Chapter 2
A Normal Day in Ponyville
The streets were hustling and bustling with movement. Carts rushed through the streets while the vendors were shouting about their various products.
“Hay-bales! Get your hay bales right here!” shouted a street vendor.
“We got books, all sorts of books!” hollered another.
Despite her daily trips to the market, Fluttershy was still intimidated by every single noise and sound. She tried her best to keep her composure by telling herself that she had done this a million times, and nothing disastrous had ever happened. She slowly inched her way to the produce section of the market.
“See?” she said to herself. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. Just get the oysters, pay the vendor and…”
“Well howdy there, Fluttershy!” somepony suddenly yelled. Fluttershy jumped in terror and gave out a faint “Eeek!"
Fluttershy looked around hastily, trying to find the pony who called her name. First she looked up, down, left, and right. Then she noticed that there was an apple stand right next to her, and the vendor was none other than her best friend Applejack!
Applejack was a member of the ever-growing Apple Family, a family of earth ponies that owned apple farms all across Equestria. Each part of the family had their own specific farm located somewhere in the vast kingdom.
Applejack’s family lived in Ponyville, and they ran a farm called Sweet Apple Acres. Every harvesting season, each family member would kick the base of every hardy apple tree to make the ripe apples fall into a bucket. They affectionately dubbed this process “apple-bucking”. Afterwards, the family would wash each apple and then decide whether they should be used for making apple pie, apple fritters, apple cake, apple sauce, apple juice, or just sold by themselves. Once all the preparations were done they would take it all and sell it at the market.
Fluttershy knew about Sweet Apple Acres ever since she first moved to Ponyville but she’d never really known what was behind it all until she met Applejack.
When Princess Luna was Nightmare Moon, Applejack joined Fluttershy and Twilight to stop the alicorn’s evil reign. During their quest, the sinister Nightmare Moon used her magic to cause a landslide, leaving Twilight dangling off a cliff. Applejack had rushed to the rescue and grabbed Twilight’s hoof. She had tried to pull Twilight out, but it proved to be no use. She’d then urged Twilight to let her second hoof go, but out of fear, Twilight had refused. In one daring last chance, Applejack promised Twilight that she would be alright.
Without any options left, Twilight began to let her second hoof off the mountain side, and Applejack pulled her out of danger. After her courageous act, Applejack was awarded with the Element of Honesty.
Ever since then, Fluttershy knew that Applejack was the one pony she could always rely on.
“Sorry! Didn’t meant to startle you there, Fluttershy,” Applejack apologized.
“Don’t worry,” Fluttershy replied shyly. “Sometimes I just startle myself, that’s all.”
“Well then, how’s your day been so far?” Applejack asked.
“Oh, you know, just like any other normal day,” Fluttershy replied modestly.
“Is there anything you need?” Applejack asked curiously.
“Well,” said Fluttershy recalling her list “I do need some-”
But before she could finish her statement, a little filly named Apple Bloom popped up from behind the stand. Apple Bloom was Applejack’s little sister, and she was considered the cutest and most responsible filly in Ponyville. She was also a founder of a club called “The Cutie Mark Crusaders”. The goal of this little gathering was to help young fillies discover their talents and earn their cutie marks.
A cutie mark was a small symbol that appeared on the pony’s posterior and symbolized the pony’s goal and/or passion in life. For example Applejack’s cutie mark was three apples symbolizing her passion for working on the farm. There were a number of different ways that a pony could find their cutie mark, whether it was on accident or on purpose. Fluttershy had gotten her triple-butterfly cutie mark when she’d fallen to Ponyville and started taking care of the animals that inhabited the town.
Wanting to be like her older sister and all the other grown up ponies, Apple Bloom joined two other fillies-Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo-and created The Cutie Mark Crusaders so that they could get their cutie marks.
“Do you need any apples?” Apple Bloom asked in excitedly.
“I’m sorry, but not today. Maybe next time I’ll get some apples,” said Fluttershy apologetically, trying to make sure she didn’t hurt the young filly’s feelings.
“Okay,” Apple Bloom said with a sigh.
“Don’t worry Apple Bloom,” said Applekack encouragingly “Not everypony’s gonna want to buy our apples, and that’s okay.”
“But how Am I supposed to get my Apple-Selling cutie mark now?” Apple Bloom bemoaned.
“Well, don’t worry sugar cube. Your cutie mark will come sooner than you think,” said Applejack encouragingly. “Fluttershy, what did you need again?”
“Oh, I need some oysters for my otters,” Fluttershy replied.
“Oh, okay,” said Apple Jack enthusiastically “If you ask me, you should steer clear from Outta Date; I hear her oysters went south real bad!”
“Where did you hear that?” asked Fluttershy, right as two Pegasi passed by carrying a stretcher with a grey Pegasus on it.
“I just wanted a muffin with oysters on it, honest!” the grey Pegasus cried in agony.
“Yep, looks like Outta Date’s oysters have gone stale…again!” said one of the Pegasi, carrying the stretcher.
“As I was saying,” Applejack continued, eyeing the Pegasi paramedics, “who you should really check out is Net Fish. I heard his oysters are sweet and crunchy, just how your otters love them.”
“Thank you Applejack,” said Fluttershy as she headed off to her next destination.
“No problem, sugar cube! Come back anytime!” yelled Applejack, waving a goodbye as Fluttershy left.
“No worries, I will,” promised Fluttershy, walking further and further away from Applejack’s stand.
Fluttershy walked past stand after stand until she finally came to one that read “Net Fish’s Ocean Produce.” She bought two oysters, put them in her saddle bag, and walked off to find the materials she needed to repair the pigs’ pen.
Since wood and home materials were being sold on the other side of town, Fluttershy had to pass through a quirky, but joyous place called “Sugar Cube Corner”.
Sugar Cube Corner was a sweets shop where everypony would hang out. They made milk shakes, root beer floats, ice cream and sundaes. The place was run and owned by a lovely couple known as Mr. and Mrs. Cake, who had two twin fillies named Pumpkin and Pound.
Just like all the other business owners in Ponyville, the Cakes had an apprentice, and she was the most energetic apprentice Ponyville had ever seen. The pony’s name was Pinkie Pie and she was quite a character. She was an expert in throwing parties, standup comedy, and being completely unexpected.
Flutershy and Pinkie Pie became best friends after their quest with Twilight Sparkle. When the group of ponies came upon a horrifying forest, they all refused to walk thought it; all except for Pinkie Pie. She showed Fluttershy and the rest of the crew that as long they stayed positive, they had nothing to fear. After showing such bravery and optimism in the face of danger, she was given the Element of Laughter.
Fluttershy was just thinking about her, when suddenly, the peppy pink pony jumped right out in front of her.
“ConGRAAAAAATUALATIONS, Fluttershy!” Pinkie Pie squealed with excitement. Fluttershy squirmed back; Pinkie Pie sometimes forgot that she dreaded surprises.
“You…are… the…drum roll please!” said Pinkie Pie before getting a drum out of nowhere. “THE 100th PONY TO PASS BY SUGAR CUBE CORNER TODAY!”
She was so excited that she threw the drum into the street and hugged Fluttershy with all her might.
“You’re prize is that you can get any candy you want for free!” she shouted after hugging Fluttershy to death.
“Why I’m honored,” Fluttershy said modestly. “But, I’ll have to refuse. I don’t have the need for candy right now.”
“Are you sure?” asked Pinkie Pie.
“Yes, I’m sure,” Fluttershy admitted “Unless you can make pig pen with candy.”
“That might work,” pondered Pinkie Pie, but she realized that the story teller would not allow it because it went against all logic despite this story being about Technicolor ponies that could talk and establish societies and cultures.
“Any whoove-sies,” said Pinkie Pie. “Nice meeting you Fluttershy! See ya later, alligator!”
She then hopped into a hay bale that was not-so-cleverly disguised as a mail box. Fluttershy rolled her eyes. Pinkie could be so random at times. As she left she heard Pinkie Pie scream “CoGRAAAATTTTULATIONS! You are the 101st pony to pass by SUGAR CUBE CORNER!”
It had been a long day for Fluttershy. She had finally gotten the supplies for the pig pen and was slowly heading back to her cottage in the woods. She could not wait to see if Discord had followed through on his chores, but then she realized that the cottage could be in total havoc as well. She tried not to think about it too much, though. Discord was her friend, and she knew that in order for her friendship to work, she had to trust that Discord would do what he said he would do.
She was trying to imagine all the hard work Discord would be doing when suddenly, she heard a scream of terror. Fluttershy raced to the sound; she could recognize that dramatic scream from a mile away. There was no doubt about it was from her best friend Rarity.
Rarity was a very prestigious unicorn, who not only loved fashion, but had made it her life’s work. She was obsessed with creating dresses, gowns, tuxes, costumes, and other elegant clothing. She never stepped down from an opportunity to display her work. Because of this, she did her best to look respectable to her clients and more often than not, she would go overboard. From getting a proper manicure, to making sure she didn’t get her tail dirty, she would always be fussing over the smallest of details.
Even though Rarity appeared to be vain and pompous, she was actually one of the nicest ponies you could meet. When she tagged along on Twilight’s quest, they came across a river that had an enormous sea serpent crying so violently that the river was unsafe to cross. Apparently, he was distraught over his mustache being shorter on one side than the other. Sympathizing with the creature, Rarity cut off her own tail and sewed it onto the shorter side of the monster’s mustache. Pleased with his new look, the sea serpent was grateful, and so he let the band of ponies pass. For her generous efforts, Rarity was awarded with the Element of Generosity.
Rarity and Fluttershy were best friends that helped each other whenever either one needed it. For example, Rarity would make sweaters for the animals and try to help Fluttershy’s confidence every now and again. In return, Fluttershy would be Rarity’s spa buddy, as well as an occasional model for Rarity’s revolutionary dresses. Mostly, though, Fluttershy just tried to be there for Rarity whenever she could.
Which bring us to this very moment, when Fluttershy was following Rarity’s cry for help. After a bit of running, Fluttershy finally saw what all the ruckus was about.
Rarity’s back was covered in mud, something she absolutely dreaded. There was also a pile of fabrics that were being suspended in the air right above her back via magic from her horn. Fluttershy also saw Rarity’s little sister, Sweetie Belle, standing next to her with a regretful look on her face.
Sweetie Belle was a little filly who really tried to help her big sister, but more often than not, it would lead to a disaster. Unlike her older sister, Sweetie Belle was not really interested in fashion, but she always told the truth and stood by what she thought was right.
“How could you Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said demanded sternly.
“I said I was sorry,” her little sister said sheepishly.
“What’s going on?” asked Fluttershy, announcing her presence. Both Rarity and Sweetie Belle looked at Fluttershy.
“I wanted to give a new blanket to Twilight because the one she has already is simply too tattered and torn for a princess of her stature,” Rarity began to explain in a huff. “So I decided to make her a new one, but then I got too caught in it all, I just had to make more! Then I realized that I didn’t know which one Twilight would want, so I decided to bring them all to her so she could decide which one she liked best.”
“And I wanted to tag along!” Sweetie Belle announced happily.
“Yes, quite,” Rarity said a tad annoyed. “Anyway, I was planning to show them to Twilight myself. But Sweetie Belle distracted me, and I didn’t know I was heading towards a mud pit, and so I fell down on my bottom, and here we are now. It was a good thing I saved the blankets, but now I’m all covered in dirt! I couldn’t possibly bring mud into Twilight’s library! What would that mean about our friendship?”
“I don’t think Twilight would mind much,” suggested Fluttershy.
“But I wouldn’t be at my best, and I want my best friend to know that they have the best!” Rarity explained frantically. “You wouldn’t mind taking the blankets, would you darling?”
“Well…” Fluttershy though for a moment before answering. “Sure, I’ll take them to Twilight for you.”
“Excellent darling, I knew I could count on you,” Rarity cheered while magically placing the blankets on Fluttershy’s back.
“No problem,” said Fluttershy with a smile; she was glad that she could help her best friend.
“Well, I’ll be off getting a makeover,” said Rarity. “Fresh mud is so hard to get out when it dries!”
With a final farewell, Fluttershy and Rarity left, with Fluttershy carrying the blankets while Rarity led her little sitter back home.
“It’s just a quick delivery,” said Fluttershy to herself. She was hoping that she wouldn’t be intruding on Twilight’s personal time once she got there.