The Card Trick

Borderline slowly faded back into consciousness. Even though he was used to waking up early, he did not want to wake up. It was not because of the inevitable day of hard work. He was not lazy. Borderline found the cushions under him to be quite comfortable. "Wait, what am I on?" he thought to himself. He snapped into conscious thought and jumped off what was under him. After having a look, he saw that he was on a rather expensive looking couch. The design of the couch looked odd to Borderline, but after looking around the room he was in, at least it matched. The interior of the building was filled with different shades of purple, complimented with yellow and white trimming on pieces of furniture.

"Oh, you're awake. Good morning." A mare's voice came from the other end of the room.

Borderline looked towards the door to see a white unicorn mare standing at the other end. Her horn was surrounded with a blue glow.

"To you as well. Um, where exactly am I?"

"You're in my shop, dear. You were asleep just outside, and it was supposed to rain something aweful. So me and Sweetie Belle used our magic and brought you inside."

"I am thankful, but, we've never met, have we?"

The white unicorn smirked a little. "I knew you wouldn't remember. How about this?" Rarity cleared her throat. "I'm gonna track down Trixie and she will teach me magic!" She gave in a rather impressive imitation of a colt.

Borderline couldn't hide the embarrassment on his face. She laughed at his reaction.

"So, do you still have that plan?"

"I...uh....n-no. No, I don't."

"Good. I don't mind you wanting to learn magic, that's actually possible, but you need to stay away from Trixie."

"What? Why is that?"

"Come with me. I'll tell you in my workshop."

Borderline followed the white unicorn further into the shop. They passed by a window, and Borderline was relieved to see the moon was still out. Rarity's workshop had things flying all over the place. Each object had a similar blue glow that the unicorn's horn had. Borderline was impressed by the precision of her magic, then he spotted a familiar clothing item.

"Isn't that?"

"Your vest? Yes."

"Why?"

"It was torn and dirty."

"Why?"

"Possibly because you sleep outside in it."

"No, why do you have it?"

"I figured I'd improve your outfit."

"Last question. Why?"

The white unicorn couldn't look Borderline in the face as she answered his question. "I felt bad after that night. I should have said something"

"It's quite all right. One of the judges and her friend spoke with me afterward."

"About that. Stay away from Trixie." The unicorn's tone drastically changed.

"What happened between you two?"

"Not us two. The entire town."

"Care to explain?"

The white unicorn explained that Trixie has been to Ponyville a few months prior. On her first visit, she was proven to be a fraud by Twilight Sparkle. On her second visit, she used the Alicorn Amulet to banish Twilight from the city, until Twilight was able to trick Trixie into removing the amulet.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"Oh, please, if you knew some of the things I've been through."

Borderline looked out the window, and could see the sun coming over the horizon.

"Oh crap. I'm sorry, but I have to go" Borderline quickly headed for the door.

"Come back later tonight! Your outfit will be finished!" The white unicorn called out to him.

Borderline raced through the trail to Applejack's farm. In a race against the sunrise, he pushed himself harder than he has in a long time. Leaves flew in the air as he blew past them. He could feel sweat all over his body as he made the final stretch to Applejack's farm.

Once he arrived, he saw Applejack speaking with Rainbow Dash. Neither one of them noticed him coming from the trail. They were speaking quietly. Applejack was facing away from Borderline, and as he approached them, Rainbow Dash stopped the conversation. Applejack turned around and saw Borderline.

"Howdy. Right on time too."

"Thanks. What were you two talking about?"

"Nothing." Rainbow Dash cut in. "Don't forget about tonight, Aj."

"I won't."

Rainbow Dash flew off.

"Big plans tonight?" Borderline asked.

"Yepp. Dash wants us to have some alone time before the big festival.

"How cute. Do you mind?" Borderline took an apple from a nearby tree.

"Actually, yes. We need all these apples."

"Oh." Borderline looked at the large field full of apple trees.

"I'm just messin' with ya." Applejack laughed.

Borderline followed Applejack to the barn. A red stallion twice as large as Borderline stacked buckets onto three different wagons. Each wagon held about fifty empty buckets. "Reckon you can fill them all?" Applejack nudged Borderline. Borderline didn't give an answer .He waited for the red stallion to finish, then took his wagon to his part of the woods.

Borderline collapsed in the field as the last few apples fell into the buckets below. The sun was close to setting. Applejack was gone by now, and Borderline figured that the red stallion was done mere hours after he started. He took in a breath before getting up to bring the wagon full of apples back to the barn.

Borderline didn't see anypony from the time he brought the wagon back to the barn to arriving back at the white unicorn's shop. A bell rang when he walked into the door.

"I'm sorry, but we are close to closing. I'm afraid I cannot take anymore orders today." A voice came from the workshop.

"I've stayed past closing before." Borderline called back.

"Oh! It's you! Please, come in."

Borderline entered the workshop. Little has changed since he left that morning. Patterns and fabrics flew all over the place. Some fabrics were placed on manikins, others met various machines, and then they would return to their shelves.

"Busy day?" Borderline asked.

"Not exactly. I've been out of the shop a lot today. This is actually the little bit of work I've done."

"I wish I could say that."

"That's right. Rainbow Dash did mention you were helping out Applejack."

"That's true, speaking of names, I never got yours."

"My apologies, it's just so rare when we get new people in town. I'm Rarity."

"Pleasure to meet you. Again."

"Likewise."

A large pile of fabric came from the back room. A voice came from under the sheets of fabrics.

"This is the last of it, Rarity."

"Thank you so much, Spike."

A small purple figure emerged from the fabrics.

"Dragon?!" Borderline shouted.

Spike didn't pay much attention to Borderline. "Need anything else, Rarity?" He asked.

"No, Spike. I think I'm done for the night. Thank you for helping me.

"A-anytime." He stumbled on his words as he left.

"I think he likes you." Borderline stared at the door.

"I know." Rarity said somewhat proudly.

"Who was that anyway?"

"His name is Spike. He's Twilight's ser-I meant assistant."

"Twilight? Isn't that the one Trixie ran out of town?"

"The very same. Come here a second." Rarity levitated a few pieces of clothes in front of Borderline.

Borderline stood still as various pieces of fabric was placed against him. Rarity would put a piece of fabric on him, bring it back, cut it, then repeat the process. It took half an hour before Rarity finally had something that looked like clothes.

"Try these on" She gave him a few pieces of clothes.

After a second, Borderline was ready.

Rarity turned to see. She had satisfaction written on her face. Borderline's vest was repaired, and was complimented with a large coat that covered his back body.

"I love it."

"Seems impractical."

"Nonsense. You look fabulous."

"Won't the coat get dirty from dragging on the floor?"

"It's a very durable material, and waterproof."

Borderline sighed. "It does look nice."

"And it'll be perfect for your arrival at the festival next week."

"Wait, I'm not-"

"It'll be perfect. You'll be the envy of everypony there. Simple, yet very fashionable."

"Rarity, I-"

"Maybe somepony will like my design and would like to buy some." She wandered the room, looking at the different patterns and fabrics on the floor and shelves.

"I'll see you later." Borderline headed for the door. He didn't think Rarity heard him. She was too caught up in her fantasy. Borderline felt something heavy in one of his pockets. Once he fished the object out, he was surprised. It was his deck of cards from the train ride. A note was attached to the deck. It read, "Courtesy of the Cutie Mark Delivery Ponies". Borderline stuffed the note back into his pocket, and shuffled the card deck. He went to the only place that still had lights on.

"Welcome to the Ponyville Inn! How may I help ya?" A large yellow earth mare asked. Borderline approached the counter, and placed the deck on the desk.

"I'm afraid I have no bits. However, I am known across Manehatten for my magic acts. Maybe I can make up a night's cost?"

The mare at the other end of the counter smiled. "Let's see what ya got."