I awoke the next day with a smile on my face, thanks to Pinkie singing for me yesterday, but all the same, I still needed to keep up with my experience in looking after animals, I wonder if Fluttershy needs help today with the animals after I've done my shopping. I looked on out through the window as well as my pocket-watch and it was already near the lunch hour.

Packing up a few bits, I put on my shoes only and began to walk out to the town. I saw a few stores around some areas, it must be market day, hence the reason for all these tent-ish shops suddenly appearing today. As I trotted on through the markets stalls, I noticed Fluttershy walking slowly towards the stall with asparaguses on sale. When it was her turn, a pony suddenly cut in front of her with no regards to Fluttershy who was right behind her.

This did not sit with me well...Fluttershy is extremely sensitive and I had to do something.

"Uhh, what do you think you're doing, cutting in line?" I asked the mare.

I got no reply as she purchased an asparagus before walking off.

"Wow...no respect."

But when a pair of mares with ridiculous 80's styled manes shoved Fluttershy away, that was it for me.

"Hey, my friend here was in front first." I said to them.

"Ugh and who are you, the loser patrol?"

"I'm an alicorn and I know when to respect ponies, unlike you two!"

"Excuse me?" Her friend replied. "You're like totally uncool, you know that?"

"Well if I was uncool, would I be able to do this?"

I then used an alicorn magic to lift them up off the ground and had them floating around.

"Hey! Put us down you moron!" One of them yelled.

"Bond Racer!" a voice yelled, "Put them down!"

I looked behind, it was Rarity and Pinkie Pie who must've seen it all happening.

"That's not the way to settle things, dear."

"Fine..." I sighed, letting them go...before they ran off until they were out of sight.

Shortly then, we walked up to Fluttershy who was speechless during the time.

"Fluttershy, you mustn't let them treat you that way." Rarity said.

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 fall to the floor. "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.

"A doormat?" Fluttershy questioned, surprised.

"A pushover, darling." Rarity explained. "You've got to stand up for yourself, promise us."

"She's right, I may have helped you out here but I won't always be able to do so." I added.

"Oh okay, I promise."

Fluttershy turned to the stall to see one asparagus on sale...before it was sold by a nerdy pony which left Fluttershy sad.

"Watch and learn." Rarity said as she began walking towards the pony. "Hold it right there, mister small and handsome."

"Uh, who, me?" He asked.

"Oh, of course, you, nopony ever called you handsome before?"

"Uhh, that'd be a big no."

"Oh, well they should! How about flexing some of your muscles for me?"

She then grabbed his hoof which must've gotten him feel excited...I had to say, I was blown away by how Rarity could use her charm to a high standard...she then used a bit of her magic to take the asparagus away from his saddlebag and into Fluttershy's, before we left him in a trance. I tried to laugh on the inside which isn't so hard to do these days.

"See, that's not so hard, is it?" Rarity asked.

"Um...I guess not." Fluttershy responded.

"Well, that's one way of getting what you want." I complimented.

"I have plenty more ways dear, I promise you that." she then did a playful wink and I knew she was kidding. "Alright then! What else is on your list?"

"Let's see, I also need tomatoes." Fluttershy replied which lead us to the tomato stall.

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 saddlebag. Then, she placed a bit on the counter. "Here you go." Afterwards, she began walking back to us happily.

The tomato stall-holder 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.

Pinkie then jumped in, probably to help Fluttershy out.

"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 hoof on one bit and brought it back to her side.

"I say it's two bits." The stallholder placed her hoof on the bit and brought it back to her.

Pinkie narrowed her eyes and brought it back. "One bit."

"Two bits!"

"One bit!"

"Two bits!"

"One bit!"

"Two bits!"

"Two bits!"

"One bit!"

"Two bits!"

"One bit!"

"I insist it's two bits or nothing!"

"One bit and that's my final offer!"

Wow, is it rabbit or duck season again, I wondered.

"Have it your way, one bit it is!" Pinkie Pie quickly responded and took the bit with her. After, we quickly walked away from the stand, smiling after seeing Pinkie do her job. We shared a small laughter. "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 flew over to the cherry stall that had one cherry left. "Boy am I glad you have one cherry left." Fluttershy explained to cherry stall-holder as she began landing and using her wing to retrieve the bit from her saddlebag. "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."

"So, you say you need this cherry 'very badly'."

"Oh, yes, I'm desperate for it!"

"Then it'll be ten bits!"

"What? That's highway robbery!" I yelled.

"Ten bits for the cherry."

Fluttershy looked over at us again, noticing Rarity nod her head as Pinkie flipped her hoof 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 looked over to Rarity and Pinkie Pie to see them notice that Fluttershy was just making things worse. Pinkie dug a hole in the ground and stuck her head in there while Rarity only placed a hoof to her face.

"I think you're confused."

"It's twelve bits, take it or leave it."

"Okay, I'll take it!"

I had enough, I had to intervene, "One bit or nothing. Don't you dare try to scam her from her money."

"Or what, kid?" He responded, aggressively.

I was about to use my magic when Rarity put her hooves around me by the waist, making me lose my concentration.

"Please don't it dear, violence is not the answer for this type of situation." Rarity said to me.

Pinkie placed her hoof on me as well and then looked at Fluttershy. "You shouldn't give him your money! One cherry is not worth twelve bits!"

"But... I was only doing what you did…"

"It was a valiant effort, but you should refuse to give him your business and just walk away." Rarity responded.

"But, I can't let Angel starve! He won't eat it unless I make it just right! I need that cherry no matter what it costs!" Fluttershy began flying towards the stand, but stall-holder heard us and changed the deal.

"In that case, twenty bits!"

"Twenty?" Fluttershy widened her eyes and stopped. "Oh, but, I don't have that much!"

"Then why're you wasting my time?"

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.

"Sold! Eh, tough break, kid. Next time, don't be such a doormat."

Fluttershy frowned and began walking away sadly, whilst Pinkie and Rarity who were still holding on to me could only watch her and feel sorry for her...why was the pushover attitudes happening today I wondered.

"Umm, girls...I can't breathe..." I said to them before they let me go.

"Bond, I understand that you want to help us out..." Rarity said to me, "...but you can't keep fighting all of our battles when sometimes, we need to do them on our own, do you understand what I mean, dear?"

"I do...I just wish I could get a bit of payback of my own after that stall holder insulted me...I am in no way a kid." I replied.

"Aww come on and smile, I helped you to smile yesterday, didn't I?" Pinkie asked.

"Yeah...I guess I forgot about that for a moment."

"Let's go to Sugarcube Corner, I have a new batch of cookies for sale."

"Thanks Pinkie...I would like that."

As we turned around, I used a bit of magic to set a corner of the cherry stall on fire when nopony was looking...I smiled as the stall holder fetched a bucket of water to try and put it out, which he did and sighed. I felt much better after that as we walked from the market area and into Sugarcube Corner in town. There Pinkie got me a bag of cookies to share along with Rarity who had one.

Some time later, a queue began to form in the shop, so Pinkie had to take charge which was fine with us. Then we saw Fluttershy turn up by outside the shop. She was in queue when a pony tapped her from behind and when Fluttershy was looking back, the light blue mare cut in line in front of her...oh no, here we go again.

"What do you think you're doing? Didn't you see me?" Fluttershy asked her in a displeased emotion.

"Uhh, I guess maybe." the light blue pony replied.

"Maybe? Maybes are for babies!" She placed her hoof on the pony and spun her around, making her face her. "Now go to the back of the line where you belong!"

The light blue mare then zoomed out of the shop...and so did every other pony who saw it all...okay that was strange and where the heck did that aggressive behaviour come from, is she going crazy again.

"Hey look at you." Pinkie said.

"Oh, your attitude is so feisty, it's fabulous." Rarity added as Pinkie nodded.

"Maybe a little too feisty for her own good." I muttered, hoping nopony heard me.

"Thanks, it's all part of Iron Will's lessons." Fluttershy replied.

"Well, looks like that monster's workshop really paid off!" Pinkie stated.

"Iron Will's not a monster, he's a Minotaur and 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 and Fluttershy feels pretty stoked about new Fluttershy."

Talking in a third person now as well...who is this Iron Will and what has he done to Fluttershy?

"Well, old Pinkie Pie feels really proud of new Fluttershy...proud as pink punch." Pinkie said as she 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!' "

"No, no, no, wait, she was only-"

I got cut off as Fluttershy pushed the bowl of pink punch towards Pinkie, shocking both Rarity and Pinkie as she held the bowl on her head.

"Bye, all!" As Fluttershy jumped out of the sweet shop, everypony outside immediately ran away. "What a day. Taxi!" She waved her hoof and called a nearby taxi as I stood at the porch of the building. Pinkie and Rarity soon joined me. 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.

"Uh-oh…" I slipped out.

"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 us. "Nopony pushes new Fluttershy around!" Fluttershy exclaimed as she raised a curved hoof. "Nopony!" She screamed loudly, causing the taxi driver to become frightened and quickly take off with her inside.

"Okay...this has now become a major problem." I pointed out in my obvious fashion.

"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.

"Bond, we're gonna go and try to stop her before it's too late!" Rarity said to me. "We'll be alright."

"Yeah! I'm pretty sure she'll listen!" Pinkie Pie agreed happily.

"Okay girls, I have a bit of shopping to finish off. I'll see you two later." I replied as they galloped off.

I carried on with my shopping around town before checking off all I needed on my list and walking back home...but I was worried about Fluttershy, so after heading into my home and storing my shopping away in my cupboards, I walked out and began to walk to her cottage, when I saw Pinkie and Rarity run past by me and in tears...I'm guessing their idea didn't work.

It was Sunset by the time I caught up to them and I saw them crying by the lake, I sighed as I walked towards them.

"Oh girls..." I said to them as I opened up my hooves to give them both a caring hug together. "What happened?"

"We tried to change her back to normal but she went crazy on us." Pinkie sniffed as she and Rarity accepted the hug.

"In other words, she became a bully...making fun of the things we loved." Rarity added.

I continued to hug them, "It's all thanks to Iron Will's training at the end of the day....and from the looks it, it's going to take much more than you two to solve this problem." I said gently.

"You're right dear, why don't you go talk to Fluttershy, we need a bit of time to ourselves."

"Alright, I'll do my best...don't you worry girls, I'll have the old Fluttershy back for all of us."

I then flew up and towards Fluttershy's cottage, but when I got there and landed down, I found the windows and door all boarded up on the outside...this surprised me a bit as I walked over and knocked on her door.

"Fluttershy, it's only me." I called out in a careful manner.

"Go away!" She exclaimed from inside, sounding muffled on the out. "Go away before nasty Fluttershy strikes again!"

"Oh Fluttershy, I just want to let you know that everypony in their lives has at least done or said something they regret....you're not the first and you won't be the last."

"You're right. I'm the only one to blame." Fluttershy continued. "But don't worry, I'm never coming out of my house again. Everypony will be a lot safer with me and my mean mouth locked away."

"But it's not your fault overall, you just received some bad advice from this Iron Will character...besides, there are other ways to assert yourself besides yelling at everypony. You can stand up for yourself without being unpleasant about it."

"I, I'm not sure I can, I'm too far gone. Whenever I try to assert myself, I become a monster." Fluttershy responded.

"Don't say that, you're not a monster." I assured as I then turned around to find a Minotaur with two goats. "But this guy is..." I muttered.

"Iron Will's my name, training ponies is my game." He announced with a thumbs up.

"Uh, interesting catchphrase." I replied in confusion.

"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 began walking up towards the door, but I wanted to stop him.

"Umm, you can't see her now, she is in no condition to see you right now." I told him.

"Are you kidding? Fluttershy is overdue as it is. Iron Will collects now."

Then he grabbed by the horn and flew me at the side of the house like a dart and my horn got stuck...this is bad...

By then, I saw Pinkie and Rarity turn up to see the horror happening as they galloped towards me and tried to get me off the side of the house...after a second, I was free but now we had to sit back and pray for Fluttershy.

Iron Will grabbed all the wooden boards and threw them away. "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!"

He then did some kind of shuffle moves...I guess everyday he's shuffling...

"Now, pay Iron Will what you owe Iron Will!"

"Um, no." Fluttershy frankly responded.

Pinkie fainted, my jaw almost completely dropped and the goats bleated in shock.

"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!"

But to our surprise, Fluttershy didn't seem affected as she began to speak. "As I recall, during your workshop you promised one hundred percent satisfaction guaranteed, or you pay nothing...well, I'm not satisfied."

"What do you mean you're not satisfied? Everypony has always been satisfied!"

"Well I guess I'm the first then, but since I'm not satisfied, I refuse to pay, it's as simple as that."

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 at us (but mostly at Fluttershy), 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 he and the goats left.

Rarity and Pinkie Pie immediately rushed over to Fluttershy.

"You were amazing, Fluttershy! You totally stood up to that monster!" 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. Friends?" She offered.

The two of them returned teary eyes, but of joy this time. "Friends!"

They hugged each other, giggling as well as I could only smile warmly at the scene. Fluttershy came towards me shortly, "Thank you for helping the three of us today." she said, giving me a hug which I accepted.

"It's alright, but at the end of the day, you were the one who fought a tough battle and came out on top." I replied with a smile.

"Even though you slightly helped her but in a support way which is okay." Rarity added.

"Yeah I guess...let's help clean up the cottage, shall we?"

"Whee, let's do this!" Pinkie exclaimed.

We helped out and around the cottage for a while and after we were done, Rarity and Pinkie said their goodbyes and left to go back to their homes whilst Fluttershy came up to me with a question.

"Do you mind if you write a letter for me to take to Twilight so she can send it to the Princess?"

I smiled warmly. "Sure." I found a spare piece of paper around and a pencil and began to write whilst Fluttershy smiled and closed her eyes to begin speaking.

"Dear Princess Celestia, sometimes it can be hard for a shy pony like me to stand up for myself, and when I first tried it, I didn't like the pony I became. But I've learned that standing up for yourself isn't the same as changing who you are. Now I know how to put my hoof down without being unpleasant, or mean." She stood with the box of food below her, looking at me.

"That is terrific." I praised as I rolled up the paper.

However we noticed Angel begin his tantrum again, not liking what was in his bowl, Fluttershy then used her signature move, The Stare which was the first time I ever saw it and immediately caused Angel to widen his eyes and try a piece of cucumber before liking it and eating the rest of his food...so that's The Stare that Rarity talked about all those months ago.

"Well, I guess I better leave you to finish taking care of your animals." I spoke as I began to leave.

"Alright Bond, thank you again...I'll see you soon." she replied, giving me another hug.

"Same to you, have a good night."

I then left her cottage and trotted over to the library and knocking on the door and opening it.

"Oh hey there Bond, another letter?" Twilight asked.

"Yep and it's from Fluttershy, you won't believe what happened today." I said.

"Well, I'll be sure to hear it sometime...I'll get this letter sent, goodnight Bond."

"Night Twilight."

I then closed the door behind me and began walking home through the beginning of the night. When I got in, I took off my shoes and walked on over to my bed and wrapping a tiny bandage around my horn as the impact of hitting the side of the house by Iron Will was a little painful.

I couldn't believe that one bad training could lead to a pony behaving the exact opposite and not in a good light. Fluttershy and a few of us learnt that the hard way, but she seems to be back to her old self now and it seems that Angel is going to learn to behave from now on. Next Chapter: It's About Time Estimated time remaining: 18 Hours, 19 Minutes