Summer was almost upon them, but school still remained. Fluttershy's grief was no longer as strong, and she decided it was time for her to return to school, a mixed school of unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies, where she wouldn't be teased because of her flying. Applejack decided to walk her. After all, it was her first day.
The orange filly met her friend at her cottage, near the edge of the woods. Fluttershy ran out to meet her. She looked very pulled together and neat, with her schoolbooks carefully tucked in freshly ironed saddlebags. In an effort to be a little more brave, she had pinned her mane back with a barrette. Though she appeared composed, she was still a grieving, falling apart filly on the inside. She was shivering, much like when the pair had first met.
"It's okay, Sugarcube. No need to be so scared, now. It's just school 's'all," Applejack reminded her trembling friend. "School starts in fifteen minutes. We should hurry."
Fluttershy nodded. The pair began their trot down the lane, towards the school. "Were you scared on your first day?" Fluttershy said softly.
"I was a tad bit fright'n'd, but ah new that ah would make some friends. Don' worry, ya will too."
The two walked into the school courtyard. Fluttershy caught curious eyes staring at her. Many of the ponies had stopped, and were fascinated with the sudden appearance of the new pony. She whimpered and took out her barrette, causing her soft pink hair to cascade in front of her eyes. She seemed to shrink, and kept her eyes to the ground.
They walked into the schoolhouse, and went up to Mrs. Sunny Smiles, Cherilee's mother and the teacher. She was a kind, light pink earth pony with a white mane that had bright raspberry colored streaks. Her cutie mark was a sun with a big smile.
She wore a smile on her face, that matched the one on her flank. "Ah, you must be Fluttershy. Applejack here told me about you. I hear you moved from Cloudsdale."
Fluttershy nodded. "Yes Mrs. Smiles. Applejack told me about your daughter, Miss Cherilee. I met her and she was very nice. She gave me a library card."
Mrs. Smiles gave a good-natured chuckle. "Ah, yes. Like mother, like daughter. Anyways, Fluttershy, this is your desk," she said kindly. She patted the timeworn wooden desk affectionately. She pointed a hoof at a honeycomb like wall of compartments. "That one in the corner is yours. You can put your books there. I'm sure you'll get along with the other fillies just fine."
Fluttershy smiled. She already liked the teacher.
"Alright, my little ponies, it's time for recess!" Mrs. Smiles was almost run over by the tidal wave of children that followed. "I'll ring the bell when it's time to come in!" she called after them.
The pair of fillies walked into the uncharted territory of the schoolyard. Openly staring faces bored into her soul, and Fluttershy kept her face hidden. So many unfamiliar fillies and colts she didn't know. Keeping her eyes to the ground, she trudged next to Applejack.
Her hooves tangled, and the next thing she knew, she was in the dirt, on her face. Her cheeks glowed a cherry red as she stood up.
A couple of unicorn colts approached them. "Hey look, it's Klutzershy!"
No... Not Klutzershy.... Anything but Klutzershy...
Immediately she was launched into a flashback, back when Hoops and his goons teased her. Now ponies were laughing at her, pointing, chanting.... Klutzershy.
"Hey! Stop it ya hooligans! Didn't yer ma's teach ya any manners?! Leave here alone!" Applejack shouted. She put a hoof down. She tried her best to look intimidating.
The colts just laughed. "Ha, now the hick's defending her!" their ringleader yelled. Applejack was also red, but with anger, not embarrassment. Fluttershy was weeping silently behind her mane.
"I do say! Such barbarism! Treating ponies in such a manner is just... Just... UNCOUTH! How dare you insult this poor filly with your crude insults?! I am ashamed to share a species with you... You... BARBARIANS!" A snow white unicorn filly stomped right up to the lead unicorn colt. She flipped back her elegant, curled royal purple mane and gave him a look so fierce it could rip a soul in half. "You're lucky I don't tell your mother, Silver Spell. Wouldn't she be ashamed?"
Silver Spell's eyes were wide with shock. The trio of colts backed up, slowly, cursing their stupidity.
"Darling, are you alright?" the filly asked brushing Fluttershy's hair away from her face. Seeing her tears, she whispered, "Oh, no!" She flipped back her mane once more and wrapped Fluttershy in a hug.
She pulled away. "I'm Rarity. And you're Fluttershy? Welcome to our not-so-welcoming institution of learning." she rolled her eyes. Applejack noticed a trio of diamonds sparkling on her flank.
Fluttershy nodded. "H-hi."
Applejack walked up to Rarity. "That was amazin', Rarity. Thank ya."
"Applejack, you are most certainly NOT a hick. Accents are in this season." Rarity gave a warm smile, gave them both quick hugs, then strolled off.
Silver Spell still sat silently cursing himself. It was a well-known fact the half the colts in their grade had a crush on the beauty that was Rarity.
Mrs. Smiles came out and rang the bell. Applejack put an arm around her friend and smiled. "Come on," she said, "let's go in."