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// 1. The Start of It All 
// Story: Coco Pommel's Adventures in Friendship 
// by ThiefRara 
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Coco Pommel was cleaning up Rarity's table after she had just finished eating breakfast. She didn't want Rarity to think that she was a slob and so, she cleaned. When Rarity noticed Coco about to spray down the table, she approached the mare. "Coco, darling, it's clean. I promise it's clean," Rarity placed her hoofs on Coco's withers, getting the mare to stop for a moment. She is still struggling because of Suri's behavior towards her. Rarity hated that Coco feared making even the slightest mistake but she understood Coco's fear because she had met Suri Polomare. The slightly older mare released a breath before smiling at Coco. "You're doing great, darling," Rarity tells her. 

Coco smiled at her words and Rarity considered that a win in her book. She wanted Coco to be happy and safe and if that means that Rarity has to show her how to trust ponies again, then so be it. Rarity wanted Coco to learn how to safely navigate ponies that she can trust. Rarity then thought about Fluttershy. Maybe Fluttershy wouldn't mind helping out. I will ask her before I just appear. Rarity knew how Fluttershy was and she never wanted the mare to be frightened away by sudden appearances. "Coco," Rarity spoke up to get the mare's attention and when Coco turned to her, she grinned at the mare. 

"How would you like to walk around Ponyville with me?" Rarity offered and she would respect Coco's decision either way; she just wanted the mare to be comfortable. However, her worries didn't seem to have mattered when Coco smiled and nodded her head at her. 

"Yes, I would love to," Coco spoke softly and she joined Rarity when the mare had gotten closer to the door of her boutique, Carousel Boutique. Rarity had pet Opal before the cat had swiped at her in irritation, not liking that her nap was interrupted but she then settled down when she focused on Coco. She let out a small meow and she laid back down, getting ready to fall back asleep. After Opal had fallen asleep, Rarity opened the door and she allowed Coco to take the first step outside. 

When Coco was outside of the boutique, she looked around Ponyville and she was able to suck up a lot of positive energy as she sighed in relief. The air is very calming here. Much better than Manehatten's atmosphere. Coco thought as she felt very much at peace as she slowly breathed out. "Coco?" Rarity called out to the mare and Coco then blushed, feeling very embarrassed about her actions. 

"Sorry about that, Rarity. The air is just a lot more welcoming than Manehatten," she tells the mare and Rarity then smiled softly at Coco. 

"That's why I'm glad you're here in Ponyville than being back there. Manehatten is a good place but the ponies there very set in their ways," Rarity knew that she didn't have to explain it to Coco. Coco had seen it first-hoof with Suri Polomare. The poor mare still gets nightmares from the things Suri had done to her, whether it be damaging her self-confidence or treating her like a maid. Coco never enjoyed it once Suri had shown the mare her true colors and she feared that she would never be able to enjoy fashion designing because of Suri ever again. 

Coco wanted to enjoy fashion designing again; she just needs to take a break from it to recover from the things Suri had done to her. She was scared to get fired and because of that, fear allowed Suri to make Coco afraid of messing up. Fear allowed Coco to shy away from other ponies. Fear made Coco into a mare who never wants to see anyone even upset at her.

It was that fear that controlled Coco and Rarity wanted to help her fight her fear.