Acres!” “Oh, no!” I cried, now in greater fright. “Grab on, Fluttershy,” she told me, hoofing me one end of some rope, which she had left over from construction practice. I grasped the end of the rope with my teeth and hung on to it—with both front hooves—for dear life! Rainbow Dash took off and flew me all the way to Sweet Apple Acres. Author's Note This chapter is a cliffhanger! Will Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy make it to Sweet Apple Acres before it’s too late? Will Fluttershy survive the terrifying flight on the way there? Find out in the very next chapter!
Chapter 9The members of the Apple family were always hard at work, but right now, they were harder at work than usual. All of them—except Granny Smith and Apple Bloom—were cutting the apple trees that were devoid of apples. “STO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-OP!” screamed Rainbow Dash, flying into Sweet Apple Acres with me in tow. Everypony stopped cutting the trees immediately. Meanwhile, I—still dangling from Rainbow Dash’s rope—was about to crash into one of the apple trees! I needed to act fast in order not to get hurt! “Here goes nothing,” I thought, and let go of the rope. In a panic, I flapped my yellow wings with all my might! “Now hold your horses there, Rainbow!” retorted Applejack. “We’re busy cuttin’ down some of these here trees!” she explained. “I—WON’T—LET YOU!” shouted Rainbow Dash. “Do you realize that there are other animals living in those apple trees?!” she inquired of Applejack. “Do you realize,” countered Applejack, “that we need to cut ’em down to build a new house?!” “Whose house is it going to be?!” shouted Rainbow Dash incredulously. Author's Note SPOILER WARNING! Twilight Sparkle will make another appearance in the very next chapter!
Chapter 10“GIRLS!” interrupted Twilight Sparkle, who had just arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow Dash and Applejack stopped arguing right away! “The house is for Fluttershy and Lonesome Knight,” explained Twilight to the other two mares. “Wait a minute!” she said. “Where is Fluttershy?!” she asked, because she couldn’t find me. “Hi, everypony!” I called as loudly as I could, and everypony looked up at me. “You’re flying!” cried Rainbow Dash, both surprised and proud for me. “Oh—my—goodness!” I cried, equally surprised, because I really was flying! “Well, I’ll be…!” gasped Applejack, who also saw me flying. I descended slowly, and when I touched the ground, I introduced myself boldly to Applejack. “Hello,” I told her. “My name is Fluttershy.” “And my name’s Applejack,” she answered. I told her why Rainbow Dash and I had come to stop her from cutting the apple trees down: I’m all in favor of a new house, and I know full well that building a house entails cutting some trees down, but it’s wrong to neglect the well-being of any of the animals who’ve gotten to those trees first! The trees are their homes! We should never take their homes away from them without permission or compensation. Author's Note Fluttershy is much less shy now, and that’s why she manages to give Applejack a lecture on being considerate to non-pony animals.
Chapter 11“I’m a might sorry, Fluttershy,” apologized Applejack, starting to worry. “I didn’t know that I was supposed to share all these trees with them critters.” “Don’t worry, Applejack,” I answered, consoling her. “You learn something new every day!” “I reckon that’s the truth,” she confessed. “It sure is,” chimed in Twilight Sparkle. As Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and I were discussing a plan with Twilight Sparkle, guess who came galloping up to us! “HELLO-O-O-O-O, DA-A-ARLINGS!” sang Rarity, pulling a splendidly-decorated wagon full of fancy fashion supplies! “Oh, my goodness!” I cried as soon as I saw the white unicorn mare. “You look beautiful,” I told her, “just like a butterfly!” “Of course, I do, darling!” she answered. “I have a passion for all things bright and beautiful!” Then, almost forgetting to introduce herself to me, she added, “Oh—and you may call me Rarity!” “I don’t mean to be rude, Rarity,” chimed in Applejack, “but what the hay has that frou-frou outfit of yours got to do with this here apple orchard?!” “Well, you just listen, Applejack,” answered Rarity, a little insulted, “and perhaps, you’ll learn something useful!” She cleared her throat, and then, everypony else—including me—was all ears as Rarity gave us an explanation: Now, darlings, it just so happens that I am not just a fabulous fashionista but a darling dancer as well! It also just so happens that some animals are dancers, too! It is my opinion that if we can catch the animals’ eyes with charming choreography, then we can lure them out of harm’s way, and then, Applejack and her relatives can safely cut down all the apple trees we need for Fluttershy’s new house! “Any questions?” she asked us.
Chapter 14Once I arrived at my humble but huge cottage, I read a notice nailed to its front door. “Meet me at the Golden Oak Library,” I read aloud. “Meet whom?” I wondered. I had no idea whom I’d meet at the library. I decided to follow the notice anyway. Off I trotted to the library. Meanwhile, at Sugarcube Corner, Twilight Sparkle, with her friends, was discussing where to build the new house. Their discussion went on long into the evening, and soon, it was closing time at Sugarcube Corner. “Fluttershy! You made it!” cried my husband as he saw me trotting into the library. “Hi,” I answered. “I wonder where we’re going to live from now on,” he told me. “I hope it’s not too far away from my old house,” I told him. “I hope so, too,” he agreed. “Oh, Twilight! Where are you?” I wondered, worried about my purple unicorn friend. Author's Note Twilight Sparkle still lives at the Golden Oak Library, so she will meet up with Fluttershy and Lonesome Knight very soon. Stay tuned!
Chapter 15At long last, Twilight Sparkle trotted in through the front door of the Golden Oak Library. Princess Celestia was lowering the sun to make way for the moon. “Well, Fluttershy,” announced Twilight, “it’s official!” “My friends and I finally decided where and how to build your new house,” she continued. “Erm—excuse me—Twilight?” I interjected. “Yes?” she answered, acknowledging my interruption. “I’m not going to move in,” I told her. “I want my husband to own the new house,” I continued. “Are you sure you want to do that?” she asked me. “Did you think carefully about such a choice?” “Yes, Twilight,” I answered. “I did.” “I need to stay in my cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville,” I told her. “My animals need me to take care of them,” I explained. “I will go with my husband to welcome him to the new house,” I continued, “and I’ll even let him visit me at my house.” “Then it’s settled,” she concluded. My husband and I had already agreed on who should live where. I said good-bye to my husband and Twilight, and they said good-bye right back. I trotted all the way home in the dim light of the sunset. Meanwhile, in the library, my husband went to bed with Twilight.
Chapter 16Princess Celestia raised the sun over the horizon and into Ponyville. Just like every other day, the sunlight shone through my cottage windows, but today, I woke up all by myself—immediately, no less! I got out of bed and made breakfast for all my diurnal animals. After feeding my animals, I trotted to the front door of my cottage and opened its upper portion to look outside. Pinkie Pie came hopping down the path to my cottage! As soon as I saw her, I trotted outside boldly to greet her. “Come quickly, Fluttershy!” she squealed. “Your surprise is ready!” I obeyed her by trotting alongside her into Ponyville proper. “SURPRISE!” shouted Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity. My husband, Lonesome Knight, trotted out of his new house to greet me. “Welcome to Ponyville—your new home,” I told him. As he and I gave each other a muzzle nuzzle, everypony around us cheered for us and wished each of us a long, happy life—wherever he or I was to spend it!
EpilogueTo prepare for the upcoming 1000th anniversary of the regal Summer Sun Celebration, I trained a whole flock of songbirds to make all sorts of pleasant music, and after many months of such training, they became my personal songbird choir! But when the day of the Summer Sun Celebration came, neither Princess Celestia nor Nightmare Moon showed up in Ponyville! Author's Note The sequel to this story will focus on the attempts by the Mane Six to befriend Princess Luna by obtaining the Elements Of Harmony one at a time.
Chapter 1Princess Celestia raised the sun over the horizon and into Ponyville. The sunlight shone through my cottage windows and woke my husband, who, in turn, woke me with a muzzle nuzzle. “Time to rise and shine, lovebird lover,” he whispered into my ear. The quilt on our bed was so warm and fluffy that I didn’t want to get out of bed yet. “Four more minutes, please?” I asked my husband. No answer came from him, because he didn’t hear me. While I was still in bed, my husband was in our kitchen making our breakfast. Being a unicorn, he had no trouble at such a task. By the time he finished, I was trotting carefully downstairs to the kitchen. I had finally decided to get out of bed. “Here you go, dear,” my husband told me, giving me my breakfast—a cup of non-herbal tea and a daisy sandwich. “Thank you,” I answered politely, and the both of us dug in. After my own breakfast, all I needed to do was give my diurnal animals their breakfast. My nocturnal animals were asleep at the time.
Chapter 3On the way to Ponyville, I literally bumped into a blue pegasus mare! My collision with her left the both of us lying on the ground. “Oh, dear—I’m really, really sorry,” I told her, speaking as fast as a helpless animal fled. “Are you hurt?” I asked her, wishing sincerely that I could help her. “Nah—I’m OK,” she answered. “I’m used to it,” she explained. “Really?” I asked her, concerned for her health. “Crashing into things is scary!” I thought. The blue pegasus stood back up—which, unlike me, she could do easily—and shouted, “You bet your flank I am!” “Wow!” I exclaimed softly. “I’m Rainbow Dash,” she told me. “Nice to meet you!” “Erm—I’m—erm—Fluttershy,” I answered, swallowing air. “Say what?” said Rainbow Dash. “I didn’t quite catch that.” I made a motion with my front hoof, signaling for her to come closer to me, and once she was close enough, I whispered into her ear, “My name is Fluttershy.” “Wow—you’re a pegasus, too!” she exclaimed upon seeing my wings. “Yes,” I answered, “but—erm—I can’t fly.” “I could give you flying lessons,” she offered. “Erm—not now, thank you,” I answered. “I’m going to Ponyville.” “Where in Ponyville?” she asked me. “Well,” I began, “somepony moved in to Ponyville just the other day.” I continued, “Her name is Twilight Sparkle.” “I know her!” she cried upon hearing the name I mentioned. “She lives in the library!” “Could you show me the way?” I asked her, because I had never gone to the Golden Oak Library. “Please?” I begged her, pulling a puppy face. “Awww!” she exclaimed upon seeing my face. “Of course, I will!” she answered. “I know Ponyville like the back of my hoof!” Rainbow Dash guided me to the Golden Oak Library, flying slowly enough for me to keep up with her.
Chapter 5The construction of the new house for my husband and me was under way. A white unicorn mare had drawn the blueprints for the house. An orange Earth pony mare was helping to make planks for the house’s frame. Rainbow Dash—the blue pegasus mare that I’d met earlier—was helping to make the planks stand up. All the while, a pink Earth pony mare was cheering the other three on—and ready to keep Parasprites away. All the construction work was going on in Ponyville proper. It was going to be difficult for me to say good-bye—whether to the house with all the animals that I knew and loved so much, or to my husband, whom I’d vowed to love. I told Twilight Sparkle about that dilemma, and this is what she had to say: Just because you’re going to have another house doesn’t mean that you must move in to it. You and Lonesome Knight can live together in either house, or you can live in separate houses. In both cases, I will support you every step of the way, regardless of which choice you make. Relieved to have heard Twilight’s advice, I told her, “Thank you for being so kind, Twilight.” I went back home immediately to tell my husband the good news that I’d just received from her.
Chapter 7The white unicorn mare who’d drawn the house blueprints got a call on her household telephone. “Carousel Boutique!” she said after lifting its receiver with her horn. “This is Rarity!” “Mayor Mare speaking,” said the voice at the other end of the line. “I approve of your blueprints!” “Why, thank you, Ms. Mayor, darling!” cried Rarity. “I do hope they just adore their new house!” “So do I, Rarity,” answered the mayor. “So do I.” Rarity said good-bye to the mayor, who said good-bye right back, and hung up. Meanwhile, at Sweet Apple Acres, the orange Earth pony mare who’d helped to make the house frame rallied up the rest of her huge family—from near and far—to cut some apple trees down and make them into lumber. “Before we start cuttin’ down these here trees,” she announced, “we gotta buck all the apples off the ones we’re gonna cut!” “Eeyup,” agreed her elder brother, Big McIntosh. “Can I help you, too, Applejack?” asked her younger sister, Apple Bloom. “Sure, you can, sugarcube,” answered Applejack, and explained, “You and Granny can take the apples we buck and bake some delicious treats for us to eat when we’re all done!” Apple Bloom entered Sweet Apple Homestead to help Granny Smith, her grandmother, in the kitchen, and the rest of the Apple family got ready to do their part in the construction of the new house. Author's Note This story deviates from the canon ab initio, so none of the Cutie Mark Crusaders (Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo) has her Cutie Mark yet.
Chapter 12After Rarity and I persuaded all the animals to evacuate their arboreal abodes temporarily, we put on a funny fashion show in their honor—to keep them company and to entertain them! When Rainbow Dash saw that all the animals were safe and out of the apple trees, she gave Applejack the green light to lead the rest of her family in cutting down some of the trees. When the Apples finished their work, they had cut one-third of the apple trees down! “We promise to replace your fallen trees fourfold!” vowed Applejack. “Oh—that would be so kind of you!” I sighed with gratitude. Just then, Granny Smith and Apple Bloom brought some apple-based baked goods out! “Mmmmm—such an attractive and appetizing aroma!” cried Rarity, smelling the baked goods. “Let’s go sell these delicious apple-based treats at Sugarcube Corner!” suggested Twilight Sparkle. She helped Applejack load the baked goods into Rarity’s wagon. Once all the baked goods were in the wagon, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and I said good-bye to Applejack—who said good-bye in return, as always—and headed for Sugarcube Corner.
Chapter 13Meanwhile, Lonesome Knight had dropped off the pet supplies that he’d bought for me at my cottage. He didn’t stay at my cottage, because he wasn’t a good animal caretaker like me, but he did remember to nail a notice to the front door of the cottage. The notice said, MEET ME AT THE GOLDEN OAK LIBRARY. After nailing the notice, he set off for the Golden Oak Library and waited there—patiently—for Twilight Sparkle and me. “SURPRI-I-I-I-ISE!” squealed the pink Earth pony mare who’d led the mock construction project as all of us trotted into Sugarcube Corner. Her loud squealing gave me quite a shock! “Yes, sir-ee, Pinkie Pie,” agreed Applejack, “that was one humdinger of a surprise!” Twilight Sparkle, using her horn, lifted all the baked goods out of the wagon and lowered them onto the shelves of the bakery. “Ooooooooh—thank you, everypony, for all the sugary pastries you brought in!” cried Pinkie Pie. “Y’all are most welcome!” answered Applejack. “Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie; Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy,” said Applejack, bringing Pinkie Pie and me face to face. “Erm—hello,” I told Pinkie Pie, very softly. “Hi, Fluttershy!” she whispered into my ear. “I’m tickled pink finally to meet you!” “Guess what time it is, everypony!” she shouted. “It’s PARTY TIME!” Before the party began, Twilight Sparkle told me, “Fluttershy, you need to leave.” “But why?” I asked her. “It’s a secret,” she answered. “We’ll let you know when you may come back,” she told me. “Oh—OK, then,” I answered. “Good-bye,” I told her, and left Sugarcube Corner to head back home. Author's Note I apologize for Lonesome Knight’s long appearance gap; the protagonist of this story is Fluttershy, not her husband. Nevertheless, Lonesome is an important character, so I cannot omit him from the story.
