Every pony in Canterlot was in preparation for the Summer Sun Celebration, when Princess Luna lowers the moon and makes way for Princess Celestia to raise the sun for all of Equestria to see. And this year's Summer Sun Celebration was an absolute special event, because Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends were assigned a very important role during the main event. Before Princess Luna lowers the moon, Twilight and her friends must proclaim each of the Elements of Harmony they all represent to the public, because it was they who conquered Nightmare Moon, transformed her back into Princess Luna, and reunited her with her sister. Twilight and her friends were sent to the royal halls of Canterlot Castle to visit Princess Celestia for further instruction.
"You six have come so far and vanquished many obstacles with your charity, compassion, devotion, integrity,optimism, and leadership for each other. All traits that are most important in a true friendship, even during grave times. And all of Equestria will finally be taught that lesson as they witness your proclamation of friendship." Princess Celestia announced to the mane six.
"All... of Equestria?" Fluttershy gulped. "Tens... hundreds... (squeals) thousands?! (whimpers) Oh my..."
"Chillax, Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash said. "You're not gonna be the only pony onstage. I'll be right there beside you and distract the crowd with my awesomeness if things get a bit too much for ya."
"We'll all be there with you, sugarcube." Applejack said. "We'll all be there for each other, 'cause that's what true friends do."
"Precisely, darling." Rarity said. "We'll all look so ravishing with the Proclamation Gowns I have designed for each of us, that everypony will be silent and in awe of us."
"In... awe? As in... watching us...?" (squeaks)
"Well yeah, you silly filly!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Everypony is so excited to see us with their parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents..."
Fluttershy started to feel dizzy. "Oh... good... ness..."
"Pinkie!" Twilight Sparkle shouted. "You're not helping this delicate situation." Twilight wrapped a protective lavender wing around Fluttershy. "You have no reason to be so nervous at all, Fluttershy." Twilight gently assured her. " We'll all be together and we'll make sure that nothing will happen to you or any of us when we give our Proclamations. Everything is going to be all right." She turned toward the other four. "Right, everypony?"
"Awww, yeah!"
"Darn tootin'!"
"Absolutely!"
"Yeah! Then there's their third-cousins twice removed, then first-nephews and nieces that are half-pinto..."
"Uhhh..... at least Pinkie said yes first." Twilight said.
Fluttershy sighed and looked out at the non-stained glass window and into the rosy evening sky, never realized that somepony.... or something... was watching her through the other side of the window in the shadows.
"Such angelic beauty..." the dark figure purred. "So much like Posey... " The dark figure slithered down the palace walls and into the royal gardens.The figure revealed itself out of the shadows as a draconequus, lingering on one of the mare statues.
"Oh, Celestia." the draconequus growled. "You shall surely pay... with your very own blood." He turned his head towards the window he peeked through seconds ago. "But... there is somepony who is even more precious than your blood... somepony who will eventually be my future bride." He chuckled darker than Black Beauty's velvet coat and plucked a dark red rose from the bush. "Brace yourself, my dear. Discordula is here."
And with that, he kissed the rose and vanished.
"I'll let you all settle in your rooms." Princess Celestia said to the main six. "I must attend to the festivities with Princess Luna. She seems to be more lively and spontaneous during the night time hours, so this should be a perfect opportunity for us both to have a little sister bonding." She turned towards Fluttershy, who was whispering good night to some baby birds that had to go back to their mama and papa.
Celestia smiled. "Your gentility and compassion towards woodland creatures is truly a precious site to behold, Fluttershy." Celestia said.
"Huh?" Fluttershy blushed as the Princess complimented her. "Thank you, Princess." She watched as the baby birds flew back into their nest.
"Something troubling you, dear child?" Princess Celestia inquired.
"Oh, no. Nothing at all." Fluttershy lowered her head and part of her mane covered half of her face. "It's... just that... I'm just nervous about the Summer Sun Celebration, where we have to be up onstage proclaiming our Elements of Harmony to all of Equestria. With everypony watching us...(gulps)... watching me. (whimpers)"
Celestia parted away Fluttershy's mane from her face and held her chin delicately with her golden-clad hoof. "My dear, you have absolutely nothing to fear. Like your friends, you've come a long way with your love and kindness for them. And, according to Twilight's letters from the past three years, you've come across some very intimidating creatures that not a lot of ponies would have the faint of heart to face with."
"Please forgive me for disagreeing with you, Princess." Fluttershy said. "But that was different. It was just one big creature alone I came across almost every time. Not a lot of ponies all over Equestria watching me."
"But, darling" Rarity cut in. "What about the time you were modeling on the runway for Photo Finish?"
"Rarity," Twilight Sparkle whispered. "Fluttershy never wanted to become a model in the first place, remember?"
".......I know, but if I was ever modeling on the runway, I would..."Rarity began, but Twilight cleared her throat loudly.
"I-I mean... Fluttershy, sweetness" Rarity said. "What I mean to say is... you have absolutely nothing to be afraid of. We'll also be onstage, and we'll be there to support you."
"Exactly!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. " I stuck by your side at Summer Flight Camp when we were fillies, and there is no way I am ever gonna leave your side during our Proclamations."
Celestia chuckled. "Element of Loyalty, indeed." She put a reassured hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. "See, Fluttershy? You have friends who support you, because they care about you. And I, for one, also give you my full support. Princess Luna and I will be there for you as well."
Fluttershy looked up at the Princess with her teal, doe eyes and sweet smile. "Thank you, Princess."
"You're certainly most welcome, dear heart." Princess Celestia nuzzled Fluttershy's forehead with her ivory white muzzle. "Twilight, may I speak with you for a moment, please?"
"Of course, Princess." Twilight Sparkle trotted off with Celestia, while Pinkie Pie said,"I am sooooooooo excited to fire up my party cannon! We are going to party all night long, all night long, all niiight!"
AJ, RD, and Rarity all giggled with joy while Fluttershy simply smiled and whispered, "Yay."
"Is everything all right?" Twilight asked, as soon as they were out in the hall.
"Oh, it's nothing serious or anything to worry about, Twilight." Celestia assured her."I just wanted to take this opportunity to say that I am honored for having you and your friends play a role during the main event, and especially grateful for freeing my sister from her imprisonment as Nightmare Moon and returning her to me as Princess Luna."
"I'm happy as well that we saved your little sister, after a thousand years of banishment to the moon."Twilight Sparkle said. "It must have been hard for you....."
"Indeed, it was," Celestia sighed. "Every century that I had to both raise the sun and lower the moon was an absolute bittersweet moment...."she raised her head. "But thanks to you and your friends, we were finally reunited by the magic of your friendship."
Twilight Sparkle frowned a little. "If anything like that ever happened to my friends, I don't know what I would do...."
Celestia gazed at her star pupil with solemn, violet eyes. "Twilight, there will be times when your friendship will be put to the test, but always remember this: as long as you have faith, hope, and love for your friends, the bond you all have for each other will become stronger." Celestia sighed. "Just like me and my sister's bond with a dear old friend, Posey."
"Who was Posey?"
"She was actually an ancestor of one of your own friends."
"Really? Who?"
Fluttershy was dressed in a lovely gown made of robin's egg blue fabric that sparkled and had a little ruffle at the bottom and had leaves threaded around the edges. Her dress collar was themed with spring green leaves and had a pink butterfly in the center, which signified her cutie mark, and she had delicate green ballet shoes on all her four hooves with little vines as straps.
Her flowy, pink mane was pulled back, with tiny white flowers and a few pink locks tumbled down a little. Fluttershy wanted her mane down, but Rarity said that her mane up would compliment the dress more, and Fluttershy didn't want to disappoint her friend and quietly complied.
Fluttershy looked into the mirror and kept assuring herself that everything would be all right. "You're going to be just fine." Fluttershy told her reflection. "You have absolutely nothing to...."
She suddenly spotted something small and dark red by the windowsill out of the corner of her eye. She turned toward the window and saw that it was a rose. She leaned toward it and gave it a cautious sniff. The scent was heady with its delicate, flowery perfume. "Mmmmmmmm," Fluttershy sighed. She closed her doe-like eyes. "So lovely..."
"Yes, you are..." a deep voice purred.
Fluttershy felt so dazed from the flower's scent that she didn't even notice a shadowy eagle claw slowly reach toward her. It gently stroked her from her cheek to her chin and Fluttershy moaned inwardly from the touch.
"My precious one," The voice soothingly said. "You will be mine...."
The shadow of the draconequus leaned his lion paw under Fluttershy's chin and whispered, "I'm coming for you... my lovely, little pony..."
" Fluttershy! Are you ready, darling?"
The shadow hissed at the intruder knocking and fled the scene, leaving Fluttershy blinking her lovely eyelids and coming to.
"Fluttershy?" Rarity poked her gorgeous coiffed head in the doorway. "Sweetie, what are you doing by the window?" Rarity was stunning in a dramatic violet gown with tiny diamonds in her purple mane, dark purple gloves for her front hooves, and matching slippers for her back hooves.
"Ughhhh," Fluttershy groaned lightly against the windowsill and rubbed her head. " I feel so dizzy."
"I know, sweetie. I know you're very nervous about our Proclamations." Rarity cooed to her dear friend. "I made you a shawl since there's a peculiar wind coming in and out." She magically produced a cream colored shawl and wrapped it around Fluttershy's shoulders.
"Oh, Rarity. Thank you."Fluttershy smiled sweetly to Rarity. "No wonder your the Element of Generosity, giving ponies what they need."
"Anything for you, sweetness." Rarity gently booped Flutterhy's nose with her gloved hoof. "Now, everything will be just fine. You'll see soon enough, my dear."
As the two gorgeous ponies left the room, the draconequus growled softly in his throat.
"Until we meet again, my precious love.... soon." Then he thought of Rarity and how deliciously pretty she looked. "And maybe..... I'll have a little dessert tonight." The shadow laughed a rich, evil laugh.