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                      quiet feelings                       
                      -by Pipe Dream-                      
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           the first step is always the hardest            
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the first step is always the hardest
The bustling noise of a big town was frightening… Fluttershy had made her way to Hoofkerton once more, it was a ways away from Ponyville and she didn’t much like it here…  the city was much bigger than Ponyville and there wasn’t hardly any natural surroundings.
The yellow Pegasus pony pulled the neck of her coat further up, she needed to be sure no one would recognize her. She knew that she would die of embarrassment if anypony found out what she was doing. She arrived at the store, it was a small store, but it still towered above Fluttershy as if it was a menacing dragon. The cowardly pony almost turned back, but stopped herself ‘no Fluttershy… not this time, this time for real’ she had been here before, 3 times before to be exact and each time she had been too embarrassed to even enter the store, but this time she would, this time she had to.
Fluttershy took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and took the final steps forward. The sound of the bell ringing made her cringe, she jumped back startled and managed to knock over a stand with postcards, she looked at what she’d done and tears started swelling in her eyes, she was such a klutz… the embarrassed pony turned around and was about to dash out of the store when she felt a hoof on her shoulder that made her freeze in place.
“don’ you worry ‘bout that little thin’ sweetie” the voice was warm and reassuring it reminded Fluttershy of her friend Applejack, but maybe that was just the accent. The yellow pony turned her head and looked over the mare. It was the store owner, Fluttershy recognized her because at one of her earlier attempts she had been spotted through the window by this Purple pony, which had caused Fluttershy to flee.
“Sweetie y’all are flightier than a leaf at tornado-day y’are, why don’t y’all come ‘ere an’ tell me wat ya been coming here for so many times” she gave Fluttershy a reassuring smile, which just caused her to bow her head further to the ground.
The pink maned Pegasus followed the store mare to the counter where she was given a cup of tea. Fluttershy couldn’t stay though, she couldn’t get to know this mare, then she would never be able to buy her… item. “umm.. I just.. it’s just that.. I umm..” Fluttershy was loosing her words again, if only she had more confidence, like Rainbowdash… the image of the blue Pegasus nudged it’s way into her mind, it was her fault she was here… she needed to be strong like her, just this once.
“I’d like a copy of… Mare Magazine… please” “oh shucks, why didn’ y’all just say so, is that all this was about? Well, here ya go sweetie” the southern mare pulled out the magazine from behind the counter, Fluttershy quickly payed for it, put it in her bag and ran as fast as she could out of there, she had finally done it.