Expeditis Equitibus

Sorry this took so long... My creativity just basically went 'I'm gonna go to bed' and died for a while.

Anyway. Chapter Four, go now!

A knock came at Carousel Boutique's door, a rapid triplet of percussive beatings. Rarity knew that knock well, given how Pinkie tended to annoy her while she was designing. Sighing, she turned to the distraught young white pegasus; hushing his whimpering with a hoof.

"I'll go quiet down the horde... but in return, I expect you to tell me what happened!" Rarity said in a firm, yet gentle voice, then took her leave. On opening the door, her surprise and slight relief, she was NOT immediately mobbed by ponies. Instead she was greeted by a concerned Pinkie and Twilight. Pinkie looked up at Rarity, tears glistening at the bottom rim of her eyes.

"I-Is Ivory in there? I didn't scare him, did I? Wh-what did I do? I gave him my traditional w-welcome to Ponyville... but he freaked out as s-soon as ponies came by to say hello!" Pinkie sniffled, ready to start bawling, but she was quickly calmed by Twilight placing a hoof around her shoulders.

"There there, Pinkie, it's okay... Rarity, have you seen a white pegasus with a dirty blonde mane and tail? He's the 'thing' that Dash saw crash-land near Everfree when we got back from the wedding." Twilight asked Rarity, who nodded and pointed up the stairs to her room.

"I have... however he still needs to calm down first... I believe Pinkie may have accidentally triggered a bad case of agoraphobia... that is, fear of crowds, or social anxiety..." Rarity explained for Pinkie's benefit. "He might not be out for a bit longer, everypony... Don't worry though, I'll make sure he's in tip top shape when he does return!"

Her words were accepted by the townsponies, and they began to drift away. There was chatter, no doubt about that... seemed like this 'Ivory' pony had made quite the impression. Rarity turned to Twilight and the now somewhat calm Pinkie. Twilight quickly lifted her head, a thin smile snaking across her lips. Magicking open her saddlebag, she pulled out a gold-trimmed, royal purple book. In typical Equestrian fashion, the volume could have easily been used to bludgeon somepony into submission. And as usual, all they would have seen between strikes was a simplified image of a knitting needle and thread on its cover.

"Here's your book back, Rarity... sorry it took so long, I never knew there was so much technique and finesse just for sewing and knitting! I filled at least two whole scrolls with notes..." Twilight shook her head, grinning. "Right... I better get Pinkie out of here and let you deal with this. See you later when you've got him calmed down?" Rarity nodded in agreement, picking up the book in her magic aura. Before she could trot back into the Boutique, however, Pinkie pulled out a small bag of... something, and tossed it into Rarity’s magic field.

"Give Ivory that... I think it's his." Pinkie told Rarity, who replied in kind with a gentle nuzzle; just enough to give Pinkie reason to smile again.

"I will, darling." Rarity nodded again, then went back inside, closing the door and tossing the book and bag onto her designing table

"A-are they gone?" Ivory's voice wavered down the stairs, followed by the shivering pony himself. Rarity nodded and smiled at him warmly, in a way that seemed to calm his nerves.

"G-Good... I hate being in crowds like that..." Ivory shudders. "I think I owe you an explanation... well... when Pinkie did her song and that crowd formed, it... did something to me. Like... I had a vision of the future... and in it... I was being judged horribly for being different... It's all I really know... judgment without due cause..." Ivory sits down, burying his face into his front hooves. "I just had to get away before they could start beating me or something... and your place was the first I saw... sorry about that." He sighed. "Dear god.... I'm such a MESS!"

Rarity sighed and trotted over to Ivory, who was sliding his hooves away from her as if repelled by a force field.  "It's perfectly fine, dear... You won't be judged here in Ponyville. We accept all kinds of ponies." Ivory snorted, shaking his head.

"Not if what Rainbow Dash did is anything to go by..." he muttered, to which Rarity scoffed.

"I’m afraid that Rainbow Dash is untrusting to most strange ponies. However, if you earn her trust, you will gain a friend for life. I am sure she will warm up to you soon." Ivory shrugged at those words, but seemed to calm down a bit. Sensing he wasn't gonna keep being silly about this whole thing, Rarity levitated the bag Pinkie gave her over to Ivory. "I believe this is yours."

Ivory cocked his head and, accepting the back, fumbled with the drawstring whilst cursing at his hooves. Rarity couldn't help but notice that his movements seemed erratic and cumbersome... like he was not used to having these appendages. Perhaps like he wasn't a pony until just recently.

But if he wasn't a pony... then what in Equestria was he?

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Twilight closed the door to the library, her mind made up. She trotted over to a cushion, laid down, and let out a breath. After the events of the day, she was WIPED.

"Spike? Take a letter please..." She called out to the dragon, who nodded and produced a piece of parchment and a quill, ready to write down the immediate dictation that would follow.

"Dear Princess Celestia...

Today's been an interesting day... first we get back from that insane wedding, then a pony crash-lands outside the Everfree forest. Rainbow Dash mistook him for a changeling, and I have to admit, I thought he was too, considering the circumstances surrounding his arrival. But Ivory didn't appear to even know what a changeling is, and seemed particularly clumsy, as if he didn't even know how to control his body. I would like to request an audience with you at your earliest convenience-

"Wh-what?!" Spike sputtered at that, almost dropping his quill. "Twilight, you're NEVER that up front with her!"

Twilight nodded. "I know. But this is a mystery... And I need to get to the bottom of it. Keep writing, please..." Spike rolled his eyes, but continued writing.

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"-With Ivory in tow. I trust this will be able to help me understand more about this pony... if he is in fact that.

Your faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle."

Princess Celestia finished reading the scroll to Luna, a sigh escaping her muzzle. Luna of course immediately picked up on that.

"What is wrong, sister? You sound almost... like Mother Faust caught you in the middle of something you ought not to have partaken in." Luna cocked her head, but received no answer as her sister turned away and began her reply to Twilight...