Author's Note
I’ve been playing with an AI to come up ideas and damn is this one pretty solid. I’ve got like five chapters planned.
I rewrote and strung together to make it coherent, hope you all enjoy it.
Dressing the Part
Constable Patches made his way down the cobblestone street, his hooves making the familiar clack they did when he walked his beat. It was still somewhat early, nearly eight o’clock and the ponies of Canterlot were beginning to start their business day. Stores were opening their doors, signs were getting flipped to welcome eager customers to buy their wares.
This was a well to do part of town, Not the likes of Bucks Row, but enough so that the sight of a pony heading his way gave him cause for attention. He was a colt, no more than fourteen, and a unicorn at that. Across his back he wore an oversized poncho, whose gaudy color and design alone made him instantly stand out in this district. In one hoof the lad held a note that he kept looking to, gazing at it then back to the store fronts.
In that moment Patches, being a unicorn himself, found it odd that the lad didn’t just hold it in his magic, but he shrugged off the idea. Stepping forward he greeted the colt.
“You look lost, son.” He offered politely
The colt jumped slightly but recognizing Patches as an officer he relaxed a bit.
“Yes sir, sorry sir, but Ah am.” The colt had a thick accent, which immediately led Patches to think he was a tourist, but his manners hinted that he was at the very least not a troublesome one.
“Well,” Patches began, removing his helmet to put the kid at ease. “Where are you headed?
“Carousel Boutique, sir.” The colt explained, showing him the note. It revealed a few scribbles plus a crude map. The paper had the look of being folded as well as teeth marks as if it had been held in his mouth for a time.
But Patches did know the place.
“You're not far off, lad. Just head down this street, and go towards the square, its located toward the middle. You are about ten minutes out.”
“Be so much easier if Ah could just fly.” The boy muttered to himself, before realizing the Constable had heard him.
“I reckon so, sonny. But be grateful for the gifts you have as a unicorn.” Patches said, raising a brow at him.
The boy nodded and smiled uneasily. “Yes sir, and thank you sir.” With that he was making his way down the road without further fuss.
‘Nice enough kid,’ Thought Patches,’But a bit jumpy’. He was about to move along when he caught the sight of a discarded feather on the ground where the boy had been standing. He thought it an odd coincidence but didn't pay it much mind as he continued on his patrol.
_______________________
Rarity sipped her tea and enjoyed the sound of her gramophone playing classic opera. Delvadio Concerto number 11. Simply divine. Placing the tea cup back to the saucer with her magic she took a moment to reflect. How she had dreamed of doing just this very thing, in her very own shop in Canterlot. Sitting here now and feeling satisfaction on how she had made it come true. Three shops, each with its own staff, its own charm, her charm, dotted all across Equestria.
Of course she missed her old shoppe in Ponyville. It was cramped, dated, and getting quality supplies there was positively dreadful. But it was her sole endeavor for the longest time.
Still, life went on.
Applejack was on her third pregnancy, family growing like she had always wanted.
Rainbow Dash was out flying for the Wonderbolts like she always wanted.
Pinkie Pie had bought Sugar Cube Corner and was running it her way like she always wanted.
Fluttershy animal sanctuary was flourishing like she always wanted.
And Princess Twilight was enacting the reforms to make Equestria safe and prosperous like she always wanted.
“Speaking of royalty.” She mused aloud.
Glancing at the clock she saw that it was a bit after eight. Why yes any minute now he would be stopping by. This ‘mystery Alicorn’, and a stallion no less. She desperately tried to get Twilight to spill the beans on anything she could say about him. But she was sworn to secrecy.
This left her with little to go by but rumors and her imagination, which soon ran a little wild.
‘Who was this newest Alicorn? Why the mystery behind it?’ The seamstress wondered. Ascension was such a rare thing, occuring only four times in written history. She had the honor of seeing one in person, when Twilight had solved Star Swirl the Bearded’s ancient spell, but what had this Alicorn done?
Was he older than her? Younger? Handsome and Strong? Definitely. Was he smart? Powerful? Perhaps a mix of everything. The whole package at it’were.
She could hardly contain the butterflies in her stomach. It was rather silly, she told herself, to grow so giddy at the thought of someone she had never met. And yet…”
-ring-
Rarity almost jumped at the sound of the door chime breaking her from her thoughts.
“Calm down Rarity, calm down,” she muttered to herself, smoothing out her dress as she moved to greet him.
“Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where everything is…” she halted her mantra as she took in the sight.
He was a skinny thing. Not weak but clearly young, probably no older than Sweetie Belle. He wore a rather garish poncho that covered his body. And he stood in the room wide eyed taking in all the sights with a fish out of water look.
Clearly not the Prince. ‘Poor dear must have wandered into the wrong shop.’ She mused
She chuckled lightly to herself, almost laughing at herself for letting her imagination grow so out of control.
With an almost patronizing smile, she approached him.
“Hello there young colt. Are you lost?”
“Oh! Ahm sorry, Miss.” He said with a slight stammer. He had an accent not unlike that of Applejack but he spoke at a noticeably slower rate, which her detective brain deduced that he was a country colt from somewhere more north.
It lacked refinement but not without its charm.
Still, certainly not the newest Prince then. Just the same she would show him the generosity of kindness she was known for. ‘Perhaps he got separated from his mother.’
“Pish posh, darling,” she said with a smile, “You’re just fine. Are you with your mother, by any chance? Or father for that matter?”
“Oh no Miss, my Mah is back home in Greener Pastures.”
‘Called it’ Rarity congratulated herself.
“And Pa… well Pa passed about two summers ago.” His eyes flicker down in a moment of sadness that made her pity the poor colt, but she really needed him to leave, she was expecting company after all.
“I am genuinely sorry to hear that. But, I do believe that you’re a long ways from home,” Rarity remarked, “What brought you here to Canterlot from Greener Pastures? Shouldn’t you be in school?”
“Well…yes Miss.” he said with a hint of unease. “It’s a long story.”
Before he could attempt to regale his story she decided to politely but firmly show him to the door.
“Well…I really hate to kick you out, young colt, but I’m expecting someone important to come here soon.” She said, placing a hoof on his shoulder and gently directing him to the door.
“Oh? Who? Ah was told it was just gonna be me, Miss Rarity?” He asked sincerely, confused.
Rarity’s eyes widened in surprise and her ears perked up.
Just how did he know her name? Who told him she was going to be here?
A million and one questions began racing through her mind, but she couldn’t help but notice a hint of recognition in the colt’s words.
“And just who told you I was going to be here?” she asked, almost a hint of sternness in her voice.
“P-Princess Twilight. Ah don’t have the wrong time do ah?”
Twilight?
Rarity was even more surprised. ‘Why had Twilight sent this bumpkin-oh dear that’s rather harsh- this agrarian youth to see me when I have an appointment with the Prince?’
But then her mind finally registered the name of the colt’s hometown.
“Wait,” she said, her eyes growing ever wider, “You’re from Greener Pastures, right?
“Yes Ma’am. Out in the Dairy lands of Wiscowsin.”
Rarity had just about enough of this. This colt was either a very good liar or some pony was taking him for a ride. Either way, who the hay was he?
“Wiscowsin, to the North?” She repeated incredulously.
This was very strange, but there was clearly some more going on here.
Taking a step back from him, and looking him up and down carefully, she crossed her other hoof over her chest and spoke slowly.
“Why exactly did Princess Twilight send you here to me?” she asked.
“Ah-ah need a jacket.” He looked down a little as if ashamed. “For…for mah coronation.”
This was impossible.
This had to be a prank. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash disguised one of Applejack’s nephews to walk in here with a Faust ugly poncho and play a prank on her. Yes, that was it.
“Your coronation?” She repeated before narrowing her eyes. “Who put you up to this?”
“W-well ah said, Princess Twilight, Miss Rarity” He said rather dumbfounded.
It HAD to be a prank. There was no way. No possible way.
She stood in stunned silence for a moment, looking at him with a blank expression on her face.
Rarity prided herself as a pony who almost always looked at the facts. Who trusted proof and the evidence on the ground over pure speculation.
But this? This was just too much.
“You’re joking. Right?” she asked, her words slow as if she was carefully choosing them.
“Ah wish.” He sullenly replied.
Something finally clicked inside her.
He wasn’t joking, was he?
A thousand emotions flooded through her. Shock, surprise, hope, disappointment, excitement, anticipation, fear.
Was it possible that this colt was?
No.
No, it couldn’t be.
And yet every ounce of logic, every ounce of truth, pointed to it.
“You! What’s your name, darling?” she asked, her voice growing soft.
“Barnstormer, Miss. but folk usually just call me ‘Barnie’.” He said with a coltish smile.
‘There you have it. Alicorns have wondrous names, like Twilight, Luna, Cadenza Mi Amore, Flurry Hearts, and Celestia. Not BAR-NEE.’ She reasoned.
“Mind if ah take this off Miss? it’s cramping mah wings.” Barnie shifted a bit in place as he rubbed his shoulder uncomfortably.
“Wings?”
She looked up and saw a horn, an unmistakable horn. But he just said wings.
Horn.
Wings.
Horn and Wings.
Horn and wings meant royal.
He pulled off the Poncho from Tartarus to reveal an honest to goodness pair of wings.
The second the poncho came off, Rarity felt her legs buckle.
Her mind couldn’t process what her eyes were seeing as she watched the pony before her reveal a pair of wings.
Then as her eyes looked up, a horn appeared on his head.
The next thing she new it she had joined the hideous poncho on the ground and everything had faded to black.
____________________
It was a few minutes later that Rarity had come to. Barnie had been the sweetheart she had him pegged for and helped her to her couch with a glass of water. After a moment to gather her thoughts he had taken a deep breath and explained to her everything that had happened thus far that led him here.
It was by no means a short story, Rarity heard him out. Still, ever the professional, she had him put the story on hold so that she could get her tape measure. She then properly measured and fit him for his dress coat while he finished the story.
“And that’s what happened, Miss Rarity.” Finishing his story, he seemed absolutely drained both physically and emotionally.
“That was a very foolish thing for you do young stallion," she scolded before softening, “but also exceptionally brave.”
“I just knew…that Pa would have…” His voice trembled a bit before breaking. He turned away not wanting her to see him upset. “Sorry, Miss Rarity.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about, you have been through quite the ordeal.” She said tenderly rubbing his shoulder. Allowing him a moments to collect himself she turned and put the tape measure away and making some adjustments to the coat she started the night before. It would need several modifications, but he could at least model it for now.
“Here, let's try it on?” Rarity offered the coat in her magic, smiling warmly at him.
Barnie, having composed himself, nodded in agreement.
It was green with long sleeves. Made of velvet with several ornate gold and silver buttons that went from the chest to neck forming into rigid collar. To her chagrin it hung on him loosely which probably did nothing to help the poor colts self esteem in this moment.
Rarity spoke up “I know it doesn’t fit, I had a certain style in mind, I didn’t consider-“
“-Me?’ He was lost looking in the mirror, looking absolutely hopeless in this ordeal he found himself in.
She attempted to comfort him by rubbing his shoulder to soothe him. “Let me ask you something, Barnstormer?”
“Yes, ma’am?” He said absently.
“If you knew this would be the result would you have done anything differently?”
The question hung in the air for a moment before he raised his head higher with a sense of defiance.
“No, ma’am”
'Well that, that courage is indeed something worthy of a Prince.’ She said with a whole hearted smile.
The reluctant royal thought about it for a moment before nodding, a small reassured smile creasing his lips.
“Ah-ah should probably go. I got lessons up at the castle.” He said allowing Rarity to remove the oversized coat from his body.
“I’ll just need my…poncho?” Barnie was puzzled to find that his article of clothing was not where he left it.
“I’m sorry dear, I destroyed that monstrosity.” Rarity admitted with no real sense of remorse.
Barnstormer stood dumbfounded for a moment. “That was my Pa’s”
“OH? Oh dear I am so-so sorry I didn’t-“ Remorse came back real quick for the seamstress.
“Just joking around Miss Rarity.” He said with a good natured boyish smile followed by a fiendish chuckle.
“Teasing a lady, Mister Barnstormer?” She chided with a playful smirk “THAT will not do at all!”
His spirits lifted, he took one more look at the coat that didn’t fit him and thought back to what she had said;
‘Courage worthy of a Prince.’