It was around noon on a cool fall day when Twilight knocked on the door of the cottage at the edge of the Everfree Forest, and heard a voice that sounded not at all like the home's owner call out, “Coming!”
The door opened a second later, revealing a tall white unicorn with brilliant purple eyes and a long pink mane. Twilight, completely unsurprised, because Fleur was Fluttershy's marefriend and supposed to visit today, said, “Oh, hi Fleur. Is Fluttershy home?”
“Non. Family emergency or something up in Cloudsdale. She was gone when I left, though she did leave a note,” Fleur said, before floating over a white piece of paper to the alicorn princess, “So, what's going on?”
Twilight read through the very brief note then asked, “Did she leave anything else?”
“Just a feeding schedule for her animals. Also, you didn't answer my question.”
“Oh, well, I just got a letter from Princess Cadance inviting the six of us to spend all next week in The Crystal Empire, and I came by to see if Fluttershy wanted to come along.”
“Oh. Can I come?” Fleur asked, her eyes lighting up in excitement.
“Hmm...Tell you what, if Fluttershy and Princess Cadance say you can come and nopony else has any objections, you can come along,” Twilight said.
“I can live with that. I'll go ahead and talk to them when I get the chance.”
“Okay. By the way, Princess Cadance mentioned that Princess Luna will also be there just so you know.”
“Wonderful,” Fleur said, looking rather nervous as she took a quick peek at the feeding schedule.
“Don't worry, I think she's forgotten about the whole candy bowl incident from last year's Nightmare Night.”
“I hope so.”
“Anyway, when Fluttershy gets back, give this to her, please,” Twilight said, passing Fleur a letter.
“Of course.”
Around dinner, Fluttershy returned to her cottage and opened the front door, saying in a tone reserved for conversation and not announcing your return to a house full of animals, “I'm home.”
“Hi, Fluttershy,” Fleur called from the kitchen.
Fluttershy walked down to the kitchen, asking, “Hi, Fleur. Did you get my note?”
“Oui,” Fleur said before giving Fluttershy a quick peck on the lips. “By the way, what happened? Your note was rather vague.”
“Well, um, my grandfather was rushed to the hospital and my mom came down to get me to see him there. Apparently he was having massive chest pains, which she didn't tell me until after we left. As it turns out it was really bad acid reflux. The doctors told him no more alcohol or fizzy drinks ever again and it should clear up.”
“Well that's good to hear. Hopefully, that's all that's wrong,” Fleur said.
“I hope so, too.”
“Anyway, I was just making dinner. Do daffodil and tulip sandwiches sound good?”
“That sounds delicious.”
“And before I forget, Twilight came by earlier and said you and your friends had been invited to the Crystal Empire all next week. She also told me that I could come along if you and Cadance agreed and no one else had a problem with it.”
Before Fluttershy could respond, there was a knock on the door. Fluttershy said, “I'll get it.”
When she opened the front door, it was to find Rarity on the other side. “Hi Rarity.”
“Hi Fluttershy, I saw you coming home and thought I'd come by for a quick word.”
“Oh. What about?”
“Um, I'm sure Fleur mentioned that Princess Cadance invited us to the Crystal Empire next week?”
“Right before you knocked, actually,” Fleur said, having teleported from the kitchen to see who was at the door.
“Well, anyway, when I asked if Fancypants could come along, she said that, if Fancy and Princess Cadance agreed and no one else had any objections, he could come along, and I was just wondering if you would mind him coming.”
“Well, if he wants to, I don't mind. Also, uh, Fleur said pretty much the same thing about her coming with us,” Fluttershy said.
“You want to come with us to the Crystal Empire, Fleur?” Rarity asked.
“Absolument. Spending a week in the absolutely gorgeous Crystal Empire with my marefriend sounds like my idea of a great way to spend a week of my month long vacation, never mind the opportunity to stay in a castle suite...Assuming you don't have a problem with me coming?”
“One of my best clients and a dear friend wanting to come along on a vacation with me? How could I possibly say no?”
Fleur smiled and asked, “Well, if you don't mind, could you talk to the others about me coming along? I'm guessing you're going to want to ask them about your crush coming, anyway.”
“I don't have a crush on Fancypants!” Rarity declared loudly as her cheeks rapidly reddened.
Fleur, still smiling, just rolled her eyes and asked, “Anyway, will you ask them for me?”
“Sure. Just promise me you won't imply that I have a crush on Fancy while we're in earshot of him.”
“I promise,” Fleur said.