"Now, dear, what are you here for?" Rarity asked as Fluttershy walked into her shop and sat down on a chair. She followed.
"Rarity," she began, "I need your help."
"Whatever for?"
"Well, I..." She told her about asking Big Mac to Pinkie's party the next day. "And, well, I just don't know what to do. What should I wear? What should I say? What should I do?"
"For starters, you should be yourself. You'll be fine. And I can fix you up something to wear. Oh, it'll be just perfect!!!" She squealed in delight. "Come, come, I must make measurements."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning, Fluttershy was pacing about, worrying over that night. Finally, Rarity was at the door. "Is it ready?" she asked.
"Yes, yes. Now come on, I want to show you!" They made double time back to the boutique. There was a drape over one of the mannequins. "Close your eyes." Fluttershy complied. There was a whooshing, and the unicorn said, "Look."
She did. The dress was a moss green, with little flecks of white. It came past the mannequin's hock, but didn't drag the floor. It had layered ruffles, and the straps had extra fabric, making them poof up. In the mannequin's soft, pink wig were light blue flower buds, attached to green vines that were entwined to the locks. "Oh, Rarity, she breathed, "It's beautiful." She glided her hoof over the fabric. It was cotton, and didn't make a sound. It was perfect.
"Don't thank me yet, dear, we still have to get you into it. But first, I'm going to take you to the spa for prepping."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That evening, near Sugar Cube Corner, Fluttershy was almost hyperventilating. This was not one of Pinkie's normal parties. This was one of the few that would require a dress and would have a slow song or two. She could hear one on now. Come on, Flutters. You can do it. Just walk inside. Yes, that's it. One step at a time. She stood in front of the door. Now or never. She opened it and stepped inside.
Whatever song was on before changed, now it was some...uh... Other song.
I'm just a poor foal,
I need no sympathy...
"Cause I'm easy come, easy go," she quietly sang along.
A voice spoke up behind her. "A little high, little low. Hi, Fluttershy."
She turned. Her stallion was in a black tux, with a green tie that was covered in apples. She sighed with relief, and smiled. "Hello, Big Mac. You look handsome tonight." She blushed.
"Really? Th-thank you. Ah didn't know if ma pap's tie would go with this, but..." He cleared his throat and blushed a well. "You also look beautiful."
She blushed harder.
The couple hung around for a while, just listening to the music, talking a little, but mostly enjoying each other. That is, until Pinkie Pie announced "Karaoke Time".
"Come on, Fluttershy, you'll do great," Twilight said, wondering of the red pony's presence.
"Yeah, don't be a Scoots," added Rainbow Dash, doing the same.
"I don't know, guys." She looked to her companion for support.
"Actually, Ah would like ta hear ya sing, if that's okay with you."
She had been swayed. "I guess, just a little. B-but you have to do it to," she added quickly to Big Macintosh.
"Well, okay. How about you do one, then Ah'll do one, and then we'll do a duet. That sound good?" She nodded. "Just look at me, and you'll be fine."
Up on the stage, Fluttershy was having second thoughts. I can't do this, I can't do this, Ican'tdothis! Suddenly, the song started.
Sun is filling up the room,
I can hear you breathing...
Fluttershy did not start until the forth or fifth line, and even then nopony could hear her. It wasn't until she locked eyes with Big Mac that she began to sing louder.
Please don't stand so close to me,
I'm having trouble breathing.
I'm afraid of what you'll see,
Right now.
I give you everything I am,
All my broken heartbeats.
Until I know you'll understand.
And I'll make sure,
To keep my distance.
Say 'I love you' when your not listening,
How long can we keep this up, up, up...
After that, she began to lose confidence, and the audience could barely hear the last line.
How long till we call this love, love, love...
She practically ran off the stage, terrified of what they would think of her.
Clapclapclapclapaclapclap. The uproar took her by surprise. Surely she had done horribly?
Big Mac meet her on his way up. "Beautiful, Flutters." Then he was gone. She numbly found a spot by her friends. Now it was his turn.
He had decided to chance the lyrics of his song slightly.
Feeling ma hooves start shakin',
Hearin' your voice Ah'm overjoyed.
Ah'm sorry but Ah have no choice.
Yer only gettin' better.
And the rest was magnificent, as Fluttershy told him when he was off stage. Somepony else had taken the spotlight. They kindly waited their turn. After a few more ponies, they were up. They did their duet, with Fluttershy shaking at the effort not to flee, and her friends finally understood just who Big Mac was to her. Then a slow song came on.
All the crazy in my dreams,
Both my broken wings,
Every single piece of everything I am,
Yeah, she knows the stallion I ain't,
She forgives me when I can't,
And the Discord stallion, he don't stand a chance,
Cause she loves me like Celestia does.
One of Mac's friends came up behind him and whispered in his ear, "Dance with her!" So he did. He put his head over hers, and her head stayed on his chest, and they swayed to the beat.
"Fluttershy?"
"Mm?"
"Ah think... Well um... Ah love you."
She paused, then pressed closer. "I love you too."
Needless to say, it was a perfect night.