Friendship is Magic:Equestrian Heroes
Chapter 217: Fluttershy Puts Her Hoof Down! That Flashback!
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Naruto x Rarity x Twilight x Fluttershy x Applejack x Pinkie Pie x Rainbow Dash x Ditzy x Luna x ? x ?
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For Normal Speech
Inner thoughts, Text read, Italics used to represent characters speaking in different language.
Demonic rage, Demonic characters, Kurama Speak
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Story Start
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Fluttershy's evening was a rather pleasant and interesting one. Tonight Naruto and Twilight were out on a date to which the Pegasus was babysitting Scootaloo and Nyx for them.
"Fluttershy you got to help her!" Scootaloo suddenly exclaimed as she dragged the midnight filly behind her into the room.
Fluttershy was suddenly alarmed and rushed to their side. "Oh my goodness what happened? Are you okay Nyx? Did you hurt yourself? What's wrong?" Zipping from spot to spot checking the filly all over and firing questions at her before she could answer.
"No, no, Nyx isn't hurt Fluttershy. She's just super quiet and timid and no matter how much the girls and I try to help her be more aggressive she just shies away from it."
Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief.
"B-But Scootalo I don't want to upset or make anypony feel bad." Nyx explained.
Scootaloo was on the verge of pulling her mane out. "Fluttershy, pops has been helping you become more assertive right. Can't you give her pointers or something?"
"Its not that simple Scootaloo." Fluttershy explained as she beckon the girls to follow her. She led them to the living room and told them to wait there. A little while later she brought out some tea for herself, juice for the girls, and muffins. "I know you want to help Nyx be more assertive Scootaloo, but when you push things they don't always work out. I learned that lesson the hard way when I allowed myself to be over assertive."
"What do you mean? What happened?"
"Well, to put this in perspective this happened many months ago."
Some time prior to the fight against Discord.
"Lunch time!" Fluttershy rang a bell and called so gently and sweetly. "Who's hungry?" Many animals immediately came out from their homes, even from the outside, and scurried inside, ready to receive their meal. "Plenty for everypony." She began pouring a box of animal food. However, one of the squirrels unexpectedly fell on her head and on the floor. Fluttershy had made a huge pile of food, and all the animals were rushing to eat it
Another mouse came by and knocked the bunny that was eating on top of the hill off from the hill.
All the animals suddenly stopped chewing on their food and looked at Fluttershy for a moment. Surprisingly they ignored her as they continued to ravenously devour their meal.
The sound of rhythmic thumping filled the air drawing her attention.
It was Angel. He had his front legs crossed and his eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Here you go, Angel bunny." Fluttershy began pouring the food in a bowl in front of him but he kicked it upwards, causing it to land on Fluttershy's foot.
She picked the bowl up and shook her to remove the bits of food from her shoe. Angel continued his thumping, causing me to look at him in annoyance instead. "Okay, Mister Picky-pants, you win." She flew over to a table to retrieve a beautifully made salad. "Carrots, lettuce and apples, yum yum yum!" He sniffed it and merely throws it away.
Angel grabbed one of the cucumbers, but he purposely turned his face to a green sickly color, falling to the floor and holding a flower on his body. "Then, what will you eat?" Angel brightened up, stood up, and sped off somewhere. He came back with a recipe book, placing his paw on a picture of the same salad Fluttershy had made, except it had bananas, nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry on top.
"I'm not sure I can even make that." He then thumped his paw angrily on the picture. "Well... I don't want you to starve... Oh, are you sure I can't tempt you with a nice crisp piece of…" She crouched down and held up a piece of lettuce, but Angel just slapped it out of her hand, slapped her face, and placed the picture right on her. She sighed. "I'll make your special recipe."
"Whaaat!? How come anypony…anyone be that ungrateful!? And he even hit you!" Scootaloo voiced her incredulous her arm motions nearly clocking Nyx in the face who ducked to avoid her rather animated friend. "I can't imagine why would he give you such a hard time when you take care of him."
"Unfortunately there are those who see kindness as a weakness and take advantage of the situation."
Fluttershy arrived to the marketplace. The ponies of the town were going about their day either buying the supplies they needed or selling their goods.
She pulled a list from her bag and observed it. The list contained the contents and checklist for the recipe Fluttershy had to make. "Hmm, let's see. Asparagus."
She arrived to the stall selling some. Just as the last pony received his item, Fluttershy was about to purchase one until a unicorn suddenly cut in front of her. "Excuse me... umm... I think you just stepped in front of me...?" Fluttershy tried to point out, but she was too soft. The unicorn ignored her and made her purchase. "Excuse me, I think you made a mistake?" The unicorn grabbed the asparagus with her magic and began walking away with annoyed eyes. "You see I was actually here first and."
"Sorry, didn't notice you there." The unicorn announced, but didn't even mean it as she walked away.
"I know…" Fluttershy lowered her head, looking at the ground sadly.
Fluttershy was just about to step towards the stand but a couple of mares popped in front of her chattering senselessly. "…like, oh well…"
"Hey!" Fluttershy softly exclaimed.
The mare with the huge mane and hot pink bow looked back at her with a look of contempt and responded. "Would you mind moving back? You're in my personal space."
Fluttershy returned widened eyes and looked around to see if she really was. "But—
"Seriously, do you need your asparagus so badly? Get a life." The second pony responded in the same manner as her friend, causing Fluttershy to sadly walk away.
"Dealing with strangers and crowds were pretty low on the list of fears I had to deal with. Your father wanted to help me deal with the more crippling fears like my own shadow!
It was around that point Rarity and Pinkie showed up, having taken notice of what was occurring.
"Fluttershy, you mustn't let them treat you that way."
"Oh, it-it's really no big deal..." Fluttershy replied.
"It's bigger than big, it's double big, you are a pony with a problem." Pinkie Pie added.
"What problem?" Fluttershy asked. Pinkie exchanged a look with Rarity and nodded. Then, she moved Fluttershy to the side and quickly took her place on the front of the line, causing Fluttershy to spin and feel a bit dizzy. "Oh, go right ahead Pinkie Pie, you first."
"Right there!" Pinkie pointed out. "That's the problem."
"You've got to stop being such a doormat." Rarity added.
This resulted in her letting out a surprise response. "A doormat?"
"A pushover, darling." Rarity explained. "You've got to stand up for yourself, promise us."
"Oh, okay. I promise." She answered hesitantly and began walking to the stand. "Oh! Good!" However, a stallion with large coke glasses came by and picked up the last one, dropping the bit. "Oh, that's okay, I don't mind."
Rarity quickly rushed to Fluttershy's side. "Watch and learn." She began walking towards the pony. Touching up her hair and undoing a button on her blouse. "Hold it right there, mister small and handsome."
"Uh, who, me?" Asked the silver fur stallion.
"Oh, of course, you." Rarity worked her charm with a bat of her eye lashes and a bit of a lean showing off a hint of her cleavage. "Nopony ever called you handsome before?"
"Uhh, that'd be a big n-no." He stammered slightly, his cheeks heating up.
"Oh, well they should! How about flexing some of your muscles for me?" Rarity asked, grabbing his hand which caused him to quickly grow. He then flexed his left arm really hard to only present a rather miniscule that was either a really small muscle or a very alarming tumor. Nonetheless, Rarity gasped, and responded in a surprised manner.
"Oh my heavens! Do you think a strong, handsome stallion such as yourself could give my friend the last asparagus?" She grabbed the asparagus from his bag, raising his hand and placing a bit in it.
He mumbled bashfully as Rarity walked back with the asparagus. "Nuhh."
"See, that's not so hard, is it?" Rarity asked as she opened Fluttershy's bag and placed the asparagus in there.
"...um... I guess not." Fluttershy responded.
"Alright then! What else is on your list?" She opened it to view it.
"Let's see... I also need tomatoes." Fluttershy announced, which led them to a tomato stand. This time, there was no pony in line. Fluttershy walked up to the stand and used her wing to brush the three tomatoes off and into her bag. Then, she placed a bit on the counter. "Here you go." Afterwards, she began walking back to them happily.
The tomato stallholder looked at the bit, a bit surprised, and cleared her throat, catching Fluttershy attention. "That'll be two bits. Not one."
"Oh, but last week it was only one bit…"
"That was then, this is now."
"Oh, okay. I don't wanna argue about it." Fluttershy replied, placing a bit on the counter. Instead of Rarity this time it was Pinkie contending with the situation.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Mindin' my own business, maybe you should try it!"
"Two bits for tomatoes is outrageous, one bit is the right price." Pinkie placed a hand on one bit and brought it back to her side.
"I say it's two bits." The stallholder placed her hand on the bit and brought it back to her.
Pinkie narrowed her eyes and brought it back. "One bit."
"Two bits!" The stallholder pointed towards the sign that presented two bits for three tomatoes.
"One bit!" Pinkie brought up her own custom made sign that actually displayed one bit for three tomatoes.
"Two bits!" The stallholder argued.
"One bit!" Pinkie pounded her palm on the counter, causing the bit to hop back to her side.
"Two bits!" The stall holder did the same, but with both of her hands.
"Two bits!" Pinkie Pie argued, now using reverse psychology and pulling the bit, but merely placing it on the stallholder's side again.
"One bit!" The stallholder exclaimed, now proving Pinkie's method successful and placing the bit on her side.
"Two bits!" Pinkie moved it back.
"One bit!" She insisted.
"I insist it's two bits or nothing!"
"One bit and that's my final offer!"
"Have it your way, one bit it is!" Pinkie Pie quickly responded and took the bit with her. "See? Asserting yourself can be fun!"
"I guess you're right!" Fluttershy replied, feeling better now.
"So, Fluttershy, do you feel like giving it a try?" Rarity asked.
"Um... okay." She then stopped, seeing something that caught her eye. "I need that cherry." She quickly flew to the stall holder and began speaking to him. "Boy am I glad you have one cherry left. You see I'm making this special meal for my bunny Angel, he's a very picky eater, and the recipe calls for a cherry on top." She grabbed the bit from her bag. "Here you go." She said as the bit clinked on the stall.
"So, you say you need this cherry 'very badly'."
"Oh, yes, I'm desperate for it!"
"Then it'll be ten bits!"
"Ten?" Fluttershy widened her eyes and looked at her friends.
Fluttershy narrowed her eyes in determination and then began her attempt to win the cherry. "Oh, hey, mister handsome, I know you wanna do the right thing because you're handsome and strong and big, handsome, strong guys are always nice to everypony, right?" Her attempt was cute, but being alluring and a smooth talker Fluttershy was not.
"Ten bits for the cherry." He dead panned. Even if he wasn't a colt cuddler he was sure that bad attempt would have killed any interest.
Fluttershy looked over at them again, noticing Rarity nod her head as Pinkie flipped her hand to motion Fluttershy to try her method.
"Ten bits for one cherry's outrageous! I insist on paying you... eleven bits!"
"Eleven bits?"
"Umm...I mean, nine bits!"
"Er, now wait a minute."
"Okay, twelve bits, but that's my final offer!"
"I think you're confused."
"It's twelve bits, take it or leave it."
"Okay, I'll take it!"
"But Miss Fluttershy surely the vendor had to have known you from living in the same town for so long. Why would he pull something so under handed?" Nyx wondered.
"Yeah, no way pops wouldn't give him the ten spot treatement."
A disapproving look formed on Fluttershy's face. "Scootaloo you should never choose violence unless as a last resort to protect others. " She paused to collect herself. "Now where was I?"
Another pony walked by, carrying two bits with her magic. "I'll give you two bits for that cherry!" She placed the bits and removed the cherry from the stall.
The gathering of the cherry was a failure, but surely something so miniscule wouldn't have mattered right?
That's what Fluttershy thought before she ended up wearing that salad. Mostly cleaned up Fluttershy went to retrieve her mail.
One stood out from her usual bills and fan letters.
A pamphlet.
"The incredible Iron Will turns doormats into dynamos. Assertiveness seminar today, hedge maze center." She narrowed her eyes in determination as she thought about something. "As Celestia as my witness, I'm never gonna be a pushover again!"
The Seminar was at a hedge maze.
The front of the maze contained a banner with the same symbol that was on the pamphlet.
Before them was a stage. A high quality one with support beams and fine wood floors.
Suddenly, loud music began playing. The spotlight shined on the stage as smoke filled the area. All of this was run by two goats of the opposite color. Then, a large blue furred Minotaur with a tuft of black hair appeared on the stage, swinging and flinging his arms around as fireworks exploded on stage. The crowd responded with claps and hoof stomps. He then flexed his arms, displaying his muscles as he kissed each one tenderly.
"Welcome, friends!" He announced as he walked on the stage. "My name is Iron Will, and today is the first day of your new life! I wanna hear you stomp if you're tired of being a pushover!" The crowd stomped. "Stomp if you're tired of being a doormat!" They repeated their action. "Stomp if you wanna pay nothing for this seminar!" They stomped and cheered, but it soon slowed down into general confusion and then laughter. Iron Will looked at the crowd seriously and snorted causing them to immediately become silent. "That's no joke, friends. Iron Will is so confident that you will be one hundred percent satisfied with Iron Will's assertiveness techniques, that if you are not one hundred percent satisfied, you. Pay. Nothing. But I pity the fool who doubts Iron Will's methods." He faced directly with a pony. "You don't doubt me, do you?"
"Uh-uh, no sir..." He responded along with the general agreement from the others, providing a nervous face.
"That, my friends, is your first lesson." He announced as he stood on top of the two goats, who seemed to not mind it at all. "'Don't be shy, look 'em in the eye.'" The ponies in the crowd chattered in agreement. "Now, to demonstrate that Iron Will's techniques will work for anypony, I'm gonna need a volunteer."
"…let me guess you were the volunteer?" Scootaloo guessed.
"it was as if you were there."
Fluttershy's attempt to get on stage were blocked by the light colored goat.
"Whoaa! He's blocking your path. What are you gonna do about it?" Iron Will asked.
"Um, politely walk around him?" Fluttershy guessed.
"No." He answered, crossing his arms.
"Gingerly tip-toe around him?"
"No." He emphasized.
"Go back home and try again tomorrow?"
"No! 'When somepony tries to block, show them that you rock!'" He lightly pushed her towards the goat, causing the goat to fall down on the floor.
"Oh! Sorry." Fluttershy apologized.
"Don't be sorry! Be assertive! 'Never apologize, when you can criticize.'" He cleared his throat and then planted his face in front of the goat. "Why don't you watch where you're going!" He faced Fluttershy again. "Now, you try."
"Uh... next time, get out of the way before... I bump into you, 'cause... I totally won't be sorry when I do!"
It wasn't exactly what Iron Will was looking for…but he grabbed Fluttershy's hand and raised in front of the crowd "You see my friends! If my techniques can work for this shy, little pony, then they can work for anypony!"
Fireworks exploded as the crowd cheered. Fluttershy looked around the crowd.
"For a while it felt really good." Fluttershy admitted with a sigh. "When you've held things in for so long they feel amazing when you let them out. Problem is when you held in as much as I did its difficult to find moderation. My little descent started with the gardener."
"Excuse me, Mr. Greenhooves, but I-I think you might be over-watering my petunias..." She commented as she walked over to him. . "...again..."
"Let the professional handle it."
A determined look came to Fluttershy. "Treat me like a pushover, and you'll get the once over'" She faced the hose and stepped on it, halting the water flow towards the outside. The pony noticed this and shook it. After, he placed the hole in front of his eye. Fluttershy then released the water, causing it burst on him. He coughed and sputtered. "Well, perhaps that is enough water…"
"Thank you." She responded.
When she reached the main bridge to town a couple of ponies were carrying carts and blocking the way as they talked to each other. "Showpony business is tough." Aah that's right Bon Bon. If Fluttershy was remembering correctly Bon Bon did a bit of theater while she was in school and was a voice actress for recorded crystal broadcasts that were becoming more and more popular nowadays.
"Go ahead, try one of your jokes out on me, I laugh at everything." The other added. The pink one with the blond mane and tail she was vaguely familiar with. She believe her name was cherry berry.
"Okay, okay, okay. A donkey and a mule are stuck on a desert island..."
Fluttershy noticed how they were lagging around, so she cleared her throat boldly. "Excuse me? Would you mind moving your carts so we can pass?"
They poked their heads around to see us right behind them. "Yeah yeah, in a minute, I just wanna finish up this story. And so the donkey says to the mule…"
"Yeah yeah, in a minute! So the donkey says to the mule...
"'When somepony tries to block, show them that you rock!'" Fluttershy commented and walked up to the carts.
"...and the mule says…"
Fluttershy kicked the carts, causing them to fly upwards and leak what was of all things on top of the two ponies.
"Ugh, easy does it, lady. We're moving, okay?" Cherry responded as they began moving.
"Good!" Fluttershy announced and began walking towards town.
"It only got worse from there. I was beginning to enjoy the feelings more and more. And I grew a little bit crueler each time I asserted myself."
"Heyyy, look at you!" Pinkie expressed at the counter. She and Rarity took notice of Fluttershy expressing herself by getting to the front of the line with her feisty barbs.
"Oh, your attitude is so feisty, it's fabulous." Rarity added as Pinkie nodded.
A little arrogantly Fluttershy replied with a, "Thanks." She then added. "I learned it from Iron Will's seminar."
"Well, looks like that workshop really paid off!" Pinkie stated.
"Iron Will's a true inspiration. His techniques really work."
"Well, they've certainly made a difference in the way you carry yourself. You truly are a whole new Fluttershy." Rarity replied.
"Yes I am." Fluttershy looked at her hand as if she had just received a pedicure. "And new Fluttershy feels pretty stoked about new Fluttershy."
"Well, old Pinkie Pie feels really proud of new Fluttershy. Proud as pink punch." She dove under the counter and pulled out a bowl of pink punch. "Want some?" She snorted and giggled, falling towards the floor from her own joke, but by the look on Fluttershy, she didn't take it that way…
"You laugh at me, I wrath at you!' "
Fluttershy pushed the bowl of pink punch towards Pinkie, shocking both Rarity and Pinkie as she held the bowl on her head. Afterwards, Fluttershy began walking out the door. "Bye, girls!" As Fluttershy jumped out of the sweet shop, everypony outside immediately ran away. "What a day. Taxi!" She waved her hand and called a nearby taxi.
The taxi came towards Fluttershy to give her a ride, but suddenly another pony jumped on the carriage and smiled happily as if she wasn't even there.
"Oh no you don't. 'Cut in line, I'll take what's mine!'" Fluttershy instantly pounced in the air and right on top of him, furiously fighting, landing punches and throwing out the pony in front of them. "Nopony pushes new Fluttershy around!" Fluttershy exclaimed as she raised a curved arm. "Nopony!" She screamed loudly, causing the taxi driver to become frightened and quickly take off with her inside.
And it was around that time her two friends make a decision to get involved.
"Old Pinkie Pie is not so sure new Fluttershy is such a good idea after all." Pinkie commented after watching the mess happen.
"Old Rarity agrees." Rarity responded. Fluttershy being violent? Actually throwing a punch? This was so uncharacteristic of her foalhood friend she couldn't even come up with the words.
Fluttershy gasped when the mail she had in her hand dropped and fell into the puddle.
"Oh, that's a shame."
Fluttershy growled loudly. " 'You make me lose, I blow my fuse!" She quickly grabbed the tourist's camera and literally swung him around until she let go and had him fly towards a nearby stack of hay while the camera rung the bell in the tower.
"Fluttershy! What are you doing? You would never hurt anypony!" Pinkie Pie exclaim.
"Didn't you see what he did to new Fluttershy? And he thought new Fluttershy was a pushover!"
"No sweetie, he didn't." Rarity answered. "We saw the whole thing. We think that you've taken your assertiveness training a little too far."
"What? You just want new Fluttershy to be a doormat like old Fluttershy! But old Fluttershy is gone!" The speaking in third person. The mood swings. It was becoming apparent that a lifetime of holding in all this and now suddenly letting it all out had Fluttershy reacting emotionally and mentally without a filter.
"We just want Fluttershy, our friend, the sweet element of Kindness back." Rarity insisted.
"No, you want wimp Fluttershy." She argued as she flew around us. "You want pushover Fluttershy. You want do-anything-to-her-and-she-won't-complain Fluttershy!"
"Nyaaaaah! Too many Fluttershies to keep track of! Make it stop!" Pinkie Pie announced in a confused manner, holding her hands to her head.
"Things getting too complicated for your simple little brain, Pinkie Pie?" Fluttershy asked mockingly.
"Now, stop right there! Let's not let things descend into petty insults!" Rarity demanded.
"Why not? I thought 'petty' was what you're all about, Rarity. With your 'petty' concerns about fashion." Fluttershy attacked with her words, causing Rarity to gasp and begin tearing up.
It was one thing if a stranger insulted her, but somepony who was one of her most cherished friends. Somepony who she loved like a sister? That cut her pretty deep.
"Hey, leave her alone!" Pinkie defended. "Fashion is her passion!"
"Oh, and what are you passionate about? Birthday cake? Party hats? I can't believe that the two most frivolous ponies in Ponyville are trying to tell new Fluttershy how to live her life when they are throwing their own lives away on pointless pursuits that nopony else gives a flying feather about!" She exclaimed as both Rarity and Pinkie Pie formed tears in their eyes.
"Looks like nasty Fluttershy is here to stay!" Pinkie responded as she began to cry.
"I cannot believe what that Iron Will has done to you!" Rarity added in the same manner.
Then, they immediately ran away crying and the magnitude sunk in.
Fluttershy let out a gasp of horror as she replayed what she said in her mind. "I'm…a monster!"
Both Nyx and Scootaloo were speechless. Fluttershy was the last pony they thought could ever say something so cruel.
"My greatest shame!" Fluttershy admitted with a heavy expression. "I wanted to lash out at them. I wanted to hurt them. Even now I can't fully explain what was on my mind." With that she continued finishing the story as she carefully tried to recall all the details her friends had told her about what happened.
"…Fluttershy…? Are you in there…? It's us… Pinkie, and Rarity…"
"Go away!" She exclaimed, not wanting to speak to them. "I'm a horrible pony I don't deserve friends like you."
"Oh, sweetie, we all said things that we regret." Rarity added.
"We did?" Pinkie questioned. She don't remember doing such a thing.
Rarity immediately placed her hand on Pinkie's mouth and shushed her.
"Pinkie's right. I'm the only one to blame." Fluttershy continued. "But don't worry, I'm never coming out of my house again."
"Fluttershy so you took Iron Will's advice and went too far? That doesn't mean you can't make things right. Being assertive is more than being physical and yelling at everypony!" Pinkie told her through the door.
"Yes! You can stand up for yourself without being unpleasant about it." Rarity agreed. "Being strong and sure of yourself that is the right path to assertiveness."
"I, I'm not sure I can, I'm too far gone. Whenever I try to assert myself, I just feel this burning mean sensation and have this urge to lash out at others. I feel like a monster." Fluttershy responded.
"Oh, sweetie, you're not a monster." Rarity assured.
"No, but he looks like he could be one." Pinkie pointed towards Iron Will, who was standing on top of the black goat that was on top of the bridge.
They walked over to him.
"Iron Will's my name, training ponies is my game." He announced with a thumbs up.
There was a pause as Pinkie and Rarity tried to understand what he just meant.
"What a darling little catchphrase." Rarity expressed.
"Your friend Fluttershy loved Iron Will's catchphrases. Word on the street is that she doesn't take no guff from nopony! So, Iron Will is here to collect Iron Will's fee." He stated and began making his way up here.
"Fluttershy is in no shape to deal with that creep!" Pinkie told Rarity.
Rarity took in a breath as she began running after Iron Will. "I'm sure a big, brave, powerful and rich minotaur, like you, doesn't need that money right away. You can afford to come back later."
"Are you kidding? Fluttershy is overdue as it is. Iron Will collects now." He grabbed Rarity's horn and placed her over a bush, dropping her there despite her protest of getting ponyhandled like trash.
Just before he was about to make a move, Pinkie Pie quickly intervened.
"We're not even sure Fluttershy is home right now." He grabbed her and held her up to move her out of the way. "Uh, she might be off frolicking with some woodland creatures, uh, why don't you give us some time to track her down for ya?"
He then released her. "Iron Will does have some grocery shopping to do…" He pulled out a list and carried a small white basket with his left arm. "Iron Will will come back this evening!"
"But that's only half a day. We need one full day at least." Pinkie argued.
"Iron Will will delay for half a day and no longer!"
"A full day!" Pinkie now began her method of asserting.
"Half day!"
"Full day!"
"Half day!"
"Half day!"
"Full day!"
"We need half a day and no more!" Pinkie shouted as she jumped in the air.
"Well you'll get a full day and no less!" Iron Will caught her by the tail and responded as well.
"Okie dokie. See you tomorrow." Pinkie Pie cheerfully replied as she walked on air.
"Wait, what?" Iron Will questioned, confused, and lowered Pinkie.
Then, suddenly Fluttershy sneezed inside.
"Huh, sounds like the search won't be necessary. Iron Will collects now."
"But we had an agreement! You gotta come back tomorrow!"
" 'When somepony tries to block, show them that you rock!' " Iron Will stated and grabbed Pinkie, throwing her off the hill and into a mud puddle.
"Your payment is overdue, Fluttershy!" He raised his fist, as if he was about to strike down the door, but he actually just knocked lightly. Fluttershy opened the door and came out as we stared in suspense. Iron Will snorted and began speaking. "You were nothing but a doormat, and Iron Will turned you into a lean, mean, assertive machine! Now, pay Iron Will what you owe Iron Will!"
"Um, no." Fluttershy frankly responded.
"What did you say?" He asked in an intimidating way.
Fluttershy didn't look scared. She didn't look timid. She just looked him right in the eye. "No."
"Ohhh, I'd hate to be you right now," He replied as he bended the wood with anger. "Because Iron Will is gonna to rain down a world of hurt unless Iron Will gets his money pronto!"
As he snorted, Fluttershy only returned a determined and challenging look as she began to create a response. "As I recall, during your workshop you promised one hundred percent satisfaction guaranteed, or you pay nothing." She stated as she walked over to me to help me. "Well, I'm not satisfied." She boldly glanced over at him.
"What do you mean you're not satisfied? Everypony has always been satisfied!"
"Well I guess I'm the first then." She responded as she helped me up. "But since I'm not satisfied, I refuse to pay. "It's as simple as that."
Fluttershy continued to face Iron Will in a bold manner. He returned a surprised look. The two goats of his joined him in a circle talk about what to do with the situation he was in. After several seconds of their bleating, they glanced back and then returned to their bleating.
"Ohh, are you... sure you're not just a little bit satisfied?" He asked as he rubbed his head and then began to mess with his tie nervously. "B-because maybe... we could, cut a deal, I-I mean, we're both reasonable creatures, aren't we?"
"I'm sorry, but no means no." Fluttershy clearly and boldly stated.
"No means no, huh?" The black goat began carrying him. "Nopony's ever said that to me before. Huh... I gotta remember that one. That's a good catchphrase for my next workshop." He grabbed the white basket from the white goat and soon was on his way out of here.
Rarity and Pinkie Pie immediately rushed over to her.
"You were amazing, Fluttershy! You totally stood up him!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as they both held out their hooves to hug Fluttershy.
"In fact, you didn't change at all! You were the same old Fluttershy that we've always loved!" Rarity added.
"The one we've missed!" Pinkie included.
"Don't worry, old Fluttershy's back for good. I'm sorry I took the whole assertiveness thing too far.
And about how I feel about your crafts. They're not useless pursuits at all. Rarity your designs spark much creativity and interest from ponies. They are expressions of your artistic soul and that's what makes them amazing.
And you, Pinkie, your parties are joy incarnate and wonderfully spread laughter. You spend your time making others happy and have a major impact on the lives of others by making them better.
You both help out others in your own special way and I feel so ashamed that I would ever make you feel bad about your life's calling? Could you ever forgive me?"
The two of them returned teary eyes, but of joy this time. "Of course we do!"
The trio embraced each other. Everything was going to be okay.
The next day Fluttershy had finished setting up the food for her animal critters firmly insisting that they didn't need to compete so harshly for food.
They listened.
Angel of course began his tantrum like last time.
He crossed his paws and pushed away the delicious salad Fluttershy made for him. Fluttershy then narrowed her eyes at him, "Angel…" She began calmly. "Its come to my attention that I have been far too soft with you. Now I have been patient. I have been kind. I have done everything I could for you and now I have reached my limits. I only want what's best for you and if you feel I cannot tend to your needs and your well-being is not being tended to then we can find someone else who can." There was no other way to interpret the situation. Angel was spoiled. And only discipline would bring him back in line.
Angel widened his eyes. She would…give him away? Had he truly pushed mama Fluttershy to the point where she didn't want to take care of him anymore?
He had dismissed the other animals and the male that came around that she picked as her mate, but could they be right?
He didn't want to be given away.
He tried a piece of cucumber. He flinched and looked away, thinking it was actually going to taste bad…but he realized he was wrong. He smiled brightly and began chomping down on the salad in the bowl.
"See now this isn't so bad." She said as she pat his head and began going about her duty.
"So you see sometimes its best for ponies to go about certain things at their own pace." Fluttershy finished explaining as she waited to see the girl's reactions.
"I…sorry for pushing you so hard to be more assertive Nyx." Scootaloo apologized, "Just didn't want to see you get bullied."
"Its okay Scootaloo you only wanted to help I understand." She replied. "Could you tell us more stories miss Fluttershy?" the filly looked up to her expectantly.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt." Fluttershy replied with a small, pleasant smile. "How about I tell you the two about the first time I met many of my animal friends here when I was younger?" If relaying her experience was able to help at least one pony then Fluttershy was glad to share it.
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