Stitching Up A Broken Heart

Clothing is an important part to society. It makes everyone feel not naked in the world. From a young age, you always dreamed of wearing the best clothes and being able to be considered an important, or even, famous person. Your mom was quite the smart cookie, as she taught you to sew once you were 13 years old. You knitted simple things with your skills at that age, like blankets and other things, which were more or less meant for your younger brother and sister.

It brought you joy, being able to see them cuddle their blankets or clothing like it was something bought from a luxury clothing store, when in reality you just sewed it in your room like it was no big deal. At the age of 16, your creativity was recognized by a high school teacher as they seemed to chat about you enough to get the attention of a luxury clothing designer.

After a lengthy discussion with your parents, you managed to convince them to let you take this deal, and got your own apartment, paid for by your boss. You got plenty of money and cash for doing this, amassing a fortune of 30k a year. With that much, you lived handsomely for yourself.

Moving on, you were now 20 years old, and still made clothes, though you had your own clothing shop now, and made it into a bit of a work-at-home kind of thing, meaning that your shop had a bedroom for yourself, as well as a kitchen, bathroom, etc. You made many suits, tuxedos, dresses, nightgowns, and so much more, raking in 500 a day with the material you made them from. As for your family, you didn’t exactly let them have certain clothes for free, but gave them 50% off, which they loved you for.

As of now, you were simply just closing up shop. It had been a bit of a long day for you. People needed new clothes, new socks, new this, new that. It had finally come for closing time, and it was a pretty nasty thunderstorm outside. News channel advised everyone to stay indoors, as it was gonna be a bit of a flash flood warning.

At least no one else is gonna bother me tonight you thought as you took a plate of steak to your bedroom. You knew there you’d at least be able to have some privacy, as if you didn’t have enough already. You turned the TV to SNL. The gags were mostly dry humor, but there were some genuine funny moments on the show, such as the time they did a Good Burger skit.

After a few minutes, you got bored and just enjoyed the steak. Though, it was short enjoyment, as you soon finished it and set the plate on a desk, getting covered up and resting your head on your pillow softly, closing your eyes. As you slept though, a bolt of lighting struck an air vent on the roof, and you felt yourself fall in your dream, not sure where you’d end up.

You woke up, feeling something soft beneath you, which felt like a bed, so you didn’t instinctively panic, but your eyes blinked to life as you woke up slowly.

“Oh dear… Mom! Dad! He’s waking up!” a girly voice said as footsteps could be heard exiting the room as you fully opened your eyes, confused about where you were. Thinking you had gotten hurt or something, you instinctively checked your body, and found no wounds, breathing a sigh of relief.

“Charity, no need to make a big deal of it. I’ll take care of it” a masculine voice said outside the door, and you heard footsteps approach, before what sounded like hooves approached as well.

“Fortis, I wish to welcome him as well. It’d make more sense if both of us went i-” the voice said, being cut off

“Look, honey, I understand your concern, but it’s best he wake up to a human and not a pony, okay?” the masculine voice, named Fortis, spoke as there was silence, then he spoke again, “Okay, I’ll be out soon”

As you watched the door, you saw a human enter through the door as he flashed you a friendly smile and you scratched your head softly, and he chuckled.

“Confused? I imagine. This is gonna be a lot for you to take in, so don’t freak out” he said to you as you quirked an eyebrow

“What’s there to freak out about?” you asked him

“Well, you’re in a world inhabited by ponies… with a small human population” he said as your eyes widened.

This was a bit to take in, as having fallen asleep one minute, then waking up in a world of ponies was definitely an oddball. It really made you raise an eyebrow.

“Okay, that’s a surprise. You sure I’m not dead?” you asked him as he chuckled a little

“If you’re unsure, try pinching yourself” he said, and sure enough, when you pinched yourself, there was no doubt about it, it was very much real. After that, you locked eyes with him and sighed.

“So am I really stuck here?” you asked him as he nodded

“Unfortunately, yeah. But even then, most humans forget about going back” he said, flashing what looked to be a wedding ring

“You’re married?” you asked him as he smiled

“Yep. Have been for a few years now.” he said, sounding proud about it. From what you heard earlier, being what sounded like horse hooves, you started to think that this man was married to a horse.

“Do humans have horses as wives?” you asked as he chuckled a little

“Ponies, but yes. Princess Twilight was actually the first pony to have a human husband, and successfully conceive a foal” he said, which made you pause for a second.

“Waitwaitwait, ponies can cross breed?” you asked, confused

“Correct. Believe me, it amazed most when Twilight’s daughter, Moonlight Sparkle, was born. What was thought to be a rumor, turned out to be possible” he said as you sat up and stood up.

“Is there any employment in this world?” you asked him

“Depends, what do you specialize in?” he asked

“Well, I’m really good at making clothing” you said as he smiled

“Well, there is a mare in Manehattan looking for an assistant, though…” he paused, scratching his neck nervously

“Though what?” you asked him as you raised an eyebrow

“Well, she’s not exactly the kindest mare, but if you want to give it a go, I could get you a ticket to Manehattan, if you wanted to” he offered. The idea of working under a mare who would either be strict as hell, or a plain asshole, really swayed your decision. You thought hard on this.

You always searched for jobs where the work was bearable and the treatment was acceptable, but if this mare was as bad as she sounded, you really had to weigh the pros and cons. One pro was that you could potentially make a name for yourself, and a con was that you also didn’t like being ragged on by a boss of any kind.

Though, you had worse before, and only tolerated it for the pay, so you figured, What could possibly go wrong?, and looked the man in the eyes.

“Are you sure you’d pay for the ticket?” you asked him as he chuckled

“Pal, I’m quite sure, with the mansion we’re currently in, the ticket won’t be much of an issue. So, is that a yes?” he asked you, and you nodded, “Oh, and before we go further, what’s your name?” he asked as you introduced yourself

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Fortis, and that voice you heard me talking to out there was my wife, Fleur De Lis, and, you probably didn’t notice right away, but the little girl you heard was our daughter, Graceful Charity” he explained.

“Well, you’re all very kind” you said, and got interrupted as your tummy rumbled, and he chuckled.

“Wanna get something to eat? I imagine you do. Come on, I’m sure the servants have quite the course prepared for us” he said, leaving the room

You knew that this would be a fresh start, and you looked towards the door, then walked out.

After a beautiful lunch with Fortis and his family, he wasted no time in getting you your ticket. While you wondered where you’d be living in Manehattan, Fleur told you that she knew a mare in Manehattan, who was willing to give you a place to stay for the time being: Coco Pommel.

From what you heard, Coco Pommel was a talented assistant, previously having assisted Suri and another mare, who went by Rarity. You figured you’d be able to get some info out of Coco about Suri before going to apply for a job.

As of now, you had just gotten on the train, and taken your seat. You watched as the train passed by many landscapes and trees, finding yourself getting tired rather quickly.

You thought to yourself as you sat there, looking back on your life. One moment, you were closing up shop, and the next, you were in a mansion and in a world mostly dominated by ponies. You did at least have some hope that this new world would welcome you with open arms, like Fortis and his family, but something told you that not every pony would treat you the same.

With nothing else to do, you simply closed your eyes and sighed, allowing your body to relax as you yawned, falling asleep. You knew it’d be a long trip, so you just decided to fall asleep to pass the time.

The sound of the train’s whistle woke you up, and you got off the train with a suitcase, courtesy of Fortis. The suitcase contained changes of clothes, and you thanked him for all that before you even left Canterlot. As you got off the train, you saw a mare with a light blue mane approach you.

“I take it you’re that human that Fleur told me about?” she asked as you nodded and she shook your hand, “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Coco Pommel, and you’ll be living with me until you find a place, okay?”

“Sure, I guess” you said anxiously, as this seemed to be so sudden, and she giggled as she led you by hand into Manehattan

The streets of Manehattan looked busy, just like Manhattan, New York. After seeing all the tall apartment buildings, Coco led you to one and through the door, up a flight of stairs, and to her apartment.

“Here we are” she said, taking out a plate with some pizza on it, putting it in the microwave for 90 seconds, “So, what brings you to Manehattan?”

“Well, Fortis told me that there was a fashionista in Manehattan that could use an assistant. I happen to have experience with clothing, so I was hoping to help her out” you said, and Coco looked at you weird.

“You don’t mean…?” she asked you, sounding rather concerned

“Her name was Suri Polomare, if you’re wondering” you said, and as soon as you did, she kinda shook nervously, “What? Did I say something wrong?”

“N-Not at all.. I’ve just had… bad experiences… w-with Suri…” she said, taking the plate over to the table

“Like what exactly?” you asked her as you joined her at the table, and she sweated a little.

“W-Well… when I worked under her… she was very aggressive and undermining… she treated me like I was a pet instead of her assistant…” Coco said, shivering at the sheer thought, “From what I hear, she apologized to Rarity, but is still as snobbish as ever. Are you absolutely sure you’d want to work for her?” she said, taking a bite out of the pizza

“I thought ponies didn’t eat pizza” you asked as she giggled.

“For the longest time, nopony did. It wasn’t until one human, known as Rasoiya, made a vegetarian pizza, and he called it Spinach And Feta. Said it was a pizza back on your home planet, and said it consisted of Spinach, Parmesan Cheese, and plenty of other good ingredients. My favorite part is the alfredo sauce~” she mmmmmmm’d as she tasted the sauce. As you took the other slice, you were surprised that, despite having smelt like veggies, still tasted like pizza, “Now, answer my question. Why work with Suri?”

“From what I’ve seen, every pony here is capable of good things. I just have to get through to her” you said, getting a sigh out of Coco

“Good luck, I guess” she said, finishing her slice, “It’s getting late, so I’m turnin’ into bed. Couch is a pullout, so feel free to get comfy!” she said, getting up, putting her plate in the sink, and heading to her room.

Acknowledging this, you pulled out the couch and it looked like a bed now, and you got comfortable, planning out your day tomorrow and how you’d approach Suri.

The next day, you were walking down to Suri’s studio. It was a small building in Manehattan, and according to what happened with Coco Pommel, and another mare, Rarity, Suri’s career was tainted and she was seen as a greedy mare. Despite all that, you still wanted to meet her.

After walking down the street for what felt like 15 minutes, you came to a small that looked filled with clothes, but every passerby just looked at it with disgust. You reached for the handle and walked in, hearing a bell ding above your head as you sat down in a chair, waiting.

What you heard next was the sound of hooves clopping as a mare with a purple mane and a light pink coat came rushing out, catching her breath. Taking note, her breasts looked to be at least a C, but you didn’t stare long.

“Welcome to… my shop… I didn’t think-“ she paused as she looked up, scowling a little, “A human? What could you possibly want here, you hairless ape?”

“Okay, first off, that was very unkind of you. Secondly, I heard you need a new assistant” you said, softening her scowl a little

“And who told you that?” she asked, staying behind the counter

“A human named Fortis, perhaps you know him?” you asked her as she stared off for a second

“I only know him cause he was married to Fleur. What about him?” she asked you

“He’s actually the one who told me” you said as her eyes shrunk a little

“And what exactly makes you, a hairless ape, capable of making clothing?” she asked, tapping her nails against the desk

“I’ve had experience” you said as she took of her scarf, walking over to you and handing it over, “Why did you-?”

“If you can replicate my scarf, using the exact same material I give you, I’ll consider offering you a job here” she said

“And how will I-?” you began to ask

“In my studio. What, you thought I was going to let you take it out of this building? No! Though, if you replicate the scarf perfectly, I may let you keep it as a welcoming gift” she said, walking back and into a deeper part of her studio, looking back at you.

“Right, okay” you said, getting up. So far, your impression of Suri was that she wasn’t aggressive, but she definitely didn’t show you any respect, and you could only hope that that’d change down the lane

After following her, she led you to a sewing machine, and gave you the material needed to replicate the scarf. She watched as you got to work, studying her scarf as you sewed it, step by step, not missing a beat. She watched your handiwork closely as you worked on sewing it together

“For a human, you’re quite talented. So far so good” she said, taking a seat next to you as you kept your focus

You didn’t have time to answer, but you did flash a smile at her, which made her look at you with a confused look. Regardless, you kept going as you finished sewing, showing her the finished product as she gasped, taking it in her hands as she looked at it closely and felt the scarf carefully. After a while, you carefully took it from her hands and started to tie it around her neck for her, and she became flustered, “W-What are you-?!”

“Relax, I’m just putting it on you” you said, nearly finishing as she slapped your hands away, making you wince

“Do not…. Touch me! Do I make myself clear?!” she screamed, making you nod and shiver before she calmed down, “Good” she said as she finished it herself, wearing it

“Do you… like it?” you asked her as she sighed and nodded softly

“Surprisingly, a human like yourself managed to perfectly replicate my scarf, and not even my previous assistant, Coco Pommel, could perfectly replicate it without a fabric out of place” she said, which made your heart glow a little, “With that in mind, I suppose that means I’m to be a mare of my word”

“So does that mean?” you asked with hope as she sighed

“Against my better judgement, you got the job. Here’s hoping you don’t disappoint” Suri said with hope in her voice

“So, boss, when do I start?” you asked her

“Tomorrow, and you better not be late, got it?” she said with a stern attitude in her voice

“Completely, Ms. Polomare” you replied

“Good, at least you have manners. Now, get out of here, or whatever it is you do” she said, and you took that as your cue to leave. You sighed as you left her shop, heading back to Coco’s, for the night was soon approaching.

As you returned to Coco’s apartment, youfound her sitting on the couch as she looked up, smiling a little

“So, how’d it go?” she asked you, sounding a little worried

“Better than you explained it to be” you said, heading off to the couch and sitting on it

“S-Seriously? No insults or anything?” Coco asked, confused

“Aside from her calling me a ‘hairless ape’, nothing really bad happened between me and Suri” you explained as her jaw dropped

“I can’t believe she didn’t… wow…” Coco said, shocked

“Yeah, surprising, I know. Guess I’m just lucky” you said as Coco got up and headed for her room

“Y-Yeah, definitely…” she said, entering her room and closing the door. Since you weren’t hungry, you just pulled out the couch and laid down again, getting comfy.

While Suri came off as aggressive, you could tell that there was some kindness in her, but something told you that she’d take a while to warm up to humans, and especially you.