The young filly flinched away as she handed her Sire the note her teacher sent home with her. As he read, she cringed further away; sinking lower to the clouds their home resided on. Over his shoulder, the fillies Dam skimmed along. She wished she could break the clouds and fall down to Equestria's surface, but she wasn't good at that either. She was a failure to do anything associated with a Pegasi.
Her Sire dropped the letter, signaling he had read enough of the accursed thing. The letter was just another thing that brought disgrace to the family. "It doesn't make any sense." He said after a long, awkward pause. "You're Dam and I; we were the best fliers in our classes. How is it that you're so far behind everypony else? You have no hope left to advance this year…. This doesn't make any sense." He mumbled. It was more to the air then directed at her. He never spoke directly to her anymore. Her Dam said nothing, she never did. Not even to defend her own foal.
She stayed sunken low to the clouds, and dismissed herself to her room. She was ashamed.
Birds were beginning to fly south, guided by the Pegasi of the town. Save for Fluttershy who trotted through the market gathering supplies. When the birds left, her other animals begun their preparations for hibernation. And Fluttershy was helping again this year, like she had since she came to Ponyville. She grabbed her last supplies and headed home.
The whole town was bracing itself for the winter. Fluttershy sighed. Winter was her least favorite time of year. All her animal friends hibernated. Only Angel would remain living with her during winter. "How yer' doin' Fluttershy?" A voice asked from behind her. Fluttershy jumped up in surprise, her wings took over and she stood there in mid air. She looked down to see Apple Bloom. "Opp's I'm sorry Fluttershy, I thought ya heard me. My hooves aint exactly the quietest."
"Oh, it's ok Apple Bloom, I was lost in thought. A tornado could have passed through, and I wouldn't have heard it. Where are you headed? I thought Apple Jack wouldn't let anyone leave the ranch until everything is ready."
"Were almost finished over there. AJ sent me over to the post office. No pony left the ranch in a week. She's reckoned we got some mail by now. And 'cause there's no mail Pegasi right now, and after the ranch work is finished, AJ's helpin other ponies out."
"Would you mind if I tag along? I haven't checked the office since all the Pegasi left either."
"Sure let's go. Macintosh wants me home as soon as possible."
Fluttershy walked into the post office with Apple Bloom at her flank, and stopped when she saw the state the building was is in. It looked as if a tornado had gone through the building. Paper was discarded on the floor like a fine layer of snow. Stamps lay stuck to surfaces. Wrapping tape, foam peanuts, bubble wrap. It was everywhere. "We apologize for the mess, it got hectic quickly. Everypony sending out packages for Hearths Warming Eve. To top it off all the Pegasi working here are away. Name please?"
"Fluttershy." She mumbled.
"Alright dear, one second." The mail pony responded. She pulled a stack of mail and hovered it into the air with her horn and sorted through it. A few seconds later she handed Fluttershy a letter. She grabbed the letter with her mouth and moved out of the way for Apple Bloom. Fluttershy nodded her good bye and headed back towards her cottage.
Angel greeted her at the door. "Oh good morning Angel. I was out getting supplies to help out the rest of our friends. I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up." Fluttershy said as she unloaded her saddlebag and opened her letter. "Plus, I think I found your present." She broke the seal and begun to read. A look of horror came across her face. Angel saw it and jumped up onto the table and studied the letter. He looked it over as if he was reading it. He pointed and thumped his feet in impatience. "No they can't be coming." Fluttershy mumbled.
"Extend your wings, as far as they go." The doctor instructed. The foal did as she was told and kept them extended. She hated the way the doctor stared at her, like she was under a microscope. Which made her feel like something was wrong with her….But maybe there was something wrong with her? She lowered her head under his gaze. Her mane dropped over her eyes. From his chair, her Sire coughed under his breath. He hated whenever she did that. She should be holding her head high in pride. But how was she supposed to be prideful when everypony thought there was something wrong with her? When she couldn't fly as well as fillies and colts younger than her? With her family and their reputation?
"Nothing looks out of the ordinary, bone growth is normal, nerves all in check. The muscle tissue is a bit lacking. You're repeating the semester once it starts again, Am I correct?"
Fluttershy opened her mouth to say yes but before she could her Sire cut in. But not before sending her a disappointed look "Yes she is."
"Well the lack of muscle should be able to be made up in no time at all. Now might I suggest…"
Fluttershy was sunken low to the clouds as she walked behind her Dam and Sire. She could imagine they were further disappointed now. Instead of finding something wrong with her, she was just a bad flier.
She worked hard, practiced hard. All to be ready for this semester. She under no circumstances was allowed to fail. She looked around at all the new foals. They turned their heads and whispered. Already her reputation as a failure spread to them. "Fluttershy, get in line." The instructor called. "Where is…..uhh Rainbow Dash? Oh never mind." He asked looking confused before giving up.
Fluttershy lined up. This is what she trained for; there would be no failing this time. This semester she would pass. But as each foal hovered then eventually fell, she became more and more nervous. "Hey there's nothing to be nervous about." Fluttershy jumped up then came crashing down again. Behind her a laugh echoed off the clouds. "Calm down there, I'm only a Pegasus, Rainbow Dash to be exact. These drills are easy. There's nothing to be so jumpy about….Uh…. What's your name?"
"Fluttershy, next!" The instructor ordered. Fluttershy trotted forward. Below her, those who had gone already looked back up at her. But she was more focused on the clouds below. They had never seen so far away."Get moving Fluttershy!" Or maybe she was that high up. Suddenly she was free falling through the air. He wings flapped franticly but the shock of being pushed off the bank was preventing their potential.
She crashed into the ground. One would think that clouds would be cushionier. Fluttershy now held heavy evidence that supported the opposite. She held her head to stop the other ponies from spinning.
"FLUTTERSHY, FLUTTERSHY, FLUTTERSHY CAN HARDLY FLY!" The chant roared around her. Fillies and Colts pointed their hooves at her. Others, she saw, were on their sides rolling with laughter.
Fluttershy climbed out of her indention and ran away from the cloud. Her pink mane whipping around her as she headed for home.
"Why are they coming? Oh Angel they can't come. Why would they want to visit? They never want to visit." In response Angel shrugged his shoulders, and pointed again. He still had no idea what she was talking about.
"My Sire and Dam. They're coming to visit. Oh Angel you don't know how bad this is. My parents, they don't like what I do. They call it an earth pony job. Their ashamed of me and my poor flying skills."
"The letter say's their coming tomorrow. Oh shoot, we have to clean. Angel be a dear and go gather everyone you can find. See if you can find Mr. Bear. We have to move furniture around.
It was the very next day that Fluttershy received a knock at the door. She flung open the door apologizing for the mess. "What mess?" A voice asked. Fluttershy looked up and saw Rainbow Dash sitting in her door way. "What's got you so paranoid? Expecting Rarity or some pony else?"
"Oh Dashie, it's only you. I thought you were some pony else."
"Like I asked, who are you expecting?"
"My Sire and Dam are coming for a visit." At the mention of her friends Dam and Sire, Rainbow paled slightly. She remembered them from their time in Cloudsdale as foals. And their support for their daughter wasn't exactly there. "Wow, kinda wished I took longer with the birds now. I'm just joking Fluttershy. Listen I'm here for you. As well as all the other girls."
"Oh thank you Rainbow, but the others don't know about my parents and their….expectations of me. And I want it to remain that way. Please Dashie? I know you don't like keeping secrets. Almost as much as Apple Jack hates lying."
"As long as they don't directly ask me about your parents. I won't lie Fluttershy."
"I wouldn't ask you to. Thank you Rainbow." Fluttershy said, as she hugged her best friend. Rainbow Dash returned the hug, and then made her way over to the couch. "Are you sure?" She asked as her blue friend plopped herself on the couch. "They could be here any minute." Rainbow only waved her away.
Another knock on the door caused both Pegasi to flinch. Their ears stuck upright. On natural instincts Rainbow Dash extended her wings then pulled them to her side.
Angel, who had been of somewhere in the house, scurried up Fluttershy's flank and nestled into her thick mane and hid himself from whatever was outside. The sound of hooves knocking continued. Now just a step away from the door, Fluttershy took one last deep breath.