“What do you think they’re like? Ooh, maybe they’re REALLY good fliers, and Fluttershy’s just bad at it because she feels
inadequate.”

“I don’t know, Spike. Rainbow told me herself that Fluttershy really IS that bad. My guess is she comes from a family where
the pegasus gene is recessive.”

It was magic hour on Saturday in Ponyville: the leaves were falling for autumn, the air was cool and breezy, and Twilight Sparkle and Spike were making their way to Fluttershy’s house for dinner with her family. Anticipation was in the air as Twilight and her dragon assistant discussed numerous speculations they had on Fluttershy’s relatives (what they looked like, what they were like, etc). Eventually, the conversation turned to how the family would react to Fluttershy’s news.

“You know, Twilight, I’ve been wondering: is it right for Rarity to pressure Fluttershy into doing this?”

“Spike, nopony’s pressuring anypony to do anything. I think Fluttershy knows that she has to do this. Secrets only create barriers which can do long term damage. Besides, Fluttershy DID Pinkie Promise.” The velvet unicorn recited the last phrase in a distinct matter-of-factly tone.

“Something tells me that not only did Rarity force Fluttershy to Pinkie Promise, but that Rarity is completely oblivious to there being any problem. There might be a reason Fluttershy wants to keep her relationship with Rainbow Dash hidden from her family.”

Twilight retorted (with her eyes closed, mind you), “Now Spike, what would Rarity think if she heard you talking about her like that?”

The dragon shrugged, “Eh, I’m over Rarity. I don’t know if you saw me at Shining Armor’s wedding, but I was dancing with Sweetie Belle. Let me tell you something, that filly is cute!”

Twilight chuckled at Spike’s newfound infatuation, “Well just don’t tell Rarity that. I bet you she would get pretty jealous that you’re now going after her sister. Plus, I think some of her ego is fed by your crush….oh and don’t tell her what I just said either.”

The baby dragon nodded, “My lips are sealed.”

The two laughed as they continued on their journey. Unbeknownst to Spike, Twilight was now taking Spike’s theories into consideration. Were they forcing Fluttershy to come out to her family? Was Fluttershy even willing? They had only heard Rarity’s account of the situation.

“What was I even thinking?” Twilight thought to herself, her inner scholar kicking herself for not even going to get Fluttershy’s side of the story. “Now here we are, putting on this ridiculous show, without even knowing if Fluttershy is comfortable doing this. Some friends we are!”

Twilight’s inner diatribe of self-loathing was interrupted by the appearance of Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie, all three of
them meeting up with Twilight and Spike on their path to Fluttershy’s.

“So are you girls excited?” Rarity asked the group, acting as if this coming out party was some sort of theatrical spectacle.

“Ah guess.” Applejack replied. “Ah’m not entirely comfortable with makin’ Fluttershy do this, but Ah guess if she made a Pinkie Promise…”

“THERE’S NO GETTING OUT OF IT!” Pinkie Pie frantically interjected. There was a crazy, demonic look in her eyes. There was a long awkward silence after that.

Eventually, Pinkie struck up another conversation, returning to her bubbly and cheerful self, “Ooh, by the way, Applejack: what’s in the bags?”

Applejack turned her head and looked at her saddlebags. “Glad ya asked, Pinkie. Since yesterday, ah’ve been working mah flank off makin’ some fresh batches of cider tonight, and maybe then some for Rainbow Dash when she gets home.”

The party pony’s eyes widened. “Ooh, ooh. Mind if I pregame?”

“Ah don’t see why not.”

Pinkie Pie grinned crazily as she dashed to Applejack’s saddlebag. She rummaged through until she pulled out a flask of Apple Family Cider. In what seemed like nanoseconds, Pinkie was downing that cider like Drain-o through a sink, and even faster was how she reached in for another. There were three very important rules to keep in mind when somepony met Pinkie Pie:

1. Never snub her parties
2. NEVER break a Pinkie Promise. EVER.
3. Don’t even think of challenging her to a drinking contest. Anypony who does loses, even Rainbow Dash

“Whoa, now! Easy there, sugarcube.” Applejack lightly told her chugging friend. “Ah want Rainbow Dash to have some when she gets back. Besides, Ah don’t think tonight is right for one of yer cider brawls.”

A shiver went of Rarity’s spine, and she recoiled at the memory of Pinkie’s last violent outburst when she was drunk on cider. “My parents are still finding shards of glass in Sweetie Belle’s mane.”

Twilight rolled her eyes at the antics in front of her. “Come on, girls, we’ll be late.”

“Right you are, Twilight. Tonight is going to be magical!” Rarity replied, as she trotted on ahead of the group. Twilight, Spike, and Applejack shared concerned looks. They were now just moments from reaching Fluttershy’s house.

Anticipation was still in the air as Twilight and her friends approached Fluttershy’s door, but it had to share room with lingering apprehension and doubt. Now, not only was Applejack unsure if tonight was a good idea, but Twilight and Spike too felt that they were perhaps digging holes not meant for them. However, the reality was that tonight was unavoidable. They were at the door, on the other side, Fluttershy with her family. It was going down, and it got going when Rarity knocked on the door.

To be continued……right now.

The door slowly crept open, revealing not Fluttershy, but somepony they had never seen before. This earth mare slightly taller than anypony else in the group, and she was slim and elegant. Her coat was a shade of maroon that looked very autumn-y with a cutie mark that was a silhouette of a burlesque dancer; her mane was a wintery white that was possibly dyed that way, either way, it fit well with the maroon; and her eyes were a very discernible saffron that popped out in front of you. Basically, she had the color scheme of a wild fox, and Sweet Celestia, did she pull it off well. One pony in Twilight’s group wasn’t too shy to make instant acquaintance with this mystery mare, and it wasn’t Pinkie.

“Well, hello darling!” Rarity exclaimed upon first laying eyes on this stranger. “We’re friends of Fluttershy, and you are….”

“Oh, of course, yes! Fluttershy was telling us about you guys. Come in! She’s inside making dinner.” The fox pony stepped aside and let everypony inside. Fluttershy was indeed busy making dinner, but what caught Twilight and everypony else’s notice were the four ponies inside the house that they had never met.

Chasing each other around the house were two colts. One was an earth pony, who was creamy yellow, very much like Fluttershy, but had a mane that was brown and messy. The other colt was a pegasus pony who was white like the fox mare’s mane, and a mane that was maroon like her coat. The pegasus had a cutie mark that resembled an atomic bomb diving to the earth, while the earth pony had one in the shape of a half broken cinderblock.

The two remaining mystery ponies were two stallions, and both were in the kitchen chatting with Fluttershy. The older looking one was an orange earth pony with a jet-black mane. He appeared middle aged as his face had some noticeable wrinkles, along with a receding hairline. The younger one was, again, and earth pony, bearing a golden coat. His mane was a messy brunette like the earth colt’s, although the stallion’s was partially concealed by a blue and white trucker’s cap. The older one had a cutie mark of a glass of cider rimmed with salt, the younger, a thick block of salt.

Fluttershy’s family, everypony!

Twilight was the first to make her presence known to the yellow pegasus, “Hey, Fluttershy! We’re here!”

Fluttershy jumped up in place from her stove and turned around, relieved to see that it was her friends. This prompted a chuckle from the younger stallion.

“Heh, heh, still as jumpy as ever, huh Flutters?” he uttered with the slightest of southern accents.

Fluttershy returned a sheepish grin as she excused herself from the kitchen. She approached her friends with a warm smile.

“Sorry about that, Girls. I guess I was just, um, in the zone, cooking.” Another sheepish grin came across her face, this time with an inexplicable squeak. This generated laughter from everypony inside.

“Aw, it’s alright, sugarcube.” Applejack replied. “Ah betcha you’ve had yer hand full entertainin’ company.”

“Well, WE can fix that!” Pinkie Pie interjected as she bounced around the living room ready to burst into a song and dance number. “Let’s PARTAY!!!”

A record scratch could be heard as Twilight wrestled Pinkie down to the ground with a crashing thud using magic. The two colts were in hysterics upon bearing witness to the slapstick.

“Hold on, Pinkie. I still haven’t caught anypony’s name.”

“Indeed, Twilight.” Rarity concurred. “For starters, who is this fascinating specimen beside me?” she said looking at the fox colored mare.

The mare blushed slightly as she let her hoof out, “The name’s Fox Trottingham. I’m Fluttershy’s sister-in-law, and everypony calls me Foxy.”

Rarity’s eyes widened, “Wait a minute, I recognize you! You’re Foxy Trot! You’re a legend!”

Foxy’s blush grew brighter as she turned rubbed her neck with her hoof. “Um, yeah, I guess I did do some stuff back in the day.”

“Now that I think about it, I recognize the name Foxy Trot, as well.” said Twilight. “Weren’t you and Sapphire Shores a duo?”

“Not just a duo, Twilight.” Rarity piped up, grabbing Twilight by the neck and looking longingly at Foxy. “They were the greatest artistic spectacle in all of Equestria! Their live shows were a beautifully eclectic mix of burlesque dancing, baroque inspired pop, and electronica nopony preceded or succeeded! They were…Le Maison de l’Ombre!”

Foxy confusedly replied, “Umm, actually, it was House of Shadows.”

Rarity blushed and lowered her head, “Sorry, Foxy. I tend to speak gratuitous French sometimes.”

Foxy smiled warmly, charmed by her star struck fan’s quirkiness.

“Anyway,” Twilight continued, “Who’s everypony else?’

At this point, all the mystery colts and stallions had gathered around Twilight and her entourage, each readying themselves to be introduced. Fluttershy began with the colts. “These are my nephews, Free-fall and Dragon-kick.” The two colts were immediately enthralled by the sight of Spike. They approached him eagerly.

“Oh wow! A dragon” was among the numerous astonished declarations shared between Dragon-kick and Free-fall. Foxy wasn’t the only one in the room to have an admirer or two.

“Do you breathe fire?”

“How strong are you?”

“Do you fly fast?”

Spike basked in his newfound fame. It took him back to the time when he and Twilight first came to Ponyville and met Fluttershy, who lathered him with attention, adoration, and questions. He remembered that fondly.

“Ha! Why yes, yes I do breathe fire.” Spike proudly boasted.

“Cooool” the colts said in wide-eyed unison.

“Well, it seems the colts have taken quite the liking to my assistant.” Twilight said, turning back to Foxy, “Yours?”

Foxy nodded. “Yes. You’ll have to excuse them; they’ve never seen a dragon before.”

Twilight flicked her hoof, “Don’t worry about it. Trust me; Spike’s not the one to pass up a little attention.”

At this point, Spike and his fan club had migrated to the living room where they could continue asking him questions of dragon life uninterrupted.

“I must say, I never seen a dragon that didn’t look at all threatening.” The younger looking stallion observed. “How’d he even come to living with you…umm…?”

“Twilight Sparkle; and as for Spike, I hatched his egg when I was a filly, and I’ve had him ever since. One day, he’ll be a real dragon, but hopefully, he’ll always be himself at heart. By the way, I still haven’t caught your name?”

“My name’s Saltine. Flutters is my sister, and I’m also the puzzle to this hot piece right here.” He said, grabbing hold of Foxy.

Foxy giggled at her husband, “Stop it, you’re so corny.”

Saltine replied, “I keep telling you, sugarcube, it’s just a Foalandoism. But I guess if it’s corny, then just call me a cornball.”

“Hoo, shoot. Ah don’t think anypony from anywhere be caught dead usin’ that one.” Applejack jested.

“Maybe not, but I say what I want, and nopony can say boo.” Saltine replied.

“Saying boo? Boy, there’s talkin’ independent and then there’s talkin’ like a school-filly on the playground.” The older looking stallion jokingly mused.

Fluttershy introduced this final pony, “Everypony: I’d like you to meet…my father.”

“It’s a pleasure making all your acquaintance. The name’s Saltlick.”

Applejack extended her hoof out to the orange stallion. “Well howdy doo, Mr. Saltlick. Any family o’ Fluttershy’s is a friend o’ mahne. The name’s Applejack.”

A big smile came across Saltlick’s face. “Oh so you’re Applejack. You’re Crispin’s filly, right?”

Suddenly the scene just stopped dead in its tracks. How did this stranger, Fluttershy’s father know who Applejack’s late father was?

The answer to this and many other questions will be answered in the next episode. (PS: A shiny nickel for whoever gets this reference.)

Next Chapter: 5. Crashing Down (Metaphorically) Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 58 Minutes