Lunch time.
Who is hungry?
Plenty for everypony.
Slow down, sweetie.
Here you go, Angel bunny.
Ok, mister Picky pants,
you win.
Carrots, lettuce and apples, yum-yum-yum!
What? But...
For then, what will you eat?
I'm not sure I can even make that.
Well, I don't want you to starve...
Are you sure I can't tempt you with a nice crisp piece of...
Oh. I'll make your special recipe.
Hmm, let's see... Asparagus.
Excuse me... Um, I think you just stepped in front of me.
Excuse me, I think you've made a mistake.
Cause I was actually first and...
Sorry, didn't notice you there!
I know.
Oh, pardon me, sir.
Yes, what?
I think you have just cut in front of me.
A part of celery? Pff, this is the asparagus stand!
I said, I think you just cut in front of me!
No need, dearie.
I'm already in front
I noticed.
Would you mind moving back? You're in my personal space.
But...
Seriously, do you need the asparagus so badly? Get a life.
Oh, ok... There's no rush.
Fluttershy! You mustn't let them treat you in that way!
Oh, it's really no big deal.
Oh, it's bigger than big, it's double-big! You're a pony with a problem.
What problem?
Oh, go right ahead, Pinkie Pie, you first.
Right there! That's the problem!
You've got to stop being such a doormat.
A doormat?
A pushover, darling.
You've got to stand up for yourself,
promise us!
Ok, I promise.
Oh, good!
Oh that's ok, i don't mind...
Watch and learn!
Hold it right there, Mr. Small-and-Handsome!
Who, me?
Of course, you.
Nopony ever called you handsome before?
Er... that'd be a big "nope"
Oh, well, they should.
How about flexing some of your muscles for me?
Oh my heavens!
Do you think a strong, handsome stallion such as yourself
could give my friend a last asparagus?
See? That's not so hard, is it?
Um, I guess, not.
Right, then.
What else is there on your list?
Let's see.
I also need tomatoes.
Here you go.
That'll be two bits. Not one.
Oh, but last week it was only one bit.
That was then, this is now.
Oh, ok. I don't wanna argue about it.
What do you think you're doing?
Minding my own business!
Maybe you should try it.
Two bits for tomatoes is outrageous! One bit is the right price.
I'm saying it's two bits.
One bit!
Two bits!
One bit!
Two bits!
One bit!
Two bits!
One bit!
Two bits!
One bit!
I insist it's two bits or nothing!
One bit and it is my final offer!
Have it your way, one bit it is!
See? Asserting yourself can be fun!
I guess you're right.
So, Fluttershy, do you feel like giving it a try?
Um... ok.
I need that cherry!
Oh, am I glad you have one cherry left.
You see, I'm making this special meal for my bunny Angel,
he's a very picky eater, and the recipe calls for a cherry on top.
Here you go!
So… So you say you need this cherry very badly?
Oh, yes! I'm desperate for it!
Then it'll be ten bits!
Ten?!
Oh, hey, mister Handsome,
I know you want to do the right thing because
you're handsome and.. and strong and big.
Handsome strong guys are always nice to everypony, right?
Ten bits for the cherry.
Ten bits for one cherry is outrageous!
And I insist on paying you…
eleven bits!
Eleven bits?
Oh, I mean, nine bits!
Now wait a minute!
Ok, twelve bits, that's my final offer!
I think you're confused.
It's twelve bits, take it or leave it!
Ok, I'll take it.
Don't give him your money, one cherry is not worth twelve bits!
But… I was only doing what you did.
It was a valiant effort, but you should refuse
to give him your business and just walk away.
But I can't let Angel starve!
He won't eat it unless I make it just right.
I need that cherry, no matter what it costs!
In that case, twenty bits.
Twenty?
Oh… I… I don't have that much.
Then why are you wasting my time?
I'll give you two bits for that cherry.
Sold!
That's a break, kid.
Next time don't be such a doormat.
Here you go, Angel!
Sorry there's no cherry on top of,
but the rest is exactly what you wanted.
Angel?
Look at me, I really am a doormat.
"The incredible Iron Will turns doormats into dynamos.
Assertiveness seminar today, in hedge maze center."
As Celestia as my witness,
I'll never gonna be a pushover again!
Excuse me!...
Welcome, friends!
My name is Iron Will
and today is the first day of your new life!
I wanna hear you stomp if you're tired of being a pushover!
Stomp if you're tired of being a doormat!
Stomp if you wanna pay nothing for the seminar!
That's no joke, friends,
Iron Will is so confident
that you'll be one hundred percent satisfied
with Iron Will's assertiveness techniques,
that if you're not one hundred percent satisfied,
YOU
PAY
NOTHING!
But I pity the fool who doubts Iron Will's ethics.
You don't doubt me, do you?!
Oh, oh-ow, no, sir.
That, my friends, is your first lesson.
Don't be shy, look 'em in the eye.
Now, to demonstrate that Iron Will's techniques work for anypony,
I'm gonna need a volunteer!
You, in the back row!
Who, me?
Yes, you!
Iron Will wants you on stage!
Uh, well…
Now!
Okay…
Woah! He’s blocking your path!
What are you gonna do about it?
Um, politely walk around him?
No.
Gingerly tip-toe around him?
No!
Go back home and try again tomorrow?
NO!
When somepony tries to block,
show them that you ROCK!
Oh! Sorry.
Don’t be sorry! Be assertive!
Never apologize, when you can criticize.
Why don’t you watch where you’re going!?
Now, you try.
Next time, get out of the way before...
I-I bump into you, 'cause...
I totally won’t be sorry when I do!
You see my friends!?
If my techniques can work for this shy, new pony,
then they can work for anypony!
Okay, I feel good.
I feel ready to "attack the day" as Iron Will says.
Excuse me, Mr. Greenhooves.
But... I-I think you might be overwatering my petunias...
again.
Let the professional handle it.
Treat me like a pushover, and you'll get the once over.
Huh! Perhaps that is enough water.
Thank you!
I can't believe it worked!
Showpony business is tough.
Go ahead, try one of your jokes out on me,
I laugh at everything.
Okay, okay. A donkey and a mule are stuck on a desert island...
Excuse me?
Would you mind moving your carts so I can pass?
Yeah yeah, in a minute, I just wanna finish up this story.
And so the donkey says to the mule…
A-hemmmm, can you move, you're blocking my path.
Yeah yeah, in a minute! So the donkey says to the mule...
When somepony tries to block, show them that you rock!
and the mule says...
Ugh, easy does it, lady.
We're moving, okay?
Good!
Who's next, please, and what can I get for you today?
What do you think you're doing?
Didn't you see me?
Uh, I guess maybe.
'Maybe'? Maybes are for babies!
Now go to the back of the line where you belong!
Heyy, look at you!
Oh, your attitude is so feisty, it's fabulous.
Looks like that monster's workshop really paid off!
Iron Will's not a monster, he's a minotaur,
and a true inspiration.
His techniques really work.
Well, they've certainly made a difference in the way you carry yourself.
You truly are a whole new Fluttershy.
Yes, I am. And new Fluttershy feels pretty stoked about new Fluttershy.
Well, old Pinkie Pie feels really proud of new Fluttershy.
Proud as pink punch.
Want some?
You laugh at me,
I wrath at you!
Bye, girls.
What a day.
Taxi!
Oh no you don't.
Cut in line, I'll take what's mine!
Nopony pushes new Fluttershy around!
NOPONY!
Old Pinkie Pie is not so sure new Fluttershy...
is such a good idea after all.
Old Rarity agrees.
You got this, new Fluttershy!
This day is yours!
And nopony's gonna take it away from you!
Am I RIGHT?!
Right!
What?! He's delivered the wrong mail, again!
New Fluttershy does not have the wrong mail delivered to her cottage.
Ohh, did I mix them up again?
Sorry about that.
You apologize, I penalize!
Excuse me, do you know how to get to the Ponyville tower?
Sure, you just...
Oh, that's a shame.
You make me lose, I blow my FUSE!
Fluttershy! What are you doing?!
That's no way to behave!
Did you see what he did to new Fluttershy?
And he thought new Fluttershy was a pushover!
No, sweetie, he didn't.
We saw the whole thing.
We think that you've taken your assertiveness training a little too far.
What?!
You just want new Fluttershy to be a doormat like old Fluttershy!
But old Fluttershy is gone!
New Fluttershy... old Fluttershy...
What happened to nice Fluttershy?
We want that Fluttershy back.
No, you want weak Fluttershy.
You want pushover Fluttershy.
You want do-anything-you-want-to-her-and-she-won't-complain Fluttershy!
Yaaaaah! Too many Fluttershies to keep track of!
Make it stop!
Things getting too complicated for your simple little brain, Pinkie Pie?
Now, stop right there!
Let's not let things descend into petty insults!
Why not?
I thought 'petty' was what you were all about, Rarity.
With your 'petty' concerns about fashion.
Hey, leave her alone!
Fashion is her passion!
Oh, and what are you passionate about?
Birthday cakes? Party hats?
I can't believe that the two most frivolous ponies in Ponyville...
are trying to tell new Fluttershy...
how to live her life while they are throwing their own lives away on...
pointless pursuits that nopony else gives a flying feather about!
Looks like nasty Fluttershy is here to stay!
I can't believe what that monster Iron Will has done to you!
Iron Will's not a monster, he's a MINOTAUR!
...I'm the monster.
Fluttershy, are you in there?
It's Pinkie Pie, and Rarity!
Go away! Go away before nasty Fluttershy strikes again!
Oh, sweetie, we all said things that we regret.
We did?
Pinkie's right.
I'm the only one to blame.
But don't worry,
I'm never coming out of my house again.
Everypony will be a lot safer with me
and my mean mouth locked away.
Sweetie,
Pinkie Pie doesn't blame you, and nor do I.
You just received some bad advice from that Iron Will character.
Yeah! He's the one that made you act super-duper nasty.
What I mean is, there are other ways to assert yourself besides yelling at everypony.
Yes!
You can stand up for yourself without being unpleasant about it.
I… I'm not sure I can,
I'm too far gone.
Whenever I try to assert myself I become a monster.
Oh, sweetie,
you're not a monster.
No, but he is.
Iron Will's my name, training ponies is my game.
What a darling little catchphrase.
Your friend Fluttershy loved Iron Will's catchphrases.
Word on the street is that she doesn't take no duff from nopony!
So, Iron Will is here to collect Iron Will's fee.
Fluttershy's in no shape to deal with that creep!
I'm sure a big, brave, powerful and rich monster…
I mean, minotaur, like you,
doesn't need that money right away.
You can afford to come back later.
Are you kidding?
Fluttershy is overdue as it is.
Iron Will collects now.
Do something!
We're not even sure Fluttershy is home right now.
Uh, she might be off frolicking with some woodland creatures,
why don't you give us some time to track her down for ya?
Iron Will does have some grocery shopping to do.
Iron Will will come back this afternoon.
But that's only half a day. We need one full day at least.
Iron Will will delay for half a day and no longer!
A full day!
Half day!
Full day!
Half day!
Full day!
We need half a day and no more!
Why you'll get a full day and no less!
Okie dokie.
See you tomorrow.
Wait, what?
Sounds like the search won't be necessary.
Iron Will collects
NOW
But we had an agreement!
You gotta come back tomorrow!
“When somepony tries to block,
show them that you rock!”
Your payment is overdue, Fluttershy!
You were nothing but a doormat,
and Iron Will turned you into a lean,
mean, assertive machine!
Now, pay Iron Will
what you owe Iron Will!
No.
What did you say?
No.
I'd hate to be you right now,
because Iron Will is gonna to rain down a world of hurt
unless Iron Will gets his money
pronto!
As I recall,
during your workshop you promised one hundred percent satisfaction guaranteed, or you pay nothing.
Well, I'm not satisfied.
What do you mean you're not satisfied?!
Everypony has always been satisfied!
Well I guess I'm the first then.
But since I'm not satisfied, I refuse to pay.
It's as simple as that.
Are you... sure you're not just a little bit satisfied?
B-because maybe... we could, cut a deal,
I-I mean, we're both reasonable creatures, aren't we?
I'm sorry, but no means no.
No means no, huh?
Nopony's ever said that to me before.
Huh... I gotta remember that one.
That's a good catchphrase for my next workshop.
You're amazing, Fluttershy!
You totally stood up to that monster!
In fact, you didn't change at all!
You were the same old Fluttershy we've always loved!
The one we missed!
Don't worry, old Fluttershy's back for good.
I'm sorry I took the whole assertiveness thing too far.
Friends?
Friends!
Dear Princess Celestia,
sometimes it can be hard for a shy pony like me to stand up for myself,
and when I first tried it, I didn't like the pony I became.
But I've learned that standing up for yourself isn't the same as changing who you are.
Now I know how to put my hoof down without being unpleasant, or mean.