“Nuzzle me.”

Pinkie stopped in her tracks. She turned around and saw her friend lean in close to her. Fluttershy had a small smile on her face as she closed her eyes, leaning ever so closer to Pinkie.

Unfortunately for her though, Pinkie moved out of the way.

Feeling nothing solid, she quickly opened her eyes and regained her footing before she fell on the floor.

“What’s gotten into you, Fluttershy? You’re acting pretty weird at the moment.”

Pinkie was bouncing around as she began setting up for her next big party. She had a huge success with her previous one just a few days ago that took months in the making, and now she was planning on two parties in the month.

Fluttershy knew she couldn’t do much. She knew she wasn’t very good at events like these. She knew that she was most likely in the way and making it more difficult for her friend.

But she didn’t care.

“I just want to nuzzle…”

Fluttershy was hoping for some physical interaction, nothing intimate. She just wanted…

“Umm, I’m sorry Fluttershy… but you’re making me feel pretty uncomfortable at the moment. And I’m super busy, as you can see. Hey, that rhymes!”

Pinkie giggled, but Fluttershy looked shattered. Fortunately for her though, Pinkie didn’t see.

“Oh, ok. I guess I’ll see you later...”

Fluttershy slowly began moving to the exit of Sugar Cube Corner, hiding her face behind her mane. She barely heard Pinkie saying her goodbyes as she closed the door behind her. She felt dumb, she felt stupid, she felt…uncomfortable with herself. Of course Pinkie wouldn’t give her physical interaction. Why would anypony give her anything?

It wasn’t a pinkie promise anyways…

As she headed back to her cottage she felt a warm stream of tears run down her cheeks. She avoided the main streets so no pony would notice. She didn’t want anyone to see her being at her weakest, even though she knew that every pony already saw her as being the weakest element.

Once reaching the cottage, she hid herself away from her animals. Not wanting them to worry about her. Hugging her pillow, she began sobbing until her eyelids became heavy, and everything became black

---

Fluttershy felt much better. It was a new day and letting some tears out cheered her up a little. Her mind though, was still repeating that one word over and over. She did her best to ignore it for the time being. Fluttershy knew that Pinkie has said hurtful things before without realizing it, which was just the way it is.

As she got closer to Sugar Cube Corner she began feeling fear course through her body. She was scared, but she knew that it would be best to talk to Pinkie about the day before as to why she had such a odd request.

Since Pinkie didn’t remember.

As she opened the entrance she heard multiple voices. Peeking inside she felt her heart skip. She saw Pinkie adding some decorations, but she also saw Berry Punch helping her out. And they were laughing and smiling as they worked.

Fluttershy knew that Berry also had experience with planning parties, especially ones that provided adult beverages. Berry worked with a lot of planners, so it wasn’t surprising that Pinkie asked her for her assistance.

Without being noticed she quietly closed the door, and began heading to the market district to pick up food for her animals.

---

A few days have passed by. All Fluttershy did was just hide under her covers, only to leave them to either get some water or use the restroom. Fluttershy felt bad because she let Angel and the other animals take care of all the chores. In reality she knew she wasn’t really needed, the animals could take care of themselves.

Some of her friends came over to try to see what was wrong, but she never replied when they knocked on her bedroom door. It hurt the most when one of the days she heard Pinkie’s voice, but her voice wasn’t one of worry.

Pinkie just talked about a few random things, as if having a conversation with herself, then left.

Fluttershy didn’t feel any better. She allowed her thoughts attack her. Telling her how worthless and talent less she was once again. And when that word came, all she could hear was Pinkie’s voice saying it over and over.

But she also knew that she had to get up.

She had to talk to Pinkie.

Sluggishly, she washed herself and ate something small. Fluttershy didn’t want to admit it but she was pretty hungry after starving herself for those few days. Her animal friends were still worried about her, but knew they couldn’t do anything to make her feel better.

After everything was needed to be done she went back to where Pinkie was working. Thankfully it was just Pinkie working today, she didn’t feel she could talk to her in front of others.

“Hiya! It’s been, like, forever since we last talked!”

Fluttershy didn’t reply. All she did was look at the floor and moved slowly towards the counter.

“Umm, hi Pinkie… I needed to talk to about the last time I was here.”

Before Pinkie could reply, Fluttershy placed a hoof against her mouth.

“You may have noticed that I’ve been avoiding every pony for a few days. And you probably realized that I was mainly avoiding you.”

Pinkie only nodded, with some of her hair deflating.

“Well, I was angry. I was angry at you, and at myself… I know you don’t remember, but when you first arrived at Ponyville, you had a big party for the whole town. Wanting to make friends with all of Ponyville. I remember it was still one of the biggest parties, but that isn’t the part I remember.”

Finally, Fluttershy looked up at Pinkie. New tears began rolling down her cheeks as her face looked so pitiful.

“You said that if I was ever down I could request some comfort from you. That I could ask for some kind of physical touch, a nuzzle. You told me that I could ask; to reassure me that I was okay with the way I am.”

She closed her eyes tightly, trying to stop the tears from escaping. They burned so badly, it was becoming harder for her to talk as she sobbed, choking for air.

“And now all I see in myself is how much of an uncomfortable pony I really am. I have no talent, Pinkie! The animals can take care of themselves. They don’t need me, no pony or creature needs me. ”

Pinkie flinched; now realizing how much her words hurt her friend. But she didn’t know what to say, so she remained silent and just listened to her sobbing friend.

“And I know that one day, somepony amazing will truly capture your heart. Because I know, I’m not. I know that you will never feel the way I feel about you, and I have already accepted that. But I still don’t want to see you with any pony else, because I’m so scared of you forgetting about me!”

As Fluttershy cried Pinkie went around the counter and hugged her tightly. She apologized for what she had said, and explained her reasons for not wanting to nuzzle. She even gave her one in hopes to make her feel better.

But it didn’t.

Fluttershy knew that after today nothing would be the same between the two. That their friendship has changed, and not for the best. Fluttershy felt like a failure.

That the voice inside her head has won once again.