• Published 22nd Jun 2016
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Camaraderie is Sorcery - FireOfTheNorth



What if Equestria wasn't all sunshine and rainbows? Friendship is Magic is retold in a dark fantasy setting where kings and queens rule a divided Equestria, sorceresses are persecuted and burned at the stake, and beasts wait around every corner.

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Chapter 1:20 - The Pain of an Unrealized Dream

Chapter 1:20 – The Pain of an Unrealized Dream

Fluttershy sat quietly at the table, staring at the plate of food in front of her. She was awaiting Rarity, but the blacksmith was nowhere to be seen. After Fluttershy had done her the favor of looking after her sister and her friends several weeks earlier, she had set up these informal meetings with the druidess to talk. The two mares came from completely different worlds and didn’t know each other very well. This seemed to bother Rarity, since, as members of the Brave Companions, they were supposed to be fast friends. Fluttershy didn’t mind this turn of events, as the onset of winter meant she had little work to do as a druidess, and she was beginning to quite like meeting with Rarity to discuss their interests and the issues of the day. She just wished the blacksmith had picked a more private location to meet.

Ever since the kerfuffle when Twilight Sparkle had received an invitation to the spring’s summit, the Brave Companions had unintentionally made The Prancynge Ponie their usual eatery. However, an outdoor tavern was no place to meet now that snow coated the ground. Instead, Rarity and Fluttershy had become regulars at the Green Dragon Tavern. It wasn’t normally the kind of place either of them would go, but the food was acceptable and reasonably priced, and it wasn’t too rowdy during daylight hours.

Fluttershy continued to stare at her meal, and tried to ignore the gryphon mercenary across the room munching on a leg of roast venison. The Griffon Free Companies were currently camped outside of Ponieville, on their way to the east, and some of them had discovered that this tavern served meat if enough gryphons were available to buy it. As a druidess, Fluttershy found the killing of animals for consumption to be especially barbaric, but didn’t want to confront the gryphon, especially given what had happened the last time she’d spoken to one of their kind. The tavern’s door opened briefly, allowing snow to blow in, before it slammed shut and warmth returned.

“So sorry to keep you waiting, Fluttershy,” Rarity apologized as she trotted over to the table and seated herself, “The most extraordinary thing held me up.”

“What happened?Is everything okay?” Fluttershy asked as Rarity waved for the tavern staff to bring her what she usually ordered.

“Absolutely; more than okay, I’d say,” Rarity said as she removed her scarf and cloak, “On the way here, I stopped by Golden Oak’s laboratory to see Twilight briefly. As it turns out, she and Spike were having a portrait done of themselves by Trompe L’oeil, to send to her parents in Cant’r Laht as a Hearth’s Warming gift.”

“Trompe L’who?” Fluttershy asked.

“I know; I had no idea who she was either until Twilight explained,” Rarity admitted, begrudging her low birth so far from high society, “She is a famous painter from Cant’r Laht, and quite well connected with the city’s nobility. Anyway, she was quite taken with the dress I was wearing. I’m so glad I decided to dress up for our get-together today.”

“Oh, Rarity, do you think she’ll tell her friends in Cant’r Laht about you?” Fluttershy asked, realizing what a success that would be for her friend.

“That was my first thought, too, but it turns out she liked my dress even more than that,” Rarity said excitedly, almost striking the server who was bringing her food as she motioned with her forelegs, “She asked if I had any works of similar quality, and of course I told her that I did. She’s nearly completed the portrait of Twilight and Spike, and wants to do some paintings using my dresses before she returns to Cant’r Laht!”

“Rarity, that’s wonderful,” Fluttershy said with a smile, sharing in her friend’s joy.

“Can you imagine? My dresses on canvas for all of Cant’r Laht to see! Even if things don’t work out with Hoity Toity, this could give me a way into business in Cant’r Laht!”

“This is wonderful, Rarity. I’m so happy for you,” Fluttershy said honestly. These weekly visits really were helping them become closer.

“Of course, there is one tiny wrinkle,” Rarity said, clearing her throat, “Understandably, Trompe L’oeil isn’t planning to extend her stay in Ponieville for too long, so she wants to begin painting my dresses tomorrow.”

“What’s the problem with that?” Fluttershy asked, “I’d think you’d be pleased to start as soon as possible.”

“Oh, I am. It’s just that none of the truly spectacular works I have on hoof right now would compliment me well,” Rarity said, coming around to her question in a roundabout way, “I was hoping to ask you for a favor, Fluttershy. The gowns I have would suit you perfectly; there’s nopony else in Ponieville who would be a better model for them.”

“You want me to pose for paintings with a strange pony that will be hung and gawked at all over Cant’r Laht?” Fluttershy asked with dread.

“Well, yes, that is the essence of it. I know you’re conventionally a timid soul who wants nothing to do with attention, but I wouldn’t ask this of you unless you were my only hope,” Rarity said, “Please, Fluttershy, will you do this for me?”

“I don’t know about this …” the druidess said, living up to her timid nature.

“Please, Fluttershy, this would mean so much to me.”

“Well … I suppose I could pose for … a few paintings. For you, Rarity,” Fluttershy caved, seeing just how much it meant to her friend that she help out with this.

“Oh, thank you so much! I am forever in your debt!” Rarity exclaimed, getting up from the table and trotting around to embrace her in gratitude, “Now, enough from me for the time being. Let’s eat, and I want to hear about Fluttershy.”

***

The next morning, Rarity’s shop was abustle with activity. She wanted everything to be just so for when Trompe L’oeil arrived, and was busily making last minute adjustments. The room was a bit crowded, since there were four ponies here instead of the two Rarity had counted on. Besides Fluttershy, who was standing patiently while Rarity fussed over the gown she was wearing, Twilight Sparkle was also in attendance, curious to see a painter at work when she herself wasn’t the subject; Pinkamena was also here, since she had nothing better to do today, apparently.

“This may be the best we’re going to get,” Rarity said with a sigh, biting her lip nervously as she evaluated the dress, “The other dresses could probably use some more work. We should go through them all again and make sure.”

“Everything looks spectacular, Rarity,” Twilight said comfortingly, “You have nothing to worry about, and should just let things be so you are ready when Trompe L’oeil arrives.”

“Oh, I know,” Rarity said as she paced back and forth, “I’m just so nervous. I have high expectations to fulfill. If I don’t live up to them, then everything could work the opposite way I’ve hoped. If she doesn’t like them, bad word could spread in Cant’r Laht about me and sabotage my chances there entirely, not to mention convince Hoity Toity to rescind his offer.”

“Don’t worry, Rarity. I know everything will work out perfectly,” Pinkamena assured her.

“Really? Is that one of your premonitions, or are you just trying to make me feel better?” Rarity asked desperately.

“Sorry, the second one,” Pinkamena admitted, “But still, there’s no reason to worry.”

“Mm, I suppose you’re both right,” Rarity said, “I’m just so nervous. Everything has to be perfect. Fluttershy, I know it’s not your normal demeanor, but I need you to be bold for me.”

“Bold?” Fluttershy asked, in a tone that was as far from boldness as possible.

“Yes, I know you try to avoid being the center of attention as much as possible, but I’m afraid it can’t be helped,” Rarity lectured her, “You’ll be the center of attention in Trompe L’oeil’s painting, and I want you to look your best.”

“Okay, Rarity, I’ll try,” Fluttershy said, taking a daring stance, then immediately shrinking away the moment the door to the shop opened unexpectedly.

“The baroness Trompe L’oeil!” the artist’s assistant announced her entrance.

Trompe L’oeil sauntered into Rarity’s shop, her heavy cloak flapping in the winter wind. Like Hoity Toity, she was one of the few notable earth ponies of Cant’r Laht. Darkly tinted glasses hid her eyes from view, and when her assistant removed her cloak, it revealed a dress of flashy and contrasting colors arranged in simple shapes and patterns. She sized her surroundings up as her assistant unpacked her painting supplies.

“Ah, this is simply magnificent,” Trompe L’oeil said with an approving gesture as she finished her examination of Rarity’s shop and turned her attention to the subject of her painting, removing her glasses to get a better look, “Hurry, Klaus, I must strike while the iron is hot, to borrow a metaphor from the cruder art of metalworking.”

Her assistant accelerated his unpacking process, but it still didn’t seem fast enough for Trompe L’oeil, who jumped at the canvas the moment it was ready. She examined her subject and began to make some positional marks. Rarity motioned for Fluttershy to take up a better posture, and the druidess snapped to attention, trying her best to do justice to Rarity’s dress.

“No, no, this is all wrong!” Trompe L’oeil snapped at nopony in particular, but Fluttershy still recoiled, her timidity taking over.

The artist returned to her canvas, and Fluttershy realized what she’d done. Thoughtfully, she tried to take up a more assertive pose, something that would look good on canvas. Judging by Rarity’s expression, she was doing a good job, without even taking cues from the seamstress. Trompe L’oeil’s reaction told another story.

“No, this is too unnatural!” the painter snapped, and Fluttershy unconsciously recoiled again, looking back at Trompe L’oeil with surprise, “Yes! Yes! Hold that pose!”

Trompe L’oeil continued at her work for hours, while Fluttershy stayed in more or less the same position, shifting only slightly. Rarity watched the whole thing nervously, afraid of the artist’s disapproval of her work. Twilight watched Trompe L’oeil’s process, mentally taking notes. It wasn’t that she wanted to paint herself, but the sorceress’s curiosity was insatiable on every subject, and she drank every brushstroke in. Pinkamena watched for a while, but eventually left to pursue other things. The artist continued to paint, until she stopped, set down her brush, and admired her work.

“Stunning.Perhaps one of my best works yet,” she marveled before passing the finished painting to Klaus without Rarity having a chance to see it, “I think that I may have to extend my time in Ponieville even more. There is so much work for me to do!”

“Really?” Rarity said, her hopes soaring.

“Yes, really,” Trompe L’oeil said, as if it were obvious, “But, not here. This requires a new location.Tomorrow, the same thing, but I will speak to your town’s mayor about using her keep. I must leave now.”

“Can you believe it?” Rarity asked after the painter had left, barely believing it herself, “She liked it! She wants to paint more of my dresses! It’s all working out!”

“Congratulations, Rarity,” Fluttershy said, “I was so worried that I’d messed up.”

“Well, obviously you didn’t. It all worked out perfectly,” Rarity said, “Thank you so, so much for doing this for me. I know it can’t be easy, but I’m so thankful that because of you, the nobility of Cant’r Laht are going to see my dresses. Thank you again, Fluttershy. It’s a dream come true!”

***

“Rarity?” Fluttershy asked tentatively as the seamstress made adjustments to her gown.

The two ponies were in a room of moderate size in the Mayoral Keep, awaiting Trompe L’oeil’s arrival. The painter had wasted no time after the session the day before in speaking to Mayor Mare to get permission. Rarity wondered just what the mayor had asked in return for them being able to use her home—probably a portrait of her family. Rarity and Fluttershy were alone today, both Twilight and Pinkamena occupied elsewhere, which was for the best. Rarity had gotten the impression that Trompe L’oeil hadn’t appreciated the bard’s constant chatter or the sorceress’s constant observation yesterday.

“Yes, Fluttershy, what is it?” Rarity asked, not looking up from her work.

“Have you given a lot of thought to exactly what it would mean for you to become a hit in Cant’r Laht?” Fluttershy asked nervously, “Will you have to move to Cant’r Laht and leave us behind here?” Until now, the only pony the druidess had been strong friends with had been Rainbow Dash, and she didn’t want Rarity to leave now that they were just beginning to build a real relationship.

“Well, I suppose that eventually I might have to move to Cant’r Laht, if that is where everypony who is buying my work resides, but that wouldn’t occur for some time,” Rarity said, sitting back and thinking about it, “If I did, I would be sure to stay in touch with you and all my friends.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Fluttershy said with a slight smile.

“The baroness Trompe L’oeil!” Klaus announced as he threw the door open for the artist to enter.

As before, Trompe L’oeil spent the first minute appraising the room. Rarity had little control over this, since this was one of Mayor Mare’s chambers and not her own shop; even so, she was still worried that Trompe L’oeil would decide it was no good and leave anyway, and breathed a sigh of relief when the artist gave an approving nod. When the painter took off her dark glasses, however, her look was not one of approval.

“No, no, this won’t do,” she said with a shake of her head, “This ensemble is far too brash; it is not becoming of its wearer.
You need something simple, more natural. That is what is required for this to work.”

“Simple, more natural,” Rarity said nervously, looking at what she’d brought with her and seeing that nothing would likely fit the bill, “I could put something together, but it would take some time.”

“Not necessary; you can go now,” Trompe L’oeil waved her off, “Klaus, find something more fitting.”

“Jas, médamæ[1],” Klaus lapsed into High Equestria before rushing off to do Trompe L’oeil’s bidding.

“You … want me to leave?” Rarity asked in confusion, “I don’t understand. I thought you wanted to paint my dresses.”

“That was the original intention, yes, but now you see I have found a better subject for my art,” Trompe L’oeil explained as she pulled Rarity aside, “Your dresses are fine, but you have presented me with a subject that is far more worthy of art than anything you could have garbed her in. She is a goddess, a dryad of the forest. It is so clear to me. To capture her on canvas is to capture the fleeting glimpse you have of a mythological creature before she slips out of sight and is gone forever. In truth, what she wears is of little consequence, for it is merely a starting point for me to elaborate on artistically and portray truth through revision.

“If she had lived thousands of years ago, the old masters would have sculpted her likeness. Every fountain in Maene would bear her image, and every garden would be graced with her figure. I am no sculptor, so I will capture her as I know how, with brush and pigment. To paint your works was a distraction for me, an interesting hobby and challenge, but to capture Fluttershy on canvas and bring her likeness to the great houses will be a pleasure. You are no longer needed here, for you have brought me someone grander than anything you could create.”

Trompe L’oeil turned away without another word and returned to her paints, leaving Rarity crushed. Klaus had not yet returned with a new outfit for Fluttershy, and Trompe L’oeil was preoccupied with preparing her equipment, so Fluttershy trotted over to where Rarity was still standing in a daze.

“Don’t worry, Rarity, I won’t pose for any more paintings unless they’re done for your dresses,” Fluttershy assured her friend, placing a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

“That’s very kind of you, Fluttershy, but I can’t ask you to do that,” Rarity said with a sigh.

“No, it’s quite alright,” the druidess assured her, “After all, the only reason I was standing for these paintings was to help you out.”

“No, Fluttershy, you must do this. Trompe L’oeil is right; you deserve to be painted and admired,” Rarity said forcefully, “She has the ability to make that happen. I know we thought it was going to be me that she was going to help be admired, but now that I’m out of the picture, it must be you. Go, shine, and don’t worry about me. I still have a chance with our dresses at the Grand Galloping Gala and with Hoity Toity, so everything will be fine.”

“I don’t know, Rarity,” Fluttershy said, “I was only doing this for you.”

“Then continue to do this for me, even if I’m not involved. I want you to shine and be adored. Stand for Trompe L’oeil’s paintings; you must, if not for yourself, then for me,” Rarity said, forcing a reassuring smile.

“Well, I suppose if that’s what you really want …” Fluttershy said with a sigh.

“It is,” Rarity said with finality.

“Fluttershy, come, we must begin,” Trompe L’oeil called her as Klaus returned, out of breath, with some of Mayor Mare’s finer clothes.

“I’ll just … show myself out then,” Rarity said in defeat once Fluttershy was out of earshot, and she left the room behind, along with her dreams.

***

Trompe L’oeil continued to paint Fluttershy’s portrait, often creating two or three works in a single day. The artist began to set up a longer-term residence in Ponieville, brokering a deal with Filthy Rich to stay in one of the nicer inns that he usually kept closed except around the summer solstice ceremony. Word was sent to Cant’r Laht for more canvas and paints, and they were rushed down from the mountain city, along with many of Trompe L’oeil’s possessions to make her stay in Ponieville more comfortable. It looked like the artist was here to stay until Fluttershy no longer inspired her, which didn’t seem likely to occur anytime soon.

Soon, her works were sent back to Cant’r Laht, and when ponies commented on her long absence, they were presented with the fruits of her labor in Ponieville. All marveled at the passion the artist had put into her paintings, and some began to say that her true career had only just begun. The portraits were exquisitely done, conveying the grace and dignity of the subject. Though traveling down through the mountains during the middle of winter to a backwater like Ponieville was certainly not an attractive idea, a few of Trompe L’oeil’s acquaintances underwent the journey anyway. Several members of the nobility temporarily relocated to Ponieville, both to reconnect with Trompe L’oeil and to see who this mare was that had captured her imagination, being brought to life in every one of her new paintings. Mayor Mare was ecstatic, having acquired a court of ponies she considered her social equals without lifting a hoof, and Filthy Rich was even more so, as his inns filled up with ponies willing to pay exorbitant amounts of coin for comfort.

At first, things weren’t so bad for Fluttershy. Certainly, ponies were looking at pictures of her and talking about her, discussing her form and flaws, but they were far away in a city that could hidden on a particularly cloudy day. Only Trompe L’oeil and Klaus were watching her for the most part, and she was able to bear it, reminding herself that this was something Rarity insisted she do; to walk away before Trompe L’oeil was finished with her would be breaking that promise to her friend. The trouble began when word traveled through Ponieville that somepony had captured the famous artist’s inspiration, but even that was bearable, since everypony here had seen Fluttershy before and didn’t say much to her other than ask some questions. When nobles began making the trip from Cant’r Laht, however, things grew far worse for the timid druidess. Soon painting sessions saw the room filled with strange ponies commenting and critiquing her, as if she were merely an object to be portrayed on canvas and not a mare with very real feelings and little courage to stand up for herself. The coming of the nobility really grabbed the attention of the townsponies, and soon she was mobbed with questions by ponies she’d known for years. She preferred to reside in the background, but, as in all of Trompe L’oeil’s works, she was now front and center, and she didn’t like it one bit. It was unbearable for a pony who only wanted peace and quiet and the opportunity to tend to the creatures of the wild, and things were only going to get worse.

Through it all, Rarity professed loudly and often that she was happy for Fluttershy, but soon things began to wear thin. She wanted to be happy for her friend, she really did, but every painting that Trompe L’oeil completed and ponies marveled at was like another knife in her flesh. The painter had wanted to paint her dresses, not Fluttershy. All this attention, especially from nobles who went to the trouble of traveling all the way here, was meant for Rarity, not Fluttershy.
It had all gone wrong, but she couldn’t say anything without ruining her friendship with the druidess. She was the one who had insisted that Fluttershy continue to have paintings done of her, and to take the opposite stance now would be hypocritical and selfish. So, the blacksmith stewed in silence, her frustration growing every day.

“Oh, Rarity, I did not expect to see you here,” Twilight Sparkle said with surprise as she spotted Rarity at a table by herself in the Green Dragon Tavern, “I was looking for Spike, since I know he has been trying to convince this establishment to serve meat regularly, but I suppose stopping for a bite to eat could not hurt. Do you mind if I join you?”

“No, go ahead,” Rarity said apathetically with a wave of her hoof, “I don’t think Fluttershy is going to show up. She cancelled our meetup last week and promised she’d be here today, but I guess she’s far too busy now to meet with a pony like me.”

“She has been quite occupied,” Twilight said, having only half paid attention to Rarity while she was making her order, and not having picked up on the hostility, “It cannot be easy for a pony like her, especially when Trompe L’oeil insists she come along with her to soirées with Cant’r Laht nobility.”

“What?” Rarity said as if struck, “When did this happen? How do you know about it?”

“I was invited, of course,” Twilight replied offendedly, “I am Celestia’s personal protégé, a respected sorceress in my own right, and the daughter of an earl. I may have been a recluse before moving to Ponieville, and admittedly still am to some extent, but at least I am accustomed to interactions with other nobility. Fluttershy has no such background, and I am sure it is taking a toll on her.”

“Yes, one would almost wish she make a terrible faux pas so that Trompe L’oeil would be forced to stop painting her and she could descend back into obscurity,” Rarity said venomously.

“Rarity! Fluttershy is your friend, is she not?” Twilight said, aghast, “I never expected to hear something like that from you.” A Cant’r Laht sorceress, perhaps, but not you.

“I know, I know,” Rarity said guiltily, “I know I should be happy for her success, even if it replaces my own, but instead all I can think of is how I wish I were in her place. Oh, I wish I weren’t so jealous, and I could be a good friend. Please, Twilight.
You can’t let Fluttershy know how I really feel! You will promise not to tell her, won’t you?”

“Of course Twilight won’t tell her,” Pinkamena cut in as she leaned over from the next table, “Losing the trust of a friend is the fastest way to lose that friend.”

“How long have you been here?” Twilight asked the bard, certain that she hadn’t seen her when she’d entered the tavern and that there was no way she could’ve possibly made it to her current position without Twilight noticing.

“Please, you will keep this between us, won’t you?” Rarity pleaded, and Pinkamena bobbed her head up and down rapidly.

“Yes, I promise I will not tell Fluttershy about this,” Twilight said, brushing her concerns about Pinkamena’s sudden arrival from her mind, “Applejack may be the Element of Trustworthiness, but I want you to know that you can trust me as well, Rarity.”

“Oh, good,” Rarity said with relief as she rose from the table, having completed her meal, “I think I shall go find something to take my mind off of things. Perhaps it is time to check in with Mayor Mare and see if she is going to commission her dress for the Grand Galloping Gala from me. The event is fast approaching, after all.”

“How did you get here?” Twilight asked Pinkamena as Rarity left the tavern, her best efforts unable to clear the question from her mind.

“Rarity! Oh, I’m so sorry I’m late. I hope …” Fluttershy said as she burst in a few minutes later, ceasing her apology as she saw that Rarity was nowhere to be seen, “Oh, I missed her, didn’t I?”

“Sorry, Fluttershy, she only just left,” Twilight answered her, giving up on convincing Pinkamena to disclose her secrets while she was busy stuffing her face.

“Oh, I feel terrible,” Fluttershy said as she sat in the seat Rarity had been in, covering her eyes with her hooves, “Not just because I missed meeting with Rarity, either. Twilight, can I tell you something?”

“Of course,” the sorceress replied.

“Do you promise you won’t speak a word about it to Rarity?” Fluttershy asked desperately.

“Of … course,” Twilight said, a sinking feeling appearing in her stomach at these mounting promises.

“I hate posing for Trompe L’oeil’s paintings. I hate uppity ponies crowding in on me and asking me questions. I hate being mobbed wherever I go. I hate all of it!” Fluttershy poured out her frustration, “But I can’t give it up.
Rarity insisted that I go through with it, so I have to keep going for her sake, even if I hate it. I can’t let Rarity down.”

“Oh, really?” Twilight said, “Well, as it so happens, I was speaking with Rarity before you arrived, and she-”

“Fluttershy, could you excuse Twilight and me for a moment? Thanks,” Pinkamena butted in as she leaned over from her table and pulled Twilight with her as she returned, knocking the sorceress’s chair over.

“What are you doing?” Twilight asked as she pulled free of the bard’s grip and found a seat at the table.

“Twilight, you can’t tell Fluttershy Rarity’s secret after promising not to. What kind of a friend are you?” Pinkamena asked in hushed tones.

“Maybe one who wants to help her friends,” Twilight Sparkle offered, “Both of them are clearly miserable. Better that I break a promise to help them both than I let them continue like this.”

“Nooooo, you can’t do that,” Pinkamena said with vigorous head-shaking, “You gave Rarity your word, and if you break it, how can she ever trust you again?”

“Listen, I know I am new to this whole ‘friends’ thing, but I am fairly certain that allowing your friends to remain miserable when you have the ability to stop it is not the way to go,” Twilight replied, “What am I supposed to do, just let them go on like this, becoming more frustrated and depressed with each passing day?”

“Trust me, Twilight,” Pinkamena said, pulling her close, “You must keep your word above all else. You can’t tell them the truth when you’ve promised not to.”

“Fine, but I do not have to like it, and they will have to learn eventually,” Twilight said in frustration as she pulled away from Pinkamena and returned to the table with Fluttershy.

“Well, you were saying?” the druidess asked eagerly as the sorceress righted her chair, “What did Rarity have to say?”

“She … said that she was sorry the two of you were unable to meet today and hoped that you could get together to talk soon,” Twilight replied with a frown, keenly aware of Pinkamena’s eyes boring holes in the back of her head.

“Oh, of course,” Fluttershy said sadly, and she got up to leave the tavern, “Would you … would you tell Rarity that I also want to meet up soon, if she believes me.”

This is ridiculous. I have to tell her! Don’t I? But, I’ve given my word, and apparently keeping it is more important. If I can’t tell them how the other feels, somepony else will have to. It would be best if they could tell each other, but they’re unable to even meet to do so. Of course, there’s always … Yes! I may not be able to share their feelings with each other, but I can at least push them into a situation where it’s likely they’ll do it themselves.

***

As night fell two days later, Rarity trotted gleefully up to the Mayoral Keep. The nobles wintering in Ponieville were having a banquet here tonight, and by invitation of Twilight Sparkle, who trotted next to her, she would be attending. A gaggle of servants from a dozen noble houses and Mayor Mare’s own house waited just inside the keep to take their cloaks from them. After discarding their winter attire, the two mares made their way up to the great hall, where the wine was already flowing freely.

Rarity had to take a moment to center herself as she entered the room. All around the edges of the hall were paintings of Fluttershy. It made sense, since these nobles had come to Ponieville to admire Trompe L’oeil’s works, but still, it seemed that there would be no escape for Rarity from this nightmare. She tried not to pay attention to them, to make small talk with ponies of a much higher class than herself, but found her eyes continually drawn to the canvases. Ponies commented on and praised the paintings and their subject, and she couldn’t help feeling jealousy return inside, for it ought to have been her works that were the focus of discussion, not Fluttershy.

Fluttershy herself arrived some time later, practically forced into the room to make an appearance by Klaus. Inwardly, the pegasus was terrified, but she put on a brave face, especially after spotting Rarity on the other side of the room. This was what Rarity had wanted for her; she couldn’t appear miserable, even if she really was. Rarity watched with envy out of the corner of her eye as Fluttershy trotted over to a group of nobles, feeling sick as she realized that she was thinking ill about somepony who was supposed to be her friend. Twilight watched with concern as Fluttershy and Rarity avoided each other, and tried to bring them together for her plan, but was stopped by a baron who wanted to speak to her before she could make it to either of them. They were on their own, and would have to find some way to patch things up themselves.

Things were going well, or as well as things could go when two of the guests were convinced they had to pretend to be happy for the other’s benefit, when one of the guest who’d had a bit too much to drink decided that it would be a good idea to fire a bow indoors. She fired for the ceiling, but the arrow lost too much momentum to reach its mark, and plummeted down toward Fluttershy. As the missile unexpectedly landed next to her, her instincts took over and she bolted for the nearest hiding place, which happened to be the table upon which a keg of wine was balanced. The table rocked as the druidess cowered fearfully beneath it, and the keg was overturned, bursting open as it hit the ground. There wasn’t much left in it by this point, but there was more than enough to splash on and soak into the fancy garb of the nearby aristocrats.

“Look what you’ve done!” angrily cried one pony.

“A disgrace!” yelled another.

“I don’t know how you work with her,” one commented to Trompe L’oeil as Fluttershy fled the room in tears.

“What a flighty piece of work,” another said snootily to the artist, “If I were you, I’d look for a new subject, one less high-maintenance.”

Twilight Sparkle was about to step in on behalf of her friend, but stopped when she saw Rarity’s face. At first, the seamstress had been merely mortified. Her wish had come true—the nobles were turning on Fluttershy, and Trompe L’oeil would move on—but she wasn’t enjoying a moment of it. For all the imagined joy of seeing Fluttershy, who’d been wrongfully foisted up, be brought low, all she could feel was compassion for the timid druidess. Fluttershy, her friend, was under attack, and she could not stand idly by while her standing faded away, even if it meant the seamstress must once more surrender her dream for the happiness of her friend. The look of fiery determination on Rarity’s face was what had convinced Twilight Sparkle not to step in, for there was no need for the sorceress to defend her friend, not when Rarity was prepared to do so.

“How dare you!” Rarity exclaimed, shocking all the nobles into silence, “Admiring these paintings all around us, you praise her grace and timidity, but when the actual pony upon which this art is based displays those qualities, you all turn on her like a pack of wolves! How could you? All your fine breeding has obviously gone to waste if this is how you treat a pony you’ve put on a pedestal when she only acts as who she is!

The nobles were shocked, completely unaccustomed to being addressed this way, especially by a commoner. A retort and perhaps a retaliatory strike was in order for speaking to them this way, but they were held back by the knowledge that Rarity was correct in her assessment. They really had acted horribly toward Fluttershy and turned on her for merely behaving how she ought to be expected to behave. Also, the knowledge was coming back to them that both Rarity and Fluttershy were Brave Companions, friends of Twilight Sparkle, personal protégé of Celestia. They had to be careful how they proceeded, for the immortal sorceress could make their lives very uncomfortable when they returned to Cant’r Laht.

Well done, Rarity; you’ve come to your realization. But, you may also have unwittingly trapped Fluttershy in a personal hell she’s been trying to escape. Let’s see if this is enough for the two of you to finally end this.

***

“This isn’t so bad,” Fluttershy told herself as she wiped away her tears, “At least I won’t have to pose for any more paintings.”

“Fluttershy?” Rarity’s voice called questioningly from the corridor.

“I’m in here,” the druidess replied after a moment’s hesitation. She couldn’t avoid Rarity forever.

“Good news, Fluttershy,” Rarity said joyfully as she let herself into the chamber, noting that it was the very same room in which she'd been turned away by Trompe L’oeil and insisted that Fluttershy continue without her, “Trompe L’oeil has agreed to continue doing her paintings of you. I managed to convince her and the rest that it was unfair of them to turn on you like that.”

“You did?” Fluttershy said weakly, “She did?” How? How can I go on?

“Yes, I … I have to admit something to you, Fluttershy,” Rarity said seriously, “It’s awful, but I almost wished something terrible would happen so that Trompe L’oeil would stop painting your portraits. However, when it actually happened, all I could think of was how terrible it was that I could ever hope for something like that to happen to you. How could I have wished for you to fail at something you love?”

“Oh, I see,” Fluttershy said, surprised, “Well, I have to admit something to you, too. I hate posing for portraits. I was actually glad, in a way, that things went so badly tonight, so I’d have an excuse to quit. The only reason I kept going was because you insisted, and I couldn’t let you down.”

“And I couldn’t tell you that I was jealous of your success because I thought you’d think me a horrible friend,” Rarity admitted.

“This would’ve been so much easier if we’d only been able to tell each other this from the start.”

“Well, Trompe L’oeil did become a bit excessive with her paintings of you, and we barely had a chance to see each other,” Rarity said, “At least it’s over now.”

“Ah, there you are, Fluttershy!” Trompe L’oeil exclaimed as she burst into the room, “Your friend has made me come to a realization, and inspiration has struck! Come, we must paint it now while the ideas are fresh!”

“No, I think you’ve painted me quite enough,” Fluttershy said forcefully, “Best I tell you the truth now, before things spiral out of control again.”

Fluttershy and Rarity left the room, together this time, leaving Trompe L’oeil standing flabbergasted. What was she going to do now that she’d moved everything to Ponieville?

Author's Note:

Translations

[1]High Equestrian: Yes, madam.

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