Rarity's Rescue

Across town and in the library, Shining Armor was just now getting out of the shower.  He dried himself off thoroughly, combed his mane down so that it had its usual handsomeness, and then put on a little cologne so that he would smell nice.  The time was drawing near for their date and Shining Armor was growing increasingly excited.  Rarity was a swell mare, very nice, very caring, and very pretty.  As he looked around for his toothbrush, he couldn’t help but think more about Rarity.  He pondered maybe asking her formally to be his marefriend, but he just wasn’t sure.  For one, he didn’t know if she would say yes (right now anyway) because they had just met, and then for two, she was one of Twilight’s best friends; Shining Armor knew the kind of drama that could ensue when rushing into a relationship or getting involved with somepony who was friends with your sibling.  “Still though,” Shining Armor mumbled to himself and smiled in victory when he finally found his toothbrush, “It’s a nice idea.”

He brushed up, cleaned up a little more, and then picked out his tuxedo from Twilight’s closet.  “Hope it still fits,” he said as he started to pull it off the hanger.  It had been his from way back in high school for the prom, and after his induction into the Royal Guard, he sent most of his old unnecessary belongings to either Twilight or their parents.

At first, it didn’t look like the old tux was going to fit, but after several close clothing calls, Shining Armor was finally able to squeeze into it.  It was a little tight at certain points, but luckily wasn’t something that was noticeable or would be too uncomfortable.  Don’t know what I would have done if this thing hadn’t come on.  He circled around and checked himself out in the mirror, admiring how he had managed to at least partially keep his high school figure.  For tonight, a tuxedo or a suit was absolutely necessary for him.  He planned on taking Rarity to one of the best restaurants in Ponyville, and definitely one of the ritzier places.  He wondered if perhaps he should send her a letter or visit her and request that she wear a dress, but he eventually decided against it as he wanted to keep the location and surprise, and besides, Rarity didn’t need a dress.  Her mere physical appearance was enough to compensate for even the most beautiful and expensive dress.

All ready to go, Shining Armor made sure that he looked OK, smelled OK, and was ready for a nice dinner with his new friend.  Once sure that all was well, he set off for Rarity’s boutique.  For some strange reason, he seemed to know the route by heart and thus it didn’t take him long to get there.  Huh, I wonder why I got here so fast?  He asked himself as he neared her door.  He dwelled on it for a few moments, but then brushed it off as he switched his focus to looking good for Rarity.

He knocked on the door and waited for her to come.  “Coming!” her beautiful voice echoed out and hoofsteps could be heard drawing closer and closer to the door.  She opened the door and smiled instantly when she saw who it was.  “Shining, darling!” she said and jumped up to hug him as she did all of her friends.  “Come in, come in,” she ushered him inside politely after she backed away from him.  “Forgive me for not being ready sooner,” she explained, “but I can’t seem to find my lipstick.  She saw down in one of the chairs and started to sift through one of her makeup bags.  “I didn’t know where we were going, but will this dress do?” she asked.

“I think it’ll do just fine,” Shining Armor said as he watched the beautiful mare sift through her possessions, “It’s very becoming of you.”

Rarity blushed and smiled to herself, “Why thank you.”  She continued her sifting and placed the bag down when she couldn’t seem to find it.  She exhaled with frustration and decided that she didn’t need it.  “Shining Armor?” she asked him, “Do you think I’ll be OK to not wear any lipstick with this dress?”

Shining Armor didn’t have to think twice before he answered.  “Yes Rarity, you’ll look more than OK.”  He smiled at her.  Shining Armor was so tempted to tell her that she was beautiful and they she always looked beautiful, but he feared that he would unintentionally make the atmosphere awkward and thus make the whole affair awkward.

Rarity thanked him once more and put her bag back up.  Satisfied that she hadn’t forgotten anything, she asked if he was ready to go, and upon confirmation, went out the door with him.

They walked to the restaurant slowly, somewhat quietly, and merely enjoyed each other’s presence.  Naturally, there was a little conversation, but mostly just comments on the weather and questions of how each other had been.  Funny they both thought, because it had only been a few hours since they last saw each other.

In any event, when they finally arrived at the restaurant, Shining Armor seated her like a gentlecolt and then took his seat.  They ordered and ate and it was a very peaceful and friendly affair.  Once finished though, Shining Armor placed down a considerable amount of bits on the table while Rarity again began to sift through on her bags.  “Uugh!” she said comically to him, “I can’t find anything today.”  When she finally found all of her money though, she was surprised to see that in the place of the bill there was a receipt with a stamp on it marked “Paid in full” and a considerable tip sitting atop the table.  Shining Armor drummed his hooves quietly on the table and whistled as he looked away from her.

“Shining Armor!” Rarity chided him and stamped her hoof on the floor, “You did not just do what I think you just did.”

Shining Armor could only smile at her and say, “Well, you didn’t say that I couldn’t pay ninety-nine point nine percent of the tab.”

“You are unbelievable,” Rarity said, “You’re unbelievable!”  She waved her hooves in the air and acted playfully angry.  All the way out of the restaurant and into the dark streets, she continued to chide him.  “Stop paying for things for me otherwise we won’t be friends anymore,” she told him jokingly.

“I’ll have to think about it,” he said and smirked smartly at her.

After the little makeshift spat, the two of them laughed with each other and continued to walk to Rarity’s home.  Once there, they bid each other goodbye with a hug and a clasped hooves.  “I’ll see you soon?” one would ask only to have the other respond, “Definitely.”

Finally alone, Rarity slipped out of her clothes for the second time that day and went to wash her makeup off.  As she had before though, Rarity didn’t feel like sleeping this time.  She was too alert, too… hopeful.  Hopeful of what?  She stopped wiping her makeup off for a moment as she pondered on the question.  Eventually though, she finished up and decided that they best way to ponder on her thoughts would be to go back to her trusty diary.  “Oh,” she said as she rubbed her horn gently, “I know I take you for granted a lot, but I really do love to be able to write.”  Finally, the occasional sharp point that ran through her horn when in contact with anything went away.  Rarity would indeed make a speedy recovery at this point.

She went upstairs and made herself comfortable.  Rarity slipped into her robe, allowed her mane to just be let down, and opened the window just a little bit to let some fresh air in.  Afterwards, she laid down in the bed and pulled her diary out.  She flipped it open to the marker and prepared to write, but just before she did, she took note of her last sentence.  As it were, in her excitement for the dinner, she had completely forgotten about it.  She read the words aloud, quietly of course, over and over.  “Still… Still… Still…” she said and then looked out the window at the moon.  It was the most handsome shade of white, almost like Shining Armor’s coat.  She looked back down at her diary and smiled to herself.  She bit her bottom lip in a schoolmare-like sense of wonderment as she slowly finished her sentence.  Still… I think I’m going to go for it.