The voices

Twilight leads Colt towards Carousel Boutique which happens to be past Sugarcube Corner given the direction they were headed. Deciding to stop by and show the place off, Pinkie grabs Colt by the arm and yanks him along happily chattering about the Cakes, the building, and what sorts of things they have on their menu and specialty items that can be ordered at a higher price which aren’t on the menu.

 “Originally since it’s a bakery, we didn’t have milkshakes on the menu, but since the kids like them so much we put it on there but we had to take cupcakes off the menu, but we figured ‘Hey, it’s a bakery, you can probably assume we have cupcakes’ and so we started revamping our menus but eventually gave up and just stuck with what we had, and we still tweak it every few months when the Cakes have a special dessert that’s only available for a limited time. Like the first special we had, we made these things called ‘Snow Cones’ and a lot of ponies liked it.”

“I think he understands, Pinkie.” Twilight said, smiling placatingly. She liked Pinke a lot but sometimes the chatter was just too much. “Either way we aren’t stopping to eat, we’re just passing by on the way to Carousel Boutique. That’s the name of Rarity’s shop. She can get you a suit, probably.”

A few more minutes of walking later and Colt is feeling tired from the exercise. Not used to so much consecutive physical activity, he’s tiring out. Fortunately, the boutique designed after a carousel (minus the impaled horses), is within their reach. They walk in and a bell dings, announcing their arrival.

“Be right with you, Darling!” a voice chimed from the back, amongst a bunch of shuffling noises.

To one side of the room can be seen a smaller pegasus who was dark brown with black mane and tail unpacking a few paintings from a messenger bag and laying them next to mannequins that were wearing elaborate dresses that match their colors. She seemed to be lost in thought and humming a tune, not seeing the others that have entered the boutique behind her.

“Do you work for Rarity?” Colt asked the pegasus. Even Twilight had not seen this pony before.

“Hm?” She turned around to look back at them, “Oh, no I d-don’t.” She stammered shocked from both a princess in her presence and Colt, who was a critter she hadn’t seen before. “I’m an artist she had commissioned some artwork for her new line, just here to deliver. Also, hello princess, heh.” She waved, awkwardly.

“What, I don’t get a ‘hi’? I has a sad now…” Colt said, feigning dejection.

Twilight smiles at the pegasus. “Hello, I’ve never seen you around Ponyville before. Are you visiting?”

“Technically yes, I’m delivering art to ponies that ordered them.”

Twilight quirked her head in confusion. “You do the art and deliver it? Why not send them through the mail? Our local delivery mare may be a bit eccentric but she’s more than reliable.”

The pegasus chuckled, “Well, I really like the look on a pony’s face when they see the art, it’s what makes it truly worth it to me. I’m lucky that I’m not too famous that I can’t keep delivering them myself.” She waved a hoof at Colt to note his statement of feeling left out “Also, hello, I’m Sierra, otherwise known as Longheart by my art persona.” She chuckled again, feeling slightly awkward for her introduction and brushing her mane out of her face that had fallen over one eye, revealing a blue highlight on one side.

“Hi to you too Sierra.” Colt said, waving back.

“Uh, hold on...” Twilight said, thinking to herself. She wasn’t used to being treated like a princess and was trying to remember the proper greeting. Sighing and shaking her head she decided to wing it. “Hello Sierra, and welcome to Ponyville. I hope you have a pleasant stay.” Not realizing she sounds more like a hotel receptionist than an actual princess, she holds out a hoof to shake.

Sierra cleared her throat as she walked over to Twilight to shake it, “Thanks, and so far it has been!” She smiled, keeping her head a bit down in both reverence for Twilight and uncertainty over Colt.

“Sorry to keep you all waiting!” the voice from earlier called out as the back door to the boutique opened up, “How may I be of assistance?” She asked, placing a hoof to her chest in a regal-like pose, her shoulders held back and chin high, as well as her eyes closed though only for a moment. She opened her eyes to see her friend Twilight and smiled, but then saw Colt and stalled for a moment in loss of words. Surely, if he had shown up alone she would be afraid of him at first, but now she looks at her friend with a questioning look.

        Twilight smiled back at Rarity. “Hello Rarity! This is Anon, he’s just arrived in Equestria, and I’m just showing him around town and introducing him. He said he needed some clothes and I decided you’d have the best eye for what he would look good in.”

        “Yeah I need a suit and about a week’s worth of clothes.” Colt stated. “ An anon without a suit can hardly call himself an anon.”

        “But of course,” Rarity smiled though it looked a little awkward, “I would however need to measure you out if I were to design you some suits.” She pointed to the stage behind her that she cleared off with her magic. “What kind of suits do you need?”

        “A shadow pinstripe suit is what I had back home so one of those would be nice, and then some regular clothes, I can’t very well wear this trench coat forever. Oh and if you do make me a suit make sure it has lots of pockets on the inside.” Colt said

“Why do you need so many pockets?” Twilight questioned, unaware of the foam-plastic armory Colt carried.

“Should I incorporate your mask into my suit designs?” she asked, pulling out a measuring tape with her magic.

“How would you do that?” Colt questioned the fashionista.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “She means do you want the suit to compliment your mask. Why do you wear that silly thing anyways? It looks ridiculous, and Nightmare Night isn’t for several months.”

“ I would like you to incorporate my mask into the suit you are making, thanks. Alos Twi, it is a sign of support for our cause.”

“What sort of ‘cause’ requires a mask? Most ponies who do that sort of thing wear a symbol over their Cutie Mark, not their face.” While Twilight had him distracted, Rarity started measuring out his legs, to include the size of his thighs and calves.

“Since anons lack Cutie Marks we cover our faces because once someone sees this mask they know who we are as a whole.” Colt calmly.

“But they don’t know who you are as an individual, that makes no sense unless...” A realization dawns on Twilight. “Does Anon happen to be short for ‘anonymous’ as in, unknown?”

“Very good Twi! You’re paying attention.” Colt said rather loudly giving her a golf clap. After he had finished clapping, Rarity gestured for him to hold out his arms so she could measure them out, stretching the tape from shoulder to wrist as well as around the arm.

Twilight smirks. “I’m always paying attention, it’s what good students do. And speaking of school, you will be studying everything Cheerilee has already covered before tomorrow, so expect a long night.” Twilight said the last part as a warning. “I hope you have a better attention span than you act, because otherwise it will take all night.”

“I’m not afraid of pulling all nighters, I once stayed up three days straight using all my food money for coffee to write a paper.” Colt said laughing a bit.

“Alright, if you say you can... now let’s get you some clothes. And after that, you said you need to see a farrier.” Still taking advantage of Colt being distracted, Rarity finished measuring out his chest size and waist, writing down all the numbers she got.

“What’s a farrier again? I think it has something to do with...shoes?”

“A farrier is a pony who specializes in making shoes specifically tailored to an individual, so that they are sturdy and will last a very long time and offer protection no matter what the wearer does.” Twilight explained, fearing that the study session will end up taking forever if this anon creature was so forgetful.

“Do they just make horseshoes or do they also make cloth ones? Mine are made of a mesh fabric and rubber with a soft gel insole.”

“Fabric and... rubber? How does that help protect your hooves from rocky and uneven terrain? Metal shoes would last much longer anyways, no wonder you say yours are falling apart!”

“Here let me give you a closer look,”Colt said as he removed his right shoe revealing his foot, he just realised her forgot to wear socks, no wonder he was uncomfortable.

Twilight stares at the foot. “Well, I can’t think of a way to replicate whatever material this is without further study in my lab, so for now it seems you’ll have to settle for some sort of fabric wrap.”

“Okay, do you guys not have rubber plants in this country?” Colt wondered.

“We do, but this isn’t rubber, it’s been... treated somehow. I will have to study these further. In the meantime, we will have to wrap your feet somehow, the packed, dry dirt roads of Ponyville will surely irritate your bare feet.”

Rarity coughed to get their attention, “I do believe I finished my measurements.” She stated, ensuring they weren’t still distracted before continuing with her follow up question. “You said a Shadow Pinstripe suit, yes? What sort of clothing did you have in mind, besides this suit?”

“Just some t-shirts, shorts and some socks.”

“Shorts?” Rarity questioned, “S-Socks and a erm… ‘T-shirt’ I’ve heard of before but I’m unaware of what shorts would be.” she asked, holding a hoof out and upright with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, ankle high socks, I need them so i don’t ruin my shoes any further.” Colt states, “Oh wait can I ask you to put something on them?”

Twilight sighs. “If it’s going to be inappropriate for school like you say your current shirt is, I’m going to veto that request.”

“No, I already have one of these shirts I don’t need another. I was wondering if she could incorporate some computer designs into my t-shirts.”

“Computer design…?” Rarity looked even more confused then shook her head for a moment, “Well, as much as this would be no problem for me I do believe I may be overspecialized a little bit for what you’re asking. The suit, not so much, I’m just not one for making ‘regular’ clothing.” She smiled reassuringly, “However, if you wish for each of them to be unique and shine, then I’d be the perfect choice.” She noted, placing her hoof against her chest again with pride.

“Just don’t make it too feminine, that’s all I ask, or would you like to see the designs I’m talking about?”

“If you have a reference I would most certainly appreciate it, as well as you answering my previous question about what shorts are.” Rarity replied, trying her best not to be rude.

“Let me show you,” Colt said as he took off his trench coat revealing his realistic LARPing knives, countless pockets, and a pair of loose-fitting silver basketball shorts, “See? These are shorts, well, these are basketball shorts to be specific, they are really comfy.”

“Ah y-yes, s-shorts. Do you um, want them the same color?” Rarity replied, taking a couple steps back from the sudden surprise of the realistic looking knives

“You pick whatever color you want, I’m not picky.” Colt said as he picked up his trenchcoat.

Rarity glanced at Twilight with a very questioning look before looking back at Colt, “O-of course, I’ll get an assortment ready for you to choose from within a day or two. Would this be adequate?” She asked, looking for an excuse to leave the room

“Whatever works for you Marshmallow, thanks.” Colt said happily.

“Heh, right, yes. ‘Marshmallow’. How um… Creative of you.” She coughed, again, trying not to be rude.

“I take it you don’t appreciate the nickname, then what shall I refer to you as?”

“Rarity will do fine, that is my name after all. I will start these orders this afternoon. I’ll erm... call for Twilight when they’re ready.” She said, walking back to her workshop room.

“Okay Rar.” Colt responded.”Thanks again.”

“Anytime, Dearest.” She said before going through the door, her notebook with his measurements floating in behind her.

“Alright, now where to Twihar-I mean Twilight?” Colt asked, catching himself on the insult.

“Well, while we’re waiting on those clothes, we should head back to my home and study. You want to do well in school tomorrow.” Twilight says, looking over the paper Cheerilee gave her another time.

“Back home I slept through all of my classes and got B’s, so this shouldn’t be too hard. Just give me some coffee and a book to read.” Colt stated.

Twilight frowned. “I’m afraid that won’t work here mister, I’m going to make sure that participation is a required part of your grade.”

“Um, Excuse me, Princess?” A voice called out behind them as they left the boutique

Twilight, still not used to being referred to as ‘princess’ takes a moment to realize she was being addressed. “Oh, yes, did you need something?” Turning, Twilight sees Sierra, and smiles. “Oh, hello again.”

“Hi, sorry to bother you but I was wondering if you or your friend wanted a painting of any sort? Or um, perhaps Anon would like a portrait? I don’t get too many opportunities to make something uh… exotic.” She asked, clutching onto her messenger bag rather tightly hiding slightly behind it.

Twilight sighed, as she had to turn down another pony wanting to make her something. “I’m sorry, but I don’t need a statue of myself or a large painting above my mantle. I just... I’m not that kind of princess.”

“Would you prefer if you had a statue of mommy watching you while you sleep?” Colt asked Twilight, mockingly.

“I do not need my mother to sleep comfortably.” Twilight huffed indignantly.

“Fine, I guess having Spike is enough, now to get edumacated Also I don’t really want a picture, I don’t wanna take up all of the castle with a big ass painting. No offense.”

“Alrighty, sorry to bother you two, If you ever change your mind I’ll be in town for a few more days then I’ll be back in Canterlot.” She stated, trying to sound chipper but looked a little defeated as she fluttered off.

“Sorry!” Twilight called after the saddened pegasus, before turning back to Colt. “Now then, Anon, yes. Education. We can meet my other friends at another time. For now we need to catch you up.”

“Fine, can we start with history?”

“Indeed we can.” Twilight replied as she led him back to the castle. “We’ll start with the banishment of Nightmare Moon...”