I opened my eyes and found myself surrounded by tall grass, swaying gently in a warm breeze. I stood up. The scenery was, at first, unfamiliar, and it took my breath away. Bushes with flourishing flowers, rich in variety and soft tones, were growing near the grassy field in which I awoke. Off to the side where I stood, there was a lining of large, thick-trunk trees that led into a dense forest from which little sunlight shone down through the canopy.

I heard scraping under my shoes and looked down. I was standing on a smooth dirt trail; there was hardly a pebble in sight, as though someone had removed them, leaving nothing to blemish the small, light brown road. My gaze followed it as it stretched from the edge of the forest off into the distance where, not too far away, I could see a village. The houses, from what I could tell, appeared to be mostly wooden and were, I must say, quite intricate. Some of them had straw roofs, one had a rather detailed top which made it look like a gingerbread house, and one building, if I my eyes weren't deceiving me, looked a like small castle resting atop a large tree . . . made entirely of crystal. . . .

My heart beat heavily in my chest, but it wasn't from any unpleasant sensation. On the contrary, I felt happy with the sight; I just couldn't believe it, though. I had seen these images a hundreds times before, I knew what the colorful village was, but never in my life did I think I'd ever see it in person.

As baffled as I was, I knew at once that this wasn't a dream, my surroundings proved that. The tall green grass brushed against the side of my jeans, the warm afternoon sun fell comfortably over my skin, the sounds of birds twittered sweetly nearby, the very air I breathed was fragrant with the flowers nearby. The more I glanced around, the more familiar it all felt, and the final, absolute last thing that told me I was, in fact, exactly where I thought I was, stood out plain as day.

Far away, there stood a group of large mountains that towered over the village, and there, resting on the largest mountain's peak, was a most unusual but wonderful feature: a castle with large towers silhouetted against the blue sky. Neighboring it, there flowed a bright waterfall running down the mountain side, pouring out over a cliff.

I stared up at it. The familiarity of the castle, of this world I suddenly found myself in, flooded my head with happy memories . . . memories of a place, of a story that changed my life and made me who I am. It had been many years, but I still remember and adore it, as do many people for the influence it had on our lives, how it changed us to our very cores, giving us hope that we may, one day, see that wonderful world ourselves.

"Hello," came a soft, gentle voice.

I felt my eyes widen. I hadn't realized I wasn't alone, but regardless, I didn't feel nervous. The voice that spoke was as gentle as the summer breeze: present, yet only noticeable to those close by. Looking down, I found the speaker, knowing, before I had looked, who it was.

Standing there on the dirt trail with me was a dandelion-colored pony, her mane and tail pink like a petunia, long and falling down her face so that one side was partially concealed. Her eyes were not like those of the ponies back in my world; they were larger and much more expressive. Large sea-green irises sparkled up at me, and behind them, I could sense intelligence, emotion, as much life and humanity as I would've seen had I looked at a human. On both her sides I noticed a pair of soft, feathery folded wings. . . . She was a pegasus. . . . And on her flank was (perhaps the most distinguishing feature) a mark: three small, pink-winged butterflies.

It all made sense to me, and yet . . . I didn't understand.

"It's all right," the kind pegasus said softly. "I won't hurt you. I've seen many of you before, those who are like you, who are allowed to come to our world."

She stepped closer to me, her hoofs patting the ground gently, hardly making a sound as though she weighed less than a feather. I suppose I looked a bit silly watching her, slightly opened-mouthed, hardly believing where I was and who was speaking to me. Don't get me wrong, though; I wasn't at all sorry to be here. Honestly, who on earth wouldn't want to be here?

The yellow pegasus was two feet in front of me now, looking up with that gentle, sweet face. She blinked and I could make out her long, soft eyelashes. They only added to her beauty, her grace.

I knelt down onto the dirt trail, wishing to view her at her level. The tall grass rose on both sides, the forest at my back, and the beautiful village and sweet pony in front of me.

We stared at each other, and though I knew her for her shyness and timidity, I was the one feeling shy right now. I know it's silly, but even though she was smaller than me, I felt as though I were shrinking with each passing moment as I knelt facing her on the smooth trail.

She was still smiling. She didn't seem afraid at all by my presence or that I was a human, a creature whom, I knew, was not native to this world.

Although, she had said she'd seen humans before.... Had there been others here before me? I thought back on her words.

". . .those who are like you. . ."

Those who are like me? Humans who are like me, did she mean?

". . .who are allowed to come to our world."

So . . . I was invited? I was knowingly brought here? Why, though?

Returning from my thoughts, I turned back to the pony and saw that she had moved slightly closer to me, still confident with that cute, tiny smirk of hers.

I felt my eyes widen again and I shifted back a little on the dirt trail, feeling a little foolish as I did, but surprised beyond anything else. She was real . . . I could see that, clear as the golden sunlight on her yellow fur. She was truly real . . . and so was this world. That fact was still dawning on me, and I found it both shocking and amazing.

"You don't need to worry," she said as I shifted backwards. She moved closer again. "We would like to get to know you, if that's all right. My friend Princess Twilight brought you here and asked me to come and welcome you."

I could sense complete honesty in her words (even though I knew she was more known for her kindness) and so I steadied myself and knelt forward again.

"It's very nice to meet you," she said sweetly, her voice just loud enough so I could hear. "My name's Fluttershy."

I could a feel a smile growing inside me. I had known what her name was the moment I saw her. She was one of the many characters I was fond of back in my world, the symbol of Kindness to those people who, as she had said, are like me. But to actually hear her introduce herself — to hear her speak — and to me of all people, made me feel all the more comfortable and pleased to be here.

Slowly, I raised one of my hands and moved it forward. I paused for a moment, afraid that I might frighten her with my action. But she didn't flinch. She only continued to smile. To prove that she wasn't scared, she moved a little closer to me. Confident that it was okay to keep going, I folded three of my fingers and thumb, leaving my index finger outward. Then, gently, very gently, the tip of my finger graced the top of her muzzle.

I could feel her. She was real, and wonderfully warm.

Smiling, I said the only two words I could think of, words I was happy beyond belief to say aloud.

"Hi, Fluttershy."

Author's Notes:

I hope you enjoyed this little read.

How did I do?