The Look

''Fluttershy! Fluttershy over here!'' Screamed a tall green mare as she held up her hoof to attract a little too much attention for Fluttershy's liking.
''Um, yes?'' The buttercream coloured Pegasus replied softly.
''Is it true that you haven't spoken to any of your friends for over five months?''
''Well...''
''Isn't that incredibly selfish of you?''
''I try-''
''Doesn't everypony in this city think that Fluttershy is the most selfish mare ever? Having all the fame, fortune and glory while her poor Ponyville friends suffer?''
The entire crowd nodded and shouted in agreement.
Helpless, defenceless Fluttershy tried to speak up but she found herself backing away as the crowd proceeded to approach her furiously.
The yellow pegasus felt fresh tears stream down her face as she felt a wave of guilt pass over her. She began to hyperventilate when she saw some angry stallions gallop towards her.

If only they knew that none of this was her fault. Screams filled the air but Fluttershy knew how pathetic and defenceless she was as the sounds exploded around her. The delightful sunny day fell into a chasm of black.

Beep!

Fluttershy opened her eyes. A dream. No, a nightmare... again. The mare rolled out of her expensive yet tacky bed. Suddenly she became aware of where she was and the memories flooded into her, breaking her heart as she remembered that most of the nightmare rang true. She pulled on her 'incredible van-off-a-kind' outfit, well that's what Photo Finish called it anyway.
Photo Finish, the mean mare who tormented Fluttershy. Who bullied her into touring Equestria on her fashion roadshow away from Ponyville, away from friends, away from her little bunny Angel. She thought of her dear Angel whom she hadn't seen for nearly half a year and sighed, a long sigh. She knew what her friends thought of Angel, she knew it every time they gave him that look of distain whenever he was up to no good. Her friends never saw the real Angel though, not how she did. Fluttershy revisited the time when she found out her awful 0.5 wingpower when the pegasi of Ponyville had to bring water to beautiful Cloudsdale. Nopony saw how she cried that day and nopony saw how Angel cared for his best friend Fluttershy. Through her stinging tears and pain she saw Angel's caring face as he softly brushed her pink grassy mane.
She sniffed and smiled, if only Angel was here to brush her mane now. Fluttershy found that she had been saying that sad phrase plenty of times recently. ''If only.'' If only Rainbow Dash were here to sort out Photo Finish for her, strong Rainbow Dash would've had Fluttershy home in a jiffy. If only Applejack were here to take care of her, like when she helped her up the mountain to see that awful dragon long ago. If only Twilight were here so she could tell her all her troubles, she would've found a solution in one of her many books. If only Pinkie Pie were here to cheer her up or at least stop her from being so lonely, it did get lonely sometimes. If only Rarity were here. Rarity. Fluttershy would tell her so many things, like the truth. How she never wanted to be a model in the first place, she was just doing this for Rarity.
''You must Fluttershy, you must!''
So she did. She continued her awful modelling career with flashy cameras, interviews, endless fashion shows and sleepless nights. She had one opportunity to prevent her career from spiralling out of control, but the tiny spur of a moment had gone as quickly as it came and Photo Finish had whisked Fluttershy away on her tour. She had promised the shy pegasus that she'd be back within a month. That liar. Fluttershy knew she ws no longer at the stage where she could 'just quit', she had lost control of her modelling profession.

She knew that she had to escape.