//------------------------------// // Chapter 15: Assertiveness // Story: The Cassandra Chronicles // by CassandraMyOCisBestpony //------------------------------// Fluttershy was at the farmer’s market to buy food for Angel. But she was having difficulties with the other ponies, they were pushing in front of her and trying to swindle her out of her money. “Why is everypony suddenly being rude?” she wondered aloud, “It’s so… uncharacteristic.” Written by Merriweather Williams flashed on screen “Ah” said Fluttershy. She decided to seek out her friends, they'd know what to do. Applejack would comfort her, Rainbow Dash would teach them some manners, and Twilight Sparkle would give her useful advice. Hopefully one of them was perusing the farmer’s market. Her train of thought was interrupted by Rarity and Pinkie Pie. “Oh, um, I guess you’ll do” she said, “how do I deal with bullying?” “Seduction” said Rarity “And trickery” added Pinkie Pie They each took a turn showing Fluttershy how to deal with adverse situations. Then, they had Fluttershy try it out on buying a cherry. But she made the crucial mistake of saying that she was interested in buying the cherry, so the salesman made her pay 10 bits for it. “HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!” A cyan-colored streak shot across the sky and came to a screeching halt in front of Fluttershy. It was the steadfast and beautiful Cassandra. “Mister, do you want me to give you the list of ponies that my friends and I have driven out of town for being assholes? Or would like to give my friend here a gift and we’ll pretend nothing happened?” “Please, please don’t hurt me Cassandra” whimpered the shopkeeper, “I didn’t know she was your friend, I swear… sure sure, take the cherry, please, I insist. Would you like a bag?” “Yes” said Cassandra, “yes we would.” The shopkeeper pulled a plastic bag out from the dispenser, and with lightning-fast reflexes, Cassandra snatched it out of his hooves and yanked it down over his head. The shopkeeper struggled and gasped for air. He tried to wrench Cassandra’s hooves off of his neck, but to no avail, Cassandra was too strong. His face began to turn blue and his eyes bulged. “How much for air?” she quipped, “Ten bits?” He nodded his head frantically. “What’s that you say?” asked Cassandra mockingly, “You need it really badly? In that case 20 bits! That sound fair to you Fluttershy?” “I am blown away by your generosity” she replied. Cassandra loosened her grip and allowed the shopkeeper to rip the bag off his head. He hurriedly counted out the bits and stacked them neatly on the counter next to the cherry. “Give us the rest of the bags too.” said Cassandra. ***** Fluttershy and Cassandra went back to the cottage. They’d managed to ditch Pinkie Pie and Rarity. Angel was waiting for Fluttershy, looking pretty pissed off that she made him wait. “Oh no” whimpered Fluttershy, “if I don’t feed Angel soon, he might starve!” “Are you serious?” said Cassandra, “he’s an animal, he’ll eat when he’s hungry.” “But he wouldn’t eat anything besides the special salad.” “Somehow I think he’ll compromise his culinary standards before he starves to death." “But I don’t want him to be sad” whined Fluttershy Cassandra sighed heavily. “Fine, you want him to be happy, I’ll make him happy.” She leaned in real close to Angel Bunny, and said in a harsh whisper, “You know little guy, it’s not just you that Fluttershy has to feed, it’s all the animals. And that includes the foxes, the wolves, and the birds of prey. You want something to be happy about? Be happy that you haven’t yet pushed her too far.” Angel’s eyes went as wide as dinner plates, and he scuttled over to Fluttershy, rubbing against her hooves and making shrill crying noises. He never bullied her again. ***** The next day, Fluttershy and Cassandra went to Iron Will’s seminar. Iron Will plucked Fluttershy out of the crowd, brought her on stage, and taught her what to do when a fainting goat blocked her path. Then he told the crowd, “If Iron Will can turn this little pony assertive, he can help anypony! And Iron Will is so sure that he’ll give you a full money back guarantee if you aren’t completely satisfied!” “Excuse me” Cassandra piped up from the crowd, “I have two concerns” “Iron Will will address one concern” “Two” said Cassandra “One, and don’t try to trick Iron Will by saying ‘one’ he’s too smart for that.” “Wouldn’t dream of it. Two.” “One.” “Two.” “One.” “Three.” “Two. Damn it!” “Right, now that we’ve got that out of the way. First concern, do you know what happened to the last stage performer that spoke in the third person and got too uppity?” “Iron Will does not.” She whispered something in his ear, and his face went green. He retreated off stage and hurled out his guts for about five minutes. When he came back, he was pale and shaking. “Pan have mercy, was she all right?” he stammered “The rusty screwdriver will probably come out on its own,” assured Cassandra “but anyways, second concern, the money back guarantee.” “What of it?” said Iron Will “Have you ever given anypony a refund?” “Of course not!” he said haughtily “That’s what I thought, this is a Catch-22 isn’t it? If a pony is unsatisfied with the training she wants to get a refund. But to ask for the refund, she has to confront this gigantic bull-goat monstrosity...” “That hurts Iron Will’s feelings.” “...and then you point out that she’d have to be pretty assertive to demand a refund, and therefore your training must have worked, so you don’t owe her a cent.” “Please don’t spill the beans on Iron Will’s operation!” he begged, “Iron Will will be ruined! Iron Will won’t be able to feed his goats!” “You can go peddle to the griffins and dragons, but if I ever see you in pony territory again, I’ll make you change your name to Iron Steer. And I WILL find out if you come back, because I’m the princess’s long lost sister. Are we going to have any more problems?” “No m’am!” whimpered Iron Will and he scurried away. “What did you learn today, Fluttershy?” asked Cassandra “That I need to be more assertive.” “Good girl.” ***** Fluttershy was trying to cross a bridge, but it was blocked by two earth ponies telling a racist joke. Fluttershy could have just flown over them, but it was the principle of the matter. She kicked their carts and spilled garbage all over them. “FLUTTERSHY!” yelled Cassandra, “What do you think you’re doing?” “I’m being assertive just like you taught me.” said Fluttershy proudly. Cassandra shook her head, “No Fluttershy” she said, “it’s good to be assertive but being a bully is wrong.” “Oh, my…” tears began to well up in Fluttershy’s eyes, “what have I become??? I’m a monster!” “There there” said Cassandra, “as long as you learned a lesson, it’s all right in the end. Four sessions of practice kissing, and you’ll be forgiven.” “Thanks Cassandra” said Fluttershy. She was lucky to have Cassandra as a friend.