“Hi, Spike,” I told my assistant. I had woken up to a beautiful sunny morning. “Hi, Fluttersh-—Flutt-—Fl-—” he started, but he couldn’t finish. He belched a letter out and read it aloud to me.
Dear Fluttershy:
The Grand Galloping Gala is tonight. The Gala is Canterlot’s most important festival, as it celebrates the founding of Canterlot. I hereby invite you and all your friends to attend. Remember to dress formally, as the Gala is a formal festival.
With compassion,
Princess Celestia
“Erm—Spike?” I asked my assistant, because I had started to worry. “Yes, Fluttershy?” answered Spike. “I think that I’m afraid to go to the Gala,” I whispered to him. “Here we go again,” he sighed, covering his face with his hand.
At that moment, Rarity entered my cottage. “Fluttershy, darling, what are you doing here at home?!” she gasped. “She’s afraid to attend the Grand Galloping Gala,” Spike informed her. Once she heard that, shock filled her body and constricted her pupils.
At the Carousel Boutique, Rarity asked me some questions. “Fluttershy, how would you feel if you were up on stage?” she asked me. “Like a butterfly,” I whispered in reply. My answer gave her inspiration for a new formal dress.
After several hours of fabricating, sewing, cutting, stitching, and adjusting, Rarity produced an elegant dress with butterfly wings. “It matches your Cutie Mark, too!” she remarked. “Now I look like a butterfly, but I still have butterflies in my stomach,” I commented. Rarity felt sorry for me when she heard my comment.
Rarity took me to Canterlot, and Spike rode there on my back. “I really like your dress with butterfly wings,” Spike told me. “Oh, thank you, Spike,” I answered. Then, I felt a little less shy, but not much.
When we arrived in Canterlot, we met up with Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash. “Thank goodness you came!” Twilight told me. “I didn’t want to be all alone while all my friends were having fun!” I reasoned. When the Gala began, the castle guards let us all in.
Inside the castle, we met Princess Celestia again. “Hello, everypony—and Spike,” she told us with a welcoming smile. “Hello, Your Highness,” we answered in unison. I was still a little shy before the princess, but my friends were not.
The princess had a look of concern on her face. “Oh, dear—what’s the matter, Fluttershy?” she asked me. “Do I need to make a speech or sing a song in front of everypony?” I asked her. She could see the stage fright in my eyes and in my body.
Twilight Sparkle stepped forward to speak to the princess in my defense. “Fluttershy is so afraid that she’s unfamiliar with Grand Galloping Gala procedures and culture,” explained Twilight. “Well, this year, there will be a ballet in the outer gardens, which are full of beautiful butterflies,” answered Celestia. As if on cue, my face lit up, and I gasped with amazement and joy.
The princess gave us directions to the outer gardens of the castle. “Thank you, Your Highness; without you, I’d be more afraid, because I could get lost!” I told her. “You’re welcome, Fluttershy; I don’t like to see anypony afraid!” she answered. My friends and I headed straight for the outer gardens.
There was a huge stage in the middle of the outer gardens. “How—very—divine!” gasped Rarity. “That’s where you’ll get to dance, Fluttershy!” remarked Twilight Sparkle. My stage fright was gone; I knew that castle gardens were full of friendly animals.
A whole flight of colorful butterflies flew into view. “That’s your cue, Fluttershy!” gasped Pinkie Pie. “Time to skeedaddle on up to the stage!” added Applejack. I eagerly galloped onto the stage, being careful not to snag my dress on the way there.
I began the ballet by just standing still with my eyes closed. The butterflies went first—by flying together in many directions—until they landed on my head, which tickled me. Then, I joined in, watching the butterflies and copying their moves. Finally, it was my turn to lead the butterflies, which I did.
“That—was—awesome!” cheered Rainbow Dash once the ballet ended. “Awesome?” I asked her with surprise in my voice. “I could never even dream of flying the way those butterflies fly!” she commented, envying my fantastic dancing. “You should get on the ground more,” I chuckled in reply.