Disclaimer: I own only the following: Charles, and anything that doesn't happen in the show proper.

Chapter 20: Green Isn't Your Color

On a bright afternoon Fluttershy waits at a spa reading a magazine for her friend Rarity where they usually spend time together but Rarity seems to be running late. Finally the door opens and Rarity enters swiftly with a stylish green peacock hat.

"So sorry, Fluttershy. I hate being late for our weekly get-together. The usual!" Rarity said to a cyan pink mane and tail cashier mare and she quickly got their routine prepared. They start out in the steam room where the cashier steams up the room for the two customers wearing spa robes.

"But you will not believe what happened to me." Rarity said as she talks about some events that happened to her earlier and why she was late.

"Is everything all right?" Fluttershy asked worriedly.

"Oh, it's much more than all right. I was on my way here, wearing my latest hat creation, when who should stop me on the street? But Photo Finish!"

"Photo Finish?" Fluttershy asked and the two moved on to get their mud masks on.

"She is the most famous fashion photographer in all of Equestria. Anyhow, she saw my hat and said it was absolutely marvelous!" Rarity said as the spa workers put on her face mask and cucumbers on her eyes while Fluttershy only gets two small specks on her cheeks.

"What a lovely compliment." Fluttershy said.

"She was so impressed that she wants to take some pictures of my shop featuring some of my clothes!" Rarity said while the workers give Rarity plush pillows to lay on as her horn and nails were getting filed while poor Fluttershy gets nothing but the hard floor and the worker refuses to file her hoof nails.

"That's wonderful." Fluttershy said.

"Do you know what this could mean for my fashion career?" Rarity asked vibratingly as a massage therapist gives her a karate chop massage on her back while another gives Fluttershy soft pressure on her back.

"Oh, Rarity, I'm so happy for you." Fluttershy said happily.

"But I'm going to need somepony fabulous to model for me. Somepony with beauty. Somepony with grace. Somepony... like you!" Rarity said as she gets tied with seaweed all over her body and hops into a mud bath next to Fluttershy who doesn't get any seaweed on her.

"Oh, goodness. I don't know." Fluttershy said nervously as they head to the hoof baths.

"Oh, this is such a huge opportunity. And it would mean so much to me." Rarity pleaded.

"I'm flattered, really."

"Nopony is going to have your elegance and poise."

"But..."

"Nopony!"

"There has to be somepony more quali..."

"Please!"

"Somepony more into fashion."

"Please!

"Somepony more comfortable in the spotlight."

"Please, please, PLEEEASE!"

"Oh, if it's that important to you, of course I'll do it."

"Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyouthan kyou! You are the best friend a pony could ever have!" Rarity thanked excitedly. Soon the two were finished and were on their way to their respected homes.

"What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon." Fluttershy sighed.

"Isn't it? Though I was so afraid you wouldn't agree to model for me that I felt completely frazzled. I think I feel a pimple coming on. Oh! Only one solution!" Rarity said and just like that she was back in the spa with her robes on ready for another spa treatment.

"The usual!" Rarity said as the spa workers were happy to oblige to her wishes for she can be the next big thing.

After Rarity was finally done with the spa her and Fluttershy met up at Carousel Boutique where Fluttershy is dressed in a pink dancer like dress waiting for their special guest to see the design. Their friends Charles d'Artagnan, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, and Spike also came over to help out so Rarity didn't have to do every single job.

"Hm... She's going to want to see attitude and pizzazz." Rarity instructed as she paces around her observing the dress.

"A-a-attitude and, um... pizzazz." Fluttershy stammered nervously.

"More light! It has to catch the sequins just so or the whole outfit is just a disaster." Rarity ordered and Twilight adjusts the light until the whole room was illuminated by the bright glow of the light.

"Oh, and the headdress need more feathers. Pinkie Pie! More feathers!" Rarity called and Pinkie trots over gleefully with a basket of feathers in her mouth with all sorts of colors. Rarity levitates the pink ones out and place them on Fluttershy's feathered hat which made her flinch a little.

"And sequins! More sequins!" Rarity added and Spike comes over dreamfully with a basket of sparkly powder sequin and Rarity spreads it all on Fluttershy to giver her a more sparkly effect.

"And more ribbon! Oh no! Less ribbon. No! More ribbon." Rarity instructed as Spike puts on and takes off the ribbon on Fluttershy's hat multiple times until Rarity made the final decision and Spike puts it back on making Fluttershy squeak in pain. She looks at him with an irritated look which produced a sheepish smile from him.

"Oh, this hem is completely off. PINCUSHION!" Rarity called desperately becoming a little impatient and Spike happily comes over with pin needles on his back and Rarity takes out a number of needles and beckons Spike away with her hoof which in return backed away.

"Thank you all for helping me. I'm sorry to be so short with you, but I'm... I'm just so nervous." Rarity admitted.

"Oh, doesn't that hurt?" Twilight asked Spike worriedly about the needles on his back.

"Thick scales. Can't feel a thing. And even if I could, there is no pain that would keep me from assisting the most beautiful creature in the world." Spike said dreamily as he stares at Rarity which made roll her eyes and groan in irritation.

"I'm gonna tell you two a secret since Charles already knows." Spike turned to them and spoke softly. "But you have to promise not to tell anyone."

"I promise." Twilight responded.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" Pinkie added, actually poking her eye.

Spike motioned for them to come closer. They did. He motioned more. They followed. He grabbed their faces and whispered to them. "I have a crush on Rarity!"

His answered gave Twilight a very disappointed face while Pinkie Pie was left shocked. She gasped. "We won't say a word!"

"Give me a break." Twilight replied out loud. "Everypony already knows how you..."

"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie interrupted her. "You promised Spike you wouldn't say anything. He trusts you. And losing a friend's trust is the fastest way to lose a friend forever!" Spike looked at Twilight with his pleading eyes, clearly presenting a message for her to not tell any pony.

"But..."

"FOREVER!"

"My lips are sealed." Twilight surrendered. "Though I'm pretty sure Rarity is gonna pick up on your feelings."

Spike looked down to see the T-shirt he was wearing, which contained Rarity in a big heart right on the middle.

The doorbell suddenly sounded, causing us to turn back. Three ponies were revealed.

"I, Photo Finish... have awwived." The pony in the middle spoke.

"Let me just say, what an honor!" Rarity responded as she walked over to Photo Finish, who turned her attention to Fluttershy instead.

"We begin..." Another pony placed a suitcase in front of her, which she immediately kicked open to set up a camera. "NOW!"

Rarity whispered something to a worried Fluttershy and rushed back toward us. Photo Finish snapped pictures of Fluttershy as she stood there, flinching at each flash of the camera.

"Yes! Show Photo Finish something." Photo Finish encouraged as she continued to snap pictures. Fluttershy began a pose Rarity must have instructed her to do, but Photo Finish disagreed. "No!" Fluttershy immediately lowered herself and held her head low as she let out another whine. "Yeees." Photo Finish took another picture. Rarity instructed another pose behind Photo Finish, which Fluttershy followed. "No!" Fluttershy, shocked, stared at floor in a sad expression. "Yeees." Rarity presented another strong pose, which Fluttershy yet again followed. "No!" Fluttershy laid herself on the platform in another depressing pose. "Yeees." Photo Finish took two more pictures until she finally yelled out, "ENOUGH!"

The camera returned back to its suitcase form and a pony came by to pick it up. As Photo Finish began walking out the shop, Twilight commented. "She hardly took any pictures."

"I'm so sorry. I tried my best." Fluttershy told Rarity, who was removing her headdress.

"Well, the headdress is too big for you and cape had too much sparkle. I can't believe I ever thought I could impress her." Rarity responded.

Photo Finish suddenly returned and made an announcement. "It seems that I, Photo Finish, have found a next fashion star here in Ponyville."

"Really?" Rarity asked, her eyes suddenly glowing with hope.

"Yes. Really. And I, Photo Finish, am going to help her to shine all over Eqvestria." Rarity released a grin. "In an hour, a photo shoot in ze park." There was an awkward pause. "I go!" She ran out the door.

"Did you hear that? I am going to 'shine all over Equestria'." Rarity announced to them..

"Oh, Rarity. I was so worried I'd ruined everything." Fluttershy responded.

"Oh, never. I knew you'd be perfect." Rarity suddenly began giggling, which soon formed into a very excited laughter as she bounced up and down on Spike's tail, inflicting pain on him as he just stood there, staring at Rarity. Twilight noticed this and dragged him out of the way with a bored expression on her face. When Rarity finished her excitement, she looked over to Fluttershy. "Come on, Fluttershy! We have to get ready for another photo shoot!" Rarity rushed outside.

Before Fluttershy and Charles started following Rarity, they looked over to Twilight and Pinkie Pie. "Are you girls coming?" Charles asked.

"No thanks, Pinkie Pie, Spike, and I are going to get something to eat." Twilight responded.

"Oh, alright. I'll see you ponies later, I guess." Fluttershy and Charles continued walking behind Rarity.

When they arrived in the park, Rarity had already set up some dressing blinds and was retrieving the outfits she had for Fluttershy to wear. Rarity moved the outfits behind the blinds and brought Fluttershy as well.

As Charles stood outside near the blinds, he could hear Rarity dress Fluttershy in various outfits as she offered her opinion on each one. "No, no, no, yes!" She closed the blinds and revealed Fluttershy in a gem-studded outfit. "That is definitely the one. Photo Finish is going to love it. Everypony is going to love it!"

"Oh, I am so excited for you." Fluttershy responded, softly. "Just don't forget us little ponies when you become the most famous designer in all of Equestria."

"Never." Rarity assured.

"Put me down here." A voice commanded near them. They looked to see it was Photo Finish. The ponies carrying her placed her down and she jumped off the platform she was sitting on. She observed Fluttershy's outfit for a moment. "Oh, nonononononono. The model should be in something simple! Something inspired by... the nature!"

"That's just what I was thinking." Rarity responded and rushed over to her cart to look for something else. After, she kicked the cart away, nervously. "Um... give me a moment and I'll, uh, put a little something together."

"Yes... that will not be necessary." Photo Finish replied.

"But... but... how are you going to help me 'shine across Equestria' if I don't design something new for these pictures?"

"I am not going to help you shine across Equestria. I am going to help her shine." She pointed her hoof at Fluttershy, surprising every one of us. A couple of the ponies that assisted her starting pushing Fluttershy off to somewhere else in the park. "She is my star." She looked at Rarity. "You! Go!"

"Fluttershy…" Charles spoke softly. "…a model…?" He started to think about it as he watched Fluttershy be dragged over to Photo Finish's position so she could be dressed in something new. Rarity was shocked and couldn't believe at the fact that Photo Finish was never actually talking about her the entire time.

Rarity and Charles sadly walked over to Fluttershy who was now dressed in a nature-inspiring dress. Rarity had grabbed the outfit she had place on Fluttershy, which was thrown on the floor, and placed it back on her cart full of other dresses while holding her head low.

"Fluttershy…" Charles called her with a low voice. "Do you really want to be a model…?"

She shook her head and replied. "I can't."

Rarity immediately heard this and added in on the conversation. "Oh, but you must, Fluttershy. Photo Finish wants to make you a star. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I know we were all hoping it would be my lifetime, but nonetheless you can't throw away this chance. You must do this for me. You must. You must! YOU MUST!"

Charles tried to intervene. "But—

Suddenly, Photo Finish's voice erupted. "Floottershy! It is time to make... the magics!" Fluttershy looked over at the unicorns both gave her a wide and accepting grins. Fluttershy turned around and began walking towards Photo Finish. "Oh, wunderbar! You are like a delicate flower. So much more alluring without all those sparkles und feathers." She commented as she walked with Fluttershy.

Rarity and Charles sighed sadly as she walked away from the scene. Photo Finish continued to take photos of Fluttershy's innocent appearance as that somehow… intrigued her…

"Oh, my Floottershy! I neet to show you to everypony immediately!" Photo Finish announced after she was done taking the pictures. "Come now! We have much work to do! We go!" Photo Finish began leading Fluttershy to someplace else. She looked back towards Charles while giving off another worried expression on her face. Her eyes told him that she needed him to be with her… and he definitely couldn't leave her like that. Charles began walking behind them, following wherever they walked to.

They arrived at some building where Photo Finish was going to host a fashion show for Fluttershy. Photo Finish, and the other workers and assistants, didn't seem to notice that Charles was there… which was actually a good thing for him at this point because he didn't want to leave Fluttershy all by herself. Fluttershy was being prepared in the dressing room. They pulled a side of her mane up and left the other side alone while giving her different styled bangs. They dressed her in something, of course, green and nature-presenting. One of the dressers tugged at her dress. Another came by and sprayed her mane. Yet another began placing blush on Fluttershy's cheeks, revealing a pink oval on each cheek that matched the color of her mane.

Photo Finish observed this and commented."Too much blush." The pony wiped Fluttershy's face. "Not enuf." The pony placed it on again. "Too much." She removed it. "Not enuf." For the third and last time, she placed the blush. "Perfiect."

Fluttershy began making the sound when somepony is about to sneeze. At first, it started off as if it was going to be very loud, but at the end, she released a very soft and gentle sneeze.

"Oh, yes! Even her schneezes are gressful." Photo Finish expressed. "NOW GO!" She began walking with Fluttershy towards the curtains as Charles trailed behind. "How do you feel? Excited? Overjoyed? Frilled beyond your wildest dreams?"

"N... nervous."

"Nervous? Dun be ridiculous. You're only facing a large crowd of ponies, who will be watching your every move and silently judging you." Photo Finish turned around to work on something else.

"Fluttershy…" Charles walked over to her.

"Charles…" She replied softly. "I'm scared…"

"You know, you don't have to do this…"

"I must… I can't let Rarity down…"

Charles looked at her, very gloomily. When he felt these entire sad emotions race in his heart, Charles hugged her. It was the kind of hug that is given when some pony you care about is leaving to somewhere far away… Fluttershy looked at Charles, as if she wanted to express something more. "Charles…"

Suddenly, music began playing and Photo Finish rushed over to Fluttershy. "Your cue! Now go!" She pushed Fluttershy away from Charles and onto the catwalk. She realized that she was in front of many ponies and looked around. She seemed as if she didn't know what to do. She began walking to the middle of the catwalk, trying to keep herself calm. When she reached the end, she looked at the ponies and released an innocent pose. After, the ponies watching seemed to be giving her positive reviews as they began cheering.

In no time, she was advertised on covers and many other things. Each little thing Charles saw seemed to make his feelings even worse, hurting his heart a little more each time. Applejack had even placed Fluttershy's image on her buckets of apples, which showed Fluttershy carrying nests of apples. He saw Rainbow Dash flying in the air, having a rope attached to her which depicted another image of Fluttershy advertising for some carrot juice. He noticed that in that image, she was smiling and looked very happy... but was she...? Really...? Or was it just another deception beyond looks and images?

When Fluttershy was finally free, He ran up to her when Charles saw her walking through town by herself…

"Fluttershy!" he called her as Charles raced towards her.

"Charles?" She asked when he reached up to her.

"Fluttershy…it feels like I haven't seen you in forever…well…besides on advertisements…"

"Me too Charles…I…I really miss you…"

Her response surprised him. He felt as if she had glued back the broken pieces of his heart.

"Fluttershy…" Charles responded. "There's… something I need to tell you…" He wanted to share his feelings… he wanted to share them in hopes that all this separation from her modeling will end.

"What is it, Charles…?"

"You see… I…I really…um…" Charles felt nervous, but he continued to try to bring out his feelings. "I really…li—

"It's Fluttershy!" One of the ponies exclaimed near us.

Everypony instantly began grouping together and chasing after Fluttershy. "Come on!" he grabbed Fluttershy's hoof and began their escape from the crowd. They could hear their cheers and excitement follow them along with their snapshots of the camera. They stopped nearby a house to see even more ponies with their cameras bombard Fluttershy with pictures. Fluttershy flinched at the sight of the flashes from the camera. Charles quickly took her somewhere else away from the crowd. Fortunately, he spotted Rarity's shop not far from them. He led Fluttershy towards the shop as fast as he could. He reached the door and immediately opened it, bringing Fluttershy in and slamming the door shut. Charles lay Fluttershy below the windows as he held the door shut. The crowds outside begged Fluttershy to show her face and take a picture.

"Wow. Look how popular you are." Rarity had spotted them, obviously, and spoke to Fluttershy. "I'm so excited for you. You must be having the best time ever."

The crowds outside finally died down or either left. Charles released his grip on the door and walked towards Rarity. "Best time ever? Ponies in town won't leave her alone!"

Rarity sighed. "That has always been my dream…"

Charles turned around and walked towards Fluttershy. "Fluttershy… do you really want to keep modeling?" he asked softly. Her eyes moved away as she thought. "Just tell her how you feel Fluttershy…" Fluttershy's eyes moved back towards him

and she held her head down. She rose up from the floor and walked towards Rarity.

"Rarity… I… I think I—

"Flootershy!" The door barged open and in came Photo Finish. "I have been looking for you everywhere. We have the thing at the place."

Fluttershy looked over to Photo Finish and then to Charles. She hesitated for a moment and then turned towards Rarity. "I'll see you at the spa. Our usual time?"

"Of course!" Rarity replied. "I can't wait to hear all about the... 'thing' at the place."

Before Fluttershy started walking out the door, she looked at Charles and held her head down. "I'm sorry, Charles…" She said real softly. As Photo Finish pulled her away from the shop, Charles could only stare at her leave and lower his head in sadness…

Rarity groaned. "I'm the one who should be mobbed by strangers wherever I go."

Charles looked at her, but he didn't say anything…

The door bell suddenly rang as Bon Bon and Berry Punch rushed in.

"Welcome to Carousel Boutique!" Rarity greeted.

"Is she still here? We heard Fluttershy was here." Bon Bon excitedly asked.

"Sorry. You just missed her." Rarity responded, annoyed, but then changed her attitude. "But you're still in luck. I'm having a huge sale of some of my best designs."

Bon Bon and Berry Punch looked at each other, and then back at Rarity. "And you are...?"

"Rarity, of course."

"Never heard of you." Afterwards, they left the shop.

Rarity cheeks grew red with anger as she steamed. Finally, she sighed and calmed down. "Well, at least I still have our spa time together!" She told herself. After, she noticed Charles silence and looked over to him. "Is something wrong, Charles?" He didn't answer. He just stared at the floor. "Come now, how about you join us at the spa? That always cheers me up!"

Charles looked at her, not moving his head, and sighed. "I guess…"

Rarity took Charles to the spa where she was to have the appointment with Fluttershy. The good thing about going to the spa was that He would be able to see Fluttershy again…

Rarity received a towel and wrapped it around her mane as she entered the huge tub of water inside one of the rooms. Charles let himself descend into the water and moved over to the edge of the tub. His hooves fell lifelessly outside the edge of the tub as he stared at the ground beneath it. Charles remained silent throughout the whole time, only able to think about Fluttershy.

"Cheer up, Charles!" Rarity announced near. "Fluttershy will be here at any moment, just sit back and relax!"

He glanced back at her with my eyes but then returned to staring at the floor.

A long while passed and Fluttershy had still not shown up… Charles heard hooves clatter near him, causing him to turn his head quickly until he noticed it was Twilight. He sadly turned his head back to stare gloomily at the floor.

"Hey!" Twilight greeted them.

Charles remained silent.

"Oh, hello Twilight. What brings you here?" Rarity asked.

"Just thought I could use some relaxing myself… what about you Rarity?"

"Fluttershy and I had an appointment…My hooves are getting positively pruney, I've been waiting here so long. Obviously Fluttershy's just too busy with her new career to spend time with her best friend."

"I'm sure she just got tied up…"

"Of course she did. She's a big bright shining star! I wish that star would burn out."

Charles was shocked by what Rarity said, but it made him just even more depressed…

"Rarity! Fluttershy is your friend."

"I know, I know. And I should be happy for her, but instead I'm just... jealous! Oh, please promise you won't tell her I feel this way. Please, please, pleasepleasePLEASE!" Rarity begged.

"You have my word. Losing a friend's trust is the fastest way to lose a friend."

"FOREVER!" Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared in the bowl of sponges nearby, shocking Twilight. She stared at Twilight as she slowly departed back into the bowl.

Rarity had climbed out of the tub and into a new dress.

"Wow! You look great!" Twilight exclaimed to Rarity.

"Fluttershy may be the one who's famous," Rarity explained. "…but that doesn't mean I have to stop looking fabulous." Rarity walked out of the door.

Twilight climbed into the tub and relaxed herself. She looked over to Charles sulking and asked about him. "So, what's going on with you, Charles?"

He remained silent for a moment as he continued staring at the floor. "Nothing…"

She noticed his tone. "What's the matter, Charles? What's gotten you so down?"

He sighed and looked back at her. "It's…it's Fluttershy…"

"Fluttershy? What do you mean?" She asked.

"She's… she's just been so busy with her modeling… it feels like we aren't friends anymore… it feels like I don't see her anymore… it feels like…" He sighed again, with a little more emotion slipping through his tongue.

"You miss her?" Twilight added.

Charles looked at her with almost teary eyes and then looked away for a moment, thinking. "Yes…I do…I…miss her…"

There was a pause. "Charles… can I ask you something?" Twilight asked.

"What is it…?" He responded.

"Do you…have special feelings towards Fluttershy…?"

Charles' heart jumped. He turned around and let his hooves hang outside the edge of the tub again. "Yes…"

"Then why don't you tell her, Charles? I'm pretty sure, once she hears them from you, she'll stop modeling."

"I almost did… but we were interrupted by a crowd of ponies…"

"Oh… well tell her when she comes by!"

"What if she never gets to come…?" Charles questioned softly.

"Charles…?" Twilight asked.

Charles climbed out of the tub and began walking out the door. "I'll see you later Twilight…" He told her and left the spa.

Charles walked threw town until he heard a voice "Hey, Charles." He turn around and received a sudden surprise.

"Fluttershy…?" He said "Why are you here?"

"Charles… it's just I wanted talk to you so bad…to see you…"

"See me?" He questioned, surprised.

"Yes… I was so late to the spa, that I found Twilight in there alone. She told me that you were there but you had just left a second before I made it… I had also missed my appointment with Rarity…" She placed her hooves on her eyes. "I feel like such a…jerk…"

"Fluttershy…"

"Charles, I don't like being a model. No, I hate being a model. All this attention is awful, just awful. It's made me just so busy to not even be able to see my friends… and separate myself from them…especially you…Charles…"

"Why don't you tell Rarity, Fluttershy?"

"I'm only doing it because Rarity told me I must. I must! I MUST!" Fluttershy sighed. "I must…"

"Fluttershy…" Charles responded. "Tell Rarity how you feel... She'll understand…"

"You really think I should?"

He nodded. "I'll go with you."

Fluttershy looked away to think for a moment and then turned back to see him. "Okay, Charles…"

Fluttershy and Charles walked towards Rarity's shop.

When they arrived, they opened the door to see Rarity notice them in shock. "Fluttershy? What are you doing here? I was just getting ready to see your performance at the fashion show!"

"Rarity…" Fluttershy began. "There's something I need to tell you…"

"What is it?" Rarity responded, walking over to them.

"I…" Fluttershy hesitated and looked over to Charles with worried eyes. He placed his hoof on her. She nodded and looked back to Rarity, who stood waiting to hear what Fluttershy had to say. "…I don't want to be a model anymore…"

"What? Why?" She asked in a very concerned tone.

"I just can't take the attention anymore… it's driving me away from being with my friends…"

"Oh, Fluttershy…why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I was afraid if I quit, you'd be mad at me for not wanting to... 'shine all over Equestria'."

"Oh! Fluttershy! Never! Ugh, I feel so terrible!"

"Why?" Fluttershy asked, shocked.

"Because…I wanted the ponies to turn on you…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry. I was jealous! I wanted all the attention. And instead it was going to you. I even started hoping that you would do something silly so your modeling career would be over. But then I did some thinking and I realized how horrible it was of me to be like that! Especially to a friend!"

"Oh, Rarity! Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought if I told you how jealous I was of your success, you'd think I was a terrible friend…"

"Never!"

"All this time!"

"If we just told each other the truth, we wouldn't have had to go through all this…"

"I promise never to keep my feelings in secret again."

"Me too."

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." The both expressed in unison and laughed happily after.

"Flootershy!" The door suddenly barged open to reveal Photo Finish. "I've been looking everywhere for you! Come! We're going to be late for the photo shoot!"

"I'm sorry, Photo Finish, but I don't think I'll be able to make it." Fluttershy responded.

"Wat?" Photo Finish asked, shocked.

"I don't want to be a model anymore, Photo Finish, so I guess you'll have to find a new one to replace me."

"But… you… I…" Photo Finish stuttered as Rarity began leading her out of the shop.

Once Rarity had removed Photo Finish, she closed the door and walked over to Fluttershy. "We go!" They both exclaimed and clapped hooves together.

"Now that we've gotten all that out of the way…" Rarity began. "How about we have a real spa get together, what do you say ponies?" She asked both of them.

Fluttershy smiled and nodded.

"Yeah." Charles responded in confidence, suddenly being stripped of all that depression that hung around him earlier.

Fluttershy, Rarity, and Charles traveled to the spa, where we met with Twilight again. Twilight wondered what they were all doing here for the second time, but Rarity and Fluttershy told her the whole story. Afterwards, they shared a laugh about it, and they all began our relaxation with no distractions.

"Now this is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon." Fluttershy expressed delightfully as we relaxed in the tub.

"Isn't it, though?" Rarity announced from the steam room.

"Dear Princess Celestia," Twilight began her letter while soaking in another smaller tub. "Being a good friend means being able to keep a secret. But you should never be afraid to share your true feelings with a good friend. Did you get all that Spike?"

"I would love to…" Spike replied. "But... I'm a little busy at the moment." Spike was fanning Rarity with a fan that had the same logo as the T-shirt he was wearing at the very beginning.

Twilight sighed happily and rolled her eyes.

Next Chapter: Chapter 21: Over a Barrel Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 28 Minutes