Fluttershy nuzzled the baby mouse affectionately. The dawn was breaking, and the yellow pegasus had just fulfilled another late night's worth of healing injured animals. The sparrows had their wings properly bandaged, the squirrels had gotten their sprained wrists healed, and the bunnies were no longer sneezing. This little mouse who had hurt his leg was the last client of the night.

"There you go, little mousey," said Fluttershy, gently nosing the mouse back into his hole. "Take care, now!"

The mouse nodded and squeaked happily, before scampering off to join his mother and father. Fluttershy sighed happily, and straightened up. Suddenly, the frantic sounds of hopping reached the mare's ears.

Whipping around in alarm, Fluttershy was expecting to see an unconscious bunny carried by its companion. However, she accidentally trod on her long pink tail and tripped, landing muzzle-first on the floor.

"Ow," muttered Fluttershy, rubbing her nose.

The animals, meanwhile, had gathered around Fluttershy, and were busy preening and combing her coat and hair, and helping her up. With a gentle flap of her fragile wings, the caretaker rose into the air, and set herself gracefully on her hooves.

"Thank you, little animal friends," said Fluttershy sincerely.

The animals squeaked in welcome and scurried off to their business. Fluttershy turned again, this time with more care, and saw her beloved Angel waiting with a scroll in his mouth.

"Oh, good morning Angel," greeted Fluttershy, trotting over to her pet and nuzzling him happily. "Did you have a nice snooze?"

Angel pushed his owner away impatiently and took out the scroll. He waved it in front of Fluttershy's face for a while, hopping up and down frantically. Fluttershy smiled and gently pushed him away.

"Thank you for the mail, Angel," said Fluttershy quietly. "But the flamingoes are running low on shrimp and I simply must go to help them."

Angel shook his head frantically. He pointed to the letter, then fell to his all-fours while making his ears stream out behind him like Princess Celestia's mane. Confused, Fluttershy looked at the scroll, which was closed with the royal seal, then back at Angel, who was still doing his Princess-Celestia-impression.

"The letter... is from Princess Celestia?" asked Fluttershy tentatively. Pleased at Fluttershy's immediate realisation, Angel jumped up and nodded swiftly, before pushing the letter into Fluttershy's hooves.

"The Princess wrote to me?" Fluttershy said to herself as she went over to her couch to open the letter. "Why would she write to me, out of anypony? Is it important? Did I do something wrong? Does she want something of me?"

Angel whacked her on the flank impatiently, causing Fluttershy to squeak and blush.

"Oh, s-sorry Angel," muttered the pegasus, beginning to break the seal. "I forgot I needed to read it..."

After successfully breaking the seal, two helpful swallows fluttered over to hold the stubborn parchment open. Fluttershy's eyes slowly meandered down the page, coming to a sudden stop at the end. Her pupils dilated, and she leapt backwards behind the couch in astonishment when her Element popped out of the scroll.

It was beautiful in every sense, with its winged clasps, identical to its companions. The butterfly-shaped pearl gem winked smartly at Fluttershy, and the mare's insides wobbled.

"How could Princess Celestia ask me to do something like this?" muttered Fluttershy frantically, cantering to the window and staring out at the now sun-filled fields. "I don't know anypony who could take on the Element of Kindness! And if I have to give it to a foal... oh, no! Those poor little darlings couldn't possibly handle an Element in their hooves? Oh no, I don't know what to do..."

Luckily, Angel quickly hopped to her rescue. He first fell down in his Celestia impersonation, then got up and nodded frantically. Getting the message, Fluttershy managed a small smile and nodded along with her favourite bunny.

"You're absolutely right, Angel," Fluttershy told the pure-white bunny, suddenly brisk. "If that's what Princess Celestia tells me, then that's what I'm going to do!"

But as Fluttershy trotted out to start the day, her faithful bunny riding on her back, Fluttershy couldn't help but feel a flutter of anxiety. What foal was both kind and brave enough to take on an Element of Harmony?

---

Meanwhile, in Applebloom's room at Sweet Apple Acres, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were awoken by the crowing of the family rooster. Groaning, Applebloom's orange eyes blinked open.

"C'mon, gals," she murmured, still half-asleep. "Gettup, 's a long day ahead of us..."

Applebloom sat up and stretched her hooves, yawning widely. The disturbance of blanket stirred Sweetie Belle awake, too, and the white unicorn rose sleepily.

"Mornin', Sweetie," greeted Applebloom.

"Good morning, Applebloom," replied Sweetie Belle, tidying up her frazzled-looking mane.

The two fillies' eyes rose to the bottom of the top bunk, where Scootaloo was still fast asleep, completely oblivious to her two friends' exchanges. The other two Crusaders looked at each other, then giggled in unison. They hopped off the bed and circled the bunk, staring up at Scootaloo.

"C'mon, ya chicken!" called Applebloom, while Sweetie Belle snickered. "Too scared tah start the day?"

The word "chicken" roused Scootaloo almost instantly. The pegasus' grey-purple eyes fluttered open, and the pegasus straightened up, throwing off the blankets as she did so. Scootaloo poked her head over the bunk, to see her two other fellow Crusaders laughing openly.

"Very funny, guys," said Scootaloo grumpily, ruffling up her purple mane.

Once Scootaloo had descended the bunk's ladder, the three Crusaders performed their mandatory Crusader-hoof-five, before proceeding down the rickety steps for breakfast, talking and joking on the way.

"I wonder what we're gonna try next as a special talent," said Sweetie Belle thoughtfully, tapping her hoof against her chin.

"Maybe fire-fighting?" suggested Applebloom.

Scootaloo reared up on her hind legs in approval. "Awesome idea! Maybe Rainbow Dash can help us find a fire!"

"The Cutie Mark Crusader FIRE FIGHTERS!" yelled the trio, leaping up and hoof-fiving each other once more.

When they came downstairs, they saw nopony but Big Macintosh, who was slowly finishing up a plate of Acre apples.

"Howdy, big bro!" greeted Applebloom. "Where's Applejack 'n Granny Smith?"

"Granny's sleeping in today," said Big Mac, chewing fretfully slow. "AJ's out back, finishing off those last few trees."

"Cool!" said Sweetie Belle, her eyes widening. "Maybe we can get out apple-bucking Cutie Marks!"

"What about fire-fighting?" asked Scootaloo.

"We'll do that later," said Applebloom dismissively. "As a last resort, ah guess."

"Awright!" grinned Sweetie Belle, leading the Crusaders in yet another hoof-five. Little did they know that somepony would be getting their Cutie Marks that day, and it wouldn't be for fire-fighting or apple-bucking.