Light as a feather

Amber let out a shiver as he watched the blood from his hooves swirl down the drain. The mirror in front of him was cracked, his face staring back at him from a dozen awkward angles, but at least the place had running water. He stuck his head beneath the faucet letting the cool water run down his muzzle and behind his ears.

This was crazy.

You’re crazy! He scolded himself silently. The music, a generic techno beat devoid of life, drifted into the bathroom as the door opened. He looked up expecting to see another stallion but found instead the unicorn mare peering at him above her tinted shades, a coy smile on her face. “Hurry up Feathers! I got something I want you to hear!”

Feathers? Amber wondered glancing at his flank with a frown.

“My denizens are getting angry.” She said not waiting for his new nickname to register. “Find yourself a place at the bar. Drinks are on me!”

The barkeep, a middle aged pony with a waistcoat and crew cut mane, glanced at him casually as he moved to that bar. “You old enough to be in here son?”

Amber glanced up at him too tired to contest the familial term. “Are they?”

A smile grew on the barkeeps face as his eyes quickly took in the horde of underage ponies crowding the dance floor. “Touché.” He conceded. “So what’s your poison?”

“Barkeep!” The white unicorn’s voice sounded over the microphone before the colt could answer. “You keep that one sober. Feathers is taking me home.”

Curious eyes fell on the amber earth pony as well as several suggestive whistles. The DJ’s raucous laugh, followed by a low melodious note from the massive speakers on the stage, stole back their attention. The barkeep cocked a brow flashing the colt a cheeky smile. “You heard the lady. What’ll it be?”

Amber settled for a dark soda water. The bubbles fizzled welcomingly across his tongue as he sipped at it carefully. “What’s her deal?” He asked watching the barkeep mix drinks for over eager underage ponies, who just as quickly as they emerged disappeared again.

“Vinyl’s an enigma.” The barkeep said fondly, revealing her name. “She can be a bit reckless at times but that’s what makes her one hell of a DJ. This place would have gone under long ago if not for her and that awful racket.”

Amber smiled at that as his gaze drifted to the unicorn doing unknown things to a mechanical device in the corner of an otherwise empty stage, a loud throbbing chaotic resonance emanating from the massive speakers as a result. “You think so too?”

That comment garnered a laugh from the barkeep who refilled Amber’s half empty glass. The colt watched the bubbles pop for a while, the night’s events hanging heavily on his withers. Despite the volume of the music he found himself settling into a comfortable lull.

“Hey Feathers!” Vinyl’s voice snapped him out of it. “Am I boring you!?”

The colt snapped to attention as the lights shut off, bathing the room in total darkness but for the glowing jewelry round the hooves and the necks of the nightclubs patrons. A smattering of startled cries broke the silence before a single beam of white light settled on the ruddy orange colt drawing unwanted attention to him.

“Thank you.” Vinyl said, her voice nothing more than a whisper, enhanced by the massive speakers. “I mean it.”

Her voice carried a note of deep sincerity, something he was sure she reserved for the most deserving of situations, and Amber felt a warmth rise to his cheeks, thankful it was easily hidden beneath his natural hue.

A maniacal laugh tore the moment to shreds. A skull splitting composition began moments after dulled only by the chanting of the ponies gathered as the darkness behind the stage was lit by a neon blue streak of magic spelling out Vinyl’s DJ pseudonym.

“I can’t hear you!” Vinyl shouted into the microphone the resounding cheers from the club goers commanding her full attention once more.

Amber cast a glance at the unicorn furiously tuning the switches and dials on the turntables, the sounds emerging from the speakers not something he was sure he would ever grow to enjoy. Still, as he saw the smile on her face and the delight the seemingly random noise gave her he let out a shrill whistle. Through the poorly lit room and crowded dance floor Amber caught sight of the unicorn’s appreciative smile.

--

Either the barkeep had spiked his drink or the scruffy maned earth pony was an old soul who couldn’t handle modern music. Even the sting of a freezing cold shower and the cool tile pressed against his forehead, couldn’t quell the throbbing ache in his head.

He shut the water off, stepping from the shower, the sudden release sending shivers rippling beneath his fur. He caught sight of himself in the mirror and stared for long moments, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he vainly sought the scar so often present after his usual showers. He was immensely pleased to find it still hidden.
A low whistle startled him from his stupor as he entered the bedroom area of his penthouse suite. The princess’s had spared no expense, providing the contestant’s the finest of amenities. He had nearly the entire floor to himself, the space dwarfing his old Hoofington apartment by nearly double. He snapped his head up surprised to find Vinyl lying on her back across his king sized bed, her glasses falling over her mane revealing her ruby red eyes to the startled pony.

“Vinyl?”

“You were expecting somepony else?” She said rolling onto her hooves, her trademark shades falling into their proper place. The colt saw the flicker of pain cross her face at the motion, her injuries looking far worse in the light of day than they had the previous night. Two livid hoof shaped bruises were visible on the unicorn’s vibrant white coat, the split on her lip had scabbed over, and a less intense bruise stood out faintly on her swollen cheek.

“What are you doing here?” The colt inquired.

“You forgot this at the club.” She said using her magic to flick his scroll in front of his face. He cringed as Prism Shine’s words echoed in his head. He lunged for the scroll stumbling over his hooves as the mare pulled it away. She giggled amusedly as he fell on top of her, his weight pressing her into the bed ever so slightly.

From his position above her he could smell flowers, the odor wafting enticingly from her shock of vibrant blue mane. He placed his hooves on either side of her head, lifting himself away as she kissed the tip of his muzzle lightly, a fierce blush scorching his cheeks as a result.

“I may be a fillyfooler,” She teased a mischievous smile rising on her face. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t do both.”

Amber swallowed nervously as he attempted to work through the awkward situation. He had felt none of the butterflies he currently felt last night, so why was he feeling them now? What had changed in the short time between? A creak and a cough called his attention and he turned to the doorway finding the tall green eyed unicorn watching them from the dooray, a look of surprise on her face. “Excuse me…” She said. “I didn’t realize you had company.”

“Uh…No it’s…It’s not like that!” He stammered backing away from the mare. He tripped over his back hooves falling onto his flank. Vinyl burst into a fit of giggles as she rolled off the bed, leaving the scroll lying amid the crumpled sheets. His eyes followed her as she crossed the room.

“Catch you later Feathers!” Vinyl said with a chuckle as she moved past the tall unicorn, taking a moment to eyeball the older mare. She could be heard beat boxing from the other room the sound slowly fading as she retreated down the hall. Amber hung his head and sighed, the embarrassing turn of events causing his headache to return.

“I’ve had a rough night.” Amber said before the unicorn could ask.

“Be that as it may I’m not here about last night.” She said stepping into the room. “What you did to that stallion is both deplorable and commendable and I can see that mare is very grateful, but I must warn against such behavior in the future.”

“How do you know what happened?” Amber asked suspiciously.

“The princess’s know the goings on of everypony in Canterlot.” She answered. “That includes you.”

Amber frowned at this. He glanced around the room, wondering if it was bugged, and where those bugs might be hidden. The unicorn gave a smile before continuing. “I have been tasked with informing all participants that the next trial will begin at dusk. That leaves the remainder of the day for you to prepare.”

She levitated the scroll from the bed flicking it open, revealing a checklist. “You’d best not to keep Miss Rarity waiting.”

--

A small bell chimed as Amber entered the boutique. Though his slobber had saturated the parchment the ink lines of the map remained clear and visible. He had taken several wrong turns and backtracked to the hotel more than twice before finding the boutique on pure accident.

Bright afternoon sunlight flooding through narrow arched windows settled along the round walls. A counter with a register stood just to his right while to his left was a massive shelf running the length and height of the wall. It was stuffed in no certain order with fabrics of every color imaginable. At the bottom were several sets of drawers, bit of parchment and thread hanging out of them.

In the middle of the room was a swatch of red fabric hung from long lengths of chain dropping from the ceiling. Amber strode forward placing his hoof a hairs breadth from the sliver of opening in the fabric. He stumbled back however as Rarity poked her head from within. A hint of glittery white fabric briefly caught his eye before the white unicorn shoved him back, the curtain once more concealing the curiosity beyond it.

“Now Amber,” She chided pushing him away. “No peeking. Those dresses are for the princess’s…” The white unicorn paused catching herself before she could say anymore. “I shouldn’t have told you that.”

“What’s the big deal?” Amber said still drawn inexplicably to the red velvet curtain even as the unicorn steered him away. “They’re only dresses.”

The white unicorn stopped pushing him, her mouth hung open in shock. “Only dresses!” She snorted indignantly. “Only dresses indeed! I suppose next you’ll tell me that Princess Celestia is only a mare!”

“No. I didn’t mean…” Amber began realizing the gravity of his mistake, at least in Rarity’s eyes. She was obviously a pony of some standing if the princess’s would allow her to design their outfits. The mare’s angry expression softened considerably as she scrutinized him. “I suppose that was a bit harsh. Forgive me.”

“Uh, yeah sure…” Amber said unsure why she was apologizing. He had been the one in the wrong hadn’t he? The air cleared of any hard feelings Rarity pulled aside a separate curtain revealing an attire of a different sort. Amber bit his lip.

“Is…Is that what I’m wearing?” He asked pointing a hoof at the pony mannequin. The unicorn glanced at her creation briefly before turning to the colt again. “Is there something wrong with it?”

“It’s a bit…flashy, isn’t it?” He inquired. The mare furrowed her brow as again she looked over her creation.

“Flashy?” She muttered to herself. She circled the pony mannequin several times, dissecting every last possible detail, before making a decision. “Try it on.”

“What!” The colt said stepping back as Rarity began to undress the pony mannequin. “You aren’t serious?”

“I am always serious about fashion.” The mare said the various pieces to the outfit levitated in her aura of blue magic. She was surprisingly quick for a filly with such short legs Amber mused as she tackled him, managing to get him into the outfit with relative ease once done. She pulled a tall free standing mirror from the far wall setting it in front of him. “Have a look.”

It was a good design, and it did fit him well, but… “Is the hat really necessary?”

“Do you not like it?” Rarity pouted. Amber gave her reflection a deadpan stare, allowing her to answer that question for herself. With a relenting sigh she pulled the top hat from his head. “No. No it is not.”

“And the…the …” Amber didn’t even know what to call it as he pulled a round glass object, attached to a length of thin chain, from his jacket pocket. “This thing?”

“That thing,” Rarity said putting heavy emphasis on the word ‘thing’, “is a called a monocle and I suppose that too is unnecessary.”

“Is there anything else?” She wondered, her tone both angry and inquiring. It would appear that she was not as well versed in the design of stallion’s fashion as she imagined. Amber looked at his fetlocks adorned with hoof cuffs accented by gleaming diamond links. He bit his tongue sharply holding back his reply at seeing her awaiting smile.

“Are you sure I should be going out like this?” He asked instead. “I would hate to ruin all you’re hard work.”

The mare smiled sliding open a curtain concealing one of the narrow windows. At the very apex of it, Amber could see the subtle changes happening as dusk quickly fell in.

“Your carriage is waiting outside.” The mare replied holding the door open for him. He peered out finding a shining black carriage, drawn by two of the scariest ponies he had ever laid eyes on, waiting expectantly.

“Go on. Don’t keep the princess waiting. I hear she will be in attendance this evening.” Rarity said as she shoved him outside. The ponies drawing the carriage stamped their hooves and snorted impatiently.