//------------------------------// // At the Train Station // Story: Fluttershy's Big Break // by Sloped Armoured Pony //------------------------------// Fluttershy was excited to embark on her very first vacation. She trotted through town to the train station with a relatively unprecedented extremity of joy. Shy hopped and skipped, as well as float like an angel over incoming obstacles. Flowers blossomed as her hoof steps beat the ground, and birds appeared in the air, whistling in celebration in hope of Fluttershy's satisfactory holiday. The day felt like none other. The sun shined on her back, singeing any chilling feeling that would usually haunt the timid pegasus' average day. As Fluttershy continued trotting, a crowd emerged. She could see the station over the sea of heads. Enjoyment and relaxation was never so close. causing Fluttershy and her animal comrades to break into song, only to stop as the timid creature's ego returned to the shadows after a strong ovation from the crowding audience. Things started going downhill again. Oblivious to the fact that the crowd was cheering to her song, Fluttershy crouched and slinked under the typhoon of ponies, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention. After finally approaching the gates to the platform, the line leading to it moved slower than a snail who's tail was caught on tar. The vacation looked to far away now, as the train was scheduled to depart in less than 15 minutes. The only thing that saved her from a disappointing weekend was unwanted attention, as a pony focused everyone's eyes on the pegasus who had sung a wonderful song. Fluttershy felt humiliated until a pony caught sight of her special tickets. "What are you doing here?" asked the stranger in a tone that strangely frightened our little protagonist. "Oh, what did I do? What did I do? Was it something I said? Whatever it is, I am sorry. Did I take your spot in line?" asked Fluttershy in her frightened tone. The stranger gave a straight face for a dramatic few seconds, only to relieve the situation with an almost cliche change of mood. The stranger informed happily, "You should be in the front! You have VIP tickets!" The other ponies looked, cheered, and made way for Fluttershy a direct route to the ticket booth. Our hero gave a glance in both directions to see if the ponies around here were truly happy, or sarcastic, and then hopped ahead of the genuinely joyful crowd. She finally reached the gate. "Hmm. Your name ma'am." ordered the mare at the ticket booth. Fluttershy gave her name and showed her special tickets, receiving her boarding passes without being charged. She marched on down to the platform to board the train. At the entry doors, there was a conductor checking tickets. Ponies passed him, had their tickets stamped, and headed right into the cabin. The conductor gave a serious glare at Fluttershy, waiting impatiently for her to come and get her tickets stamped. She walked over, hoping for a smooth session with the stern stallion. "Um, uh, a ticket to Las Caballitas?" announced Fluttershy timidly. The conductor took a good long look at the ticket. He glanced at Fluttershy, then back at the tickets, and then back again. It took almost five minutes before he replied. "Ma'am, you are not supposed to be here," informed the conductor. "I am pretty sure this is the right place. I mean, I have these VIP tickets, so I should be allowed to board this train," informed Fluttershy. "I am pretty sure this is not your train," argued the conductor. Fluttershy was already becoming impatient as she was certain this was the right transport. Her assertive ego took over and she argued, "Sir, this is the right train. The ticket shows the right time and the right train number. This is definitely the right train, so if you would excuse me, I have a vacation to enjoy!" The conductor blocked her path and gave a good long look at the tickets. The whistles of the train started to blow, and the cars started inching foreword. Being as annoyed as he was, he agreed that this was her train. "Your seat is at the back," informed the conductor as he pointed to what looked like a rickety caboose. "But I am a VIP. Shouldn't I be seated at the front?" asked Fluttershy as her tensions started to return. The conductor gave an ominous chuckle and said, "Look kid, by the time we finish this damn argument, the train would have reached its destination, so now beat it, and either get the hell out of here, or get on the filthy cabo- I mean, the VIP seating car." Fluttershy was angry and sad at the same time. Only Rainbow Dash was supposed to speak in a stern way to her. This was an outrage, also considering the fact that no one had before swore at Fluttershy. As tears started to fill her eyes, she left in pursuit of the caboose which was almost at the end of the platform. Maybe this was the worst of it. After all, that conductor was just a cruel bully. After hopping into the caboose, the room was just as expected. Spiders crawled on the walls, most Fluttershy could identify as venomous. Rats scurried along the rocking floor, and the cooing of pigeons suppressed the sound of the rumbling wheels. The place was a dusty slum, but at least there were some animals to communicate with. The pigeons hopped from their perches and greeted the sad pegasus, while a spider spun on a web, "Hello." Fluttershy had made some friends, until a loud groan was heard past a pile of crates. Fluttershy started to shiver as a large, drunk, dragon emerged and eyed at her. Fluttershy was almost in a state of paralysis as the dragon grumbled and ordered for her to stay on the other side of the caboose. The dragon was the workman who was in charge of reversing the rain and connecting cars. As he shrunk back to sleep, Fluttershy scurried to the back corner to hide under a basket. The vacation didn't look too good now. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- At the cottage, Pinkie and Twilight got their first taste of mother goose life style as the "helpers" were gone trying to finish their domestic chores. Pinkie had made the carrot cake that Angle had ordered for, only to rage and toss the cake out of the window after finding out that the cake was actually carrot cake rather than some random cake with carrot on it. However, unlike what the menace was used to, Twilight stood up to punish Angel for naughty behavior. "Now I can see how Fluttershy is so shy. You are living hell! And it has only been two hours!" angered Twilight. "No matter, you WILL eat that cake, whether you like it or not. You asked for it, and you will get it!" Twilight grabbed Angel by the ears and tossed him outside. Pinkie grabbed a stick from a tree and gave it to her, as she prepared herself to whip the bastard if he did not cooperate. Though expecting for him to start eating the soiled cake, Angel smacked the stick out of the angry unicorn's hooves, grabbed it, and started whipping her instead. After the dusty tussle, Angel gained control over Twilight, and actually forced her to eat the cake. Pinkie reacted to help the jack ass unicorn, grabbed a bigger stick, and thwacked both of them. Pinkie asked in surprise, "What are you doing Twilight? Did you just let a bunny overpower you? Wow, and I though Fluttershy was a doormat. I cannot tell whether or not you are a unicorn or a mule, no offense." "None taken," said a random mule as everypony stopped to see where the reply came from. Pinkie then ignored the reply and continued ordering, "And you are a unicorn? Why aren't you using your magic unicornness to shove that cake down his throat. You will not let an arrogant bunny get the best of you, and especially you, Twilight!" After almost a whole half hour of fighting over a stubborn bunny, Twilight uttered, "Oh forget it! I give up! This bunny is a nuisance! We had better get a vacation after Fluttershy's vacation, because I think I beat my record at quickest exhaustion." Pinkie asked, "And what about Angel? We can't let him just party. At least teach the creature a lesson and make Fluttershy's life easier." "You didn't think I was just going to leave, now, did you?" asked Twilight in an evil tone. "I am just done supervising this rodent. I have a better idea!" Twilight took out a role of duck tape. They both looked at each other, then at Angel, who was becoming suspicious. The two schemers started to chuckle ominously.