Fluttershy POV
'Ring, ring, ring, rin-'
I sleeply press my alarm clock still half asleep. It took me a few times before I got it quiet. I slowely openned my eyes and looked up at the time. '7:25' "Perfect." I say as I drag myself out of bed. I feel the cold breeze out of the window on my body as I get the blacket of me. I get off my bed and after a small stretch I leave the room.
Having done my own routine I moved on to my little animal friends. Angel was the first one I would check on. He likes special attention from me and I woke up early so not to make the others jelous. But knowing him he would probably brag about it with the other bunnies. But I wouldn't want him throwing another tantrum either.
I get to the bunnies and quietly make my way through the still sleeping bunnies. I walk to the bags with fresh vegetables and get some of them out. Mainly, lettuce and tomatoes with some carrot pieces as a taste bonus. It was monday and I like to treat them to something more than just lettuce and tomatoes.
I cut it all up into small digestible pieces and put it in small bowl. I used to give it all in one bowl but I found out it was better to have it in smaller ones after one of the baby bunnies didn't get the chance to get any yesterday. I hid the carrot pieces in it and left it on the table to go wake the little bunnies up.
I got a small bell from the counter and make a small but audible ring. I saw the heads pop up as they awoke from their slumber. The older bunnies were up quicker than the babies and looked at me waiting for their breakfast. One of them was trying to wake the babies up themselves not wanting to wait.
"Patience Angel. You should let them wake up on their own. It's not very nice to shake them awake like that." I said in a calm but strict voice. He looked annoyed but let them wake up. With another small ring of the bell they popped up their heads too and got up. I gave them a smile. "Good morning everybunny." I said putting the bowls on the ground.
The bigger bunnies ran to the larger bowls while I lead the smaller ones to their bowls. They gave me a happy squeek before getting at the bowl. I return them a smile and make my way back to the door. Those squeeks never gets old to me.
I carefully close the door and leave the bunnies to their food. And after finishing up with the other animals I clear the bowls back up and prepare myself for the next part of the day.
Having so much animals isn't easy. Especially when it comes to food. I'm out of carrots and remembered I should probably fill up on some of the letuce and tomatoes because of the baby bunnies. And even though I do it a lot I never look forward to having to get things from the market. Things are always so crowded there and it was always a quest to get to one stand to another trying to get everything I need.
I mean, someone like Rainbow Dash wouldn't have this problem. Other ponies make way for her and she knows how to get her way anywhere she goes by using just her words. But I'm not her. I know that. So I just had to go out and hope for the best.
I got my saddlebag and after thinking about my stragety I went out there to get what I needed.
I leave my house and head out to Ponyvile. My house was on a bit of a mountain so I could see a bit of the market from up here. And from what I saw it was already pretty busy. I just wished it would calm down a little or atleast not get worst once I got there.
I walk down to Ponyvile and get to the market. To my dismay it wasn't any better than before. There were some more ponies and the stands I had to get my stuff from had ponies standing in line. They were all 3 or more. I guess Letuce, tomatoes and carrots were popular today.
I firstly decide to get carrots because I have none of those anymore. Atleast I still had some letuce and tomatoes at home if I couldn't get my hooves on any of those today.
I try my best to get through the crowd of ponies at the market trying my best not to bumb into any of them. I also liked to keep from having eye contact. It would be better to keep a low profile right now. I just needed to get to that stand, get my stuff and then I could leave.
I succesfully make my way to the stand and get in line. I made sure to keep my eyes on everything around me while keeping from any eye contact. I didn't want anyone cutting infront of me or a distraction causing that to happen. I had a bad case of that last time but I felt like I was prepared this time.
After a small minute I'm infront and pick out a two packs of 5 carrots. I see the cost saying '4 bits' and get the bits needed out of my saddlebag. I put it on the counter and give the pony at the stand a smile. "Two packs of 5 carrots please."
My smile fades hearing his next words. "I'll need 5 bits for those." He just gave me a small smile pointing at my 4 bits.
I looked at the sign again which clearly said 4. "S-Sorry, I thought it was 4. I saw the sign and-"
Before I could continue he spoke again. "That sign means nothing. I say 5, I'll get 5."
I could hear the ponies behind me wispering and I just quietly nodded not wanting to cause any drama. "Ok.." I get one more bit out of my bag and put it on the counter. "There."
A smile returns on my face as he slides the carrots to me. "Thanks for the purchase. Have a good day."
"Same to you sir." I give him a smile before getting the carrots in my saddle bag and leaving the line. I got my check list and checked it off. "Now I just need letuce and tomatoes." I look over to the two stands and see a line of 4 ponies each. I let out a sigh and walk over there. "Just two more." I tell myself walking to the letuce stand.
I go stand in the back of the line still keeping an eye on what was going on behind me. I also kept a close eye on the tomato stand I also had to visit later. I saw it was getting less crowded there and got a smile.
After a minute or two I'm second in line. I notice the pony infront of me has been looking at two packs of carrots for half a minute now. "Should I take this one or that one.." She says to herself while the pony at the stand just waits for her to make a choice.
He notices me behind her. "What do you need?"
I looked a bit confussed at him before answering. "I-I think she's first.."
"Yea but I'm sure I can get somethin' for ya before she has decided anythin'" He looks back at her. "If you do ever choose anythin' that is."
"Just one more minute!" She told him before going back into deep thought.
I get a smile and walk forward. "Just a medium pack of letuce plea-"
Before I could continue the pony behind me spoke up. "A small pack for me sir." She cut infront of me and gave him the bits.
"Thanks miss." He hands her the pack and puts the bits in his counter.
"I also have a quick order!" The pony bumbs me aside and the others behind her follow. I attempted to speak up only to get drowned out by the others at the stand. Again I didn't want to cause any drama so I waited behind them until they would finish. "T-That's ok.. I'll just wait here.."
After two whole minutes I'm finally infront again. The pony that was infront of me at first also left and I didn't have anypony behind me this time. "A medium pack please." I put the bits on the counter and give him a smile.
"One medium pack comin' right up." He gives me the pack and takes the bits. "There ya go. Have a nice day miss."
I give him a smile. "Same for you sir." I get the pack and put it in my saddlebag before leaving the stand.
Now I only had one more stand to go. I looked out at the stand and saw a familiar pony there. She was infront in line and looked like she was just done. She left the stand and noticed me.
"Hey Flutters!" It was Rainbow Dash. She flew up to me with a smile. "What's up?"
"Oh hey Rainbow." I didn't expect to see her here so I just gave her a quick smile. "Not much really.. Just getting some groceries like everypony else."
"I could've guessed that.." She looked away with a small smile. "So, how's it goin' out here. Any better?"
I just let out a sigh. "I really apriciate the 'how to be assertive' lessons but I don't think it's working.. You did nothing wrong of course.. I just can't do it.."
The smile faded from her face. "Really? Nothing changed? Nothing at all?" She stopped herself seeying me look away a bit ashamed. "I mean, it's not your fault. Maybe we should just up our game. Try even harder to get your confidence above anything else!" She gave me a determined smile.
I shuck my head. "No, it's fine Dash. It was nice of you to try to help but I don't think this is going to work. I just want to survive. And I'm doing that just fine right now."
I saw her smile fade. "Fine.." She looked over to the tomato stand which had a lot of ponies now. "Were you getting tomatoes?"
I just nodded not knowing what she was planning. But seeying by her face she was deffinetly planning something. "Yea, why?" I was curious to what she was thinking.
"Follow me!" She got my hoof and we got in line together. "Our lessons may be over but I can still show you how it's done." She gave me a smile.
I returned her a smile seeying the ponies in line look at both of us. "Oh ok.."
We stood in line as the ponies 1 by one got their stuff and left. We were in second when the one infront of us started looking frantactly in her bag. "I'm sure I have another bit in here somewhere!"
Dash gave me a smile and spoke up. "You got quite the search there. We'll go first. You can look for.. Whatever you're looking for." She got my hoof and we walked infront of her. "Go on Flutters. What do you need."
I looked back at the pony who gave me a sign to go on as she kept looking. It suprised me how she would allow that without Dash even asked it. She just stepped infront of her. I looked at the pony at the stand and spoke. "5 tomatoes please." I put the bits on the counter and gave Dash a smile.
I got the tomatoes in my bag and after saying good bye to the pony at the stand we got out of line. Dash looked back at me with a smile. "Now, how easy was that?"
"Pretty easy.." I looked away. "But that's only because you did it."
"And? That doesn't mean you can't do it too. You just have to be more like me. I'm sure I can get something for that." She smiled at herself probably thinking of something.
'Be more like her'? How was I possibly going to do that? "What do you mean? Our lessons didn't work."
"You don't NEED those lessons to be awesome. Didn't work with me either. I got something better than even myself to fix you up." She gave me a smile.
"What is it?" I was really curious now.
"Is it fine if I come over tomorrow? I'll bring it with me. It's going to be awesome!" She sounded really excited about it.
I gave her a smile. "Sure."
"Awesome!" She got back in the air. "I gotta fly now. See you tomorrow!" She flew off and I made my way back home.
I didn't know what she was talking about but seeying from how excited she was about it it must be good. I just hope it didn't end up being a prank or some other joke. And if it did work I could only imagine what it would do. Of course I had always looked up to her and wanted to be like her. Assertive, cool and just good at everything. I would never admit it but if the thing she talked about would really help to me be more like her it would be pretty great. I just looked forward to her visit the next day.