Miss Rarity

The Urge

        Bumbleberry woke up suddenly in a cold sweat. The pink stallion didn’t remember the dream he had but he felt different. It must have been one doozy of a dream he thought. He got out of bed, brushed his mane, and looked out the window of his home in Ponyville. It was a beautiful day out there. Celestia’s sun was shining down and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Out in the commons, a teal unicorn and cream colored earth pony were out for a morning stroll around town. Overall, it looked like the start of a magnificent day.

        Suddenly he felt hot all over. His muscles seemed to tense and he felt sweaty. A surge of uncontrollable energy came from within his body, filling him with the intense sensation of restlessness. He immediately started shaking from side to side.

This isn’t right! he thought, almost panicked. What’s going on with me? As suddenly as the wave came over him, it stopped. He relaxed his muscles as the feeling passed. What the hay is going on? he thought. Hay… that would be really great right now.

Bumbleberry walked out of his house and across the street to a café. Being early in the morning, there wasn’t a pony in sight. He walked up to a pink and white mushroom table and sat his rump on a tuft of soft dried grass. A cream-colored stallion with a mustache appeared from the kitchen and offered him a menu at his table. The pink pony had been here often enough that he already knew what he'd order. “I’ll have a bowl of hay, please.”

“Of course, sir!” the waiter said and disappeared back into the kitchen.

Even though the heat and shakes had passed, Bumbleberry still felt strange. He gazed at the yellow vase of blue flowers that decorated his table. What was wrong with me? he wondered. His tummy growled. I’ll figure it out after breakfast.

The waiter reappeared and delivered the bowl of hay. “There you go!”

“Thank you!” Bumbleberry smiled back, and then chowed down on his bowl of hay.

“Hello there!” came a beautiful voice from a young mare.

In that instant, Bumbleberry felt the same feeling from before. He became flushed and anxious. He wanted to jump and run around and … he wasn’t quite sure yet, but he really wanted to do it. He did his best to push those urges down and looked up at the mare who had greeted him. It was none other than the white mare of Carousel Boutique, Rarity.

As much as he tried to push his rush of energy away, it got the best of him as he stood up and rushed towards her. “Hello Rarity!” he cried, embracing her. The hug felt amazing, much like he’d imagine it felt in stories when two lovers who had been separated for a long time finally touch each other once more. He reveled in the feeling.

For Rarity, it was the second time they’d ever met, and hugging on a second meeting seemed very strange. Concerned, she asked, “Are you all right?”

Bumbleberry backed away from the embrace. “Yes, I’m fine!” he said instinctively. He felt more in control of himself, but he still felt the need to run around in circles. “Actually, no, I’ve been feeling crazy since I woke up.”

“Crazy? What ever do you mean?” Rarity inquired.

“On and off again all morning I’ve been unable to sit still. I just want to run or jump or do something, but I have no idea what.” Rarity’s purple mane sparkled and Bumbleberry was filled with the urge to stroke it, but fought it off.

Rarity caught his gaze on her mane. “Oh, do you like my coiffure? I just curled it this morning.” She bobbed her head to make her hair bounce happily. It was all the stallion could do not to pounce upon her. Instead, his mouth fell agape with his tongue hanging out.

“My my, I haven’t seen that look since Twilight was practicing her enchantments.” Rarity commented. “From the appearance of things, I’d say you were under a magic spell!”

Bumbleberry’s eyes went wide. “Really? Could that be it?”

“I think so,” Rarity hesitated. “My friend Twilight Sparkle would know for sure.”

“I know her too!” Bumbleberry burst, with a little too much enthusiasm.

“Let’s go see her and figure this out,” she said delicately. She then headed toward the Golden Oak Library. Bumbleberry threw some bits on the mushroom table and bounced after Rarity.

Soon they were at the library. Rarity knocked on the door with her hoof. *clop* *clop* *clop* Twilight came to the door and poked her lavender head out. Her purple and pink bangs were perfectly in place and her horn seemed to sparkle in the sun.

“Hello Rarity!” she greeted her friend warmly.  “Hello…” Bumbleberry stepped into the doorway and started rubbing his mane on her neck. While this was an acceptable greeting between very close friends, the grimace on Twilight’s face indicated that their friendship was not strong enough to warrant this behavior.

“Hello Twilight Sparkle!” Bumbleberry cooed. His usual green eyes were visibly covered with stars as he oogled her.

Twilight shook him off. “Is there something wrong?” she asked Rarity.

He stood still with an awestruck look as Rarity explained. “Bumbleberry isn’t feeling like himself today and I was wondering if you might know why.”

“I guess I can look through my books…” Twilight hesitated, her gaze fixed on Bumbleberry.

“Could you please?” Bumbleberry begged, stars still in his eyes. “I’ve been feeling very strange since I woke up.”

“Of course, come on in.”

         Inside, Rarity directed Bumbleberry to a seat at the side of the room. “Why don’t you sit here while we look through these books,” she offered. Bumbleberry obeyed and stayed in a hyper-attentive sitting position. As they began looking through the books, his head darted quickly back and forth between them. He vaguely felt like a dog begging for food, but he didn’t feel hungry. He couldn’t take his eyes off them though, and tried his hardest not to jump up and rub himself against them again.

        “So what exactly is going on with him?” Twilight asked Rarity in a low voice.

        “I’m not sure.” She responded in a similar low voice. “But he keeps ogling us.”

Twilight looked back at him. He grinned widely at her and she smiled nervously back. “He seems quite taken with us,” she whispered to Rarity. Twilight flipped through another book. “Maybe he thinks one of us will be his very special somepony?”

“But it’s no where near Hearts And Hooves day!” Rarity hissed back, dropping a book on a growing pile of books. “And he barely knows either of us! Why is he acting like this now?” Both mares looked at him. He smiled mindlessly at them and they hid their feelings behind grimaced smiles. They continued looking through books in silence.

“I think I found something,” Twilight declared, looking through a brown book with a pony on the cover. “Hundreds of years ago, all stallions, when in the presence of mares, would become competitive and unruly.” She looked up at Bumbleberry, who had a worried expression on his face. She continued, “Stallions would be beset with urges to hug, fondle, and caress mares...”

“That doesn’t sound all bad,” Rarity commented. “What pony doesn’t want to be touched from time to time?”

“...if left unchecked, stallions would commit unspeakable crimes against mares.” Everypony frowned at each other. “Fortunately, Princess Celestia enacted a ‘safe stallion’ program. As part of the program, stallions were taught lessons from the Standards of Courtship.” Twilight put the book down. “What is the Standards of Courtship?”

“Oh, it’s a wonderful and old book!” Rarity cheered. “I have a copy from when my grandmother was a filly. It outlines proper etiquette and behavior between stallions and mares, especially when courting.” Rarity rolled her eyes. “I wonder if Prince Blueblood has ever heard of it?”

“Great!” Twilight cheered. “Bumbleberry can study the book and he should be cured.”

Bumbleberry’s shook his head. “I don’t think so. I can scarcely sit still, let alone read a book.” Though he was sitting, he was visibly wiggling with excess energy.”

Twilight and Rarity looked at each other, wondering what to do.

“Was there any other part of the ‘safe stallion’ program?” Rarity suggested.

Twilight continued to read, “Of course not all stallions learned their lessons. Such problem stallions underwent an operation known as ‘gelding’.”

“So,” Bumbleberry spoke up. “If I undergo this ‘gelding’ process, it would rid me of these urges?” He had no idea what it meant but getting rid of these frantic urges was his top concern.

Twilight nodded. “It would seem so.” The term seemed familiar to her but she couldn’t place it.

“But who in Ponyville knows how to do that?” Rarity asked incredulously.

“I think Applejack mentioned something about it before,” Twilight recalled. “Maybe you could ask her?”

“Sounds like a plan!” Bumbleberry jumped up. He still felt like running around and rubbing his body against the mares in front of him. The sooner he had this urge under control, the sooner he could return to normal life. “But…” he bowed his head “do either of you know where Applejack lives? I don’t remember.”

“Of course, darling,” Rarity comforted him. “I’ll walk you there.”

“Thank you, Twilight!” Bumbleberry beamed happily.

“Yes, thank you for all your help.” Rarity echoed. They both headed to the door.

“Let me know how the operation goes!” Twilight called out after them.

After a few minutes, they were outside of Ponyville, walking down the tree-lined road to Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity lead the way with her shining purple hair. The troubled pink stallion followed behind, unable to take his eyes off her tail, which swayed back and forth as she walked.

“... I’ve always considered the Standards of Courtship the gold standard for all relationships between ponies.” Rarity rambled to Bumbleberry. “I’ve read it many times since I was a young filly. I mean, has anyone ever taught you anything about courtship?”

“Yea…” he responded mindlessly.

Rarity looked back as she walked and noticed his eyes move back and forth as she swayed her tail. She smiled at him and decided to test him. While continuing to walk, she starting swinging her tail not just side to side, but up and down and every which way. His head bobbed up and down and every which way with her tail. She stopped quickly and he bumped into her.

Bumbleberry shook himself from his trance. “I’m so sorry, what were you saying?”

She laughed at him. “We’re here!”

Bumbleberry looked up and saw the red barn of Sweet Apple Acres. An orange pony with a cowboy hat was holding a watering can in her mouth, watering some sunflowers near the fence.

“Why hello there!” Applejack called out, dropping the can on the ground. Bumbleberry trotted forward to give her a hug but Rarity pulled him back by his tail.

“What can I do for you two this fine morning?”

“Well,” Rarity thought how to explain it. “Bumbleberry here has been feeling funny, and we’re trying to follow Celestia’s ‘safe stallion’ program to try to get him better.”

Applejack’s face contorted in thought. “‘Safe stallion’ program? I think I remember Granny Smith mention it when I was a young filly, but I don’t know nothin’ about that.”

“According to Twilight,” Bumbleberry explained, “you might know about a procedure called ‘gelding’ which might help?” His face was bright and hopeful.

The farmer pony’s eyes went wide. “Gelding? Are you sure about that?”

“What, wouldn’t it help?” Bumbleberry pleaded.

“Uh…” Applejack hid her hoof behind her hat. “I suppose it could help with some problems… What kind of problems have you been having?”

“Well…” Bumbleberry blushed with embarrassment and looked to Rarity.

“He’s been rather unruly and his behavior has been inappropriate for a stallion of his age.”

“I see.” Applejack nodded, understanding Rarity’s hint. “I guess gelding would help you, if you really wanted it.”

“What is gelding, exactly?” Bumbleberry asked.

“You know the bits that make a stallion different from a mare?” Applejack asked rhetorically. The stallion nodded. “Gelding is when you remove some of those bits.”

Bumbleberry’s ears flopped down, his face frowned and he sat on his rump with his hind legs crossed. Rarity gasped. “How barbaric!”

“But it would certainly help with those ‘urges’, if you know what I mean.” Applejack laughed. “If you really want, we can perform the gelding right here on the farm. I’ve got everything for it in the animal barn…”

The stallion shook his head quickly.

“I don’t think we’ll be needing your services.” Rarity huffed. “We certainly don’t need to be gelding Bumbleberry today.”

 “Suit yourself.” Applejack smiled. “I hope you feel better soon, Bumbleberry!”

“Come on, maybe we can find another way to help you.” Rarity said hopefully.

Soon Bumbleberry was again entranced by Rarity’s tail. She continued to amuse herself by tossing it this way and that. As they neared Ponyville, Rarity spotted Fluttershy setting up for a picnic near a pond with her pet bunny, Angel. She decided to ask her for some advice regarding Bumbleberry’s problem.

She walked up to her with Cognato trailing behind. “Hello Fluttershy!” she greeted her friend warmly. She continued to swish her tail  mindlessly, keeping the pink pony in a trance.

“Oh, hello Rarity!” Fluttershy said. “How are you this afternoon?”

“I’m quite well, thank you.”

“And how are you, Bumbleberry?” she asked, recognizing him.

“Fine…” Bumbleberry said distantly.

Fluttershy gave a confused look to Rarity.

“Don’t mind him,” Rarity explained, “he’s been acting very inappropriately today.” She looked back at him. “Swishing my tail is the only thing that keeps him sane.”

“Oh gosh, what’s wrong?”

“He’s completely enthralled with every single mare we meet. He throws himself at them and ogles them without shame.”

“Oh dear. It sounds like he’s in heat!”

“What does temperature have to do with his behavior?”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Fluttershy explained, “lots of animals go into heat during their mating season. They usually become excitable and can’t think of anything but finding a mate.” Fluttershy put her hoof on her chin in thought. “But I’ve never heard of a pony going into heat.”

“That does sound like what Bumbleberry is going through,” Rarity mused. “Do you know how to cure it?”

“Usually, it goes away on its own.”

“But he’s been very inappropriate. His behavior has been very unbecoming of a stallion, and I’m afraid that, if left unchecked, he might do some very naughty things,” Rarity said, still swishing her tail at Bumbleberry.

“Oh that could be a problem. Sometimes creatures in heat can become aggressive. In that case, it’s best to keep them away from potential mates. He might calm down then.”

A slice of orange bounced off the back of Fluttershy’s head and fell to the ground. She turned and saw Angel pouting and tapping the ground with his foot. She looked back at Rarity. “I’m sorry, but I promised Angel I would go on a picnic with him this afternoon.”

“Oh, it’s quite alright. You’ve been very helpful. Maybe he is just in heat and it will go away on it’s own?” She turned to Bumbleberry and stopped her tail. “Don’t worry, we’ll help you out.”

“Thank you.” Bumbleberry smiled weakly at Rarity. “You’ve been so kind to me.”

“It’s no trouble at all to help a friend in need.” She smiled back.

Rarity led Bumbleberry back to the Carousel Boutique. They went inside and Rarity closed the door. She turned and looked at Bumbleberry. “How are you feeling?” She asked.

“I still feel crazy.” He looked into her eyes and it appeared as though hearts were floating all around her. “Is this really what it’s like to be in heat?”

“It might be,” Rarity considered. “Or it might be a latent disposition that wasn’t weeded out by the ‘safe stallion’ program.” She looked at him again. “Are you in any pain or discomfort?”

To Bumbleberry, Rarity looked like she was glowing. Absolutely stunning. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he saw something so beautiful and captivating. He shook his head back to sense. “No, it doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t even feel bad.” He began to stare at her and his eyes glazed over. He suddenly felt the urge to hug her. “Aside from my extreme desire to touch you all over, it feels pretty great.” He blushed suddenly. “Did I just say that aloud?”

“I see.” Rarity grimaced at him. “Well I can see that if left unchecked you could very well commit unspeakable crimes against mares, and gelding is simply out of the question.”

He shook his head vigorously at the mention of the word.

“Then we’ll simply have to keep you out of trouble until you are no longer in heat.”

He nodded in agreement.

“Oh! I forgot about the Standards of Courtship!” She dashed into her room and returned with a worn brown book with yellow accents on the corners and spine. “Perhaps reading this book will help keep you occupied?” She levitated it to a short table in the corner. She then pushed him to the table and sat him down in front of the book. “Be a good safe stallion and give it a read. I have to finish up a few outfits for some clients this afternoon.” She trotted up the stairs to her bedroom and inspiration room.

For what seemed like the first time today, he felt like he could relax. He knew he was still wound up inside, but Rarity’s departure seemed to help things. I should really just lock myself in my house. He thought to himself. He looked down at the book and thought of Rarity. Just the thought of her reignited his excitement. But I wouldn’t want to disappoint Miss Rarity, now would I? He opened the book and focused that energy towards reading.

Standards of Courtship was written in a very old-fashioned way. The introduction by its author, Love Hearts, seemed to assume the reader already knew the book and instead highlighted its differences over some of the previous versions. Bumbleberry flipped past it and began reading the first chapter. Love Hearts defined courtship as the “seemingly superfluous ceremonial ritual for a proper mare to rate and select an eligible stallion.” Ms. Hearts must be from Canterlot. Bumbleberry thought to himself. She also coined the euphemism “very special somepony” to describe the subject of a romantic partnership. He continued reading.

Hearts went on to describe the ideal physical aspects of a very special somepony. She included relative age, height, length, shape of the mane and tail, quality of fur, color of the coat, and even the color of the eyes. “It’s important for the colors of a partnership to be complementary so as to be pleasing to the eyes of others in the herd.” She also wrote for several pages about how a cutie mark reveals personality and how it’s important to find one similar to one’s own cutie mark.

He had just started the chapter on manners when a blue pony with a yellow hourglass cutie mark walked in. Bumbleberry looked up at her. Immediately the sense of urgency from before returned. His felt his heart beat fast and started scuffing his front hoof on the floor.

“Hello, do you know where Rarity is?” she asked him.

Rather than answer her, he started evaluating her physical aspects. Same age, good height, good length, so far so good. Bumbleberry thought. Blue fur, white and royal blue mane, pale blue eyes; yes, she matches my colors very well. He started analyzing her cutie mark. The yellow hourglass is half filled, what on Earth does that mean?

Though Bumbleberry had never met her before, he couldn’t help himself. “May I ask what your cutie mark means?” he asked as Rarity came down the stairs and stepped into the room.

The blue pony gave him a confused frown. “Isn’t it rude to ask about a cutie mark before asking one’s name?”

This faux pas made Rarity jump. “Don’t mind him!” she yelped. She ran behind him and pushed him up the stairs into the bedroom. “Bumbleberry, why don’t you wait in here while I take care of Minuette.” She closed the door behind him and ran back downstairs to her customer.

Through the door, Bumbleberry could only hear the muffled conversation between them, something about the choice of fabrics and trying on the dress for size. Trying his best to ignore them, he looked around the room. It was clear that Rarity took the “organized chaos” approach to her inspiration. Strewn about the floor were swatches of fabric, cut parts of clothes, spools of ribbon, pins, pin cushions, scissors, needles, thread, and all manner of clothing making tools. To one side were bolts of fabric in several shelves. Along the wall, below several bay windows, stood several white mannequin ponies with their hooves outstretched. Most were bare but a few were wearing pieces of clothing. I’d better not touch anything, he thought. I know I’d be horrified if anypony moved my things while I was working.

He continued scanning the room. In the opposite corner there stood a lavish four-post canopy bed. Three large red curtains were hung and drawn on each side of the bed, trimmed with golden tassels. Matching red satin bedsheets were used over the mattress and pillows. The pillows themselves were thrown about and the comforter was pushed to one side. Her white robe with purple faux fur trim and purple eyemask were tossed on the bed.

Rarity has been so good to me today, he thought. I’ll make her bed to repay her generosity. He grabbed the robe with his mouth. He tried to ignored how soft it was as he tossed over his shoulders. He picked up the eyemask with his teeth and stopped. He suddenly felt enraptured with the scent of the white mare’s natural feminine aroma. His eyes glazed over as he hugged himself in the robe. He rubbed the satin and fuzziness over himself and drew in as much of her lovely smell as possible before breathing out.

He shook himself back to his senses and neighed. What am I doing? I just need to make this bed. He gripped the sheets in his mouth and pulled them tight over the bed. He threw the pillows into place at the head of the bed and put the mask near the pillows. He mouthed the robe on his back to toss it on the bed and stopped again. It was her scent again. There’s no harm in holding on to this, he rationalized, rubbing the fabric between over his neck. Besides, it’s cold up here.

But that’s no way to handle a lady’s nightwear, the sane part of himself thought. Just put it on the bed and walk away.

I am a bit cold though. He found himself slipping the silky sleeves of the robe over his hooves. I’m sure she won’t mind.

No! He bit at the robe as if to take it off. Instead, he threw himself onto the bed and was quickly immersed in her satin sheets and feminine aroma. Rarity’s scent and the sensation of the fabrics permeated his being and he lost himself. He crawled under the covers and rolled around, kicking the pillows everywhere.

“What are you doing!?” A mare cried out.

Bumbleberry sat up and froze, causing the sheet to fly up and reveal him. Rarity had come up the stairs and was standing in the doorway. They stared at each other as the sheet slowly settled on the bed.

His sanity came rushing back as he searched for words. “I was cold?” His excuse sounded hollow.

“Is that my nightgown?” Rarity yelled incredulously.

Bumbleberry looked at the robe he was wearing. “Yes?” Guilt and shame washed over him like ocean waves on a ship in a hurricane. His compulsions and anxiety disappeared in the wake of these overwhelming emotions. His head hung low, his ears were turned out, and he sat on the bed pitifully.

Rarity drew in a deep breath as if to yell but instead let it out slowly to relax. “What happened?”

“I… I…” he stammered, trying to put words to his feelings. “...I don’t know.”

She shook her head. “I think you know what happened,” she scolded. She took another deep breath. “I know you’re embarrassed and afraid of what I think, but if I’m going to help, you need to trust me and tell me what’s going on.”

“Do you promise not to judge me?” he squeaked.

Rarity nodded. “I promise.”

“The bed smelled like you,” he admitted. “And the robe too.”

Red spots appeared on the mare’s normally white cheeks. “You put on my robe and romped around in my bed because it smelled like me?”

Bumbleberry nodded. “That and it felt good,” he explained. “Your choice of fabric for your bed is exquisite.”

“Why thank you!” She reveled in the compliment. “I too find it quite comfortable.” She then gave him a commanding stare. “Please get off the bed so I can make it.”

He quickly jumped out of the bed, causing the robe to flair out as he moved. She used her magic to lift the pillows and blankets into place, making the bed look perfect. She hung the eye mask on an unseen hook on one of the posts.

“And my robe, please?” she asked.

“Sorry” He quickly shook off the robe and she levitated it into place with the mask.

She turned to look at him and shook her head. “What are we going to do with you?” she sighed.

“I don’t know!” Bumbleberry shivered with vulnerability and his voice quivered. “But I don’t want to be gelded!” He sniffled a few times before he threw his head back. Tears flew from his eyes as he began sobbing.

“There there, darling!” Rarity instinctively trotted towards him and hugged him. “No one is going to be gelded.” She held his head against her shoulder. “Certainly not a smart, respectful, capable stallion like you.”

Bumbleberry pulled his head back and looked at her. “Really?”

“Of course! You’re just going through a rough patch right now. I’m sure you’ll be better in no time.”

Her words of encouragement made him feel better. He stopped crying and sniffed back his tears. “You’re right,” he said, building up his confidence. “I just need to get through this and I’ll be fine.”

“That's the spirit!” she cheered, stepping back. “Now what about the Standards of Courtship? Did you learn anything?”

“I learned that other pony’s colors and cutie mark are important when choosing a very special somepony.”

Rarity thought back to Minuette. “Is that why you asked about her cutie mark?”

Bumbleberry bit his lip and nodded.

She thought hard and then shrugged. “I suppose it is an improvement.”

“It is?” He was confused.

She nodded her head. “Earlier today you were throwing yourself at my friends, but now you’re just asking impolite questions. It isn’t big, but it’s an improvement nonetheless.”

Bumbleberry blinked wide-eyed. It was true that he had improved and hadn’t even realized it. Instead of using his body, he used his words. He smiled widely at the realization. “I’m getting better!” He jumped up and down in excitement. The feelings of guilt began to ebb and soon he felt the anxiety from before. He stopped jumping. “I’d better read more before I lose control again!” he exclaimed.

“Good idea,” Rarity responded as he ran down the stairs. She smiled after him.