It was Hearth's Warming Eve, and if she was going to pull this off, and make Pinkie happy, then she was going to have to use all of her Fluttershy Skills!
After awakening at dawn, and feeding her animals, she rushed over to Sugarcube Corner to be one of the first customers in line. Then came to an abrupt halt in midair when she saw she wasn't the only pony with the same idea.
Apparently, as she found out much later that evening, Hearth's Warming Eve was also the Town's yearly Procrastination Day (besides Tax Day, ...coughRainbowDashcough), and everypony of COURSE needed their "special orders" that they TOTALLY didn't forget to ask for in advance! So in other words, the Corner was swamped with bustling, anxious, impatient customers, who all wanted their treats now NOW NOW! Fluttershy watched with growing dismay as the Shop's staff became increasingly overwhelmed. She had never seen it like this, and looking around again, she soon discovered why:
Still being the introvert and recluse she was, she'd nevertheless made the effort the past few Moons to get out more and make herself available to meet new ponies. This had worked out well for her, especially concerning her duties as an amateur veterinarian. Even so, as she scanned the crowd, she quickly realized she only recognized one out of every three faces...the rest were total strangers. That meant, as her Fluttershy Brain informed her, sometime in the past few Moons there had been a rapid influx of new residents, along with the obvious tourists. And they were all being Very Rude! Her Fluttershy Heart began beating rapidly, and she ground her Fluttershy Teeth.
...and that's when she snapped...
It was a very subdued, quiet, and humble group of ponies that left Sugarcube Corner an hour later. They were in single file, holding some confection or another, still with stunned looks on their faces. Not all of them had exactly what they'd ordered, but ALL of them were only too glad to get something and leave...just so long as they never, ever had to incur the wrath of...her...
She was still weeping softly when there was a quiet knock on her door two hours later. She briefly considered not answering it, but then she heard, "Fluttershy? It's me, Pinkie, and the Cakes. Can...we talk to you?" Her face flushed bright red, but she dried her eyes, went to the door, and reluctantly opened it a crack. She looked out at them, and sure enough, it was Pinkie, and both Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Seeing the concern in their eyes only made her feel more ashamed, so she almost closed the door again, but Pinkie stepped forward and put her hoof on the door. "Please, Fluttershy! We really just want to talk to you! Let us in...please?" Fresh tears poured down her face, but she turned away and let them in as she made her way over to her couch and sat facing away from them.
They all took seats opposite her and sat quietly, giving her all the time she needed. After a few minutes, in a shaky voice, she whispered, "You...you must think I...I'm a bad pony..."
Mrs. Cake's hooves flew to her mouth as she began to cry herself, as she said, "No, dear! We don't think that at all! What you did was very brave! We have never had anypony stand up for us like that!"
Mr. Cake chimed in. "In our line of work, sweetie, we get rude customers all the time, but we are not allowed to be rude to them. We have to remain professional!" And here he broke into a broad grin. "But now, everypony will think twice before being openly rude to us again, thanks to you!"
Fluttershy still hung her head in shame. "But...but how can I ever face anypony ever again?" She sighed as she turned tearful Fluttershy Eyes up at them. "They...they must all think I...I'm a...crazy pony..." Pinkie got up from her place and sat next to her, then gently took her hoof in hers.
"Please don't think that, Fluttershy..." she said. "All of us have been wanting you to become more assertive...what you did today did far more good than harm..." She gave her hoof a squeeze. "I'm super-duper proud of you!"
Fluttershy wiped her tears away and looked at her. "You...you really mean that?" Pinkie gave her a Pinkie Smile.
"Of course I do, silly!"
Fluttershy looked around at the Cakes, then back at Pinkie. "Thank you. Thank you all." Then she squeezed her friend's hoof back. In a timid voice, she said, "Can...can I talk to you...alone?" The Cakes, well known for their discretion, heard this request and stood.
"If there's anything we can do for you, Fluttershy, please don't hesitate to ask!" said Mr. Cake. Mrs. Cake closed the distance and gave her a hug.
"Happy Hearth's Warming, dear...thank you again." Then she smiled up at her husband as they both turned and left, closing the door quietly behind them.
Once they were gone, Fluttershy fidgeted with her hooves as she worked herself up to speak. Seeing she was having trouble, Pinkie "The Tactless Wonder" Pie, said, "Ooo! Your face is turning red! Are you embarrassed about something else?"
Fluttershy winced at her directness but soldiered on. "I...I just wanted to say..." and here she looked at her, "I'm glad what I did helped the Cakes...but..."
Pinkie leaned forward eagerly. "Buuuut...?"
Fluttershy held her gaze. "...but I didn't really do it for them..."
Pinkie's eyes grew wide. "Really? Oh, I love guessing games!" She started bouncing on the seat. "Let me see: was it...for Twilight?" Pinkie shook her head. "No, no...that can't be right...she wasn't there!" Her face brightened. "OOO! I know! It was for the twins! Their parents have been under a lot of stress this holiday, so you did it to help them out! Is that right?! Huh? Is it?!"
Fluttershy Sighed a Fluttershy Sigh. "No, Pinkie, it wasn't for any of them." She turned to her and took both her hooves in hers to stop her bouncing. "It was for a very, very dear friend of mine, who has been under a great deal of stress, but didn't want anypony to know it..."
Pinkie stared back into her eyes. "Oh?" Then her eyes grew wide as realization dawned. "OH!" Her face changed and grew softer. "You...you did that...for...ME?" Her eyes grew misty. "How...did you know...how I was really feeling?"
Fluttershy blushed and looked away. "It's...it's important to me," and here she looked up again, "that you're...happy."
"...oh my..."
Her Fluttershy Heart beating like a rabbit, she mustered her courage and quietly said, "If...if you don't mind...I'd like to give you...one more...Gift..."
Pinkie warmly smiled back and whispered, "I'd love a gift from you, Fluttershy..."
Fluttershy closed her Fluttershy Eyes, leaned forward...
...and...
...gave her...
...a sweet...
... Fluttershy...
...Kiss...