//------------------------------//
// Act I — Ponyville 
// Story: Fluttershy Takes Manehattan 
// by VitalSpark 
//------------------------------//

It was a bright, sunny morning as the train pulled into Ponyville station. A number of ponies alighted, including a cream-coloured earth pony who struggled to get her suitcase off the train. A unicorn waiting nearby noticed that she was having difficulties and levitated it off the train and safely onto the platform. The earth pony looked up to see who had come to her assistance and recognised her at once.

Coco Pommel blew her fringe away from her face. "Rarity, you really didn't have to come to the station to meet me. I could have made my own way to Carousel Boutique."

Rarity feigned a look of shock. "Darling, I simply couldn't allow that! To navigate the streets of an unfamiliar town on your own? No, no, no!"

"Well, that's very kind of you." Coco smiled.

Rarity started walking towards the boutique, with Coco following. "So, what brings you to our fair town?"

Coco shook her head. "It's work, but let's not talk about that right now. It's been so long since I've seen you! Can't we just catch up during the walk?"

Rarity smiled. "Of course! So, what have you been doing lately?"

Coco thought about it. "To be honest, I've been working so hard, I've barely had time for anything else."

"Oh," Rarity said. If they weren't going to talk about work, then that conversation had hit a dead end quickly. Nevertheless, they managed to find other things to chat about in the few minutes it took them to arrive at Carousel Boutique.


✾ ✾ ✾


"So," asked Rarity, after she'd shown Coco to the guest room, and they'd both sat down to afternoon tea, "will you now tell me why you needed to come to Ponyville?"

Coco looked at the table. "Well, I was hoping to ask a favour. I have a new line of clothes that I want to include in a fashion show in Manehattan, but I need a model."

Rarity beamed proudly. "I would be honoured! I have always—"

"The designs are made to fit a pegasus."

Rarity furrowed her eyebrows. "But… I'm not a pegasus," she laughed.

"I know, I'm sorry, I'm sure you would be a wonderful model, but I was hoping your pegasus friend Fluttershy…? You mentioned once in your letters that she has experience modelling. I was wondering if maybe she would model my clothes at the show? If I could ask her, maybe?"

Rarity disguised her disappointment well. "We can ask her, but I do have to warn you that last time she modelled, it did not end well for her."

"Really?" Coco was curious but concerned.

"She didn't enjoy it at all, and I'm not sure she would want to get involved with it again."

Coco's ears drooped. "Oh."

Rarity tried to stay positive. "There are other pegasus ponies in Ponyville though."

Coco perked up. "We could ask Rainbow Dash?"

Rarity tried to imagine Rainbow Dash on a runway. "On the other hoof, it wouldn't hurt to ask Fluttershy, would it?"


✾ ✾ ✾


Rarity knocked on the door of Fluttershy's cottage. It opened a little and a pair of cyan eyes peeped out. Seeing Rarity standing outside, Fluttershy opened the door wider and noticed Coco standing beside Rarity.

"Hi, Rarity, ummm… Coco, it's nice to see you." Fluttershy motioned for them to come in, and shut the door behind them.

Fluttershy sat on the floor and was immediately surrounded by animals. A couple of squirrels snuggled up to her side, a blue bird fluttered down to land on her flank, and Angel Bunny sat in front of her, eyeing her visitors suspiciously. Fluttershy started brushing Angel's hair and grooming him. "So, is this a social call? Or are you having a problem with Opal again?"

Rarity bit her lip. She was sure that Fluttershy would turn down their request, but she needed to at least try. "Fluttershy, darling, Coco here is putting on a little fashion show and she was looking for a model."

"Oh." Fluttershy twiddled her hooves. "Well, let me think… there's that mare called Fleur something, isn't there? I met her a few times on the circuit, and—"

"She was really hoping that you'd agree to model for her." Rarity looked at Coco, who nodded at her and then smiled at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy sighed sadly. "I don't know… I don't think it would be a good idea for me to get back into modelling."

"I perfectly understa—" said Rarity before she was interrupted by Coco.

"Please? It would only be a one-off," the blue-maned pony pleaded, "and I'd pay you of course."

Fluttershy looked at Angel, still sitting in front of her. "But who would look after the animals?" she asked. Angel smiled.

Rarity rubbed her chin with a hoof. "Well, Spike did such an excellent job sitting for all of our pets before. We could ask him!"

Fluttershy thought about it. The pet centre's funding had been running a bit low lately. Being in the spotlight again would be scary, but it wasn't like she'd have to do anything on stage — just wear clothes and stand there, maybe walk a little. In the end, Coco's puppy dog eyes made the decision for her.

Coco was Rarity's friend, and that made Coco her friend too, and when it came down to it, Fluttershy would do anything for her friends.

"I'll do it."

Angel scowled.