//------------------------------// // Fluttershy The Supermodel // Story: My Little Pony, Friendship is Out of This World // by Robobrony //------------------------------// Fluttershy The Supermodel Yet another school day for Starburst as Nova made his way to Rarity’s boutique to deliver an order for her. He did have another nightmare last night, but this time, Not only was Twilight and Applejack trying to defend him from Celestia, but Rarity too. Nova figured he could take these as a sign that he was growing closer to trusting the girls to tell his secret. But at the same time, was still fearful of how they would react should he tell them he and Starburst were from another planet. Yet he also did feel a little bit like he could tell them without worry, but his fear was outweighing his trust of the girls. He soon approached the boutique with his saddle bags on and entered. He was surprised to see Twilight, Spike, and Pinkie there, as well as Fluttershy on Rarity’s display stage wearing a black and pink dress with feathers. He came up next to Twilight. “Hey Twilight, what’s going on here?” Twilight greeted with a smile. “Hello Nova, Rarity is making a dress to present for a very famous pony in the fashion business named Photo Finish. She’s a little on edge right now.” “We’re her to help her with the dress.” Pinkie pointed out. “And I take it Fluttershy is modeling the dress?” Nova asked. “Yep.” Pinkie answered. Nova decided to wait to deliver the gems Rarity asked for, she was obviously very involved with what she was doing. Rarity walked around Fluttershy. “Now, she’s going to want to see attitude and pizazz.” “Attitude and….pizazz.” Fluttershy repeated timidly. Rarity quickly came up next to her. “More light! It has to catch the sequence just right or the whole outfit is a disaster.” Twilight lit up her horn and produced more light over the stage Fluttershy was on. “Oh, and the head dress needs more feathers. Pinkie Pie, more feathers!” Pinkie hopped over with a basket in her mouth that held feathers. Rarity levitated a few out of the basket and added them to the head dress Fluttershy wore. “And sequence, more sequence.” Spike then came over happily carrying a brown bowl with glittering powder in it. Rarity levitated a clump up and practically threw it in Fluttershy’s face. “And more ribbon.” Spike promptly added two blue ribbons to the sides of the head dress. “Oh no, less ribbon.” Spike then removed them. “NO! More ribbon.” Spike placed them back on while Fluttershy was starting to get annoyed with the back and forth. Rarity came around to the back of the dress and eyed it. “Oh, this hem is completely off. PIN CUSHION!” Rarity cried out. Spike sped off and came back to Rarity with pins sticking out of his back. Nova cringed at the sight. Rarity levitated a few off Spike’s back and placed them in the pink lining at the bottom of the dress, she then proceeded to shoo Spike away. He simply backed off with a smile. “Thank you all for helping me, I’m sorry to be short with you but I’m just so nervous.” As Spike backed up, Twilight finally commented on the situation Spike was in with the pins. “Ooh, doesn’t that hurt?” “It’s painful just to look at, you sure you’re ok Spike?” Nova asked with concern. Spike stood up as he responded. “Thick scales, can’t feel a thing. And…even if I could, there is no pain that could keep me from assisting……the most beautiful creature in the world.” Spike said dreamily as he gazed at Rarity. Twilight rolled her eyes with a sigh. Nova snickered a little. Spike turned to face the three. “I’m gonna tell you three a secret, but you have to promise not to tell anyone.” “I promise.” Twilight responded with a smile. Pinkie then started rhyming with motions. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She made an x over her heart, fluttered her forelegs like wings, then covered one eye with a hoof. Nova cocked an eyebrow at this. “Um, ok then. I promise too.” Spike made a motion for them to come close with his claw, they moved in a little closer. Spike made the same motion again and they moved in closer. Spike motioned again and they moved closer. Spike placed his claws on Pinkie and Twilight’s face. He pulled back and whispered. “I have a crush on Rarity.” Twilight gave a flat look while Pinkie gasped and placed her hooves over her mouth. “We won’t say a word.” “Spike, you do know I already figured that out right? And I did already promise not to say anything.” Nova informed. “Oh, right.” Spike gave a sheepish smile. Twilight then cut in. “Give me a break, every pony already knows how you….” Pinkie cut her off. “Twilight! You promised Spike you wouldn’t say anything, he trusts you, and losing a friends trust is the fastest way to lose a friend forever.” “But…” “FOREVER!” Pinkie emphasized greatly. “Losing a friend’s trust? That is sound advice. Am I jepordizing my friendship with them by not trusting them with this secret I’m keeping? I sure hope not. But…….then again.” Nova thought to himself. Twilight smiled. “My lips are sealed. Though I’m pretty sure Rarity is going to pick up on your feelings.” Spike looked down at his shirt with Rarity’s face on a heart. Nova cocked an eyebrow. “Ok, I know he wasn’t wearing that shirt a second ago, where did….” Before he could finish his question, the bell above Rarity’s door rang, signaling a customer. The girls all turned to face the new comer. Three mares had entered. One of them was wearing a black dress with white stripes and a pair of sunglasses with purple lenses hiding her eyes. She had a white mane and tail and a sky blue coat. “I….Photo Finish……..have arrived.” She spoke with a German accent. Rarity approached her. “Let me just say what an honor….” Photo Finish walked past her and stopped in front of the stage. One of the other mares pushed a suit case in front of her. “We begin……NOW!” The case sprung open and turned into a camera. Rarity quickly ran up next to Fluttershy. “Attitude and pizazz.” Rarity then rushed off just before a flash from the camera went off. “Yes, show Photo Finish Something.” Photo then took another picture. Fluttershy stood up on her hind hooves. “NO!” Fluttershy recoiled at this and gave a little whimper. “Yes.” Rarity made a motion for Fluttershy to smile, Fluttershy did so. “NO!” Fluttershy recoiled again. “Yes.” Rarity then struck a pose for Fluttershy to make, she did so. “NO!” Fluttershy recoiled again. “Yes.” She took one more picture. “ENOUGH!” The camera folded back into a suitcase and one of the ponies that came with Photo retrieved it. “She hardly took any pictures.” Twilight commented. Rarity went over to Fluttershy and removed the head dress. “I’m so sorry, I tried my best.” “The head dress was too big for you and the cape had too much sparkle. I can’t believe I ever thought I could impress her.” Rarity was looking very down after what happened. Photo Finish suddenly zipped back. “It seems that I, Photo Finish, have found the next fashion star here in Ponyville.” Rarity smiled at this. “Really?” “Yes, really. And I, Photo Finish, am going to help her shine all over Eqvestria.” Rarity squeed with a smile. “Tomorrow, a photo shoot in ze park…….we go.” Photo Finish then rushed out with her entourage behind her. Rarity ran to the door and watched her leave. “Did you hear that? I am going to…shine across Equestria.” “Oh Rarity, I was so worried I had ruined everything.” Fluttershy said with a smile. “Oh never, I knew you’d be perfect.” Rarity tried to hide her excitement, but her smile grew bigger to the point where she started hopping up and down in excitement, squealing. Spike’s tail was right under her at the time so she was jumping right on it. Spike looked on at her dreamily only wincing when she landed on his Tail. Twilight finally pulled him away. Once Rarity had settled down, Nova was finally able to speak with her about the gems he brought and get his payment. The next day rolled around and Nova figured he could at least try and take Rarity’s advice and get out more like she said. So he figured he could go to the park and offer moral support for her. He left the house and made his way to the park. Upon his approach, he saw Rarity and Fluttershy setting up. “Hello ladies, good day.” “Oh, hello Nova.” Fluttershy greeted. Rarity followed. “Hello Nova dear, what brings you by?” “I just figured I’d be here for moral support, and take your advice about getting out more.” “Splendid darling, thank you for coming to offer support. Let me just get Fluttershy ready.” Rarity then started pushing a rack with dresses behind a blind with Fluttershy behind it. “No, no, no, YES!” Rarity closed the blind to reveal Fluttershy in a white outfit. “That is definitely the one. Photo Finish is going to love it. Every pony is going to love it!” Fluttershy was flapping her wings in excitement. “Oh, I’m so excited for you, just don’t forget us little ponies when you become the most famous designer in all of Equestria.” “Never.” “Best of luck to you Rarity, I just know you’ll make it big.” Nova said to her with a smile. Rarity responded back. “Thank you Nova.” “Put me down here.” Photo’s voice sounded out. The group turned to see Photo being carried on a platform by two stallions. They set the platform down and Photo Finish jumped off. She took one look at Fluttershy. “Oh no no no no no no, the model should be in somting simple, someting inspired by……ze nature.” “That’s just what I was thinking.” Rarity rushed over to her rack and started scanning for something like what Photo asked for. She then kicked it away. “Uh, give me a minute and I’ll put a little something together.” “Yes, that vill not be necessary.” “But, but how are you going to ‘help me shine across Equestria’ if I don’t design something new for these pictures?” Rarity asked with worry. “I’m not going to help you shine across Eqvestria, I’m going to help her shine.” Photo turned to Fluttershy. Two of the mare’s started Pushing Fluttershy. “She is my star.” She pointed to Rarity. “You, go!” Rarity was looking very displeased with this, as was Nova. Later, Fluttershy was now wearing a light green dress with a head band. Nova came up to Rarity. “Gosh Rarity, I’m real sorry about this, I really thought you would finally get the chance you’ve been waiting for.” “It’s…..all right Nova.” Fluttershy then came in. “I can’t Rarity.” “Oh but you must Fluttershy, Photo Finish wants to make you a star. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I know we we’re all hoping it would be my lifetime, but none the less, you can’t throw away this chance. You must do this for me. You must, you must, you must!” Nova interjected. “Now hold on Rarity, what if Fluttershy doesn’t want to do this, you and I both know she’s not comfortable in the spotlight, you shouldn’t be asking her to do something she’s not comfortable with.” Fluttershy interjected. “No, it’s ok Nova, really, if Rarity really wants me to do this, then I will.” Nova tried again. “But Fluttershy….” “Fluttershy!” Photo Finish called out, interrupting Nova. “It is time to make………de magics!” Fluttershy looked back at Rarity and Nova. Rarity gave a smile while Nova just looked worried. She then walked off to join Photo Finish. “Oh voundabar, you are like a delicate flower, so much more alluring witout all dose sparkles und feathers.” Rarity hung her head as she turned around. Nova followed to try and talk to her. “Rarity, I’m sorry this didn’t work out for you, but you’ll get your break one day, you’ll see.” He tried to give a reassuring smile. “Thank you dear, but I would just like to be alone for now.” Nova stopped in his tracks as he watched Rarity walk away. “This is not going to go well for either of them, I can already tell.” Nova then walked back to his house. The next day came around as the brothers did their usual morning routine before Starburst headed off to school again. Nova figured since he had time, he could spend some time with Twilight. So he left the house and headed over to the library. He came to the door and knocked. Twilight answered with a smile. “Good morning Nova, what brings you by. Nova was a little nervous about this. “Hey Twilight, I was just wondering…….if you had the time…..maybe you and I could grab lunch together later today. Just the two of us.” “Nova, are you asking me out on a date?” She asked slyly. “Well, it’s been a while since our last date and….I kinda enjoyed our time together on that date so…..I guess so. So what do you say, you want to join me for lunch today?” “I’d love to, come by around eleven thirty and we’ll head out.” Nova had a big grin on his face. “Ok, sure, eleven thirty it is, I’ll see you then.” “I can’t wait. See you then.” Nova then turned and left for home. He went inside and sat on his couch after taking off his necklace. “Well, what now? I don’t have any work to do, Starburst is at school, just sitting here is just so boring. I never had a problem with it before, so why now? Why is it I’m actually bored just sitting here like I usually do when I don’t have any work or Starburst isn’t around?” Nova just sat and thought for a while. Rarity’s words soon echoed through his head. “You really should get out more Nova.” “Get out more, maybe now that I have friends, I should get out more and try to spend time with them instead of keeping myself locked up in here. But who, who should I go to? Rarity is probably still a little down about what happened with Photo Finish, and now Fluttershy is a model so she can’t hang out.” “Applejack is probably too busy with her farm right now too. It would be weird to just go back to Twilight to hang out with her until the lunch date. I guess that just leaves Rainbow Dash. Why not, I’ll see if Rainbow Dash can hang out or something.” So Nova now had a goal in mind. He put his necklace back on and left to find Rainbow Dash. As he made his way through town, he ran across one of the citizens, a unicorn with a blue coat and a blue and white mane and tail with an hour glass for a cutie mark. She came trotting up to him with a smile. “Hey there, Nova right?” She asked. “Yes, that’s me.” Nova answered warily. “I’m so glad I ran into you, I wanted to thank you for that hourglass gem you made for me, it is beautiful.” The mare said with a smile. Nova smiled at the compliment. “Well, thank you, I’m glad you like it. You’re Colgate right?” “That’s me, it’s nice to meet you. I gotta ask, how come I hardly see you around town?” Colgate asked with a curious look. “I mostly stay in my house. I…..don’t get out much.” “Well you need to change that, it can’t be healthy to stay cooped up inside all day. Thank you again for the hourglass gem, I only wear it with a dress I have for special occasions when I want to look my best.” “That’s….very nice, I need to get going now.” “Ok, I hope to see you around more often. Bye.” Colgate then trotted off. Nova continued on his way. “Well that wasn’t so bad, meeting others. Then again, it wasn’t so bad when I met the six girls I’m now friends with. Maybe I really am overthinking things.” As he trotted, another voice called out. “Yo, Nova, good to see you out of the house for once.” Nova turned to see a white coated mare unicorn coming up to him wearing sunglasses. “Oh, hello, you’re Vinyl Scratch right? How did you know my name?” “We met at that party Pinkie Pie threw to welcome you two, plus Rarity told me about you. When I saw you out and about, I just wanted to give my thanks for that awesome gem you made me, it is really cool.” “I’m glad you like it. I take it you wear it for special occasions with a dress as well?” “Do I look like the type to wear dresses.” She joked with a smile. “Nah, I wear it when I go out and play my music at the club I run, you should come by sometime and we can hang out.” “Um, I don’t know, I’ve never been to a club before, I’m not exactly the…..um…..crowd type.” Nova said with a bit of nervousness. Vinyl gave him a light punch in the shoulder. “Awe come on, it’ll be fun, you can even bring a date if you want. Just let the bouncer at the door know I invited you and you’ll get in no problem.” “Well I….I don’t know.” Nova still looked unsure. “Don’t make me beg dude, I promise you’ll have fun, it’s just down stirrup street. Follow the music and you can’t miss it, you can come by anytime when it opens at night around five.” “It’s nice of you to offer but….” Vinyl cut him off. “Come on man, pleeeease.” She lifted her sunglasses to reveal her red eyes looking sad with a mock pout, she even managed to make what sounded like a puppy dog whine. Nova couldn’t fight it. “*Sigh* Fine, I’ll come by your club sometime.” Vinyl’s smile quickly returned. “Great, I can’t wait to see you there, when can I expect you?” “I need to plan for it first, I have a little brother that I need some pony to watch for the night I come, so I don’t know yet.” “Well, just remember, you’re welcome anytime, on me. And like I said, you can bring a date too if you have a special some pony in mind. See ya later dude.” Vinyl then trotted off. “Ok, that was weird, why was she so insistent on me coming to this club of hers? It was nice of her to make that offer though. Well, I said I’d come by so I might as well make plans for it, question is when, and would Twilight like to go? She doesn’t seem like the type. But then again, neither am I, being around so many ponies at once, just thinking about it makes me shiver.” Nova continued on his way to find Rainbow to see if she could hang out. “Hold on, what would we do for fun once I found her? I’m sure she’ll come up with something.” Nova eventually found Dash around the center of Town flying overhead pushing clouds around. “Hey Dash, you got a minute!?” He called up to her. “Hey Nova, just a sec.” Dash moved another cloud around and came in for a landing in front of Nova. “What’s up Nova?” She greeted with a smile. “Hey Rainbow, I was just wondering if you had time to just hang out or something, I don’t have anything else going on, so I figured I’d try getting out of my house for once. So what do you say, you busy today or what?” Rainbow gave a big smile to Nova. “Well, I’m glad to see you out and about for once, but I’m afraid I’m kinda busy with weather patrol today, sorry.” She gave an apologetic smile. “Oh, that’s ok, I understand, maybe some other time then.” “Definitely, I’d better get back to it, I’ll see you later Nova.” Rainbow then flew back up. “Yeah, later.” He said to himself. “Well, so much for that idea, the one time I decide to not stay in my house, I don’t have anything to do. Guess I’ll just wait around till it’s time for my date with Twilight.” So Nova stuck around town and waited for the appointed time for his lunch date with Twilight. Eleven thirty Soon rolled around as Nova approached Twilight’s place and knocked on the door. Twilight answered with her usual smile. “Hello Nova, ready for our date?” “Sure, let’s go.” The two soon found themselves at a little bistro sitting outside looking over the menu. Nova decided to be the first to break the silence. “So Twilight…..you looking rather pretty today……not that you don’t look pretty every day……of course you do, but…..what I mean is….ah, I can’t even speak right.” Twilight blushed at the compliment and laughed at Nova fumbling with his words. “Hm Hm, thank you for the compliment Nova, but I don’t think I’m all that pretty.” Nova wasn’t about to let her put herself down. “Twilight, don’t say that, of course you are, I wouldn’t have asked you out if I didn’t think you were pretty…..not that looks are the most important thing to me… but…..I mean….uh, I’m just going to stop talking now.” Twilight laughed some more. “Nova calm down, it’s all right, I know what you meant. Why are you so jittery?” Nova looked to the side as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I….I don’t know, I guess it’s just being out in the open like this.” “You’ve been outside before, why is this time so different?” “Because I’m with you.” Nova simply stated. “That is…Uh….well…..*Sigh* Twilight, I do like you, a lot. And being with you just makes me nervous for some reason, I don’t know. It’s like I just can’t think straight and my mouth seems to move faster than my mind or vise versa. I do like spending time with you, and I think you’re a wonderful mare.” Twilight blushed a little more as Nova said these things. “Nova, I had no idea you felt that way about me. I really like you too.” Nova looked to Twilight with a bit of surprise. “Really?” She simply nodded. “So…..where do we go from there?” Twilight looked to the side with a small smile. “Well, I guess for now we just keep going on dates for a while and see how things go.” “That works for me, I do like our time together.” The waiter soon came and took their order for their food. They both ordered a daffodil and daisy sandwich. Once the food arrived, Nova brought up his encounter with Vinyl. “So Twilight, do you know Vinyl Scratch?” “I do, we aren’t really friends, just good acquaintences, we get along fine. Why?” “Well, I had a run in with her earlier today, she invited me to come to her club one night free of charge. I guess that’s her way of thanking me for a gem stone I made her.” “Really, that was nice of her.” “She even said I could…..bring a….date.” Nova blushed a little. “So, are you wanting to know if I’ll go with you one night?” Twilight asked as she gave him a side glance. “If you want to, sure, she was rather insistent I come, she just wouldn’t let me say no, but I don’t want to go alone. Being among so many I don’t know, ooohhh, I don’t know if I could do it. So if you want to come, you can, but I’ll understand if you say no, I’m not exactly the club type.” “I’m not even sure what this club is in the first place. But I guess it’s just a place where ponies hang out or something, and she did say something about music.” “Actually, that sounds like fun, I’d love to go with you.” Twilight said with a smile. Nova perked up. “Really? Great, I just hope Spike won’t mind watching Starburst for me on the night we go.” “He’ll be fine, he watched Starburst for you before.” Twilight said with a wave of her hoof. The two continued with their date as they sat and talked. The date soon came to an end as Nova walked Twilight to her house. “I had a wonderful time Nova, thank you.” She then went and gave him a kiss on the cheek. They both blushed from it, Twilight had a smile and Nova was just a little surprised. “Uh, yeah, me too, I’ll see you later. Maybe we can hangout like this again soon this week.” “I’d like that, I’ll see you later Nova.” Twilight closed her door and Nova went on home. A few days passed and Nova decided to try and get out more, maybe make some more friends and spend time with them, he hada run in with Derpy and gotten to know her a bit more, as well as Carrot Top and Berry Punch. He also had another run in with Vinyl one day and got to talk with her a bit. Nova was starting to feel a little more confident about being outside his house. As he did, he also started noticing pictures of Fluttershy popping up everywhere in town. Despite what others were saying, he could tell she didn’t look happy in them, most of them at least, but he knew in the ones she was smiling were fake smiles, he even saw Rainbow dash pulling a banner with a picture of her smiling and holding a bottle of juice. He spotted Rarity nearby and she did not look happy at all, in fact, she looked downright angry. Nova walked up to her to try and talk to her. “Rarity, are you all right? You seem upset.” “Hello Nova, I’m just fine thank you for asking.” Nova could hear she was fighting back the anger in her voice as she spoke. “Rarity, I can tell you’re mad about something, what’s wrong?” “Why should I tell you when you can’t even tell me what this secret your keeping is?” Rarity shot back with a glare. Nova recoiled at her glare. “Rarity, I….I’m sorry, but I…..” Rarity seemed to calm down as she began to apologize. “I’m sorry Nova, I didn’t mean that, it’s just that……never mind, I do apologize for what I said.” Nova shook his head. “It’s fine Rarity, I just wanted to try and help.” Rarity gave a small smile as she looked at Nova. “Thank you Nova. I need to get back to my shop now, I’ll see you later.” “Yeah, ok, if you ever want to talk, just let me know.” Rarity didn’t answer back as she walked away. “I’ll bet it has something to do with Fluttershy being a model.” Nova thought to himself. The next day came and Nova decided to see about spending more time with Twilight. Starburst went to hang out with his own friends and do some crusading for their cutie marks. Nova was on his approach when he saw Twilight exiting. He trotted up to her. “Hey Twilight, good day to you.” “Hello Nova, how are you today?” She greeted cheerfully. “Fine, thanks, where are you off to?” “I’m going to the spa for a bit, I could use some time to relax. I’ve been studying a bit too much according to Spike and insisted I take a break.” “I see, brings up the question of who’s taking care of who?” Twilight smiled and giggled at his little joke. “Hm hm, yes it does. I don’t suppose you’d like to join me at the spa, I’m just going to relax in the tub.” “Sure, I’d love to.” “Great, let’s go.” Twilight and Nova walked together down to the spa. They soon arrived at the spa and Twilight dawned a white robe. Nova went without one and they made their way to the tub. Upon arrival, they saw Rarity there in the tub looking rather down. She started whining. “My hooves are positively prunie I’ve been waiting here so long.” She lifted one of her hoofs to show and it looked a little wrinkly. “Obviously Fluttershy is too busy with her new career to spend time with her best friend.” She said bitterly. Twilight tried to reason. “I’m sure she just got tied up.” Rarity continued in her sour mood. “Of course she did, she’s a big bright shining star. I wish that star would burn out.” Nova interjected. “Here now, that’s no way to talk about a friend. I’m surprised at you Rarity.” Twilight agreed. “Fluttershy is your friend Rarity.” Rarity started sounding guilty. “I know, I know, I should be happy for her but instead I’m just…..nnnggg jealous! Oh please don’t tell her I feel this way. please, please, please, please, please, PLEASE!” Nova tried to reason with her. “Rarity, I think you should….” “PLEASE!” “*Sigh* Fine. I promise I won’t say anything to Fluttershy.” Nova caved. Twilight followed up. “You have my word. Losing a friend’s trust is the fastest way to lose a friend.” “FOREVER!” Pinkie popped out of a bowl of sponges. “GAH! Pinkie, what the hay!?” Nova called out. She just sunk back into the bowl and disappeared. “How does she do that?” Nova asked. “I have no idea.” Twilight answered. Rarity had removed herself from the tub and got dressed in a white and red striped dress. “Wow, you look great!” Twilight complimented. “Nice.” Nova followed up. “Fluttershy may be the one who’s famous, but that doesn’t mean I have to stop looking fabulous.” Rarity then left. Nova and Twilight settled into the tub to relax a bit. Suddenly Fluttershy came in. “Rarity, I’m so sorry I’m…oh no, she’s already gone isn’t she?” “Afraid so.” Nova answered. “Oh, I can’t believe this, I am just so frustrated I could just scream.” Fluttershy then took in a deep breath and screamed as loud as she could. “aaaaaahhhhhh.” It wasn’t very loud. “Feel better?” Twilight asked. “No, can I tell you two something?” She asked as she fluttered up to eye level with them. “Of course.” Twilight answered. “I’m all ears.” Nova followed. “You promise not to tell Rarity?” Fluttershy asked. “I swear.” Twilight answered. “Same here, I promise.” Nova was a little reluctant as he kind of figured what this could be. “Pinkie Pie swear?” Fluttershy asked. Nova rolled his eyes, he and Twilight recited the Pinkie promise with the motions. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my AH!” They both poked their eyes. “Ow, geeze, that Pinkie promise is dangerous.” Nova commented. Fluttershy took a moment. “I don’t like being a model, no, I HATE being a model! All this attention is awful, just awful, and I’m only doing it because Rarity told me I must, I must, *Sigh* I must.” Fluttershy hung her head. “Oh, really?” Twilight asked. “Well.” Twilight looked around a bit, then motioned for Fluttershy to move closer. “If you want to know the truth, Rarity…” Pinkie suddenly popped out from the bowl of sponges again, shook her head, then made a zipping motion across her lips, then disappeared again. “Ok, I am really curious how she does that.” Nova commented. “Oh, what were you about to say?” Fluttershy asked. “Forever.” Pinkie said in a whisper as she appeared again and just like that was gone again. “She is really starting to scare me now.” Nova commented again. “Nothing.” Twilight said. Nova figured now was the time to speak up and try to resolve this then. “Fluttershy, if you really don’t want to be a model, just quit. Rarity will understand.” “Oh, but I can’t do that, she would be devastated.” Fluttershy stated. “Fluttershy, if she’s your friend, she’d want you to be happy, if you just told her that being a model isn’t making you happy, I’m sure she’d be fine with you quitting.” “You really think so? I don’t know.” Fluttersy said sounding unsure. “Trust me, if she were really your friend, she won’t care, just go to her and tell her how you really feel about this. I promise you she will support your decision.” “Well, I guess I could do that, do you think you could come with me though, I don’t know if I could face her alone if I do….if it’s not too much trouble.” Nova looked over at Twilight, she just gave him a smile and a reassuring nod. Nova turned back to Fluttershy. “Sure Fluttershy, I’ll come along and be with you for when you tell her.” Fluttershy gave Nova a smile. “Thank you Nova, I really appreciate it.” Nova climbed out of the tub and looked at Twilight. “I’ll see you later Twilight, enjoy your soak.” “Thanks Nova, I’ll see you later too.” Nova escorted Fluttershy out of the spa and to Rarity’s. They entered the boutique and found Rarity as she was mulling about around her store. Nova spoke to get her attention. “Excuse me Rarity, are you busy?” Rarity turned to face Nova. “Oh, hello Nova……hello Fluttershy.” Rarity greeted as she hid her emotions. “Rarity, Fluttershy here has something she needs to tell you, but first, I want to ask you something if I may.” Nova said. He gave a wink to Flutterhy. “Of course dear, go ahead.” Rarity stated. “Rarity, you care about Fluttershy right?” “Well of course I do, she’s my best friend.” Rarity said with a bit of surprise that Nova would ask such a thing. “And you want her to be happy right?” “Of course I want her to be happy, why wouldn’t I?” “I just wanted to make sure.” He then turned to Fluttershy. “You see, she does care about you and wants you to be happy, so go ahead and tell her how you feel about this whole thing.” Fluttershy just looked worried as she looked at Rarity who just looked confused as to what might be going on. Fluttershy took a moment to collect her thoughts. “Rarity, I know me being a model was important to you, but I don’t like it, I don’t like it at all. I just don’t like having all those ponies looking at me and following me around, I hate being a model. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings but I just can’t do it anymore, please don’t be mad at me.” Rarity was surprised to hear all this. She collected herself as she spoke. “Fluttershy, I had no idea you felt this way, why didn’t you say anything before?” “Because you said I had to do this for you and I didn’t want to disappoint you, so I just kept doing it. But Nova convinced me I should tell you that I don’t like being a model, I just hope you don’t hate me for this.” Rarity smiled. “Oh Fluttershy, I could never hate you, the truth is I was actually jealous of you being a model, you were getting all the attention while I wasn’t, I was actually hoping you would fail at it at some point, I hope you can forgive me for it.” Fluttershy smiled. “Really? oh Rarity, of course I forgive you, I’m just sorry I didn’t tell you sooner how I felt.” “And I’m sorry too, from now on, let’s never keep our feelings a secret from each other, agreed?” “Agreed.” The two then moved in for a hug. Nova smiled at the scene. “Well, I’m glad we got that all straightened out.” The two then turned to Nova. “Thank you for talking me into doing this Nova, you were right, I should have trusted Rarity to understand my feelings.” Fluttershy said with a smile as she looked at him. “Yes dear, thank you so much, this is all thanks to you, how can we ever repay you?” Nova just waved a hoof. “All I want from you two is to just keep being good friends with each other, that will be reward enough.” Fluttershy stepped closer to Nova. “Nova, I really appreciate you helping me do this, you’re such a wonderful friend, if there’s ever anything you want to talk about, you can always come to me and I’ll do what I can to help. No matter what, we are friends, cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Fluttershy then hugged him. “The same goes for me darling, I really can’t thank you enough.” Rarity then did the Pinkie promise. Fluttershy’s hug surprised nova. “Well….thank you Fluttershy and Rarity. I’ll…..be sure to keep that in mind.” Fluttershy broke the embrace. “Friends no matter what, and they did the pinkie promise.” Nova had become familiar with the Pinkie promise, when you make a Pinkie promise, you keep it. “Friends no matter what…..friends no matter what…..maybe…..maybe I….” “Nova, is something wrong?” Rarity’s voice drew Nova out of his thoughts. “Huh, what?” “You seemed a little out of it, are you ok?” Fluttershy asked. Nova noticed the two looking at him with concern. “Yeah, I’m fine, just thinking is all. I’ll see you two later, take care ok.” “All right, see you later.”Rarity said. “Bye Nova.” Fluttershy said with a hoof wave, both still looking at Nova with a bit of concern. Nova walked to his home as he continued to think on what Fluttershy and Rarity said. “Friends no matter what…..friends no matter what….and they pinkie promised. Why can’t I just outright tell them what I want to tell them? Why does my fear have to be so strong of what they’ll think of me? Time and again, they all said I could come to them if I should need anything and they all are such wonderful friends. So why can’t I tell them?” “GAH! IT’S JUST NOT FAIR, WHY DO I HAVE TO BE SO AFRAID!?” Nova yelled out. Thankfully, by this time, he was just outside his home so no pony heard his outburst. Nova hung his head, walked inside, and shut the door behind him, he just stayed inside for the rest of the say with nothing to do.