Lessons in the Dark

Chapter IX

Cheerilee stood outside of Zecora’s hut, wrapped in a drab, brown cloak. Despite the fact that both her cutiemarks were still concealed by the bandages on her flank, they both decided it would be best not to take any risks when it came to recognition. Though the gemstones didn’t weigh that much, she could feel the difference as a lot of them had been replaced by an abundance of scrolls that contained Cheerilee’s notes on various plants and recipes. The zebra had refused the offer at first, uncomfortable with the value of the glimmerstones. After Cheerilee’s fierce insistence however, Zecora relented.

“Thank you, Zecora,” Cheerilee said, turning around with a smile, “for everything you’ve done.”

The Zebra nodded her head, smiling sadly. “It was the least that I could do, for someone who has suffered like you.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ve managed all these years. This time I wouldn’t have made it without you though. So, thank you for that. And for believing me, I guess. There aren’t many ponies who believe me.”

Zecora chuckled. “Even though I have saved your flanks, there truly is no need for thanks. When you find yourself in a twist, I am happy to assist.”

Cheerilee nodded. “I should get moving. Ponyville is still a good few hours, and I really need to get back to Manehatten.”

“Before you go, allow me real swift to present you with a gift.” Zecora moved into her hut, appearing again with a wrapped package in her muzzle. She passed it to Cheerilee. “I would like to give this to you, for words spoken honest and true.”

Cheerilee carefully unwrapped the package to look at the contents. There was a scroll, as well as a familiar flower. Her eyes widened. “The flower from the seeds of truth! Zecora, this, I don’t know if I can accept this!”

The zebra shook her head. “I want you to have this flower. Much good can be done with its power. Included is a recipe, that will coax the truth as you will see. Go now, and safe travels.”

Stepping forward, Cheerilee wrapped her foreleg around Zecora’s withers, pulling her into a hug. “Thank you.” Stepping back, she put the flower and the recipe with the other scrolls in her backpack and made her way towards Ponyville. Before rounding the corner she turned to wave one last time. After a moment, Cheerilee stopped in her tracks and frowned.

Her last sentence didn’t rhyme.

In front of her hut, Zecora watched as Cheerilee turned the corner, vanishing from sight. “We will meet again, after your destiny unravels.” She turned around to enter her hut, shutting the door behind her.

*****

Though the path from Zecora’s hut to Ponyville had some twists and turns, it was in no way the obstacle course that the bulk of her journey had been. The forest was already thinning, and she could make out the top of the town hall in the distance. Despite the fact that Cheerilee was eager to get home, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread forming in her gut. Ponyville held memories, both good and bad.

Though it had been a good ten years since she last set foot in Ponyville, Zecora had told her that the ponies hadn’t forgotten what had happened. In fact, it had become something of a village trauma. Cheerilee wondered if the disguise she was wearing would keep ponies from recognizing her, despite the fact nopony had laid eyes on her for such a long time.

She was pulled from her thoughts when she found herself no longer surrounded by trees, but looking straight at a familiar cottage. It always reminded her of a shrubbery with windows and decorated with countless bird houses. Fluttershy was a shy pony, and was more likely to run away from her than to approach and chat. Nevertheless, Cheerilee found herself hastening her step, eager to get to the train station as soon as possible, the ice in her gut growing with each passing moment.

Reaching the outskirts of Ponyville, she found herself encountering more and more ponies, going about their day-to-day business. She put on her best smile, looking strained to somepony who would bother to really look. So far, nopony did. She received several waves and friendly greetings, returning each with what she hoped seemed like equal cheer.

As Cheerilee made her way through the streets approaching the town center, she began to take note of how little had changed. It was almost as if time had been standing still. She recognized the houses of several old acquaintances, despite new paint jobs, colorings or decorations. Cheerilee pulled the hood of her cloak a little further over her face as she began to encounter ponies that she actually remembered. Most seemed to pass her by without sparing her a second glance, but some actually looked in her direction with what she was convinced was recognition. Nopony tried to stop her, however and confidence in her disguise grew a little.

As long as I don’t run into Pinkie Pie, I’ll be alright, Cheerilee thought as she rounded the corner that led to Ponyville’s town center. She would just have to cross that area, and she’d be at the train station. Except crossing was going to take longer than she would have thought.

Market day. Why did it have to be market day?

A large crowd obscured the town center as many and more salesponies were offering their wares in quaint little stalls. The smells of fresh fruits, vegetables and baked goods filled her nose, and the sound of the dense crowd would have brought back pleasant memories if she wasn’t on the verge of panic at the prospect of having to make her way through it. Keeping her head low, she stepped forward.

Though her instincts told her to run with all her speed, she knew that she’d stick out like a sore thumb if she suddenly bolted off. Instead, she forced herself into a calm trot that felt agonizingly slow. The ice in her stomach had moved to the rest of her body, and she was sure she could feel the burn of staring eyes, scrutinizing her. She had to pardon herself through crowds that obscured her passage, receiving nothing but polite nods that her mind turned into accusations.

Cheerilee had almost reached the other edge of the market, and could already see the street that would take her directly to the train station. She allowed herself a nervous grin. She lowered her head and increased her speed slightly. Nearing the last market stall, she suddenly felt herself collide with something. The impact caused her to fall to her flank, whipping the hood from her head. A voice began to speak.

“Oh my goodness, I profusely apologize. I simply wasn’t looking where I was going, and I-.” The voice was suddenly cut off, replaced by a loud squeal. Cheerilee snapped her eyes open to see a pony with a pristine white coat, flowing purple mane and piercing blue eyes staring at her with an expression of absolute horror.

No, the purple mare thought to herself. No, no. Not now. Not when I was so close. She felt numb, her limbs refusing to respond to her brain’s commands to get up and run. Panicked thoughts were rushing through her head.

“Oh, darling. I do not mean any offense, but your mane is an absolute disaster. You look as if you have been going without a brush for weeks!” Rarity picked up the items she had dropped in her magical aura, replacing them in their bags and holding them afloat. “You simply must allow me to help you. Free of charge, of course.”

It took a moment for Cheerilee to find her voice again. She doesn’t recognize me. She wants to give me a makeover? Stammering, she replied. “I-It’s quite alright, miss R-. Miss.” She mentally facehoofed for the close slip-up. “I wasn’t looking either, it really isn’t necessary.”

“Not necessary?,” Rarity exclaimed in absolute shock. “My dear, it is as necessary as breathing! Truly, dear, I insist. I bumped into you, and it is only fair that I do something to make it up. I can assure you, it will only take a moment, and you will feel much better afterwards.”

“I-I really don’t think-.”

“Nonsense. It would be my pleasure. Come now, let me get those bags for you.” The fashionista extended her aura to envelop Cheerilee’s saddlebags as she tried to lift them. She groaned, but despite her best efforts, the bags wouldn’t budge. “Goodness, that is one heavy load you are carrying.”

The glimmerstone amulet! It must be interfering with Rarity’s levitation spell. Looking around, Cheerilee saw that they were starting to draw attention from the nearby ponies. She had to do something. “It’s quite alright, miss. I can carry my own saddlebags, and I really should be moving on.” She was answered by Rarity taking Cheerilee’s hoof in her own and dragging her along.

“Truly dear, there is nothing to worry about. I will make you look fabulous, or my name isn’t Rarity!”

Cheerilee wanted nothing more than to pull away and make a beeline for the station, but with Rarity making a scene as it was, she really didn’t want to draw any more attention. Great plan, Cheerilee. Trying to refuse a gift from the Element of Generosity. With a groan, she pulled her hood over her head and resigned herself to her fate, pondering how she was going to escape this mess.

*****

Carrousel Boutique looked exactly the way Cheerilee remembered. Round, and pristine. The paint job of pink and purple hues had been maintained to perfection, giving the place a luster that many new buildings were unable to attain. The inside was, however, not in the slightest how Cheerilee remembered it. Though the layout had remained unchanged, the interior had been adapted to compliment the latest fashion trends. Daring outfits were displayed on meticulously arranged mannequins, surrounded by lavish mirrors.

“Here we are! Welcome to Carrousel Boutique, where everything is chique, unique and magnefique!,” Rarity chirped as she pulled Cheerilee into the building. “Now, do you have any preference in style, miss-. Ehm.” Rarity’s eyes suddenly shot open. “Oh my goodness! Where are my manners? I haven’t even properly introduced myself! My name is Rarity, proprietor of this little shop and fashionista extraordinaire!” The alabaster mare struck a proud pose as she spoke. “And what is your name, darling?”

Cheerilee swallowed, a fake grin on her face. Pearls of nervous sweat were forming on her forehead. “Vinyl,” was the first that popped into her head. “Um, Case. It’s Vinyl Case.” She mentally facehoofed at the name, but Rarity seemed to buy it.
“Well then, miss Case. Do you have any preferences in style? Colour? Oh, I think you would look most stunning in something light blue.” Rarity put a hoof to her chin as she levitated her designer glasses, perching them on her snout. “But first, why don’t you take off those bags and cloak? The wardrobe is over there.”

Cheerilee swallowed, undoing the straps of her saddlebags and the cloak, letting them fall from her form. She wasn’t surprised when Rarity let out an audible gasp that made Cheerilee cringe.

“My word, miss Case! Those bandages! Are you quite alright?”

The purple mare let out a silent sigh of relief. “I’m quite fine, miss Rarity.”

The Fashionista nodded. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll find a way to make you look stunning. Now, let’s see what we have to work with here. Hmm.” Rarity began to circle around Cheerilee, levitating a measuring tape which magically wraps itself around different parts of her body from time to time. “Yes. Hmm. I see that you work out. A lot, actually. I’ll have to factor that in.”

“Ehm, anything is fine, miss Rarity.”

“Nonsense, my dear. Only the best is good enough. Now, let me see what I have in the back. Don’t move a muscle!” Humming a tune, Rarity disappeared into an adjacent room. The moment the alabaster mare was around the corner, Cheerilee took her chance to grab her cloak and bags and be off, only to be met with another interruption.

An extraordinarily smooth mare’s voice rang through the boutique. “Rarity! Are you in? It’s me, Sweetie Belle! I-, oh! Hello!” In the door to the boutique stood a rather pretty young mare with a white coat, two-toned pink and purple mane, and a cutiemark of a microphone adorned with a pink musical note.

“Oh, ehm. Hello there.” Cheerilee said coolly, trying not to sound strained. She realized that this could be a death trap. If there was anypony who was likely to discover her true identity, it would be one of her former students. Though Sweetie Belle had grown to maturity, she still recognized the little filly she taught in school so many years ago. She had to swallow a lump as she looked the white mare over. “You, ehm. I’m guessing you are a relative of miss Rarity?”

“Oh, yeah. She’s my sister,” Sweetie Belle replied with a smile. “Are you one of her clients?”

“Oh. I guess. I’m not a regular.”

“Really? You look kinda familiar.” The younger mare arched an eyebrow as she looked Cheerilee over, critically. “Wait! I know,” she suddenly exclaimed. Cheerilee’s heart skipped a beat. “You look a lot like Marelyn Monroan! Only, your mane is the wrong colour.”

Cheerilee let out a forced laugh. “Yes, I hear that often. Good eye. Haha.” I have to get out of here. I’m going to have a nervous breakdown if this keeps up. At that moment, Rarity trotted back into the room with a sky-blue dress floating behind her. The fashionista’s eyes lit up the moment they fell on her sister.

“Sweetie Belle! Oh, you should have let me know you’d come to visit! Miss Vinyl Case, this is my sister Sweetie Belle. She is the next big thing in music, if you ask me. There’s nopony in Equestria with a voice like hers!”

“Oh, stop it, sis,” Sweetie Belle replied. “You’re embarrassing me. Nice to meet you, miss Case.”

“Likewise.” Cheerilee smiled. Her teacher’s instinct flared up inside her, filling her with pride as the purple mare found out her former student’s occupation. She had always suspected Sweetie’s talent had something to do with her voice. Now she even got to see her cutie mark. She had to bite her cheek to keep herself from asking about Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, knowing it would be a dead giveaway.

“Why don’t you try this on for size, hmm?,” Rarity chirped, interrupting Cheerilee’s thoughts. “You can change over there, behind the curtain.”

Cheerilee nodded as the garment was draped over her back, disappearing behind the curtain. She found herself in what didn’t look so much like a dressing room as a roomy storage area with a large standing mirror and a hatstand. There were bolts of fabric and thread, stacked neatly against the wall, and even more mannequins dressed in various different outfits. Though they looked rather old, none of them were filthy or ruined in any way. As she looked around, her eye fell on one particular piece. It was a dark purple one-piece body suit with a wide-brimmed hat in the same colour. It was adorned with dark blue hoof-wraps and a long, flowing cape. The most prominent feature was the fact that it sported a mask that hid the wearers entire face, including the eyes. Cheerilee recognized it immediately. Mare Do Well.

She recalled the time Rarity and her friends set out to snap Rainbow Dash out of her delusions of grandeur by posing as a mysterious vigilante. Even though Mare Do Well’s identity had been revealed after that whole episode, she became a bit of an urban legend amongst the children she taught. How could it not? It is simple, yet elegant. It inspires awe. It will protect my identity, allowing me to-. Cheerilee cut off her own thoughts. Was she really ready to resort to this? She wanted to teach, more than anything. Ever since that moment in the alley she had been subconsciously driven to learn how to fight, to be better than anyone, going as far as to risk her life in the Everfree Forest. But becoming a masked vigilante? Punishing those who did wrong, while protecting those who did right, the mask hiding her identity to protect herself and those she cared about? Cheerilee shook her head. Nothing is so black and white. Life isn’t a comic book.

Her mind brought her back to the alley, how a few thugs had left her for dead while dragging somepony to Celestia knows what kind of fate. She remembered the newspaper articles as more and more violence terrorized Manehatten, foals snatched from the streets never to be heard from again. More than that, she recalled the frustration at being unable to do anything about it. What else have I been training for? I knew it was going to come to this at some point. There was no use denying it. This is what she wanted. I need that suit.

“Are you quite alright in there?,” came Rarity’s voice from behind the curtain.

“I’ll be out in a minute!,” Cheerilee replied, quickly slipping into her outfit and stepping back into the shop. Immediately Rarity began to make adjustments, a pin cushion floating next to her head.

“So, Sweetie Belle, you haven’t told me the reason for your visit,” the Fashionista began.

“Oh, right! I was hoping you could help me look for some of my old records. I want to include a few ‘golden oldies’ in my next recording,” Sweetie Belle said with an enthusiastic smile.

“That sounds like a fantastic idea, Sweetie. But I have a customer now, so it’ll have to wait until another time.” Rarity replied without looking up from Cheerilee’s dress.

Cheerilee, for her part, arched an eyebrow. “Ehm, how long do you think you will need exactly?”

“Oh, several hours at least,” Rarity replied, “After all we do have to style your mane as well. And, we’re going to need accessories! Mhh, perhaps a brooch? Or a flower for your mane? And let’s not forget the make-up.”

Cheerilee cringed at the mention of ‘hours’, but saw an opportunity in Sweetie Belle’s appearance. “Actually, I don’t mind waiting for a moment. After all, who am I to come between sisters. It will give me a moment to, ehm, admire the dress and, ehm, look for other interesting designs in your collection.”

“It’s okay, miss Case. I can wait,” Sweetie Belle interjected.

“Oh, no. I insist. I will be just fine.” Cheerilee gave the pair her biggest grin, which earned her a raised eyebrow from Rarity. The fashionista relented, however.

“Oh, well. I suppose it can’t do any harm, if you think you have the time, miss Case.”

“Absolutely. Don’t worry.” The purple mare resisted the urge to pump her hoof.

“Alright then!” Rarity levitated her designer glasses from her nose, and placed them on a counter nearby. “In that case, follow me Sweetie. I kept your old records in the storeroom upstairs.” She turned to Cheerilee. “We’ll get to styling your mane when we get back. Oh, I have just the perfect shampoo and conditioner that I know you will love.” She let out a squeal of delight, before heading up the stairs with her little sister trailing behind her. The moment they were out of sight, Cheerilee bolted behind the curtain. She found that there were actually more Mare Do Well outfits than the ones she saw. Two for earth ponies, one with a hole in the forehead for a unicorn’s horn, and one with sleeves for pegasus wings. She went for the nearest earth pony suit, struggling to get it off the mannequin. When she finally held the clothes in her hoof, she listened carefully for activity near the stairwell. She could hear muffled voices, barely able to make out a muffled ‘found them yet’. She rushed over to her saddlebags, taking out several of her glimmerstones and stuffing the outfit in their stead. Placing the jewels on a nearby table as payment, Cheerilee began to scribble a note on a nearby piece of paper with her apology. Despite Rarity's insistence, it didn't feel right to leave without leaving some compensation, especially with a suit that wasn't part of the bargain.

I hope she’ll like the gems. If there’s anypony who can make something beautiful with them, it’s Rarity, she thought before slipping on her cloak and strapping the saddlebags to her back. She left the boutique just in time to hear hoofsteps coming from the stairwell. Cheerilee felt bad for dashing without so much as a goodbye, but she figured it was for the better. She needed to get home. She needed to get started.