Chapters Once again, in ponyville ....
Once again it was a sunny day in Ponyville, and once again, somepony was about to be in some sort of trouble. That sort of shenanigans that makes you wonder what did they do to the gods to deserve such a destiny.
Like every first Wednesday of the month, the Carousel Boutique was closed early, the owner of the shop was on her way to the marketplace. Ponyville always came to life on these bustling busy days, when the local traders and, more importantly, the travelling salesponies open their stalls and booths.
Today, Rarity cursed that buzzing activity. More ponies out means that more ponies will see her going to that stall. That horrible, horrendous, compromising commerce.
If somepony would notice her going there, and more importantly, if somepony would recognize what she’ll buy, It’ll be,
The worst
Possible
Thing !
Sweetie Belle was following her sister, who was seemingly going to burst in anxiety each time somepony went and approached her. Sweetie Belle felt herself lucky that, in some way, her sister had not yet noticed her, or did not mind her being with her.
She moved closer to her sister, just behind her, looking around as they moved to the very edge of the marketplace, a really secluded area of the alley, with very few ponies, and all of them were walking like her big sister, eyeing suspiciously and jumping each time somepony moved past them.
She chuckled mentally at that, pondering about the reason for this odd behaviour of the grown ups.
Maybe they were secret agents? Maybe they were in mission and they needed to be super duper suspicious and stuff to not get caught. This was pretty stupid, because angsty like they were, everypony could tell that they weren’t clean. And Sweetie Belle yawned.
Grown-ups are weird.
Rarity shook her head and and collected herself.
“Courage Rarity!” she thought to herself. “You did this over and over, each month, it’ll be time to stop getting nervous around that outrageous but handy commerce!”
She then took a firm trot to the tent and walked inside.
Sometime, when you walk in a market place, there is a special zone where there is nopony but weirds ones, wearing too much clothes or impermeable, whistling at the other ponies, sometimes, Sometimes, when you walk in a market, all of the stuff sold here are probably stolen or something, much, much worse.
Like black market products. And this place must be the emporium of the black market, every single stuff seemed or dangerous or preposterous.
Even sweetie belle, not knowing where she put her hoof in, felt a shiver down her spine as she looked at the content of this place.
Rarity stormed in and moved quickly to the shopkeeper, A grey stallion with a messy blonde mane, looking really tired and dishonest.
"Do you have it ?" she asked, nervous.
the seller looked at her, like if he tried to remember who she was
"Oh, it’s you !" he grinned, moving under his stall and grabbing a vial full of a purple sparkling liquid. "I’ll be 2500 bits , as usual, miss."
"After all this time, I though you’ll be a little more, generous with one of your best customers..." she smiled and leaned a little to the Stallion, making her most seductive face
"... nah, It’ll be 2500 bits". he answered, seeming not impressed by the little trick Rarity tried on him.
She snorted
"Fine, but you’ll finish to ruin me !" She complained, handing the bits out of her saddle bag, then grabing the potion in her telekinetic grip, she turned away and bumped into something at the level of her ankle.
"Augh ! Hey, watchout sis ! I’m here !" Sweetie belle shouted as she tried to stand up face a totally astonished Rarity. "What’s the potion for ?" she asked, really curious, her nose practically touching the vial.
"Sweetie Belle ! Are you spying on me ?!" Accused her sister, pointing her with an hoof melodramatically.
"What ? no ! I was right next to you all along Sis ! What’s that potion do ?"
"It’s none of your business, little filly !" She answered, quickly trotting out the tent and leading back to the boutique, the potion into her saddlebag, forcing her sister to practically run to keep the pace with her tiny legs.
"But I waaaaant to knoooow ! Sis, please !"
"No ! it’s personal !" she shouted at Sweetie belle, slamming the door shut behind her.
"Ow !" Sweetie said, touching her nose, a little hurt by the door.
"Sis ! I want to know, please tell me what’s that potion do ! "She yelled at the closed door, waiting for an answer, but no one came. But she waited
And waited
And again.
After exactly twenty six seconds, she finally gave up and shrugged it off.
"You don’t want to tell me ! Fine ! I don’t need to know what that thing do ! Dumb potion !" She pouted and trotted away.
"... And she didn’t wanted to tell me !"
"Pff let it go , Sweetie belle ! you know how grown up can be so mysterious about silly things! It’s probably nothing!" Scootallo said, trying to use her front hooves to carefully put a pail into her milkshake.
Sugarcube Corner was pretty empty this day, only the crusader were occuping a table, and the rare customers took their good home.
"Bahsides, Ah dunt Think yer sister will keep her potion without drinking it !"
"Puh-lease ! I need to know ! Why all that secret about that ? is she sick ? what’s wrong with her ? I got to know ! Pleaded" Sweetie belle, poking her slice of chocolate cake as a weird green bubble wobbled out of it.
What the hay ?
"Oopsie ! Looks like I confounded frosting and bubble soap Again !" Sing songed Pinkie pie, giggling a little as she replaced the cake by another slice.
Sweetie belle blinked and used a spoon to open the cake, checking it carefully.
"Y...Yeah ! Well, anyway, I’m sure we can get our cutie mark this way !"
It’s like being Private investigators !
" You mean, like Miss Harpple ?"
"Ah’ll have a tweed hat ?" Applebloom asked.
"Totally ! And we will be …"
"CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS FREELANCE POLICE !" Sweetie belle shouted
"CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS INVESTIGATORS !" Scootaoo honked
"CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS GUESSING SPIES !" Applebloom Guessed
" What ? no ! I wanna be a freelance policemare !"
"No way !investigators are way cooler !"
"Yer all wrong ! Wer gotta be Spaes !
"We’re not you doo doe !"
"…"
Rarity put the potion on her drawer, sitting on the sofa next to it, sighting. it has been a close call this time. She were practically found out. A chance her sister lacks of maturity and yet enough intellect to just ask to the shopkeeper the name of the potion.
She took the bottle in her hooves and looked at the purple, pearly liquid in, already feeling the sour taste it always have, how horrid it tasted, but how much she needed to drink it to the last drop in one time, or suffer the consequences. her horn glowed as she opened it, sitting more comfortably and opening wide her mouth, pouring the potion inside it in one go, wincing at the taste.
" Uugh !" She yelped as she convulsed on her seat, whimpering and wincing in pain as her body went cold , then fievrous.
Shattering glass sound echoed the room as she Yelled, a ear-piercing shriek escaping her lips as she fell on the ground, her whole body popping and crackling, some weird move seeming to move her insides.
After two more minutes, the room went silent. It was over, all over.
Meanwhile, a very familiar unicorn was walking forward the boutique, a purple baby dragon on her back, who’s holding a good sized box in his hands.
"Oh gosh I hope Rarity will love her present !" Spike said excitedly, looking to the boutique in anticipation, his feet smacking the sides of his mouny).
"Ouch ! Calm down Spike ! we are almost here !" Twilight Sparkle said , a little annoyed.
"Besides, I don’t think Rarity will not appreciate your gift. After all, dragonscale fabric are quite rare and expensive !"
"I’ve spent so much time gathering my fallen scales and all for so much longer I can’t wait to see her face ! Thank you so much Twilight for using magic to make them in one piece !
I hope she’ll have enough for making an outfit at least !"
"It’s okay, It’s always a pleasure to help my number one assistant ! Besides, it has been a real challenge to work on a so magically resilient material ."
"Aww, Twilight, you use your spells on me each time you need to test them ! Of course it worked !"
As they peacefully continued to walk and talk, they heard somepony yelling in the boutique. they both blinked and Twilight suddenly ran to the entry door of the Boutique and slammed her hooves on it, trying to push it open, but it was closed.
" Rarity ?! Something wrong ?" Twilight shouted , knocking at the door, Spike jumping out her back and trying to look at the windows, trying to shield his eyes from the light and use his infra-vision.
"I don't See anything, Twi !" Spike said nervously," But I heard something Broke !"
"I’m gonna enter Rarity !" She said, Stepping back and charging her horn, when suddenly the door shoot open, revealing a panting and messed maned Rarity.
"Can I help you with something, darling ?" Rarity asked between two sharp breath, using an hoof to arrange her mane.
"We heard you screaming ! What happened ?" asked Twilight, taking a close look at Rarity.
Are you alright ?
"Why, of course I'm alright, I... just make my sewing machine fell and I broke the pedal , nothing too serious, dear ! Sorry to make you worry, you and Spikey wikey !" She smiled nervously and rubbed the forehead of Spike, who instantly melted, tending the box absently to Rarity.
"Fffsflkzfnei!" He mumbled to his favorite mare.
"What Spike is trying to say is that he has a gift for you ! " Twilight explained, nudging her assistant/somewhatlittlebrother/slave/postmailer.
"Ooh, that’s lovely Spikey wikey ! you shouldn’t have, though." She said, her horn lit up as broken glass noises rang into the boutique, opening the door a little wider.
Please, do enter ! She asked, taking the box with her magic. I’m so sorry for the mess !
The Carousel boutique was in fact, as ordered as usual, only thing out of the ordinary was the sofa in the middle of the room, the leather ripped out and obvious bite marks on it, the inside of the device poking out the holes.
" Be at home, my dears ! And Spike, help yourself and take a gem into my chest if you want." she smiled and sat on a armchair, motioning Twilight to sit on the Sofa in front of her, What she did hesitantly, trying to not sit on a spring.
"Spike wanted to give you his self your gift, Rarity, he spent so much time gathering it ! He got all his scales and asked me to Make you this fabric" She said, opening the box and showing to the white unicorn the Glowing leather. Rarity’s eyes sparkled and she shakily touched it, feeling how soft it was in one sense, and rough on the other, how tense and resistant it was, as she used an hoof to wipe a tear out her eye.
"Aww, Spikey Wikey !" She said in a Whisper, already thinking about what she can do with that kind of fabric, from resistant and magic proof saddle bags, vanity cases, to swimsuits and justaucorps, and even to the parts of dresses and diverse accessories she can thing of.
"That is such a priceless gift ! dragon scales are so rare ! And above all, dragon scale fabric are so expensive ! I can’t thank you both enough for such a generous gift !"
"Spike really wanted to give it to you ! after all, there’s no use we can have of it, I already have plenty of this in my lab for my alchemy stock.
But I’m not here for that, Rarity."
"Oh ? what can bring you here a Wednesday then ? did I forgot a pique nique ? Or maybe a rendez vous at the Spa with you ?" She gasped." That must be that ! I’m so sorry Twilight !"
"What? No ! No, it’s nothing like that ! Remember when you invited me to see your parents, Well, when you were out, I saw with them the family albums, and strangely, there was no photo of you as a foal !"
Rarity froze and looked suddenly very, very nervous
"-Really ? Oh, I’m sure they just got lost somewhere else, that’s all ! I probably used them in beauty contests when I was young and got them somewhere else when I got them back!"
She shifted on her seat uncomfortably.
Twilight has a nervous laugh
"Yeah, sure ! I’m sorry, it worried me a little bit that I didn't saw them, do have them here ?"
"NO !... I mean, no, sadly , no, I maybe lost them, or they are at my parents place, in my old room, or even somewhere else, I’m not sure if I lost them or not !"
"But, Rarity! It’s your childhood! you should still have them, no? It’s your life and your memory!"
At this moment, Spike came back with a very huge diamond, licking his lips
" Hm, Spikey, are you sure this come from my gem chest ?"
"Uu, I...I don’t know Rarity ?"
"It’s not one of theses you can eat, put it back on the desk and go grab a tinier one please, I need this one for a personal project."
" Okay, Rarity ." he said, looking down ad went for a minute, coming back with a medium sized ruby.
"Good boy" , said the white mare, patting Spike head". Now I’m sorry but I really need to take care of something, I’ll see you later, okay ?"
"B..but Rarity...!" Twilight begun, being carried out of the Boutique.
"I’m really sorry, my dears, but I need to be alone now! I’ll see you later ! "she said, slamming the door shut.
".. Wow …" Twilight said, looking at the door
She’s really sensitive about her childhood.
"Scootaloo ! you’re gonna make us Caught ! "Sweetie belle Muttered to her.
"I’m not !" Said the filly, trying to hide the broken glass under a drawer.
"Salence ya two "! Said Applebloom, crouched as she looked around the suspicious tent Rarity
and Sweetie Belle went earlier.
They moved, no one else here, the shopkeeper smoking outside, potions and weird contraptions fixed to the fabric of the walls, searching for others vials of that potion.
"Grown ups are weird !" Said Scootaloo, taking in her mouth a red ball with a leather strap around it. "Who want to wear a plastic ball as a collar ?"
"Let that out ! I saw Big Macintosh having that in his room !"
"Aha ! her they are !" Sweetie Belle cheered, taking one potion and trying to read the sign on it.
"What’s that stuff say ?" asked Scootaloo, putting down the item in her mouth
"It says … Gender bending poti-Augh !" She yelped as Applebloom rushed on her to see better, making her wince and fall over the potion’s stash sending them flying and crashing on the ground, all of them shattering and sending their content over the place.
"Uh oh …."
And the three fillies ran away after destroying an year worth of potion, chased by the shopkeeper, yelling at them.
The Cutiemark Crusaders managed to escape the salespony, hiding under a bush, not proud about their last achievement.
“We totally sucked this time ...” Scootaloo snorted.
“Gurls ! I got my Cutiemark ! Gurls !” Applebloom excitedly shouted, something brown on her flank.
“Nah, it’s just some dirt, Again ” Sighed Sweetie belle, pulling straws out of her mane.
“Aw !”
...
“Sigh !”
Eyelash extensions... Why do I even need to put them on ? So bothersome! Why wasn't I born with any?
Even if she was the first willing to use accessories, she'd give up fashion altogether if she could have real eyelashes
She never really been through the whole process, and she never skipped a dose before, but a tingling sensation told her that she'd need the next one pretty soon.
She sat the powder compact on the drawer and went to her desk, looking at her new project.Grand
Thinking that- thanks to Spikey wickey- she’ll design her first dragon scaled outfit, her heart lightly twitched. She shook her head and scolded herself, there was no place for this here.There is only work.
On her side, Twilight was not as successfull ....
“ Augh ! It’s like she never existed before !” Twilight let out a desperate groan and headed up to the Elementary School of Ponyville, the only place she hadn't visited.
“I’m sorry Twilight, but it seems that nopony called Rarity was into our school in the time you told me. We had her antecedents just fine few years later, but she seems not taking part to our Class photoshoots as well, Cheerily said nervously, trying to dig into the indigestible mess that is the School’s administration and archives.
Twilight sighed and lowered her head
“ Sure Twilight ! I trust you, you will bring them back soon, please ? I’ll need them to show my class their parents were foals too” Cherilee grinned and put aside some files for the unicorn as the bell rung.
“ History ?”
“ No, making necklaces with noodles !”
“ Oh...”
“ Sis, Miss Ditzy is here !” Sweetie belle called “ She has some mail for you !”
“ Wonderful, can you take it for me, my dear? I’m in the middle of something I can’t leave at the moment.” Rarity called back, struggling against a little model of a boat, trying to put it into the bottle, with her eyes on the notice.
“ Sweetie Belle, what have I told you about grabbing things with your mouth ?” Rarity scolded.
“ To do so is uncouth. But I'm not the only one doing it !” Her sister protested
Rarity froze and looked down on the piece of boat in her mouth, instructions in her telekinesis and the bottle in fragile equilibre on her head.
“....You got a point here Sweetie. But you should really use your magic more ! You need to practice !”
The foal eye’s rolled and she sat the paper on the table before going out.
“ Thank you !” She opened the cache and took the parchment to read it”
Dear Customer,
I, Doubltly Commerce, am writing to inform you that due to the sabotage my shop has been subject to, we are unable to provide you with your weekly dose for an extended period of time.
Three unknown little fillies broke into my tent and ruined the batch and it’ll be troublesome to find the ingredients to make another potion.
In fact, I’ll not be able to provide your product for exactly five weeks, the time required to resupply and mix the sus-named potions.
I apologize in advance for the troubles it’ll cause and advise you to find an isolated, cottoned place when the potion will wear off, in exactly 2 days or so, if the potion has been taken the day you bought it.
Rarity eye’s went as big as saucers as she let the paper fell on the ground, her hooves shaking.
She fainted, hitting the ground with a soft bump.
“ Was that just a horrendous dream ?” she asked herself, looking around and spotting the letter on her drawer.
Oh, Horseapples
It wasn't a dream, and worst of all, somepony was here when she fainted, maybe he/she read it.
She scolded herself and hit her head with her hoof
“Oh my ...” A quiet, calm voice said.
“ FLUTTERSHY ? What are you doing here ?” Rarity managed to say.
“Oh, Um ... I was... well you know, it’s Tuesday .... and it’s our weekly spa day .... if that’s okay with you ... but I saw you on the ground and unconscious, so... I put you in your bed and... well, I took care of you” she managed to say through her mane, barely loud enough for Rarity, used to Fluttershy’s ways of communications.
“ The Letter ! Did you read the letter ?” Rarity precipitately asked.
“ N...no ! It’d be rude, don’t you think ?”
Rarity sighed and leaned in her bed a little more, relieved.
“Thank you Fluttershy” Rarity said, looking at the roof “ I need to be alone now, if you don’t mind”
“A...are you sure you’ll be fine ? I can stay to help you if you need ....”
“No, Fluttershy, this is something I have to do myself” Rarity smiled, nervously, but reassuringly to her friend. “ It’s nothing, really, it was just an embarrassing bit of news, nothing too serious; you know how I am ? Right ?”
“ ... Okay Rarity, but I'll be back tomorrow to check on you !” she answered after a moment of pondering, already trotting away and going out through the window.
The white unicorn sat there for a minute, before going out and moving to her desk, taking one of her empty signs and a large brush and some paint. She wrote something down, put it on her door, and went to bed, thinking; after all that, she definitively needed beauty sleep right now.
”The Carousel Boutique is closed due to illness,” Twilight read the sign, flanked by Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Then she looked at the second line, “Please return in 5 WEEKS!?”
Pinkie pie bounced to the door and knocked.
“Maybe she didn't hear us ?” Fluttershy ventured, looking nervously around.
“More reasons to see her !” Twilight urged Pinkie to knock again, which she did.
“We know you are in there !” She said, looking into the keyhole.
“Um girls ... I saw something move into the window !” Flutershy ventured, peeking a little around the bush right under the said windows.
On the other side, Rarity, was totally panicked.
Not only had the potion wore off more quickly expected, but she had no time to prepare her room for the changes, resulting in the Boutique looking like it been under the attack of a manticore. She was more hurt than ever, clueless on how to manage her friends right now, not doubting her appearance being nightmarish and probably, un-fashionable.
“ I’m very sorry my dears, but you cannot enter right now” She said, coughing from time to time.
“ Rarity, it’s Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. Are you alright ? The sign says that you are sick!” Twilight answered through the door. “Your voice sounds weird, may we enter ?”
“NO!” Rarity shouted, cursing herself when her broken, altered voice rang and echoed into her room. “I mean, no, I’m very, very contagious! Please stay away from me for today!”
“But, Rarity we...”
“Please! “
“Rarity, um ...I..” Fluttershy began.
“Pluh-ease!”
“Okie doki Lokie Rarity. We will be back tomorrow, okay ?” Pinkie said, uncharacteristically calm and posed, head against the door and an hoof stroking it.
“Pinkie! How dare you take that decision without our consent ?” Twilight whispered.
“She won’t open, she is super duper serious right now” Pinkie answered, looking straight at the eyes of Twilight. The pink, hyper energetic pony was serious as ever, concern in her face. “She won’t disappear, Twilight.”
“Uuugh! Fine !” Twilight groaned. “We will be back tomorrow afternoon, okay?’
“My yes! Sure!” Rarity answered. “I think it’ll be much, much better.”
“Okay, then. Bye Rarity.” The purple unicorn said and motioned to her friends to move as well and leave.
“Oh, horseapples, how will I get out of this?” Rarity moaned. “I can’t let my friends see me like this!”
She moved to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror, shuddering and experiencing a very alien sensation, not too far from when she was infected with poison joke.
“There’s no possible way I’ll show myself out of my boutique like this.” She stomped the drawer and looked straight at her reflection’s eyes.
If nopony must ever see her like that, she’ll be somepony else.
For the first time in ten years, the moment has come to use her real name.
The next day, in the early afternoon, Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie went again to the boutique
“It’s too bad that Dashie is so busy with her Wonderbolt training and Applejack with Apple season to go see Rarity with us!” Pinkie whined a little.
“It’s okay, they both promised to go see her tomorrow morning,” Twilight said.
“Um ... yeah, and I.. I carried some medical supplies for Rarity just in case,” Fluttershy quietly said, carrying a huge cart of medicine, gauze and bandages.
Twilight and Pinkie pie deadpanned at Fluttershy, who meeped.
“T...too much ?” She ventured, as the two other ponies nodded.
“Eep! Ooh, well, I’ll probably leave the cart here then.” She smiled sheepishly and left it near the entry door.
Twilight smiled was about to knock at the door when it opened on a passably angry Sweetie Belle.
“I’m her sister ! Why can’t I see her ?!” She yelled.
“I’m sorry, Sweetie, but she is highly contagious and she needs rest. You can’t see her right now,” said a refined, collected voice.
Twilight’s eyes went wide as she looked past the little filly and saw the voice’s owner.
All the mare’s mouth went dry as they looked at the form in front of them.
All of them but Pinkie, who was eyeing it suspiciously.
The form was indubitably a stallion. A beautifully well shaped stallion stood before them.
“S..sir ?” She ventured, “Excuse us, but we are here to see Rarity. She’s a really good friend of ours. Is she here?”
The stallion froze an instant and looked at the three ponies through the door of the Boutique.
“Oh, yes, Rarity told me about you.” The stallion said, smiling with an unmistakable charm. “Unfortunately, it seems she got a little worse and is still contagious. The doctor asked me to take care of her, since I am immunized to the condition. But where are my manners? My name is Gallant, nice to meet you three “ He smiled and went to Twilight to kiss her hoof.
“Nice to meet you too, I’m Twilight Sparkle, and these are my friends: Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.” She said, blushing lightly and showing her friends to the stranger.
“Why yes, Mademoiselle, I’m her cousin, at your service,” he said, looking at the two other ponies. Pinkie chuckled lightly and Fluttershy turned red like a tomato, trying to hide behind her cart.
“So... we can’t see her ?” Twilight asked again.
“I’m afraid not. She is very weak and in need of rest in the darkest room possible,” he sighed.
“B...but what kind of disease can do that?” The unicorn raised an eyebrow.
“Maneringitte, dear, maneringitte,” the stallion said, mournfully.
The three friends gasped and Fluttershy nearly fainted.
“Maneringitte? This is awful! We need to see her!” Twilight urged.
“No, miss Sparkle, you need to stay away from her, and let her rest!”
“How did she even catch that?” Fluttershy asked.
“We think .. it’s because of her last fabric import. We found a contaminated batch of her fabric stock, obviously from Chayna..” Gallant explained.
“Now I am very sorry, but she really needs to rest and I must help her through all of this. I’ll be there for her, don’t worry Miss,” he added for Twilight.
“O...okay .. B..but maybe we can, when she feels better, get to know each other? Have a get together with you, me, and all of Rarity’s friends? You’ll surely need help, and you wont stay forever into the boutique, right?” She asked.
“I’ll see, miss Sparkle, but now I really need to make her take her medicine. Miss Pie, Miss Fluttershy, Miss Sparkle, Goodbye,” said the stallion, closing the door behind him.
“Ow ... He’s a little ...” Twilight began.
“He must be so worried for his cousin; I’m sure he didn’t want to sound mean” Fluttershy said.
“Yeah .... Right”
Rarity, on her side, was against the door, panting and and closing her eyes tight.
“I just hope I wont have to do that often ...” She sighed and climbed her stairs to go to the workshop, windows closed and blind, using a candle to continue to work on the Dragon scales outfit...
Working.
Rarity sat at her desk and lifted a pen with her magic, tracing curves, drawing the last lines of her new concept. Spike’s scales were more useful than she thought. While the more glowing part was rough and waterproof, the inner zone were quite soft and agreeable to touch. She wasn’t about to make only one ensemble out of it. She was going to do a complete series.
She begun to hum quietly as she moved to the sewing machine, taking the patron and the fabric, going back to her craft work. What was that ? She hummed again, a very, very male-ish hum. She sighed.
A chance nopony knew her situation. Of course, her parents knows. But Sweetie Belle ? She never told her and begged her parents to never say a word about it. If her little sister needed to know, it’ll be from her and her only. She facehoofed, She though about it as she groaned and got back to work.
She had a dress to make.
Sweetie Belle was bored out of her mind. Pony history wasn’t her strengh when it came to school work. It was utterly boring!
“Hey! Pss!” whispered a voice next to her;
“Uhm, what?” she asked to nopony, looking around nervously “I was listening I swear!”
“That’s good, Sweetie Belle, I know you were!” Said Cherilee joyfully, pushing another button to activate the next slide “And that’s all about Princess Celestia’s role in the confetti war!”
“Oh, uh , yeah !” she nodded, when something poked her side. She jolted a little and turned her head, seeing Scootaloo trying to poke her again with the tip of her pen.
“Stop that! It’ll leave marks!” she groaned “What do you want, Scootaloo?”
“Did you find something interesting about that potion? I just got weird looks from my parents”
“Me too! They made me go to bed earlier!” the filly whined.
“Maybe we should ask somepony else?” Scootaloo added.
“Sure, but who?”
“Hmm, I don’t know, Pinkie Pie?” the orange pegasus adventured.
“... Nah, I don’t think she’ll know what that means, she’s more into pastry than potions” Sweetie belle said, looking down at her desk.
“ hey, gurls ! Gurls, Ah have a crazy Idea !” Apple bloom said, on the other side of Sweetie Belle. “ Why don’t we look at .... an encyclopedia ? Or a dictionary ?”
“Pft! Since when are books useful like that?” Apple Bloom said. “Books are lame, face it!”
“You dodo! Why don’t you think there is books in school?” Said Sweetie
“To weighen the bags of the students?” Adventured the concerned.
“No! This is where grown ups find their lessons! And where they want us to learn things ! maybe we can find a definition in gender bending !” lectured the white filly.
“Oh yeah ! but we already know what that means ! It .... bends, the ... gender?” she closed a little her eyes and rub her head. “ Gah ! That makes no sense at all !”
“I dont want to my gender being bent!” whined Sweetie Belle.“ It sounds like something that might hurt!”
“Ah dun’t think it’s something like that ! Ah hope it’s Something ... methafo...meta .... metaphorical!” Apple bloom deadpanned.
Scootaloo facedesked and groaned in her book as the bell rang, signaling the end of the School day.
“I’ll See you tomorrow, class.” Cherilee grinned forcefully, always a little frustrated that she wasn’t able to finish her lecture for today.
Sweetie Belle dismissed and moved out the classroom, thinking about the whole potion thing
Girls, Maybe I should ask Rarity again for that thing, I’ll come to the clubhouse right after that, okay?”
“Yeah, but don’t be too long, or you’ll miss our special assignment !” the filly pegasus said, hopping on her scooter.
“Wher gunnah be...”
“Cutie Mark Crusaders Throw-that-ring-in-the-lava!” yelled the two fillies.
“What is that even? How can you get a cutie mark in throwing a ring into some hot lava?” the white unicorn retorted, not convinced.
“I dunno! It’s a weird gramps in grey robe who asked us to!” Apple bloom explained
“Grown ups are weirdos!” Scootaloo proclaimed.
“Errr, good luck with that, I’m going to see my sis!” Sweetie belle said, trotting out.
This day is going to be perfect ! Rarity thought.
For the first time in a year, Sweetie Belle wasn’t here to stop her from her work, and nopony went to her boutique, she had beenclosed since morning.
I should’ve done that more often, just take some time with me alone, working on my projects. It’ll probably hurt my business, though, I’ll need to manage that carefully...
“Welcome to the Carousel Boutique where everything is chic and authenti- Gah !” Rarity shouted when she looked down to the visitor.
“Who in the hay are you !?”
“Who do you think I am ? I’m R....” the stallion began, stopped short in his speech as he nervously passed an hoof into his blue mane, putting it on the side, not unlike Rarity did sometimes when extremely nervous, but Sweetie Belle was too busy to take the hint and charged at him, grabbing his hoof.
“L...let me go, Sweetie Belle, enough !”
“You know me ?” the little filly asked quite rudely.
“Why yes ! I am your S.... Cousin ! I’m your cousin, cousin Gallant, nice to finally see you in the flesh and bones * he grinned nervously, an hoof raised to his chin.
“Cousin? I don’t have any cousin ! Uncle and Aunt never had a child ! do they?” Asked the confused Sweetie Belle.
Gallant nodded “Yes, I’m the son of Auntie Gabriel and Fine fabric. Rarity and I spent days to play each other when we were as young as you.” the stallion explained.
“Why did they never told me that I have a Cousin !“ she whined, stomping the ground.
The Stallion laughed nervously “Well, what can I say, I was in Neighpon since a few years, and maybe they didn’t wanted you to know about me because they really didn’t wanted to think about me so far away ... my parents think that it is bad luck to talk about absent ponies”
Sweetie Belle’s eye twitched. That didn’t made any sense.
“I’m afraid that Rarity is sick” Gallant replied with a contrite face.“ She has maneringitte, she’s very contagious.”
Sweetie Belle gasped “She’s very, very sick?“
The stallion nodded “Yes, I’m afraid that lady Rarity will have to take a break and be alone for five weeks.”
“B...but she was supposed to keep me here for the holidays !”
Gallant tilted, he didn’t have thought about that “R...really? Oh well...” He scratched his neck.” I guess I could do that between taking care of your big sister and the shop... I’m not supposed to open it.“
“Yeah, I don’t think Rarity will appreciate somepony else running her boutique.” Sweetie Belle stated.
The stalllion noded “ I’m very sorry, Sweetie Belle, but I think I’ll need to get back to her. Would you like to come back another time ? i’ll be more in measure to welcome you, what about tomorrow ?” he smiled and opened the front door.
“Can’t I talk to my sister, mister Gallant?”
Gallant used his front hooves to push the filly out of the boutique, moving her to the front door.
“Soon, I promise ! But please, call me cousin” Said the interested as Sweetie belle left the Boutique “Goodbye !” he waved at her and closed the door, turning the key in the door and locking it up.
Phew Rarity, It was a close call, she scolded herself. What were you thinking to not LOCKING the door?
A chance nopony else w hen ....
Diling~!
Oh horseapples...
“Hello, how can I help you Dar....Twilight?”
“Oh, hello, Gallant, I’m glad to see you again”
“What are you doing here ? I said that the boutique is closed“ The stallion smiles nervously
“Well, I saw Sweetie Belle and I thought that Rarity were maybe better or that I could pay a visit to her “
“Sadly, as I said to my cousin, I can’t let you in her room. She is actually sleeping, and still contagious,“ he answered.
“Oh ... okay, I was trotting by and thought that you should be very lonely, so... I wanted to say hello and maybe have a chat ?” she said, seeming uncharacteristically shy.
The stallion blinked, then smiled. “How marvelous” he commented“ I was indeed quite bored, thank you for coming here !”
“So, what do you do for a living, Mister Gallant?” asked Twilight
“Like my cousin, Rarity I have a certain appeal for Fashion,” he said, the ‘F’ emphasized. “But unlike her, my passion for gems took priority on my will to design outfits. I’m more a jewelry designer, even if I don’t mind drawing a tuxedo or two, maybe even a dress, that said, I'm far from the talent of my cousin.“ He smiled and motioned Twilight to take a seat as he walked over, taking a teapot and few cups.
Twilight sat and took a cup of tea, breathing slowly on it.“ I have to admit Rarity knows her affair pretty good.”
Rarity mentally grinned as she nodded to Twilight. It’s the perfect plan, I’ll know what everypony thinks about me, I’m so curious to know what my friends gossips about me
“ She surely does, I heard that she have quite the talent, I mean, having a presentation for Hoity Toity ? The Hoity Toity ? He’s quite the Sommité into fashion.”
Twilight cringed a little at the memory, remembered how it happened.“Well yes, but the news doesn’t really talk about her first attempt ,that was disastrous. It was our fault, Me and Rarity’s other friends...”
“Oh? My yes, when you asked her to redo your dresses because they were not what you wished them to be!” He looked at twilight, forcing a polite smile, on the inside, Rarity cringed too, unpleasant memory, I agree.
“That’s right! but how do you know? She asked us to never talk about it again.” Twilight’s head perked to the side as she looked at Gallant with a new acuity.
Rarity felt cold sweat on her coat. Oh goodness, she is too smart for her own good, I’ ll h ave to react before it tilt in her clever head.
The stallion chuckled after a second of shock.“ I have my sources, Rarity told me about it while she was feverous. The poor dear weren’t thinking straight and told me about her life.“ He looked down, his face serious as he said the last word.
Twilight looked down, nervously “I’m sorry to hear that she is in such a bad shape, but I’m happy to know that the doctor told you that she wasn’t in danger.”
Gallant nodded “Yes, She’ll begin to feel better in a few weeks.”
Twilight breathed in relief. “Thank you for taking care of her,” she laughed lightly.“ I’m pretty sure she did an act of her condition and wanted to dictate,“ she attempted to joke.
Gallant eye twitched. “Really? Why would she do that?”
“Everypony knows that Rarity sometimes suffer instances of being an huge drama queen !” Twilight retorted, deadpanning a little “She likes over worrying about little things. But I don’t blame her, I have my moments where I'm quite the drama queen too,” she blushed at those memories, shifting in her seat.
“It’s okay darling, I’m sure everypony has their moments.“ He said, placing an hoof on Twilight’s, making her blush deeper.
“Uhm... Thanks,“ she answered, moving to retire her hoof, smiling apologetically at him...
“I’m very sorry, Twilight Sparkle, I misbehaved” the stallion blushed, making Twilight melt. “oh gosh that stallion is cute when flustered !” she thought.
“I can’t help but notice that your cutie mark is the same as your cousin’s,” She said, curious, keeping herself to look at it closer.
The stallion froze and grinned nervously “ Oh, yes, this is something that amused us when we met after getting it. We received it after quite the same predicament and we ended being talented in fashion and gems. Me obviously taking more interest in the latter.” He added, chuckling, taking a semi-relaxed composure.
“Oh, well I’d love to see a piece of your work in the future.“ Twilight said, blushing a little as she looked at Gallant, eyeing him from dead to ... hooves. She snapped out of it when the clock tower of Ponyville rang the sixth hour of the afternoon. “Already ?“ She said, mouth open in mild shock “I’m very sorry, mister Gallant but I really need to go to my library and double check if Spike did what I wanted him to ,“ she said , standing up and moving an hoof apologetically .
“There is no trouble, but please, Miss Sparkle, call me Gallant“ he said in a soft tone, receiving a blush from the young mare.”
“I promise I’ll come back tomorrow. Earlier!” she added, smiling. "If that's okay..."
“I assure you it’s no -”
“Ep ep ep ! I told you that I wanted to know you better, and we only dug the top, I really want to get to know you, and I’ll introduce to every single friend of mine and Rarity, I’m sure you’ll love them. I’ll come tomorrow with Fluttershy, is that okay?” she asked, making a puppy face.
The stallion hesitated before giving up “Sure, you can come back, I’ll be glad to see you again, Miss Sparkle.” he smiled and lead her to the exit, closing the door when she left, putting an insane amount of padlocks on it.
Dear Diary Today I was working on that new concept of mine, It’ll be fabulous and really handy for unicorn working in areas of high magic density. According the function with the currents waves of fashion will be sensational and totally Novateur .
I also received the visit of my Little Sister. This poor dear think I ’m home-stuck with a mareingitte. It was necessary, only mother and father know the truth and they never told a soul. I’d rather pass for a cousin until I can get some potions again. I’d rather pass for a stranger rather than getting my condition gossiped all over Equestria.
I also met Twilight. I think she came here to check on me and my “disease” but I also think she wanted to see “ Gallant” . The poor dear doesn’’t realise, and never should. I’ll play along and be a nice pony to them, they miss me already, but I need to act as a distant as possible for now, I don’t want them to know, there is laws against what I’m doing here and I don’t want any of them being torn apart from their friendship and their loyalty of honesty to the Princesses and the laws.
Also, using.. that.. to go to the colts room is awkward, I wanted you to know that. I hadn’t in years and I realize that it kinda missed me. Rarity
Rarity woke up on a peculiar sign. She was on her back, snoring lightly when she woke up, removing the mask on her eyes, noticing a strange bulge in her blanket.
What could that b... She pondered curiously moving her sheets and letting out a ear breaking screech as she realized what it was.
Dear Diary
As much I can get used to having that body, there is a thing I think I’ll never be able to accept. I won’t tolerate waking up each morning with that thing pointed right toward my eyes ! And you have my word that I’ll now sleep on my belly.
Yours,
Rarity.
Twilight Sparkle was quietly enjoying her coffee, sat in her kitchen, the Photo book of the Poniville Town’s School facing her.
That’s so strange that nopony seen Rarity before that ! She looked at the first occurrence of a “Rarity” student, which was a teenage Schoolfilly already, but nothing prior.
Weird, It’s like she never existed before, but I can already see Gallant on these pictures. In the earliest pictures, a little white foal with purple mane was smiling to the camera.
I really should ask him about it, I really want to do that for Rarity, the poor dear unable to find her earliest photographs. Twilight sighed and closed the book, already hoofing another one and looking at the other pictures. there was more Rarity, but no Gallant , even if he was still subscribed to the school.
He does told me that he moved out of Ponyville , maybe he still have some pictures of Rarity as a filly. I’ll go ask him with Fluttershy this afternoon.
“Spike! Are you up?” She shouted, head aimed to the roof. The baby dragon was nearly mourning when he learned about his crush affection and devastated by the impossibility to see her anytime soon.
“SPIIIKE!” She yelled, climbing the stairs quickly to find the little dragon on her bed, holding an amethyst.
“ What are you doing on MY bed? I gave you a basket !” she frowned, a little upset that her assistant have the nerves to not fancy his lil’ basket over a bed.
“Oh, right! Thank you soooo much, Mistress Twiligh! Me so happy sleeping in pet basket!” ironised Spike.
“...!” Managed Twilight, mouth agape, then frowned “ I told you that you’ll sleep in a real bed only when you’ll stop breathing fire in your sleep!”
“ It’s been only that ONE time!” Spike shouted back “ I was sick that day!” He rumbled “ try to sleep in those and tell me how you feel!”
“Sir, you are grounded! You won’t get out that library without my permission!” The bookish pony retorted. “ And don’t even think being lazy all day long ! I want you to re shelve the library in alphabetical order AND is class of interests”
“ Aw Cmon MOM! It’ll take me easily a month!” Spike protested
“And that’s exactly the time you’ll stay grounded, now begin or you wont see winter wrap up this year” She threatened and headed to the entry “ I’m out to see Gallant, I’ll see you tonight, and I hope you’ll have done the first shelve completely” She then shot the door closed, walking to fluttershy’s place.
“Gah! Not again!”
Rarity, on her side, were very less successful.
That PrincessDamned Dragon fabric was too rough and constantly rip the silk off !
Focus Rarity, a fabulous pony like you don’t loose her cool for such futile reasons, that’s so unladylike ....
She took a deep breath and moved another stash of fabric
Keep your calm, Rarity, it’s somewhat exciting! This is such a challenge, and if I succeed, Canterlot will talk about me for decades !
The fact is she had no idea how to accommodate such different materials. On the other hoof, she has at least succeeded to craft her own Dragon scale saddle-bag.
Sorry Spikey wikey, but it seems that I’m not good enough yet to be worth of your gift.
The white unicorn slammed her head onto the table, only to hear a loud “ POCK”, signaling that her horn went through the wood. She sighed heavily.
“Just Great! Now, I’m stuck ...” she said, trying to pull his horn off, her hooves against the table, pushing.
The doorbell choose that exact moment to rang, somepony entered the Boutique, and she was wearing her pink pajamas.
Worst of all, her cutie mark was totally visible.
Horsefearhers!
A faint mewl came to her ears
“ Oh! Opalescence Darling! Could you please help your mommy ?” Rarity asked, trying to change her voice to something more recognizable for her pet.
It didn’t worked.
Many white fur and tears were shed that day.
As Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle just entered, they heard an humongous ruckus upstair.
“Opal AAGGLALGZZJGMELGGAGNEIGN! Ouch! Bad cat! No-Augh! Agh! not the mane! no-AHhhh my mane!”something slammed on the ground “ getitoffGETITOFF!”
Fluttershy cowered and looked up “ Oh...my ...Should we go to help him?”
Twilight winced, knowing well what Opalescence was able. “ I think he’ll manage this very well!” She ventured, and stood at the entrance, waiting for the situation to solve by itself.
Eventually, a dischevelied and scratched Gallant came out, slightly bleeding from the scratches.
“ What a little pest!” he fumed, wearing his usual tuxedo. “ Greetings, Miss Sparkle, Miss Shy” he smiled the most amiably possible.
“Uh.. hi” Fluttershy answered, feeling something overly familiar about the stallion, making her feel somewhat safer.
“ Hello, Sir Gallant, Are you ready ? I heard that Rarity’s Cat caused you some troubles ...” Twilight ventured.
“Of course not ! Opalescence is such a sweet heart” he forced a smile, wondering how much taxidermy cost.
“ Anyway, what does you two darling wish to do ?” he asked , smiling brightly.
“Oh, uh, We though ,that, perhaps, you would like to go in a pic nick with us .. I mean ... If that’s okay with you”
“Why, of course !” he answered, smiling charmingly. “ I’ll be more than happy to let rarity alone for some time ! She’s out of danger, and she can eat by herself now !”
“Oh ! Fantastic !” smiled Twilight “ Well, you should warn rarity, we will be just outside , waiting for you “ she grinned and stepped out of the boutique, followed by Fluttershy.
It was a sunny day in ponyville, like usual. Although it was quite a windy day, Cloudsdale scheduled it to make it up after a little mistake from one of the weathermare who accidentally replaced the usual Tuesday rain by a heat wave. Everypony was quite thankful of this change, the temperature dropped enough to let them enjoy a sunny day.
Gallant was walking toward the Ponyville park, flanked by the two mares, blabbering about random things, mostly about fashion, books, and a new beaver pair that Fluttershy found on her doorstep.
Somepony even proposed to wrote a fashion guidebook for beavers in need, but that poor joke hit the ground with a loud splash, and the author will always remain anonymous.
In short, sun shine, wind blow, snail crawl and snips say stupid things, as usual, while they trotted peacefully.
Not yet noticing the bouncing pink blur incoming ...
TRANSITION
“... and so I said, Are you sOOooommpf !” Gallant rocketed into the cold earth, pinned down by a sugar rushed pink blur.
“GAAAAAAAAAAAASP !” Pinkie pie .... gasped.
“ Ah uh eh what ! “ Gallant tried to process what’s happening “ P...pinkie ?!”
“NEW PONY! NEW Po .....” Pinkie lost her track as she looked closer at the pinned down stallion. “ Gallant ?” she looked at him even more closely, eyes bulging out her skull and let out a ear piercing screech that rang all over ponyville.
In another universe, a glass of water shook lightly.
Gallant was now dumbstruck by the impact AND the yelling pony, light headed and a little nauseous as his ears rang, looking at the mad mare upon him.
“ Gallie? BRO HOOF !” She yelled swinging her front leg backward, grinning happily.
“ Wha ..? Augh PINKIE NO !” He flailed to get free, not fast enough to hoof bump back as the pink blur of a hoof approached at an insane speed and strength, smacking him on the right cheek.
The impact blasted the dust around pinkie and gallant, blowing a litght breeze toward the two friends who watched it , mouth agape.
“ Pinkie ! What the hay did you do ?” Cried out the lavender mare while a traumatized Fluttershy jumped at the rescue of the harmed stallion, who wobbled his head, squinting hugely.
“ It’s okay dokey ! that’s how we greeted when we were at School together !” pinkie wave an hoof dismissively “ it’s not big deal really, he’s pretty tough!”
“ That was years ago pinkie !” Twilight shouted “ you are an earth pony, you are probably ten times stronger than him !”
“ I”m not !”
“ You are! look how you lift your party canon ! and It weight at least 100kg !” She sighed then trotted toward gallant, who was slowly standing up, hooves shaking and a huge horseshoe mark across his cheek. “ Gallant, Are you okay ?”
Just dandy, I just got skull blew by that hyperactive mare.
“ I’m fine, really” He tried to smile to twilight but winced in pain, his cheek swelling already and turning slowly blue.
The pink pony hugged softly, uncharacteristically quiet “ I’m so sorry, I just got Soooo excited ! I mean , I didn’t saw you in ages, I was a little filly the last time !”
“What ar ....” He began, slowly remembering that part of his childhood. “ It’s you, Pinks ?”
The pink mare moved awkwardly and nodded “ Yes ! “ She had the goofiest grin gallant have seen in ages as she hugged him tighter.
“P..Pinks ! you are crushing me ... “ he yelped “ We really need to go to that picnic” he said, patting the mare’s back while slowly getting out the bear hug gently, but firmly.
Fluttershy nodded, gently poking the blue cheek of the white stallion, gratified by a scowl, then countered by an adorable apologetic smile.
Sigh ensue.
Some ponies has rainbow in their manes.
Gallant got a blue on his face. The three diamond butt-tatooed pony was setting the napkin on the grass, the box containing the food resting next to him. A gentle breeze rushed on his face and make him wince, the wound all purple, a sack of ice over it.
he sighed, the day was beautiful, he though as he opened the basked and served his friends foods and drinks, sandwiches and soda mostly, with some strawberry cake.
Applejac joined them a few minutes after they set up the picnic, greeting her friends and “meeting” gallant, hoofshook him and took place in front of Gallant, grinning .
Eating at last! Gallant smiled and took with his hooves his sandwich and began to ate. Well this wasn’t THAT bad ! I mean, I could have been more hurt ...
Lost in his though, he didn’t noticed until a few minutes that nopony were eating, and worse, everypony eyed him in awe.
As he took another sandwich he finally noticed and stopped, mouth hang open, ready to bite into it. “ .... what ?” He asked. “ Never saw a pony eating a sandwich ?” he asked nervously.
Applejack was the first to regain fast enough to answer first “ Well ... Ah know ... Rare an” Twi neva used nuthin” than their magic ...”
“ Well ... I don’t ?” gallant retorted. My magic is weird, stronger and less predictable, I don’t want to send the sandwich in the clouds ...”So ?”
“Well... ah though It was Sumthin about the unicorn pride, that they showed that they dun dirt their hooves to eat and show they superiority “ continued Applejack, looking down on her sandwich.
The unicorns mouths opened in shock “ What ?!”
Applejack waved an hoof “Ya know, like rares always told me about mah dirty ways ...” She dipped it into some sauce and licked it.
Gallant and twilight looked at each other, dumbfounded “ But I... She never said such a thing , i’m sure ! Why would she does that ?” Gallant said, feeling shocked, a little angry and sad that her friend thinks something like that.
she shrugged “ Ah dunt think she said it like that, but ah know that’s what she meant ...”
“ I don’t think you got it” Said gallant after a second of reflection. “ Rarity is not like that, She maybe is a little stuck up and very precious “ he says, wincing in himself. “ but I dont think she’ll think so lowly of her friends. Using magic to eat is something unicorns do because they can. it’s usually more practical with certain plates and it’s considered as a Basic sign of sophistication amongst the unicorn.” He sighed “ That’s true that the custom must have been something that begun with some racists Unicorn, but Rarity is not like that, she told me about you, she told me about her best friends and I don’t think a single second she is like one of those canterlot stuck up ponies” he took his sandwich back and took a bite. “ Applejack, she only told me good things about you, and to everypony else. She respect you a lot.”
Applejack listened with a surprised face, her ears progressively perking down as she realized how lowly she though about Rarity.
“ Yer right” She sighed, looking down “ Ahm sorry ... ah though that was a common thing with all the unicorn... Manehattan made me learn this ...”
Gallant sighted “ It’s okay, just don't tell her, it’s something that’ll break her heart” he patted Aj’s shoulder and he stood up” I’m sorry ladies, but I need to get going, Rarity must take her medications. Thank you for the picnic, It was fantastic *he smiled and trotted away, regaining the Carousel Boutique.
As his form get tinier and tinier in the horizon, AJ could feel something poking her shoulder. She turned her head and saw Twilight Sparckle grinning at her Maniacally, holding in telekinesis a Parchment and a quill.
“ Friendship report ~!” She chuckled. “ Eheheheheeh just perfect ! I think we have some talking to do as well ! “
“ Ow shout ...”
Gallant closed behind him the Boutique’s door and undressed quickly, putting the clothes onto the counter.
“ Phew .... “ he turned his head and trotted ... collided onto a passably irritated and frowning pink pony, falling backward onto his rump. “ O..ouch .. Pinkie ?!”
“We meet again ‘Gallant’ “ She snarled and pointed with the tip of her hoof the white unicorn chest
“Or should I say, Rarity !”
