//------------------------------// // Reflection. // Story: Glitter Shell Volume.1. : Coming Out Of Her Shell. // by Undyne Devotion //------------------------------// How did she know about my secret? Did I have a tell? Did I give myself away somehow? My mind was racing with possible answers to this horrid predicament, pacing back and forth in front of the school awaiting Sweetie to appear outside so I could question her. My hooves were like jelly now, my mane flattened out by stress, I felt as if I were melting away into a puddle of goo. “Dude! What gives!?” My friend Snips pounced down the steps of the school in a obvious huff, his eyes burning into me like a wildfire on the loose in a small town. “Not now, Snips!” “Yes now! We are buddies, yet you chose that dumb filly as a partner!?” His hoof pushed my shoulder hard as I stumbled back. “I didn’t mean too…” “If you want to be a dumb filly, then do so! Just don’t leave me hanging dude…” “I DON’T WANT TO BE A FILLY!” I screamed aloud in horror as I found myself rolling onto my backside nearly paralyzed. “Dude it’s a joke relax.” Snips rolled his eyes in mild confusion, as I slowly rolled back onto my hooves with nervous laughter. “Hahaha! I knew that...I did.” I spoke in a serious tone of voice, eyes becoming still and never blinking. “Right. Next team up though, we need to…” I could see Sweetie walking down the steps in the distance, giggling cutely with her filly friends Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. I had to confront her before it would be too late, dashing away from Snips I darted over to the girls. “Get together…” Snips just gave a deep sigh, I barely picked up before running off. Sweetie softly locked her eyes with me as I skid across the grass over to her, Apple Bloom scrunching her muzzle up towards me a bit caught off guard. Scootaloo never speaking a word, yet her eyes were burning a hole through my soul. “You know Snails, I wanted Sweetie as my partner.” Scootaloo gave me an eye roll. “Scoots!” Sweetie flashed a mild glare to her friend. “What!? I’m stuck with Button Mash now!” Scootaloo gave a loud groan into the sky. “I didn’t mean too.” “Whatever, I’m surrounded by dorks.” Scootaloo gave a grumble walking off past me, making sure to nudge me hard on the side. “I think it’s cool we are meeting new ponies!” Bloom gave a sweet reply, Sweetie just giggling along. “Mmmhmm. You say that because you got Rumble?” Sweetie flaunted a slender hoof her way, Bloom just smirking and shrugging in place. “Maybe. But you have to agree he is pretty cool.” Bloom flashed a smile happily, waving bye to her friend and I before cantering off with a skip in her step. I found it so interesting how fillies could just open up about anything, have fun giggling and talking about all types of things with no fear. I was struck in awe as a soft nudge on my side broke me back into reality, Sweetie flashing me a cute smile. “Did you enjoy, your first taste of girl talk?” She gave a small smirk as I could feel my cheeks burn a bright pink. “I didn’t even say anything!” “Heehee! You could’ve jumped in at anytime.” “...” “The girls would’ve not cared, to be honest they would probably think it’s cool.” I just turned around in shame, gazing down to my hooves trembling with fear. The whole world was shattering before my eyes, I could do nothing except watch as my world came crashing down. My lips quivering in place Sweetie placed a small hoof on my shoulder, I could feel tears rolling down my cheeks wildly as I began to sob. “Please don’t tell anypony!” I clutched to the filly who gasped in surprise, slowly embracing me into a small hug the world around us falling silent. Sweetie’s place within the Carousel Boutique was wonderful her private room to hang out in was the epitome of femininity, one I could only dream of having one day all to myself. I sat upon her silken bedsheets in silence, my magic clutching a small spoon that was digging deeply into a large tub of Cherry ice cream. “You like the ice cream?” Sweetie gave a smile as she lifted a spoon up herself, floating it across the room in a lackadaisy fashion. “Mmm, it helps.” “My sister has a whole deep freezer full of the stuff, she claims it’s for her off days or when she needs a good cry.” The filly gave a soft giggle chomping down on the spoon happily. “Thank you for inviting me here.” I gave a deep sigh, she had been really nice to let me spend some time in her room away from the anxiety of the world. “”No problem! Just so I’m clear, do you want to be a filly?” Sweetie dropped the bomb swiftly atop my head, much like a rock to the skull it shook me to my core. “Yes.” I gave a flat monotone reply, tired of just hiding away my feelings as if I were made of stone. “Huh?” She batted those long dark lashes, I was half expecting her to laugh at me. “You don’t think it’s weird?” “Nope! I think whatever would make you happy, is something you should strive for.” “That sounds pretty nice Sweetie.” I could feel a small smile slowly creep across my muzzle. “How long have you felt like this?” She tilted her head to the side, sprawling out on a large velvet pillow before me in awe. “Um, as long as I can remember to be honest. I feel like I’m living in a shadow of my own life, as if I don't match with my inside.” “But wouldn’t that be like…” “A horror movie?, yeah. I wake up everyday just wishing to feel normal, yet everyday I feel more and more broken.” I slowly lifted a spoon of cherry to my lips, gently taking a bite from the melting cream. Sweetie merely folded her ears back in silence, I watched as she got up and walked off to her huge double door closet behind her. Never saying a word as silence filled the room around us, I gave a deep groan within, I just knew I probably bummed her out. “I should really just go…” I began to trip over my words before Sweetie spun around, holding a pile of various cosmetics in her hooves happily. “Awww, but I thought maybe I could help you, match your outside with the inside.” She gave a soft giggle and rushed over, dumping the many items of makeup at my hooves. My heart started to race wildly in my chest as I gazed deeply into her eyes, was this really happening? Did somepony really want to help me, or could this all be a trick? “You, want to help me?” I spoke in a cracking tone of voice. “Well sure! I love giving makeovers, though my two friends are totally not into it.” Sweetie lifted a large brush into the air with her magic, gently stroking it across my mane as she began to style it cutely. “Uhhh, yes! I mean yes please.” I almost jumped out of my skin, the brush gently grooming out the tangles from my mane slowly. I could barely hold back my growing glee, Sweetie lifting a small bottle of spray into the air as it gently spritzed my mane. The sweet scent of strawberries filling the air, I  gazed across the room into a large mirror as she began to work. For a split second I could see somepony familiar in the reflection, somepony who I could not see in a long time. I could see myself.