Walking away from the border of Sweet Apple Acres, it was obvious that both Twilight and Spike had experienced a pleasant time there. Spike especially seemed to be enjoying himself, as he rubbed his belly with a contented smile upon his face.

"That was a delicious pie!"

Twilight giggled.

"Yes, it was well-made. I think it's safe to say the food situation is in good hooves with that family."

Smiling back, Spike glanced up to his Mother yet again.

"So...who's next?"

Hearing that, Twilight turned her gaze up to the sky.

"Well...the skies are pretty clear today, so I don't think we need to talk with the local pegasi weather teams. And as for decorations, the Mayor assured us that they've already been taken care of down at Town Hall. So..."

She stopped to think, but only for a moment.

"...I think our next stop is to look for the ones providing the entertainment for the evening."

That caught Spike's interest.

"Really? What kind of entertainment?"

Looking ahead, the unicorn beside him started to walk off, with him close behind as he heard her give her answer.

"Well, if you can believe it, there's apparently a pony here who can train birds to sing. At least, that's what our itinerary informed us."

Spike gained an incredulous look.

"No offense, Mom, but I'll believe that when I hear it."

The mare seemed to share his views on the matter.

"We won't know anything unless we find her, so I suggest we get to it."

And get to it they did, as both Twilight and Spiked continued to head on back into the centre of Ponyville. Pony after pony they asked, and whenever the subject of singing birds came up, they all repeated the same name to them; Fluttershy. So, with a name in hoof, they set off, trying to find this mare and her apparently well-trained birds. It took the better part of an hour, but soon, they found themselves once more towards the outer edges of the town, where there were plenty of trees and other greenery about. Spike, having at last walked off his food from earlier, looked to his carer with some concern.

"What if we can't find her?"

Twilight looked down to him, opening her mouth to reply, only to be halted when, all of a sudden, there was a loud and distinct sound of birds nearby. Immediately, both of them started looking around for whoever might be causing it, before then electing to look over a nearby set of hedges. Their efforts were rewarded when, to their amazement, the stories they'd heard now seemed to be proven true. For there, just ahead of where they were hiding, was a tree filled to the brim with all sorts of colourful and exotic-looking birds, all singing in unison. And before them, standing at the base of the tree, was a yellow pegasus mare, who bore a short pink mane that stopped just at her neck. But, as the songs continued, the mare had a somewhat unsatisfied look on her face, which then morphed into a softer smile as she flapped her wings and made her way up to the tree.

"Mr Sparrow? Remember what we discussed before? Just hold that one note a tiny bit longer, okay?"

Her voice was soft, almost to the point of a whisper, and yet, there seemed to be an indescribable sense of assertiveness and authority behind it. Certainly enough to get the birds in line, that much was certain, as the sparrow in question gave a dutiful nod before ruffling its feathers, much to the mare's delight. And it was here, during the lull in-between birdsongs, when Twilight finally chose to make her presence known.

"Um...excuse me?"

Instantly, all of the birds looked as if they wanted to fly away at the arrival of this newcomer, but one look from the mare, who Twilight was certain at this point was the Fluttershy she was told of, with her reassuring smile, stopped them right in their tracks, calming them down considerably. With that matter settled, the mare turned to Twilight, taking a step forward before speaking up to her in that same soft tone she'd used with the birds.

"I don't believe we've met. Are you the new arrival from Canterlot?"

Twilight nodded, prompting a wider smile on the other mare.

"I'm Fluttershy. Pleased to meet you."

The young unicorn returned the smile.

"Twilight. Same."

Both mares reach out their hooves and shook in a friendly manner.

"I'm guessing you wanted to hear what my birds had to offer?" Fluttershy asked.

But Twilight shook her head to this.

"That was the plan, but after hearing what you've got them doing already, I'd say there's little for me to be worried about."

Nodding, Fluttershy looked over to her feathered friends, speaking up in a happier manner than before.

"Did you hear that, everybody? You're all doing so well!"

Her words elicited a number of happy and cheerful squawks and other bird noises from those gathered in the tree, and as this continued, Fluttershy looked to Twilight once more.

"They've been practising for ages now. I'm glad to hear that you like them."

Again, Twilight gave a smile.

"Certainly! I don't know how you do it, but you clearly have a gift for dealing with them."

A brief look of pride crossed Fluttershy's face, which she then buried before a more modest blush.

"Oh, I suppose animals and I just have a liking for each other, that's all."

Twilight was clearly in agreement over that, and would have no doubt wanted to speak to her further on the matter. But before she got the opportunity to do so, Fluttershy's attention then seemed to be drawn to something else, as a look of shock now plastered her whole face. It didn't take long for Twilight to realise that it was Spike she was staring at.

"Oh! Of course. This is Spike."

The small dragon took a step closer and gave a brief wave to their new acquaintance.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Fluttershy."

At this, Fluttershy finally broke out of her trance-like state, kneeling down slightly to look Spike right in the eye, all while bearing a look that one would normally expect when they saw adorable or small animals.

"I've never seen a baby dragon before! Oh, he is just the most precious thing!"

Naturally, Spike's chest puffed up slightly, as he glanced up to his Mother with a smirk.

"Hear that, Mom? I'm precious!"

Of course, Twilight couldn't help but roll her eyes at that. However, the young dragon's words had the effect of causing some measure of surprise in Fluttershy, as she now looked once more to Twilight.

"Um...Mom?"

Though a little taken aback, Twilight quickly regained her composure, clearing her throat before giving a slight nod.

"Yes. Spike is my son."

Immediately, understanding dawned on Fluttershy's expression.

"Ah. So I'm guessing...?"

She didn't finish, for Twilight already knew where she was going with this, leading to her giving a pre-emptive answer.

"Adopted? Yes."

There was a small nod on the part of Fluttershy, before she then regarded the two with a warmer expression.

"Well then...it seems we have that much in common at least."

As one would expect, this prompted more than a little surprise for the unicorn and her dragon companion.

"Oh? You mean...?" Twilight started.

Fluttershy nodded, her expression now one of fondness as she looked over her shoulder to the nearby town.

"Her name is Scootaloo. The sweetest little filly you could ever meet."

Looking back, Fluttershy now started to look a touch excited.

"Oh! Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could introduce our children to one another? Have them be friends?"

A smile crossed Twilight's face yet again, as she too now seemed to share in this joint-motherly excitement.

"I'd love to!"

And of course, neither mare was aware of the somewhat indignant look Spike now bore as he grumbled under his breath.

"Sure, arrange a play-date like I'm not even here!"

Neither of the mares had heard him, and instead, Fluttershy looked at long last to her bird friends, addressing them in that same assertive tone as before.

"That'll be all today, friends. Keep on practising, alright?"

There were a number of nods to that, as each of them began to fly away, leaving only the two ponies and Spike behind. Now alone, Fluttershy looked to Twilight, her face one of curiosity.

"I assume you'll be staying the night for the celebration?"

Twilight nodded.

"Yep. Me and Spike have been given leave to stay in the town library for the night."

Fluttershy considered that.

"Would...would you like me to show you where it is?"

Hearing that, Twilight's smile widened.

"I'd be honoured. Truth be told, I actually don't have anypony else to talk things over with for the time being. So I guess it'd be good to get settled in before the Princess arrives."

Clearly pleased with that, Fluttershy turned around, heading off for Ponyville, with Twilight and Spike quickly catching up. As they travelled, however, Fluttershy could not help but ask the question that had clearly been burning in her mind for some time.

"So...how did you come across a baby dragon?"

A nostalgic look crossed Twilight's face at that, all while Spike gained a "here we go again" sort of expression, as the former started to reply.

"Well...it all began when I was just a little filly..."