Unchained

Carousel boutique

Twilight, and Jimmy stood in front of the home, and workplace of Rarity. The man looked up at the place, and gave a nod of approval.
"I like it, what's this place called"?
Twilight looked at him, and pointed to the sign that clearly read the place's name. He nodded as he read the sign saying no more. Twilight knocked on the door, then waited inside Jimmy stood, and listened, hearing one feminine voice speak out as she made her way downstairs from what he could assume was the second floor.
The door handle jiggled before one Rarity stood before the two in a simple outfit you would typically see a seamstress wear similar to a French maid outfit it had moderate frills on the sleeve, but had a sash with pin cushions, and many other things a seamstress would need as well as sleeves for her scissors, or pockets for rulers, and the such.
"Twilight darling what a pleasant surprise what may I do for… sweet Celestia Jimmy whatever happened to your clothes"?

He looked himself over, and shrugged.
"I had a little snack last night while having a drink with Applejack's brother".

The two mares looked at each other a bit nervous at the comment, but pushed it aside for the moment.
"Anyway Rarity it's your turn to help teach Jimmy about friendship, and a bit about our society now, and I think he could use some new clothes".

Rarity looked her new fashion test subject over before ushering him in as quickly as possible.
"Of course darling please come in, and Twilight when should I send him back"?

"Try to have him come back before sundown now I have to go. I have some books that need organizing".
Twilight turned around, and made her way home as the man was escorted into Rarity's home.

Rarity closed the door behind her, and her guest as she turned her attention to him.
"Now darling let us get you out of those filthy things".

He looked down at the white mare, and felt his clothes before letting out a sigh.
"Ok, but take care of them, they have been through a lot with me".

"Of course darling, but if I may ask what is the material your shirt is made of it's so strange they are so sturdy, like what Applejack's family wears, but it's not so course it's soft, and stretchy like spandex, and silk combined your pants as well they have such a nice fabric, and don't get me started on the stitching, who made these for you".
Rarity looked at the clothing as her guest slowly stripped himself down, handing them over to her until he was down to his undershorts.
"Actually I bought them at a store. They are factory made, the fabric in my shirt is cotton, and my pants as well they are cotton".

Rarity looked at him in disbelief as she looked at his undershorts.
"And those darling"?

He nodded his head, and pulled at the elastic band before letting them snap against his waist.
"I'm kind of old school like that. You know I used to be a bit of a fashion savvy person myself".

She instantly perked up at his words, and rushed up to him with a bright sparkle in her eyes, and a smile on her face.
"Really darling you must share with me".

"Oh you wouldn't be interested in what this old fossil used to make, it's so outdated you wouldn't want to see it".
He rubbed the back of his head as he gently swung his foot a little. The unicorn mare looked up at him like an excited puppy looking at a new toy.

"Oh of course it would be darling , in fact it could help me with my new line of fall clothes".
She continued doing his measurements as he got into a T-pose. He watched her set the original clothes down, and grab some supplies for the measuring process. She nodded her head to him as she took his measurements taking her time with him looking over every scarred inch of his body. From old cuts on his hands all the way to ones across his face, and neck. They all ranged from short to long, and big to small, many she could make out as possibly from swords, or knives, but there were some that looked like small circles. Out of them all one caught her attention the most, a singular one in the middle of his chest that could have possibly been a sword slash, or from the one that was pulled from his chest, but it was far too wide.
As she looked him over she failed to notice that she was being watched as well until she was broken from her thoughts by a deep voice.
"That's what got me killed, I can still feel it sometimes".

She looked up at him slowly raising a hand close to it as though she was silently asking to touch it. he turned his head away, and nodded.
"I see I'm terribly sorry to hear that, but on a different note I can see why the princesses chose to marry you. You have quite the strong body I mean even like the way you were before you still looked strong, but now you look even more dashing. And as for your fresh clothes I have a set waiting for you over in the back, and since I have you for the day you can teach me some of your world's fashion, maybe even teach me someone you might know".

He chuckled as he lowered his arms watching the fashionista walk away from him.
"I'll see what you can do, maybe you could teach me a thing, or two about these new times. I'm really glad we can finally take a rest from all of the bloodshed, and I would be more than happy to teach what I know. However, how do you have clothes for me already"?

She walked over to a nearby closet using her magic pulled out a set of denim jeans, and a red short sleeve flannel shirt while setting his soiled clothes into a bin next to the worktable she had stationed across from the closet door.
"I took a guess while we were at the castle, and on the train now here put these on, we have a lot of work to do today, and many more of these for you to try on".

He took the clothes that were handed to him, and put them on behind a screen. He noticed the clothes fit him a bit snug, but didn't complain though the pants did scrunch up the boys a bit he paid it no mind after doing some adjustments, and having to relieve his boxers of duty. He stepped up behind Rarity, setting his underpants in the bin with the rest of his soiled clothes, then looked over her workstation after about twelve more clothes changes he went with the first look.
"Thank you very much for the clothes Miss Rarity, they are a very good fit. All I need to do is break them in. I don't know how to repay you, and I admire your work table. It's very well made".

She jumped when he suddenly started talking, putting a hand to her chest as she leaned on a wall.
"Oh sweet Celestia Jimmy you scared me half to death, give me a second to catch my breath please".
She stayed leaned on the wall as she slowly caught her breath.
"Thank you for waiting for me darling, and as for payment just teach me whatever you can, and I'm not worried anyway consider those a trial set to see if they fit, or if you like them well I can see they fit very nicely".

"I thank you for the complement now let's get ready for work for starters what would you like me to do while I'm here"?
He stepped away from her work area letting her get to it as she tapped her chin, after a short while she snapped her fingers searching around her little shop until she located on a nearby couch, and started to read it over.

"Let's see oh I have shop close up for half the day I need to purchase more fabric Mrs. Satin, and her husband that's a walk all the way across Ponyville, and I have to get groceries for me, and Sweetie Belle".
She started to get a bit of a stressed look as she listed off more things unaware of the large pair of hands that settled on her shoulders.

She looked up at the red eyes of her guest, and started to slow down.
"Hey listen I have an idea how about we split up I'll go get your little sister you go get your supplies for the shop that way me, and her can get your groceries. How does that sound"?

Rarity rolled the idea around in her mind, then magiced up a piece of paper with a list of things on it, letting him grab it in his hand, and read it over.
"That is a wonderful idea darling the schoolhouse should be just down the road from sugarcube corner, in case one of the other girls didn't tell you as for Sweetiebelle she should be out by the time we are done, so we can meet her on the way here".

Jimmy P.O.V

I finished reading the list, and nodded as I walked over to the door with Rarity in tow. I held the door open for her as she passed by me with a small giggle. She locked up the shop, and we went our separate ways.
Rarity walked away in a sundress covered in red, orange, and yellow leaves like you would typically see in the fall with various other things that made it look like she was the embodiment of the season. I watched the leaves on her dress, and thought of my days back on earth. I drifted off into thought not paying attention where I was going just wandering in a random direction until I heard a certain southern voice broke me from my thoughts.
"Jimmy you alright there partner"?

I looked down, and saw Applejack looking at me a bit concerned as I looked around to see where I was to find I had wandered into the marketplace. I looked down, and smiled at the country girl.
"I'm fine just letting my mind wander a bit you know speaking of how's that granny of yours, and them siblings they giving you much trouble"?

She adjusted her hat as she looked up at me with a grin of her own.
"Granny's still the same as when you first met her Mac, and Applebloom ain't given me too much trouble yet actually speaking of Granny she said thank you for that recipe that you had left us, and that she would like you to come over whenever you want. Let me be the first to warm you she's just gonna pick your brain for more of them".

I chuckled hearing that, and gave her a pat on her shoulder.
"Well if you wouldn't mind go ahead, and tell her I'm glad she liked it, and that I would be more than happy to share a bit of knowledge with y'all, and speak of the devil can I get some of them apples from you I need I'm thinkin' a baskets with of them"?

She nodded, and dispensed to me the order I asked for, then I handed her what she was due before I waved my hand where we parted ways.
I continued walking around from place to place picking up more things such as tomatoes, carrots, and various other fruits, and vegetables including cherries. I made my way to Twilight's place to make a last second stop, and pick up the book I promised Mrs. Cake, and Pinkie. As I walked in I was greeted by Twilight, Spike, and my favorite blue mare who had looked at me who had all, but tackled me to the ground.

She rubbed her head into my neck as she clung onto me like a tick on a dog.
"Dearest husband, what a coincidence we were just speaking of you, what brings thou to Twilight's home".

I let out a chuckle reaching my filled hands around Luna in a hug.
"Tis nothing much my betrothed, but why is thyself here is Celestia not keeping thee company"?

She giggled at my words 'Thank you Shakespeare', as I spoke to her in the old tongue I felt her let go of me when she backed up to look at me better.

"We have come to speak with Twilight Sparkle about the upcoming nightmare night festivities, and thou"?
She turned pointing to Twilight who was also with Spike looking at us very confused.

"Ah I see I do hate to be so ignorant, but pray tell what is nightmare night"?

Twilight stepped forward as Luna was about to speak up about the holiday.
"It's actually built around the legend of Nightmare Moon, so all of the little fillies, and colts dress up as all sorts of things, and get candy".

I nodded, and listened to her explain the general idea of nightmare night to me, but I stopped her part of the way through her speech.
"So basically nightmare night is the equivalent to what on earth is called All Hallows Eve, or most commonly Halloween, but in this case instead of spirits your legends are about this Nightmare Moon that raises another question, who is Nightmare Moon"?

Luna looked down sheepishly, as she avoided eye contact with me before explaining.
"After your imprisonment our dearest husband we had been affected by dark forces that had caused us to have resentment, and jealousy towards our sister which caused us to be turned into Nightmare Moon as Nightmare Moon we attempted to bring an eternal night to all of equestria hence why we reference to ourselves as not myself. We had returned just the year prior to this year from our thousand year banishment to the moon".

I looked at her, and felt the pain in her eyes. I slowly set Rarity's things on the ground, and pulled Luna into a proper hug, holding her close while listening to her sniffle.
"It's quite alright beloved it was not thy fault any can fall from grace, but not as many can come back from their fall. You hath no reason to be sad, but can learn that greed, and selfishness is not the way this time now I'm with you, and Celestia so nothing like that will ever happen again".

She sniffled some more into me letting out her tears, and letting her pain melt away into the past as she let herself calm down. I let her go, and looked at Twilight as I picked up Rarity's things.
"Sparkler I want in on this year's nightmare night, and Luna come by later tonight. I need to have a word with you. I know I haven't been gone long, but it's important".

I gave Luna a wink as I walked away with Rarity's things, and my notebook straight to sugarcube corner for a loaf of bread, and a couple slices of cake. I ran making my way straight to the bakery as Rarity barely made it to around the corner.
"Oh hello darling how did everything go"?

"Swimmingly actually, and it's rather convenient. I needed to come here. I have something I needed to drop off".
I showed her the book, and stepped behind Rarity with the book, and her belongings in hand. I set her things on the ground when Pinkie pie popped up from god knows where.

"Hi guys, what brings you here"?
Jimmy held up his book, giving it a bit of a light shake in front of Pinkie's face, instantly catching her attention, her eyes locking on it like a cat on a laser.

She snatched the book from his grasp, and appeared behind the counter with Mrs. Cake showing her the green book of otherworldly confectionery mysteries making them both smile bright, and wide.
Rarity looked to Jimmy, then to the two mares, then back to the man across from her.
"Um darling what did you give Pinkie pie"?

He chuckled and held up a small piece of paper with a separate recipe written on it.
"Just my end of a bargain she, and Mrs. Cake are willing to buy my recipes to sell here of course I only gave them recipes that are best for the season".
She looked at him inquisitively until she noticed the writing on the paper, and slowly began to read it slowly realizing what he meant.

"That's wonderful darling, is there anything I should keep an eye out for"?

He tapped his nose a few times before a pink blur took the paper from his hand, and dropped off two slices of pie that he automatically recognized as pumpkin pie. Rarity looked at the confection with a puzzled look, but said no more and tucked in taking a small piece, and trying it like a proper lady before her eyes shot wide open, and started eating more of it.
"My word Jimmy, is this one of your recipes, it's delicious".

He tapped his nose again as he ate a piece with a glass of milk that was left on the table.
Rarity ate her piece with gusto, and bought an extra piece for Sweetie belle the two talked, and ate. When they finished they paid, and left leaving the trio to their work, and studies.
They walked up to the schoolhouse where all the young foals were being picked up, and took home save for three of them that waited for the pair to arrive.
"Hi Rarity can Applebloom, and Scootaloo stay for a sleepover please"?

Rarity looked at the other two in thought while Sweetie Belle looked at Rarity waiting for an answer until one orange, and pink filly looked up at her assistant for the day, and smiled walking up to him.
"Hey you're that stallion that was at Sugarcane corner a couple days ago that gave me that tasty cake".

The others looked at the filly as she was pat on the head by a large hand.
"Yeah I am the names Jimmy, what's your name kiddo"?

She giggled as she had her head pat, and looked up into his eyes.
"I'm Scootaloo what brings you here to the schoolhouse"?

"Well Scootaloo I'm here to pick up Sweetie Belle with the kind Miss Rarity today".
The other two crusaders looked at the smiling creature, then to their friend when the two both asked the same question together.

"You've met him already"?

Scootaloo looked at her two friends, and smiled nodding her head.
"Yeah we met at sugarcube corner when Pinkie made that new cake with the funny name".

The others thoughts were cut off by the deep masculine voice that had finally stood back up.
"Kladdkaka, and actually I made that I was asked to make something from my time in the mortal world on earth give some help at the place since I was there, and as much as I would love to elaborate more I think Miss Rarity has a lot of work today, so how about you two go ask for permission to come with us, then maybe I can teach you three something else I can do".

The three fillies looked at each other, and wasted no time in scattering off in their respective directions before Rarity was able to respond to him she looked at the man, and smiled.
"My my you're quite good with foals for someone of your standing".

"I love kids. I always wanted children myself that's why I married Cele, and Lulu.
Rarity physically felt her heart warm up to the thought that even as war hardened as he was he still was as tame as anypony else.

"That's wonderful darling now let's get to the boutique with everything as you said before we have a lot of work ahead of us".
He gave a nod, and turned around following Rarity, and her sister with all of her share of the things in her magic floating along with her until they got to the boutique where Rarity opened up her shop set everything where it belonged, then they began setting to work Sweetie Belle left to hang out with her friends, Rarity stayed with her assistant of the day to work around cleaning up where it was needed, and getting fresh cloth as Rarity requested it every now, and then.
They worked through the day until it was a few hours until dark Sweetie, and the other crusaders came to the boutique to play when things started to slow down a bit letting the two inside breath a little.

"Wow Jimmy you are quite skilled with details. I can imagine that you've done this before".
She sat down on her sofa waving her face with a fan while a broom could be heard nearby followed by her guests' deep voice.

"Thanks it's a few things I learned here, and there say, can I ask you something"?

She leaned her head back a bit looking at the large figure sweeping away pieces of unusable fabric, and debris away.
"Certainly darling, whatever can I do to help"?

She saw his red eyes turn to her as he stopped for a second, and held out another piece of paper to her.
"How much do you think these supplies will cost, and in exchange for not only showing you what I can I'll give you the refined version of my very first dress design that has never left the paper, and bits to cover the cost of any, and all things you may have to purchase".

She jumped up, and teleported with her magic right in front of him taking the paper from her hand, and reading it over looking at all of the materials that were listed calculating the cost in her head, then started writing down her calculations on the paper, then handed it back to him with a large smile on her face.
She watched him read it over, and nodded his head from time to time, then looked up to the door, and back to her.

"I'll see how soon I can have your bits, and come by tomorrow morning for the drawings. Also, someone is at the door. I think you should get that".

Rarity walked over to the door catching Sweetiebelle just as she was about to knock with the other crusaders behind her.
"Sweetiebelle what wonderful timing I was just going to get ready to prepare dinner".

The girls rushed in looking around until they located the tall man. They ran up to him, and bounced around a bit. Scootaloo's voice piped up from the three over the others.
"Can we have one of those tasty cakes please"?

The others followed in suit with her, and started asking until Rarity chimed in making all three stop talking.
"Now girls I'm sure Jimmy here wouldn't be in the mood to cook for us. It's both rude to ask someone, especially a guest".

"I don't mind".

Rarity's words quickly died in her throat at the answer saying no more she listened to what he had to say.
"I might have something in mind I could prepare for you all, but I'm missing a couple things if only I had someone to help me".

Rarity went off to do her own thing as she let the four wander off to the kitchen to work on their dessert after the girls were allowed to help her guest. She dealt with a few more customers that just needed small patch jobs, and minor adjustments requiring very little time. She closed up the shop walking into the kitchen to her surprise the place is still in the same condition she left it in the only difference was the applauding fillies. And a large fire coming from her guest as he worked on something that caught her moses attention the distinct scent of cherries, and wine filled her nostrils as she suddenly smelled something else her attention was immediately drawn from her own mind straight to the cake that was being pulled out of the oven, and coated with a thick sauce, then slid back in.
"Ok girls, after ten minutes pull this out, and let it cool, don't spoil your dinner after you eat all of your food, help yourselves, and remember don't do what I do because I'm a professional I can do this, so don't attempt anything I did without a adult".

The three fillies nodded as they all suddenly looked to Rarity who stood stunned that her house wasn't in flames yet. She was however brought back to reality by a strong voice, and even stronger hand.
"Ms. Rarity I had a great time, but I have to take my leave".
Everyone looked confused until they looked outside, and saw it was getting dark. Rarity stopped him before he could go, and pulled him off to the side.

"Before you go I have a few more things for you to try . I think you'll like it".
He shrugged, and went with her where he was introduced to multiple short sleeve shirts, and another few pairs of pants. He shrugged his shoulders going ahead, and trying everything on for Rarity to make sure everything fit perfectly when she was done he was set off to Twilight's for the night.