After some time, I had managed to get the newer of the machines working by removing the service panels and clearing a nasty jam of thread and fibers. As Rarity paused in her work to check the renewed functionality of the machine, I set to carefully work on the other, using a couple small scraps of cloth to clean as I went, and spread light oil where needed. Correcting a few internal adjustments that controlled stitch length and the pressure on the feed dog, I was almost able to get it working like my own Singer machine back home, but there was still a rough sound and slight binding. “Ah, here it is, worn bearing allowing excessive slack in the input shaft,” I said, pointing into the access hole at the offending part.

“Well now, aren't you the crafty one,” Rarity said, walking over to see as I wiggled the drive wheel.

“If you had another old machine I could probably salvage the part from it,” I thought aloud, as I looked at the bolts that would allow the part's removal.

“Actually I just got done finding the 'replacement parts' order form,” Twilight said, surprising us both. “Wouldn't that be better than a used part?” she asked from near a small open file cabinet.

“Heh, sorry, old habit. I generally look for the least expensive method first, which for sewing machines has typically been salvage back home,” I said, scratching my neck with a nervous chuckle.

“Really? Wouldn't new parts make for a longer lasting repair, Thus reducing the eventual cost of upkeep?” Twilight posed.

“True, but I am also used to working on stuff that needs to be in working order before new replacements can be shipped in,” I explained.

“Then I guess that makes sense,” the princess replied with a thoughtful nod.

“Well then, if you two can make sense of this diagram, then let me know how much the part is going to cost,” Rarity said, eying the chart on the back of the form. “And, if you don't mind, it would be easier to make your new shirt using the old one as a pattern.”

At this I gave her a teasing smile before starting to unbutton my shirt. “We did set that game aside, didn't we?” I asked, getting a giggle from Twilight and blush from Rarity. “Sorry, couldn't help myself, I'll stop teasing,” I said with a smile as I removed my shirt.

As I held the shirt towards the fashionista, I noticed that both ponies were now staring at me. Rarity, in front of me, was staring at my chest. Twilight, to my right, was staring very intently at my shoulder. 'Why would my shoulder be catching her gaze? Wait, right shoulder, fuck.' After a pause that was just about to reach awkward, both of them started to speak at once, “Is that-” they looked at each other, and Twilight motioned for her friend to speak first. “Is your, coat, supposed to look like that?” the unicorn asked.

“Huh? You mean my body hair?” I asked, running a hand across my chest for emphasis. Answered by a nod, I continued, “Well, yeah, though I have a fair bit more than most guys.” Turning to Twilight, I decided to cut her question off at the pass, “That mark is a tattoo, the symbol has to do with what we discussed earlier, that I'll be asking Princess Celestia about.”

“Tattoo? So, is that like a cutie mark?” the purple princess asked, getting Rarity's attention on my arm as well.

“What exactly is a 'cutie mark'?” I asked, now quite curious.

Looking surprised at my question, she explained, “A cutie mark is the mark that appears on a pony's flank when they find their special talent.” Turning broadside to me she lifted her near wing and pointed with a forehoof to her hip, or 'flank' as it is apparently called here, where she had a pattern of stars, five small white ones around a larger pink one with additional white points. Rarity copied this motion, obviously without the need to move a wing, and pointed to her own mark of three blue gemstones. Seeing my piqued curiosity, Twilight continued, “My talent is magic, and Rarity's is fashion.”

“How have I failed to notice those?” I asked, thinking to myself 'Damn my chivalrous upbringing.' “So when you figure out your talent, you get this 'cutie mark'?” They both nod, so I ask further, “Then that brings up two questions; How do you sort out what that talent is? And how do you get that mark applied in a way that shows through your fur?”

Twilight was the one to answer, “Well, finding your special talent is a magical moment in a pony's life, so the answer to both questions is magic. So this 'tattoo' is not like a cutie mark, is it natural or something?”

“No, it isn't natural, actually I chose this a few years back and had it done. This is the result of several thousand minuscule injections of pigment just under the skin's surface. Been meaning for a while to get another to cover this one up, it doesn't really hold the same meaning it once did.” As I explained how I got the tattoo, Twilight flinched slightly at the mention of injections while Rarity seemed thoughtful.

The princess's expression turned to slight worry though, “So it's permanent? Why would you have it done then, without being certain?”

“Well, I could answer that by yammering about philosophy, or I could tell you the honest truth,” I said, eying her with a half smile. “I was, once upon a time, young and stupid,” I finished with a soft chuckle, and sighed.

As I saw Twilight's face turn to a soft smile, Rarity spoke up with her own question, “So these pigments, would they be akin to cosmetics?” She raised an eyebrow and asked further, “Or common ink?”

“Well, their use in tattooing would file them under 'cosmetic,' however, I can't really say for sure what category would more appropriately fit. As I recall, most traditional tattoo inks were made from different sorts of ash or coal, but modern pigments like this I really can't say for certain,” I answered to the best of my knowledge.

“I think I know what you're getting at Rarity. Hoyt, would you mind if I try a spell on you? It might help me to settle this quandary, and I may be able to remove the mark if you wish,” asked Twilight with a curious eye.

“Wait a minute, spell? You mean like ma- eheh, sorry, you guys do have magic.” Breathing a heavy sigh, I continued, “If I'm going to be stuck here, that is going to take a lot of getting used to. Back on earth, magic is the stuff of fiction, fantasy stories where the dashing hero must get help from the hermit wizard of the high mountain to rescue his fair maiden from yon castle tower. Magic, and anything called magic gets a reflex response of disbelief and skepticism, from adults. I say this so you understand my difficulty here. Please do explain what you have in mind though, I really would like to know.” As I returned from my unintended distant stare out the window, I looked to see Twilight tapping a hoof to her chin as if in thought.

“We have books like you describe as well, but a small few of them are actual history, sounds kinda cheesy the way you say it though,” she said with a small smile. “Anyhow, as my special talent is magic, I have a wide range of spells. A few of these are medical spells, a few cosmetic, and several others because I like to be prepared for all situations. What I would like to try first is simple levitation, to see if you are affected by magic with the least chance of any ill effects,” the princess explained.

“Sorry, but I'm not entirely comfortable with 'least chance of ill effects,' that's a bit scary really,” I said, trying to keep my tone away from 'creeped out.'

“Oh! No, I didn't mean it like that. I meant that there should be little cause for concern, given your similar body mass, and mammalian nature. For the most part you don't seem that different from us,” she quickly replied.

I cast her a critical eye before saying, “OK, I'll bite, but I definitely prefer the side of caution when attempting otherwise impossible things.”

“Ahem, not to be rude, but you can give me the shirt now, and I'll have the new one done by the time you two have this figured out,” Rarity interrupted with a smile.

“Ah, sorry, here you go,” I said holding out the shirt once more, then stopped when I noticed that I had apparently wrung it through my hands wrinkling it. “Heh, let me straighten it a bit,” I continued as I took the shirt between my hands and flagged it a bit to smooth it back out somewhat.

As Rarity took the shirt in her magic, I noticed the sound of hers was more quiet than Twilight's had been, and the glow was blue. 'Interesting, different pony, different sound and color of magic, will have to see if I can observe more of this.' She started to turn to her machine, but stopped and looked at Twilight, “Darling, did you say you have medical magic?” she asked contemplatively.

“Yeah, I did. Oh, I know what you're thinking, no, I started learning those spells because of Rainbow's accident. Thought it'd be nice to actually be able to help if something happened again. 'Better safe than sorry,' right?” The princess replied, with a hoof to her neck.

Something about this tidbit made me look more appreciatively at the purple mare. As I looked at her face I saw care, compassion, and a little bit of the love I had noticed before.

“Too true darling,” Rarity said with an approving nod, before turning to sashay over to her work area with far more flare than needed, swinging her tail widely in a way I found difficult to ignore.

Twilight cleared her throat, when I turned she was wearing a smirk and raising an eyebrow. 'Shit, I was just caught twice, wasn't I?' “So, you're certain that this is safe? Never thought I would get to add 'lab rat' to my list of previous experiences,” I said, hoping for success at diverting the conversation back to where it belongs, or at least where it was before.

The bell like giggle of the princess told me I had failed. “Well, I would normally object to that term, but it does almost fit. I mean, you are almost pale enough, but you don't have a long tail to complete the image,” she teased, having to suppress a laugh at my mock insulted look. “OK, seriously though, I am certain that, at worst, no lasting harm will be done,” she offered with a confident smile.

“No lasting harm?” I asked with a smile tugging at my cheeks and a playfully accusing tone.

“Hey, as long as Pinkie isn't around to throw off my aim, there really is very little that could go wrong,” Twilight defended. “Besides, I should be able to easily reverse any adverse effects, I keep counter-spells available for all of my magic.”

“Alright, if we're going to do this, best to get it over with,” I said, shaking my head and taking a seat on the measuring platform. 'Why the hell am I giving in so readily to magic? Couldn't be all those anime cartoons, could it? Nah.' “Guess we'll start with a hand? Also, you sure you can levitate just a part without lifting the whole? I mean, I'll just leave the magic to you,” I said, dismissing my own question as I realized what I was asking.

“Well I have had magic all my life, so I am pretty sure about the safety of this. If you'll hold your hand out I'll just start with a slight tug, and then you can give resistance after that,” she instructed, motioning for me to lift a hand.

As I held up my right hand, I saw her horn light, and heard the tone of her magic as a bizarre sensation enveloped my hand. My hand felt almost as if it had fallen asleep as though from restricted circulation, a mild tingling feeling, accompanied by a pull towards Twilight. “Now pull against it for a moment please,” Twilight requested, floating a piece of paper and a quill in her magic as well. Pulling my hand back to myself felt like pulling on a bungee cord, until with a flare of magic the bungee turned to steel, no longer giving any leeway to my effort. “Now apply as much effort as you are willing please,” she instructed further.

With no small effort, I tried twisting and then turning my hand for it only to remain stationary. At the point of pushing against the magical hold so much I moved the platform I was seated on, I decided the test must have been successful. “Well, without greater leverage to apply, you have me as solidly stuck as can be,” I told her as she released the spell on my hand. It was somewhat unnerving the way she smiled while writing at a speed that would threaten to keep pace with a crowded chat-room.

“OK, with that done, it would seem that you are normally affected, any unusual sensations beyond a slight tickle?” she finally asked with a pause in her writing.

“I wouldn't call it a tickle exactly, more of a tingly feeling, like low circulation, but gone as fast as the spell.” I wiggled my fingers in front of my face as I answered.

“Interesting, I need to reference my books to be sure if that difference is important. That does mean further testing will have to wait,” her tone turned distant as she scribbled more in her notes. A moment later she looked up from her writing, “What time is it, Rarity?”

“I'll have this done in about five minutes, darling. The clock is over the fall line,” came the reply, as Rarity refused to turn from her task. “Hoyt, are you sure these colors are agreeable to you? Not knowing the fashions of your world, I am somewhat at a loss here. I mean, these don't clash, but they aren't what I would choose,” she asked me while attaching a sleeve.

“Yeah, I'll admit that I'd get more than a few funny looks for wearing that back home, but more so because of what it is rather than color. It's pretty rare in recent times for a man to wear a kilt, but I have rocked the look before. Otherwise white would be the more traditional color for the shirt, given that I'm going to a meeting tomorrow, but green I think would be more welcoming and friendly, especially with the tuxedo black. What colors would you choose? If I may ask,” I explained, watching her blue magic make short work of a collar seam.

“Hm, well the black for the kilt is fittingly formal, and you're right about the white, but I think another color may suit you better,” Rarity paused, thinking to herself, before continuing. “How do you feel about purple?” she asked, as she turned the shirt to check for any flawed seams.

Twilight stepped over to our discussion looking at the finished clothes. “It's seven thirty right now, I was thinking this would take longer. Any ideas to burn a couple of hours Rarity?”

“Hm? Oh, until the party?” Rarity asked, looking me over. “We aren't done yet, he still has to try the clothes on, darling. The dressing room is right there, in the meantime I'll think of a hat, and how to style your hair.”

“Wait, hat? Hair styling? Are you sure? I know the kilt wasn't easy, and the shirt is fantastic, certainly more valuable than a few hours spent on simply cleaning and adjusting two sewing machines.” As I protested her offer, Rarity was already shaking her head.

“No no, no, darling, that simply will not do. The value of your repair work outweighs the simple garments I have made for you. And I simply can't let you go to Canterlot without a proper appearance. I'll hear no more refusals darling, I will repay you fully for services rendered. Now, go try on those clothes, I want to see you in them,” She demanded, pushing me towards the dressing room.

“Hey, whoa, I can walk on my own you know!” I informed Rarity, while Twilight giggled.

“Hoyt, I told you she would insist. Just accept it,” Twilight said from across the room, rolling her eyes.

“Oh, alright, here, use my hat for size if you really must, something simple please,” I requested as I flicked it to her.

Catching the hat in her magic, Rarity gave it a considering look before saying with a smile, “Hehe, I know just the thing, now you get into that outfit.”

“Not the first time a girl has been excited to get me into my clothes,” I said, with a roll of my eyes before turning to the dressing room.

“Oh hush darling, you needn't be so dramatic,” she said, earning a giggle from the princess. “Well, it's true, Twilight. Could you get me pattern three dash FC from the second drawer please?”

In the dressing room I found a bench and a small table with a flower vase on it. Setting the vase onto the end of the bench I started using the table to pull out my pocket things. Starting with my keys, a realization struck, the vast majority of the crap in my pockets will be useless here. My cell phone was wasting its battery in vain, trying to find signal, so I turned it off, muffling the noise it insists upon making when powering down. Pen, lighter, pliers, flashlight, corkscrew, pocket knife, key-ring pick-case, and clip-on tuner all went into a pile I had designated as 'still useful,' while my keys, cell phone, wallet and a pile of receipts and business cards all went to the other side's 'useless' pile. I placed my mostly full pack of cigarettes in the middle, so I could ask Twilight about them later, more specifically if they even existed here. As I unbuckled my belt, I felt something very unnerving, something that likely has no place in a world so peaceful, shift against my waist. Placing this next to the cigarettes, I proceeded to change clothes, placing the useless items back in my pants pockets, and the rest into the large sporran. Setting the vase back onto the table, I admired my new outfit in the mirror before turning to leave the small room.

Setting my feet wide and placing my fists on my hips, I made as heroic a pose as I could muster. “I present, for your viewing pleasure, a man, in a dress,” I proclaimed in my best 'cartoon narrator' voice, while waggling my eyebrows at the two shocked ponies in the room.

“Well, with that wild hair of yours tamed, and the new hat, you might even be passable as handsome,” Twilight said with a laugh.

“Hmm, yes, this may even work out better than I thought,” Rarity added.

“Hey, my hair isn't that bad,” I defended. Seeing their matching deadpan faces I gave in, “OK, so maybe it is a bit woolly.”

“Well darling, yes, yes it is. But that doesn't mean I can't fix that, beauty is my special talent after all,” Rarity said, motioning towards a barber chair I somehow hadn't noticed before.

“I don't know, what did you have in mind? You're not planning to cut my beard are you?” I asked, somewhat skeptical.

“Perish the thought darling, just some styling to bring out your features, and make a good impression. You are going to be meeting Equestria's highest princesses tomorrow,” she explained, settling some nerves, while unsettling others.

With amazingly little use of scissors, and generous application of assorted hair care products, Rarity had managed to tame my hair enough to keep the hanging curls of brown behind my ears. Then I was treated to an experience unlike any I'd had before, no one else had ever touched, much less styled my beard before. Oddly enough, the sensation of undulating tugs as various products were worked in by magic was actually quite pleasant, a whisker massage so to speak. My mustache earned some giggles, as I had to fight down a sneezing fit as soon as the first touch of magic got directly under my nose. After some discussion Rarity agreed to let me handle my own handlebars, even after a bout of giggling at the style's name. Upon completion I looked myself over in the mirror. “Rarity, if you can make me look this good, damn, what I wouldn't do to see what you could do with a good starting point,” I said, turning my head to admire how my beard's curls were tamed into rolling waves like a windy beach, my hair bouncing behind my ears like in so many commercials.

“Now darling, don't sell yourself short. Besides, next time you will wear something of my design. More than just the hat, which I think will suit you quite well. Don't you agree Twilight?” Rarity said, turning to the princess for confirmation.

“At first I wasn't sure, but seeing him now... yeah, I think it will look good,” Twilight replied with a sweet smile at her friend.

“Alright then let's see it,” I said clasping my hands and looking at the fashionista.

“Ah, ah, ah, first, close your eyes,” she ordered with a sly smile and battering eyelashes.

“Ha, so that's how it is, huh? Alright, I'll play your game,” I replied, kneeling and bowing my head slightly as I closed my eyes. The smell of a delicate perfume grew stronger, and then I felt a hat being placed on my head. 'No sound, no magic, she's doing this with her hooves... Interesting.' The hat was a little heavy, but not enough to be bothersome, yet the most important thing I noticed was the fit. “It fits perfectly, how did you do that?” I asked.

“Hats are one of my specialties, darling. Now, take a look and tell me what you think,” Rarity said, with a fond smile evident in her voice.

Opening my eyes, most of what I could see was her face, close enough I could only just feel her breath. “If you wanted to get close, all you had to do was ask,” I said with a wink.

“Now where's the fun in asking?” she responded with a devilish grin.

“Rarity!” Exclaimed Twilight, scandalized at her friend's words.

“Oh, really now, I was only teasing, Twilight. No need to be offended, isn't that right Hoyt?” Rarity said with a playful nudge at my shoulder.

“True, but when teasing as such, one should not start any fires they can't put out,” I replied.

“I could say the same to you, sir,” she fired back.

“Touché, well played madam,” I ceded to her victory. Standing again I turned to the mirror, and was shocked. “A 'musketeer'? Sweet, the gold edging isn't normally my style, but this is just enough to be tasteful. I must say though, I am surprised you haven't put a feather in it,” saying this I heard Rarity's magic beside me. Turning to see what she was doing, my vision was flooded with large feathers in a myriad of colors. Reaching with my right hand I touched a green feather, searching for her reaction, and did this several more times with other colors, pointedly avoiding one in particular. As her face lit when I touched the whitest of them, I reached with my left hand to seize a smooth lavender one, about the color of Twilight's, and turned quickly to place it in the band. “I think this one is pretty, don't you?” I asked the shocked ponies through the mirror, seeing that they both stood mouth agape staring at my stupid smile.

Twilight brought a hoof to her face, “Shiny is going to kick him to the moon unless Celestia does it first.”

“Oh, Twilight, you know it won't be that bad. Hasn't Celestia shown enough times that she doesn't react so harshly?” Rarity asked the princess.

“Have you seen her react to something like this?” Twilight replied, pointing the hoof that was over her face towards me.

Rarity looked at me, specifically the feather now in my hat, then back to her friend and realization dawned on her face. “Oh my! This would make her,” the fashionista paused, building suspense, “Laugh, I guess? Really Twilight, you should relax. Why would a feather be such a big deal?” At this, Twilight looked at me before whispering frantically in Rarity's ear. “Didn't Celestia tell you once to 'stop reading those dusty, old books'? That hasn't had that meaning in ages, darling,” Rarity said with a hoof to the royal shoulder for comfort. While they shared a hug, I grabbed the white feather and put it at an angle, intersecting the lavender one at the crest of the hat.

“OK, Rarity, I'll let it go, it is kinda silly to worry abou-” The princess froze, seeing the obvious addition to the hat.

“By the way, weren't we getting ready to attend a party?” I asked, doing my best to be serious, no matter how I wanted to laugh.

“Hm, yes, let's see, nine thirty, we should have enough time to be a couple minutes early,” Rarity said, then also froze having noticed the two feathers. Finding her words more quickly, she interjected “Either impetuous, or insatiable.”

“Oh, I'm always thinking, it's just varying degrees of mischief I like to get into, pending the scenario.” Twilight let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head before I continued, “So, Your Majesty, Milady, shall we away to the party?”

“Ugh, fine, let's go, before you do something even more awkward,” the princess said with a roll of her eyes.

“Oh, don't be a stick in the mud Twilight, this'll be fun.” Declared Rarity with a slightly devious smile.

Author's Note

OK, sorry for the delay, but have about a thousand extra words in this chapter, and it actually ends at the end of a scene! Fancy that.

As I posted this i noticed a missing apostrophy, feel free to let me know if you spot something like this, I hate errors.

And yet again, many thanks go to Sneaky for proofreading, go check out his stuff.