The day before the 1000th Summer Sun Celebration.
Fluttershy trotted swiftly towards Sweet Apple Acres the dirt roads of Ponyville were soft yet firm beneath her hooves the songbirds were singing their songs beautifully above her head and the vast sky stretched out endlessly on the horizon before her. From most ponies perspective a very good day but there was more than one reason for Fluttershy to visit the home of one of her friends.
"Look out below!" screamed a rainbow blur, giving Fluttershy just enough time to dive for the nearest bush before Rainbow Dash collided with the ground. "Urggggg is it Thursday already?" she mumbled in her barely conscious state, before realising that it was in fact not a Thursday and then passing out.
"Rainbow Dash are you ok?" timidly asked Fluttershy before going over to check on her dare devil and by far best friend. They had bonded when they were children and Rainbow Dash had helped Fluttershy make it through flight camp, keeping all the nasty bullies away. Rainbow Dash had always been a fast flyer and her recklessness meant that she crashed a lot, but she was always resilient and never out for more than a few seconds.
"Urg" Rainbow Dash grumbled before getting up shaking her head and yelling at the top of her lungs "Equestria, I am ok!" Then Rainbow Dash noticed Fluttershy behind the bush, "Oops sorry Fluttershy didn't mean to scare you." While this made Fluttershy feel sorry for making her friend worry, Rainbow Dash's presence alone was invigorating her with their friendship, before she sent it away to others who needed it more than her.
"It's ok, Rainbow. I know you would never do so on purpose." whispered Fluttershy in her gentle voice. "I was just on my way to visit Applejack. She's having a big family reunion and they're even staying overnight for the Summer Sun Celebration tomorrow... Oh, I hope they like me!" Most of the time Fluttershy's timid yet kind nature made ponies like her almost instantly, but didn't make her any less nervous meeting them.
"Yeah, Applejack has a huge family!" said Rainbow Dash, as she soared into the sky doing loops and dives. "But I've got practice to get to, they're holding the best young flyers competition in a month and the Wonderbolts are going to be there, if I don't practice I may not be able to show off my spectacular super duper awesome high flying skills!"
"But, don't you need to clear the clouds before the celebration?" Mumbled Fluttershy.
"Hah don't worry, I could whack those clouds in ten seconds flat" Rainbow Dash bragged, feeding her own ego. "Well, see you later Fluttershy."
"Have a nice day, Rainbow Dash" Fluttershy replied sweetly, receiving another dose of friendship that filled her with warmth before it dissipated.
Sweet Apple Acres
one short walk later...
"Howdy Fluttershy, didn't think you could make it" Applejack smiled and pulled up her cowboy hat.
"Oh Applejack I'd never pass up a chance to meet my friends' family in person" Fluttershy replied with a smile. Applejack was clearly in a good mood, as her happiness filled Fluttershy's heart before quickly dispersing it to help others who needed it more than her.
"Ha, well then you're just in time" Applejack replied, with a whistle she picking up a metal spoon and before Fluttershy could ask what it was for, Applejack clanged it against a large cauldron yelling "Soup's on, everypony!" There was a sudden silence, followed by a stomping sound that could only be created by the hooves of many ponies running very fast, which explained the sudden appearance of at least fifty Apple family members and a table covered in every sort of apple related delicacy imaginable.
"Fluttershy, this here's ma family" said Applejack as proud as the sun is high, "Family, this here is Fluttershy."
"Urm, hi everypony it's good to meet you" whispered Fluttershy, scared by the arrival of so many new faces.
"Howdy"
"Hey there"
"Nice to meet you"
"What's up?"
"Hello"
"Hi"
"Are you ok?"
"Pleasure to make you acquaintance"
"I like apples!"
"Howdy"
"Everypony stop, you're scaring her!" Applejack cried pointing a hoof at Fluttershy's quivering form. Everypony stopped.
"Let's get you something to eat Fluttershy, then i'll introduce you to the family as individuals" Applejack said whilst guiding Fluttershy to the table.
"Oh erm ok I'll be fine honest," Fluttershy whispered. In truth while she was very scared by the rush of new ponies, what truly made her cower was the rush of emotion, she could tell she was going to like Applejacks family, she just had to hope they continued to like her.
The rest of the afternoon went well, the food didn't help feed Fluttershy but she didn't tell anypony and it still tasted good, but all her problems melted away when she started meeting Applejacks family. Most of them where very kind and outgoing, so Fluttershy could meet kindness with kindness. There was the occasional shy person, a stand out was Babs Seed who appeared to be very upset about something and spent most of her time hiding away in the barn or orchard, but Fluttershy didn't want to ask about it just in case it was personal.
"Goodbye Fluttershy, thanks for coming" Applejack said whilst waving to Fluttershy as she walked home to her cottage.
A long walk later...
As Fluttershy approached her beloved home, she felt happy and for the first time in a long time, almost full. As she walked up the cottage path she was fed with the gratitude of the animals she cared for and as she opened the door the cottage that was her home also opened up to her.
But there was something in here that was worth far far more to her than anything else in the entire world, Fluttershy approached her nice carpet and pulled it away to reveal the cottage's oak floor... the cottages hollow oak floor. With a few quick knocks the floor gave way to a trap door, that when opened revealed a dark stone passageway. Which Fluttershy entered without delay.
The walls were thick and damp made of the stone of the earth, the tunnel was dark and dreary and seemed to descend down for what felt like forever. However it was only a few minutes before the tunnel expanded into a large underground room, a room that was filled with over one hundred serpent-like blue eyes. Each pair of eyes belonged to a creature as black as night, with holes in their legs, insect like wings on their backs and a gnarled horn atop each of their heads.
All these creatures stared at Fluttershy, a stare that would frighten the life out of any normal pony, but Fluttershy stared back and with the sweetest of smiles and the calmest of voices she said.
"Good evening children, sorry I'm late."
"Good evening mother, we are happy to have you back."