The Incantation

A few days later, after meeting an overly friendly (and ridiculously hyper) earth pony named Pinkie Pie - she lived on the top floor of a local family-owned bakery - I left stuffed to the gills with sweets of many different and admittedly delicious variety. After that, Fluttershy insisted that we go see Rarity about a suit for me.

"I don't know," I said with slight uncertainty, "will she be able to make one on such short notice?"

Me and Fluttershy were hobbling our way to Rarity's workshop, the Carousel Boutique. The summer sun shone brightly overhead, but it was comfortably warm today, thankfully.

"Oh, of course. Rarity is amazing at doing what she does."

My stomach gurgled and I winced. "If I don't blow up first." That earned me a giggle from Fluttershy.

"I'm sure you'll be fine."

I looked up at the sky briefly. "It sure is a beautiful day today," I noted aloud.

"It is," Fluttershy agreed. "It's always like this before a thunderstorm."

"A thunderstorm? You're a meteorologist, too? You are perfect."

She blushed. "No, I can't predict weather. It's a scheduled thunderstorm, controlled by the pegasi. It will be on the night after the gala."

I detected a faint amount of fear in her voice. "You don't like thunderstorms, do you?"

She looked away, embarrassed. "No..."

I put my arm around her shoulders. "It's okay...nopony's fearless. Can I tell you a little secret about me?"

She nodded, still looking embarrassed.

I whispered in her ear, "I'm afraid of heights."

She smiled warmly at me. "Thanks...I do feel a little better now."

I smiled back. "That's what I like to hear." Too bad I'm not afraid of heights. But she felt better, and that's all that mattered to me.

We reached the Carousel Boutique a few minutes later. It was a very Canterlot-esque rotunda, with white, purple  and a few other colors decorating the column-shaped boutique. It actually had style, something I was surprised to have even noticed at all.

Suddenly, I felt better about getting my appearance changed for the gala by this "Rarity" pony.

We went through the front door and a bell rung above our heads to signal our entrance.

A white unicorn mare with a spiffy purple mane came bounding down the stairs.

"Hello, welcome to the - oh, hello Fluttershy, and..." The unicorn eyed me in a way that quite certainly was admiration. "Fluttershy has a new friend, I'm assuming?"

"Oh, yes Rarity." Fluttershy stepped forward. "His name is Emerald Mist. He's from Canterlot."

Rarity's eyes grew wide. "Canterlot?" She looked at Fluttershy with a knowing smile and batted her eyes accordingly. "My, my, my...Fluttershy, I had no idea you had such exquisite - taste." She looked at me.

Fluttershy looked uncomfortable. "Oh, um...he's not..."

Rarity waved her hoof. "It's okay darling. I know exactly what's going on."

"You do?" I asked. Like Fluttershy, I was flustered with Rarity's bold assumption, but not offended.

"Sure," she replied in sing-song. "She's here to check on her dress and ask if I can make a suit for you."

I was astounded. "Wow."

Rarity started up the stairs. "Just a lucky guess. Please, come upstairs so I can get your measurements."

Me and Fluttershy followed her up while we talked.

"So," I began. "Are you sure you're okay with making a complete stranger a suit - for free?"

"Of course." She led us into her work area. It was cluttered for the most part, right now at least. But the dresses set up around the room were amazing. "Any friend of Fluttershy is a friend of mine." She looked back and winked.

I smiled nervously. "That's good...I guess..."

Rarity pranced over to a rack of fabric. "What would you like for a suit?"

"A tuxedo," I replied instantly. I already thought of everything. "Black, please. I don't need anything too fancy."

Rarity bit ahold of some fabric and started pulling. Through her teeth, she said, "Nonshensh. Itsh da gawa we're going to. You need to wook handshome."

"Oh, Rarity? Have you finished my dress? I'm just wondering, 'cause I wanted to see it real quick, if you don't mind..." Fluttershy asked quietly.

Rarity spit the fabric out and turned back to me and Fluttershy. "Yes, of course, darling. And Emerald, when we come back, I'll need to take your measurements."

I nodded. "Sure."

They left the room for a moment, chatting incessantly about the upcoming gala.

I watched them leave and wandered around the room, examining the gowns on the mannequins. One dress was lightning-themed, with golds and reds all over in swirls and lines. It was actually really intricate and elegant. The next dress was...most likely Applejack's. I'm thinking the apple-theme gave it away. I resumed my examining of the dresses when Fluttershy and Rarity returned.

"Checking out my other projects?" Rarity asked. "I can assure you your suit will be fabulous."

Fabulous? Hopefully not feminine. "Great. I really appreciate it."

"No problem, dear." She was at her little work station, a dresser with a mirror.  "Anything else you need before I begin?"

Yes. "Um, I do  have one private request for when we get ready to leave for the gala."

Rarity looked at me from reflection in the mirror. "What is it?"

I hesitated. "I'll whisper it in your ear. It's a secret."

"Oh - okay..."

I went over to her, giving Fluttershy a forced smile and turning my attention back to Rarity. I leaned close to her and whispered into her ear, "Can you style and dye my mane dark green?"

"Dark green?!" Rarity hollered, sounding disgusted and appalled.

"Yes, please Rarity," I half begged. Fluttershy was watching us curiously, I saw in the mirror.

Rarity sighed. "Okay, if you insist, though I strongly suggest against it. Come by tomorrow, since the gala is tomorrow night. I will certainly get that done for you."

I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a huge weight lifted off my back. Things were finally going in  my favor. "Thank you."

"No problem, dear," she replied. "Just come by tomorrow evening before we leave."

I nodded and glanced at Fluttershy. "Your dress looking good?"

"I can't tell you. You'll see it at the gala."

Ah, a surprise. "I can't wait to, if that's the case."

Rarity started her work. "Oh, I'm sure," she said.

"Well, let's go back to Sugarcube Corner,"  I told Fluttershy, her smile widening knowingly. "I have enough room for some more cake."

"Sure," she obliged.

Me and Fluttershy started to leave. "Later, Rarity. And thanks again for the suit and stuff."

"You're absolutely welcome. Se you two tomorrow," she called out as we went down the stairs and out the front door.

Steelwing had already made it to Ponyville earlier that day, around morning. He checked into a small, cheap motel not far from the town hall and wandered about the dirt paths in the town until noon.

The sun shone brilliantly overhead, but it was pleasantly cool.

Steel was not far from his motel when he spotted something interesting. He made sure his hood concealed his face and tracked what appeared to be his target and some unknown mare walking side-by-side down the path straight towards him.

Steel quickly but calmly out of sight behind a nearby building, unnoticed. He watched and listened.

As the pair got closer and passed Steel, it was confirmed - the male was indeed Emerald Rain. The accompanying mare could possibly be a mate - or bait.

"Perfect..." Steel whispered giddily. Had he really just been this lucky? He went from building to building, following them and eavesdropping.

"...If I don't blow up first."

"I'm sure you'll be fine."

Steel trailed them all the way to a tall cylindrical building in which they entered.

"So, Emerald is stupid enough to go back to Canterlot for the Grand Galloping Gala, huh? We shall see how that fares him." Steel could not contain his glee as he left for the train station to go to Appleloosa.

Dark Storm would be pleased.