Beads of sweat formed on Fluttershy’s forehead as she peered past the velvet curtains “O-oh, my” Her pupils shrunk to pinpricks as she noticed the tens…. hundreds…. MILLIONS of ponies staring expectantly, waiting for the curtains to draw back and the “show” to begin.
TWO MONTHS EARLIER
Fluttershy squealed as a burst of multiple colors exploded in her face, followed by a typical trumpet chorus. Being Fluttershy, her first reaction was to cower in fear and offer all her life savings. After ten minutes of repetitive trumpet chorus and a crying Fluttershy, she decided enough was enough. She leapt to her hooves to confront her “attacker” but it probably would’ve been more like a series of apologies and light pokes (Pokes are probably about as close as she could get to a punch). Rather than a vicious attacker, or possibly a very annoyed certain white bunny, Fluttershy was met with a small parchment laying at her hooves. It was slightly tanned colored, rolled up and bound with a magnificent red bow. She unraveled the bow and read the letter.
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Dearest Fluttershy,
After going through thousands of ponies and one dragon, we gave up and decided to draw a name out of a hat. When that didn’t work, we got all the staff and voted for our favorite Element of Harmony. After having a fight about whether there are Elements of Harmony anymore, we just decided to pick you. Congratulations! You are cordially invited to the National Equestrian meeting to present why Pegasi are an efficient race that contribute to society. You will be presenting alongside Sweetie Belle who will represent earth ponies unicorns and Pinkie Pie representing earth ponies. The Royal Court plans on ignoring all of you until the last minute and throwing you in jail if you don’t comply with our wishes. Good luck!
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia, Less Important (but more loved) Princess Luna, and the one that was made to sell toys. Oh and Cadence.
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THE PRESENT
Fluttershy curled into fetal position, patiently waiting for what she liked to call “the single worst possible situation that only direct planning and cruel humor could put me into” She was going last, Sweetie Belle had already presented hers (it was mostly about how she was TOTALLY gonna get her presenting cutie mark from this) and Pinkie Pie was almost done. If Fluttershy wasn’t completely terrified, she would’ve gone slack jawed at the sheer rate of words pouring from Pinkie’s mouth. “WellyouseeearthponiesareSUPERstrongandcandoabunchofstuffeventhoughtheycan’tflyordomagictheyarestillprettyawesometheycanfarmandstuffandpaintandpullcartsandraceandhavepurposeinlifeandtheyareawesomewritersandtheycandoLOTSofstuffandmoremoremoremorestuffImeanyoushouldSEEthestuffwedoit’stotallyAWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The announcer trotted up to the stage once Pinkie had finished “Thank you Pinkamena, that was…. Interesting. Now, last but not least… Fluttershy!” The audience stomped their hooves on the floor and cheered, but to no avail. The stage remain utterly empty. “Uhhh...” the announcer pulled at his collar nervously, “Fluttershy!” another round of stomping hooves…. Nothing. The announcer hastily brought out the small walky-talky on his shoulder. “Could someone please drag the Pegasus out here?” “On it” replied one of the ushers. Seconds later a yellow and pink Pegasus was dragged onto the stage. Except now she was more of a white Pegasus, it was as if all the color drained out of her. The announcer pony gave her a “this show is already ruined don’t screw it up more” look and trotted off the stage. Fluttershy hesitantly crawled up to the microphone and managed to let out a squeak. “Umm, my name is flut…. Flu….” After second of struggling, she finally managed to say... “FLUTTERSHY!” Woops, she though. Many snickers emerged from the crowd, along with some muffled laughter. “Um, I’m Fluttershy. And I’m a Pegasus, and I think we are pretty good. I mean, not to offend all of you unicorns and earth ponies but… pegasi are pretty go- you know what. NEVERMIND!” Fluttershy strutted off the stage only for the usher to drag her back on. "The show must go on" she thought sourly.
“So, yeah. I guess, this is my first slide. So, Pegasi are very valuable in the way that they are very agile and can create substantial weather for the Equestrian environment.” She took a quick glance at the crowd only to notice they were all incredibly bored. But at this point, she didn’t care. She pressed the next button and… “OH MY GOOOODDDDD!” one of the ponies exclaimed. “THAT’S AMAZING!” one squealed “GYPSY!!!” another screamed. A chorus of amazed gasps erupted from the crowd as they watched the transition, a ray of jewels cascading around the slide as it gracefully dissolved into the next. “What?” Fluttershy said “WHAT IS THIS ART, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!” yelled some mare. “Well, it’s a transition… Have none of you heard of Microsoft Office?” “NO, WHAT IS THIS MICROSOFT OFFICE? DO YOU MEAN YOU COPIED THIS? WHAT? HWDUAHDCVJBFCV” Fluttershy gazed out at the amazed crowd and promptly decided to go with it. “Uh… Yeah! It’s a new magic the pegasi invented…. It’s awesome! Pegasi are awesome! They are totally efficient to society! Vote for pegasi! BYE!” Fluttershy changed the slide as she exited the stage and a thunderous applause erupted from the crowd. “PEGASI! PEGASI! PEGASI!” they cheered.
ONE WEEK LATER
Fluttershy was freaking happy to be home, she’s been herded by ponies all week who were trying to learn about the new “Pegasi Magic”. Usually pulling up Microsoft and showing a transition or two shut them up, but it was still SO. ANNOYING. She collapsed on her bed only to her a knock on the door. She glided down the stairs with the gracefulness of a blind buffalo and opened the door to find yet another letter at her door. She once again opened and read the letter.
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Dearest Fluttershy,
You were a hit! This has gotten us so much positive feedback that we scheduled you for 15 extra shows! Congrats!
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia and the Others
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Fluttershy then went to her room to reevaluate her life choices. "Yep" she thought "the world isn’t ready for the great power of Microsoft Office."
Bonus Chapter: Fluttershy's Fan Mail
Dear Fluttershy,
What. Is. This. MAGIC!!!! I was at the show you're amazing! How did you do that!!!!?? HHOOOWWW? I'm so flippin' jelly, like SO. JELLY! You gotta hold a class or something. I mean, this is a REVELATION! I mean, just WOW. Welp, see later GYPSY!
~ Princess Twilight Sparkle
Dear Fluttershy,
WHAT IS THIS MUTANY? COME ON FLUTTERS, WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOREVER YOU GOTTA LET ME IN ON THIS STUFF!!!
~ Rainbow Dash
Dear Fluttershy,
Ok, so your magic is pretty cool. Yup, pretty cool..... But, do you think. Just throwin' this out there, you could make.... Human, magic? Just putting it out there.... Ya know...
~ Lyra Heartstrings
Dear Fluttershy,
Can you do a magic show? Canyoucanyoucanyou??? Because that would be sooooooo cool! You should do that! I guess you presentation was sorta a magic show but YOU SHOULD DO ANOTHER ONNNNEEE!!
~Pinkie Pie
