For the first time today, I let out my breath. I have been busy since morning, wrapping up winter. It's now close to ten in the afternoon. I was in the Animal team, along with Rarity and a bunch of other unicorns.
Our team had tan-colored vest. I was in charge of waking up the animals, cleaning their dens, and making sure they had enough food. I was very happy to find my critter friends wake from their hibernation.
Rarity made beautiful nests for the birds coming back from the south. When they came back, I noticed that the birds had doubled. Some of the animals I woke up were very stubborn. They reminded me a lot of Angel.
I looked from where I sat on my green couch, towards the small white rabbit. He was catching up with a few birds and a group of deer in the backyard. I grinned at the sight. I'm glad Angel can make friends. I remember how lonely and troubled he used to be.
"I have one! I have a cutie mark!" I yelled in joy, glancing over at my flank. Three pink butterflies were spread across it in a mid-flight pose. This is one of the happiest days of my life! The creatures surrounding me, smiled and nudged me in a "congrats" motion. I wish mom and dad were here to see this.
I pet each of the animals, and observed my new surroundings. All these green trees, and bright soft grass, calmed me from the fall I had just taken from Rainbow's race in Cloudsdale.
I felt the ground and animals with my hooves, in delight of my discovery. When I looked over a few feet away from me, I spotted a white puff sitting far away from the group I sat near. Its face was looking slightly up at me.
The puffball looked so isolated. With my nerves still shaken, I got up and started to fly over to him. As I drew closer, he recoiled to a nearby rock, and hid behind it. I could see by his speed and ears that he was a baby rabbit.
"Hey, are you okay over here?" I ask him, craning my neck around it.
He was cowered into a ball, making him look like a forgotten, white pillow. His face was buried in his soft fur. Oh no, I thought, I scared him.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. You just looked so lonely here. I wanted to see if you were okay."
He stayed, staring down. It seemed like he was completely ignoring me. I reached out and started petting him. At first, he winced. He was shaking too, probably from being so scared and nervous. After a while, he finally looked up at me calmly, revealing two black, button-like, eyes and a pink nose. "Are you okay, now?" He smiled slightly as a response. I smiled back.
"I guess I have to go back." I mumbled looking up at the sky to where I fell from. Most of the clouds had cleared.
It felt like I'd been there for a few minutes, when really it had been hours. The orange sun started to set, leaving parts of the sky an icy blue. If I didn’t get home soon, Tate's would punish me again, I thought, I felt the side of my hoof. It was still bruised from the last time I've been punished.
Tate was at the time, my foster parent. I ran away from home one time, to get away from Tate, but that's another story for another day.
I felt a fuzzy touch to my yellow, left wing. It was the bunny.
He stared up at me with his pleading black eyes. He didn't want me to go. I didn't want to go, but I had to. "I'll be back tomorrow." I told him. "I promise."
I opened my wings, hoping I'd be able to fly up there. And I did.
I left him and went back to my foster home in the sky. That day I did get punished, but not as severely as the other times. I could endure the punishments because of what I found down below.
Another world; a world different from the overrated, cloud, life, I lived in. It was a world I never wanted to leave behind. And I didn't. Day after day, I would fly down and meet the ground creatures.
I stood up from my spot on the couch, and flew over to my fridge where I had a list pinned up with a round magnet. The list read:
FIRST NIGHT OF SPRING BONFIRE PREPARATIONS
- Call friends for their side of work
- Collect lots of wood
- Clean cottage
- Clean backyard
First on the list, "Call friends...", I thought grabbing a nearby green telephone. I dialed first, Twilight's number. After a few seconds of ringing, someone picked up.
"Hello?" she answered with a tired tone.
"Hi Twilight, it's Fluttershy."
"Oh, hey 'Shy." In the background, I could hear an avalanche of thumps and bumps. It sounded like books falling from one of her high shelves. "Spike! Stop fooling around. I need to send those to Princess Celestia." She said away from the mouth piece. "I'm sorry." Twilight returned to our conversation. "Did you need something?"
"Yes, actually. Well, tonight I'll be having my annual bonfire--"
"Bonfire?" she interrupted. Right, I forgot. This is still Twilight's first year here.
"Um, it's this thing I do every first night of spring. Usually it's the night after the wrap-up. It's kind of like a party and sleep-over thing. It’s a bit like camping, but in my backyard near the Everfree Forest. It's really fun." I explained, playing with my mane.
"It does sound fun. You said tonight?"
"Yes."
"I'll be there, then. What time should I come?" she added happily.
"I actually wanted to ask you something, now that you mention time. At the bonfire, usually everyone contributes something to the party. I was thinking maybe you could help with entertainment? I'm going to ask Rainbow if she can help with it too." I added quietly.
I hate asking for things and bothering my friends, but sometimes I need help. The line went quiet. "Uh, Twi? Are you there? It's okay if you can't help. I'm sure Rainbow could come up with something by herself."
"Oh, no. Of course I want to help! What are friends for? I was just thinking for a moment. Yes I will help. What time, again?"
"The bonfire starts at sunset but you could come earlier to do any set up you need."
"Okay! Well, thank you for inviting me. I'm looking forward to it." she said. I heard Spike's voice faintly say:
"Who is it? Are we going somewhere?"
"Um, Twilight, before I go I need to tell you that everyone brings a date." I nervously said.
"I guess it doesn't have to be a real 'date'. You could just bring a friend, like Spike. It's just to make the night more fun. Not that just the six of us wouldn’t be fun."
"Haha," Twilight laughed. "I get it, Fluttershy. I'll bring Spike."
"Me? Where am I going? Where are you bringing me?" Spike asked a bit worried.
"I'll see you there, Twilight." I said.
"Good-bye." said Twilight ending the call.
Okay, so I should probably call Rainbow to make sure she'll help with the entertainment. After that then, I can cross entertainment off the list.
I pushed the numbers to Rainbows phone and waited for an answer. While it was ringing, I moved to my living room to sit back on the couch, carrying with me the list. I'd memorized what I needed to do by now.
Rainbow never picked up. I was sent straight to her voice mail.
"Hey, there! It's Rainbowdash. I couldn't come to the phone right now because I'm too busy being awesome! Leave a message after the beep. Later." BEEP.
"Oh, hi Rainbow. It's Fluttershy. I wanted to remind you about my bonfire tonight. Just in case, you forgot. You don't have to come. Although, I'd really appreciate it if you did. I'd appreciate it more if you could help Twilight with the entertainment tonight. Thank you for listening, I know you've been busy lately... Uh, that's all. Bye." I pressed 'End'.
Of course, she didn't answer. Rainbow's either sleeping, or flying. She never brings her phone with her.
"I guess I could cross out the entertainment now." I muttered to myself, dialing again. This time, I was calling Applejack.
"Howdy!" She almost yelled. "I have ya' on speaker. My hooves are a bit busy at the moment." She chuckled. I could hear pounding and cracking.
Maybe she's making pie. Speaking of pie, I wonder if Big Mac got the one I made for him...
"Uh, sugarcube? Are ya' there?"
"Oh, yes. So AJ. What are you busy with, if you don't mind me asking?" I asked.
"I'm makin' apple fritters, apple sauce, apple pie, and a lot more." Applejack's baking is so delicious, I could've sworn I could smell the warm, baked, goods, just by her call.
"Sounds like you are busy. Is this a bad time to call?"
"No, it's fine. I'm glad ya' called actually. I wanted to ask ya'-- actually tell ya' that I'm gonna be in charge of the food at your party tonight. I remember last year, it was Pinkie's job and all she brought was cupcakes. To be honest, they tasted a bit funny."
"I thought that was just me. I didn't want to be mean and tell her that there was something wrong with them. She worked too hard on them. Anyways, thank you for making the food. That's actually what I wanted to call you for." I added.
"No problem! I wanted to do it. I've been workin' on some new recipes, and I've been itchin' to try them out."
"I can't wait to try them. Your baking is so tasty."
"Why, thank ya'. I'm not the only good baker then."
"What do you mean?" Applejack pounded on what I'm guessing was dough, for a while.
"I gave Big Mac your pie." She said a little quiet. I felt my face heat up a little.
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. He didn't put his fork down 'till the whole darn thing was done!" She laughed.
"Well, I wouldn't say I'm really a baker. All I did was make the dough." I said smiling. Did he really like it?
"Don't be so modest, 'Shy. Ya' did great. Actually, he wanted me to tell ya', that--" she stopped mid-sentence. In the background, I heard her wooden door squeak open. "Big Mac! We were just talking about ya'!" I heard her say. I held my breath.
"I'm talkin' to Fluttershy. Why don't ya' say 'hi'?" Then I heard heavy hoofsteps walking towards the phone.
"IhavetogoApplejack.Seeyouatthebonfirebye!" I said hastily, my voice gaining a higher tone as I came closer to the end.
I didn't even give Applejack a chance to respond. I stood still, trying to calm down. That was rude, Fluttershy! Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Hanging up without an answer is like shutting a door in somepony's face. I scolded myself, staring down at my wood floor.
You didn't have to hangup.
Was I embarrassed to talk to Big Mac? Is that why I hung up? Or was it something else? It might be that I'm not ready to talk to him yet after embarrassing myself with that misunderstanding of his relationship with Ms. Cheerilee.
Yeah, that's it. Call her right back and apologize! My mind continued.That 'misunderstanding' thing wasn't that bad. There's nothing to feel embarrassed about. Now, call Applejack. With a sigh, I redialed. This time no one picked up, and I was sent to voice mail.
"Howdy, none of the Apple's can answer the phone right now! Please call back later! Thanks!" said the small, filly, voice of Applebloom.
"Sorry about that, Applejack. Uh, something happened and I couldn't talk for a while. I want to say sorry for ending it so quickly. Especially to Big M-Mac. Um, at the bonfire this year, I wanted everypony to bring a date. Or a friend. I'm inviting Big Mac, too. So he should also bring a d-date. I'll see you later, Applejack." I ended the call, with the ability to breathe again and my conscience clear.
That was a bit hard to say, but why? I took a moment in the silence of my cottage, and thought. Big Mac's bringing a date. If he's coming. I wonder who it's going to be.
He might have a mare-friend to bring.
A mare-friend... I felt a slight pang in my chest with the thought of Big Mac bringing another mare to the bonfire.
Somepony he might love. Big Mac, has a mare-friend...? I never asked. Maybe I'm just jumping to conclusions. He could be bringing one of his stallion friends. What if he's not even interested in mares...? Eep!
The sudden sound of birds chirping caught my attention and took me out of my thoughts. I glanced over to the side of the room, where I had a clock hung up. I'm running out of time. The bonfire is starting in two and a half hours. I need to focus, and hurry up! I don't even have any wood collected!
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"Hiya, Fluttershy! I haven't heard from you since, well, since this morning! Hehe!" Pinkie Pie giggled. "What's up mi amiga?" She greeted me brightly.
"Hello, Pinkie. You sound so happy today." I laughed.
"Of course I am! It's not everyday I get a call from one of my friends!"
She then added, "You know, you should call more often. Business at Sugarcube Corner can be so bo-o-o-o-o-ring!"
"I'm sorry. I'll try to call more. Um, Pinkie, can I ask you something?"
"Sure! Anything you want!" On her side of the line, I could hear her crunching on her afternoon snack.
"Can you decorate for the bonfire this year?"
"Yes! I'll decorate! That's my specialty. I lo-o-o-o-o-o-ve parties! Call me Pinkie 'Party' Pie! Ooh, that's a really cool name. You should call me Pinkie 'Party' Pie! But that might be a mouthful to say. How about Pinkie Party? Or Party Pie! Or Parkie. No, that doesn't make sense. You know what? Just stick to Pinkie." She giggled.
'Pinkie' always had more energy and excitement than any pony in Ponyville. Maybe even in all of Equestria.
"That's great Pinkie. I'm so glad you can help! Can you come over now? Decoration--"
"Yes! I'll be over as soon as possible!" Pinkie didn't even let me finish my sentence.
"Before you come, you should invite somepony to come with you to the bonfire. A 'date' or a friend." I said.
"Okey dokey lokey! I know the perfect stallion!" Then Pinkie hung up.
I wonder if Pinkie has a stallion-friend. Wouldn't she tell me? We're friends. Maybe she's hiding it from us. Or it could just be a friend that's just a stallion.
"One last pony..." I dialed again. Rarity was the last one to call, because she didn't really need to do anything. By now, after four calls, my phone had gone warm. Its cold metal was now warm and sticky. My hooves were clammy. They're only clammy when I'm nervous or worried.
"Hello?" Rarity, yawned.
"Hi, Rarity. Did I wake you?" I asked. I forgot she sometimes takes naps whenever she finishes a dress she's been working on for weeks.
"Oh, Fluttershy, darling! You did wake me up, but that's alright. I'm glad you did. I was meant to wake up anyways. I need to prepare myself for your bonfire, tonight. I need to pack my inflatable tent. You never know what things lurk in the night."
"Wouldn't that take out the point of the bonfire sleepover? To sleep under the new spring stars?"
"My safety matters more to me. I could be mugged! Or a Diamond Dog could take me again! Oh, no! I don't think Spike would help me again! That would be horrible! No rescue. Stuck with hooligans for the rest of my life! Oh! They can't have my diamonds. No!" Rarity started to get lost in her memory of her devastating kidnap she had a few months ago. Spike ended up saving her. Well, helping us save her.
"Rarity, calm down. I'm pretty sure Diamond Dogs don't live in my backyard. But I guess, whatever makes you comfortable. As long as you come. Oh and Rarity?"
"Yes?"
"Make sure you bring someone. This year everypony is bringing a friend or date. You know, to make it more fun."
"Oh. But of course. Let's see, I should have someone who'd be willing to be my plus one..." she trailed off, possibly looking through a contact book. I could hear "hmm.." and "Oh, no. Not them...".
"I'll leave you to it then. Bye, Rarity."
"Oh, Darling! Who are you bringing?" She suddenly asked.
"M-me?"
"Who else?"
"Uh, I haven't actually thought about it..." My mind searched for names. Nothing appeared. I wish I had a contact book like Rarity. It would be easier. "But I know I'll have to bring somepony."
"Alright, dear. Ta-ta" Then, Rarity hung up.
Everypony that's going needs to bring somepony. Who am I taking?
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"This is enough to fuel the night." I said to myself, looking over the mountain of sticks, branches, and wood I have collected. I got them from the outskirts of the Everfree forest, too afraid to actually go in.
"Pinkie should have been here by now." I muttered, looking at the sun. It was near to setting. The guests would be arriving soon and no decorations have been put up. This might start off in the wrong direction.
"Dunna" whispered a voice. I ignored it thinking it was the wind. It was blowing pretty hard today. I wonder if the fire will go out from it?
"Dunna" it repeated. I turned to look behind me, but found nothing. I shrugged it off once more.
"Dunna, Dunna, Dunna, Dunna, Dunna! Roar!" A pink mare jumped from behind the door and closer to me.
"Eep!" I squealed, falling back on my tail. Pinkie giggled at her success in scaring me.
"Sorry about that. I've just been in a 'pranky' mood lately!" She smiled, and lent me a hoof. She pulled me off of the dirty ground. I patted off the dirt balls and leaves that stuck to my flank.
"It's alright, Pinkie. I'm so glad you came. I was starting to think you weren't going to." She smiled.
"Why wouldn't I? I always keep my word." I smiled back.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" She yelled running around my cottage in a flash.
For a moment, it was quiet. I stared into the empty space where she disappeared off to. A second later, she wheeled in a rusty, squeaky, red, wagon, filled with blue and silver, colored streamers (probably symbolizing the stars), party hats, and various entertaining items.
"Oh, Pinkie. You brought a lot!" I said in excitement, rummaging through her things. She came prepared.
"Well, there's a lot of ponies coming over! We doubled the fun!" She squealed.
"Pinkie? Where are you?" A voice yelled in front of my home.
"Ooh! Speaking of doubling the fun! Pokey! Over here!" She yelled back. Pinkie turned back to me. "I hope you don't mind, but I invited my date over early to help! His name is Pokey Pierce. He's sharper than all the other stallions. Hehe." She laughed at her own pun.
The stallion, Pokey, came through my back door, and made his way towards us. His coat was blue and a calmer tone than Pinkie's dazzling pink. He was a unicorn too, while Pinkie was an earth pony.
"Is this Buttercry?" he asked.
"No, silly. Her name is Fluttershy!" She replied, playfully slapping the side of his hoof. He laughed.
"Forgive me, Fluttershy. Pinkie talks fast sometimes." he directed to me.
"It's okay." I quietly said.
"We should get started with the decoratin' before everypony comes!" Pinkie said bouncing away from us, grabbing a hold of the streamers with her mouth. She pulled away the blue streamer with attached silver and gold stars from the wagon, dragging them toward her spot by a tree. "Vere fould I puff thesh?" Pinkie indistinctly said.
"Uh, the bonfire is over here in the center of the trees. I think it would look very nice if you hung the streamers in the branches so it looks like the trees caught the stars."
Pinkie stared at the trees, trying to imagine it.
"Yeah. I see it." She mumbled. "Pokey, do you think you can help me? These are w-a-a-a-a-y too high for me!"
"Of course." He said trotting over to her. He used the white magic from his horn to hang it up.
"To the left. Now to the right a little. A little more. Just a little more. No! That's too much! Now hang that piece over... Perfect!" she instructed.
"I'll be over here." I mumbled, fixing the logs to sit on. They were a little heavy, but easy to move in the squishy dirt. I moved them around the unlit bonfire (or should I say the pile of sticks).
Six logs. Great. Everypony can sit with their dates. Or friends. Speaking of dates, maybe I should call mine... It's getting pretty late. Maybe he won't even be able to make it.
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"Um, is this Milky way?" I almost whispered through my phone.
"No, this is his sister." A filly answered in a cute, dainty, voice.
"Oh, i-is he there?"
"Yeah! Lemme go get him! Hey Milky!" She shouted. I pulled the phone a little away from my ear, in pain.
I looked out into the backyard, nervous. Pinkie and Pokey were chatting happily with Applejack and Twilight who had just arrived. Applejack brought twice as many wagons of food than Pinkie Pie.
"Fluttershy!" Somepony brightly greeted me. I recognized the voice to be Milky's. He's the only stallion I know to have a Scottish-like accent.
"Oh hey Milky Way." I replied.
"What's up?"
"I called because I wanted to see if you were free tonight. I know it's short notice but--"
"Yeah, I'm not doing anything. Have anything planned?" He interrupted.
"Well, I'm having a bonfire in half an hour and everypony's bringing somepony. I was wondering i-if maybe you want to come?" I caught myself twirling my hair.
"You mean like a date?" he asked after a moment.
"N-no! I mean yes. Uh, you see, it doesn't-- it's not like--" I stammered. Am I making this harder on myself?
"Yes. Fluttershy, I'll go on a date with you." W-what? Not an actually date, right?!
"Wait, Mil--" Before I could finish my sentence, he hung up.
I think I just set myself up. What just happened?
My brain tried to process how this could've happened. One of my friends is going on a date with me?
I intentionally wanted him to come just as my friend, my pal, my amigo, my comrade. But now, this has turned to an actual date?
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I paced back and forth across my wooden floor. It's fine, Fluttershy. Nothing serious. Maybe he meant he'll just be coming. Yeah. That's it.
"Fluttershy, honey. You look--and I say this with kindness in my heart-- a mess!" Rarity screamed in horror approaching me from the front door.
She brought with her a suitcase. Wait no, it was two, or maybe three? She tried to pat down my mane, which I just noticed was out of hoof. I've been worrying about today that I didn't even take a chance to actually look at myself!
"This is not going to work. We need to get you fixed up."
"But Rarity, this is a casual thing. Nothing special." I protested. She began to push me with her white hooves towards my bathroom.
"No matter! A mare shouldn't be galloping around with this kind of appearance!" She gently shoved me inside. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy, but it is the truth!" She grabbed a comb from one of her suitcases that she brought with her, and harshly combed my pink bird's nest. I closed my eyes in pain.
"Ow," I'd mutter.
"Beauty hurts, darling." She would say back. And after what felt like hours of torture, she finally finished. I looked into the mirror and was surprised to see how much of a difference a manestyle would do somepony. It was a messy up-do, but it was gorgeous.
"Thank you, Rarity." I told her.
"It was my pleasure." She replied.
"Now, I hear that Applejack made the food?" She excitedly said moving out of the bathroom and towards the bonfire.
I followed behind, but stopped when I heard a knock on my wooden door. Who could it be?
It might be Rainbowdash. She's late as usual., I thought coming closer to the door. I lost my breath at the sight of a stallion waiting on my doorstep.
He smiled, big and bright, as soon as I opened the door, with a fresh, red, rose, hanging by his mouth.
He took this serious. The date. I remember worrying and not wanting it to be an "actual" date, but now all that went away with the pounding of my heart.
“Oh... My...”