It was the night of the Canterlot Wedding. After blasting Chrysalis to a place far far away, Shining Armor and Princess mi Amore Cadenza were wed. It was a lovely affair and the reception soon followed.

A pony would wonder how the reception had even been put together with all of the Changelings mucking about, but thanks to a certain bouncy pink mare, the wedding reception was everything it was intended to be and more.

Between the copious amount of streamers and surprisingly elegant display of food this would be a reception talked about for a long time yet to come.

Ponies danced and laughed as they ate the pastries set up along the tables. DJ P0N3, Vinyl Scratch, had created a fantastic music line up for the evening that had everypony on the dance.

Everypony was enjoying the night.

That is all except for one.

If one cared to look in an unassuming corner of the garden, they would happen upon a yellow Pegasus huddled meekly in the corner. Said Pegasus was Fluttershy.

Throughout the night, ponies had congratulated her, as well as her friends in their part in repelling the Changeling invasion. Ponies would shake her hoof or hug her tightly thanking profusely for having saved them.

She hated it. Or rather disliked it as Fluttershy tried to avoid using such a strong word.

As less ponies began to thank her, she started to quietly slip away from the crowds until eventually she found herself literally backed into a corner. After the last few ponies who had noticed her said their words, she finally found herself thankfully alone.

It had occurred to her that maybe she had a problem. A rather large problem. It wasn’t a big deal though. She could function normally.

As long as there weren’t many ponies.

Looking at her.

She shook her head to dislodge any wayward thoughts and decided to partake in one of her favourite pastimes: observation.

She saw Twilight next to Princess Celestia. The two were enjoying a moment alone without throngs of ponies clamouring for their attention.

Applejack was speaking with one of her cousins who come from Trottingham. They both held a mug of cider and taking gulps of the hard liquor every few moments.

Rainbow Dash was showing off to the Wonderbolts, probably trying to get them to ask her to join them. Or trying to get them to make her their leader. Fluttershy was never sure which role Rainbow wanted.

Rarity was talking with the some of the nobility off to the side. Fluttershy presumed that she was attempting to sell her latest work or at the very least acquire a few more connections to expand her business.

It a while, but Fluttershy also stumbled upon Pinkie who was running rapidly between guests making sure everypony was enjoying themselves.

Fluttershy felt a twinge of envy for her friends. They could talk to other ponies without fear. They could have normal conversations without hiding behind something. She was jealous for their ability to ignore their eyes.

Their judging eyes…

Too many eyes.

Fluttershy felt herself begin to hyperventilate and feared that she was about to have a panic attack. She remembered a technique Rarity had taught her a few weeks back to calm down.

Close your eyes Fluttershy. Okay, good! Take deep breaths. Breathe in, breathe out …

With every breath she took, Fluttershy began to feel herself getting back to normal. When the final panicked breath dissipated she opened her eyes once more.

She thought now was the time to leave.

She trotted as quickly and quietly as possible towards the nearest gate leaving the gardens. She kept her head low to avoid being spotted.

Just keep moving, just keep moving, just keep mov-

“Fluttershy, darling, what’s wrong?”

Fluttershy spun around in a panic. Her eyes were wide in fear until she saw a surprised Rarity. She took a deep breath and meekly replied. “I’m sorry Rarity, you startled me. I was just about to leave.”

“Startled you? How could I have startled you? And what do you mean you were about to leave? I realize that it is getting rather late, but I assumed we would all leave together.”

Fluttershy retreated into her mane, “Well the thing is, um, that it is getting quite late, and it really has been quite a long day with the Changelings and the wedding.”

“I understand darling, but you simply must come with me to say goodbye to everypony. At least say goodbye to your friends.”

“Oh no, that’s fine. I wouldn’t want to disturb anypony while they were having fun.”

“Fluttershy I hardly feel saying goodbye is going to disrupt them.”

“But well, um, I just want to go back to the castle if you don’t mind.”

“But, darling, I DO mind. I would never want you to leave here alone.”

“Well, um, it’s just I want to be alone.”

Rarity blinked and finally comprehension dawned on her face, “Oh, Fluttershy are you having one of-“ Rarity leaned in closer and whispered “-‘those’, again?”

Fluttershy bit her lip nervously and nodded.

“Oh, Fluttershy, I thought we were making progress?”

Fluttershy slid further into her mane. “We are. It’s just, um, I, well, still can’t handle everything.”

Rarity sighed, “Fluttershy, after talking with you about this for so long I do understand it’s just-” Rarity stroked her mane with a hoof “-you can’t just keep running away like this.”

Fluttershy stood silent trying to keep her fear in control.

Rarity looked helplessly around hoping to find an answer. She noticed a small part of the dance floor forgotten to the ponies clamouring around the bride and groom. A light bulb went off in her mind.

“Oh Fluttershy,” Rarity said with as much silk in her voice as she could muster. “How about we dance?”

Fluttershy shot right up, her fears momentarily forgotten. “I-i-i-i-i can’t. I can’t dance, and I can’t be around that many ponies, and I-i-i, I just can’t Rarity.”

“Oh nonsense, darling,” Rarity grabbed Fluttershy’s hoof. “It will be delightful.”

Fluttershy tried to escape from Rarity’s, surprisingly, iron-tight grip only to find herself on the dance floor. Admittedly it was fairly deserted and most ponies weren’t around with the exception of one exceptionally pink pony who was very happy to see her there.

At least somepony besides me is.

Despite this she started to feel panic take hold of her. She felt herself begin to shiver and her eyes to dart around looking for an escape.

“Now Fluttershy, I know you- Fluttershy! Fluttershy. Look at me.”

Fluttershy looked at Rarity. There she found an anchor; Something to hold onto.

“Now Fluttershy, darling, just forget about other ponies. Just focus on me.”

Fluttershy focused. She drowned everything around. She ignored the approach of her friends. She tuned out the revelry around her. She forgot about the hardships and triumphs of the day.

Her she felt the world ebb away until there was nothing, but her, Rarity, the music, and a small part of the garden that seemed made only for them.

Rarity smiled. “Now just follow my lead.”

Rarity began to sway her hips back and forth. Though nervous and more than hesitant, Fluttershy followed the movement.

Rarity stepped towards Fluttershy and walked or rather glided to the side of her. Fluttershy copied the movement in the opposite direction.

One step. Two step. A foreleg forward, then a foreleg back.

Rarity’s grin widened and she started to maneuver Fluttershy into spins and sashays.

As they continued the movements became more complicated, more free. Soon the nervousness that Fluttershy felt slipped away.

She even began to enjoy herself.

As the music neared its end, Rarity pulled her in for the final dip.

As she fell, Fluttershy felt light.

And saw light.

Literally, because for some reason everything was really bright.

For some reason though, Fluttershy didn’t feel anxious about it. She actually seemed to find peace with it. It was like being enveloped in a soft motherly embrace.

Soon the light receded. She felt everything come back into place.

They felt an indescribable feeling of happiness.

They felt the presence of each other.

They felt confusion over why they referred to themselves as ‘they’.

Finally they took in their surroundings. Firstly they were confused by the new view they seemingly saw. Then they saw themselves in a mirror.

The expected reflection of Fluttershy/Rarity was not what it was supposed to be. Where they should be was now taken up by a rather tall Pegasus with very bright blue eyes. .

She had a bright yellow coat and long flowing pink hair with bold purple streaks. Vines covered her in latticework, but did not impede the large fluffy wings the mare possessed.

The most interesting thing was her Cutie Mark. It was a bouquet of pink butterflies with diamond hearts.

“What? Why are- How are-”

They were bewildered by their current predicament.

Then they noticed everypony else.

They saw their friends blinking frequently trying to process what they were seeing.

They saw the Princesses trying to keep their ever present poker faces.

They saw the guests looking at them.

Staring at them.

Judging them.

Too many eyes…

“No!”

A bright flash of light and Fluttershy and Rarity tumbled apart.

They looked at each other.

Rarity shot a question with her eyes to Fluttershy, What happened?

Fluttershy blinked. She didn’t know, but…

She kind of liked it.