Flutterguy sat before a mirror propped against the cottage's wall, a pair of hedge trimmers in hoof, and a fearful look in his eyes as he stared down his own reflection. His glare shifted towards the pink length of mane that framed his face, and with a gulp he used his free forehoof to pull it taut. He fumbled a bit with the oversized blades before resolving to hold one handle between his teeth and yanking back the further handle to cut the length of hair.
Looking at his handiwork, the stallion couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride at what he'd just finished doing. What remained of his mane ended abruptly just above his withers, complimenting a pair of recently trimmed eyelashes. Even his tail was shorn to about two thirds of the length it was this morning.
Pulling his head back to admire the end result, Flutterguy smiled at a reflection that felt like his own for the first time in a long time. It was messy, it was chaotic, and it just felt right, styling his mane that way. He just wished he found a normal pair of scissors beforehand.
His reflection was suddenly joined by a white bunny's as Angel hopped into the room, a pair of scissors tucked beneath his arm like a sword. "Hey man,"- he began, -"I finished trimming my bonsai tree, do you need these for any-" he paused at the sight in front of him, eyes widening.
"EEEK!" Flutterguy yelped upon noticing him.
"ACK!"
"A-ARE THOSE MY SCISSORS?"
"I- YEAH. What happened to your hair, though?"
"Well, I... decided to cut it myself."
"Huh. Yeah, that story matches up..." Angel said, eyes examining his friend's new appearance and stopping at the gardening tool he held in one hoof. "But uh. Why'd you use a pair of shears, of all things?"
"Well, it just so happened that Somepony was my scissors at the time," He accused, gesturing at Angel's own bizarre tool choice, "and as such I had to make do."
"Well, you see, there was this really ugly branch that was really tampering with the whole scene, yknow?" Angel reasoned.
At that, Flutterguy furrowed his brow and floated to be face to face with Angel, close enough so that he could count the number of eyelashes around his eyes. Wait, why were they so short?
"Uh, before you cook me for dinner: you didn't use the shears on your eyelashes too, right?"
Flutterguy chuckled. "Pfft. No, I had the proper tools for that," he said, gesturing towards a pair of eyelash trimmers by the side of the dropped hedge trimmers. "Thank you for not taking those!"
"You're welcome. And I'll ask before borrowing your stuff next time," he conceded, crossing his arms. "That mane does fit you quite well, while we're at it."
"Thank you very much for all of that! It really feels like me, you know?" Flutterguy beamed.
"Yeah. Tell me what Rarity thinks of it when you're back from the spa!"
"Spa..?" He said, gears turning in his head. "But that isn't until this... oh no."
"What?"
"It's today, isn't it? how'd I forget it?! What will she think? I can't let her see me like this!"
"Hey, calm down. She won't annihilate you for it, at least. I think."
And yet, the stallion didn't feel any more at ease.
Rarity sat near the entrance of the spa, reading one of the available magazines left for waiting customers. It was the latest edition of Coat-Raising Manes, and she found herself enraptured by its contents. One article in particular outlined many possible ways to work with long, brightly-coloured, tapering manes like her dear friend's. On that note, where was she? It was unlike her to be late for their weekly get together.
"Um, Sorry I'm late, Rarity," called a familiar voice around the corner. "I had to take care of something and I must've lost track of time. What's that you're reading?"
"Oh, it's this delightful article on mane decorations, and some of these would be just marvellous on your forelock!" Rarity looked up from her reading, with a smile.
And froze in place, her face completely still, except for the shrinking pupils carefully scanning each and every inch of Flutterguy's brand new features.
Flutterguy tried to at least reciprocate the smile he saw, but his eyes darted around for a way out, and landed on the mare with the bright pink coat standing behind the counter. "...We'll have the usual, please."
Shaken out of her stupor, Rarity leaned forwards on her seat as if she was going to bite the stallion in front of her. "But... why?"
Swallowing the manticore-sized lump in his throat, Flutterguy turned to look at the bewildered mare in front of him. "I'll tell you, but I think it's best if we're both relaxed for this."
Rarity bit her lip, but relented with a sigh and wordlessly got up and walked towards the spa's sauna, with Flutterguy following close behind.
SIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZLE
Rarity sat in the sauna, examining her forehooves and the wood beneath them closely. Flutterguy did the same, before clearing his throat to get her attention.
"Rarity, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Okay." - He floated until he was beside her - "Have you ever thought about what it'd be like if an essential part of who you are was boxed away, hidden behind things you had absolutely no control over?"
Rarity turned to look at him, expression softening. "No, can't say that I have."
"Mm-hmm. Okay. Let me put it this way: what if, in spite of you being a fashionista, everyone you've ever met saw you as... a window cleaner, for example." Rarity's ears perked up, encouraging him. "And even you thought you were a window cleaner because that's how it's been for your entire life, so if being a window cleaner doesn’t feel right, that's just you being weird, right? But then you catch wind of ponies who changed professions specifically because the profession they were born into didn't fit their sense of self, and you decide to look into it, to really research the topic for a reason you just can’t put your hoof on. And one day it just clicks, and now you've got to just do something, do anything about it."
Rarity took a moment to process the information given to her. "Hmm. I... think I get what you mean. Yes, I do think that would justify such extreme measures. But there's one thing I don't quite understand. When you go ahead and officially join whatever new profession you're looking into, who will take care of your animals?"
Flutterguy did his best to stifle a giggle at that. "I- well. You see, the 'profession' I was talking about was being a mare. I'm a stallion, Rarity," he declared, holding his breath. "And I'm going by the name 'Flutterguy' for the moment."
Rarity seemed to mull that one over for a while. She held her head with one hoof and counted imaginary objects with the other while softly muttering under her breath. Finally, she swallowed, and embraced the pile of nerves next to her. "Welcome to ponyville, Flutterguy."
At that, he couldn’t help but smile wide. "Thank you so much, Rarity."
But then, Rarity's eyes shot open, and Flutterguy could swear he heard a 'ding!' coming from her horn.
"Wait a moment, darling! I've just got what is quite possibly the best idea i've had this whole year!"
Pulling away from her embrace, Flutterguy looked on with curiosity at the beaming mare in front of him. "Is that so? Tell me about it!"
"Okay, okay. So you know the Ponytones, the singing quartet I'm a part of, right?"
"Yes, and I'm one of your biggest fans at that!"
"Amazing! And I'm also in charge of the outfits of the whole group, and seeing you today has just shown me the perfect colours for the season! We're going to look dashing in them, all thanks to you!"
"Oh, I'm really glad I was able to help you," he said, face filled with pride.
"And one more thing: as thanks, I'll make an extra one, just for you. How's that sound?"
Now it was his turn to mull over what he'd just heard. He thought about sitting in front of a mirror, full Ponytones outfit complete with bowtie, and the same feeling he felt over his mane cut that morning came back. "It sounds like the best thing I've heard all season. Thank you."
"That's it, then! I'll start working on them right this instant, Pronto!"
As if on cue, the mare working the sauna dripped more water over the hot stones in the room, filling it with steam and the sizzling of boiling water. "Or, uh, I'll start working on them after we're done here," she corrected. "Oh, and I have just two more things to say."
"Hmm?"
"Yes, uhm. Why 'Flutterguy'? Not that I dislike it, it's just that it strikes me as a tad... uninspired?"
"Well, It's a working title. Feel free to pitch your ideas on what it should be," he answered. "What was the other thing you wanted to say?"
She, in response, held his closest hoof with one of her own. "Feel free to ask for help with your 'change of profession' anytime, alright?"
The stallion squeezed her hoof in response. "That means so much to me. Thank you so much, for everything."