//------------------------------// // LP09: Fluttershy's Birthday [Slice of Life, Romance?] // Story: Half Hour Horses: Legacy Prompts // by HoofAndQuill //------------------------------// The Prompt: Happy birthday, my love.) (Happy birthday Esle Ynopemos!) On any other day, Fluttershy might have felt just a little bit silly taking so much care to hide behind bushes and stick to back roads and alleyways as she walked through Ponyville. It was true that Fluttershy was a very skittish and nervous pony, but she wasn't usually so scared of being seen. But today was special. Today was her birthday. Not too many ponies knew that. But at least five other ponies in Ponyville did. They were her friends, and they all loved her dearly. One beloved friend in particular. Fluttershy was very grateful that she had such caring friends. Her life was infinitely brighter and more fun for knowing them, and every day she woke with a smile because she knew that she'd see at least one or two of her friends. But her friends were also very loud, excitable, and gregarious ponies. They loved birthdays and anniversaries, they loved excitement and dancing, and the really, truly loved parties of all varieties, even the very startling and scary surprise birthday party variety. One beloved friend in particular. This is why Fluttershy was almost a ghost as she trotted through Ponyville on her birthday, buying food for her animals. Any other birthday, she would have kept herself locked safely away in her cottage, but she couldn't let the little darling animals starve, even if it meant being outside today. Still, every errant hoofstep nearby, and every giggling voice or happy call from one pony to one of their friends sent shivers up her spine. That barrel over there might not be full of rainwater gathered to spread on Golden Harvest's garden, it might be full of pink mane and tail, waiting to burst forth in a shower of confetti and party horns. That huge package being carried around (with some difficulty) by the mailmare might not be full of books for Twilight's new castle library, but instead be full of the most excitable earth pony in all of Equestria, ready to rain down cakes and treats and dozens of excited fillies and colts all over the place in a huge, loud explosion of party favors. Just around that next corner, there might be just a pleasant, quiet alleyway that leads to the next street over, and from there out of Ponyville and back to Fluttershy's nice, calm, secure cottage. Or, it might be a throng of ponies crowded into that same little alley, along with party cannons and dance floors and spotlights and everypony's eyes glued directly on the guest of honor, every pony in Ponyville staring directly at Fluttershy and listening to every little thing she said and noticing every awkward movement of her hooves and embarrassing flare of her wings and-- "Oh, hi, Fluttershy! Happy birth--" "Eeep!" Fluttershy's worst fears confirmed, she could only manage to squeeze her eyes closed and shoot of into the sky in a blind panic, blowing dust and fallen leaves all around the little back road between two houses, and leaving behind a very surprised and somewhat confused Princess Twilight Sparkle to finish her quiet congratulations in the empty alley. "...day." Fluttershy was not a fast flier, typically. But when an animal was in danger, or one of her friends, or when she herself was in danger of being the center of attention, she could manage a speed that couldn't be matched. The thatched-roof buildings of Ponyville blew by her, giving way to a lonely, quiet pathway that lead out to the more secluded cottages and homes for quieter ponies. That pathway blurred as she flew over it in a teary-eyed panic, until that pathway gave way to a small, meandering trail left by only one pony's hooves over and over, to a little cottage surrounded by fences and animal homes, and bordering the dark and gloomy Everfree Forest. She landed in front of the cottage and quickly bolted through the door, slamming it behind her and leaning back against it. Fluttershy clenched her eyes closed and tried to slow her panicked breathing and palpitating heart. After a few long, tense seconds of nopony knocking on her door or shouting for her attention, Fluttershy finally started to calm down. She was safe here, in her cottage, away from surprise parties and happy, well-meaning pink party ponies. Fluttershy opened her eyes, and the calm from being at home helped her only jump slightly at the sound of a lonely, quiet party horn tweeting in the stillness of her cottage. The paper tube on the end of the horn made a little noise as it wrapped back up into a spiral, next to the smiling lips of a single pony, alone in Fluttershy's cottage. Pinkie Pie smiled almost nervously at Fluttershy, standing there in front of a little table with a single cupcake in the center. The cupcake held one candle, softly glowing in the dark cottage. Fluttershy stared blankly a moment, and then smiled. --------- Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie lay together on Fluttershy's couch after sharing a small cupcake together, and taking time to feed all of her animal friends, and listen to their congratulations on her birthday as well. Fluttershy found herself happily nuzzling Pinkie's mane, all of her worries from earlier in the day fading away. "Um, thank you for my party, Pinkie." Pinkie Pie giggled and hugged Fluttershy close, giving a little kiss to the pegasus pony's nose. "You're super welcome, Fluttershy! I wanted it to be the best party for you, but I kept thinking of big surprise parties and how much you don't like those, and I can't be Pinkie Pie, Ponyville's Premiere Party Planning Pony if I don't make the best party I ever could for..." Pinkie's voice caught just a moment, the sound of the words still a little unfamiliar to her. "... for my marefriend." Fluttershy felt her muzzle burning with blush, and buried her face against Pinkie's mane. The other pony just giggled quietly, and stroked Fluttershy's mane with her hoof. "Happy Birthday, Fluttershy."