//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Realization 
// Story: In Need of a Smile 
// by Sweetheart_a_Light 
//------------------------------//


"P-P-Pinkie?!" Fluttershy screamed nervously, as she tried to get herself out of Pinkie Pie. "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, I-I'm so so sorry, Pinkie! I-I was just-"






"Teeheehee!" Pinkie laughed "Don't worry Flutters! I wasn't looking either! Well, sort of, I mean, I'm pretty sure I was looking where I was going, but, I don't know, apparently we had to bump into each other for the convenience of the plot..." she stated, while giving a questioning expression.






Fluttershy had no idea what she was talking about. She knew Pinkie was random, but, that was just too random... Right, Pinkie?






"Hahaha, sure, sure, I'll stop now!" she playfully said to the poor narrator who had to deal with her sudden fourth wall breaks. It isn't easy writing Pinkie Pie's character, ya know?






"Uh... Pinkie Pie?..." whispered Fluttershy.






"HEY, it's not my fault!!!" she shouted. "You 'bronies' are the ones who think I'm so random that I would be capable of doing such thing!"






"Uh... P-Pinkie Pie?..." Fluttershy said, finally getting Pinkie’s attention "W-Who you were talking to? There's nopony else here with us! And... what are those 'brownies' that you mentioned...?"






Nah, nevermind that!" Pinkie said while petting her pegasus friend. "So, what are you doing here?"






"Oh, well, uh, I came here to buy Angel's food," Fluttershy said in her soft, whispering voice "I needed some carrots and, well, when I saw the carrot stand empty, I thought that I might come already before it gets too full or closes..."






"What a crazy coincidence! Me too!" the party pony announced. "I was very bored at Sugarcube Corner, and we needed some ingredients, so I came by! I needed carrots too, so when I saw the carrot stand empty, I went to it!"






"That's wonderful, Pinkie!" Fluttershy blushed "So, uh, d-do you want to come shopping the rest of the stuff I need?" she bashfully asked while giving some bits to the vendor in the stand. "All I need now is some grains, anyway..."






"Of course, silly-filly! I need to buy the rest of my stuff, too!" Pinkie admitted as she gave some bits to the carrot vendor. "C'mon, let's get going!"






Pinkie began to hop through the crowd as usual. She definitely was feeling better now! All she needed was some fresh air, after all! Or was it Fluttershy? Oh sure, seeing her friends always made her feel better, but, for some reason, she was feeling way better than usual. She was feeling alone back there.






Fluttershy followed her energetic friend around the crowd. Pinkie Pie was always so happy! She was feeling very happy too! But, why? She wasn't feeling like that a second ago! Well, Pinkie wasn't around with her a second ago, and her happiness was contagious. But, she was feeling happier than she would normally feel. She was feeling alone back there.






They walked down the market, laughing the whole time. Every time Fluttershy felt uneasy around other ponies, Pinkie was there to support her. Whenever Fluttershy laughed at her jokes, Pinkie felt like that was exactly where she was supposed to be. Something about being in one another’s company made all their worries feel distant. And eventually, they realized what they were missing.