"Now, now," reassured Celestia, "don't worry."
"Just reach out your hoof and touch it," instructed Twilight.
Fluttershy gulped. She'd never done this before, but the support of the two brightest ponies she knew emboldened her.
Foreleg shaking, she moved closer, until her hoof barely grazed it. "It's so...big, and fuzzy!"
"Yes, the kangaroo is known for its thick fur, which helps it deal with the extreme heat of its native habitat," explained Twilight.
"They're naturally timid, which would explain your earlier lack of success," added Celestia.
"Thank you both, thank you so much," said a misty-eyed Fluttershy.
Twilight put a hoof on her back. "It's no trouble, we wanted to get out of that stuffy party anyway."
"I don't think there's anything that could ruin this," voiced Fluttershy, blissfully unaware of the large shape behind her.
"It's happy," it observed.
Celestia tilted her head. "Blueblood, isn't this a surprise. Since when are you an animal expert?"
"I picked it up over my vacation. At any rate, you're doing a wonderful job."
Fluttershy was just as confused at the compliment. "Um, thanks?"
"What are you doing here?" inquired Twilight.
"Looking for company. Miss Rarity needed a little time to herself, so I figured I'd use that time to get acquainted with her friends. Now, Twilight, was it? I'm sure you've got some, ah, private things to discuss with the princess."
Twilight stepped back. "W--What?" she choked. "I mean, m--maybe I do, what's it to you?"
"How about you get off--I mean, go off with the princess, tell her all those burning secrets, and I'll keep...Fluttershy company."
Fluttershy looked between her friends and the prince. "You've already helped me so much, you deserve your private time. I'll be fine with Blueblood."
"It's not like that, okay!?" yelled Twilight, scaring off the kangaroo.
Celestia gave a light snigger. "It's alright, Twilight. Let's go, before we undo our good deeds."
After they parted, Fluttershy looked up at Chrysalis. "Would you like to get your hooves on a cute little critter?"
Chrysalis mirrored her smile. "Verily."
==========
Making his rounds, the old groundskeeper spotted none other than Prince Blueblood taking off with his wheelbarrow, which was covered with a fluttering tarp.
"What in tarnation are you doing?" he called out, causing Chrysalis to stop dead in her tracks.
She turned to face him. "It's for a, uh, Gala...thing. We'll fill it with champrein and drink from it."
He shook his head. "Celestia's sake, you boys get rowdier every year. Just bring it back by tomorrow, alright?"
"Will do!" answered Chrysalis, resuming her course for the castle's rear entrance.