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Description
Fluttershy sniffled. Nopony in Cloudsdale wanted to be her friend. She looked at her skinny, wobbly legs and sighed. She wandered over to a small puddle of water and gazed at her reflection. A shrimpy yellow pony stared back. A tear fell from Fluttershy's face, causing a ripple in the water. Pink and yellow blended together, and Fluttershy looked away. She gazed at a group of young foals tossing around a red ball and swallowed. Why can't anypony like me? She half-flew, half-walked to a small shop, a favorite place of hers. The kind shopkeeper would give her tea and a cookie or two whenever he noticed her hiding in the store. She winced at the bell that rung overhead as she entered, and ducked behind a display of picture books. And then, she saw it. The most beautiful doll she had ever laid eyes on. It was pink, with a flowing yellow mane and beautiful wings. She forgot her timidness and walked over to where it sat upon a shelf. She gazed at the doll, just a bit beyond her reach. Oh no, I'll have to fly to reach it. She concentrated as hard as she could upon her wings, willing them to carry her up to the shelf. She squeezed her eyes shut and...felt her hooves take off! She grabbed the little doll and dropped back to the floor with an OOMPH! She spent several hours gazing at the little doll, acting out scenes in her head. She started calling the doll Cloud-song. Cloud-song was outgoing, popular, and friendly, she decided. Cloud-song, the opposite of Fluttershy. All too soon, the shop was closed. She shoved Cloud-song behind a couple of dragon figurines. I'll visit you tomorrow, Cloud.

~~~

Over the next few weeks, Fluttershy spent all of her spare time in the shop, playing with Cloud. The weeks flew past, and one day, upon entering the shop, Cloud was gone. Fluttershy bit back a wail. Who would be her friend now? Just then, she heard somepony clear their throat. She turned around to face a wizened blue colt.

"Miss, I've seen you in here every day with that doll." Fluttershy's eyes widened. She hated being in trouble.

"Y-Y-Yes, sorry...I'll leave now..." The other pegasus laughed.

"No need. I had a daughter once, but she died young from hooverculosis. I have nopony to whom I can give my love."

"I-I'm so sorry to hear that."

"I would like to buy this doll for you." The colt nodded to the doll at his feet. Cloud wasn't gone after all!

"Thank you, mister." Fluttershy hurried from the store, not bothering to wait for the doll to be paid for

Description
Fluttershy sniffled. Nopony in Cloudsdale wanted to be her friend. She looked at her skinny, wobbly legs and sighed. She wandered over to a small puddle of water and gazed at her reflection. A shrimpy yellow pony stared back. A tear fell from Fluttershy's face, causing a ripple in the water. Pink and yellow blended together, and Fluttershy looked away. She gazed at a group of young foals tossing around a red ball and swallowed. Why can't anypony like me? She half-flew, half-walked to a small shop, a favorite place of hers. The kind shopkeeper would give her tea and a cookie or two whenever he noticed her hiding in the store. She winced at the bell that rung overhead as she entered, and ducked behind a display of picture books. And then, she saw it. The most beautiful doll she had ever laid eyes on. It was pink, with a flowing yellow mane and beautiful wings. She forgot her timidness and walked over to where it sat upon a shelf. She gazed at the doll, just a bit beyond her reach. Oh no, I'll have to fly to reach it. She concentrated as hard as she could upon her wings, willing them to carry her up to the shelf. She squeezed her eyes shut and...felt her hooves take off! She grabbed the little doll and dropped back to the floor with an OOMPH! She spent several hours gazing at the little doll, acting out scenes in her head. She started calling the doll Cloud-song. Cloud-song was outgoing, popular, and friendly, she decided. Cloud-song, the opposite of Fluttershy. All too soon, the shop was closed. She shoved Cloud-song behind a couple of dragon figurines. I'll visit you tomorrow, Cloud.

~~~

Over the next few weeks, Fluttershy spent all of her spare time in the shop, playing with Cloud. The weeks flew past, and one day, upon entering the shop, Cloud was gone. Fluttershy bit back a wail. Who would be her friend now? Just then, she heard somepony clear their throat. She turned around to face a wizened blue colt.

"Miss, I've seen you in here every day with that doll." Fluttershy's eyes widened. She hated being in trouble.

"Y-Y-Yes, sorry...I'll leave now..." The other pegasus laughed.

"No need. I had a daughter once, but she died young from hooverculosis. I have nopony to whom I can give my love."

"I-I'm so sorry to hear that."

"I would like to buy this doll for you." The colt nodded to the doll at his feet. Cloud wasn't gone after all!

"Thank you, mister." Fluttershy hurried from the store, not bothering to wait for the doll to be paid for