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// Roadie's New Look 
// Story: Fluttershy's New Friend 
// by Theblindrat 
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Chapter 5: Roadie's New Look

Rainbow Dash stepped out of the bathroom, Roadie following short behind her. They were both greeted by the morning light pouring in from all sides, which made Roadie nervous about the time because he had to find Fluttershy's friend Rarity to do some explaining. Roadie whistled in a worried sounding tone, "What time is it?" Rainbow Dash took an educated guess from the position of the sun, as she didn't see any nearby clocks, "I'd say it was about six, maybe quarter past six." She was still looking out the window when Roadie walked over to the bookshelf beside the couch, and began looking for a notepad, or something similar to write on. He whistled lightly, "I've got to go find a pony named Rarity and apologize." Rainbow turned around to face him, "What for?" Roadie's ears went down; he still wasn't facing her, "For keeping Fluttershy when they had plans, I had forgotten about them as much as she had." Rainbow realized that this was actually important to him to apologize. Rainbow said, "Well if you're stopping by her boutique, then make sure you compliment her 'skills', she'll really appreciate that." Roadie took a mental note of that. He felt like he was going through Fluttershy's belongings, and he felt horrible about it, but he desperately needed something that he could use to communicate with ponies who were not Pegasi.

He found a pack of medium-sized notepads. The pack had already been opened so he took the orange-covered notepad that was patiently waiting next in line, followed by a lime-green notepad, but it wasn't time for that one to be used yet, so he placed the pack back in the drawer of the bookshelf. Roadie grabbed a blue pen that looked almost brand new, and scribbled a bit on the inside of the notepad to make sure it could write. He scribbled for a bit, eventually he was all out sketching. Rainbow noticed and said, "Hey don't you have an apology to make?" Roadie looked up and blushed. He ripped out the sheet and handed it to Dash and continued out the door with his guitar, notepad, and pen. Rainbow Dash looked at the piece of paper that he had been sketching on and said "That's actually really cool."

Roadie quickly wrote down, 'Where is Rarity's Boutique?' It only took him showing it to two ponies or so to get directions, which made him feel as if Rarity were a very famous pony of some sort. He didn't know much about famous people in the world of fashion, only music. He arrived at what looked like a one-tower white, pink, and purple castle. He took a deep breath preparing how he was going to handle this inside of his mind. He knocked on the door, and before he had time to knock so much as a third time, a white unicorn mare with a purple mane answered the door, "Yes, how can I help you?" She seemed quite happy about him showing up at the door, considering that they had never met. Roadie quickly scribbled down some words on his notepad, 'Are you Rarity?' The mare smiled and nodded, "Yes I am, why, have you heard of me? Are you here to ask for an interview? Or are you here how about a show offer?" Roadie was confused in what she was talking about, he wrote down carefully, 'No my name's Roadie. And I am actually here to apologize.' Rarity's head tilted, confused, trying to think of what the name Roadie meant, and what he would be apologizing for. Rarity said" Well, why didn't you just say so Darling, Instead of using that there notepad?" Roadie let out a sigh and wrote down, 'Because I can't speak, I can only whistle, if it's ok with you, I would like to continue to use this notepad.' Rarity was more understanding of the situation now, she nodded. "Well why don't you come inside instead of standing out here scribbling?"

Rarity extended a hoof behind her as she opened the door further. Roadie hesitated to step in, but Rarity gave him a light, playful, push to get him completely in through the doorway as she shut the door gently behind him. Rarity insisted for him to sit at a nearby table, and Roadie couldn't turn down the offer, as she had made tea, and Roadie didn't get anything for breakfast before he left Fluttershy's. He sat carefully, like he didn't want to damage the furniture. Rarity sat down across from him and sipped on her tea, "So, what did you want to 'apologize' for, Roadie?" Roadie felt really bad about what he had mistakenly done to ruin her plans with Fluttershy, but he had to apologize for his mistake. Roadie wrote sincerely onto his notepad. 'I accidentally messed up your plans with Fluttershy last night.' Rarity was confused, "Darling, at about two in the afternoon yesterday, I called her over here so that I could tell her that the plans had to be cancelled; I had to watch over a certain three little fillies." Her eyes rolled, and then she noticed what Roadie assumed she was talking about, there were three sets of small eyes that bolted back around the corner when they both looked over. Rarity was about to go give them a piece of her mind until Roadie reached over and placed a hoof on her shoulder, trying to get her to sit back down, she felt a wave of comfort come over her as she sat back down.

Roadie was very glad that he didn't actually mess up anything, because the incident at the park happened at about half past three yesterday. Rarity said "It took a lot of moxie to come over here and apologize for such a thing." She stared at him with eyes filled with admiration. Roadie wrote another note down onto his paper, 'I merely did what I had to do to make things right, and that only takes common courtesy.' Roadie smiled as he showed her what it said. Rarity was appalled, "I still can't believe you would actually take the time to come over here and apologize to somepony you didn't know, for something you were unaware that you did." Roadie just re-showed her the note he just previously showed her, which made her laugh. Roadie wrote down another note, remembering what Rainbow Dash had told him, 'These are some nice pieces of art you have around here.' Rarity looked around, confused about the compliment, and then was hit with realization that he had meant towards the dresses and other pieces of clothing on display around the store. Rarity was flattered at the word 'art''

"You really like it? I didn't think somepony of such a, rock star-like status such as you would appreciate fine-wear." She trotted over to her work, to show Roadie what she had to offer. But Roadie soon realized that she was only showing him dresses, he liked how they all looked and all, but he was curious to see what she had to offer for a colt such as himself. So he wrote 'What do you have for somepony like me?' She had a face of pride and gusto on. Roadie was really anticipating what she had in store as she led him up the stairs.

Roadie's mouth dropped as Rarity opened a walking closet full of colt business-wear to casual street-wear. Rarity got him to try on several outfits that included dozens of suits and tuxedos, none of which he actually really liked, as he wouldn't wear it often, it wasn't casual enough for him. Roadie had asked if he could try something more casual, so rarity agreed. He tried on every good looking style on him from 50's to the 90's; he was put in full outfits that would match reggae singers and metal bassists. He looked like a greaser at one point, and then straight to a hippie wearing flower covered bell-bottoms with a pink collared shirt with a fur vest on top. But then there was one outfit that Roadie actually liked. It was a light blue T-shirt that said peace, love, and music on it, with a peace sign above the word peace, a heart above the word love, and a guitar above the word music. He had a white and blue plaid flannel over the shirt, it was un-buttoned to wear you could still see what the shirt said, and the blue part of the plaid was the same color as the shirt, and the aviators hanging out of the left shirt pocket. He was wearing a wristband that said 'Rock On' and a pair of slightly torn light washed jeans that were rolled up just below his knees. The belt was red, green, and gold. His black wallet with a white peace sign had a chain that complimented the belt nicely.

Rarity loved it on him as well; she didn't see anything wrong with the outfit on him, she loved it all, it was perfect. Rarity spoke with cheer, "The hipster look really suits you." The word 'hipster' made Roadie's brow raise, but he liked it, although he wasn't completely sure that's how he would describe himself, or the outfit. Roadie was really comfortable in his new clothing, he calculated the cost in his mind and pulled out a small bag of bits, but was rejected by rarity pushing back down towards his pocket. "This outfit's on me darling, anything for a friend of Fluttershy's." Roadie insisted, but Rarity meant what she had said. Roadie threw his guitar back over his shoulder and wrote, 'Thank you.' on his notepad. Rarity said with a sheepish smile, "It only took a bit of common courtesy." She and Roadie both smiled as he walked out of the boutique, he waved on his way out, and she did the same. Roadie felt revitalized. 'I just made another friend.' He thought to himself. As he walked back over to Fluttershy's to see what they would do that day, he was actually stopped by Rainbow Dash, who had some news and a question, but Roadie was dazed at how fast she came out of literally nowhere.

"Dude, how did you come up with this design?" She flashed the paper that he had sketched on in Roadie's face. Roadie whistled with content, "I thought you would like to play an instrument as well, because everyone could always use a bit more music in their lives, so I designed you a bass guitar." That he did, it was black, very heavy rock looking. It had a jagged V-shape on the bottom that went out and down on both sides, it then continued its zigzag out, and then went back in to meet where the 'active site' of the bass in the center. The curves went up and curved back down to form two small downward points, that then curved back up and straight, past the third octave fret to form two upward points, then curved back down to meet each other at the body. It had her cutie mark printed on the head of the guitar, which looked a lot like the body; only it didn't have the bottom half of the body shape. The edges of the guitar were colored in a rainbow that started red at the top and changed through every color of the spectrum to the bottom where it was purple. It was very much Dash's style, and she loved it.

"So would you possibly get this made? I've never seen a bass like this before." Asked rainbow, she had a very confused face on. Roadie looked up at her flying just above him and whistled with enjoyment, "I'm going to make it for you." Rainbow's mouth dropped, she couldn't believe what he had just said, or… whistled. "How in the world are you going to do that?" She didn't believe him. Roadie smiled, "I made acoustics out of logs I found in the woods and sold them to music stores growing up, and eventually I tried electrics when I found a smashed on in a bag inside of a dumpster, I took apart and put it back together until I had all the components memorized and where to put them." Rainbow was overjoyed; she couldn't do much other than hug the generous Pegasus. "By the way, love the new outfit, the hipster look really suits you." Roadie shrugged and whistled, "Thank you." Rainbow just remembered what else she had to say, "Oh yeah, I got you hooked up for this coming Friday night." Roadie was surprised at how fast Rainbow Dash had put together what he had asked her of last night.

He was astounded and thankful, "Thank you again, I owe you one." Roadie whistled. Rainbow smiled and winked while holding up the paper, "You don't owe me anything." She said while pointing to the design. Roadie smiled and waved goodbye as he flew back towards Fluttershy's place. He couldn't wait to tell her what Rainbow Dash had just told him. When he arrived he was still smiling, he didn't even have time to knock because Fluttershy flung the door open, causing Roadie to swing his hoof at nothing.

She was smiling, it was a worried smile, but it said glad to Roadie. "All you had to do was ask about the plans." Flutershy said with a grin on her face. Roadie blushed; realizing that he messed up, and should have actually just asked her, but he felt the other way was more… sincere. She took a good look at his new clothing. "The hipster look really does look good on you; you should get more clothes like that." Roadie loved the compliments he was getting, but he didn't come to talk about himself, which he didn't like doing anyway, he came to tell Fluttershy about the good news he had just received. He whistled quite giddily, "Rainbow Dash did me a kindness like I asked her last night." Fluttershy was nervous again, because she still didn't know what they were talking about last night at sugar cube corner. "What would that be?" She asked. Roadie finished off his melody, "She got us both a gig for Friday night!" Roadie was ecstatic, but Fluttershy was nervous, because she did NOT like being in the spotlight, but Roadie didn't know. But he saw the nervousness in her face and asked, "What's wrong?" She looked up in his eyes when he placed a hoof on her shoulder, "I really don't like being in the spotlight, let alone performing something I have only just learned.

Roadie understood that she really didn't like his plan, but he re-assured her that people won't judge when you go up there knowing what you're doing. Fluttershy jumped out and hugged him; they were still in her doorway. "I'll do it." Fluttershy whispered. Roadie suddenly felt like he was forcing her to do this, and it didn't feel right. His ears flopped down and he had a very sorry expression on, "You don't have to do it if you don't want to." He whistled. Fluttershy lifted her head up from his shoulder and looked him in the eye, "I'm doing it because you'll be up there with me." She smiled up at him, they were both very happy about their plans for Friday, and Fluttershy was quite comfortable with Roadie coming on stage with her. They had plenty of time to practice, because it was Tuesday, now all they had to do to start was pick the songs they wanted to perform.

They were still very close to each other, they were leaning their foreheads on one another with their eyes shut. it was very peaceful. But there was a loud thump as a carrot nailed Roadie in the head. He rubbed the spot gingerly where the carrot had hit to look down at Angel, who wasn't very pleased. Fluttershy looked almost mad, but she had to giggle at the little rabbit's antics. They went inside to listen to music to pick., while Roadie and Angel were exchanging dirty looks.

Ok so I got a bit of helpful feedback and quite a few PMs with a lot of the same questions, so I would like to answer them here so that I may receive a few less PMs with the same questions, here we go. If you would like to skip to the reading and do so first, go straight ahead below the horizontal line and come back after you're done perhaps.

Q: What made you want to write?
A: It's fun and I was told that I should try writing a fanfic by a friend who thought my short story about how I loved surfing was 'radical'

Q: How long have you been writing?
A: About two years, but I liked to keep those stories to myself.

Q: Would you like to read my fanfic over for me?
A: I would actually love to, and it's a great compliment to me that you would ask me to help you with your story, but I'm not going to completely re-write it for you, I still love you.

Q: Would you accept an OC submission? [Insert description here]
A: If I knew you better maybe.

Q: Mind considering this for your story? [Insert random idea here]
A: Actually I wouldn't mind as long as it was something too darkfic or clopfic like, and it isn't some crazy, random idea you pulled out of your ass.

Q: What made you decide to write a story like this one, why not a darkfic? You seem like you would be good at that kind of thing.
A: I really don't like reading darkfics, or clopfics, because I like stories like this one that have a story that has kind of a 'What if?' feel to it. Instead of writing stories that make people crap themselves or jerk it while reading my hard work. I don't hate on clopfic or darkfic writers or readers, I actually have a lot of respect for the writers, because they work quite hard on their stories as well.

And Please don't hesitate to PM me, I love to read what you have to say

Oh and if anyone wants to know, When I write, I listen to reggae, alternative rock, music like that by artists like Bob Marley, Matisyahu, and The Dirty Heads. I highly recommend listening to music while you write, music that you like, not just any music.


As always, I love you all. ☮ ❤ ♪