5 Days Later....
Ever since that fateful afternoon where Fluttershy had tragically discovered that the pony who caught her eye had found another... another form of herself, the kind-hearted pegasus became devastated. She was less concerned about a potential relationship, more so she became worried their friendship was finally fading.
Every day since that incident, Fluttershy would always see the lovable party pony and her doll partake in various outings, which all their friends instantly took notice of with looks of worry and skepticism. Meanwhile, the pegasus herself would've loved to be included in the time the two shared; alas, she was never able to join in.
"Sorry Flutters, me and Flutterdoll are going to the park."
"Sorry Shy-Shy, me and Flutterdoll are on our way to this new animal exhibit."
"Sorry Flutty- Buddy, me and Flutterdoll are trying to get a Buckball team going."
"No! Not Buckball too..." Flutters thought as each day she became gradually more heartbroken.
"Does our friendship not even matter anymore? Am I being replaced by a inanimate version of myself?" she feared as she's gone through multiple evenings in the past week with tears being absorbed by her pillow as well as multiple tubs of vanilla ice cream being devoured (Rarity's not the only one who eats through her feelings.)
As Fluttershy was currently looking through one of her old photo albums she had collected over the years, the sobs became anew once again as she went through multiple pictures of the two ponies participating in various adventures and activities - many of which included the two as mere fillies, Fluttershy reflecting back on the nostalgia with a bittersweet feeling.
With each page, Fluttershy felt her heart shatter more and more (if it could even be shattered any more at this point), until she came across one of the final few pages - a letter sticking out of it. Cautiously, Fluttershy began reading it as the memory of that specific letter came flooding back.
Dear Fluttershy,
I just wanted to thank you once again for taking care of me when I was feeling all yucky. Who would've
guessed that ponies shouldn't eat a tub-full of raw cookie dough? Next time I'm feeling hungry I'm
just going to stick to the chocolate chips.
Anyways, I thought I was going to suffer these last few days without being able to make any delicious
sweets or throwing any fantastically-fun parties - but boy was I proven wrong. You were always there to
comfort me, make me laugh, or just be there for me when no one else could. I thought it was going to be
miserable being by myself, but you always make me feel better even though you brush the idea you do
anything special.
But you are special to me, Flutters. Always have been and always will. I've never met a pony as sweet and
kind as you. I don't ever know how I could pay you back, but I hereby promise I will always be there for
you Fluttershy. We'll be together forever, no matter what comes our way.
Thank you for being my friend,
Pinkie Pie
After carefully glancing over the heartfelt letter multiple times, Fluttershy carefully placed the letter back in the album before throwing the album onto the floor with a wave of frustration. With a powerful wave of fresh chokes and sobs, she felt her whole world crashing down before her eyes - the pony who always promised to be there for her, the pony who made her feel special.
Now she just gradually increased the number of excuses for not spending time with her before practically ditching her altogether. It hurt - more so than any pain Fluttershy had felt. As she sat there in heartache, she began feeling multiple different emotions at once.
Sadness. Confusion. Depression. Sorrow. Jealousy.
Anger.
Fluttershy closed her eyes, making a pathetic attempt at drifting off to slumber before a bitter statement bounced in her head.
"How could she do this to me?!"
The Next Day:
Today was the day Fluttershy and the rest of the element-bearers had their weekly meeting with Twilight to discuss any happenings or potential events happening across Equestria. Usually these conferences did very little but result in the six ponies and dragon chatting and laughing as a group for hours, but any excuse for them all to hang out was widely accepted.
As Fluttershy began trotting to the Castle of Friendship, she felt her stomach drop as she realized one fatal flaw with this meeting. "Pinkie will be there". To say the pegasus was still quite upset at her friend was an understatement. Typically, she tried to avoid any confrontation or emotional outburst with Pinkie Pie and her beloved Flutterdoll through forced smiles and politeness, but as the days and instances of the party pony stomping all over their friendship grew, Fluttershy found it harder and harder to keep her torment in. She was getting sick and tired of seeing Pinkie put together activities that the pegasus would Love to do with her and had been trying to do for ages with a look-alike.
The butterscotch mare began trotting miserably with a deep frown on her face before realizing:
"Maybe with all of us there, Pinkie won't bring the doll..." as her thoughts were halted by a collision with a big, pink, poofy tail.
"Hey Fluttershy!" the tail turned around to reveal a happy face instead. "Are you on your way to the castle?"
"O-oh. Yes, actually. I was." the pegasus stammered as she became more relaxed after the bump's initial shock wore off.
"Oooo! Awesome, I'll see you there! Me and Flutterdoll just have to do some quick errands." she explained, bringing the aforementioned doll in her hooves to Fluttershy's attention.
"Flutterdoll has big plans. She wants to build a sanctuary just like you!" Pinkie beamed as waved goodbye to her friend before happily skipping along.
Once Pinkie was out of sight, Fluttershy's smile disappeared as a bitter scowl enveloped her facial features, her eyes becoming narrower as a light blush of frustration enveloped her cheeks.
"Yeah. Grrrreat." she muttered, now re-focused on making it to the castle.
"Oh, you don't say darling?"
"Yeah, I mean... can you believe she told Spike I was a 7/10? I mean what..."
Rarity and Twilight were politely engaged in back-and-forth conversation in the Castle's throne room, each Element of Harmony as well as Spike represented with a big booming throne as the collection of chairs circled around a round table that was really the Friendship Map. As the unicorn and alicorn carried on their friendly gossip, their discussions stopped when they heard the sound of a third pony entering the room, looking rather upset as she eyes shifted downward in sadness, her wings and ears slightly drooping as she made her way to the seat.
"Hey" she muttered to the two of them as she took her seat and uncomfortably shifted in her tone - their friend's peculiar behavior not lost on them.
"Fluttershy? Is something bothering you?" Twilight asked her friend as deep concern was displayed across her features, Rarity silently copying her expressions with equal worry.
Fluttershy simply sighed before focusing her attention on her two friends in the room.
"It's Flutterdoll." she muttered.
Rarity and Twilight looked at each other in mutual understanding; both ponies having experienced Pinkie's...obsessive behavior with said doll in the past week as both pony and doll were practically glued to the hoof as they did everything together.
Even going to the bathroom, which was a terrifying thought indeed.
Rarity whined in sympathy for her troubled friend. "Aww sweetie. We know Pinkie has been spending a lot of time with her new doll..." she began before she was cut off.
"That's just it!" Fluttershy groaned in frustration. "They're doing everything and expressing interests I enjoy doing, but..." she paused as her eyes shifted downwards again, corneas beginning to water "...she's pretending that doll is really me while I'm getting tossed aside."
"I thought we were always friends..." Fluttershy muttered conclusively, a slight sniffle escaping her muzzle.
Twilight instinctively flew over towards the sensitive pegasus before wrapping a comforting wing around her frame.
"Oh Fluttershy..." she began. "Maybe Pinkie doesn't realize you're feeling left out. She's not always the best with social cues." she stated admittingly.
"But she's been seemingly avoiding me for months now when we used to be so close!" the pegasus sighed as she leaned in to the alicorn's warm wing. "And now she has a copy of me that she prefers spending time with instead!" she cried some more.
"I just miss my friend. The one who thought I was special." she harshly whispered, as Rarity came over to Fluttershy's side, enveloping her in a nuzzle.
"Darling..." Rarity softly cooed. "Forgive me for stating this to Twilight, but I'm sure we can trust her...", glancing over at the lavender alicorn who silently nodded her head in understanding. "Now, you know I know about your... feelings for Pinkie Pie."
Rarity could see a blush develop on the pegasus's muzzle but the only other thing she did was bop her head up and down in agreement. Rarity smiled inwardly at the timid mare's displays of cuteness.
"Well, you see. There's something you need to know. Pinkie told me..."
"That she loves Flutterdoll, I know." Fluttershy interrupted in what would be a deadpan voice if she wasn't sobbing.
Rarity felt her own heart slightly start to tear as she saw one of her best friends suffer so much from a lack of understanding. She desparately needed to know the truth behind Pinkie and the doll.
"No, darling. I'm trying to tell you..."
But thanks to the all cruel ironic powers of the universe, before the unicorn could finally spill the beans on Pinkie's recent behavior, the three other ponies (and one pony-shaped doll) they were expecting finally decided to make their appearance in the throne room, effectively ending the conversation (especially with Pinkie right there).
"Heh. Sorry we're late, y'all. But we figured we'd walk together." apologized a rather bashful Applejack. Rainbow Dash simply shrugged nonchalantly while Pinkie happily bounced up and down in place. As soon as they began walking in, Spike brought a whole container of various chips to the middle of the table before he went to his "mini-throne" next to Twilight.
"If I didn't find her compelling, I'd be annoyed at her punctuality." Rarity mentally grimaced as she studied the farmer pony's form.
Twilight glanced her eyes back and forth between the upset pegasus and the posse of ponies before she took her wing off the butterscotch form and smiled with a subtle hint of anxiety in her form. "No-no. It's fine. Uh, shall we start?" she looked back over at Fluttershy, who relaxed as she saw the mare wipe the few stray tears left and nod at her friend with a painful smile, indicating to her she would be alright for the time being.
As everypony began taking their seats, Fluttershy winced as she saw Pinkie hugging Flutterdoll before placing her squarely on top of her poofy mane. Rarity, who had seen the display with a contorted frown on her face whispered into Fluttershy's ear "We'll talk after." as she took off to her own throne, Fluttershy grinned appreciatively at her unicorn friend's concern before focusing her stare on the middle of the table.
This would be quite the meeting.
2 hours have passed since the meeting between the element-bearers began. Like usual, nothing of extreme importance was brought up. What started out as plans for the upcoming fall semester at the School of Friendship transformed into a round of stories, sonnets, and other little jokes. From Dash's accidental wing-slap at Wonderbolts HQ, to Rarity's latest client wanting some form of fancy "cross stitching", to even Spike's hilarious anecdote of him finding Twilight sleep-eating an orange, the gang all found themselves having a good time - catching up like good friends did.
Fluttershy was quiet throughout most of the meeting; this wasn't unusual however as the mostly reserved pony usually saved talking for any remarks or questions she had in regards to others' conversations - she herself usually only bringing up any new happenings at the sanctuary. All in all, this was turning out to be quite the enjoyable experience much to Fluttershy's relief as she was thankful for the distraction from her current woes.
Leave it to karma to rear its ugly head at the wrong time, or maybe it was Discord - who knows?
As a previous conversation had started dwindling down, Pinkie very suddenly seemed to remember something as her eyes quickly bugged out before waving her hooves for attention.
"Ooo ooo! Everyone! I have an important announcement to make!" she declared, grabbing everyone's undivided attention.
"For the first time since I started working at Sugarcube Corner, I'd like to announce that we have a new employee of the month!"
Everyone gasped in shock as this was indeed big news. Every since Pinkie's Sugarcube journey began, she had been giving it 110% (literally, somehow...) every single day - she very rarely took any time off, she went above and beyond for the customers, and she even had the title of the one of the most successful bakers in Ponyville: To say that anyone had achieved a status higher than Pinkie to achieve employee of the month was surely a once-in-a-lifetime feat that deserved praise. Fluttershy especially awed in fascination as she knew how seriously Pinkie took her job.
"Thanks to a certain somepony working very hard in the shop, always giving me a helping hoof, and even helping me remove the glue I spilled on the ceiling..."
"How'd you even?..." Rainbow began questioning out loud before Pinkie's monologue continued.
"...So without further ado, I am pleased to announce our newest employee of the month - Flutterdoll!" she exclaimed as she held the toy over her head with both hooves, waiting for applause.
Everyone seemed to look at each and collectively shrugged as they began a slow, somewhat awkward applause. Fluttershy simply sat there with a stoic expression before joining in a few slow claps so as not to upset her friend.
Pinkie's eyes began to water with sincerity as she clutched the doll close to her heart. "Awww, Flutterdoll! I couldn't have done it without you. You're the best pony ever!"
Fluttershy's brow furrowed, her left eye beginning to develop a serious twitch.
Rainbow apparently decided this was the perfect situation to tell a joke.
"If that Flutterdoll's as reliable as you say Pinkie, perhaps I should have her cheer me on at practice."
Fluttershy, who always watched Dash's trainings or flight practice took that as a heavy blow as she gave the cyan pegasus a harsh glare almost as scary as her patented "stare".
Rainbow was confused as to why her childhood friend was so angry at her, but the look she gave her really itched her nerves. An angry Fluttershy was not something to mess with as she had learned a long time ago. Naturally, she backpedaled as much as she could.
"Err...sorry." she humbly mumbled which seemed to work as Fluttershy directed her attention back to Pinkie with a huff. The previous action not lost on anyone except Pinkie who was simply smiling obliviously while the rest gave her concerned looks.
"To celebrate Flutterdoll's big success, I made us all my famous Red Velvet cupcakes!" Pinkie gleed as she began placing a large tray of the mouth-watering treats on the middle of the table. Everyone else meanwhile froze in silent shock as they all knew that the doll looking exactly like Fluttershy and Fluttershy's favorite treat being there was no mere accidental coincidence.
"She hasn't made me cupcakes in a long time..."
Fluttershy, seeing her favorite treat made easily for someone other than her grew furious as she felt her eyes watering again - her teeth grinding. Rarity noticed Fluttershy's rapidly growing emotions though and offered a comforting a hoof on her shoulder, "It's ok sweetheart." she light-fully whispered, though the action seemed to have very little effect other than Fluttershy giving the unicorn an appreciative frown, thankful for the effort but telling her it wasn't working.
Rarity slowly released her hoof off the pegasus as Applejack, seeing all this whispered to her "Is she ok?"
All Rarity could do was quickly shake her head "no", causing the farmer to look back at Fluttershy with an equal amount of worry.
As Pinkie then began "feeding" the doll cupcakes, laughing without a care in the world, the tension in the room grew incredibly thick - tears starting to fall from Fluttershy's cheeks. All the others in the room looked between the two with growing worry; even Rainbow Dash who was silently biting on a cupcake looked at Fluttershy's tearful appearance with a pang of guilt as she slowly put the cupcake down.
Surprisingly taking initiative was Spike who leapt off his throne, walking over to Fluttershy before wrapping her in a big hug and softly holding on, Fluttershy looked down at the dragon with an actual smile this time as she returned the embrace.
"Can I get you anything?" he whispered caringly, ending the hug.
"Just some water, please. Thank you Spike." she uttered back in a loving tone as she quickly gave him a soft nuzzle before he left the room.
However, before anyone could redirect the conversation, Pinkie absentmindedly managed to deliver the final gut-punch that stood everything to a screeching halt.
"I'll always be there for you." she said embracing the doll.
After those few words echoed in Fluttershy's brain for half a minute, she finally had it. The tears abruptly ceased and her eyes turned into a cold, icy stare - everypony else in the room froze in horror realizing Fluttershy was going to snap. Twilight tried reaching out a hoof to the pegasus, but it was too late.
The normally kind mare scooted out of her throne before marching up right in front of Pinkie Pie staring directly at her with a powerful glare , the party pony not noticing for a few brief seconds before addressing her friend with a fun smile as if nothing was wrong.
"Hi-ya Flutter-Butter. Want a cupcake?" she asked, doing her best to be a good host.
Unfortunately, at the moment, the pegasus wasn't concerned with proper manners or offerings.
"No. I don't." she growled in a low-tone of voice, her odd demeanor finally catching up to the scatter-brained earth pony.
"Hey... what's wrong?" she asked in a thoughtful frown, hoping it wasn't anything she said.
Give proper credit to Fluttershy as she managed to contain her emotions in a low menacing voice instead of a loud scream. Though she still pointedly asked in an annoyed tone, "Why don't you ask Flutterdoll?"
The other 4 ponies in the room gave each other fearful glances, knowing this wouldn't go well.
"Hey! Good idea. Flutterdoll, do you know why Fluttershy's all moody? Usually it only happens when she has a stomach ache."
"That!" Fluttershy's voice rose in volume, "That is exactly what's wrong!"
"What? Flutterdoll?!" Pinkie asked cautiously, eyeing the doll as if it suddenly had a spider on it.
"Yes, Pinkie! You and her have both hurt my feelings!" Fluttershy held her head up high, her eyes closed in frustration.
"*Gasp*! Is it because Flutterdoll has your cutie mark?" Pinkie questioned, her ears starting to lower.
"No." Fluttershy denied simply, her head refusing to acknowledge the now worried pink pony.
"Is it because she and I had a tickle fight?"
"No."
"Is it because she ate your cupcake?"
"No."
"Is it because we both used your toothbrush?!"
"What?!" Fluttershy momentarily forgot her anger to stare at Pinkie with a look of shock and some mild disgust.
"........Is it because she ate your cupcake?"
Fluttershy angrily sighed, knowing she wasn't going to get far without telling Pinkie the real reason.
"I'm upset..." she emphasized, making sure the party planner know she was not happy. "...because lately it seems you've been trying to avoid me whenever I tried making plans with you. And now you're doing it all while having a doll that looks and supposedly acts like me! All while doing things that you and I used to do as if I'm being replaced!"
Fluttershy's volume increased with each passing sentence as she felt strangely relieved knowing she had gotten the truth out in the open. This did nothing to qualm the raging storm in her heart however.
Pinkie froze for a solid minute before gasping in shock and addressing her friend who looked away from her with her front hooves crossed.
"Flutters. That's not true. I haven't been avoiding you or trying to replace you. It's just..." she tried thinking of a logical explanation before ultimately deciding, "I'm doing this for a perfectly explainable reason that I unfortunately cannot tell you" she concluded rather hastily - a bead of sweat forming at the top of her head- with a sheepish grin.
"And why can't you tell me?" Fluttershy's eyes narrowed once again, not liking the secret.
Pinkie nervously looked away from the crowd of now-interested ponies and rubbed her hooves as she said, "Because you'd probably be mad."
"Pinkie, I'm already mad at you. I promise you the truth won't be worse than this." Fluttershy spoke sternly, though her glare softened a bit to show she was being genuine.
Pinkie however, stubbornly shook her head no. "You wouldn't understand."
Fluttershy's glare re-ignited as she couldn't believe her supposed friend wouldn't trust her. "Understand what?! That one of my best friends apparently doesn't trust me?!" she roared.
Pinkie turned back around to now address the pegasus with a perplexed look on her face. "We're best friends. You mean that?"
While this normally would've been taken as a rhetorical question seeking confirmation, Fluttershy's anger-induced mind told her otherwise as she gasped before finally starting to yell, tears pouring down her face.
"EXCUSE ME?! Are we best friends?! After all we've been through together, you never thought we were best friends? You and I always used to play and laugh together, you made sure I was always happy, YOU TOLD ME I WAS SPECIAL!!! AND NOW YOU QUESTION IF WE'RE BEST FRIENDS?!"
Pinkie's mind recoiled as she suddenly knew what Fluttershy was getting at.
"What?! Shy-shy! I didn't mean it like that, I ju---"
"Well I guess we're not anymore because lately you've been a terrible friend!" she angrily concluded, as she whipped her head to the side, before giving off a powerful snort.
At this, Pinkie finally bounced off her seat, placing the Flutterdoll in her empty chair as she gasped, finally showcasing some anger in herself.
"How dare you say that?!" Pinkie exclaimed in hurt as she was now only a few inches away from being muzzle-to-muzzle with Fluttershy.
Fluttershy though wouldn't back down.
"How dare I?! HOW DARE I?! At least I don't avoid others and have dolls of them to love right in front of them!"
"Flutterdoll's not there to replace you! She's ju---" Pinkie groaned in frustration again before resuming her speech "I don't think I can tell you but I want to!" she whined in exaggeration.
"Well, if you really cared about me, you would tell me!" Fluttershy claimed as she again lifted her head up in defiance.
Pinkie tried for several moments to get three simple words out - I love you - but she soon realized she wasn't strong enough to do it, she bowed her head in defeat. "I can't. My heart would be broken if I told you."
At that, Fluttershy moved her head back and stared at Pinkie in shock for a few moments before her eyes began watering up as she lunged a hoof into Pinkie's chest, tears pouring out of her like twin waterfalls as she tried desparately to keep her glare.
"Well, what about my heart, huh?! Do you realize how much you've hurt me?! We used to be so close, we could trust each other with anything! And now all of a sudden, it's different and I don't know why! It hurts! It hurts Pinkie!"
"Flutters..." Pinkie's lip began quivering as she took to heart Fluttershy's confession, not even bothering to remove the hoof still jabbing her in the chest.
"Fluttershy..." Twilight absentmindedly muttered, all the other ponies began tearing up at seeing the two like this.
"We used to go on so many walks and adventures! You would always encourage me to try new things, get me out of my shell! But no matter what, you always loved me for who I am! Where's that Pinkie now?! I want that Pinkie back!"
"Flutter..." Pinkie choked out half a word.
"I... I LOVED YOU PINKIE! I wanted you to be mine, but I never told you because I thought you wouldn't want a quiet, shy pegasus like myself!"
Pinkie couldn't take it anymore as she tried to string out the sentence with all her might, regardless if she could actually do it or not.
"Fluttershy, please. Wai---"
But then, Pinkie's heart completely disintegrated as Fluttershy bowed her head, tears still coming on.
"But I guess I was right after all..." she whispered.
Rarity couldn't take it anymore, as she lunged out of her throne, trying to stop the madness. "Hold on now, darling!"
Fluttershy failed to notice though as she began running to the exit with tears in her eyes, glancing back at her friend one last time with a betrayed and broken look.
"I guess we're not friends anymore either!" she stammered out as she took off running, ignoring the multiple voices of her friends telling her to wait.
Pinkie's hoof reached out to the hall where Fluttershy was for a few minutes as tears openly flew from her sockets, her other friends all watching with looks of horror and sympathy for the party pony in each of their eyes.
Applejack rose from her throne and tried giving Pinkie a soft embrace "Pinkie...?" she whispered.
Then, all of a sudden, like a button had been pushed, Pinkie blocked out the remaining tears, placed her hoof down and looked at the hall with a look of serious determination. A look so serious, the others swore they have and would never see Pinkie with it again.
"I'm going to do it, Rarity." Pinkie spoke in a dramatic low-voice. "I'm going to tell her."
"Darling..." Rarity tried to reason, but Pinkie was having none of it.
"I don't care if it ruins everything, I'm going to do it. Perhaps I can at least save our friendship!" she declared as she began running in the same direction as her previous fleeing friend.
"Wait! You forgot Flutterdoll!" Rainbow yelled, staring at the doll in the chair.
"Don't need it!" they could hear Pinkie's voice echoing out as the friends stood there in silence, hoping their friends could work through their problems.
Meanwhile, Spike came back into the room with a glass full of water before realizing the pony that requested it had vanished. He looked around in confusion at the bewildered ponies in the room, before glancing up at Twilight.
"What'd I miss?"
