In The Dark

A white unicorn hums a little song as she trots to the entrance of her house, a rather medium sized affair called the Carousel Boutique. Rarity floats her keys out of her saddlebags, and enters into the building, floating her newly bought fabrics over to another table.

She smiles, walking over to the supplies and looking out the window to the rapidly darkening sky, “Hmm, twilight already. That reminds me, Twilight doesn’t have a dress yet.” She looks over to her supplies, taking out a swath of purple fabric, “Such a travesty must be corrected. But what should it look like?”

She looks back outside, looking to the horizon for inspiration. As she looks outside, her eye catches a little garden of trees planted a bit down the road from her. Oaks, pines, birches, trees of all kinds. She looks away for a second, before pausing, something catching her eye.

She looks back to the trees, “Hmm... something’s different. Some small, little detail.” She narrows her eyes, scanning the trees for something. She pauses as she picks out the details of a fine suit. She widens her eyes back to normal, and smiles slightly as she sees a tall figure in the trees, “Oh, it’s the creature from last night. A gentlepony if that stitch work is anything to go by.”

“Rarity?” A voice comes from behind her. Sweetie Belle props herself next to her sister, “What are you looking at?”

She looks over, and smiles, “Just something in the trees. A creature we saw yesterday while chasing Nightmare Moon.”

Sweetie Belle smiles, and looks out the window, “Oh, where?”

Rarity points at Slender, “Right there.”

Sweetie narrows her eyes, looking in the spot, then shaking her head after a few seconds, “I can’t see him.”

Rarity smiles, “Well, he is rather blended with those trees, especially in the twilight darkness. Last night, we couldn’t see him at all until Pinkie Pie was right next to him and he had a party hat on his head.”

Sweetie smiles, “Oh, what’s he look like? Is he a monster?”

Rarity shakes her head, “No, he’s too finely dressed for a monster, Sweetie. He’s about eight feet tall, from what I can tell.”

Sweetie’s eyes widen, “Woah, that’s, like, two of you! That’s taller than the Princess!”

Rarity nods, “Yes, but he stands on two legs. Like a heron.”

Sweetie smiles, “Oh, I remember Miss Cheerilee taught us about them.”

Rarity smiles, “Yes, they are from Neighpon, and are quite the graceful species. Oh, I wish I could make a suit or dress for one. Back to this, he’s also rather thin. He seems to be wearing a black suit as well, and I must admire that there are so few stains. For a creature who lives in the Everfree, it seems, his suit is very well kept, with only the cuffs on the arms being stained. He also has this blank, white face.”

Sweetie raises an eyebrow, “Blank, white face?”

Rarity nods, “Yes, likely a mask of some sort. A very well made mask. I do say, he is pretty much the spitting image of a masquerade goer.”

“Masquerade?”

“It’s a party where everypony wears a mask, Sweetie. They happen all the time in Canterlot.”

Sweetie raises an eyebrow, “Why wear a mask to a party?”

Rarity smiles, “Fashion, of course. Masks can be rather fashionable and can add a very unique component to a uniform. After all, you wear masks to your Nightmare Night parties, right?”

Sweetie nods, “So...masquerades are fancy Nightmare Night parties that happen all year?”

Rarity smiles wider, “They are similar in many ways, though masquerades don’t wear costumes, just masks. But yes, that is a rather apt description.”

Sweetie smiles back, “So this creature is going to a masquerade?”

Rarity pauses, “I truthfully don’t know what he’s doing. As of right now, he’s watching us.”

Sweetie pauses, before braking out into a wide smile, “Oh, what if he’s a superhero?!”

Rarity grins, “Superhero? Have you been reading those graphic novels again?”

Sweetie shakes her head, “They’re comic books! And no!”

Rarity titters, “Oh, Sweetie Belle, it’s important for a young mare to read. Even if I might not like those glorified picture books, I will not be disappointed if you like them.”

Sweetie pauses, “Oh. Well, what if he’s a superhero?”

Rarity smiles, looking back out the window, “Well, Sweetie, if he’s a superhero, then he’s a day late for the supervillain. That or there’s a supervillain left and he has something to do with us, which I don’t think so. I think he’s just a gentlepony getting to know the town before he shows himself. Like Fluttershy, he’s probably very shy.”

Sweetie nods, and smiles, “That makes sense.” She yawns, “Goodnight, Rarity.”

Rarity smiles, “Good night, Sweetie Belle.” She looks to Slender, giving a small wave, “And goodnight to you, my gentlepony observer.”