A week has been passed and sleeping in the streets is getting worse every time. My neck wouldn’t be able to support anymore the cold and irregular floor, even using a newspaper as a pillow, the pain was still unbearable. Sometimes, I think the lower temperatures of this city can calm down the sorrows deeply hidden in my soul from the day I escaped from Canterlot. I’ve been wandering over Ponyville for a few days. People look at me with careless gaze, but, I only feel disgust in their glances, nopony would ever take care of somepony with my aspect and less they would give if they knew why I’m so lonely. Everypony seems so happy and without problems, but, surely, they’re afraid of me. I hear whispers surrounding me but I see a yellow pony leading a duck family. It’s been a while since I saw a little sign of care or love like that. I tried to talk with her and she just ran away scared. Disappointed because of my frustrated attempt to speak to someone, I kept on walking until somepony stopped me and said:
-Don’t worry. She’s very shy. She’s just scared of you talking to her so suddenly.
-I completely understand it. I was trying to socialize with somepony, but it seems like the people around here is afraid of the foreign ponies like me.
-It’s normal; I know a zebra that had your problem too. My name is Twilight Sparkle, a pleasure to meet you.
-Is my pleasure, Twilight. I came from Canterlot looking for a place to stay.
She thought about it for a second, and then she said:
-I think I know someone who can help you with that, and I think you could help her with her job as a fashionista. Also, she loves the ponies from Canterlot.
I went with her, for neediness and curiosity. When we arrived, I noticed how big the house was, too big to serve as home to somepony. We entered and the entire building seemed even larger, I felt light-headed as the grandiosity of the place pressured my thoughts. Rarity was working on a dress which once was a really big trend in Canterlot, but, it’s been a long time since I saw a dress like that, so I think she’s making some sort of vintage dress. In my entire life, I haven’t seen a mare doing such beautiful magic with pieces of fabric, needles and a few diamonds. Twilight interrupted my self-absorption saying:
-Hi, Rarity! I want to introduce you a friend of mine who can help you in the boutique.
-Oh… Hello, Twilight! I was working in a new dress based in a vintage trend. I love it because is so Canterlot, Twilight. What do you think?
-It’s beautiful, Rarity! I love it!- She said, looking at the dress like she was in trances -My friend needs a place to stay for a while, I hope is not a matter for you,
-Why, I have no problem with him staying here, I have a little room over here. But, he must be clean. And calm. And he must not disturb me at 19:30
-Thanks, Rarity! Well, I’ll leave you, guys. I got to check a few things at the library.
-Don’t worry, Twilight. We’ll be fine!
Ms. Rarity turned out to be very nice and kind. I spent the rest of the day reading fashion magazines looking for new looks and styles. She wasn’t very conversational when working, always focused in her dresses and where to put this piece of fabric or where to put this stitch. I spoke to her a couple of times, in which I discovered that, despite her classy manners, delicious accent and self-esteem; she wasn’t very enlightened about general knowledge. She didn’t knew about the latest discoveries of science and she wasn’t aware about important philosophers like Casco. She knew a lot about fashion, dresses and cloths, and her amazing deduction ability was exposed when, in one of our afternoon conversations, she asked me if I was from Canterlot. When I answered “Yes” her eyes lightened up like stars in the October sky. We kept on talking about that place, regardless of how much I tried to avoid that theme. I remained awake all night; thinking about how interesting was Ms. Rarity’s personality. Her deductions were very accurate though she doesn’t have to use that ability in her job. Her amour-propre was near to the limits of pedantry but it didn’t exceed the limit by her way to say that, in reality, she was the most beautiful unicorn all over Equestria.
We played the same routine the next day; I read magazines while she was working. This time, I tried something different. So I asked:
-How did you know I was from Canterlot?
-Your clothes, of course. You have a suit that I’ve only seen in a fashion exposition a few years ago. But, I noticed it now, what really caught my attention was your old-world style, only seen in Canterlot, an old but discrete style. I’m aware that you don’t like to follow the classic stereotype and you like to wear a modern fashion with a vintage touch. You were raised in a very strict family, I can tell by the way you stand, your father may gave you a few punches when he saw you changing your posture and I have to mention that you were a very coveted bachelor there. Your gaze transmits comfort and safety, as well as authority and supremacy.
-How can you deduce those things? - I said amazed
-I just keep my eye in petty details, dear. Eventually I’ve improved this skill basing in trivialities like as those I mentioned. -She said as she took a sip of her delicious and smoky hot chocolate which, apparently, she drinks every afternoon
-Well, Ms. Rarity, I’ve got to say that you astonish me. Every day I discover something new about your personality –I said, already drunk by the chocolaty atmosphere.
-I know. A lady, as I am, is nothing if she doesn’t have a couple of aces in her sleeves. And I, my dear, am the most elegant and classy lady all over Equestria.
-Still, your lack of general knowledge concerns me, miss.
-Nice remark, darling. Nopony ever told me that before, but I expected it from an intelligent colt like you. Happens that my life philosophy is quite different to the other ponies philosophy. My mind is like a closet in which I can put all the dresses I want. Somepony without style would put every dress he found in his closet, but, I only put the garments I will use and they shall bemost beautiful, elegant and sophisticated dresses ever seen on Equestria.
A much elaborated metaphor, thought, but I understood the meaning of what she said. It was hard to figure out what she could use her ability to deduct for, or, if she just used it for fun. In the night, I made a list with the areas in which Ms. Rarity highlighted.
Ms. Rarity:
Literature: She read a few stories and novels.
Science: Nil
Fashion: High, she knows a lot about fashion story and she can tell the difference between two pieces of fabric with just a glance.
Laws: Basics
She speaks in a cult language with very enlightened terms
The day after, I tried to show her my conspectus about her personality, but, when I went into her room, I found a bunch of fabric all over the floor and Ms. Rarity lying on the bed staring at the ceiling thinking about Celestia-knows-what. Thus she remained for the rest of the day; she didn’t taste any kind of food or drink. Next day, she asked me to go out while she attended a few clients. While walking, I thought about where I was supposed to go if suddenly I couldn’t stay in Ms. Rarity’s house for no more. My concerns were interrupted when I accidentally hit Twilight Sparkle. She apologized saying she was really immersed in a new book and, of course, she didn’t notice me. She offered me to take a walk in the streets of Ponyville. We talked about my situation, how I was feeling about living with Ms. Rarity and how I was adapting to Ponyville. Suddenly, Twilight purposed me to visit Fluttershy (The yellow pony who ran away when I tried to talk with her). We spent a few minutes having a very gratifying conversation with her. Twilight left a couple minutes before I went back home. I left Fluttershy’s home and started walking slowly. Only watching the sun going down into the beautiful panorama with so much loveliness filled me with happiness. Only a few crows in a bush next to me disturbed the beautiful scene. These scavenger animals made me felt curious, because they were very hard to find in this area. I took a sneak peek and what I saw carried me to the day when I watched how a duck was gutted by a pack of wolves while they ate his flesh and dipped their snouts in the fresh and red blood. In the woods that bordered Fluttershy’s house, a yellow corpse with green and pale green mane rested. The blood flowed in the grass and debouched in the lake like a melancholy river, yes, that blood was filled with dreams and desires interrupted by that sudden closing of eyes. She was wearing a silk dress which despite being all torn still conserved the characteristic shine of that kind of fabric. The body was still impregnated with mud and her eyes, pink and yet beautiful, kept the expression of someone who didn’t expect what happened to him, her pupils were contracted and they no longer reflected sunlight. It’s been a short time since I’ve seen a dead body and this one still overwhelmed me, watching such a beautiful mare lowered to that level of rottenness provoked a reaction of sadness and horror in the deep zone of my heart. I didn’t know what to do, call the Guard or asking for help to Fluttershy. Of course, I chose the first option. The guards stared at me estranged clarifying that the assassination rate in Ponyville was very low (Maybe this was the first one) and they went to the crime scene as sooner they could. I looked for Ms. Rarity to see if she could help me in the process because I didn’t know how to manage in this city and even less with its guards, with her, I brought Twilight so she could comfort Fluttershy. They spent a half hour in her house while the guards were looking for a solution to this mess. Ms. Rarity just stood next to me and detailed every single inch of the scenario. She got lost in her thoughts and she entered the zone where the cadaver lay. She spent a couple minutes checking the dress of the victim. I noticed when she discovered something because she smiled as she said something to herself and wrote down something in a piece of paper. She investigated for 45 minutes and, with her seductive voice, she said:
-Is very kind from you to have told me about this. What I’m seeing here is certainly interesting.
-I just thought that telling about this was the best option.- I said, with outstanding and curious vanity.
-Definitely, it was the best option- She said with gallantry –Come with me Sir I-don’t-know your-name.
-Please, excuse me, Ms. Rarity. My name is Firo. I’m ashamed for not telling my name before.
-Don’t worry, darling. Let’s see what we can do with these clues.
I’ve never seen her so excited. (Maybe because I don’t actually know her, but that doesn’t matter) When we got to the boutique, she just lay on the couch and tried to sleep
-Ms. Rarity, aren’t you going to examine the proofs?
-Relax, my dear. There’s always time for everything
-Right, but, the curiosity is gnawing my bowels!
-Don’t be mislead by anxiety, by experience I can tell that the hurry and the obsession for perfection only leads to fatigue.
She was right, but, I was feeling really inquisitive about this case because of a little question flying in my mind: Who could have committed such a horrible crime? Why he would do that? How much can he hate and despise someone to commit that kind of abomination? I saw that Ms. Rarity felt asleep in the couch, so I brought a sheet and wrapped her. Even so, I couldn’t remove the shiver that, even when two hours have passed since I saw such a dantesque scene, I felt.
Next morning, a little bewildered, I opened my eyes. The sunbeams were illuminating a couple of dresses that Ms. Rarity was keeping in my room and the smell of hot chocolate came softly to my habitation. I went to the living room and I found her drinking her usual hot chocolate. I made the breakfast and immediately asked.
-How is the investigation going, Ms. Rarity?
-Perfectly, as always, we’re going out today, if you don’t have any issues with that.
-Of course, not, Miss! I wouldn’t ever miss this kind of trips!
-Nice, then, pack your things because we are moving at the 13:30
That’s how we did it and 30 minutes later we were at the home of one of the witnesses. I love the houses with a hoofonic style, we entered and she was expecting us sat in a green velvet couch. Rarity dictated me a few questions that I had to ask to the mare and when I questioned why I should do the interrogatory and not here, she just told me she would tell me later.
-Accurately, what did you saw the event day?
-I saw a figure from my balcony moving with a bag down the street. It was pretty heavy and he had difficulty moving it. I kept on watching it until it disappeared I the penumbra. That’s all I knew until this morning, when somepony told me what happened.
Suddenly, Rarity asked:
-Did you saw the color of the bag?
-Yes, it was like crimson red or a very dark red. I couldn’t perceive it well-
-Thanks- She said –You have a very beautiful house. Did you decorated it or did you asked for advice?
-No, I asked for advice and my designer told me to use red colors because they flowed well with my personality.
-Well- I continued my interrogatory –Did you had any connections with the victim?
-Yes, she was my neighbor and one of the kindest ponies I’ve ever met. Her name was Sunnymare and she was an artist, she liked to paint. Her art was abstract, but, in somehow, it touched the heart of everypony! - She said and I saw a little tear falling from her face
-May I see her pictures? - Rarity said.
-Why, yes. Follow me! - She stood up and she guided us to Sunnymare’s home and she opened the door for us. She said she couldn’t be able to enter in her friend’s house. We entered. Rarity went upstairs, she took a frame and she asked me:
-Tell me, Firo. What do you see here?
I examined the frame. A bunch of strokes going to the left, starting from the top with the color blue, degrading it till it became green. I didn’t really got the meaning of the frame, I was expecting something more deep (Maybe because I don’t know how to appreciate art)
-I’m very sorry, Miss. I can’t get anything. I don’t see anything that you can actually see in this frame
-Blue represents the peace existing in her soul at the moment she drew this. The abrupt green color represents the remnant of vivacity she had in that moment. The length of each stroke tells us that she made them slowly.
She took another frame; this one was characterized by the dominance of pink colors.
-Definitely, she felt happy during the making of this frame, maybe even in love. I can tell by the randomness of the strokes, it tells that she hit the brush against the canvas. Is presumable that she may be influenced by the strawberry cake she was eating.
-I guess you said it by the predominance of pink colors. By the way, the strawberry cake has a lot of sugar and that quantity of candy makes ponies feel happier. – I said, impressed by my sudden show of intelligence.
-Nice deduction, Firo. I see you’re getting the point of this job and I congratulate you for that. Even so, I want you to see this stain of cake at the edge of the canvas. There’s no reason to get to such a complex conclusion, darling. – She said, smiling like a mother telling to her filly that 2 + 2 is not 5.
-Oh – I said, embarrassed -I see…
-Don’t be bothered, this case is just about to be elucidated. – She said, completely calmed.
-Speak for you, for me is even more complicated with every single clue we find.
-It’s normal. When I tell you who is the guilty and how I concluded it, you’ll understand. Now, let’s get back to the boutique, is time for my beauty sleep and, Celestia! I think I forgot I had to finish a couple dresses!
We came back and immediately she started working on the dresses while I observed. I fell asleep 10 minutes later. It was dark when I woke up, Rarity was still sleeping, her head was resting on a heap of sketches. I was hungry and so I thought she would be when she was awake. I walked slowly to the door and BAM! A pink pony appeared giving little hops without notice the pain I was suffering in my face for the door slam. Rarity woke up and screamed as if she scraped her throat.
-What’s happening? – She yelled, likely angry
-Hi, Rarity! Here, your invitation to my super-duper-awesome-fantastic party tomorrow!
-Oh, of course I’ll be there, Pinkie.
Pinkie got out of the boutique saying goodbye. While she prepared her hot chocolate she told me.
-Hmmmm, Firo. I will go to Pinkie´s party tomorrow and I pretend to bring you as a guest. Do you have any obligations tomorrow?
-No, I don’t think so. Also, it would be nice to go out and socialize.
-Yes, and so would be good if you changed your clothes, you can´t walk with me in those clothes!
-I love you too, lady. – I said, laughing
-You need new clothes. I’ll design something in accordance with your style. In the meanwhile, would you be so kind to buy some food?
Yes, she was hungry. I went out and bought a couple of daisy sandwiches and I came back to finish my sleep cycle. Rarity woke me up over the 13:00 hours. She asked me to try the new suit she designed for me and it was really classy. I felt a little bit identified with it, she interrupted my self-admiration moment saying that we had to go to the party.
It was a very fun party. I spent time talking with Twilight, Rarity and the other ponies. Pinkie told us about a couple who reconciled by means of a strawberry cake as a super-party, with a rock band included, was throwing and we all laughed about the bizarre of the story. Rarity seemed to be more relaxed with her friends (Comparing her with the Rarity who made dresses as I checked fashion magazines)
I went out the Sugarcube Corner for a while; I needed some fresh and clean air. I sat down a moment and cleared my head. I saw the same things she saw, I heard the same things she heard and still she got very different and accurate conclusions. In a country where the murder rate is minimal, what kind of pony can specialize in this sort of crimes?
My internal monologue was interrupted by Rarity. A little bit worried, she asked me what I was thinking. So I responded:
-What are you thinking? You seem disturbed by something.
-I think in the possible ways you traveled to get to your skill level.
-Ha! – She laughed –I think the answer to your question will keep buried forever. Even I don’t know how I got here!
Suddenly, a scream of horror filled with noise the dark and silent night and a pony with yellow mane ran desperately by the street. I ran too and stopped her; I calmed her down and tried to reason with her and, in the middle of all the babble she did, I heard that she found a blood pool near to her carrot field. Rarity and I rushed to the place she said and, effectively, we found a pool of blood. And a dead body.
I was overwhelmed. Another murder. Despite my amazement, Rarity remained serious and calmed. She looked at me; she laughed and then told me:
-I was expecting another assassination.
-And why you didn’t mention it before?
-For I was thinking in two different scenarios
-Which were they?
-Clearly, this is a passional crime, a bit twisted. My first panorama consisted in the corpse of Sunnymare beign the only one. In the other hand, I thought in two cadavers, both mares.
-But how… - I said and she immediately stopped me.
-No time for talking, here, take this lantern while I examine the scene.
As she examined, suddenly she stopped and told me:
-Firo, can you take that piece of glass in the mud?
I took it and tried to give it to her, scared, she told me to keep it because it was dirty. She’s really refined.
-This case is solved, Firo. The only thing we have to do is catch the pony who did this and I already fixed that. By now, let’s find more proof of his guiltiness.
Before leaving, I looked back at the dead body. The mare with black mane, orange skin like the sunsets in Canterlot and red eyes like fire. Her Cutie Mark was a couple of drumsticks, so I can tell her talent was playing drums. Very young comparing her to the other victim. I don’t know what to say about this one, I just hope that Rarity is correct.
Next day, Rarity was opening the door to a baby dragon. It seemed that she tasked him a mission, I approached her to talk to her and she said:
-No time for talk, the Royal Guard will be here soon and we’re going to a house near to the Sugarcube Corner. By the way, the victim from yesterday was named Stinger.
-Right, let’s go now
And so we started our trip. I still can’t understand how she discovered it and I think I shall never understand it. We took a cab and she emphasized in how quick we had to get there. She knocked he door and a gray stallion with orange mane and a Cutie Mark composed by a dynamite pack. He stared at us for a moment and then asked for what we were looking for. Rarity answered calmed:
-Oh, hi there, sir. I’m Rarity and this is my partner Firo. As you may know, I’m a fashion designer and I’m looking for a specific sort of fabric. Can you show me your most beautiful clothes?
-Ah, yeah. I think you can. Come in.
We entered and it was a very average apartment, Rarity and our host went upstairs towards his room. I accompanied them, but Rarity ordered me to wait outside. I stayed in the corridor and, for curiosity; I looked at one of the rooms. The only thing I could see, were a disarmed drums. Then I understood everything. Suddenly, he showed up behind me and yelled:
-What are you doing facing there?
Behind him, Rarity showed me a green bag as she pointed at him, then I got it, but it was too late because, suddenly, he jumped at me and punched me in the cheek. I was almost knocked out and ready to receive the last punch when I heard a shout coming from the behind of my aggressor. Out of nowhere, Rarity kicked him with one of her rear paws with an amazing maneuver. They started to fight and Rarity managed to master him. We kept him against the ground for a while until the guards arrived with the baby dragon. They handcuffed him in a chair and Rarity asked:
-What’s your name?
-Koda, my name is Koda. – He said, panting
-Weird name. – She said. –But, not so weird when you’re from Appleloosa.
-How did you know that? – He said, astonished.
-The bag where you carried the body of your wife was made with sailcloth. Strong enough to hold debris in your job as a miner. There are not many mining companies in Equestria, so I researched and found out that there’s only one. And it’s placed in Appleloosa, your homeland. The only thing I want to know is why you killed them?
-The main reason was love. I met Sunnymare at the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot, her eyes attracted me terribly and her dress was exquisite. We fell in love immediately. We spent a good time and we got along very well although we were a rustic colt from Appleloosa and she was a beautiful mare from the Canterlot elite. We married spite the repudiation everypony felt against me for being from Appleloosa. We couldn’t stand it more and we decided to come to Ponyville, we bought a house and stayed here for a few years. Everything was peaceful ‘til we had a fight and separated. I had to sleep in the park for a while till I met Stinger. She welcomed me in her house for a time and I fell in love with her. It sounds stupid in hindsight but that’s how it happened. We engaged and she invited me to one of her concerts. I was watching her playing the drums with strength until someone called me. It was Sunnymare, she told she was sorry for leaving me and then asked me to come back with her. I had a weakness moment and agreed. When I got home, I had a terrible dilemma; I had to abandon one of them. The predicament was that if I left Sunny, I could have broken her heart and so with Stinger. I thought in leaving both, but if I did, I could have two broken hearts instead of one, so, in my weakness moment, I chose killing them. I would remain alone and sad and that was quite fair to me. So, I went to Sunnymare´s house, I took a pan, and…
-Good. Is enough. I don’t want to know the details. – Rarity said –You can take him now
The guard took him away. The dragon came quickly and breathing sharply.
-Spike. – She said. –You’re late.
-Yes. – He stopped to grab some air. –There are three mining companies all over Equestria.
-I guess there’s one in Appleloosa. –Rarity asked.
-Yeah, there’s one. But it stopped working a few months ago.
-Thank you, Spikey-Wickey- And she gave him a kiss in the cheek, which made him go out of the house like in trance.
-Congratulations, lady. You solved a case that even the elite could ever solve. You, being a fashionista, managed to elucidate this tricky mystery. I’m impressed as the day we first met.
-Oh, Firo, you’re such a flatterer. – She said with false humility while we walked to the boutique.
-But, explain me how did you get to that conclusion?
-Simple, darling. First, it was obvious that both victims had a relation for the closeness of the hours in which we found them. Then, Sunnymare´s dress was ragged in only one piece, silk gets fragile when wet so I conclude that someone had to drag her trough a few puddles formed after the rain a couple of days before the crime, located in this street. Then, I had a clarification after talking with the witness, she talked about a crimson bag, but I realized she was colorblind when I looked at her house. A real interior designer is aware that green is one worst the worst colors to paint a house. Obviously, somepony told her to paint her house with red, but, due to her colorblindness, she confused them awfully.
-But, I thought that colorblindness was genetic. –I asked –If she was colorblind since she was a filly, somepony had to teach her about the differences between them.
-I thought about that too, so I visited Twilight. She taught me about a disease which harms the optical nerve and causes colorblindness, also known as acquired colorblindness.
-So, why she saw the red color of the bag, instead of the green color?
-She tried to guess it. There was full moon that night and is more likely to see the red color than the green.
-Why she hasn’t changed the colors of her house?
-Because she thinks they look well. She really needs somepony to tell her they look dreadful.
-Nice, go on.
-Then, the bag had to be green. I remembered that a time ago, I received a request for a suit for gentlecolt, I remembered it because it was the first time in the year I got that sort of request. I finished it and gave the finished suit to him, he didn’t notice me, but I remembered him. Then, we watched the frames, in one frame, we saw inner peace and in the other we saw infatuation and strawberry cake. That represented a challenge, but suddenly, during the party, Pinkie told us about that party she threw a couple of weeks ago. A rock band played and, in her tale, a couple came to the Sugarcube Corner to buy a strawberry cake for their reconciliation. I didn’t realize till the party was over. When I asked Pinkie if she remembered the colt who bought the cake, she told me that she didn’t remember him, but, she knew that he had an “explosive” Cutie Mark. Then, everything was clear, the only piece missing was the reason and he already explained it. Oh, and when I checked his closet, I found the suit I designed.
-You make it look ridiculously easy. – I said, with admiration.
-It was easy. And boring, now, let’s go back to the routine.
-Unfortunately, that’s how it has to be, Miss Rarity.
-Please, cut it with the formalities, call me Rarity. Want some hot chocolate?
I shook my head. –No, thanks. Rarity. There’s something that worries me, the Guards surely are going to take all the credit when you have done everything in this business, but, what remains to you?
-For me. – said Rarity, with her sensual and sweet voice –There still remains this hot chocolate cup.
And she took a sip of the smoky beverage
