It was just one of those nights. The stars were out, shining brightly behind the ambient, glowing moon. Most ponies sleep at this time because of the work and play that the day brings. Twilight Sparkle was not one of thse ponies. She loved the night, the moon, the stars, and the serenity that came with it. She could spend hours in the night studying or practicing astronomy.
But tonight she just watched the stars. So much had happened recently that it felt nice to be able to just relax. Being the thinker that she was, her mind raced no matter how much she wished she could just lay back and enjoy the evening. Her body was just too alive for her to be able to just sit there. Figuring that it might do her some good, she took an idea she read in a book to relax. She went on a leasuly walk through Ponyvile.
As she wondered through the town, she felt both uneasy and relaxed at the same time. The dead quiet of the town was startling, but after everything that happens around Ponyvile, it was nice for the town to seem semi-normal. As she reached the edge of town she started to slow down. The beauty of the countryside at night was breath taking. The hills had a wonderful glow from the moonlight and the sky was so clear, atleast compared to Canterlot. All the while she was walking further and further from her home. After a while though, she started to hear something. It was not very loud, but if she listened close enough she could just faintly hear it.
Intrigued by the sound, Twilight decided to find its source. After wondering for a good amount of time, Twilight found herself near Fluttershy's cottage. As Twilight neared the cottage, the sound slowly became more defined. It was the sound of pain, it was the sound somepony filled with dispair. When Twilight heard this, she found the urge to go to the source to find a way to end the pain it was in. With the urge in her heart taking control, Twilight walked up to Fluttershy's cottage and looked in the giant front windows.
There on the couch was Fluttershy, her head in her hooves, her body shaking with the sobs she was emmiting. The sight of this broke Twilight's heart. Fluttershy was the gentlest and kindest pony she knew. What would cause her to breakdown like this? For a while, Twilight just stood there lost for words, het mind racing at all the possible things that could cause her friend to cry. Slowly, Fluttershy's body stopped shaking and her breathing slowed, signifing that she had fallen asleep. Twilight, not wanting to disturb her friend's sleep, left. On her way back to the library, her mind raced with thoughts about this newest development. Her mind was starting to slow down by the time she reached Ponyvile, almost completely stopped by the time she reached her library home, and as she reached her bed she only had one thought in her mind.
'I have to help Fluttershy.'