After Fluttershy quits being a model, Photo Finish realizes how big a mistake she made in working her so hard and decides to to seek her out and apologize.
Fluttershy suddenly quits being a model after revealing her secret hatred for it to Rarity, leaving a very confused Photo Finish asking why.
She looks back over the time Fluttershy was modeling under her tutelage and realizes that her actions were probably making Fluttershy miserable in her work. She then decides that she should apologize to Fluttershy about this. Before she gets the chance, though, she has another revelation. One that may change her life and the life of the young Pegasus she overworked forever.
An idea I had for shipping Fluttershy and Photo Finish, since it seems no one has written a story about the pairing, despite it seeming like an obvious idea to me. Will update slowly, though.
Photo Finish had just seen her most successful, most famous model quit on her and walk off with the white unicorn who had introduced them on the first place, while using one of her favorite catch phrases.
She spent several moments staring at the door they had left through, barely noticing the loud declaration the other unicorn in the room had made. Eventually she was roused from her dumbfounded reverie by her assistant, Powder Rouge, who asked, “Um, Photo Finish? Are you okay?”
“Of course. I just watched Flootershy quit for no reason. Why wouldn't I be okay?”
Powder somehow missed her sarcasm, as she said, “It's just that you don't seem yourself. Anyway, should we start packing? Our train leaves in an hour.”
“Oh, of course. We must get back to Trottingham tonight, so make it quick.”
“Of course, ma'am.”
As they made their way around the backstage area, gathering all their makeup and dresses, Photo Finish thought about what had transpired. Sure, Fluttershy's performance on stage that day was, for lack of a better term, horrible, but, for some unfathomable reason, the audience loved it. She also wondered why Fluttershy would ever act in such a way, since that was nothing like how she normally acted, and whether she quit because of what happened onstage.
Soon, they had their supplies together and were boarding the train for the six hour trip home. While on the train, Photo Finish thought back on her entire time being Fluttershy's agent, wondering if maybe it was her fault that Fluttershy had quit.
The first time Photo Finish had laid eyes on Fluttershy was when that white unicorn that Fluttershy had left with was having her model her dresses for the photographer. Photo Finish had thought that the dress Fluttershy was in was too busy, with too much sparkle and some completely unnecessary ribbons. On the other hoof there was that typical feeling she got when she found the perfect pony to model for her, that strong personal attraction she called “ze magicks.” For this reason, she decided to start the photo shoot immediately.
She knew that she would have to draw out the model's most attractive side, so she started by telling her to “Show Photo Finish something!” To her mild annoyance, Fluttershy, whose name she didn't know yet, seemed to be trying for more conventional beauty, and it wasn't working for her. When she let Fluttershy know this with a curt “No!” Fluttershy then cowered down, obviously saddened by her harsh command. As it turned out, this worked absolute wonders on her attractiveness, and she tried to keep it drawn out by saying “Yesss!” This process was repeated with the next pose and the one after, before she declared, “It seems that I, Photo Finish, have found the next fashion star here in Ponyville.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really. And I, Photo Finish, am going to help her to shine all over Equestria. Tomorrow a photo shoot in ze park...I go!” In hindsight, Photo Finish realized she could have been clearer about who she meant, but it was unlikely that this had any effect on Fluttershy's decision to quit.
The next day at the park, Fluttershy and her friend were waiting for her arrival for who knows how long, hindsight now telling her she should have set a time for them to come. She arrived in her usual, eccentric, over-the-top style, a carefully crafted exaggeration of her actual quirks meant to allow any slip of the tongue in regtards to love or sex appeal to be chalked up to eccentricity, and took one look at Fluttershy, before realizing that the designer had made the mistake of putting her in a too busy dress for her a second time. She said as much, and when the designer offered to put her in something else, she declined, electing to have her assistants put her in the simple clothes that would bring out her best side.
When, the designer, obviously confused about her intentions, asked about making her shine across Equestria, she pointed out that she meant for Fluttershy to be the shining star. Here she reminded herself that she had to be clearer about who she meant when talking about her next star.
After letting the two friends decide if Fluttershy would become a model (and learning Fluttershy's name. She wasn't much worried about the other pony's, though), she declared, “Flootershy! It is time to make... ze magicks! Oh, wunderbar! You are like a delicate flower. So much more alluring without all those sparkles und feathers.“
Soon, it was time for her first fashion show, and after Photo Finish assisted in getting Fluttershy ready, she asked how Fluttershy felt going in. When Fluttershy said she felt nervous, Photo Finish, wanting her to act just so, responded, “Nervous? Don't be ridiculous, you're only facing a large crowd of ponies who will be watching your every move and silently judging you.” Strike one, Photo Finish thought to herself, while internally cringing. Sure, it was extremely helpful in getting the right aura from Fluttershy, but, in hindsight, it was probably very detrimental to her long-term attitude in being a model.
Of course that first fashion show was a rousing success, and she booked dozens more as well as numerous photo shoots and appearances at various high end venues. In fact she had booked Fluttershy for far more events than she had booked for any other model she had ever worked with in the same period. Those fashion shows, photo shoots, and big name events had blurred together in her mind, but, in hindsight, something stood out. Something that made her internally cringe again.
Numerous times she would go to Ponyville to drag Fluttershy off to another photo shoot or fashion show, often interrupting a conversation with a friend. Also often, during an interview, or at a big-name event, Fluttershy would try to get her attention to tell her something, and, in at least one case, she seemed to be trying to get off so she could see her friend. However, each time she ignored it, being more focused on managing her presence in the spotlight to notice, unless she was reminded of another event. She realized now that, by doing this, she was probably destroying Fluttershy's social life which would also be a severe detriment to her long term attitude, thinking strike two.
Now realizing that she was making Fluttershy do what she wanted her to be miserable doing just to get the right stage presence, and that she had been destroying her personal life, Photo Finish dreaded thinking further about Fluttershy's career, but she realized that needed to find the straw that broke the camel's back. Fortunately, there wasn't much more to look at. Unfortunately, of what little was left to think about, there was nothing that told her what drove her over the edge.
Ultimately, she started to wonder if Fluttershy had done those things onstage to get herself fired, only to watch as it backfired horribly, prompting her to just quit. After thinking about that, she realized only one pony knew the answer to that and she had probably utterly alienated her.
Coming out of her thoughts, she declared “I, Photo Finish, know why Flootershy quit.”
Her assistant, Roxie, asked, “Why?”
She explained her realizations to her three assistants, in her usual, declarative manner, and said, “When I get the chance, I must speak with her about this!”
“Of course. Do you want me to arrange a meeting with her?”
“No! I will go down to Ponyville next week and speak with her there myself,” Photo Finish said.
“Okay, if you insist.”
The rest of the train ride to Manehatten was made in silence, with Photo Finish comparing Fluttershy's career with the career paths of the other models she had taken under her wing, only now realizing that, while she did spend a lot of time with the other models at photo shoots, fashions shows, and high-end events, none had ever had ever been booked for nearly as many events in a short period of time Fluttershy. She couldn't explain why, but she wanted it that way.
Early the next day, Photo Finish and her assistants entered their Trottingham studio, looking to move forward after the loss of their most successful and profitable model. Photo, taking up her managerial role, said, “We need to take down all these pictures of Flootershy and put them in the backroom. I will see what she wants to do with them when I speak with her next week.”
“Yes ma'am,” the trio said, immediately starting the process of taking them down. Photo Finish joined them, starting with her office. However, it took her longer than it should have because as she moved through, taking down pictures, her eyes kept being drawn to one particular picture. It was one of the pictures she took during Fluttershy's photo shoot in the park. Fluttershy was wearing a simple, translucent green dress and headband, both adorned with a few flowers, designed to draw out her shy, simple beauty, and it worked well at doing just that.
Every time she noticed her eye drifting to it, she scolded herself and turned back to the project at hand. Why she didn't take the picture down and hide it behind the others, no one knows.
When her assistants were done with the main studio, they came into her office, just as she took down the last picture, and placed it on top of the others. Roxie said, “We've put all of the pictures in the studio in the backroom. Do you want us to move the ones in here back there as well?”
“No. I'll do it later. Right now I want you to mail our clients and tell them we have plenty of time for more photo shoots. Also let all the fashion show organizers know that Flootershy has quit and we must cancel our bookings with them.”
“Okay. We're on it.”
Photo Finish watched them leave, then took out some paper, a quill, and ink bottle and started writing a letter to Fluttershy, asking for a meeting with her next week to discuss the fate of her photos and the reasons for her quitting, before adding a PS regarding Fluttershy's last paycheck for 200 bits. She put it in an envelope and set it with the rest of the mail that was to go out later that day, before taking out another piece of paper to write to her brother, Picture Perfect, about what happened. However, she then looked at the picture of Fluttershy that had been distracting her earlier, and strange thoughts about the yellow mare whirled through her head. After she didn't know how long, she broke out of her reverie and looked at the paper, and to her horror, she had unconsciously written a letter.
A love letter. To Fluttershy.
And one of her assistants was walking back to her office, with mail.
Thinking quickly, she covered it up with a blank piece of paper and asked them, “are the letters to our clients ready for delivery?”
“To the magazines, yes. Roxie is working on the fashion shows, and should be here in a minute.”
“Thank you. Just put them on the stack and I'll make sure they get sent out.”
As Powder Rouge left, Photo Finish, acting on impulse, signed her love letter, “Love, an admirer” before covering it up again, and planning its destruction. She then checked the clock and said to Powder Rouge, “Anyway, it's time for lunch.”
“Yep. Are you buying?”
“Yes.” She then popped over to Roxie's desk and asked, “Are you coming to lunch?”
“Yeah, I just want to finish off this last letter and get them all to the post office, and I can meet you there. You know what to get me, right Powder?”
“Yeah, one hayburger, no lettuce, extra tomato.”
“Yep.”
After the other three left, Roxie finished her letter, and, realizing she had no envelopes at her desk, went to Photo Finish's office to get some. While rummaging around for one, she stumbled upon Photo Finish's love letter to Fluttershy, and assumed that it was a piece of fan mail for Fluttershy. She then found a couple envelopes and put her mail in them, leaving one to send off the love letter to Fluttershy, and put the studio's personal mail P.O. Box for the return address on it, and put it in the stack of mail to be delivered before running down to the post office.
When they got back, Photo Finish went to her office to take care of the remaining filing regarding Fluttershy. The first thing she noticed, however, was the blank piece of paper she had used to cover her secret admirer letter had been moved. The second thing was that that letter was gone. She remembered that Roxie had mentioned having to come in here for envelopes and sent off the mail, and realized what must have happened. “Oh, no!” she said.
The next day in Ponyville, Fluttershy sorted through her mail, saying, “Bill, bill, junk, bill...Huh? What's this?” She took out the letter, and, when she saw the return address, assumed it was from a fan that mailed Photo Finish's studio and was surprised to find that it was actually a letter from an admirer.
She read through it several times, trying to find any clue about who it was but was left drawing a blank. She set it aside, intending to write a response later, and looked at the remaining unchecked letter, seeing it was from Photo Finish, who she thought was begging for her to return to the modeling circuit.
She opened it, and read through the letter, surprised to see that it was about Photo Finish wanting to come to meet her to take care of various business related to her now that she was no longer working for her. She wrote back, suggesting a meeting for one week's time at a small outdoor cafe in downtown Ponyville. At this point, there was a knock on the door.
When Fluttershy opened it, it was to reveal Rarity, holding a surprisingly simple new dress. “Hi Fluttershy. I wanted to give you this as my way of apology for talking you into modeling for Photo Finish.”
“Oh, thank you. Um, do you want to come in? I was about to make lunch.”
“Sure.”
They went down to the kitchen where Fluttershy was making a small vegetable salad and the home's owner got out more ingredients, saying “I got two letters from Photo Finish just before you knocked.”
“You did? What were they about?”
“One was just her asking to meet me in Ponyville to decide what to do with all of the photos she took of me and find out why I suddenly quit. The other was, um...a love letter forwarded from an admirer.”
“Ooh! Did the letter say who they were?” Rarity asked, obviously excited.
“No. They just signed as 'an admirer' and the return address was for Photo Finish's studio.”
“Are you going to write back?”
“...I'm not sure. It would be rude of me not to write back, but what would I say?” Fluttershy said.
“Well, if I got a look, I could give you some ideas.”
Photo Finish read the first of the two letters she received back from Fluttershy, which was the one about business. She decided the terms laid out in it were acceptable, and immediately wrote back to that effect. She then turned to the second letter from Fluttershy, the letter in response to her “secret admirer.”
It was a short letter, basically apologizing about distressing her so, and hoping to find some way to make it up to her. Photo Finish realized that this last part could be an opportunity to let her true self out, and wondered if she should dare to take it. After a moment's thought, she decided to ask for advice from the pony who sent the letter in the first place. She called, “Roxie, come see me in my office.”
Roxie came in and Photo Finish shut the door behind her. She asked, “Am I in trouble, Ms. Finish?”
“No, not at all, though if anything we say leaves zis room, you will be, are we clear?”
“Yes, ma'am. So what is this about?”
“The letter to Flootershy from a secret admirer you found on my desk a few days ago was written by me. I didn't want it sent,” Photo Finish said, her usual declarative style gone.
“I thought you said I wasn't in trouble?”
“You're not, as this provides me with an opportunity, one more personal than anything. I do need some advice from you, though. And remember, nothing we say leaves zis room.”
“I'll help however I can, and I'll keep this a secret,” Roxie said.
“Thank you. Anyway, as you have no doubt inferred, I am a fillyfooler who's still in the closet for ze most part. However, after I read Flootershy's response to my letter, I wondered if it was time to come out, and I was hoping you could advise me on zat.”
“You think Fluttershy will agree to go out on a date with you if you come out? After what happened at that last fashion show?”
“I know it sounds ridiculous, but I think it is worth a shot, especially if I can keep my identity a secret until I go to Ponyville next week. Also, you did not answer my question about whether I should come out as a fillyfooler or not,” Photo Finish said.
“Oh, yes. I think you should. Powder Rouge is already out of the closet, though she never told you because she thought you would fire her.”
“She thought I would fire her if I learned she was a fillyfooler?”
“Yes.”
“But ze rest of you knew?”
“Yes,” Roxie said.
“I see. Anyway, thank you for your advice. You may go.”
Roxie nodded and left. As soon as the door shut behind her assistant, Photo Finish began writing a letter back to Fluttershy.
Dear Fluttershy,
In your letter to me, you said you wanted to make up for the distress you caused me by quitting. While the distress you caused me wasn't horrible, I think a date would be a nice way to make up for it, if you don't mind a romantic outing with another mare. I will be in Ponyville next Friday on business, anyway, and I was hoping we could meet at a nice restaurant. Please let me know whether you want to or not.
Love,
Your Secret Admirer
She then folded it up and put it in an addressed envelope, which she put in a drawer. She would send it out in a few days to keep Fluttershy from getting suspicious about the quick response.
Four days later, two days before Photo Finish was set to arrive, Fluttershy got the second letter from her secret admirer. She read through it and wondered whether she should take up her admirer's offer for a date. On the one hoof, She didn't feel like disappointing her admirer, and said admirer would be in town anyway. Never mind that it was hard for the shy, fillyfooling pegasus to get a date anyway. On the other hoof, she was scared of making an absolute foal of herself in front of a pony who had obviously taken a great liking to her, and she was a bit scared of having a potential stalker.
After some internal debate, she decided to go through with it. She wrote back:
Dear Secret Admirer,
I'll go on a date with you, if that's what you really want. There is a small restaurant called the Chestnut Tree Cafe, near the train station. They make the best tomato tulip soup in Ponyville. If it's okay with you, can you meet me there at six on Friday? I will try to sit at table four.
Friday came too slowly for Photo Finish, who found herself working throughout the week with her usual enthusiasm showing, but her heart not really in it. She just wanted to travel to Ponyville and potentially have her date with Fluttershy. By the time Friday finally rolled around, she was ready to explode.
Early Friday morning, she and her assistants loaded a few bags of clothes and pictures onto the train to Ponyville, since they planned to stay an extra day and do a little talent scouting in town. On the train, Roxie asked, “So, where are we supposed to meet Fluttershy?”
“She said to meet her at Sugarcube Corner at noon.”
“Oh, the bakery?”
“Yes!” Photo Finish declared, a little too loudly.
“Oh, okay. Anyway, what are we planning with the pictures?”
“Ze ones where she is endorsing a product we can't sell, so, ze ones she doesn't want we will give to their respective companies. Ze rest, we can sell if she doesn't want to keep them, while sending her a royalty check for twenty percent of ze sale price.”
“Twenty percent? That's double the standard industry rate!” Powder Rouge said.
I know! However, I need to start making up for all ze things I put her through.” The finality in Photo's voice prevented any further conversation on the topic.
Meanwhile, in Ponyville, Rarity was asking, “So you're meeting Photo Finish at Sugarcube Corner?”
“Later today, yes.”
“Do you want me to go with you? I might be able to stop her from giving you the raw end of a bad deal, if that's what she's planning.”
“Uh, sure, if you want,” Fluttershy said.
“Excellent. So what time are you supposed meet her?”
“Noon.”
“Then maybe we should go to the spa. We want to look our best when she arrives. Also don't you have that date with your secret admirer this evening?” Rarity asked.
“Oh, yes. I had almost forgotten!” Fluttershy lied. The truth was she had remembered, but wanted to forget, because she couldn't stop second guessing herself, wondering if it was a big mistake.
“Oh good, I have just the dress for you to wear. I'll show it to you after our talk with Photo Finish.”
At noon Photo Finish and her entourage arrived at Sugarcube Corner and found Fluttershy and Rarity waiting for them at a table near the entrance. Photo Finish gestured for them to move to a larger table. The two sitting mares did so and Photo Finish and her entourage sat across from them.
Rarity spoke first. “It's nice to see you again, Photo Finish. Though, we're here to discuss what is to be done with Fluttershy's photos, as I recall.”
“Indeed we are, as well as any policy changes we should make to create a more pleasant working environment for our future models. In hindsight, I realize Flootershy was not ze first model to quit over my studio's working conditions.”
“Oh, of course. I'm glad to hear you're willing to make changes based on your former model's feedback,” Rarity said.
“So am I,” Fluttershy said.
Over the next two hours, the six of them hammered out a new policy for the studio, and negotiated the rights to the pictures, over a plate of complimentary glazed donuts. In the end, they decided that the models would only work eight hours a day, and that they would be provided more time off if it was requested. As for the pictures, Fluttershy took all the pictures for products she endorsed, simply to keep herself out of the public eye. As for the others, she kept some at Rarity's insistence and allowed Photo Finish to sell the rest.
When this was settled, Photo Finish said, “I know you have zat date tonight, so I, Photo Finish, will keep you no longer.”
“Wait, how did you know about Fluttershy's date?” Rarity asked.
“She sent the letter about it to our studio,” Roxie said, “we filter all mail going to and from our clients and models that way. To prevent any embarrassing incidents.”
“So do you know who the date is?”
“All I can confirm is that she lives in one of ze better off areas of Manehatten,” Photo said.
“Oh. I see. Anyway, we should be going.”
Once Rarity and Fluttershy left, Photo Finish said, “We should check into our hotel rooms.”
On the way, Photo Finish said, “I am going to tell you three a secret. Do not tell anyone else until tomorrow. Am I clear?”
Getting three affirmative responses, she said, “Okay, I, Photo Finish, am Flootershy's secret admirer, and will be the one going on ze date with her tonight, While we are at ze hotel, I will be changing into clothes zat should make me less recognizable. And I need you three to stay away from me, as I do not want Flootershy to recognize until the actual date. Are we clear?”
She got three more affirmative responses, which caused her to smile. Powder Rouge then said, “Wait, you're a fillyfooler?”
“Yes!”
“I never would have guessed.”
“I never would have guessed you were one either, until Roxie told me, after I told her I was one,” Photo said.
“You told her?” Powder asked, turning to Roxie.
“Well, considering I didn’t think she would fire you for it if she was one herself, yeah. Also it seemed like she needed some reassurance that she wouldn't be looked down on if she did come out,” Roxie said, looking apologetic.
“That's okay. I still have my job at least.”
Back at the Carousel Boutique, Rarity was having Fluttershy try on the new dress for her date that night. It was a simple green dress similar to the one she had given to the pegasus after she had quit being a model, though unlike that one, this one covered her wings, leaving her unable to fly. Not that she minded much.
As Rarity made a few last minute adjustments to the fit, she asked, “So where are you seeing your secret admirer?”
“At the Chestnut Tree Cafe, table four.”
“So the corner table at the smallest restaurant in town. Sounds like you,” Rarity said with a mischievous smirk.
“Well, since I still have all those fans...” Fluttershy said, sounding slightly annoyed.
“Oh, of course. Don't want to be overrun by your adoring fans, though I'm not sure why,” Rarity said.
Fluttershy didn't respond, choosing to let Rarity focus on finishing her dress and hoping to avoid giving her any ideas.
Soon the dress was finished, and Fluttershy realized she still had a couple hours to wait before her date. She decided to pass the time with taking care of her animals.
Soon Photo Finish was changed, and, according to her assistants, barely recognizable. Gone were her trademark black and white striped dress and red sunglasses, and in their place was a basic gray dress and no sunglasses. According to her assistants, Fluttershy would likely not recognize her immediately, though they openly wondered why that was necessary.
“If Flootershy realizes that I am her secret admirer before ze date begins, do you really think she will go through with it?” Photo Finish explained when asked.
“Well, no, you have a point there, but when she hears you speak, won't she figure it out? I mean your voice and accent are pretty distinctive,” Roxie said.
Photo said in a higher pitched, much less accented voice, “that is something I have been practicing for.”
Her assistants seemed surprised by the change in her voice, but none of them commented on it.
Maintaining her new voice, she asked, “What time is it?”
“About two thirty.”
“Okay, I have about three and a half hours until my date with Fluttershy. What to do until then?”
“Well, we could talk to the mayor about setting up tryouts for tomorrow?” Powder suggested. “We don't have a big name to attach to our studio at the moment, after all.”
“Good point,” Photo said, donning her sunglasses and returning to her old voice. “To the mayor's office!”
At quarter to six, Fluttershy arrived at the Chestnut Tree Cafe and sat down at table four, telling the waiter that she was waiting for somepony and would order when they arrived.
Five minutes later, Fluttershy noticed a blue earth pony mare with a white mane and gray dress walking into the restaurant, and was immediately reminded of Photo Finish for some reason.
The mare looked around, saw Fluttershy, and walked over, taking the seat across from her. She said, with a slight accent that Fluttershy couldn't place, “Hello. Fluttershy I presume?”
“Y-yes. And your my secret admirer?”
“Yes. It's nice to meet you.”
“It's nice to meet you too, but what should I call you?”
“For now, just think of me as an admirer,” the blue mare said with a smile.
“Okay...” Fluttershy said as the waiter appeared.
The admirer said she would have whatever Fluttershy was having, and Fluttershy ordered the soup she had mentioned in her letter for both of them.
After the waiter left, Fluttershy took a closer look at her date, and realized why she reminded her of her ex-boss. “Wait, Photo Finish? You're my secret admirer?”
Photo Finish went back to her normal voice when she said, “Yes. I apologize for ze secrecy, but I had to have zis date, and I did not want you to run off when I met you.”
“But, but why?”
“Because, truth be told, I realized that, after you quit, I was really attracted to you and didn't want to lose you. And for that reason, I ask of you. Let me have zis one date. Afterwards, if you wish, I will leave your life forever.”
“Okay, if that's what you want. One date.”
“Wunderbar! Thank you so much!”
The waiter returned with their soup, placing a bowl in front of each of them, and said, “Enjoy your meal.”
As Fluttershy took the first spoonful of her soup, she decided that, despite her differences with Photo Finish, she would do her best to make it an enjoyable date for both of them.
