I follow the timid yellow mare as she leads me through her garden, telling me all about the flora that grow here and the fauna that frequent the place. I smile and nod when appropriate, despite not recognizing some of the scientific names. Equestria has flourished under my sister's solitary reign.
I was hardly shy before my banishment. I was the one who knew she was powerful and wasn't afraid to show it. Very much like that Rainbow Dash character who had been sitting on a thundercloud. Celestia was always more reserved than me.
Now? I am quite frightened. Social mores, laws, everything I once knew well has changed so drastically that I am too scared to do anything in public besides stand beside Celestia for fear of doing something wrong. Nopony would dare correct me, of course, but that makes it all the scarier. I don't know what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong. That Twilight Sparkle is truly my savior.
This mare, Fluttershy, she is quite like me. Hiding away in her castle of greenery, quite shy around other ponies but opening up around her close friends. Because of that, she has learned much about being a friend. I could learn a lot from her.
"Oh! You'll like this one a lot." Fluttershy glides ahead a short distance before stopping beside a flower whose name I recall. "This is a lunar trumpet. A trumpet-shaped white blossom tinged with blue around the edges, that only opens up completely during night hours." She is much like one of those blossoms, I find myself thinking.
"I do know that one quite well." My spirit lightens as I see her expression grow curious. She is quite adorable. "It's my favorite flower, actually."
Fluttershy stammered. "I'm sorry if I disrespected you by explaining everything about it. Of course you'd know about them, being the Princess of the Night and everything." She blushes.
"It is alright, Fluttershy." I smile. "You know, right after I returned, I was quite like one of those blossoms during daylight. A hardened bud never betraying my inner spirit to anypony. This night, and catching up with my sister, has helped, and I have taken to opening up more often to more ponies - but I am still quite like that flower."
Fluttershy is silent for a moment as she thinks. "Me too. On both counts. I was a shy little bud for most of my life, only opening around Rainbow Dash. But then Twilight came to town, and nothing was the same." She smiles fondly.
We are both silent, admiring the flowers and listening to the muted sounds of the far-away celebrations before I speak up. "Fluttershy?"
"Yes?"
I gently pluck one of the blooms growing outside the little square she has set apart for them and tuck it behind her ear. "I would very much like to spend some more time with you after tonight."
She swallows. "I...I wouldn't mind that either."