A Pierced Heart

Chapter 3: Ties that Bind

Pokey Pierce was standing in front of Carousel Boutique, the time according to the town square clock reading a time much too close to Pokey's dread.

6:53.

A million thoughts ran through Pokey's mind. I have to make sure she wasn't hurt from my feeding. But she looked so healthy last night, what if this visit does harm her? Maybe I should just leave. No, she'll just be worried and think I don't like her. Why am I so adamant on seeing her again? Is it some instinct that's driving me? What if I start force feeding on her love? Oh goddess I don't know what to do. The faux unicorn gulped. I’ve got to do this, you’ve been able to control yourself for years. You’re not going to just kill her like that against your will. Just see if she is okay on a date, take her back home, and then... Maybe it was too early to decide on that.

6:57.

Pokey took a tentative step towards the boutique door, and mustering himself he took out a bow tie from his saddle bags. He decided to go with a white tie this time, it went well with his coat colour and the shade had taken on many more pleasing thoughts as he had looked at it earlier that afternoon.

6:58.

Pokey walked up to the door and lifted a hoof and rapped on it three times. "Coming!" sounded a filly's voice from the interior. The door opened revealing Sweetie Belle, who looked up at Pierce as she stepped aside to allow entry. "You must be Pokey Pierce, my sister Rarity is just getting ready," She spoke plainly and concluded, "Please come in." Pokey cast one last look at the town clock before entering.

7:00

Punctual as always. Well, here goes my first... date? I’ve checked up on those I fed on in the past, but always from a distance. Pokey took a seat next to the upward leading stairs as Sweetie Belle sat right beside him. "So... you and Rarity?" the young mare asked.

"It may be a little early... but I hope so," Pokey replied nervously. He shuffled slightly away from Sweetie Belle.

"It's good, for my sister I mean," the pastel-maned filly said. "Rarity is always so focused on her work or me, I'm glad she's taking some time for herself. You'll give as good as you get, right? Promise?"

If Pokey had been on edge at this point, he was now quite solidly dangling from it. "All I can say is that your sister is a wonderful mare, and I would hate to see any harm come to her." Then why am I doing this? If this all goes wrong, she'll be all the worse for it.

Sweetie Belle smiled as hoof steps sounded from the stairs. "Good luck." The white filly left her seat as her sister rounded the corner and said "Pokey's here Sis, I'm going upstairs to study Gryphonic history for school."

"Thank you, Sweetie Belle," Rarity cooed and glanced over to Pokey Pierce. "So glad to see you again, where are we headed?"

"I was thinking a restaurant, then a walk through the park?" The blue unicorn offered.

"It sounds divine," Rarity said as she stepped to the door and waited for Pokey. The two set off into the late evening sun.

Okay, now, she looks healthy, no signs of feeding, no open lesions, sores, she doesn't even look pale. I just have to make sure. "So, Rarity, how have you been feeling today?"

"Oh I feel marvellous. It was really quite surprising. After Sweetie Belle's Cuteciñeara, I thought I would be drained. But I just had the best night's sleep I could imagine," the ivory mare responded.

No nightmares either, wish I could say the same. "That's good to hear Rarity. So about the restaurant, I was thinking that 'The Hayfield' would be nice."

"That's my favourite restaurant in Ponyville! How did you know?" the mare asked.

I didn't, Pierce thought to himself. Is some passive changeling magic making Rarity agree to everything? "Why is that Rarity?"

"Well the rice dishes are simply to die for, and the corn is always so succulent. The house wine is always good too," The fashionista replied rather quickly.

The answer was quick and perceptive, exactly the thing changeling magic did not elicit. All the same, Pokey had to be absolutely certain. He was just not sure how. I could make some outrageous suggestion that any free-willed pony would object to, but then if I was wrong, I’ll have botched botched my chance with her. He decided to put that matter on hold as the two stepped into 'The Hayfield' restaurant.

The interior walls of the establishment were painted to emulate flowing prairies of wild grass, a breeze billowing the gold strands like so many small, delicate hairs. A verdant blue horizon dominated the upper half of the walls as shaded lamps hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow upon the tables. The tables were of two types, open and booth. The open tables were arranged in the middle of the spacious interior with sturdy, oaken and upholstered chairs surrounding them. The booths had a maroon silk covered backing and were affixed to the walls.

Standing at a podium near the door was a tan pegasus mare with a teal mane who smiled at the couple as they entered. "Welcome to 'The Hayfield', how may I be of service?"

"Booth for two please." Pokey replied. He always preferred the somewhat increased privacy afforded by a booth.

"Right this way then." The mare guided Pokey and Rarity to a booth where they were seated, and each were handed a menu and the two began perusing the culinary offerings.

Alright, gotta make sure that I'm not influencing Rarity. But what would she disagree with? Pokey opened his mouth to speak. "So, for pants do you prefer using denim or cotton?"

"Hm? Oh, I suppose I like cotton. What about you?"

"I always prefered denim if and when I wear pants," the blue stallion probed.

"Well, we'll just have to disagree on the matter, I for one find cotton much more comfortable." Rarity continued to scan the menu as a waiter walked to the booth. The waiter was a grey unicorn with a tuxedo and a moustache.

"Will you be having anything to drink tonight?" The waiter inquired.

"Oh, I'll just have water thank you." Rarity responded.

"Iced tea please," Pokey responded. Okay, so she disagreed with me on something, I'm definitely not harming her in any way. With this thought to azure stallion visibly relaxed, drawing Rarity's eyes.

"Something the matter Pokey?"

"Oh no, not at all its just, I was worried this night was going to go horribly wrong somehow," Pokey answered, setting his menu down as Rarity did.

Rarity giggled, "I don't see how this night could go wrong, you've been doing so well."

Pokey was now taking in the ambient love surrounding Rarity, it was nowhere near as strong as the love between full-fledged couples. But the difference was a matter of quantity, not quality.

"Thanks," Was all Pokey could say as the waiter returned with their drinks.

"Have you decided on what to order?" The waiter asked.

"Yes," Began Rarity. "I'll have the spicy corn and green bean jambalaya with the royal crunch bread for a side please."

"And I'll have the day's pasta special thank you," Pokey continued. The changeling didn't need food of the conventional sort to survive, but it was still pleasurable to indulge from time to time. Pokey went to the market like everypony else to maintain appearances, but he seldom bought much, not having to pay for food as a necessity had made Pokey's payment of his house much easier. Something for which his bankers had been quite thankful.

Minutes later the meal arrived and the two ate in silence until Rarity looked up at Pierce.

"Yes?" the blue unicorn queried.

Rarity giggled. "A white tie with pasta? You are the brave stallion, and from this distance, quite the reserved diner I would add." Pokey glanced downwards. True to her word, Pokey's tie was, in spite of nearby tomato-based cooking, was still a pristine, unadulterated white.

Pokey now chuckled himself, relaxing all the more for it. "It's good food, no sense in wasting it as a dye."
"Indeed," Rarity replied, smiling serenely. It goes so well with his coat colour.

The two finished their meal and Pokey paid the bill and left a generous tip for how quickly the food had arrived after ordering. The two unicorns set out the door and headed towards the Ponyville Park as the sun set. In the early fall the leaves of the trees had started to turn into various harvest colours, vibrant and resplendent yellows, reds, and oranges. Celestia's sun was making way for Luna's moon and the lamps lining the park's paths began to light up as Pokey started talking.

"So,” Pokey began, “what was it like when you got your Cutie Mark?"

"Oh it felt wonderful, like all my worries and concerns were put aside as I knew what I was meant for."

Pokey's thoughts turned to his own experiences. The blue colt whose identity he had assumed had been a blank flank, so Pokey had to decide on a talent, and think of something to match it. He had gone with a pin, thin and barely noticeable, yet of invaluable service when it came to the precision details needed.

"How did it feel when you got your's?" Rarity asked.

"It felt good, like I was becoming somepony I could live with" the stallion replied. In a way I still haven't quite made it.

"Yes, well, I'm glad my sister found her talent. She was always so ashamed at being one of the last blank flanks in the class. She wanted ponies to know who she was, just from a glance, they would know," Rarity said as the two of them walked by a field.

Wish I could just show ponies who I was at a glance, thought Pokey bitterly."So, your other friends, what can you tell me about them?"

"Ah, well Twilight is always ready to offer a well thought out solution to anyponies' problems. Applejack may be a bit rough around the edges but she takes care of her own and will always tell it as she sees it. And then there's Pinkie's spontaneity, I mean the girl is just -"

"Look out!" cried a voice as a ball planted itself on Rarity's muzzle, causing her to cry out in pain.

"Are you alright?" Pokey questioned as a brown pegasus gathered the ball that landed a few feet from them. "Hold it right there mister, you're going to apologize to the lady you just hurt."

The brown pony laughed at this and flew off. "Like I should listen to you! Haha! I warned her, she should've ducked."

"Why you ingrate!" Pokey called out.

"It's alright Pokey dear, I quite alright I just need to..." Pokey turned to look at his mare and saw a red trail making its way down to her mouth.

"Here, take this, y-your bleeding." Pokey fished a towel out of his saddlebag and levitated it to Rarity, who in turn took it in her own magical grip and began wiping.

Rarity glanced worriedly at Pierce as she finished cleaning herself. "Pokey, is something wrong?" The stallion had become ramrod stiff as his pallor fell to a shade whiter than it's usual hue.

~Blood gushing from his nose as hooves splat against his skull, splitting the bone revealing maggots crawling all through the inside of his brain.~

Pokey shook his head to dislodge the image. "It's okay, I'm fine, I'm just, I guess I have a bit of haemophobia." He gave a reassuring smile to the fashionista.

"Oh my," Rarity said as she folded the towel. She was careful to keep the crimson stain facing inwards before levitating the towel back into Pokey Pierce's saddle bag. "That's quite alright, one doesn't tend to see blood that often living here in Ponyville. I remember Twilight once gave herself a paper cut and when Fluttershy saw it she ... Oh I'm sorry, I'll just drop the subject."

"No, that's alright, I can handle talking about it," Pokey offered. The two walked for another hour talking about Rarity's friends and soon the two of them found their way to the edge of the park by Carousel Boutique.

"Well, tonight was wonderful Pokey, I hope to see you again soon." Rarity let herself into her home and Pokey let a relieved smile spread across his face. It had been a good night.