Chapter One
The city of New Yearling was the grandest city in all of Equestria. In this city were the finest of ponies with the oldest of family names. Money came and money went, but the money usually stayed in the same hooves. Though the city was on the brink of change, but the oldest upperclass denied these coming changes. To them, change was for the commoner. And so everything stayed the same...
The mare Fluttershy was at home with her elderly grandmother. They were in the parlor taking tea, as they did every Sunday. The girl was blushing, which could easily be seen due to her pale coat color. The elderly mare held a china cup and it rattled in her ages hooves. The girl took it upon herself to relieve the old one of the burden of holding the cup at all. She took it and placed it gently upon the side table where the servants could later retrieve it. And in her own hooves she held a blue china cup with a golden butterfly pattern. Her grandmother had gotten the set for her last birthday to match her butterfly cutie mark.
"Oh sweet dear, how I have longed for this moment," said the elderly one, her hooves again shaking with delight.
"Ever since your parents died, bless them, I have been anxious for you to settle down."
Fluttershy did not respond, but began to stir her tea.
"And now! Oh he he will provide for you, not that you need it darling. But that title isn't for nothing!"
The mare began to store even more intensely. But then—
"Are you happy, my dear?"
The girl's dark lashes fluttered and she stopped stirring the tea. Outside, far away in the outdoors, the birds were chirping. And outside the sun was shining, but inside…
"Of course grandmother, how could I not be? Lord Trenderhoof is handsome and—"
She could not think of anything else. However the old mare obviously hears what she wanted to hear for she continued:
"It makes me happy beyond words to hear that. Thank Celestia the day is coming soon!"
Suddenly Fluttershy's grandmother began trembling all over, her body racked with the fever. Fluttershy called for help and a servant came galloping in. He spooned some morphine into the old mare's cup of tea and coaxed the tea down her throat. A minute passed, then two, until finally the shaking needed. The young mare hoped the old one into bed.
When she was asleep, Fluttershy retreated back to the parlor and began starting out the window, an intent expression upon her face. A bird had landed on the feeder. It ate, gazed at her, then flew away suddenly. Fluttershy drew away from the window and sighed.
