FiMFriction

There weren’t many things Rarity was willing to break a sweat for. She limited her rigorous activities for exercise and her handiwork, the former to keep her pristine looks in check and on occasion help her friends keep Equestria from falling to shambles. The latter, however, was what she lived for, and it was starting to take its toll as she finished the final touches on Fluttershy’s gown for the Hearts and Hooves Day Gala. She ignited her horn with a cerulean light, hovering an embroidered cloth to dab at the base of her brow, the sweat droplets sinking into the soft fabric. With practiced ease, she severed the final thread. It was done. Finally done- although there were five more to left to join it. Rarity sighed heavily, breathing in the stuffy air to take up the scent of her lingering perfumes, the fruity fragrance mingling with the slightest tinge of cinnamon. She sniffed again, confused.

“Well that’s odd,” The unicorn bemused, taking in another whiff. She trotted to her door and creaked it open, the smell of cinnamon overpowering as the barrier continued to open. Curious, she continued down the stairs, the slightest hesitation in her hoofsteps. Reaching the bottom of the stairwell, her azure eyes drifted to her right. A folded blanket and adjusted pillow confirmed her suspicions. Rarity took a few small steps, rounding the corner and entering the kitchen. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of her kitchen, plates stacked with piles of Apple Family fritters, the scent unmistakable. The golden stallion responsible for the excessive baking scrubbed away at a single pot in the sink, a country tune hanging in the air as he hummed in his labors. The dainty clops from Rarity’s pearly hooves caught his attention, ears perking at the sound of keratin against the kitchen’s tile floor. Braeburn placed the spotless kitchenware with the rest on the drying rack, turning around with a guilty smile as he faced his hostess, her boring sapphire eyes demanding an explanation for the culinary recreation. The stallion shuffled his hooves awkwardly.

“Ah-Ah’m sorry, Rarity. Ah just was tryin’ to think of a way to thank ya’ for your hospitality. Ah thought makin’ apple fritters was the way to go, and Ah got so excited by the thought that Ah already had the first batch in the oven before Ah realized Ah shouldn’t have been usin’ yer kitchen or supplies without permission.”

His ears pinned back instinctively and he sighed heavily. “But by then Ah had already kneaded all the dough and didn’t wanna waste any of it. Ah’m awful sor-“

Golden lips met white keratin, Rarity once again silencing the cowpony with the gentle tip of her hoof. The dressmaker smiled sweetly.

“I will hear none of these apologies, Braeburn. I offered my full hospitality to you and commanded you to make yourself at home, and you have done nothing outside of those boundaries. The fritters smell absolutely divine.” She inhaled deeply through her nose, closing her eyes and allowing herself to enjoy the delightful scent. Rarity drifted her eyelids open, an eyebrow raised in surprised pleasure. “Is that a hint of almond extract I detect?”

Braeburn cracked a cocky smile. “Sure is, ma’am. Ah’ve always had a knack for bakin’. Ah’m even better than Cousin Applejack- course she’ll never admit it. Girl’s too prideful and says Ah’m cheatin’ by changin’ family recipes.”

“Oh pony feathers, there’s nothing wrong with a little experimentation,” Rarity dismissed, waving a hoof casually in the air. The unicorn levitated a single fritter from the stacks, biting through the magical blue aura surrounding it. Her eyes widened. “Braeburn! These are simply amazing! I’m surprised you don’t have a baked good on your flank.”

Rarity gave the stallion a teasing look. “Are you sure you have an apple as your cutie mark, or have you been hiding a fritter underneath some makeup?”

“Nope, it’s clear as day an apple right here,” Braeburn said obliviously, turning around and giving his hostess a very clear view of his hindquarters, auburn tail swishing as he swung his flank from side to side. Rarity felt the heat rush to her face at the sudden gesture, the stallion’s ignorance outweighing his modesty. “See? Big red apple. Got it when Ah found out Ah was destined to work with all sorts of apples.”

“O-oh…. yes,” Rarity stuttered, attempting to divert her eyes, the flush returning to her face every time she failed. “There…. it is. Right on your shaking flanks.”

Braeburn blushed furiously as the implications hit him, quickly turning around. “Ah’m so sorry, Miss Rarity! Ah didn’t even realize… Ah horseapples Ah really need to think more before Ah embarrass myself like that.”

Still blushing herself, Rarity trotted past the stallion, muttering under her breath. “Oh trust me, Braeburn. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Believe me.”

“What was that?”

Looking back, she fluttered her eyelashes, bringing further blush to the stallion’s cheeks. “I said, no worries at all; you were merely trying to explain yourself. No then, would you care to join me in enjoying these fritters in the living room?”

Braeburn nodded dumbly and turned around to grab the nearest plate between his teeth, proceeding to follow the unicorn out to the living room. Rarity smiled as her guest joined her on the couch, his amber mane swaying slightly as he gently placed the plate on her mahogany coffee table. He became very aware of the sapphire eyes tracing his every movement, and turning to face their owner, he matched her smile with his own.

“There a smudge on my cheek?” The stallion raised an eyebrow smugly. “Or maybe ya’ just ain’t keen on my vest. Cousin Applejack did say you were always lookin’ for ways ta’ make a pony look his or her best.”

“Actually, your vest and Stetson combination has quite a bit of Old World charm,” Rarity chuckled, scanning her guest thoroughly, her hoof tapping the base of her chin as the gears in her mind turned. “Though a bit of formalwear would do wonders.”

“Ah ain’t too keen on tuxedos, Rarity.” Braeburn answered flatly. Rarity scoffed, apparently insulted by the statement.

“Oh please! As if I should be so tasteless as to believe a black suit would properly match that golden coat of yours. I was thinking more along the lines of a green sweater-vest overlaying a white dress shirt. It would match your eyes and give you the colors of a blooming flower- perhaps a dandelion or some other variety that reminds us of a child-like innocence. That would match your personality quite splendidly. Bold and impulsive, yet inoffensive.”

Braeburn simply gawked, stammering a bit before he could find the words to speak. “Y…. y… y-ya’ mean you thought of all that just in one gander? Ya’ sure this ain’t something you’ve been mullin’ over for awhile?”

“I’ll admit I gave it a brief thought during our trip to Appleoosa,” Rarity confessed. “But the matters then and there were much more urgent than making sure the Apple Family dressed in style.”

Braeburn whistled, the tone going flat as he cut it off. “Color me impressed. Ah sure as sugar couldn’t think of that.”

“Oh nonsense, Braeburn,” Rarity dismissed, her horn igniting as she turned her attention to the fritters. Blue magic enveloped them, the pastries taking off into the air before diverging their paths, one destined for the baker, the other for the seamstress. “It’s simply a different field of thinking. Put me on an Apple farm and I’ll look like a foal compared to any Apple.”

Both ponies bit down, savoring the sweet treats and good company. Swallowing his, Braeburn smiled happily. Despite all the complaining Applejack had centered around his unicorn host, she always ended the venting in a positive light. The Appleoosan could see why. Rarity was a true lady, chivalrous in her own right and a generous heart behind her pretty face. She held her tongue and kept her patience for the sake of ponies she cared about, yet wasn’t afraid to give them a dash of truth. A true lady-

“Oh look at the time!” Rarity said suddenly, breaking the tranquil mood. “I do apologize Braeburn, but there are five more dresses I need to create- six actually, I almost forgot about Princess Cadence. I am so sorry for this, but once again feel free to make yourse-“

“Ah can help.”

Rarity blinked quickly, taken back by the sudden interruption. “W-what?”

“Ah said Ah can help,” Braeburn repeated himself. “Ah want to help. It’s the least Ah can do. Ah can’t sew or nothin’, but Ah can move the heavy stuff for you. Ah can cook too, so ya’ don’t even have ta’ worry about makin’ time for your next meal ‘til this whole business is good ‘n done with. We’ll have those dresses done lickitty split, long before the Gala.”

“Are you offering your assistance to me for the rest of your duration in Ponyville?” Rarity asked disbelievingly. A simple nod from Braeburn answered her question. “Braeburn, I couldn’t! I could never ask that from you. This is your vacation time- your time to relax!”

“That’s exactly what Applejack said and there ain’t nothin’ relaxin’ ‘bout sittin’ around all day!” He huffed. Smiling again, he gave Rarity a small bow. “Besides, what kinda gentlecolt would Ah be if Ah left a lady all by her lonesome to sew away for weeks without any good company.”

Rarity was speechless as she took time to consider the situation. On one hoof, it would be selfish to allow the stallion to spend the large remainder of his time in Ponyville doing chores for her within Carousel Boutique when he should be spending his vacation time catching up with family. And then there was always the potential he would end up a distraction. Talking to a charming and handsome stallion seemed like a more entertaining alternative to commissioned work, and she couldn’t let anything detain from her deadline or the quality of her dresses. Then again, he had offered- no, insisted to assist around the shop. Rarity had no doubt his intentions were pure, but perhaps there were underlying ideas planted by his subconscious and natural urges. In which case…

“Very well then, Braeburn,” She consented. “Follow me upstairs.”

It was going to be a very interesting six weeks.

Rain pattered on the exterior of Golden Oaks Library, the hollow sound resonating throughout the tree’s interior. Inside the giant structure, Spike tapped a foot impatiently on the wooden floor, his eyes rolled up in obvious annoyance.

“C’mon, Twilight, let’s play a board game. The rain’s no fun if all you’re gonna do is read.”

“I can’t Spike!” The unicorn shrieked, bloodshot eyes tracing the lines of her book. Blush tinged her cheeks and sweat rolled off her brow. “I have to get a date in time for the Gala! I can’t fail Cadence! Six weeks!”

“You’re gonna get a date by reading romance novels? Aren’t those from the restricted section?” Spike asked.

“I don’t know! It’s dirty and gross, but these ponies still managed to get dates!” Twilight said, tossing the book into the pile of erotic literature next to her. Groaning, she flipped over onto her back, hooves covering her eyes partly out of strain from reading and partly out of shame. “Friendship was hard enough to learn. But this? This is impossible!”

“Maybe you’re just not ready for romance yet, Twilight.” Spike said bluntly. Tears streamed down the unicorn’s cheeks in response.

“I have to be ready, Spike. Not just for Cadence, but for myself. Think of how much I’m missing out on! Boys, dates, a first kiss- there’s so much! I’ve read about it all, but to actually prepare myself for it seems so unreal!”

Twilight would never admit it to her draconic assistant, but romance had never crossed her mind until the news of Shining Armor’s wedding had reached her. It had always been the subject of fairy tales- stories meant to entertain and tell her that one day when she was all grown up, she would start her own story. Years of isolation in the archives of Canterlot’s libraries had numbed the unicorn to her physical maturity. Growing as a pony and making friends had been a bumpy process, but she had ultimately overcome it. Yet romance had always eluded her- as it had for her friends, despite Rarity’s initial ambitions with Prince Blueblood. It wasn’t until somepony close to her had taken the step into love’s uncertain holds that she realized the possibility for her would start to fade away. Twilight had never thought much about it originally, but looking back, there were quite a number of couples throughout Ponyville. Caramel and Sassaflash, Written Script and Golden Harvest- heck even Ditzy Doo managed to spend all of Heart and Hooves Day in Ponyville with Time Turner, and they always seemed to vanish without a trace. As the number of couples increased with each revisited memory, Twilight came to the cold conclusion that time was running out. And the worst part about it all was…

“I’m scared, Spike,” She admitted. “I’m really scared. I don’t know many stallions in town, and I trust even less. How can I find a special somepony if I can’t trust them?”

Spike cringed, his toes pointed toward each other as he leaned back and forth awkwardly.

“I… don’t have an answer to that Twilight. But worrying about it will only make you… well worry. Let’s play some games and relax. Maybe when the rain is done we can go talk to Rarity and see if she can help you.”

Twilight looked at her assistant with a knowing smile. “You just want to see if you can be her date to the Gala, don’t you Romeo?”

“What! Pshya, c’mon Twilight, I only have your best interests at heart,” He lied poorly. “Though it wouldn’t hurt to check. Maybe she’ll come around.”

The librarian giggled, bringing out a set of Scrabble from the interior of the library with her telekinetic grasp.

“C’mon, I’ll let you have the first turn. No dictionary this time, Spike.”