Twilight Sparkle stood on the stoop of her library tree home, breathing deeply of the morning air.

"It smells like another wonderful morning in Ponyville!"

Her pronouncement was punctuated by the soft thunk of fibrous nuggets against the welcome mat.

"What should I do today?" she asked aloud, flicking her tail. "Maybe I should go visit one of my friends! Maybe Fluttershy!"

After all, she thought as she trotted down the road, the shy yellow pegasus was the pony she'd seen least of her newfound friends since coming to Ponyville three days ago. Fluttershy just didn't get out as much as Applejack or Rainbow Dash. If Twilight was going to learn about friendship, then she should make an effort to visit all her friends equally.

"Good morning!" she called to a passing blue stallion. He waved to her and she stepped carefully over the line of road apples behind him. Across the road, a mare lifted her tail and a pleased expression crossed her face for a moment. Twilight waved to her and she waved back.

It was a nice walk to Fluttershy's cottage that morning. She'd thankfully had the foresight to get everypony's addresses at one of Pinkie's parties, and so knew where to find the cottage. The cottage was in a peaceful spot, despite its proximity to the Everfree. The sounds of Ponyville receded into the merest whisper as she got closer. Twilight understood why Fluttershy liked living here, at least.

She left a present for the rhododendrons on the path up to the door, then knocked.

"Fluttershy?" She knocked again. "Hello!" And again. "How many times should I knock before giving up?"

At long last, Fluttershy slid the door open the merest crack. Then, with a small gasp, she poked her head out.

"Oh, it's you, Twilight! How nice to see you."

"Good morning, Fluttershy," Twilight said brightly. "Is this a bad time? I just wanted to visit a little. We haven't done much together since the, you know, Everfree."

"Oh." Fluttershy chewed her lower lip. "It's not that, I... I just don't have many visitors at my house..."

"Do you mind if I come in?"

For a moment, she thought Fluttershy might say no. The door swung all the way open, and Twilight was immediately assaulted by the smell.

Fluttershy's cottage smelled like crap.

"Won't you come in? I-if that's okay, that is."

The smell only got worse inside. Twilight's eyes began to water, and she only became embarrassed when Fluttershy took notice, cheeks reddening.

"I'm sorry, Twilight," she said quietly.

"N-no, it's all right," Twilight said, scrambling to find something to say. Her eyes flicked toward the numerous birdhouses hanging from the rafters. "I'm sure this is just the natural result of living with so many animals, right? I'll get..." She felt her gorge rise. "I'll get used to it."

"It's not the animals." Fluttershy's head drooped and her hair covered her face. "It's me."

Twilight stared at her. "You?"

Fluttershy nodded. "Do you know how many times a day ponies... poop?"

"Fifteen, on average. Why?"

Fluttershy gritted her teeth. "I'm only telling you this because we're friends now. I... I can't go when I'm outside. Around other ponies, I mean. I'm that shy." Her eyes closed and tears formed at the corners. "And when I have to go out to buy food at the market, everypony else is dropping horseapples left and right, and I just... can't! I hold it all in, and I get more constipated than Rarity, and then when I get home, it just..."

Twilight wrapped a leg around her, hugging her tightly. "Shh, Fluttershy, it's okay. I'm sorry."

"But that's why my house smells so bad!" Fluttershy sobbed. "And why I can't have anypony over without feeling h-humiliated..."

Twilight knelt down, trying to look Fluttershy in the eye. "Fluttershy, listen to me. I had problems like this once, and I'll tell you what my mother told me."

Fluttershy calmed slightly and Twilight whispered into her ear. Then Fluttershy started giggling, then snickering, then guffawing and pounding the floor with a hoof. Twilight grinned at her.

"Does that help?"

There was a sound like a foghorn, and something splattered all over the door. Fluttershy's laughter stopped immediately.

"Ah, shit."