Five mares, one dragon, one changeling, four fillies and one stallion sat on the other side of the library in silence. Every once in a while Shining Armor would steal a glance at the changeling, but otherwise remained quiet. Fluttershy stood on the other side as she tried to desperately say something, but every time she opened her mouth she mumbled. They all waited patiently for her to speak. Night Shade even had his mouth shut, choosing to ignore the free flow of emotions in the room over listening to his new caretaker.
"Okay, um, hmm..." Fluttershy hummed nervously. She was grateful for her friends and their friends being so patient but she knew that patience could only go so far.
"Go on sugarcube, if you got something important to say then we're all ears."
"Yep, Dash's ears are listening 100%!, Dash cheered, but both mares already knew what she was going to say. It didn't stop Rainbow Dash from giving Fluttershy an encouraging smile. The rest just smiled too and for once Fluttershy felt she could talk without stammering or apologizing or even stopping.
"Okay, well it took some encouraging from a brave little filly," she pointed to Grace who smiled, "to admit something which I've never really talked about in the open before. Rainbow Dash knows as well, but I didn't feel right telling you all until now. Because I just did not feel like it mattered until now. But families are important." She paused and saw several of them nod. "My f- my ex family didn't appreciate me or who I was. My parents are just that, guardians. Or were my guardians but that does not mean they loved me." For a few seconds Fluttershy did not know how to keep going as she saw almost everypony in the room gasp or look on in shock. "But I've been blind these last few years in Ponyville. I knew that Rainbow was part of my family, but it took these two to make me realize that all of you are my family." She was about to say 'right', but shook her head and waited. Then a tackle came, followed by several more. By the end of it the only living creatures not hugging her were Night Shade and Shining Armor.
The stallion and young colt looked at each other and said the same thing. "Ew..."
"Of course we're your family, sugarcube."
"Yeah you silly!"
"I can't imagine my life without any of you in it, even Rainbow..."
"Hey!"
"Fluttershy, were you scared that we wouldn't want you in our family?" Twilight asked.
"...Maybe."
"Well you don't have to worry about that anymore. You'll always have a family with us."
Fluttershy smiled and each pony and dragon awkwardly left her side. Sweetie Belle decided it was a good time to try and talk to Night Shade again.
"So um, hey I'd-" Night Shade smiled and then fainted once more. "Why does he keep doing that?!" Rarity laughed.
"I'll explain it when you're older dear. He'll be fine right?" She asked Grace.
"Define fine, I don't think he's ever been normal if that's what you mean.."
"So Twi, ah always thought your first student would be a unicorn. Does it feel a bit weird to be teaching an earth pony?"
"Oh not at all! Earth Pony magic can actually go amazingly far. It's not as direct as unicorn's, but I sense she has discovered quite a bit about it with her talents alone. I think she only just scratched the surface of what she could build! Heh, I guess I'm excited."
"No arguments there."
"So now what?" Rainbow asked looking bored.
"We can test out my new invention!" Grace announced.
"What is it? Ah carriage?" Apple Bloom asked.
"A music player?!" Sweetie asked with her voice squeaking loudly.
"Something stupid?!" Scootaloo asked while getting a scowl from Rainbow.
"No, I call it an Automobile!" She pulled a lever and the very complicated, metal looking carriage sprung to life. Spewing out black smoke from its copper colored exhaust port. Grace beamed while the others simply looked on in confusion.
"Confusion?" Night Shade said while waking up. "That tastes terrible!"