//------------------------------// // Arrival in Canterlot, The One Who Never Forgot, Giving It Just One More Shot // Story: Woven Right, Courage Bright, Love in Sight // by OhYouFoal //------------------------------// The life of a garden tending pony was easy, check on the animals, water the plants, alert the proper ponies if anything is wrong. Good pay, easy work and peace and quiet. That was, at least, until the ‘yellow’ one arrived. “Now just remember-” “I know miss, the birds drink sweetened water instead stream water, the squirrels prefer walnuts and cashews and the raccoon is not to be disturbed until sunset at the earliest. I have everything under control, you can count on me to keep yer little critters quite content.” “Oh and please don’t forget to make sure Angel eats his lunch, he’s been skipping meals just so he can get out more. I’m pretty sure he knows how to get from the garden to the loft I’m staying in, so-” “Yes yes, I’ve got it already, now please, I can’t tend to the OTHER critters until YOU leave, seeing as how ya terrified them nearly into a coma last time you were here.” A weak laugh from the pegasus came about as she briefly recalled the ‘incident’ at the Grand Galloping Gala, seeing this as an ideal opportunity to take her leave. With the meeting with Photo Finish in a short while, she didn’t have forever to sit by and do as she pleased. However, Fluttershy did intend to set aside a little time for herself to get familiar with Canterlot, at least in an attempt to start learning the place well enough to not need a map to travel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Of course, had this been any other pony, that probably would have worked out as planned. The yellow pegasus, however, had managed to lose herself deep in one of the busier districts in Canterlot, uncertain just how she’d gotten here in the first place. Oh dear, all I remember was stepping into some dress shop and then when I got out someone offered me a free sample of their new cappuccino which I’m sure hasn’t helped me at all and then someone said, ‘Oh hey look, it’s Fluttershy! can I get a picture?!’ and I couldn’t turn them down and... and... Caught up in a fluster of worry and panic, Fluttershy walked herself right into the path of two other ponies, sound growing muffled and words sounding like gibberish. Only when she cleared her mind could she start to both see and hear clearly, realizing that the very stallion and mare she’d just needed the aid of standing up again were somewhat familiar faces. “Oh goodness, Fancy Pants, I’m very sorry! I’ve just been lost for a while and started to panic a bit and I wasn’t looking where I was going.” The unicorn was hardly offended, actually more concerned about the state of the other pony he’d just helped off the ground. “Oh, don’t worry about that miss, rather it be an accident than some lovestruck filly pretending to bump into me for an opportunity to either swipe something off me or... Celestia help me, acquire some ‘part’ of me for their own personal uses.” He shuddered at the last thought, a pink maned mare beside him softly patting him on the back. “You can’t let it bother you that much dear, though I’ll admit that last one who took a lock of your mane? She was quite mad if I do say so myself.” Glancing over to the pegasus who was now tilting her head to the side, she smiled back. “Is something wrong? You look quite confused.” “Oh, my apologies, I just was trying to remember your name but... We haven’t met before, have we? I mean, I don’t recall seeing you with Fancypants at that garden party way back when... Oh, but if I have and I’ve forgotten, I’m very sorry!’ “Not a problem at all dear, though Fancy here did let me know your name and I do believe I know quite a bit about you. The timid little mare who caused the ‘Cutie Shy’ craze to spread throughout the industry a year or so ago, hmm? Fluttershy was it? My name is Fleur des Lis or you may call me Fleur if that is easier to remember.” Cutie Shy? Is... that what they called it? “Um, yes, I suppose that was me. It’s nice to meet you Fleur, I wasn’t aware you were so well versed in the work I did for Photo Finish.” The white unicorn couldn’t help but laugh, sighing briefly afterwards. “Pardon that laughter, it’s amusing sometimes when I meet someone who isn’t aware of my work... Oh, not that I think any less of you of course, so much as it is I forget sometimes there’s a world outside of modeling. That however is in the past, I’ve found my passions with Fancy here satisfied now, I can’t say that I think it would suit me anymore. I don’t think I’d enjoy or... ‘want’ to participate in such things again.” Hearing of Fleur’s past work modeling, that set off an alert in Fluttershy’s mind. “Pardon me Miss Fleur, but if you don’t mind me asking, how would you suggest, well, overcoming one’s pro-” A loud gong startled the poor little pony, only for panic to set back in as she looked at the time. “Oh my, I’m going to be late at this rate! Forgive me, but I have to go, I’ve got an important meeting with somepony that I didn’t exactly leave on the best of terms with. If I show up too late there’s a good chance she just might leave before I get to say my piece.” Fluttershy herself wasn’t quite sure why she’d rambled this off to mere acquaintances but after asking the two for directions, she bolted down the street and around a corner. “Fleur my dear... You don’t think ‘she’s’ the one she’s meeting today, do you?” Fancy looked over to Fleur who seemed to be fairly deep in thought before an amused smile ran across her face. “I think she just might be and I have a feeling I know what she was about to ask me. And if I’m right, maybe it won’t be so bad giving a helping hoof to some upstart after all.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Is there anything else I can get you ma’am? Perhaps a-” “Nein, nuhzing foh me now. Just bring some streudel aftaire ve are done.” The Cyan earth pony looked to the clock nearby, seeing it was roughly five minutes past the appointed meet time she had set up with ‘her’. Zat gerl thinks she can just run out on I, Photo Feeneesh?! Blödsinn! As eef eye have zeh time to vaste on zis foalish pegasus! If she izn’t here in zeh neckts five sekunds- Luck seeming to be on her side, Fluttershy popped into the bistro to find Photo Finish staring back up at her, eyes hidden behind glasses as always. Still, the pegasus felt as if glares of annoyance were being shot her way, as a waiter escorted her over to the table. Carefully sitting down on a cushion, Fluttershy ordered a cup of tea before speaking. “Th-th-thank you f-f-f-or m-m-meeting with me today Photo Fi-” The Fashion Pony raised a hoof in protest. “Puh-leeze, zat ‘kyute’ vittle shtuhterring und zat quiverng von’t get you anyvhere now. Times have changed, zis is no longer an industry vhere you can get by on zat behayviere ahlone. I, Photo Feeneesh, have very many impohtant poniez und many clients vif vich I must meet today.” The earth pony raised a hoof to remove her sunglasses, hazel colored eyes staring sternly back at the timit pegasus. She took off her glasses? Is... Is she trying to show she’s being serious with me? I... I don’t get it. Folding her hooves together, Photo Finish’s eyes locked directly with Fluttershy’s before she spoke. “I vant you to tehll me, right here undt nao, vhy should I even cunzidah shpending even vun more minute listening to vhat you vant from me?” It was clear now, perhaps the sending of a business card was just a formality on the fashion pony’s part. “No vun, undt I mean NO VUN, valks out on Photo Feeneesh!” She slammed her hoof on the table, shaking the dishes and frightening Fluttershy just a bit. “So vut in terhn can you, some shimple kountree bumpkheen pony like yourself give me, Photo Feeneesh, as a vorthvile model?” Photo’s cards were out on the table now, Fluttershy realizing that this matter was as serious as she had feared. All of her senses were telling her to charge out right now, head home and confide her fears and nervousness in tending to her creatures or some calming gardening activity, anything to block out the harsh words just spoken by the other pony. But as her mind started to go blank in terror, a little voice echoed in the back of her head. Are you really going to run now? After you’ve come to Canterlot, after you accepted the Princess’ offer, are you really going to just throw that all away? If you walk away now, you have no right to feel anything for Rarity ever again. Fluttershy herself wasn’t certain if she was going crazy or her conscience was just giving her some straightforward talking to. This isn’t just for Rarity, this is for you Fluttershy. This is so you can be certain of who you are, so you can know whether or not you’re good enough for her. Would Rarity want to be with somepony who’d just curl up in a corner and shiver? No! You may not have to change everything you are for her, but you cannot expect others to protect you forever. Just like Rarity had her own dreams to pursue and as do you, so will all the others. And if you want to be with her, now is the time to stand up and show you’re not just some scaredypony like you think you are! Feeling a sort of self assuring contentment with herself, Fluttershy closed her eyes, took a deep breath and stared back at Photo with an intensity unlike that which even a fabled beast with a petrifying gaze had seen before. “Now listen here Miss Finish! I know I may not be the bravest pony out there nor the most confident, but I do NOT deserve to be yelled at like that! You pushed, shoved and pulled me around all those times and not once, NOT A SINGLE TIME did you EVER ask me if I was happy.” Both hooves firmly on the table, Photo’s eyes widened in a distraught amazement, seeing a side of the pegasus that her and only her would ever see. “I worked for you because my friend Rarity wanted me to, because working for you made HER happy. I modeled for you because I did it for another pony. And do NOT stand here and trot about like I’m the one who might as well have come and spit in your face! I came here for your help but I will most CERTAINLY not ask for help from somepony who will treat me as though I have nothing to offer besides my ‘cuteness’ alone. There is MORE to me than that. There were many ponies, yourself included, who told me I had grace and poise unlike any other pony they’ve seen before. So do NOT pretend like I’m some worthless pony who has no chance of being worthy of being a model!” After what seemed like minutes of pure silence, Fluttershy finally came to and realized that she had yelled easily twice if not three times as much as the other pony had. Beginning to fret and worry, the quiet was broken by a long sigh from the pony across the table. “Vell, needless to say, I vasn’t eckshpeckting zat. Pairhaps I have underestimated you Flootershai. Zere cleary iz sumzing more to you zan I have given you krehdit for.” Clapping her hoofs together, one of her assistants came out from nowhere with a suitcase, dropping it to the floor and giving it a firm kick, a piece of parchment and a quill landing neatly on the table they had been sitting at. “One year, zat ees all I vill give you for nao, do you undershtahnd? And more importantly...” Photo placed her sunglassess back on her face, but folded her legs to prop her face on her hoof, eyesbrows furrowing in a direct glare of anger. “Eef you EVER speak to me like zaht again, I vill kick your flank out on zeh streetz faster zan you can blink. I, Photo Feeneesh, am YOUR boss now undt I vill NOT be shpoken to in such a vay by one of mein employees.”’ She leaned forward, putting herself only a mere foot away from Fluttershy’s face as she was signing. “Arh vee kleah?” With a calm but fearless nod, Fluttershy finished signing the contract before Photo leaned back onto her cushion and sighed again. “Good zehn, I shall send some mahteereuhls to your addrehs as soon as zeh paperwork is feeneeshed that you’re signing zehr. You vill need it if you vant to purchase anysing around here, vhat vith zeh prices so high zees days, you’ll need zis.” Another assistant placed a hairpin on the table with a jeweled piece at the end showing a script written P and F linked together, all composed of sky blue gems. After a little help getting it clipped into her mane, a waiter brought out some food. “For now zough, ve vill need to deeskuhs some ‘trayhning’ you’ll need to go zrough. I’ve hired a pony sooted just for zeh job.” Another clap of the hooves prompted someone else to step over to the table, Fluttershy turning to her side to see an unexpected familiar face, one she was actually quite pleased to see.