//------------------------------// // Chapter One: The Party // Story: Superneightural: Flutterbat's Return // by wildfirewolf123 //------------------------------// The mailpony, Ditzy "Derpy" Doo, landed on Fluttershy's doorstep and knocked on the door with her hoof. "Who is it?" A gentle voice sounded from inside the small cottage. "I have a letter here for a Miss Fluttershy?" There was a click as Fluttershy unlocked and opened the cottage door. The yellow Pegasus took the letter from the mailmare. "Thank you, Derpy," Fluttershy said before heading back into her cottage. What could this possibly be? She set the letter on the table in front of her sofa. She studied the envelope. The envelope itself was a light purple. The yellow Pegasus flipped the envelope over, looking at the writing in magenta ink on the back. It read: To: Fluttershy, Ponyville, Equestria. From: Princess Twilight Sparkle, Saddle Arabia, Equestria. "It's from Twilight!" Fluttershy gasped aloud. She carefully opened the purple envelope and pulled out the piece of paper which read: Dearest Fluttershy, How are all your animals? Starlight and I are coming home on Saturday. You are invited to a welcome home party in my castle that evening. Would you be able to get there early and greet all of the guests as they arrive? Thank you if you are able to do that for me! I have enclosed a copy of the guest list. Be home soon and I miss you all! Your friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle "Twilight's coming home on Saturday!" Fluttershy squealed with glee. Her rabbit pal, Angel, covered his ears at the high-pitched sound. The yellow Pegasus covered her mouth. "Whoops! Sorry, Angel," she apologized to the bunny. He replied by simply hopping away and leaping up the stairs. Fluttershy just shrugged and pulled the guest list out of the envelope and read the guest list. Entertainment: Countess Coloratura, DJ Pon 3, Octavia Melody, Songbird Serenade, Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Spitfire, Fleetfoot, Thunderlane, Surprise, Firestreak, Blaze, The Great and Powerful Trixie, Guests: Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Princess Skyla, Princess Flurry Heart, Prince Shining Armor, Lemon Hearts, Moondancer, Fancy Pants, Fleur De Lis, Sassy Saddles, Rarity, Photo Finish, Filthy Rich, Spoiled Rich, Diamond Tiara, Silverspoon, Rumble, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Tender Taps, Pipsqueak, Babs Seed, Sunny Daze, Peachy Pie, Snips, Snails, Toola Roola, Coconut Cream, Pinkie Pie, Cheese Sandwich, Party Favour, Twisty Pop, Applejack, Burnt Oak, Braeburn, Apple Tart, Granny Smith, Goldie Delicious, Big McIntosh, Grand Pear, Caramel Apple, Apple Fritter, Night Light, Twilight Velvet, Fluttershy, Sunburst, Spike, Ember, Thorax, Starlight Glimmer, Lyra, Sweetie Drops, Cupcake, Carrot Cake, Pound Cake, Pumpkin Cake, Zephyr Breeze, Derpy, Dinky, Doctor Hooves, Cheerilee, Sugar Belle, Marble Pie, Limestone Pie, Igneous Rock Pie, Cloudy Quartz, Sparkler, Seaswirl, Maud Pie, Mud Briar, and Discord. Fluttershy's heart did a flip-flop both because Discord was invited and because that was a large amount of ponies. She did not want to have a panic attack in front of all those ponies. But if it's for Twilight I guess I can risk it, she decided. I should probably bring some cucumber sandwiches for the buffet table. She new that Pinkie Pie was most likely the one planning this party and if Pinkie Pie was planning it, there would be a buffet table there. She went into her kitchen and got the cucumbers from the fridge, and a loaf of white bread from the pantry. She had just started to prepare the sandwiches when somepony else knocked on the door to her small abode. "Come in," she called, trotting to the front door. She opened the door to see Rarity. The white Unicorn had a navy blue garment bag levitating beside her. It was surrounded by Rarity's light blue aura. "Oh, hi Rarity! I wasn't expecting to see you here today!" She paused, thinking to herself. "Why are you here exactly?" The white Unicorn trotted into the small cottage and sat down on the green sofa. "I am here merely to bring you your gown for the welcome home party at Twilight's palace tonight, darling," the Unicorn answered. Fluttershy placed a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. "But the party is on Saturday." Rarity pointed with a hoof to the Forest Animals of Equestria calendar on the wall. "Today is Saturday, Fluttershy dear." "It is?" The yellow Pegasus glanced at the calendar and gasped. "Oh! It is!" Rarity gave her the garment bag. "Rarity, could I ask you a favour? Would you be willing to help me make the rest of the cucumber sandwiches for the party?" The Unicorn nodded, her curly dark purple mane bouncing up and down as she did so. "Of course I can, darling." She hugged Fluttershy and led her into the kitchen so that they could finish preparing the cucumber sandwiches. *** Fluttershy stood by the door as the ponies streamed through the castle entrance, checking their names off as they went. She greeted each of the guests as they passed her. She had on the dress that Rarity had generously crafted for her. It was a light turquoise fabric with a pink star brooch in the centre of the chest. The skirt had a layer of white lace from the waist of the dress down. Her mane and tail were done into lovely Prench braids, fastened with pink star pins that matched the one on her chest. Ponyville's mane stylist, Paris Prance, had chosen the pins for that particular reason reason. Fluttershy checked off the last name on the list and trotted inside the castle and down the hall to the ballroom. She opened the tall double doors that led into the ballroom and entered it. Rarity was the first to trot up to the gentle yellow Pegasus. "You look absolutely divine darling! Oh, and your mane is fantastic! I will have to ask Paris where she got those pins!" A blue pony, who was a Pegasus as well, with a rainbow mane and tail trotted up to the two ponies, followed by two Earth ponies, a small purple and green dragon, a light purple Unicorn, and a purple Alicorn. "Starlight and Twilight are back, as well," Rarity mentioned bluntly, stating the obvious. The ponies surrounded Fluttershy, gawking at her ensemble. "Twilight! Starlight!" the yellow Pegasus gasped, relieved to see the two purple ponies who had returned from Saddle Arabia that day. "How was it in Saddle Arabia?" Fluttershy asked. "It was great!" Twilight answered cheerfully. "We bought a whole seventeen barrels of books for the castle's library!" Suddenly, Fluttershy shied away from her friends. "That's great," she whispered to the Princess of Friendship. The ponies covered their ears as microphone feedback filled the huge ballroom. The announcer, a Unicorn named Loudsound Blitz, spoke into the microphone, his voice blaring from the speakers. "What's up ponies of Ponyville? We are here tonight to celebrate the return of our very own. . . . Princess Twilight Sparkle!" All of the ponies in the room stomped their hooves and yelled their greetings to the Princess. Starlight stomped her hoof indignantly. "Hey! What about me?" Loudsound Blitz glanced at his hooves self-consciously. "Uh, oh yeah, and her student, Starlight Glimmer!" More thunderous applause echoed throughout the room as ponies stomped their hooves once more. As they quieted down, Loudsound spoke again. "Who are three musicians we love here in Ponyville?" The stallion's question caused confused looks from the crowd then the assembled ponies started yelling answers. "The answer is. . . . Octavia Melody, Songbird Serenade, and Countess Coloratura! These three wonderful musicians have come together to create a song about the very amazing and lovely Princess Twilight Sparkle with the help of Vinyl," the grey Unicorn paused as he realized his mistake of forgetting to use Vinyl Scratch's DJ name. "Excuse me. With the help of DJ Pon3!" Roars of applause and cheers of joy broke out as three ponies crossed the temporary stage. Drums thudded. Pianos and flügelhorns blared. Fluttershy shrunk beneath her fur as she heard all of the loud noises surround her, accompanied by two singers and a cello. Fluttershy opened the door and slipped out, racing down the hallway to one of the corridors to a spare bedroom. She slid her, silky dress off and sat on the bed, staring out the window at the full moon. A sole apple was sitting on the window sill. Apples, Fluttershy thought greedily, apples. She lunged at the fruit, grabbing it and flying out the window and into the night. By the time she reached the town square she was already in complete bat form.