Chapter 1: Between a Rock and a Diamond
“Pinkie darling, are you… certain this is the right place?”
“Yeparoonie. Welcome to the Choosing Stone!”
Under normal circumstances, Rarity would be hesitant to believe in such things as finding her true love with the help of some magical rock. But after Pinkie’s insistence and a number of failed attempts at finding love on her own, she couldn’t help but feel there was nothing to lose. Rarity could certainly turn heads and knew how to attract attention, but keeping it for something more worthwhile and meaningful, or at least a stallion that was worth it, was proving a task of Rockhoofian proportions.
She wasn’t sure what she had been expecting when Pinkie Pie told her about the Choosing Stone that could apparently lead a pony to their special somepony, but it certainly hadn’t been this. Pinkie had simply described it as “the biggest and bestest thing ever” when questioned. Of course, Pinkie Pie often described anything she liked that way. And the pink party pony liked practically everything under the sun and moon.
When they had stopped briefly at the Pie family rock farm on their trip, Rarity had asked Pinkie’s parents about the Choosing Stone in case she could get any additional information, but they had seemed a bit more… traditional. And their stories concerning the rock in question were much the same in their simplicity. Apparently, it told them “thou shalt love one another” and so the two of them got married shortly thereafter.
When she asked if there was any more to their story, they had looked at her strangely, as if being told by a rock they should get hitched was more than enough reason for anypony.
By the time she and Pinkie left to go visit the stone, Rarity had been left wondering if somehow Pinkie Pie had accidentally been swapped at birth. She had met Maude Pie previously, which initially had left her wondering if Pinkie had absorbed all the excitement for the two of them, but now she wondered if Pinkie had managed do the same to her entire family, considering how largely silent they were in comparison.
Pinkie had been accurate that the Choosing Stone was big at the very least. It was positively enormous. It was likely this single boulder was as large as her boutique back in Ponyville. But its size wasn’t the most unusual aspect of the rock. The clay coloured stone was veined all over with strange symbols and carvings, painted in deep curious colours. And nopony had even mentioned the veritable temple that it was housed in. Everything here looked ancient and like it belonged to some long-lost civilization.
Nothing about this rock seemed to indicate it had anything to do with love or romance in the slightest. There was surely a chance it was used for something, ritualistic perhaps? But Rarity wouldn’t have the first idea what. If Twilight ever found out about this thing, she may very well drop everything to study it and whatever mysteries it held. Rarity on the other hand was beginning to question coming here in the first place.
“Weeeeelll?” Pinkie asked, sidling up beside Rarity with a beaming grin. “Aren’t ya going to ask it something?”
“Um… well” Rarity looked around at the room before her. The pictures and murals that made no sense. The writing on the walls that she couldn’t understand. The expectant, carefree look on Pinkie Pie’s face. “I… I don’t’ know what to do. Perhaps this was a mistake. I shouldn’t need some mystical rock to help me find my special somepony” she said, trying to laugh off the day long trip and walk that brought them here.
“Don’t be silly, silly-billy” Pinkie laughed as she pushed Rarity closer to the towering object. “Just be honest and ask nicely.”
Ask what though? She cleared her throat, giving her a moment to analyse her thoughts. “Um… hello?” she ventured curiously.
The stone remained silent.
“I… don’t mean to interrupt…”
This was so silly.
“But I’ve heard you could… help me find the stallion of my dreams?”
Nothing.
She sighed. Well if it was ridiculous, she may as well get it over with. “I don’t need much. Just a stallion of a noteworthy position. Somepony refined, and with taste. Oh! And he must dress well and have a good fashion sense, that is simply essential.” Rarity found it easier as she just imagined her perfect pony and started to forget how silly the whole situation felt. “He must have his own independence, perhaps a business pony like myself, but be able to pamper me when…”
“Rarity!” She flinched as Pinkie complained loudly, pulling her back to reality. “You’re doing it wrong!”
Rarity frowned at her pink friend. “Well what am I supposed to do? You haven’t explained anything.”
“Ohhhh” Pinkie rolled her head to the side. “My bad. But you can’t just ask for a bunch of stuff. Ponies aren’t stuff. Do you only love stuff?”
Rarity felt a bit targeted for a moment. She had to admit, from time to time she could be a tad focused on more… material components. “Well, no. But…”
“And you have to ask with love to get love.”
“That sounds very sweet Darling, but I still don’t know what you mean.”
“Okay then. It sounds like I’ll have to step up to the pitch and help you out” she said, putting on a serious face and rolling up the fur from her forelegs as if they were sleeves. Rarity would have been worried if it had been anypony else, but she had known Pinkie Pie long enough not to question such things.
Pinkie pie vanished in a blur that would make Rainbow Dash jealous, and appeared on top of the Choosing Stone. “Hi there, remember me?” she asked the stone, looking down at it. “You did sooooo well last time, thank you so much! But now we’ve got an even bigger problem, Rarity!”
Pinkie zipped down and grabbed Rarity in a violent one-sided hug. “Here she is! She needs to find her special somepony too, but she’s actually been trying and still nothing! She’s absolutely terrible at this.”
“I-It isn’t that bad!” Rarity complained in surprise.
The earthpony ignored her and zipped to another side of the stone, messing up Rarity’s hair in the wake of her vortex-creating speed. “She’s so hopeless on her own, she once followed this guy around all day and pretended to be like a farmer just to try and impress a pony that had no interest in her at all!”
“I’m not that hopeless” She complained, embarrassed at the reminder. “And I got over him quickly enough.”
Again, Pinkie appeared on top of the stone, this time wrapping her hooves around the top as if she were trying to hug the giant rock. “But Rarity is just so awesome! She gives so much to everypony around her. Time, effort, heart and love. She really deserves somepony to love her back. Like really real love. After everything she’s given, don’t you think it’s time that she gets something back? So please? Just once more. She’s one of my bestest friends in the whole world, and she deserves to find somepony that makes her happy.
“Oh, Pinkie” Rarity smiled, touched by the words.
“Choosing Stone, please find the bestest pony out there for my friend! The one that’ll be best for Rarity!”
For a moment, silence filled the air. Rarity opened her mouth to thank her friend for trying, but before she could get the words out, there was a rumble that shook the ground. Rarity’s heart leapt into her throat as a loud hum reverberated around the room. Was this supposed to happen?
A snap of magic echoed from somewhere, and a pair of colours started snaking up either side the Choosing Stone, following the rivulets and symbols as if water was impossibly running upstream. A line of purple swirled through various patterns, as a line of blue zigzagged across the other side. The two colours made their way to the front of the stone, and where they collided, they erupted into a flash of blinding prismatic light, forcing Rarity to shield her eyes.
When the light subsided and her vision returned, Rarity realized that the rumbling had stopped. Looking up, the giant boulder was silent once again and the light had vanished. Other than her dangerously elevated heart rate, there was no proof that anything at all had transpired.
“What… what just happened Pinkie” She asked, trying to calm down and stop her heart beating a million beats per minute.
Pinkie shrugged. “Eh, I’ve seen better.”
“What?!”
“But that just let’s you know that it worked!” she said, excited once more and bounding over to Rarity, almost tackling her to the ground with a hug. “Isn’t this exciting Rarity? You’re going to find true love! And not the type where you think it’s true love until you realize that somepony you were really into because they’re really good looking or rich or have a cool voice, but when you meet them it turns out they’re a total poopy pants and super-duper meanie mc’meanie face and they mess up your dress while you’re spending all this time trying to impress them until their meanieness gets too much so you blow up and yell at them and splash cake on them because they totally deserved it, but you don’t have to worry about that anymore because” Pinkie finally took a deep breath and kept going without pause. “Because you’re going to find real love, and are you excited? I know I’m excited, Ahhhh!” She punctuated the end of her thought with an excited squeal.
“Honestly Darling, it’s difficult to be excited when I don’t know what just happened. And those things you said, although very touching, it was so vague.”
“Pah-shaw” she said, waving a hoof dismissively. “You don’t want to be too specific, or maybe you would’ve been with the bestest of the bestest special somepony, but you asked for somepony that had to like pickles and they didn’t like pickles so you got stuck with the next best candidate who did like pickles and missing out on the bestest of the bestest just because they don’t like pickles seems like a really shallow reason to miss out on…”
“But Pinkie!” Rarity interrupted, quite finished hearing her friend wax on about vinegar soaked cucumbers. “You didn’t specify anything!”
“I know! Isn’t it great? You’re going to get the bestest special somepony ever with no strings attached. Unless they work in a string factory, then there might be a few stray strands when they come home after work. Ooh! Or a streamer factory! Wait, do streamer’s count as string?”
Rarity pulled back from the smothering hug. “But literally the only thing you specified was ‘pony.’ How will I know how to find him?”
Pinkie gasped, the type of long and tall gasp she made when meeting somepony new and realized she hadn’t given them a welcome party. “Oh no!”
Finally, it seemed Pinkie was starting to think seriously about this. “Do you suppose we could get…”
“I DID specify pony! What if there was a gryphon or a breezy that was just perfect for you but now I’ve locked them out by my specific specifications?”
Oh.
“Pinkie Pie, that’s not what I…”
Pinkie gasped again, stretching herself even taller with the motion. “What about Spike!”
Rarity blinked. “That’s not… Spiky is adorable, but he’s just a child. He’ll find a dragon he can connect to someday and forget all about his little crush.”
“But he’ll grow up someday and maybe have a really masculine chin and be really handsome and then the age gap won’t be so weird and you’d only have to wait maybe ten or twenty years before it stops being creepy or…”
“Pinkie!” Rarity snapped, stopping that train of thought before it got too much.
Pinkie gasped even deeper. “What about Tom!”
It took her a moment to realize, but when she did, Rarity scowled. “How many times do I have to tell everypony to never to speak of that again?” She would have preferred to forget that whole incident forever.
Pinkie pie had rolled into a ball and was rolling on the spot “Oh no. what have I done? I’m a horrible friend, I’ve ruined your one chance at true love and doomed you to a second-rate relationship with somepony that HAS to be a pony.”
Part of Rarity was impressed Pinkie had restricted herself to only rolling about in one spot, but the rest of her was concerned with how to stop Pinkie from ‘reasoning’ herself into a pit of despair. “It… it’s not that bad Pinkie” she said, placing a hoof on her shoulder trying to comfort her (at least she guessed it was her shoulder, it was hard to tell while Pinkie was completely spheroid). “I’m sure the… Choosing Stone knew what you were talking about. You just wanted what was best for me. I’m sure it’s not going to be so choosy as to hold to your exact phrasing.”
“You mean it?” Pinkie said, extracting her head from the tightly knit ball to look at her.
“Of course Darling” she said, smiling sincerely. You’re one of my best friends, and one little slip of the tongue could never change that.”
Pinkie sprang back to her regular shape and enthusiasm, engulfing Rarity in another aggressive hug of friendship. “Oh thank you Rarity! You’re one of my very best friends in all of Equestria too!”
Rarity couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s speedy recovery. Everything was at its extreme when dealing with Pinkie Pie. Always at one end of the scale to the other, no in-between. And frankly, Rarity would have it no other way.
“All that said however, now what?” Rarity wondered out loud. “Now that I know my special somepony… or some whatever, is out there, how in Equestria do I go about finding him? I know nothing about this pony.”
“Oh that’s easy” Pinkie beamed. “I think the Choosing Stone just puts the two of you in the right place at the right time. All you have to do is just do what you were going to do anyway and you’ll meet up with them eventually.”
“But what if I do meet him and don’t realize it so he’s gone forever?”
“Then they weren’t your special somepony?” Pinkie replied, as if trying to understand the constant questions.
“So, I should keep looking anyway? And just hope to find him?”
Pinkie shrugged. “Probably? That could be the way you’re supposed to meet. You’re gonna have to put some effort into this. They’re not just going to fall into your lap. You can’t just put all the pressure on them.”
Rarity stood there in silence for a moment, trying to parse out everything that had happened and what it all seemed to mean. She put a hoof to her forehead and sighed. “So, I simply have to go on with my life as normal, and one day I may or may not find my special somepony, but I won’t know who he is, so I just have to keep my eye out for anypony that I may fall in love with?”
“Yep” she nodded vigorously. “That sounds about right.”
Rarity sighed one more time. “Pinkie? How is that any different from everyday life?” With that in mind, just what had been the point in all this?
“Well at least this time you know they’ll be there someday.”
Well it was something, but it didn’t seem worth all the hours of travel and the miles of walking to this remote location, only to be told that some vague day in the future, somepony would appear that would make everything better. It wasn’t enough to justify it all. Rarity would make it worth it.
She stepped closer to the Choosing Stone and took a closer look. Once she dispelled the eerie feeling this place gave her, she found she could admire the aesthetics. Somepony had put a lot of effort into this place and she was starting to see the beauty in it. She examined the rolling curves and intricate patters on the stone, and admired how the colours bled into each other, thinking back on the way the light glimmered in the grooves.
Rarity’s eyes sparked as inspiration struck. “Idea!” Rarity reached into her saddlebags with her magic and pulled out a quill and parchment. She scribbled furiously as Pinkie came over to look.
“Whatcha doin?”
“I am inspired! I must get this down before the feeling leaves me.”
“Huh, I thought Twilight was the only one who would take pen and paper everywhere. Are you making a checklist too?”
“… Not quite Darling. One must always be prepared for inspiration can strike at a moment’s notice” Rarity stated, finishing her quick sketch. “Tada!” she exclaimed, revealing the sketch of a new dress. She was inspired by the lines of colour with both the curves and the straight lines, coming together in a beautiful mix of inspiration and possibility. It would certainly take more work at her drafting table back in Ponyville, but it was a wonderful start. “I call it, Romantic Desire.”
“Ooh, pretty.”
Rarity hadn’t used any of the actual symbols from the stone as she didn’t want to accidentally invoke whatever magic they could possess, but she used the overall style to come up with her own. She could see it in her mind how the dress would sparkle, and the curves and lines would accentuate the important parts of any mare who wore it. Rarity couldn’t wait to get back to her sewing machine and bring her vision to life.
“Welp, I know all this excitement has made me hungry” Pinkie said turning to leave. It’ll be dinner time by the time we get back, and Mum’s making soup tonight. I’m sure she’d be more than happy for us to join in.”
“That sounds wonderful Pinkie. Lead the way” Rarity said, following Pinkie who was already bouncing back outside.
She took one last look at the Choosing Stone as she passed under the doorway to the outside. It sat silent and imposing within the temple. “Those three words I wish to hear” she pondered to herself. “I will hear them someday. And have somepony to say them to as well.”
Rarity smiled, feeling content, and hurried to catch up to Pinkie Pie.
Author's Note
Oh god, what am I doing 😨 I have no idea how to write a romance, but this idea simply refused to leave me alone.
I see this having equal chance at being either pretty good, or an absolute dumpster fire, as I only have a rough idea where it’s going to go. Either way, I’m probably going to learn a thing or two.
That said, if this chapter has taught me anything, I need to write more Pinkie Pie. That was so much fun 
Chapter 2: Sequins and Rhythms
Chapter 2: Sequins and Rhythms
“Rarity don’t you think it’s quite time you called it a night?” Rarity heard Sassy Saddles say for perhaps the third time that evening.
“In a minute” Rarity responded. “I’m just putting in the last few stitches.”
“You said that almost half an hour ago on a different dress” Sassy sighed.
“That was before I noticed the seams on this dress weren’t quite right. I’m not sure how I could have missed it earlier.” The Manehattan yearly Fashion Festival was only a few more days away and Rarity wanted everything to be perfect. Every stitch, every sequin, every crease. Of course, that was suddenly made a little more difficult as the dress she had been hoof stitching was magicked away from her. “Noooooo” she lamented tiredly as Sassy’s magic pulled it away and onto a coat hanger.
“I could think of a reason or two how you missed it.” Sassy set the needle in the fabric and tied a tiny ribbon to the needle so it would be easier to find later and hung the unfinished dress on the appropriate rack. “You have been staring too closely for the past three hours. Your eyes must be exhausted by now.”
Rarity at rubbed her eyes, pushing her work glasses up to her forehead. As much as she hated to admit it Sassy had a point. The relief she felt upon them closing reminded her how long it had been. She couldn’t help feeling slightly stubborn however. “When I asked you to come lend a hoof for this festival and make sure I didn’t overwork myself, I had hoped that would be by splitting my workload.”
“Ensuring you don’t exhaust yourself also counts as my job right now, so that’s what I’m doing” she said with an equal amount of sass. She frowned sympathetically. “You’ve already sent the other store assistants home, why must you keep working?”
“But I was almost finished.”
“It will not fall apart overnight. You need a break dear. Everything is fine and we have plenty of time before the fashion show begins.”
“Fine isn’t perfect” Rarity said, looking at the mostly finished dresses on the line. The longer she stared the more flaws she saw. One dress’s feathers were too poofy, another didn’t have enough sequins, and more still were… her vision was suddenly obscured by the blue unicorn stepping in front of her.
“I know that look Rarity, you may be my employer but I am putting my hoof down.”
“Sassy Saddles, I will not take this insubordination.”
“You know how seriously I take my job Rarity.” Sassy’s horn glowed as she turned Rarity’s chair around and wheeled it out of the workroom into the main foyer. Rarity squealed as she held on to her chair in fear of falling off until she came to a stop on the other side of the curtains.
Rarity gave a humph when the indignity was over. “Was that really necessary Sassy?”
The other unicorn came through the curtains with a smug smile. “I know how you think Rarity, if you see something that needs perfecting, nothing will stop you from doing so. Therefore, I removed you from any imperfections you could see.”
Rarity sighed as she leapt off the stool. It was true, now that she couldn’t actually see the incomplete work it did seem to help. Even though she knew they were still there, even just one level of separation seemed to make it easier to postpone for the moment. “I suppose you’re right. I just need everything to be perfect.”
“And it will be, as always Rarity. We have plenty of time to perfect your new line tomorrow with days to spare. And weren’t you saying something about spending some time among the nightlife of Manehattan?”
“I suppose” Rarity relinquished. Even though it had been a few weeks since, Rarity still was still thinking about her encounter with the Choosing Stone. The idea that her prince charming was out there somewhere, waiting for her to find him, had inspired a few more wanders than usual. That didn’t mean anymore ponies were leaping out at her however.
As usual, most stallions would shower her with praise about her beauty, which was certainly more than welcome, but would then remain slightly intimidated by her presence, or keep their distance. Or, on the complete other end, they would be lewd and tell her they just wanted, as they put it, “A good time.” Was real romance simply dead in this day and age?
Rarity shook her head in defiance. “No, you are right Sassy Saddles. Tonight, we hit the town!” She gasped excitedly. “And I have just the outfit I’ve been working on for this” she said, dashing into the opposite room where she kept her things from Ponyville.
Sassy raised an eyebrow where she stood in the main hall. “Have you been working on other projects as well as preparing for the festival?” she called through the curtain. “No wonder you’re so tired.”
“Only as a personal project” she called back. “Something less stressful to relax where I can simply let my inspiration flow freely. Behold!” Rarity called as she stepped out, striking a pose.
Sassy Saddle’s eyes lit up as Rarity revealed herself. “Sequins and sashes Rarity, that looks simply wonderful.”
It was the outfit that was inspired by the colours and patterns of the Choosing Stone. A form fitting ensemble made from silver fabric with tiny sequins forming the differently coloured swirls and patterns. The light reflected off the sequins in a way that caught the eye, but wasn’t distracting or too loud.
“I call it…” Rarity said, giving a pause for effect and swinging her mane around to the side. “Romantic Desire!”
“Ooh la la, I imagine it would stoke the fires of desire in any stallion.”
“Well, that is rather the point” She said, patting at her mane. “At least I hope not too fiery” Rarity added as an aside. While she adored the attention, if stallions started thinking with their… ahem… lower brains, they could get a bit crude.
Rarity allowed Sassy to admire the handiwork as her eyes roamed the exquisite detail. “It’s such a pity it wouldn’t match the rest of the line, it could have been a starring piece in a different theme.”
She turned around to let Sassy get a better look at the other side. “Well, like I said it’s more of a personal project, really. Just something for me, but it’s the challenges like this that make me remember why I love what I love.”
She took a breath when she spied the heart shaped necklace Rarity was wearing. “My word Rarity, is that a Fire Ruby?”
“Oh yes” Rarity smiled, looking down at the large jewel. “It was gifted to me by a dear friend some time back.”
“A very dear friend I’d wager” she replied, raising an eyebrow that seemed to imply more than Rarity had intended.
“You remember when I mentioned Spike, right? The baby dragon who is Twilight’s very hardworking assistant?”
“Oh!” Sassy said, raising a hoof to her face upon realizing her minor faux pas. “I am sorry” she chuckled.
“It’s quite all right” Rarity said gazing down at the gemstone in question, loosing herself in memories for a moment. “Admittedly he does have a rather obvious crush on me. I really should talk to him sometime about it. But he’s just oh so adorable, and it would be such a crime to break his little heart.” While she knew it would never work between them, she still wished that more stallions could be like her little Spikey-Wikey. Chivalrous and genuine. She really did wish him well in the romantic exploits when he was old enough.
Sassy sidled up beside her and placed a hoof around her shoulder. “Come now Rarity, tonight is not one for regrets, and this sounds like a problem for the future. For tonight we paint the town red. It’s been too long since I was here in Manehattan last. I want to see if some of my favourite locales are as they were.”
“I didn’t realize you knew your way around Manehattan” Rarity said. “I thought you always lived in Canterlot?”
“I had a bit of an adventurous streak when I was younger and spent some time in this bustling city while trying to find myself. The nightlife was always enthusiastic and I found many ponies and places that would entertain a young mare out and about.”
“Well then, I suppose you shall be our guide for the evening.”
Sassy clapped her hooves together. “Oh excellent. You won’t be disappointed Rarity.”
“So, you say you’ve been here before?” Rarity asked, a little louder than usual to ensure she was heard over the music. At least she didn’t quite have to yell. It was that type of electronic music that had a heavy thudding beat that you could almost feel in your body, but at least it seemed to have some kind of melody. Rarity had heard worse at least.
“I admit, it was a while ago. But it’s not too different” Sassy replied, looking only a little put out. “I enjoyed this place because they did something with the acoustics, so that it only gets louder on the dance floor over there.”
“It gets louder?” Rarity asked, starting to wonder if they should try to find another location.
“It’s fine Rarity, you get used to it” Sassy assured her with a smile. “And it gets even quieter near the bar and booths. Now that I think on it, this place hasn’t actually changed a lot, it just took a moment to readjust. You can see the dance floor over there, where everypony is having a good time. I’d love to see how your outfit sparkles in the disco lights.”
Rarity grimaced at the thought. She didn’t have anything against the style of music, nor the particular style of dance floor, but she just didn’t think it was her type of scene. Rarity had partaken in the type of parties when it was Pinkie organizing, or among her close friends, but around a bunch of strangers it seemed to lose its charm. And while Sassy was a friend, Rarity didn’t believe they were quite that close she could let her hair down easily. “Perhaps we give it a chance to get used to things first? Like you said I would” she said, still a little unsure if it would actually happen.
“Alright, if you’re sure” Sassy relented. “We can make our way to the bar where it’s quieter. Last I was here, the drinks were mixed expertly, and the food is… well the food is actually kind of average” she said after a moment’s thought.
“If we get hungry I’m sure we’ll be fine. I know I’ve had worse.” Sassy Saddles gave Rarity a curious look. Rarity sighed. “If Pinkie Pie’s parents ever offer to make soup for you, politely decline.”
“I’ll… take your word for it?” Sassy replied, appearing to not quite understand the reference.
As they crossed the threshold to the next area, the music dropped quite suddenly in decibels. It was certainly still there in the background, but it was as if a solid door had closed behind them, when in reality it was nothing but an archway and a step up.
Rarity looked around slightly puzzled. “Do they have soundproofing magic or something? That is quite extraordinary.”
“Impressive, no?”
“I’m sure Twilight would be enamoured with studying something like that. Unless she already knows all about it. Or read about it in a book. It’s so hard to keep track of what that girl knows” Rarity mused aloud as they approached the bar.
While most ponies in the establishment were focused on and around the dance floor, but there were a few other patrons that had taken refuge from the loud beats here in the more social area.
Serving behind the bar was a slightly portly earthpony with a brown coat and black mane, cut to a short and neat style. He was had the appearance of a pony that knew how to keep himself well groomed, and had a tuxedo that to Rarity’s trained eye, was probably uniform for the establishment, but he wore it cleanly and had made it his own.
“Evening ladies” he said with a polite nod as they sat down. “Can I get you anything?”
“Thank you” Sassy said. “I’d love a Sea Breeze if you know how to make one.”
“Of course, and for you?” he asked, turning to Rarity.
“I’m afraid I don’t know much about cocktails, and I’m not after anything strong” she admitted. “Would you suggest anything?”
“Well how about we make that two Sea Breezes?” Sassy suggested. “It’s mostly juices anyway, and it’s not a particularly heavy drink. I’m sure you’d like it.”
“That sounds wonderful” Rarity smiled. “Two Sea Breezes.”
“Two for each of you?” the bartender asked playfully with a raised eyebrow.
Rarity laughed playfully back. “Oh no, just one for each.”
“Certainly. Just a moment” he said with a light bow and went to do his work.
“So” Sassy said, turning on Rarity and fixing her with an intense stare. “Why have you been so keen to go out so much recently?”
“Whatever do you mean?” Rarity asked, suddenly feeling like she was under the interrogator’s lamp.
Sassy gave a sly smile. “Despite your protests earlier, you were speaking quite enthusiastically about it this morning. And you were much the same in Canterlot. Always heading out, meeting new ponies and then telling me about some stallion you met that disappointed you the next day. Is a friend of yours getting married and you’re simply rushing to find a date?”
“No! nothing like that” Rarity insisted. “At least, I don’t think anypony is getting married soon.”
“Then why the insistence? It’s clear you’re looking for a stallion but why with such fervour?”
“Ladies?” they were interrupted by the bartender coming back as he placed a tray in front of them with two tall gasses filled with a bright red cocktail and a wedge of grapefruit resting on the top. “Two Sea Breezes.”
“Oh thank you, my that looks wonderful” Rarity said enthusiastically, welcome for the distraction.
“Enjoy” he said with another bow, then moved off to serve a pair of stallions that arrived on the other side of the bar.
Rarity quickly took a sip of her drink, hoping to avoid any further questions. “Ooh, I see why you like this one, it’s very nice.” The harshness of the alcohol had been tempered by the sweet fruit juices mixed in.
“Nice try Rarity” Sassy said snidely while taking her own drink. “But you’re not going to get away that easily.”
Rarity sighed. She didn’t expect it would work. “To be completely honest I didn’t even think I was trying to hide it. Yes, I may have been going out and meeting ponies more often, but I didn’t think there was anything wrong with that.”
“There isn’t, but it just seems strange to have such a sudden change. Is something wrong?” Sassy asked, honestly concerned.
“No!” Rarity insisted.
“Then what’s different?”
Rarity thought for a moment. She didn’t want to mention the whole thing with the Choosing Stone. It felt embarrassing to admit that she felt the need to get magical assistance in finding a romantic partner. And she still wasn’t one hundred percent convinced that it had actually done anything meaningful. “Well…” she began. “I’m not exactly getting any younger, and I would like to find my Mr Right before I’m an old mare. I just… want something different, and I won’t find that by staying at home or at work all the time.”
Sassy frowned. “But I’ve seen how you handle stallions, you could charm anypony into doing practically anything for you. Surely you couldn’t have trouble finding a stallion.”
“But that’s just it” Rarity complained. “I can flash my eyelashes to catch a stallion’s eye, but actually finding one to stick around is a nightmare. I either scare them off or attract entirely the wrong kind of attention.”
“Oh dear. I hadn’t realized.”
“I’ve never managed to have anything even remotely serious.”
Sassy blinked. “What? Never? Surely not. Not even a high school fling or childhood sweetheart?”
Rarity flinched, realizing she had shared possibly more than she intended. “Well… not as such, no” she admitted. “I never really saw the appeal when I was a filly, and when colts first started paying attention to me, I… may have gotten a little wrapped up in what I could get them to do for me rather than looking for anything meaningful.”
“Oh my, this is worse than I thought.”
“I didn’t abuse their interest in me!” Rarity insisted. “They were happy to help out a beautiful young mare. At least… I assume they were” she added, with a little less surety now that she actually thought about it. The grimace on Sassy Saddle’s face made her even less sure of herself. “Oh Sassy, am I a horrible pony?”
“No of course not Rarity” she replied without a moment’s hesitation. “The time and effort you spend helping other ponies without expecting any reward in kind is more than proof enough to the contrary. So, you say you don’t understand stallions in a romantic sense, who does?” She shrugged. “Males are a mystery. I’m not even sure they understand themselves more than half the time.”
Rarity frowned. “Then how is it that so many other couples have such flawless relationships?
“Flawless?” Sassy laughed. “My dear Rarity, there is simply no such thing. The happily ever after in little children’s books only exist between the pages. Here in the real world we realize that life goes on after the happy ending and sometimes we have to settle for a nice relationship while we wait for the best one to show up.”
“But I don’t want to settle for an okay relationship, I want it to be perfect. And if I’m going to be with another pony for the rest of my life, it has to mean something.”
“Well that’s your problem Rarity, you can’t expect perfection on the first try. And you can find meaning in a relationship even if it does end.”
“But then what’s the point if it’s just going to end?”
Sassy sighed and took a moment to think. “Rarity, if you were making a new dress but you didn’t know if it would ever be perfect, would you give up before you started? Or give it a try so you can fail and try again next time?”
“I’m appalled you could ever assume I wouldn’t at least try to make a dress even if it had a chance to be a complete flop.”
“Well that’s exactly the same with relationships. You can’t just find the right relationship, you have to work at it, and that involves getting together with stallions that you may or not break up with later down the road.”
“But… but you can’t compare dressmaking to relationships. It’s so… different.”
“You’ll be surprised that it’s really not.”
“But… but I’ve seen ponies marry the first one they fall in love with before. What about Princess Cadence and Shining Armor? They were highschool sweethearts and they only ever had eyes for each other.”
“Some are lucky enough to have that, but they’re the exception, not the rule. It may sound cynical to say, but the idea that the perfect stallion or mare is just out there waiting for their partner to show up is a silly myth. True love doesn’t exist, it’s just ponies putting in the effort to love one another and working through any problems they have, until it appears from the outside that it was always effortless. I’m sure even the princess of love and her husband have disputes now and then.”
Rarity found herself quiet pondering what she had been told. It certainly made sense what Sassy said, but hearing good advice and actually following said advice were two very different things. The idea of getting romantically involved with somepony just for practice? It seemed so… shallow.
“But these are other ponies” she insisted. “If a dress doesn’t work out you can just throw it away and try a new idea. But you can’t just say ‘sorry, it’s not working out’ and find a new pony.”
“Well…” Sassy said uncomfortably. “Actually, that’s about right.”
“Sassy!” Rarity exclaimed, horrified at her friend.
“Not nearly so bluntly as that of course” she added quickly. “But that’s honestly fairly accurate.” The blue unicorn turned to her drink, rolling it in her magic before taking a sip. “If two ponies have tried at a relationship but they’re falling out of love, or it seems to have run its course, then it’s probably healthiest to end it rather than dragging out a loveless relationship. It’s going to be painful for everypony involved, but its better than the alternative.”
Rarity looked at her friend with a new appreciation. “You have some very strong opinions on this topic I see.”
Sassy rolled her eyes with half a smile. “I’ve had a bit of experience. And I can’t really blame you for not knowing a lot of this. I’ve met other ponies, and even been with some, who have even less of an idea of what they were doing. The stories we were brought up with as fillies painted the impression that love was this wonderous, magical thing that makes everything rainbows and sunshine, and all we had to do was wait for that one perfect pony to sweep us off our hooves and make everything better. Because of that, nopony is really prepared when they enter the dating pool for the first time.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow curiously. “Except love can be that powerful. I was there when the changelings were removed from Canterlot. It was the power of Cadence’s and Shining’s love alone that sent Queen Chrysalis and her entire army back to the Badlands.”
Sassy snorted indignantly. “Well if you want to be technical. But regular ponies don’t get that sort of thing.”
“I knew what you meant” she laughed. “I’m just playing.”
“So Rarity, with all that in mind, do you think you can lower your standards just a little and actually give the next stallion a chance to impress you before dismissing him?”
Rarity gave a playful huff. “I never said that was what I did. But very well, I suppose my standards may have been slightly unrealistic. I can certainly give the next one more of a chance.”
“Good” Sassy said with a sly grin as her eyes drifted to the side. “Because don’t look now Rarity, but those two strapping young stallions are looking this way.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow intrigued. “Oh? Well if I can’t look on my own, you’ll have to describe them for me” she grinned and leaned in conspiratorially. “Eyes in the back of my head are unfortunately not one of my many talents.”
“I suppose that’s fair. Well, we’ve got a pair of unicorns, could be brothers from the resemblance. One has a reddish coat, while the other is a bit more orange. They’re dressed well, and… oh” she turned her eyes back to Rarity, trying to make it look as natural as possible. “Seems like they noticed me looking. I’m guessing the orange one is a bit younger, he looked quite flustered when I caught him staring and turned away quickly enough to make it very obvious.”
“Oh, that’s adorable” rarity snickered.
“Hmm?”
“What is it?” Rarity quietly asked, barely containing her mirth. She didn’t even have to do anything, but this game was already becoming quite fun.
“They’ve called over the bartender again. The red one is pointing in our general direction.”
“Ooh, do you think he’s asking about us? Or ordering us a drink?”
“I’d say the latter, the bartender just nodded. And… yes he’s now moving to prepare something.”
“How bold, when we already have our own” Rarity said, raising her own glass. It was starting to get low however. “Do you suppose he will order for us? Or play it safe and just get us the same again?”
“Hmm, not sure” Sassy smiled playfully. “If he goes for the same again, that could mean he trusts us to know what we like, however it would be quite daring if he felt the need to order for us. Either way I think we’re about to find out.”
Rarity turned as she heard the bartender approach with a drink tray and lay it before them. On the tray were a pair of tall cocktail glasses with a golden brown drink and a twist of orange as a garnish. Rarity wasn’t quite as experienced with alcohol, so she had no chance of recognising the mix, but there was a noticeable aroma of spice.
“Evening again ladies. Compliments from the two gentleponies across the way” he said, gesturing with his head to the subject of their gossiping.
“Oh how lovely” Rarity said coyly. “And what good timing, we were just running low.” Now with the legitimate excuse to turn around, she had a look at the two stallions to give them a gracious wave and a flutter of her eyelashes. The orange one quickly went red in the face almost matching his companion and turned away again.
Sassy Saddles was right, they were quite dashing. Although the shyness of the younger, as he certainly seemed younger, did tarnish that impression a little. The red coated stallion however gave a confident nod in response, and turned to whisper to the other.
Rarity turned back to her own companion. “He really is adorable, is he not?”
“Oh quite” Sassy snickered. “His friend must be helping him. Makes himself seem a bit more noble, wouldn’t you think?”
“Throwing him in the deep end I’d say” Rarity said slyly, making a show of patting her mane. “Attracting the attention of a such an exquisite pair of the female kind for his friend’s first time? Very bold of him.”
Sassy couldn’t help but laugh at Rarity’s dramatics. “Oh Rarity, you are vicious tonight.”
“All’s fair in love and war” she smiled, raising one of the glasses.
“I’ll drink to that” Sassy replied, picking up the other and they clinked them together.
Taking a gentle sip, rarity frowned as she experienced the drink and smacked her tongue on the top of her mouth. “Hmm, possibly a bit stronger than I’d like, but there’s an interesting combination of flavour.” It was one of those drinks she wasn’t sure if she liked it or not, but warranted another sip to see if it grew on her.
“I like it” Sassy said with a pensive look. “Sometimes it’s nice to have something strong with a good kick. And it tells you a bit about the pony who ordered it.” Rarity saw her eyes dart back to where she assumed the stallions were.
“Do you think they’re talking about us?” Rarity asked.
“We’re talking about them, fair is fair I’d say.”
“So what is the verdict?” Rarity asked playfully. “Has their tribute satisfied us and piqued our curiosity?”
Sassy grinned and played along. “Well my dear, I can only speak for myself, but consider my curiosity piqued.”
“Very well, it seems a yes from us both.”
Rarity turned back to the two stallions where they sat. She didn’t say a word, but as always she was gifted in the language of the looks, so all it took was a slight tilt of the head and a raised eyebrow as if to say “are you coming?” before the two stallions looked at each other with smiles on their faces and made their way around the bar to meet them.
“Good evening ladies” the red unicorn said as they approached, accentuating the greeting with a small bow of his head. “I hope it is not too forward, but I must say your beauty caught our eyes the moment you came within eyeshot.”
“My, you are quite the charmer” Rarity said with a beaming smile. “Flattery will get you everywhere in this world.”
“I find it a most agreeable form of communication” he replied with a smile. There was a slight pause, where he bumped the orange coated unicorn with his back hoof, who startled and opened his mouth to speak, obviously not having any plan of what to say.
“Oh ah, yes, you’re both quite… uh… gorgeous?” he said, a little bemused and perhaps a little overwhelmed. Rarity found his innocence charming, but at the same time it reminded her a little too much of Spike in his childish attraction, which made it difficult to see the young pony as anything other than a colt.
The red unicorn rolled his eyes at his companion’s flailing attempt. He of course was steeped in confidence, which felt like a nice change of pace.
“Why thank you dear” Rarity said to the orange unicorn with a genuine smile. “Please, sit down and join us. Always happy to meet new faces.”
“Thank you, and allow me to introduce ourselves” the first one started as he got onto one of the chairs, deliberately leaving a space for the other unicorn closer to the two girls. “My name is Dashing Dare, and this is my younger brother Timely Venture.”
“Hello” Timely Venture said nervously with a small wave before getting to the chair right next to Rarity.
“We’re here taking a break while on business in Manehattan” Dashing Dare continued.
“Oh what a coincidence, we’re here on business too for the yearly Manehattan Fashion Festival. My name is Rarity of Rarity For You, and this is my friend and manager of my Canterlot Boutique, Sassy Saddles.”
Sassy waved to the two stallions. “We really needed to get out of the store before we overworked ourselves to the bones” she said, tactfully avoiding the detail that it was primarily her employer who was overworking.
Dashing smiled. “Nothing like a good drink and nice night out after a hard day’s work. By the way, I hope you enjoyed the drink.”
“It was quite nice” Sassy said, saving Rarity from giving her honest opinion of the presented cocktail.
“A very strong flavour” Rarity added diplomatically.
A moment of silence followed. Rarity noticed Dashing looking to his brother who was still finding it difficult to look the two mares in the eye. He coughed quietly but failed to get any response from Timely.
“So” Dashing began, taking up the silence. “You said you’re here for the Fashion Festival? Am I right in assuming you are the proprietor of the store you mentioned Rarity?”
“Yes that’s correct” Rarity said eager to share the excitement for running a business.
“She is also lead designer and seamstress” Sassy Saddles added.
“Oh, stop boasting for my sake” Rarity said without too much insistence behind her words. She was now quite happy that Sassy was working as her wingmare.
“Very impressive, that sounds like quite the workload” Dashing commented
“Oh, it’s not really work if you’re enjoying yourself” Rarity giggled. “It’s quite easy to get wrapped up in your task when it’s something you love. The freedom to create clothes that double as art is what I live for.”
“And is your current attire one of your own creation?” Dashing asked.
Rarity shifted to give him a better look. “Why yes, it’s one of my latest pieces designed and stitched myself.”
“You made that?” Timely asked, forgetting his anxiety for a moment to marvel at the make.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s incredible. I would’ve thought it was made professionally… oh, right” he blushed as he noticed Rarity’s eyebrow raise.
“Yes darling, I am a professional” she giggled.
“Sorry” he mumbled to the floor.
“And what about you? You seem to have a good fashion sense judging by your current attire.”
“Oh, I don’t really dress up much” Timely admitted. “We just had a meeting not too long ago, and after we were done Dashing suggested we come here to… uh…” he stole a glance at his brother behind him. “Meet… new ponies” he finished, still finding it difficult to meet the girls’ eyes.
“And meet new ponies you have” Rarity smiled. “I’d say your brother had the right idea.”
Another lull in the conversation fell over the ponies and after a moment of this Dashing rolled his eyes and gave Timely a gentle tap that Rarity pretended not to notice.
“oh uh, would uh… would either of you like to dance?” Timely Venture asked cautiously.
Rarity glanced back to the dance floor, where the music was still heavy and thudding. Her face probably said more to her dislike of the idea than her words. “Um, perhaps not. I don’t think I’m quite ready for that volume.”
His face fell. “Oh.”
“Actually, I wouldn’t mind a dance or two” Sassy said leaning forward. “I think I’ve had enough sitting down, I’d think I’d like some moving around.”
“Oh! Of course!” Timely said, suddenly more animated. He got down off his stool, but then turned back to his brother.
“You go ahead brother” he assured. “If Rarity is not feeling up to dancing, I can stay behind and keep her company while you two have fun.”
“Um, okay.” Timely looked a bit unsure, until Sassy stepped up beside him and offered her hoof.
“Shall we?”
The young stallion blushed again as he gingerly took her hoof and led her too the dance floor. Sassy looked back to give Rarity a wink and mouthed “have fun” as the two of them left into the thudding beats and flashing lights.
Now that the others had left the picture, Dashing Dare slipped into the chair next to Rarity and watched them leave.
“Helping your little brother with the ladyfolk?” Rarity asked.
He chuckled and nodded. “That brother of mine wouldn’t know what to do with a mare on his own if he had instructions written on the underside of his eyelids. He’s a good kid, but so innocent at times.”
“He seems to have his heart in the right place, as do you for looking after him.”
“Really?” he asked. “It doesn’t make me seem like I’m too much of a meddler?”
“Not at all. I’d say it makes you seem more… dashing” she winked.
Rarity couldn’t believe her luck. A business pony, a fashion sense and snappy style, as well as charismatic and charming to boot. Perhaps the choosing stone was listening after all. It had taken a few weeks of attempts and failures, but if things were any indication how they were already going, perhaps she had finally found her special somepony.
She picked up her drink again, almost forgotten over the conversation and brought it to her face again, taking in the spicy aroma. “It’s a very interesting drink. What is it called?” she asked, bringing it to her lips once more.
He leaned in closer. “It’s called a Hanky-panky.”
Rarity had to resist the urge to gag as she felt his hoof a good deal lower than would be socially acceptable.
“Premonition of an even better time later tonight, hmm?” Well, that went quickly from charming to creepy in record time.
Rarity’s horn glowed as she removed his hoof from her flank. Not violently, but certainly forcefully enough she hoped to send a clear message. “I don’t think we’re quite there” she said, losing the playful voice she had been supporting the entire night, switching to a stern scolding and an icy glare.
“Oh, not yet?” he asked, somehow missing every sign that should have told him he was fighting a losing battle. “And what would it take to see that how beautiful that outfit looks like on the floor of my hotel room?” He actually moved his hoof to put it back where she had removed it.
That was his second mistake in as many seconds.
With no patience for subtlety anymore, Rarity took his hoof in his magic before it touched her and yanked him into the air.
“The nerve! How dare you?”
“Ah! Let me go!” he yelled, dangling by his hoof held by her magic, barely touching the ground with his hindlegs.
“Very well” she said, unceremoniously dropping him to the floor where he crashed onto his rump and rolled to his back with a curse on his lips.
“What the heck is wrong with you, you crazy mare?!” he blurted out from the floor, tending to his hoof. Any guise of a respectable pony had gone out the window, and she started to realize that this was the sort of stallion he was under the charming façade.
“Me?” Rarity asked, affronted at the audacity. “We were having a nice conversation until you started thinking with your nether region and just about assaulted me you brute!”
“Are you serious? You’ve been flirting all night. How was I to know you were a total prude when it came to delivering?”
“I actually mean my good manners and compliments. I don’t use them to trick other ponies into bed.”
“Trick? You said it yourself, you’re here on business like me. What else could you expect if we’re only going to be here for a short time, you stupid tease?”
“Okay, I think that’s enough” the bartender said, standing between them. He must have come out from behind the bar when he noticed the commotion. “Kindly keep your arguments to…”
He was interrupted by a shove from the red unicorn. “Stay out of this fatty.” He turned back to Rarity and pointed a hoof at her. “I’m not done with…”
He froze when a significantly larger hoof was forcefully placed on his shoulder. “Actually, I think you are done.”
Both Rarity and Dashing Dare looked up at a large grey coated stallion with a bouncer’s uniform and a stony expression. And goodness he was huge. Rarity was sure he would easily be bigger than Big Macintosh if they were measured next to each other. It was a mystery how he had managed to appear so suddenly and unnoticed.
“I’m gonna have to ask you to leave for causing a disturbance, sir” the behemoth stated in an almost monotone voice, which left a very heavy influence on Rarity.
Dashing however, true to his habit of missing social cues decided it would be a good idea to bite back. “What about her?” he said, pointing a hoof accusingly at Rarity. “She’s been just as loud as me, and she started it by tossing me into the air.”
Rarity normally would have raised an objection, however the bouncer clearly had the matter well in hoof.
He pointed to the bartender who was still getting back up. “She hasn’t assaulted a member of staff. Now I’m gonna ask you again nicely, before I’m gonna have to ask you roughly. Your choice. Sir.”
Dashing visibly fumed before giving a snort and turning to the exit. “Fine. Stupid mare has wasted enough of my time already.”
Rarity watched him leave by the main entrance, and only then did she take a moment to place a hoof on her thumping heart and take a deep breath to calm herself down. The excitement had only taken a few seconds, but it felt far longer and left her more exhausted than she realized. “Thank you sir” she said to the bouncer. “I’m very sorry for…”
“I’m gonna have to give you a warning too ma’am” he interrupted her with the same stone-faced approach he used to calm down the previous situation. “Please don’t cause any more disturbances if you can avoid it. Or I’m gonna have to ask you to leave too.”
Rarity blinked. “Oh… I understand. I am sorry.”
“Nothing personal ma’am. I’m just doing my job.” And with that, he turned and left to disappear back into his corner.
A rough groan brought her attention to the bartender who was standing up.
“Are you all right?” she asked, coming over to check he was fine.
“I’m quite alright miss, thank you for your concern” he said, rolling his shoulders experimentally.
“I’m terribly sorry for that brute.”
“Quite all right, not even the first time I’ve been shoved by a customer. Although admittedly that was when I was working as a bouncer. The wife didn’t like me doing that work though, so behind the bar I stay now. Or at least I should, some habits are hard to break I guess.”
“Well thank you for trying to intervene. I’m sorry you got hurt for it.”
“Nothing to worry about, I’m made of sterner stuff. Though I should be getting back to my job.”
“Thank you again.”
Now that everything had calmed down, Rarity looked around to find what few other patrons at the bar had been staring, but were now going back to their own business. Although, she still caught a curious glance here and there.
Rarity felt like leaving anyway, but she didn’t want to let one rude stallion ruin the night, and Sassy had been so keen to come here, she didn’t want to ask her to leave so early. Not that she could see Sassy out on the dance floor.
She felt very alone all of a sudden, as she sat back down at her place by the bar. The ‘hanky-panky’ Dashing had ordered for her was still there, abandoned in excitement. She certainly didn’t feel like finishing it, so just ended up staring at the darkly coloured drink. Fancy and innocent in appearance, but with a rude, strong flavour she was starting to find distasteful. Very much like the one who bought it.
Rarity gave a dramatic moan and crumpled onto the bar, burying her face in her hooves. “Just what am I doing wrong?” Why was it so difficult to find one decent stallion in all of Equestria? Every time she met somepony decent, the turned out to be too creepy, too shy, too forward, too young, too disinterested, too married, too… anything! There was always something wrong. She knew she often had high standards, but were all the decent stallions in Equestria already taken? “I just want to find my special somepony before I’m a withered old mare. Is that too much to ask?”
As she lifted her head from the bar, she noticed something out the corner of her eye. Rarity turned to her side and saw another white unicorn in the seat beside her she had no idea had been there.
“Eyah!” she involuntarily cried out in surprise, and quickly caught her yell with her hooves. The other mare leaned back, equally shocked.
Suddenly aware of the noise she made, her eyes darted around, noticing other ponies had once again looked her way to see what the commotion was, including the bouncer who was looking over curiously.
“uh Hah hah hah, Oh you’re so funny” she said loudly in what she hoped was a convincing tone as she subtly kept an eye on the bouncer. He grimaced and looked elsewhere.
Convinced she wasn’t going to get herself into any more trouble, she focused again on the pony beside her, who was looking absolutely confused at the whole ordeal. Now that she wasn’t so surprised, she found she recognized the shaggy blue mane and rounded sunglasses. Wasn’t this DJ Pon3?
“I am so sorry” Rarity said quietly. “I didn’t realize you were there and… well I didn’t want to cause any more trouble. You’re… surprisingly quiet, I didn’t even notice you sit down.”
DJ Pon3 smirked and shrugged, waving a hoof to show she didn’t care.
Rarity wondered if she didn’t say anything to continue the joke of being particularly quiet. After all, she was known for her very loud music.
“So um…” Rarity ventured. “How long were you sitting there? Did you hear me talking to myself?”
The other mare nodded slowly.
“Oh, that’s terribly embarrassing. You won’t say anything will you?”
DJ Pon3 chuckled and made a motion with her hoof and zipped her lips.
As amusing as it was, Rarity half-smiled, half-frowned. “Are you going to keep that up all night, or are you actually going to say something?”
The DJ pony frowned. Then she started waving her hooves in some kind of pattern in front of herself.
Rarity watched the strange movements in confusion for a moment before gasping in realization. “Oh my word, I’m so sorry! You’re mute, aren’t you?”
She smiled and nodded, stopping the movements of her hooves.
“I am so sorry” she apologized for the third time. “I had no idea. I must seem such a fool right now.”
DJ pondered for a moment, smiled and tried another movement of her hooves.
“I’m very sorry…” fourth time. “But I don’t understand sign language.”
DJ stopped again, sighing. She looked to her saddlebag on the ground by her chair. Her horn glowed a moment and pulled out a small whiteboard and a marker. She began writing, holding both in her magic just under her chin.
“Oh that’s clever” Rarity said. “Although I suppose it’s more essential than clever for you.”
She nodded and turned the board around.
That’s fine, not a lot of ponies know ESL
“I see. Equestrian Sign Language, I suppose?”
It was an obvious guess, answered with another nod as the other mare turned the board around again, wiping it clear with a rag and writing once more. Rarity waited patiently to see what she wanted to say.
Sorry if I startled you. You looked like you could use some company after that.
“Ah yes. That” she frowned. She’d almost forgotten the previous excitement after this new development. There seemed to be quite a few moments of excitement tonight. But there was nothing like a new embarrassing moment to make it seem unimportant. “Thank you darling. Strangely enough, I think I’m feeling better already.”
DJ Pon3 gave a smile and a nod.
“You know, although I know who you are, I don’t think I’ve ever properly introduced myself” Rarity said, proffering a hoof. “Rarity. Proprietor of Rarity for You here in Manehattan, as well as the Ponyville and Canterlot Fashion Boutiques.”
She shook Rarity’s hoof and wrote another quick note on her whiteboard.
Vinyl Scratch, DJ.
Rarity frowned. “I thought you were known as DJ Pon3?”
Another quick message.
Stage name. Friends call me Vinyl.
“I see.” Vinyl turned the board around and began writing again. “I think I can see why you prefer sign language” Rarity said after a moment. “I can’t imagine having to write everything just to communicate.”
Vinyl rolled her eyes under her shades and nodded before turning the board to face Rarity again.
Sure you’re okay? That guy sounded like a total ass.
Rarity sighed. “Stallions. They seem so nice to start with, but they all want one thing in the end and it’s disgusting. Yet we try so hard to get them to like us. I feel like I’m running in circles just trying to find one decent pony but they’re all just…” she sighed again. “I’m not sure I even know anymore.”
Well, I’m not sure I can help you. I don’t have that problem at least.
“You must tell me your secret” Rarity said playfully. “But no, seriously. I’ll try anything at this point.”
Vinyl looked like she was going to complain, then shrugged and wrote one word.
Lesbianism.
Rarity blinked at the word written on the board in front of her. “Oh” she said, not sure what else she could say for a moment. “Well… I suppose… that would work. Not having to deal with stallions would remove any problems trying to attract them. And I think I should amend my previous comment to almost anything.”
Vinyl smiled and failed to hold back her laughter, which was an interesting sight for Rarity. An almost silent laughter was not something she was accustomed to considering the very vocal friends she had. But it was infectious as always as she found herself giggling as well.
“This is nice” Rarity said after they had both calmed down. “We really should have done this sooner. You have your own venue right above my store, and yet we’ve never even spoken to each other in all this time. Oh my… sorry” she added, quickly realizing the poor choice of words.
The comment sent Vinyl into another giggle fit. Leaning against the bar with her head in one hoof as she laughed, Vinyl waved her hoof as if to say it didn’t matter. Though her giggling probably told that story plainly enough.
“I do mean it though” insisted Rarity. “You’ve been so nice to keep me company, but I’ve simply ended up apologizing too many times already, but let me get you something to make up for it.” She looked to see if she could get the bartender’s attention, but he was busy with another couple that had entered just then. She felt a tap on her shoulder and saw Vinyl had written something new.
It’s fine, I’m just happy to help.
“Oh, but I insist.”
Vinyl looked like she wanted to complain, but paused in thought and looked at the drink Rarity had abandoned still in front of her.
Well I can finish that one for you. I guess you don’t want it now.
Rarity frowned. “Are you sure?”
Vinyl slid it over to her with her magic while writing more.
I don’t like wasting stuff, and he never insulted me, so bottoms up.
She managed to time it so Rarity finished reading, just as Vinyl tossed what was left of the brown drink in one go. Right before pulling back and shaking her head in shock and disgust.
“Oh my” Rarity smirked, holding back a laugh that could have been a tad more insulting, watching Vinyl’s face scrunch up and gag and the strong flavour. “I don’t think that’s the type of drink you’re supposed to down in one go.”
Vinyl agreed with a deliberate nod and a very twisted face as she began to write again.
So… about that drink you offered?
“Of course darling” she snickered. “Excuse me” she hailed the bartender with a wave, who now looked to have a moment. “Can we get a drink for my friend?” she asked, as Vinyl wrote on her board and smacked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, trying and get the taste out.
Just get me a glass of whatever’s on tap, thanks?
“Of course, I’ll get right on that” he replied sympathetically.
“Oh, and could I get a half glass of Marelot if you have any?”
“Certainly.”
He came back with Vinyl’s beer first, possibly out of sympathy for her tortured tastebuds, and she quickly downed a third of it before he had even turned around to get Rarity’s wine.
“Better?” Rarity asked, half impressed, half horrified.
Vinyl nodded.
Much
“Well that’s good at least, though I still feel awful for what I said earlier before I realized why you were so silent.”
Vinyl silently groaned as the bartender came back with Rarity’s drink. She silently thanked him as Vinyl wrote something new on her board.
Seriously stop. I make fun of my disability all the time. It makes it easier when you don’t take it so seriously.
“Are you sure?”
YES! Most ponies I know with a disability do it. I once knew this earthpony mare who made fun of her blindness all the time.
She wiped it off when she ran out of space and continued writing.
We had this group of friends, and this one guy wanted to be an artist, but he was no good, so she’d tell him she though his art looked great. At first he’d be really thankful, until he realized she was making fun of him and herself. She was cool.
“Sounds like you two were close. Was she an old marefriend?”
Vinyl raised an eyebrow at her.
Mute, blind? How would that work out?
“Uh…” Rarity paused as she realized her blunder. She felt she needed to say something as she wracked her brain for an idea. “Horse code?” she ventured, unable to think of anything else.
In the moment of silence that followed she wondered if she had said the wrong thing and offended Vinyl. But that feeling disappeared when she snorted and buried her face in her hooves in silent laughter.
Vinyl’s next bit of writing came a bit shakier than before as she tried to calm down.
Wow, that’s a good one. Might’ve actually worked too. Now I feel that’s a missed opportunity.
“I suppose it would be hard to learn sign language if you can’t see.”
Totally.
“Is it hard to learn?”
No harder than never speaking at all.
“Oh, yes I suppose you would know that wouldn’t you” she said, feeling a little embarrassed but making sure she didn’t directly apologize if Vinyl didn’t want that. She instead occupied her mouth with her wine instead of further sticking her hoof in there.
Not that hard in all seriousness though. Really depends on the pony.
“Maybe I could try a hoof at it sometime” Rarity smiled.
Please do, writing sucks.
Vinyl stuck her tongue out playfully, and they shared a laugh together.
I like your outfit by the way.
“Oh, thank you” Rarity said, surprised, but genuinely pleased Vinyl liked it. “I didn’t realize you were also into fashion.”
Vinyl shrugged.
Fashion isn’t really my thing, but It’s not so overdone like some of the other stuff I’ve seen. Really subtle but in a good way. And it looks like you can actually move or dance in it. Is it meant for the nightclub scene?
“Well, it wasn’t the intention, but Sassy Saddles also seems to want to see how it looks on the dance floor. I was just inspired to try something different.”
Well speaking of, if you’re feeling better, how bout we head there now?
“Oh, I don’t know.”
Rarity, from what little I know about you, you’re kinda high strung. You need to learn when to loosen up a little.
Rarity frowned as she pondered. Maybe it was the alcohol that was influencing her, but it actually did sound like a good idea. Her earlier hesitation was largely because there were few other ponies she knew well enough to let her hair down around. But that didn’t seem as important anymore all of a sudden. She had gotten to know Vinyl well enough, who would obviously know her way around a dance floor, and she was sure she could still find Sassy easily enough. And after so much interest, she was now curious to see how the outfit fared on the dance floor herself.
“You know what? You’re right. I came here for a good time and that’s what I’ll do” She said defiantly. “Just, after we’ve finished our drinks. No sense letting them go to waste.”
Vinyl grinned mischievously, and then proceeded to down the rest of her beer in a few solid gulps, clapping the glass on the bar as she finished.
“Goodness! Was that really necessary?” Rarity asked horrified at the display as Vinyl wiped her mouth clean with a hoof.
Your turn.
Rarity gave Vinyl a look. “You do not scull wine. And this is a Marelot.”
Your fault for buying the expensive stuff.
Vinyl waved down the bartender and held her saddlebags up.
Mind if I leave these here? We’re heading to the dance floor and I can’t really use it there.
The bartender frowned. “I really shouldn’t but…” he looked around a moment. “Well, I understand. I can keep them safe for you.” He took the bags as the whiteboard went back into the main pocket.
Vinyl leapt off her stool and turned back to Rarity who was still sitting there with almost half her wine left in the glass. Vinyl tipped her head and raised an eyebrow with the same “Are you coming” look Rarity had given the two stallions earlier.
Rarity gave a huff, but decided not to back down from the challenge, and swallowed the rest of her wine in one mouthful, successfully resisting the cringe from taking too much at once. She gave Vinyl a satisfied look and clapped the glass on the bar as she had before joining her.
The smile on Vinyl’s face was sharp enough to cut as Rarity brushed past her to the dance floor.
Immediately as they crossed the threshold, the music began pounding in her eardrums. It certainly was louder than in the foyer and ponies everywhere were jumping or moving in time with each heavy beat of the music. Rarity had to take a moment to adjust and avoid a headache, but it didn’t seem as bad as she first assumed.
Vinyl looked perfectly unfazed by the music, but had concern on her face at Rarity’s reaction. “I’m alright” she said, hoping she was loud enough to be heard over the music. “Just takes a bit getting used to. Now if we can only find Sassy” she said as she pulled herself up to look over the crowd.
As it turned out it wasn’t that difficult. Sassy Saddles was a bit taller than most ponies she knew, and her orange hair stood out well in the crowd. In fact, she also spotted Rarity as she was looking.
“Rarity, decided to join us?” Sassy said over the pounding music and waved them over.
“I was convinced” Rarity said, measuring her voice to ensure she could be heard without actually yelling. Well, without yelling too much. “Have you met Vinyl?” Rarity said, introducing the mare behind her.
“No, I don’t believe so. Hello” she said, offering a hoof. Vinyl accepted the gesture with a smile.
“Vinyl Scratch owns the venue above Rarity For You. Vinyl, this is Sassy Saddles, the manager of my Canterlot Boutique. We happened to meet at the bar a little after you left” she finished, turning to address Sassy.
“Pleasure to meet you Vinyl” Sassy said. She then looked around, frowning as her eyes scanned the immediate area. “Where’s Dashing Dare?”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Let’s just say he had to leave early.”
“Wait, what happened to my brother?” Rarity blinked when she heard the orange unicorn nearby speak up. She had almost completely forgotten about Timely Venture. He had an apologetic look on his face. “He didn’t… do anything bad to you did he?”
That wasn’t the concern she expected to hear, and it painted an even more troubling picture of Dashing if his brother expected such poor behaviour. “Not quite, but does he have a habit of that?” she asked curiously.
Timely avoided eye contact, which made it difficult to hear what he said next. “I… don’t know. Just some things he said before we came up to you made me uncomfortable. I never knew he was like this around mares. Though it gives me an idea why he never seems to have a marefriend for long.”
“Well, promise me you never become like your brother” Rarity said.
He smiled uncomfortably. “I don’t think there’s any danger of that. Though I should probably go find him. Did he leave just now?”
Rarity looked to Vinyl questioningly, but Vinyl just gave a shrug. “It was a while ago actually” she told Timely. “Maybe ten to twenty minutes? I’m sorry, I thought he might have gotten you while leaving so I didn’t think to pay it any attention.”
He frowned. “I should probably get going then.” He moved to leave but stopped and turned back to Sassy. “I’m really sorry for running off so soon, Sassy. I had a great time.”
“So did I” Sassy replied. “It was very nice meeting you.”
“Good luck finding your brother and keeping him out of trouble” Rarity added before he turned and slipped past the dancing ponies around them to leave.
Rarity noticed that Timely seemed a bit different outside the presence of his brother. Perhaps the discomfort he showed was largely because of his brother’s attitudes towards mares. He suddenly seemed a bit more grownup on his own, and certainly more mature than Dashing. Perhaps Rarity had been chasing after the wrong stallion. Almost a shame he had to leave so early.
“So, what actually happened?” Sassy asked, breaking Rarity out of her thoughts. She was looking a bit troubled without the full context.
“Let’s just say he showed his true colours after you two moved to the dance floor, and security didn’t approve.”
“My goodness!”
“Nothing serious” Rarity reassured. “I’ll tell you later where we don’t have to yell.”
She felt a tap on her shoulder to find Vinyl was trying to get her attention. She was gesturing around them at the dance floor with a questioning shrug. Absent her whiteboard, she had no way to effectively communicate, other than a clever use of charades. Thankfully, Rarity could understand the meaning and agreed.
“Very true Vinyl, we’re her to have a good time, not talk about the poor choices of others. We’re on a dance floor, so let us dance!”
Sassy leaned over to Vinyl. “I’m glad you’re here” she said, deliberately loud enough for Rarity to hear. “I’ve been trying to get Rarity to relax all week. I’m not sure what magic you used, but I’m very impressed.”
“Laugh all you want Sassy, but I’ve decided I’m not going to let anything ruin this night out” she said, starting to sway and let the music take her away.
“Well said Rarity. Now let’s see that outfit sparkle in the dance lights!”
Vinyl showed her appreciation by pumping her hoof into the air and stomping along with the music as Sassy also began to move and dance.
It took a bit before Rarity could really lose herself to the music, it being so different than what she was used to. But with the encouragement of her friends and the slight lubrication of the drinks she had earlier, Rarity found herself bopping and moving with the best of them. And Sassy had been right, the sequins on her outfit really caught the lights in a special way with the rhythms of the music that had others pointing and cheering as the music raised in tempo.
She decided it was probably best if she didn’t get quite as involved as Vinyl had, who was now shaking her head almost violently to the heavy beats, spinning her hair around in an impressive display.
All in all, a fun night of dancing was had by everypony, and her worries from before were swept away as she lost herself in the unfamiliar electronic music. There was a time for romance and relationships, but that could come later. Now was a time between friends and simpler things. For the moment, Rarity was content. Romance could wait for another night.
Author's Note
So yeah, this chapter was difficult for a number of reasons.
One: I have no idea how to flirt and am personally blind to it as well, so that was an experience and a half coming up with reasonable dialogue.
Two: I have no idea about alcohol, so that led me to reading up on different cocktails for over an hour at midnight one time.
Three: I’ve never stepped into a nightclub in my life, so once again, no idea what I’m doing and requiring a good deal of research.
… why am I writing this story again?
Anyway, because I seem to have made a habit of sharing some of the music I listen to while writing, here you go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjF_xqPqWoM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0LvIdh6cX8
Oh yeah, and on a final note. Horse code? Morse code? Just kill me for that god-awful pun
