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... The only way left, is up
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A Place to Call Home

... The only way left, is up
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Random Acts of Generosity

... The only way left, is up

Rarity tossed her bags aside and slumped down on the bed in a rather unladylike manner, grateful to finally have some rest from the day of traveling. The white mare writhed around on top of the comforter in ecstasy at the feel of the silk bedding. They graced her coat with their perfectly-made surface, each twist and turn eliciting a content moan as she lied there with her eyes closed.

She’d arrived in Manehattan just over three hours ago, in desperate need of a vacation from her work. In what seemed a cruel twist of fate, Rarity had to ask for directions to her luxurious hotel multiple times, each pony giving conflicting information. After a miserable afternoon of fruitless searching, the exhausted and even further-stressed mare eventually found her hotel, checked in, and promptly crashed on the custom bed, sheets, and other appropriate layers she’d arranged to have in her room ahead of time.

My first day here and already my plans are devastated and I’m too exhausted to do anything else! I was supposed to be meeting Fleur at the art gallery hours ago! They’re probably closed by now… Rarity grumbled as she opened her eyes and turned over on her back to the window in time to see Celestia’s sun touching the horizon.

Hmph… not like the ponies in this city could give decent directions if their lives depended on it! You think they’d know where one of the most illustrious buildings in the city was… Instead, I spend hours with my saddlebag and get covered with sweat on one of the hottest days of the year! Simply repulsive!

Rarity huffed to herself once more, her silent venting helping to ease her frustrations just enough for her to begin to relax again. She turned her face back up to stare at the ceiling, letting her anger melt away as she was reminded of her specially imported bedding. In a rare act that was quite unlike herself, Rarity didn’t care for once that her bag was just lying on the floor and her other packed belongings have yet to be sorted.

With a flick of her magic, the silky-smooth sheets and blankets beneath easily slid out from under her relaxed form, and quickly brought them back down on top of her with perfect precision. With a long, drawn-out sigh of contented pleasure and a slight twitch of her hind leg, Rarity quickly felt herself falling into a much-needed slumber.

I should have just followed the stallion from the hotel who carried my bags here…

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Rarity looked over the edge of the Statue of Harmony with appropriate hesitation. She’d always seen the colossal green monument, but never had a chance to actually get up close to it, let alone go to the top and look down at the ground. Rarity peered over the edge again, the wind at an altitude like that was very strong, and it didn’t help the fact she was acrophobic.

“Well, I think that’s enough sightseeing from up here,” Rarity gulped as she looked at the distant ground, the ponies below barely visible from her nervous gaze. She quickly turned around and made for the stairs that went to the beginning of the tour, happy to be descending back to the ground. Once she reached the bottom and gave a silent thanks for the feel of actual earth under her hooves, she felt the familiar gnawing sensation of hunger.

Feeling around in her saddlebag with her magic, she produced a small map of the Manehattan area she’d be exploring for the next week during her stay. She found a nearby bench and quickly situated herself before opening the small pamphlet.

Much more reliable than word of mouth, for once...

Rarity searched the map for a few minutes, trying to locate a decent cafe for her mid-afternoon tea which had become a daily ritual of the fashionista. After finding a suitable place and relatively confident she’d memorized the route correctly, Rarity stowed the map away in her bag and promptly trotted off across the bridge that connected the small island to the rest of Manehattan. Giving one last look behind to the Statue of Harmony in all its wonder, she set off in search of sustenance.

As fate would have it, Rarity’s map was not secure in her saddlebag and promptly fell out along the way, and as if the universe truly was conspiring against her... she was lost again.

“This is unbelievable! This is supposed to be my vacation!” Rarity quietly hissed to herself as she continued down a city sidewalk. She’d been lost in her thoughts of what her next would days would hold for her, when she didn’t even notice she’d walked into one of the less favorable parts of the city.

After wandering the rundown area for a while, and attracting a few uncomfortable glances from some rough looking stallions, Rarity happened to find a police pony out on patrol.

“Excuse me, good sir?” Rarity asked as she approached the officer. They were in a park in the middle of the district, with little of note anything spectacular in the small recreation area. “I seem to have lost track of where I was going some time ago, might you point me in the right direction?” She finished with a pleading smile.

“Hm, you’re not from around here, clearly,” The officer remarked while slightly pushing his sunglasses up his muzzle. He eyed her for a moment before resuming his trained stance. “You’re gonna want to go that way and keep walking until you reach the theater.” He pointed a hoof off down a street. “Keep going until you reach the theater, the big green one, you know the one I’m talking about?”

“I, um…” Rarity trailed off; trying to recall the building he was referring to. “Yes, my hotel is just down the street from it.”

“Keep walking there and don’t stop.” The officer’s stern voice commanded. “There are some less than ideal characters around here, do you understand?” Rarity quickly nodded her understanding quite clear of what could happen to her in this downtrodden area. “Good. You better get going, it’s already five o'clock and I’d feel a lot happier knowing you were safe in your room before it got dark out here.”

“Yes sir, thank you,” Rarity politely bowed enough to convey her gratitude. The police pony simply nodded and walked off, leaving the unicorn alone as she quickly got into a brisk trot, ready to leave unwelcoming streets that surrounded her.

Rarity was going down the street the office told her to take, constantly keeping an eye on all the ponies around her. She noted some were giving her strange looks, most of them quite unwelcome and unsettling. Not long into her walk, two rather unruly looking earth pony stallions began to approach Rarity from across the street with, with devilish grins on their faces.

Rarity lit her horn and gave them a glare that would make an Ursa-Minor think twice. The two ponies approaching her quickly stopped and turned the other way, afraid of what an angry unicorn could do to them.

I need to get out of here, fast!

Rarity immediately broke into a full run, her mane and tail waving in the breeze created by her frantic speed. In hindsight, running may not have been her brightest moment. While she got away from the uncomfortable gazes around her much quicker, it just gave them all the reason more to stare.

Wishing she’d taken Twilight up on her offer to practice teleportation spells, Rarity continued to sprint towards the safer districts of the city. With her rapidly beating heart being felt in her ears, she didn’t even realize somepony had collided with her until she was already on the ground.

Quickly righting herself and standing to her hooves, her blurred vision showed a green pegasus stallion lying on the sidewalk nearby. She was going to see if he was alright, but he quickly stood up and grabbed a small burlap sack with his teeth.

“Damnit! Watch where you’re going, lady!” The stallion hissed through his teeth as he quickly spread his wings and took to the sky.

“No! He stole my bits! Somepony stop him!”

Rarity turned to see a brown earth pony mare running toward her from down an alley the pegasus likely came from. As the mare came closer Rarity noticed a simple dark brown mane and tail, along with a pair of blue eyes. She stopped in front of Rarity but faced to the side, tracking the stallion with her gaze as he flew away.

“Um, miss?” Rarity spoke and slightly craned her head to get the mare’s attention. “Is everything alright?”

“No!” She cried, turning around to face Rarity. There were fresh tear tracks on her face as she stood there. “That stallion just stole my bits! It was all I had!”

“By Celestia!” Rarity was appalled at the act. “Do you want me to get the police? Surely they could—“

“No, just forget it…” The brown mare interrupted and hung her head low. “I kinda know him anyways… he’s a fast one, probably outside the city by now…” She sighed and turned to walk back down the alley where she’d come from. Rarity watched, mortified as the victimized mare in front of her literally walked with her tail between her legs.

She watched the depressed mare walk to the dead-end of the alley and curl herself up in a box, facing inwards and away from anything outside her cardboard home. Rarity blinked a few times and bit her lip, debating her next course of action.

That poor mare… I wonder if I should—No! You need to leave before anything like that happens to you! A thought snapped from the back of her mind. She felt compelled to help, but also concerned for her own safety. With a long breath, she took a step forward into the alley.

I’ll just see if she’s alright, then I’ll leave…

“Excuse me, are you ok?” Rarity asked in a calm voice as she approached the box that held the mare.

“I’ll be fine…” The unnamed pony cried without even lifting her head around to answer. “Look, if you’re not gonna buy anything, then just leave please.” Her soft voice was clearly strained with trying to hold back more tears.

“’Buy?’ But, whatever are you selling?” Rarity asked, perplexed. The only response she got was the mare’s tail momentarily uncurling from her body and flicking towards a small cardboard sign written with black ink.

Written down were the prices for various ‘services’ the mare offered, and what she charged for each.

“Mares cost five bits extra, it’s nothing personal.” The huddled pony within the box informed.

Rarity’s face was blank with shock, unbelieving the scene in front of her. She looked to the poor mare, curled together on the damp cardboard beneath her and an occasional sniffle being heard. It dawned on Rarity now that the pegasus who took the mare’s bits was a customer, and in return he took the only thing she even had. She felt anger welling up in her, wishing she’d stopped that stallion and taught him a lesson or two.

Rarity gave a quick glance behind her to the alleyway entrance before turning to the mare.

By the heavens above… what this poor soul must have had to endure. I wonder how long she’s even been out on the streets…

You should just leave; she’s been fine so far, just go!

But what if she won’t?

No! What if somepony you know sees her with you? What would they think? Leave before more criminals come and decide to rob you! Rarity’s thoughts screamed back and forth, compelling her to do something and not just stand there. She drew in a long breath and sighed with her eyes closed for a moment.

I can’t leave, not this easily. She needs help and if I don’t do something, then I may as well abandon my place as the Element of Generosity! And if Twilight’s birthday in Canterlot a few years ago taught me anything it was to not let my reputation get in the way of my decisions! She mentally screamed back at the dark thoughts urging her to leave. I would not have been given the element if I could just walk away from something like this. I am helping this mare, and that is final!

“Excuse me,” Rarity cleared her throat and took a step towards the box, noting how it was barely held together as-is. “May I ask how it is you came to be out here?”

“What do you care?” The pony turned her head enough for a teary, blue set of eyes to be momentarily seen. “Look, I’ll forget about the five bit charge for mares since you’re new around here, but please, either buy something or leave.” She finished with a particularly venomous sting on the final word.

Rarity furrowed her brow. This is going to be harder than I thought, but I can’t give up now. While she thought how to proceed with her next course of action, she peeked at the mare’s cutie mark. It was a small patch of dirt with a lush, green sprout coming out.

“I just want to talk,” Rarity took another step toward the box, only a few feet from the opening now.

“If you work for the city or the bank, I’m sorry but I don’t have anything left for you to take.” The mare said without even turning around to meet Rarity’s face.

“I’m afraid you are mistaken, I don’t even live here,” Rarity smirked. She had to take her time with this or her idea wouldn’t work, but she tended to have a way with persuasion,

The mare in the box turned her head around just enough to see the marshmallow unicorn and lifted an eyebrow, suspicious as to what her motive was. She eyed the fashionista for a few tense moments.

Gotcha. Rarity allowed a thin smile to grace her lips, she knew she had the mare’s attention now.

“Could you come with me please?” Rarity asked, hoping this forward approach would pay off.

“No.” The mare’s face returned to her sour state and quickly swept her head around away from the unicorn’s gaze.

Shoot! That certainly backfired, didn’t it? How am I going to… Rarity’s thoughts drifted away as her eyes fell on the crudely-made sign on the ground. She hummed thoughtfully for a few moments. ~Idea!

“Perhaps these would change your mind?” Rarity asked, reaching into her saddlebag and levitating out a few bits. She purposefully let a few clink together so the sound would reach the mare attempting to ignore her. The earth pony’s ears immediately perked up at the sound and she turned around to face Rarity, still lying with her legs tucked together, watching the levitating money with a certain hunger in her eyes.

“I thought this would be more to your language,” Rarity smirked and set the bits on the edge of the cardboard box, settling them all into a perfectly stacked tower.

“Alright.” The mare sighed, but only to hide her glee at the bits in front of her. “What do you want me to do? And I don’t do kissing…”

Rarity blushed for the faintest of moments before composing herself. “Darling, I don’t want that, I want you to come with me and talk, like a regular pony.” She finished with a warm smile.

“What’s the catch?” The mare’s eyes shifted back and forth between the bits in front of her, and Rarity standing there. She certainly wasn’t new to being screwed over at the last minute by what seemed to be a helpful pony.

“Nothing dear,” Rarity smiled again, taking another step forward and offered a hoof to help the mare to her hooves. “Just a nice, civil conversation between two ponies over some coffee. In return, you get twenty bits, and a free hot drink.” She lightly winked and continued holding her hoof out to the mare.

Deciding she had nothing left to lose, the mare turned around and grabbed something from deeper within her makeshift home and brought it forward. She slowly counted and sorted the bits into an old, heavily worn saddlebag with no remarkable features.

“Alright, let’s go.” The mare sighed as she grabbed Rarity’s hoof and got up to her full height in the alley. Rarity smiled and silently turned, leading her unlikely companion out of the cramped space between the tall buildings around them.

“So, may I have your name, darling?” Rarity asked as they came back up to the street.

“Sunny Sprout.”

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“Enjoying your coffee, Sunny?”

“Yes, it’s very... nice,” Sunny hesitantly replied, still not one-hundred percent sure of what was really going on. She faked a smile to Rarity and took another sip of the hot beverage. In all honesty, it really was delicious, easily the best thing she’d tasted in far too long.

The two mares sat in a secluded corner-booth of a coffee shop not far from Rarity’s hotel. It hadn’t been the exact one the unicorn originally seeked, but it was still a nice enough place. It was getting late out, the sun was still bright, but long shadows stretched across the city as the blazing celestial body slowly fell on the horizon.

Rarity had been all too happy to finally be out of that deplorable, rundown district of the city. Sunny was secretly happy for the change of pace as well, though she’d barely said a word since they left her ‘home’.

“Darling, you can put your saddlebag down off your back, nopony is going to take it,” Rarity lightly teased with a smile.

“I’d rather not...”

“Dear, I promise nothing will happen while I’m here,” Rarity assured and softly touched Sunny’s hoof from across the table.

The brown mare lightly recoiled from the sudden interaction, though Rarity did not seem phased in the slightest. Sunny looked over into the white unicorn’s eyes, pure care being seen in her eyes. With exaggerated reluctance, the homeless mare slowly slid her saddlebags off and set them next to her on the booth, but made sure she still felt them on her sides.

Sunny returned to her coffee and took a light sip, never meeting Rarity’s gaze as she fiddled with her hooves before voicing a question. “So, um... what did you want to talk about?”

“Well, why don’t you start with how you ended up in such an... unfortunate position?” Rarity asked with a slight wave of her hoof while she found the proper words.

“Look, no offense lady, but—”

“Please, call me ‘Rarity’.” The white unicorn politely interrupted with a slight smile.

“Alright, ‘Rarity’... why do you care so much?” Sunny asked with a suspicious furrow of her brow.

“Because, in all good consciousness I cannot walk away from somepony who so desperately needs help.”

“But I don’t need—” Sunny’s words died on her lips as she realized what she was about to say. The mare looked down to her coffee and fidgeted with her hooves. Looking back up to Rarity after a few moments she saw the same, genuine, caring smile she’d had since she found her in that box. “So, what are you going to do to ‘help me’?” Sunny asked with great suspicion.

Rarity opened her mouth to speak, but stopped as something dawned on her.

Wait. What am I going to do to help her? It’s not like I can just—”

And that’s when it hit her.

Rarity looked down to her own beverage, eyes scanning back and forth as her brilliant plan all came together. She looked back up to Sunny barely a moment later, a large smirk plastered on her face.

“Sunny, have you heard of Ponyville before?” Rarity asked.

“Umm yeah, it’s a little town near Canterlot, right?”

“Quite. It’s a nice little place, not near the size as some of the larger cities, but I’m happy there. It's very quiet and easy to just escape from all your problems.” Rarity offered with a smile and a slight wink.

“What are you getting at?” Sunny slowly asked, nearly sure the unicorn in front of her was mad.

“Sunny, I will be quick and blunt about this... I want you to come back to Ponyville with me.”

The homeless mare just blinked in response as her face contorted into the purest definition of confusion. After a few moments to process the ludicrous idea, she smiled.

“I knew this was a dream. There is no way in Tartarus somepony like you would pay me just to drink and talk, and then offer me a stay at their home!” Sunny laughed for her first time in a long time as she banged her hoof on the table. “That colt who took my bits must’ve knocked me out, I knew this was too weird. What kind of rich pony like you would suddenly choose to help a homeless pony like me? She laughed again, sliding her saddlebag back on.

“Now, I’m gonna go see what other crazy stuff my mind is making me think,” Sunny chuckled to herself as she slid out of the booth and turned to leave. “Goodbye, ‘Rarity’, or whoever you are. I think I’ll just call you ‘imagination mare’!” She proclaimed with a hoof thrust to the ceiling. Rarity could only watch as the pony in front of her seemed to have lost all grip on sanity. Sunny turned to leave and waved a hoof over her shoulder.

“Well, was nice meeting you, be sure to— Ow!” Something impacted the mare before she could finish her farewell. She turned just in time to see a spoon clatter to the floor, and a smirk on Rarity’s face as she sat there in the booth. “What did you do that for!?” Sunny fully turned on the fashionista. “That really... hurt?” She looked back down to the spoon on the floor and then to her side where it had lightly struck her.

“You are familiar with the saying, ‘pinch me, I’m dreaming’, are you not?” Rarity chimed, still holding a large grin. Sunny turned back to voice a question but was cut off before she could make her voice heard. “You see darling, I needed some way to make you realize this was in fact, a real situation. True, I might have found a less drastic way of getting your attention that did not require magic, but you were in an awful hurry to leave and I had to stop you somehow,” Rarity explained without missing a beat.

“You’re real?” Sunny could barely speak. She took a hesitant look back at her seat and slowly settled back to her previous place.

“As real as the mane atop your head; which I must say I’ve been simply dying to take a brush to,” Rarity smiled to the disbelieving mare. “Once we get back to the hotel, we can get you cleaned up in no time!” She beamed.

“The, hotel?” Sunny choked on her drink as the words registered in her mind. For a pony of her background, hotels did not hold the most fond of memories.

“Oh, no darling! I didn’t mean like that,” Rarity attempted to soothe the mare. “The train does not leave for Ponyville until the morning, and I cannot have you spend one more night on the streets.”

“I don’t know about this...” Sunny looked down and fiddled with her hooves, nervous.

Rarity bit her lip and thoughtfully hummed to herself for a few moments. “I will make you another deal.” She said as she pulled out a small pad of paper and a pen, setting them on the table between them. “It is a win-win deal for you however you see it.”

“What do you mean?” Sunny’s ears perked slightly, interested in what Rarity was proposing

“I will write you a check for one-hundred bits just to come to the hotel with me for the night,” Rarity stated as she grabbed the small checkbook and pen in her magic, bringing them closer. “It’s very simple, if by tomorrow morning you still feel too nervous about leaving Manehattan, you may keep the check and I will bother you no more,” Rarity paused to let the words sink in. “If you come to Ponyville with me, I will take the check to the bank and deposit it fully into a savings account for you. Either way, you win.”

Sunny stared flabbergasted as Rarity finished her speech and levitated a check into her hooves. She’d learned to spot fake checks before in her life, and the one in front of her eyes was most definitely real. “You... you would do that for me?” She asked, her bottom lip quivering and eyes nearly tearing up.

“Yes,” Rarity nodded and gently took the check in her magic, and levitated it to slip into Sunny’s own saddlebag.

“But, why do this for me? I’m just a whore, a nopony who lost everything and resorts to selling herself just so she can have something to eat...” Sunny looked down to the table, only to have a white hoof gently raise her face back up.

“Sometimes, we all need a bit of generosity,” Rarity finished with her warmest smile. Withdrawing her hoof after a few moments.

“Thank you. I—I don’t know what to say,” Sunny sniffled, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to pour out.

“I don’t want you to say anything, just come with me so you can have a future to be proud of,” Rarity laid her hoof on the mare who was on the verge of crying. “Come on, we should be going before it gets too late.”

Sunny smiled through teary eyes, slowly crying out of happiness for the first time in many years. With one final wipe of her face with a hoof, she slid out of the booth and put on her tattered saddlebag.

“Lead the way.”

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The two mares stepped into the room and were shut off from the rest of the world as Rarity shut the door behind them. Wordlessly, she slid her saddlebag off and set it by the door without much care. It’d been a long day and she’d been thoroughly exhausted.

Rarity looked up to Sunny, who’d still been standing by the door, silently looking around but not moving.

“Sunny? Are you alright?” Rarity slowly asked. “You haven’t said a word since we got here.”

“Yeah. Yeah I’m good.” Sunny spat out as she nervously ran one foreleg across the other. “It’s just that I’ve been here before once or twice.”

“Oh I see.” Rarity said. “It wasn’t this very room... was it?” She winced at her own question, fearing the answer of what acts may have been committed on her bed.

“Oh, no. It wasn’t.” Sunny Sprout replied. “But, I think the pony at the lobby desk recognized me... He gave me a really bad look.” She looked down to the carpet. “He must think we’re...” She bit her lip and closed her eyes, trying to dispel the desk pony’s glare from her memory.

“Oh pish,” Rarity waved a hoof dismissively. “It matters not what that stallion thinks, but that you are off the streets and nothing bad will happen to you tonight.” She gave Sunny a friendly wink. Rarity lit her horn as she turned to enter the main room and slowly began to remove her new friend’s worn saddlebag. “Now come on, lets get you in the bath—”

“No!” Sunny shouted and jumped to grab the bag that was floating above her, eventually pulling it down and close to her body. “I can’t leave this. It’s all I have left.” She looked up to a slightly shocked Rarity, caressing her tattered saddlebag.

“I perfectly understand darling. I’ll try to remember next time.”

“Thanks, Miss Rarity.” Sunny tossed the bag over her back and shuffled on her hooves for a few awkward moments. “So, um... about that bath?” she sheepishly grinned and looked around the lavish room for the proper door.

“Certainly dear, help yourself,” Rarity stepped to the side and nodded at the bathroom door. Sunny walked over and opened it, stunned at the sheer size and cleanliness. Everything inside was the purest white she’d ever seen. Sunny paused in the doorway to look at her hooves and coat. She frowned.

“Aren’t you worried I’ll get everything dirty in here? I haven’t properly bathed in an awfully long time...” She looked down to the floor with a deflated expression.

“I insist,” Rarity stepped beside the mare and even laid a hoof on her back. She nudged Sunny inside without pause. “Now fret not about any messes you make. The room is already payed for and if they complain about the ‘mess’, then they can... oh how do the young ones say it these days? Deal with it? Yes, they can deal with it.” Rarity nodded with a smug grin.

“Well, alright.” Sunny stepped over to the tub, easily large enough to fit herself and Rarity with plenty of room to spare. She bit her lip in thought before turning to the fashionista still standing in the doorway. “Are you... I mean are we both—”

“Oh Celestia no, I’ll be waiting outside,” Rarity caught on but instantly regretted her hasty words. She noticed Sunny’s expression turning downcast. “I didn’t mean anything against you! It’s just that a lady always bathes alone. Mine can wait until later, or in the morning.” She gave Sunny her best smile, eliciting a smile in return.

“Thank you, really.” Sunny smiled sadly and looked down to the linoleum for a moment. “This almost feels like a dream.” She looked into the tub, smiling, lost in her thoughts. “...Like some handsome stallion came to rescue me... Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ramble.” Rarity cocked her head very slightly and cracked a small smile.

“There’s more soaps and shampoos in the basket,” Rarity quickly and gracefully levitated a small basket to the corner of the tub and rested it on the edge. Sunny took a few moments to examine the bottles as she slid her bag off, confused at some of the fancy names of something as simple as soap or shampoo. “Use any of them that strike your fancy. I’ll be waiting in the main room to help you with your mane when you’re done,” Rarity exited the bathroom and shut the door behind herself.

After a few moments she heard the faucet for the bathtub turn on and the rushing sound of water that followed. With a satisfied smile that her plan was working, Rarity practically skipped over to her bag. She unlatched the side and pulled out the brush she took with her everywhere. It was a gift from her younger sister, Sweetie Belle. It was too short and often caught her hair... but she cherished it.

She set the hair brush on the bed and proceeded to relax in front of the large window overlooking the city. She reclined on her haunches as she relaxed her hooves, as well as her mind. She hadn’t had much time to think about the more detailed logistics of her plan for Sunny Sprouts on the walk over, and she desperately needed a silent minute or two to just think. After all, what good is a lady without some time to herself?

“I’m crazy for doing this...” She muttered to herself and tucked her legs under herself on the carpet. The bed was too far from the window for a proper view after all, and looking out on the vast expanse of Manehattan helped her to think.

She’d gotten the mare she’d met not two hours ago back to her motel room and all but guaranteed to follow her to Ponyville... but what then? What would she do then? The guest bedroom would be more than adequate but that was the extent of her plan.

Rarity looked down and frowned, disappointed at herself for once again not thinking an impulsive plan all the way through before acting on it.

Surely she could support herself, Sunny and her sister when she stayed over, but Sunny would need something to help her back on her hooves. Finances were not the issue in this cause, but what for Sunny to do once she had settled in for some time. Rarity continued to stare out the window as her mind raced at her ludicrous plan. In the end, she decided to save the rest of her planning for the morning, when she’d be more rested and in a better position to think.

She’d just stood and lightly stretched before she looked at the alarm clock beside the colossal bed and noticed the time. Rarity allowed a smile at how lost she’d gotten in her thoughts when she realized Sunny had been in the bathroom for over an hour now.

She walked over to the bathroom door and knocked, noting the tub had at least been turned off. She knocked again and received only silence in return.

“Sunny? Sunny Sprout?” Rarity called out. Silence was her reply from within the room. She knocked once more and slowly opened the door. “Sunny, is everything alright in he—”

Her words were cut short as her eyes fell upon the motionless form of the mare in the bathtub. Without a moment’s hesitation Rarity jumped to the side of the tub and tried to assess the condition of her new friend. Sunny was on her back and her head reclined at one end of the tub, her muzzle just above the still steaming water. Rarity was about to go for help, fearing she’d slipped and suffered some sort of head trauma... until she heard a faint snore.

Rarity leaned her head closer and listened carefully, to be sure she wasn’t hearing things. But she was right, Sunny was snoring. She’d fallen asleep in the bathtub.

Rarity breathed a sigh of relief. She shook her head at the sleeping mare and smiled to herself at the peaceful sight. She thought of waking Sunny up, but quickly decided against it, instead opting to let her continue to dream of heroic stallions coming to her rescue.

With practiced skills, Rarity gently lifted the sleeping mare out of the tub with exaggerated slowness and wrapped an extra large towel around her body. Sunny twitched slightly, but otherwise seemed completely unaware she was sleeping in mid-air. Moving a sleeping pony without waking them is a talent she’d picked up over the years when Sweetie Belle’s spurts of energy ended up leaving her crashed everywhere but her bed.

Rarity smiled to herself at being able to lift a full grown mare with such grace, but knew her magic wouldn’t last long in her tired state. With appropriate speed and grace, she levitated Sunny over to the room’s bed and slid her under the covers with the towels still around her.

It was as she turned back to the bathroom to drain the tub and get the lights she realized an issue that hadn’t become known until now.

There was only the one bed.

She gulped as she reentered the main room and looked across to the sleeping form under the covers. Surely she’d just let Sunny have the bed to herself and just spend the night on a sofa... if the room had one. Rarity looked around and only saw the bed, a desk, some small chairs and a table. Nothing else was adequate for sleeping, and she was most certainly not going to sleep on the floor.

She bit her lip and slowly went around to the opposite side of the bed.

Would Sunny think she took advantage of her in the middle of the night? Would she leave and think Rarity was yet another rich pony trying to mess with her?

She bit her lip and hoped for the best as she slid into bed with all the sound of a moth fluttering through the night. She looked over to Sunny who had reflexively positioned her head on a pillow and still wore that same smile from before. Rarity matched Sunny’s expression and allowed herself a few moments to appreciate her work. She’d never gotten used to the wonderful feeling of helping others, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t wanted.

Rarity let out a long yawn and pulled the covers on her side over her neck, relishing in the feel of the silk. She figured there was nothing left for her to do but wait. With a flick of her magic she extinguished all the lights in the room and drew the curtains part way over the window.

Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

The Reality of a Dream
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Random Acts of Generosity

The Reality of a Dream

Celestia’s sun slowly rose and sent its warming glare down on the city. The morning rays crept their way across Manehattan, bringing a new day to the ponies below. Even though the blazing star was countless miles away, its aim couldn’t have been more accurate as its intended target was found.

It was here, in one of the top floors of an expensive hotel somepony was about to be greeted by the solar rays. Though hidden by the drawn curtains, there was the tiniest sliver that allowed light to pass through. And it was here that the sun struck its target.

Sunny Sprout had rolled over in her slumber and faced the very window that would disrupt her dreams of heroic stallions. She contorted her face as the thin ray of sunlight met her closed eyes. Sunny slowly, reluctantly opened her eyes. She adjusted her position to see what had woken her. She sneered at the sliver of light before turning over and facing away.

She cursed the sun a final time before pulling the blanket further up her body.

’Blanket?’

Sunny Sprout opened her eyes and felt her heart rate instantly rise.

’Where am I? How did I get here!?’ She slowly turned under the covers to inspect her surroundings. Her hooves had moved under the covers and brushed against something, something hard but covered in fur.

Sunny sighed and retracted her leg. She’d gathered she was in a hotel, a fancy one by the looks of it.

’That pony must’ve just been a customer. Well, time for me to leave then.’

She quietly slid out from under the covers and landed her hooves on the carpet. Sunny gave a quick stretch, momentarily relishing the refreshed feeling she had from such a comfortable bed. Without so much as a glance back at her still-sleeping customer, she set about to finding her saddlebag.

After a short search, she found it still in the bathtub.

“Ah, here we go. Come to momma,” Sunny smiled and slid her bag on. Her grin increased at the jingling of bits inside and quickly made to leave. Sunny stopped in the bathroom doorway and shifted the bag a little. Something felt off. She slid it off her back and sat on the floor, opening the pouch and counting the coins inside. There were only sixteen inside.

’Wait a minute, this isn’t nearly heavy enough for the bits I charge for a place like this, and for overnight no less!’

She sat on the bathroom floor, fuming.

’That no good sonuva—I’ll teach him to try and scam me!’

Sunny grabbed the bag in her mouth and made her way into the main room. As she approached the bed, she spied some purple mane sticking out but that wasn’t quite enough to jog her memory of where she was, or with whom. The pony under the covers shifted slightly and made some noise.

’Good, they’re waking up. Time to demand the rest of my money.’

She was readying to throw her bag right in the other pony’s face, when they turned to look straight at her.

Sunny Sprout froze as her mind registered the face now staring right at her.

“Darling? Is... everything alright?” The pony under the covers sat up and regarded Sunny with a concerned look.

“Ra... Rarity?” Sunny Sprout’s mind raced. Everything came back to her in a flash. Meeting Rarity at her ‘home’, being taken for coffee, and agreeing to the insane plan of going to a new home with her.

“Sunny? You look like you just saw a ghost.” Rarity got out of bed and started to fix the covers almost right away.

“I, er... I guess I forgot where I really was, hehe...” Sunny sheepishly grinned and set her bag down.

“If I may... why did it look as though you were about to savagely beat me?” Rarity tilted her head slightly, watching her newfound friend shuffle in-place.

“I may have forgotten where I was, and I may have gotten just a little bit angry when I thought you were a customer trying to rip me off,” Sunny looked down to her hooves, which were proving very interesting to look at. The embarrassment made her cheeks flush and made her feel like an idiot.

“Ah, I see then.” Rarity looked her up and down for a few moments. “Funny, I didn’t quite take you as the type to throttle a pony in their sleep.” She teased.

“Hey, I may be a whore but I won’t leave without the bits I earned,” Sunny shot back with a bit of a sneer. She instantly regretted her harsh tone as she felt her ears fall flat. “Sorry, it’s just that I’ve been scammed before, like that pegasus yesterday and—”

“Say no more, I understand, dear.” Rarity interrupted. Sunny shut her mouth and simply nodded. There was an awkward silence in the air as Rarity finished making the bed. Sunny retrieved her pillow that fell off on her side of the bed and set it back, giving her something to do other than continue to shuffle her hooves in embarrassment.

“So, what happened to me last night? Last thing I remember was walking into the hotel.” Sunny quirked an eyebrow at Rarity.

“We talked for a minute, then you went to take a bath.” Rarity explained. “You were taking an awfully long time so I decided to check on you. Turns out you got pretty comfortable, enough to fall asleep even,” She let out a slight laugh at the end.

“But how did I—”

Rarity motioned to her horn before Sunny could finish her question.

“I lifted you out, dried you off and put you in bed,” Rarity nodded, a thin smile tugged at her lips as she remembered her feat of moving a sleeping adult pony without waking them. Sunny let it sink in for a moment before speaking.

“How did you do all that without waking me up?” She asked, perplexed. ’Normally I’m such a light sleeper...’

“I have a sister who lives with me from time to time. I often have to carry to her bed,” Rarity smiled and lightly rolled her eyes. “Though I must admit I’m a tad proud of myself for being able to move you darling.” Sunny donned an unamused expression and lifted an eyebrow at the statement. “Er, I meant I’m used to Sweetie Belle, she’s only a filly.”

“Oh.” Sunny said, a bit relieved her new, only ‘friend’ hadn’t just called her fat.

“Well then, I propose we get ready to leave and grab some breakfast on our way to the Ponyville train.” Rarity said as she walked over to her suitcases, which hadn’t even been opened for the most part. She stopped and bit her lip, remembering yesterday’s agreement. “That is, if you still want to go to Ponyville. You still have that check I gave you, correct?”

Sunny had completely forgotten until now about the slip of paper. She opened her saddlebag at the foot of the bed and quickly found the check buried under the small pile of bits.

’I must’ve been so upset earlier I didn’t even notice the thing.’

“Yes, I still have it.” Sunny pulled the check out and looked at it in her hooves.

’It’s a lot of money, but how long would it really keep me going? What if I lose them? I could just as easily be robbed when somepony notices them too.’ She sighed to herself. Looking back between Rarity and the check for one hundred bits. Rarity gave her a silent look of curiosity, clearly noticing something was on the homeless mare’s mind

’But, if I go with her... I’ll be richer and have an actual home, and a chance for a real job. Maybe then I can—‘

“Sunny Sprout?” Rarity broke the mare’s train of thought. “You are still coming to Ponyville with me, right?” She asked with a hint of worry.

Sunny looked Rarity straight in the eyes.

“You swear you’ll help me find a job in Ponyville and won’t just kick me out?” Sunny asked seriously.

“You have my word as a lady.” Rarity smiled and made a mock salute. “I’ll do everything I can to help you get back on your hooves.”

“But... why?” Sunny Sprout couldn’t help but ask again. Rarity hummed to herself for a moment before answering.

“Is it not the right thing to help those less fortunate than you?” Rarity asked rhetorically. She let that sink in as she went to get her travel bag, leaving Sunny to her thoughts. She was brushing out her mane when—of all things—a voluminous laugh interrupted her. “What’s so funny over there darling?”

“Oh nothing,” Sunny wiped a tear from her eye. “I can just see you as the type who took in a lot of stray animals when you were younger.” She continued to giggle, her spirits higher than they’d been in too long a time.

“Mmm yes, you could say that,” Rarity smiled and thought back to her feline friend back in Ponyville. She was about to continue on that thought, but was quickly silenced by a familiar rumbling from the pony across from her. “A little hungry are we?”

“Yeah. Just ignore me though, I don’t wanna slow you down on the way to the station.” She smiled weakly.

Rarity raised an eyebrow and responded with the slightest tilt of her head. “Slow me down? But we have plenty of time, and I shan’t let you get on the train without something to eat,” She looked to her own stomach, feeling the familiar emptiness slowly become known. “Besides, I could go for something myself.”

“Well, alright.” Sunny said. “I just don’t want you spending more money on me than you need to. I can spend some of the bits you gave—“

“Nonsense,” Rarity didn’t let her finish. “The bits and check I gave you are going to be saved for your future. I will take care of our meals; don’t worry about a thing, dear.” She gave her best smile and lifted her saddlebag onto her back.

The fashionista looked over to her other bits of luggage; too much for her to carry.

“Let us see if we can’t find some nice bellhop to take these to the station while we get breakfast.”

Sunny nodded and made sure her own saddlebag was secure, and its precious cargo safe. “Alright.”

<><><><><><><><><><>

Breakfast had been a fairly quiet event for the two mares. After Rarity had assured the hotel staff her early departure was for other reasons and not her dissatisfaction with the establishment, they quickly found a nearby place to eat. It wasn’t anything extraordinarily fancy, more of a diner to be precise. Sunny Sprout and Rarity ate in silence for the most part, only exchanging a few words here and there over their sandwiches.

Sunny was still thinking over the previous day and how things were evolving. Rarity however, quickly picked up on her friend’s disinterest in talking and settled to let the mare be for the morning; after all, Rarity herself had a lot of thinking to do.

Fortunately the hotel staff had been kind enough to refund Rarity the majority of her bits, seeing as how she only stayed for one night out of the five she had planned. With an unexpected, extra amount of bits on-hoof, the fashionista opted to upgrade her and Sunny’s train tickets to the highest class, which included a private cabin.

Sunny curiously inspected the room, silently marveling at the cabin’s elaborate décor. It was designed to comfortably hold six ponies, though neither of them minded the extra room. After a quick once-over of the room, and thorough raid of the complimentary fruit basket, Sunny was now sitting comfortably by a window; a thin smile on her lips refused to leave.

Comfortably sitting in her own bunk, Rarity had tucked away her legs beneath her as she skimmed through a fashion magazine she had picked up earlier at the station. She stole the occasional glance at her traveling companion, relaxing in her own bunk and staring out the window on her side of the cabin. Though the poor mare had hardly touched her mane during her short bath, Rarity couldn’t help but quietly admire the simplistic, natural beauty her hazel mane had. Her eyes settled on Sunny’s Cutie Mark; a patch of dirt with a lush green sprout bursting through. It was then she realized that she didn’t actually know much about her: her past, her story—anything at all really.

Rarity’s interest piqued as she quickly planned to change that.

With a small whisk of magic, she set her magazine down and cleared her throat, ready to end the silence.

“So, Sunny,” Rarity got her attention, taking a moment to realize somepony was talking to her. “We still have a few hours until we reach Ponyville. I would very much like to take this opportunity to learn a bit more about you, dear.” She turned her body to face Sunny, all her attention focused on her now.

Sunny shifted a little to face the mare opposite to her. “What do you wanna know? I’m afraid there isn’t a whole lot of interesting things about me…” Her eyes began to slowly cast downwards as she trailed off.

Rarity’s expression sank into a soft concern at the mare’s display. “Oh darling, don’t be so hard on yourself. All that negative energy is absolute murder to one’s complexion.”

The fashionista's response earned her an odd look from Sunny.

Rarity shook her head dismissively. “Sorry. But... however did you find yourself in that dreadful situation you were in anyway?”

Sunny fidgeted her forelegs together awkwardly. “You wouldn’t be interested in it—nothing special; just... a lot of simultaneous bad luck, that’s all.” She laid her muzzle down on the head of the bed with a sigh.

“Yesterday, you thought I was a pony from the bank, coming to take more of your possessions,” Rarity recalled sadly. “So, it is safe then to assume that you once had a home, dear?” Sunny nodded softly without looking up to the fashionista. “Then please... whatever happened to you?” Rarity gently pleaded, but Sunny neither moved nor responded in any way.

Rarity paused, taking a moment to breath deep, and slowly exhale. “Listen dear, if this is going to work, I’m going to need you to trust me...” She spoke in her most comforting tone she had; a tone normally reserved solely for her younger sister in times of tender need. “Talking about what happened may very well give you some peace of mind from it, so please, Sunny Sprout...”

Rarity slowly slid off the bed, seating herself just a few short inches from her companion's bunk.

“...won’t you talk to me?”

Pasts Revealed
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Random Acts of Generosity

Pasts Revealed

Sunny Sprout shifted uncomfortably in her bunk. Rarity was still doing her best to get some answers out of her. It was evident she wouldn’t be able to stall any more. With a heavy sigh, Sunny moved to the end of her bed, tapping the other side for her friend to get off the floor.

Rarity wordlessly complied, climbing up onto the bunk, and settling opposite her downtrodden companion. The fashionista gave her a nod, ready.

Sunny cleared her throat and began. “I… I used to have a shop in Manehattan. On the outskirts of the market district,” she looked up to the cabin window with a long stare and a smile. “It was a beautiful place, so happy, with so many friends…” Her hooves slid across the blanket beneath her. “So warm too.”

"It sounds like it was a lovely place," Rarity commented warmly.

Sunny let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, it was. I ran the shop with my husband at the time, we lived in the apartment upstairs."

“You were married?” Rarity interjected, surprised.

Sunny nodded. “Yeah. Obviously not now though,” she gave a slow shrug and looked down to her hooves. “We built something beautiful, and I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Rarity felt a dull ache in her chest, knowing what would come next. She decided to change the subject, if only for a moment.

“What kind of shop was it dear?” She asked simply.

Sunny quickly motioned to her Cutie Mark, a patch of dirt with a green sprout coming out. “It was a flower shop. Flora is kinda my thing, heh,” she gave a weak laugh. “We weren’t as popular as some of the bigger places, but there was always enough business for us to never worry about money. And regular, friendly customers that made the job fun.”

Rarity felt a sort of kinship to her, knowing what it was like relying on customers to keep food on the table in the early years of her business.

“—We even made enough to buy the building from the original owner. The downstairs shop, and second and third floor were all ours.” Sunny looked to Rarity, ensuring she was still listening. “It was a fortune, but it meant less costs on the bills in the long run...”

Sunny suddenly trailed off into silence. After a few moments she looked up to Rarity, mouth agape as if she wished to speak, but couldn't find the words to say.

Rarity leaned down to meet the mare at eye level. “What happened—”

“We had plans, Rarity!” Sunny cried out before burying her face into her hooves. “so many plans...” The mare began to softly sniffle, a weak shaking coming with each breath she took.

’Fluttershy, darling, I could really use your help right now...’

While the fashionista knew her sympathetic friend was much better suited at comforting ponies than herself, she knew she had to try.

“Sunny, I… I don’t have the words, dear.” Rarity hesitated a moment, but eventually slid over to her and placed a foreleg on the distraught mare in an effort to comfort her. “It’s alright dear, we can—”

In one fluid motion, Sunny turned and dove her head for Rarity’s chest, wrapping her forelegs tight around the other mare. The fractured composure the earth pony desperately tried to hold together shattered, falling into hard sobs and pained wails.

Rarity was taken aback by the sudden contact of her friend, and her explosion of pent up emotion. After the initial stun, the fashionista slowly settled a forehoof on Sunny’s back and stroked her mane with the other. Rarity became aware of a warm, wet sensation running down her chest and gave a silent sigh.

’The poor dear must have held back for so long.’

“That’s right, darling, just let it all out,” Rarity comforted gently, slowly rocking the mare she now cradled in her hooves. “Things are going to get better, I promise.”

The two remained as so for some time before Sunny eventually released her forelegs’ lock around the fashionista. However she refused to remove her head from Rarity's chest, taking some much needed comfort in the mare's calming embrace. She shifted position, turning to look up at the window.

“I-I… I had a life, Rarity…” Sunny sniffled softly, rubbing her snout with a forehoof before continuing, “It wasn't much, but it was mine, and—”

Rarity gently placed her forehoof over Sunny’s muzzle, softly hushing her. “You can tell me later darling, just relax for now. You still have a long day ahead of you,” she quietly, but firmly told her.

With a flick of her magic, Rarity levitated the blanket from her own bunk and settled it over Sunny and herself.

‘A long day indeed...’

<><><><><><><><><><>

“So, this town we’re going to—Ponyville, what’s it like?”

Some time had passed since Sunny’s breakdown, the two of them silently agreeing to drop the subject for the time being.

Rarity looked down to her friend, still sitting in her bunk. “It’s a nice place—very quiet, most days anyway.” She chuckled slightly to herself, briefly wondering what sorts of trouble her sister had been getting into while she was away. “Have you never heard of Ponyville before, dear?” She asked.

Sunny gave an almost imperceptible shrug. “Just what I used to read in the papers… it’s where the Element bearers live, right? Other than that, I know next to nothing about it.”

Rarity’s ears perked up, her attention instantly piqued. “Oh? So you’ve heard of the Elements then?”

She’d been thinking of how to break it to Sunny exactly who she was, and the mare may have provided her an opening. Rarity didn’t want to tell her right away and risk coming off as boastful, yet she didn’t exactly want to hide it from her either.

“Of course!” Sunny’s voice instantly perked up. “Everypony knows about them, they stopped Nightmare Moon and Discord too!” She replied as she got up from her bunk, taking a moment to stretch her back and limbs.

Rarity was happy the subject seemed to warm Sunny’s spirits, but also wondered why the mare hadn’t quite connected all the dots yet. She decided to continue questioning.

“So, what all do you know about the Element bearers?”

“Well let’s see…” Sunny grabbed an apple from the table basket, taking a small bite before continuing. “There’s Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia’s personal student. The Element of magic.” She took another bite of the fruit, Rarity listening intently. “Then there’s Rainbow Dash the Loyal, she even did a sonic rainboom! And also Rarity the Gen—” Sunny stopped.

Rarity turned to see the stunned mare drop her apple and stumble back a half-step. “You were saying, darling?” She asked, unable to hold back a proud smirk.

“You… you can’t be!” The mare stuttered out, but otherwise stood still. “Y-You, you just have the same name... it’s just a coincidence right!?”

The fashionista shook her head dismissively. “No, darling. I assure you that I’m the real McCoy. In fact, I was wondering when you might catch on to it,” she teased with a somewhat smug smile.

“Wow, um, I-I... I don’t really know what to say right now...” Sunny nervously rubbed a foreleg with the other, suddenly finding it difficult to meet Rarity’s gaze. “Now I feel even more awkward. I can’t believe I didn’t realize you were that Rarity.”

“Sunny, dear, there’s no need to feel embarrassed,” Rarity said as she stood up, placing a hoof on the shy mare’s side. “Trust me, even the brightest ponies sometimes overlook the most obvious of clues.” Her librarian friend crossed her mind briefly and she chuckled. “I know this for a fact even.”

Sunny met the chuckle with one of her own. “Yeah, I guess so.” She looked back up to her unicorn friend. “You know, I’m almost wondering if this is a dream again. I never imagined that I’d have the Element of Generosity being the one that helps me.” Sunny’s demeanor lightened, she even smiled.

“Think nothing of it,” Rarity remarked. “Just think of me as any other pony, darling.”

Sunny quietly laughed to herself. “That might be a little difficult at this point, I mean I’m sitting here with somepony famous.”

Rarity scrunched her muzzle into a small pout. “While I’ll admit I do rather enjoy the attention it brings at times, I would prefer that my friends simply think of me as they would anypony else.” The fashionista’s expression shifted back into a smile. “Besides, we’ll be staying together for a time I imagine, so I’d prefer it if you saw me as more of a roommate and a friend, rather than somepony famous.”

Her statement hit Sunny like a speeding freight train. She stammered incoherently, trying to say a million words that came to mind all at once. She had totally forgotten the little detail about the planned living situation.

Rarity covered a small laugh. “Well, you're certainly taking it better than I expected. Take your time, dear.”

Several long moments of flustered, failed attempts at communication later, Sunny finally calmed down enough to form her words. “So, I’m... living with an Element bearer…” she said more to herself than anything, before another concern crossed her mind. “Wait! What about the other Elements?” She spun to Rarity with a nervous expression. “What will they think?”

The fashionista hummed thoughtfully to herself for a moment. “Well, they probably won’t think much of it” Rarity shrugged and took a seat closer to her bunk. “We do these spontaneous sort of actions quite often actually, honestly I think the others expect it by now.”

“You mean like inviting a whore in—”

“No.” Rarity abruptly cut her off, rapidly shaking her head dismissively. “No-no-no-no, no! Nothing like, that, dear.”

Sunny’s ears fell back as she shrank down.“I’m sorry! I just—I mean—I’m used to—”

“Think nothing of it,” Rarity interjected reassuringly. “What I meant to say is, we often either help others or volunteer to do things—often absurdly crazy or dangerous I might add, for other ponies.” she chuckled at her own amusement. “I’m certain the girls won’t be all that surprised by you staying with me, just another day in Ponyville.”

“Speaking of…” Sunny paused, unsure of how to say what she wanted in a polite way. “How... long, do you think I’ll be staying with you—I mean I don’t want to impose or force you out of your home trying to support me too, and—”

Rarity smiled and waved a hoof. “Don’t worry about that, dear. I assure you I can support another pony without any sort of financial issues. Now, as for how long you’ll be there... as long as you need to I suppose.” She tapped a forehoof on her chin in thought. “Oh, and I do believe I may have a few leads on a job to help you start getting back on your hooves, too.”

Sunny shook her head in disbelief. “Why? Why are you going so far out of your way to help me?”

Rarity glanced to her with a smile. “I do believe I’ve answered that for you a few times now, darling.”

“No! This is different!” Sunny exclaimed. “That was before I knew who you were!”

Rarity scrunched her muzzle. “I don’t see how that changes anything.”

“Of course it does, it changes everything! You’re famous, surely you're really busy with your, uh, Element thing and what ever else you do already!”

“Oh don’t be ridiculous, Sunny. It’s not like I am required to rescue Equestria everyday.” Rarity paused for a moment, staring off into nowhere briefly. “Though, I do wonder sometimes...” The fashionista shook her head, regaining her focus. “Anyway, what I mean is I’m not so busy that I cannot attend to a guest.”

Despite her new friend’s persistent reassurance, Sunny still felt as if she were imposing. “But, what will others think? The Element of Generosity inviting a whore to live in her ho—”

“No, Sunny, you are not... that anymore. No mare should speak of oneself in a manner like that so casually.” Rarity hummed to herself, remembering a detail she forgot to mention. “I’ll also ask you to be mindful of such language, as my dear sister is quite an impressionable young filly.”

’That’s right, I’ll have to inform Sweetie Belle of the situation... and Mother and Father.’

Rarity cringed at that thought.

’I think I’ll save that last one for later, much later.’

“So, uh... after I get enough earnings to move out of your guest room... then what?” Sunny asked unsurely.

“You are free to do as you wish, you are your own pony after all,” Rarity answered dully.

“So thats it? I’m just... free to go?” Sunny asked skeptically. “I won’t owe you anything?”

“Of course not. That’s the entire point of this, darling. To get you a stable place to live until you can support yourself,” Rarity replied before shooting her a somewhat smug smile. “What would be the point if you were to owe me after everything is said and done? That would defeat the entire purpose of helping you with a fresh start.”

“Well, in that case I’ll be certain to try my best to get out of your hair,” Sunny said with a small frown.

Something in her companion’s phrasing intrigued Rarity. “Sunny? If I may… why do you seem to be in a such a hurry?”

Sunny went back to her uncomfortable pose. “I just… I don’t want to bother you for too long. I mean no offense, Rarity, but I only want to get back to my life as soon as possible, not overstay my welcome.” She looked over to her worn saddlebag on the bunk for a moment. “I hope you understand what I mean."

Rarity nodded. “I understand perfectly.” While she may have agreed, she still had a hunch that Sunny was hiding something, a reason for her urgency to have her own place again. “Like I said, I’ll do everything in my power to help you as soon as possible.”

“I know you will.”

Rarity raised and eyebrow. “You sound quite sure of yourself there, why the sudden bout of confidence?”

“Because the universe can’t take anything else away from me,” Sunny answered in a neutral tone. “If anything, you already got me away from Manehattan, and for that I am already grateful. I wouldn’t have lasted much longer in that city…”

Seeing the coming conversation was about to take a bitter turn, the fashionista quickly changed the subject. Although to one just as potentially bitter.

Rarity bit her lip in hesitation. “I’m sorry, but I have a question if you don’t mind.”

“Go ahead.”

“You never did tell me, but... what of your husband?”

Sunny silently sighed at the mention of the subject, simply staring out the window at the mid-afternoon sun. Rarity could tell the memory probably hurt, but her curiosity simply had to know.

“It’s alright, you can tell me.”

Sunny slowly inhaled a large breath through her nose, then just as slowly let it out. She didn’t want to talk about it, but felt she owed Rarity that much at least.

The homeless mare turned to Rarity, whom was sitting patiently, wearing that ever-present smile she was already used to seeing.

“Alright, remember how I said we had our own business?” Rarity simply nodded in response. “Well… after we bought the whole building, we ran into—”

A sudden shift of the floor cut the mare off. The sound of squealing brakes were heard as well. The two mares gave each other awkward smiles at the interruption.

Rarity got up and stretched. She would have told Sunny to continue what she was going to say, but the unicorn knew it would only take a few minutes for the train to stop; hardly enough time for a serious conversation.

“Let’s gather our things and make for the front, the train will be stopping soon.”

Sunny got up and grabbed her belongings. Rarity did the same with a quick flick of her magic, settling the bags firmly on her back and sides.

Sunny gave a quick nod, confirming she was ready. Rarity made for the door, turning the handle with more of her magic and glancing back to her companion with an enthusiastic smile.

“Come! Ponyville awaits your grand arrival!”

A Place to Call Home
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Random Acts of Generosity

A Place to Call Home

Rarity and Sunny Sprout’s departure from the train was a mostly silent affair. While the fashionista went to find her luggage near the rear train car, Sunny occupied herself by looking around the place.

The most obvious thing to her was how small the Ponyville train station was. It was little more than a concrete slab with an overhang, and a plain pavilion where tickets were purchased. The second thing that caught her attention was the overall atmosphere. It was so quiet, the kind of quiet she never heard in the city.

Despite it being the middle of the afternoon, there were no more than a dozen other ponies about the station.

’The station in Manehattan would have hundreds of ponies around the place…’

Sunny spied Rarity walking back over to her, and a stallion walking off with her bags, likely given a generous sum of bits to do so. She slid off the bench and met her unicorn friend halfway.

“My apologies that took so long,” Rarity said once they both reached a comfortable distance. “Their usual runner has the day off.”

“It’s fine.” Sunny shrugged almost imperceptibly, turning to leave the station. “This place is so… small feeling. Like something’s missing.” She said more to herself as they made their way out from under the overhang.

“Isn’t it?” Rarity giggled to herself. She gave a quick look over to her companion, taking in all the sights over discussion. But she didn’t mind the silence, it gave her a little more time to think. As they walked, she kept wracking her brain for places open for new employees.

“The ponies here…” Sunny began speaking as they entered the market area. “They look so, nice. Nothing like the ponies I ‘served’ back in Manehattan.” She turned her head to eye a passing flower stall run by a fellow Earth pony. The stall owner—a red-maned mare, must have noticed and gave her a friendly wave, which Sunny hesitantly returned before catching up to her escort.

“Making friends already, are we?” Rarity teased. She looked to see a slight blush on Sunny’s cheeks, likely from the embarrassment of being caught. But by herself, or the stall owner she couldn’t tell. “Her name is Roseluck, incase you were wondering.” The unicorn informed with a twitch of her head back behind them.

“What?” Sunny replied only half listening, her attention grabbed by the surrounding market area.

“Roseluck. Her special talent has to do with flowers and growing them,” Rarity continued. She paused to wave to a rather large red stallion attending an apple stall. “Perhaps I will introduce you, oh you’d have so much to talk about!” She beamed, continuing to talk about the stall-owner’s sisters and their respective talents related to flora. Sunny was only half listening to Rarity’s rambling. When they made it through the small market area, she looked back with a forlorn expression.

’It’s so much like where I used to work…’

She flashed back to the market plaza in Manehattan, the small offshoot where honest ponies like herself worked. To her it seemed like the place in her memories had been picked up and set down here, many miles away. Even the plain, uninteresting produce stalls looked the exact same.

“...Sunny? Sunny, are you alright?” Rarity’s voice broke her haze of memories.

“What? Yeah, sorry.” Sunny shook her head, trying to hide the fact she wasn’t listening at all. “Was just, uh, noticing how many Earth ponies there are here.” She waved her hoof at the surrounding buildings.

“Mmm yes, you won’t find an overabundance of unicorns or pegasi in Ponyville,” Rarity said, eyeing her home, Carousel Boutique, just coming into view down the road. “Earth ponies make up about half the town’s population. Hence the rustic style of the town, but I must admit…”

Sunny zoned out from Rarity’s voice again. She allowed a thin smile to pull at her lips, the number of fellow Earth ponies around town gave her a feeling of kinship. She had a feeling that her acceptance into the community wouldn’t be as hard as she originally thought it would be.

“And here we are!”

Sunny hardly noticed Rarity’s exclamation, nearly walking into the building in front of her. Taking a step back, the entirety of the building’s exterior came within her view. She tilted her head slightly, wondering if a grown mare could really live, and work in such an unusual place.

Halfway up the round building were golden ponies arranged like a carousel, with the roof resembling the very top of a circus tent. Somehow this wasn’t how she envisioned the home of Rarity the Generous.

“Certainly chic, don’t you think?” Rarity rifled through her saddlebag for what Sunny guessed to be the key. Beside the doorstep was the unicorn’s luggage, having already been delivered by the stallion from the train station.

“It really is… something,” Sunny looked back up to the building.

’This has to be some sort of joke...’

“Got it!” Rarity exclaimed next to her, holding a small silver key with her magic. She unlocked the door and made her way inside, pausing to regard her new housemate. “"Do be a dear and set the luggage just inside would you? I’ll make certain the guest room upstairs is ready for you, darling.”

“You got it,” Sunny gave a quick mock salute. The half dozen or so suitcases wouldn’t take her long to handle. Rarity smiled and continued on inside, satisfied.

Sunny hefted the first two smallest pieces of luggage on her back, on top of her own worn saddlebag. Making her way inside, the full scope of Carousel Boutique dawned on her. Inside was a much different view than the exterior…

As she slid the bags off and set them by the door, she cast a glance around. To Sunny, it was what she imagined a fashion studio should look like. There were dress-forms scattered around the place, clothing racks lining the walls, and even a slightly elevated spot on the floor surrounded by mirrors.

’So this is where I’ll be living. Huh...’

Sunny went back to retrieving the luggage, opting to judge her new home after the job was done. She didn’t want to disappoint her new friend, and host. The remaining suitcases were quickly brought inside, leaving Sunny panting lightly.

’I’ve… I need to get back in… proper shape’ She thought while catching her breath. Shutting the front door, something tickled her sixth sense. Someone was watching her.

Sunny turned around to see a pair of green eyes watching her halfway across the room. A white cat with a bow on her head sprawled at her from atop a rack of dresses.

“Oh, well hello there!” Sunny smiled and took a few steps towards the feline.

The cat didn’t move, just continued to sit out of the pony’s reach. Silently watching the stranger in her mother’s home. This female had a strange scent about her, something that interested her, but not enough to jump down, and risk being touched.

“Rarity never told me about you.” Sunny continued walking up to the dress rack. The white cat hissed and swatted at her when she got too close.

“Opalescence!” Rarity exclaimed from another doorway off to the side. The sudden, loud voice caused Sunny to jump slightly. “What have I told you about being rude to my guests? Get down here, Opal!” She ordered the feline.

Opalescence rolled her eyes and complied, not taking her eyes off the stranger. She sat in front of her owner, reluctant to hear the scolding she knew was coming.

“Now Opalescence…” Rarity started in a light, drawn out tone, the kind that told you something you didn’t want to hear was coming. She waved Sunny Sprout over, who promptly walked over to her friend’s side.

“This mare is Sunny Sprout. She is my friend and will be staying with us for a little while.” She waved her foreleg to the aforementioned mare. Opalescence growled but otherwise held her spot in front of Rarity. “I want you to treat her like a member of the family. Think you can do that for me, sweetie?” She put her face at the same level as her cat.

Opal narrowed her eyes in annoyance at her owner. She flicked her eyes up to the new pony, then back. She huffed and stood up, flicking her tail as she went off back to her afternoon nap.

“She… says ‘Welcome!’” Rarity giggled uncertainly. “Don’t worry, Sunny, she’ll warm up to you.”

“You really think so?” Sunny asked, doubtful.

“One can hope,” Rarity replied with a sigh. “Come, let me show you to your room.”

<><><><><><><><><><>

Rarity led her new roommate down the upstairs hallway. The first thing Sunny noticed upon reaching the top step were the pictures lining the walls. Framed pictures of dresses, places, and Rarity shaking hooves with other ponies were strewn everywhere.

“Admiring the decor?” Rarity asked, looking back. She stopped to allow her new friend a moment.

Sunny looked over to one image in particular. In it was Rarity, wearing some fancy outfit shaking hooves with a rather fancy stallion in a suit with a crown for a Cutie Mark.

“Yeah, was just wondering to myself who all these ponies were,” she finally answered.

“Ah yes, I do believe that one was after last year’s Gala,” Rarity remarked with a smile, taking a step or two closer to Sunny and the picture.

Sunny looked off to the side for a moment, thinking. “‘Gala’? The Grand Galloping Gala?” She asked uncertainly.

Rarity nodded. “The very one." After a short pause with no further comment from Sunny, a small smirk played across the fashionista's face. “...He's rather easy on the eyes, isn't he, darling?”

“What? No! I was just—” Sunny hesitated, flustered. Her turquoise eyes flashed back to the picture. “Just—admiring your dress!” She gave her best poker face, which was hardly convincing.

Rarity, however, decided to humor the embarrassed mare. “Yes I always thought indigo gave me a certain… admirable look.” She giggled at Sunny’s relieved expression. “Let’s continue to your room, shall we?” She turned to continue on down the hallway.

“I don’t see any pictures of the other Element bearers,” Sunny mused, scanning the many frames and photographs they passed

“I like to keep those in my living space, they’re more personal than somepony might expect making their way through here.” Rarity informed as they walked past a semi-closed door. “Over here is my inspiration room.”

’She has a work room downstairs and an inspiration room?’ Sunny wondered with a slight tilt of her head, but kept silent.

“Across from it is the upstairs bathroom, feel free to use it anytime,” Rarity continued on with the tour, Sunny following close behind. “And around the corner is my sister’s room…”

’This house sure is a lot bigger on the inside. Magic, perhaps?’

“And your room is right next to hers.” Sunny looked at the door Rarity stopped in front of. The one next to it had some childish stickers across it, and a sign that said ‘sweetie belle’s room’ written sloppily. It made Sunny smile and giggle slightly.

"I'm guessing this is your sister's room?" She pointed a hoof at the door as she passed, stopping in front of her door.

"Mmm yes, I keep taking that foalish sign down, but she keeps putting it back up," Rarity smiled and sighed. "You know how young fillies can be."

"Heh, yeah, um... my room?" Sunny offered. She was eager to see where she'd be spending the next portion of her life.

"Of course, darling." Rarity smiled and opened the door with her magic. "I apologize for the sparseness, but I don't often have guests..."

As Sunny followed the fashionista inside, she felt her jaw slacken in awe at the living space that came into view. The room felt akin to an advertisement for a luxury suite that one would likely find in some cosmopolitan magazine for Canterlot nobles. Vibrant colors of smooth fabric and lush oaken wood filled the room, taking shape as furniture and decor that she would have only dreamed of owning in the past.

Of the regal furniture the most prominent was easily the princess sized bed in the back-center of the room. Indigo silk sheets and two sets of fluffy pillows with golden flower embroidery completed the look, giving the bed an inviting aura. Sunny could only begin to imagine just how comfortable it would be to actually lay in.

After a few moments of pause, Sunny managed to peel her attention away from the bed to the rest of the furnishings. A large wardrobe and bookshelf lined the room's far wall, while on the opposite side a fancy vanity off in the corner caught her eye

’Yeah, there is absolutely no way that this is the guest room, there’s just... no way!’ Sunny thought to herself, giving the room another look over.

“Sunny, darling? ...are you alright?” Rarity’s voice called out, a clear hinting of concern in her tone.

Sunny shook the mental daze from her head. “Y-yeah, I was just... I... I don’t even know,” Sunny replied, turning to face the fashionista. “I mean, this is a joke right? This is your room, isn’t it?”

Rarity tilted her head, giving the mare a perplexed look. “...No? I assure you this is the guest room,” she insisted before turning back to the living quarters. “While it may not be as extravagant as I would like it to be, I try my best to make my guests feel as comfortable and welcome as possible.”

A series of reluctant chuckles escaped Sunny as her face twitched into an uneasy smile. “No... no, no—this can’t be right!” she declared before trotting back and forth a few times. “Yeah, yeah that’s it! I fell asleep. I fell asleep on the train to Ponyville!”

The fashionista’s ears fell back as she extended a hoof out to her friend. “S-Sunny, dear? Um, perhaps you should—”

Sunny aggressively rustled her mane with a forehoof before descending into a fit of hysterical laughter. “Of course! Of course this is just a dream! Maybe... maybe all of this is just—”

“Sunny!” Rarity cried out, trotting to her friend and cupping her into a concerned hug. “Just relax now, darling.”

The sudden touch caused the mare to jump, pulling her from her trance.

“Now Sunny, just, take a deep breath...” Rarity instructed, navigating her disoriented friend toward the bed. “How about you just lay down for a moment, okay?”

Sunny paused for a moment before slowly nodding a few times. “O-Okay...” she whispered softly, before following Rarity’s instructions.

The mare felt a mixture of guilt and regret as she settled into the immaculate comfort of the soft bed she now laid on. She wanted to apologize, to say something to break the increasing gap of uneasy silence, but she found herself at a loss of words in regards to her actions.

’I really lost it there for a moment... how embarrassing.’

Sunny covered her face with her forelegs.

’I can’t believe I just did that…’

“Don’t feel so ashamed, dear. Everypony has moments of weakness,” Rarity reassured her sympathetically. “Why, I’ve had quite a few myself recently; in front of friends no less.”

Sunny shook her head before lowering her forelegs from her face. “I... I just don’t understand...” she looked to the fashionista with an uneasy expression. “Why are you so nice to me? Have I done something for you that I am unaware of, Rarity? Something so grand to be worthy of all this?” Sunny punctuated her message with a wide sweep of her foreleg across the room.

Rarity let out a sigh at her friends lingering skepticism. “What I don’t understand, Sunny; is it really so hard to believe that some ponies simply wish to help one another?” she asked quizzically. “That I simply couldn’t walk away from a mare in such a dire situation?”

“Yes, yes it is!” Sunny exclaimed, sitting up and shaking her head again. “This is the kind of thing you only ever read about in fairy tales. Stories where the majestic prince swoops down to rescue the damsel in distress; then shows her a happy world she only ever dreamed of.” Sunny let out a soft sigh. “Those sort of things don’t happen in the real world, reality just doesn’t work that way, Rarity; so how can I hope to believe that it suddenly happens for me; just some nopony whore off the streets?”

“Sunny, please stop calling yourself that dreadful word, dear. I know there is much more to you than that,” the fashionista stated. “And while those flashy fairy tales may not exist, ponies who care for others well-being, do; such as myself.” Rarity paused in thought for a moment. “In fact, I could think of a number of other like-minded ponies as...”

Rarity trailed off as ears perked up at a familiar knocking sound. A scheming smirk played across her lips at this unexpected turn of events.

“Kindness is everywhere, darling,” the fashionista declared before tossing the mare a quick wink. “Sometimes it’s just on the other side of the door, waiting for you to answer it.” Rarity turned and began for the hallway. “Make yourself comfortable, dear. I’ll be right back momentarily.”

With that, the fashionista made her exit in a brisk trot, leaving Sunny somewhat dumbfounded by her words. The mare brought a hoof to her chin, reflecting on her new friend's message before letting out a hard sigh in defeat. Despite what tragedies she had experienced recently, Sunny knew Rarity’s words were real; as she herself knew of for one such pony. The shocker in all of this was her finding another in the fashionista.

Sunny let out a frustrated groan, flopping back down on the bed. “Oh, who am I trying to kid? I give up...” she declared, admitting defeat to life's greater plan for her.

‘I guess I’ll just take this one step at a time then, and see how it goes…

Sunny paused for a moment, examining her surroundings once more.

“This really is a nice room...”