Beep Beep Beep Beep
Groaning, I reached over the side of my bed, feeling around for my alarm. No where to be found. Reaching out farther and farther, eyes still closed, there wasn't much bed left underneath me anymore.
"OH FUCK."
I hit the floor with a thud.
"I guess this means I need to wake up," I said, my voice slurred like a drunk person's. I got onto my feet and stumbled to the mirror in my bathroom. My brown hair a mess, my hazel eyes hardly open, still fast asleep in my mind. I awkwardly stomped down the stairs to be greeted by my mother.
"Well good morning sunshine!" she chimed.
"It's too early to live," I replied jokingly. I glanced to my left and smiled to see my brand new Rainbow Dash plushie I had made at Build-A-Bear just a few days ago. Considering whether to bring her to school with me or not, i walked into the kitchen to take my ADHD medication. Although I usually didn't. It makes me drowsy. But before I could pop it into my mouth, the most delicious smell drifted into my nose.
It seemed to have carried me to the microwave, freshly cooked bacon inside. "Oh boy!" I thought to myself. Looking around to make sure no one saw, I snatched a piece in the blink of an eye. Looking as if I had swallowed it whole, i ran to my backpacks. Yes, backpacks. One for A-day and the other for B-day. High school was hard. Some would say that school's a bitch, my reply: Yea, well so is life, but i love mine the way it is.
Speeding out of the house, I had forgotten both my Rainbow Dash and my medication...... oops.
********
As the day went on, time itself seemed to move at half its normal rate. Finally I was sitting in last period. Biology. Although it was the most boring class of them all, I made things fun. Today was different though, I was strangely distracted by the massive posters on the walls about "Lab Safety Rules" or "Put Your Mind To It" propaganda.
Suddenly my pocket buzzed to life. It snapped me out of my 'poster trance' instantly, almost scaring me. Knowing it was only my phone, I secretly peeked at the message. It was from an unknown number... one I didn't recognize. Of course, my curiosity got the best of me, and i opened it anyways. Three words were in front of my eyes on the bright tiny screen.
"Friendship Is Magic"
I had giggled at the phrase, knowing it was from my favorite show, My Little Pony. But it was then that I'd noticed i had felt drowsy. But-I hadn't taken my medicine this morning... how could I be this tired? Ignoring it, and just thinking I hadn't gotten as much sleep as I intended, I lay my head down on my cold desk, in my arms. Closing my eyes, I had expected to see a black wall in front of me, but no. A white faze had grown brighter and brighter in front of me as everything in my body went numb.
Instant blackness.
I felt as if I were falling. Almost like this morning as I had tried to shut off my alarm clock. But this felt much faster, and at the same time, relaxing. I had hit something hard, my eyes closed tight, as pain shot throughout my body. All feeling had faided away slowly.
A painstakingly high pitched sound filled my ears. I heard faint voices in the distance. They had seemed to be arguing about something. One voice was a thick southern accent, the other.... vaguely familiar... I tried to move, failing to even budge my leg. Slowly my whole self began to feel that 'my foot's asleep' feeling. As if thousands upon thousands of tiny needles were prickling my body. Regaining my mobility and hearing, I noticed my eyes were still tightly shut. Squinting at the action, I opened my them slowly, the bright light blinding me. The voices had become more clear, closer and easier to understand. My eyes widened when I had recognized them.
"Now who the hay just decides to fall from the sky?!"
"Calm down, AJ, it's probably just Derpy."
"Well whoever it was, they'd better not do it again! Why it's almost harvestin' season! Somepony just fell into the red delicious field! Oh sweet Celestia, if they knocked one apple off of one of them trees..."
The talking had stopped, as did the sound of hooves on the ground. I moaned, turning over in pain. I look up to find a concerned Twilight and a very confused Applejack. Twilight looked at Applejack and whispered,
"She doesn't have wings... how could she have fallen?"
Grunting, I said, "Ya know, Twilight, you're not the best whisperer."
She looked at me in shock, "Um... excuse me, but how do you know my name?" She wore the most puzzled look I've ever seen.
My heart raced as I remembered.. They don't know they're a show. This obviously isn't the human world. "Uh, lucky guess?"
Getting up on my feet was harder than I thought. I stumbled backwards a bit, eventually falling onto my back. It didn't take long to notice; I didn't have hands!
Eyes widened with a mixture of fear or excitement, i examined my hooves and came to a conclusion almost instantly.
"I'm a pony!" I called out
"Uh, we all are sugarcube," Applejack replied, still confused.
I was twirling around myself, almost chasing my tail like a madman- or madpony in this case. All I could see of myself without the help of a mirror was a rosy pink coat. With the widest smile across my face, I turned back to the two ponies.
"Do you need any help, Miss?" Twilight asked, concern in her tone.
""Maybe even some mental help..." Applejack added. Twilight elbowed her hard enough to get her to stop, but I ignored the comment.
"How do we get to Ponyville from here?" I asked, attempting to keep my excitement to a low.
"We can walk you there," Twilight replied with a warm smile, "But before we go, what's your name?"
I had to think for a second because a name like 'Haley' isn't all that normal for Equestria. Finally I said, "Uh, my name is.... Rainbow Shine." I attempted to pull off the most honest-to-God, (or i guess Celestia) face I could. After all, I was standing in front of the Element of Honesty. If she thought I was being honest, I was in the clear!
"Well it's nice to meet ya' Rainbow Shine!" Applejack's southern accent make my smile bigger, if it was even possible.
Walking into Ponyville was more enchanting than I had ever thought it'd be. The streets were alive, the school bell ringing to signal the herd of fillies and colts about to come home and play.
"Whoa..." I said to myself.
"Well, Ah gotta go, before Applebloom tries to run the apple stand again." Applejack said, walking hurriedly to her apple cart.
Twilight continued walking through the town, saying her hellos to every pony in Ponyville. As I only knew Twilight and Applejack, I felt quite.... alone. We had walked into a shop, and looking around at the various items, I saw the one thing I'd been dying to see. A mirror. I galloped towards it, eager to see my new form.
In the mirror looking back at me is a bright rosy pink mare with a rainbow colored mane and tail, with the most shockingly electric blue eyes I'd ever seen.
I snapped out of my gaze just in time to remember; all ponies have a cutie mark! I turned my flank quickly towards the mirror to see, well... nothing. I was still a blank flank. My heart sunk as I muttered to myself, "Now I know how Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo feel..."
"What's that?" Twilight asked.
"Oh, uh, nothing.." I replied with a forced smile.
My head hanging low, we left the shop. We came across a singing, bouncing pink pony whom I instantly recognized as Pinkie Pie. I was slightly concerned as to how she'd react to a new pony in town... especially one disappointed pony. She was balancing a tray of cupcakes in her poofy hair, the way only she can,singing her cupcake song.
"All you have to do is take a cup of flour, add it to the mix! Now just take a little something sweet not sour-"
"A bit of salt, just a pinch..." I had cut her off, surprised she had even heard me.
She stared at me blankly, her blue eyes widening slowly as she moved closer to me silently. Before I knew it, she was squishing her face kind of awkwardly against my own, and when I had moved back for personal space, she jumped ten feet in the air screaming.
She ran off, leaving me and Twilight behind. I hung my head almost crying, thinking she had run away from me because I was a blank flank.
"What's wrong?" I felt a hoof on my shoulder. Looking up I saw Twilight.
I replied, "No pony likes me...Even Pinkie Pie ran away... Maybe I should just go live in the Everfree Forest..." I began to cry.
Twilight kneeled down on the ground with me and said softly, "Don't you ever think such a thing, Rainbow Shine. Pinkie Pie is sure to be best friends with you very soon. As well as every other pony.
"You really think so...?" I said to her, my eyes filled with hope. The last few tears ran down my face as I cracked a smile.
"Of course! Now, why don't you come to the library with me. It's where I live here in Ponyville." the unicorn said warmly.
I gladly followed, knowing she might be able to help me find a place to stay, as I had none.
Upon arriving, she turned to me and said, "Now, don't be alarmed at the sight of a baby dragon, He's my assistant and always has been. His name is Spike, and he's usually cranky but he's a sweetheart."
We entered through the door, Twilight calling for Spike to come downstairs, as she levitated a tea cup in front of me.
"Sweet or unsweet?" her voiced called from behind me.
"Um.. would you mind if I told you what I prefer...? I mean, if regular tea is all you have then that's fine..." I said, worriedly. I didn't want to be too picky, I had just actually met the pony!
"Oh, don't be so modest! I'd be happy to make you whatever you like!" she chimed.
"Well, okay..." I started, "I'd like sweet tea with some apple cider in it, but not too much to overpower the taste of the tea and a few squirts of lemon juice on the top. If possible, I'd like it in a jug, with an umbrella and a bendy straw... if that's okay with you.."
She just looked at me, her jaw wide. When her shocked expression changed to one of determination. Within seconds a jug slid in front of me, a mixture of tea and apple cider fizzing together, the lemon juice visible in the dark brown liquid, and an umbrella and bendy straw in the perfect place. I looked at it in astonishment.
"How did you..." I began.
"I have my ways," she replied winking before i had the chance to finish.
It was marvelous. I almost didn't want to drink it!..... Almost. After the first few sips, I heard Spike reach the bottom of the stairs. Turning around, I see no dragon, but a stack of books.... with legs? I giggled a bit at the sight, knowing it was just Spike. He set the books down next to a book stand, and came over to the table. He obviously didn't notice me, or my presence at all. He jumped into a chair as Twilight started to speak.
"Spike, this is Rainbow Shine. She's new to Ponyville." she grinned.
Spike turned towards me, rubbing his eyes, "Who is Rainbow Shi-Shi-Shine..." his eyes widened.
"Is there something wrong, Spike?" I asked him concerned. He just sat there looking at me with the most googly -eyed face I've ever seen. Twilight saw this, and just laughed a little.
"N-no, everything is just perfect..." he replied resting his head in his tiny dragon hands.
Twilight had gone over to the stack of books that Spike had brought down, levitating each one to read the titles. I watched curiously, peeking through the designs on the back of my chair. The purple unicorn trotted back to the table and placed a book in front of me as I played with my bendy straw. I looked at the front cover, "Ponyville In A Nutshell"
"I wrote it for anypony that had just moved into Ponyville" she started, "or in your case, fallen into it." she smiled a bit. I laughed as well, but the pain from the fall was getting to me now. My smile disappeared and I cringed at the pain my stomach, as I began to hurt all over my body. It was as if somepony and just beaten the crap out of me.
Twilight saw my pain and hurriedly asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm actually not so sure anymore..." I replied weakly.
********
The walk to Fluttershy's was long and excruciating. Every step sending a wave of pain through my body, I was on the brink of just dropping right then and there. Even more so when it started to rain. Soaking wet, I had noticed we weren't even half way there!
"Twilight, don't you have some healing spell you could cast on me?" I asked her weakly.
"Is it really that bad, Rainbow Shine...? The only healing spell I can perform only lasts about twenty minutes." She replied with concern in her eyes.
I nodded helplessly, knowing that I'd have to use every ounce of energy to sprint to Fluttershy's. We stopped walking and her horn lit up with a pinkish-purple glow. The magic engulfed me completely, and to be honest; it was frightening. As it faded away, the pain went with it. Relieved, we started running as fast as we could to her cottage.
We had reached our destination just before the spell wore off, but the pain had come back twice as bad. If anypony knew how to care for and heal a pony, it was Fluttershy.
Twilight knocked on the door as I hid behind her, "Fluttershy, I need your help! My friend here is hurt and no pony knows what to do better than you!"
And with that, the door had opened, revealing a mare with teal eyes, a light pink mane and tail, and a yellow body.
"Who's the pony?" the mare said in a soft, sweet voice. Twilight had moved aside to show Fluttershy me, soaking wet, and obviously in pain.
The caring pegasus fluttered over to me, "There there, it's okay. I'll make sure you're all better." She had approached me so calmly, I felt like an innocent school filly.
We went inside and I was amazed by all the different animals running around the home. Fluttershy signaled to some songbirds and they flew off, bringing back a few blankets. One for me, and one for Twilight. While the two ponies headed into the kitchen, I looked around curiously, being left alone in the living room didn't leave me much to do. Until a little baby bunny came up and rubbed up against my hoof.
Withing a few minutes, Twilight and Fluttershy came back, Twilight's magic holding a cup of something with an odd, indescribable smell. Their jaws dropped at the sigh of me surrounded by animals, big and small, of all shapes and sizes. I had been watching a squirrel that was juggling some acorns, giggling. I looked up at the two ponies and just smiled, and Twilight nodded to Fluttershy. I don't know what it meant, but Fluttershy approached me again with a smile.
"I see the animals like you," she started, "they can sense when you're hurt, you know. Are they helping you feel better?"
I nodded, "Yes, but my leg still hurts.. and it hasn't gotten much better at all.. I think it's even turning purple.." I said with a frown. As she came closer, the animals moved out of the way to show her my back left leg.
"Oh dear," she started, "Twilight could you get some ice, please?" Her soft voice calmed me as she gave me the herbal drink.
"Just drink this, and it'll make you feel all better." Fluttershy calmly smiled at me. As I sipped the liquid, the taste became bitter, an unpleasant aftertaste crawled across my tongue. I became dreary, and as I tried to stay awake, I stood up as much as it hurt my leg. But- it didn't hurt. I had lost all feeling in my back legs, the same beginning in my front. I had eventually lost all feeling, closing my eyes.
********
I woke up a few hours later on a couch. A cat with a blue bow curled up with me, fast asleep. I particularly liked the bow, I thought it was cute. It went well with the soft pure white fur of the kitten that lay next to me. I overheard some ponies talking in another room, perking my ears up a bit to listen in.
"She doesn't have a cutie mark... but she's not even a filly anymore." I think it was.... Twilight?
"Give her time, she's bound to find her special talent anytime soon." I knew that soft voice anywhere. Feeling the motion in my legs returning, I got up slowly and started making my way towards the conversation. Coming through the arced ceiling, I saw Twilight and Fluttershy sitting at a table.
"Oh good you're awake!" Fluttershy started excitedly, "How's your leg doing?"
I hadn't even noticed! Moving my leg in every way possible, I smiled happily and said, "It's like I never even fell from the sky!"
I hopped around, testing my new leg, when something came through the window at break-neck speed and crashed through the kitchen. All I saw was a rainbow.
"Whoa! Hah! That was awesome!" that couldn't be- it was! Rainbow Dash!
She came out of a pile of the pile of things that she'd made on the floor. Looking at the window and then back at the miscellaneous items at her hooves, she made a sheepish smile.
"Oh, uh, sorry," Rainbow Dash smiled awkwardly.
I stood there with the widest smile across my face. I was in the presence of my favorite character of the whole My Little Pony show.
"It's okay," Fluttershy said, picking up a pan, "but would you help me clean up?"
"I'll clean this up in ten seconds flat!" Rainbow Dash boasted.
In a whirl of dust and rainbows, everything was back in place, and spotless in an instant. Well- everything but the window.
"Nice job, Rainbow!" Twilight complimented. I turned my head towards her with the look saying, 'what'd I do?' until i remembered; there's more than one Rainbow in here.
"Why thank you!" Rainbow Dash said, landing on the ground, "I was just trying out some new tricks! Gotta prepare, if I'm gonna be a Wonderbolt one day!"
"Well, Rainbow, while you're here, I'd like you to meet my friend, Rainbow Shine!" Twilight smiled at the cyan pony.
"Rainbow Shine, huh?" Rainbow Dash started to examine me, "No cutie mark? Humph... no wings either.....what's so special about her?"
I lowered my head and my ears dropped as well, as I was the only one in the room who had heard her mumble.
"Well, I gotta get going, later!" Rainbow Dash started to prepare for liftoff, "lousy mare."
Twilight and I headed back towards Ponyville, walking in front of the school yard.
"I've got to get back to the library, I am the town librarian after all! And I have some unfinished notes I need to send to Princess Celestia. Do you wanna come?" the purple unicorn asked.
"No, no, it's alright. You need to get to your studies... I'll just uh, stay here.. maybe check out a few of the shops.."I replied, trying not to sound upset.
"Well, alright then, Rainbow Shine, I'll see you later!" she trotted off towards the library while I sat down at a nearby bench.
I thought to myself, 'How could Rainbow Dash hate me...? Was it because my name is so closely related to hers? My mane for being just like hers? Or maybe it's the fact i have no wings or no cutie mark..'
My thoughts had taken over me until three fillies came up and poked me. One was an orange pegasus (with wings too small for her size) with a purple choppy mane and tail, the second unicorn wielding a pearly white coat with a pink and purple mane and tail, and the third was a creamy-yellowish filly that reminded me of creamed corn, with a dark magenta mane and tail. The third wore a bow on the top of her head, a lighter color than the hair it sat in.
"Excuse me miss, but why are you sad?" the white unicorn squeaked. Wait- squeaked? I know of only one pony that squeaks in her talk! Sweetie Belle! The Cutie Mark Crusaders were right here!
"Look girls! She doesn't have her cutie mark!" Scootaloo observed, poking my flank.
Applebloom looked up at me and said, "Is that why yer' sad?"
I didn't want to tell them all the reasons why, so I just nodded slightly, looking back at the table.
"I know what'll make you happy!" Sweetie Belle jumped. She looked back at the other girls and the both nodded. They started running as fast as their little legs could carry them, leaving me cluelessly behind.
"H-hey! Wait up!" I called out starting to catch up with them. They took me all the way to the outskirts of Ponyville, right about where Sweet Apple Acres begins.
Going through a few apple trees,we came to a clearing. In the center, a clubhouse!
"Here we are!"Scootaloo started, "Casa de AWESOME!"
"Hey I thought we were gonna call it the House of Fun!" Applebloom countered.
Sweetie Belle stopped them both in their tracks, "Um, why don't we call it the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse?"
Applebloom and Scootaloo looked at each other, smiling and nodded. All three fillies led me inside, and it was a whole lot bigger than I had thought it'd be! It could fit a few stallions in here!. The wooden structure was sturdy, the kind that only a harsh storm could budge. Even a little bit. Looking around the room, there was a hoof-drawn map of Ponyville, with every shop, stand and park bench there was in the whole town. Poster hung on the walls, one for a Wonderbolts' show. For a split second, I remembered what it felt like to be human. Back in school with my friends. But the thought disappeared as quickly as it came, and I toured the room. I walked up to a pedestal and Sweetie Belle popped up from behind it.
"Now if you'll please tell us your name?" the white filly started.
"Uh, Rainbow Shine." I replied kind if confused. Applebloom pushed a cushion behind me and I sat down as I thanked her.
"Rainbow Shine. With your consent, we'd like to make you an honorary Cutie Mark Crusader!" she jumped excitedly. Scootaloo quickly came over, putting a piece of cloth in front of me. I looked at it, and I had almost cried. It was an official Cutie Mark Crusaders cape. It was the sweetest gesture I've gotten since coming to Ponyville. I tried to put it on when I had realized- this is made for a filly. Not a mare!
"I'd love to become a Cutie Mark Crusader, but girls, um, this cape is too small," I said, laughing.
"I know what to do! Let's go to my big sister!" Sweetie Belle seemed to be the only one here with ideas. But all in all, we walked together, the excited filly leading the way.
"So tell me about your sister, Sweetie Bell." I said. I already knew what she was like, but I had an idea so the girls wouldn't upset her.
"Well, shes really clean, she doesn't like dirt. She wants to go to Canterlot to sell her fancy dresses there, and because its 'sophisticated'." she said, thinking of what else to say. But whether she could find another thing to say or not, we were here.
"Oh! And her name is Rarity!" she jumped. She knocked on the door, moments later a call came out in a sing-song voice.
"I'm coming!"
A white mare with a purple mane and tail, both of which are perfectly curled, deep blue eyes, and light blue eye shadow answered the door.
"Oh. Sweetie Belle, darling! Who's your friend?" she posed.
Sweetie Belle looked up at me and smiled, "Her name is Rainbow Shine! She's part of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but the cape we have for her is too small... we were wondering if you could make one that'll fit her?"
"Oh of course!" Rarity beamed. She gestured for us to come inside, and I knew the girls would cause some form of trouble. Before they ran into the house, I kneeled down to talk to the three.
"Hey you all wanna play a game?" I asked. They all nodded, excitedly. "When we go in Rarity's house, let's all pretend we're at a fancy-shmancy party, so we all have to act fancy! Sweetie Belle, why don't you take Applebloom, and Scootaloo to the kitchen and have a tea party?" I winked.
"Okay!" she jumped at the idea. They started to run and then stopped almost instantly, looking at each other giggling. They started walking slowly and calmly towards the kitchen with their heads held high.
"How- how'd you do that! I can never get Sweetie Belle and her friends to act so behaved like you just did!" Rarity said, disbelief and shock in her eyes.
"Well, you have to think like a filly," I explained, "Did you like to play game when you were younger?"
"Why yes, I did, "she replied, thinking back.
"Well so do Sweetie Belle and her friends. If you make it a game for them to behave in your shop, then they'll act properly." I finished to the pristine white unicorn.
"Well I had never thought of it that way before, I think that'd work! And is joining their little club a game too?" she asked me.
"Actually, no..." I looked at the floor, "I still don't have my cutie mark..." My ears fell along with my lowering head, ashamed I still had a bare flank. Rarity held my face up to meet hers, and looked me in the eye.
"Don't you let that get you down, darling, you're sure to find out who you really are soon enough!" she beamed.
I cracked a smile, feeling better with her words of encouragement.
"Now, I'll just get started on your cape. Would you like to watch?" Rarity asked, starting to lead me into another part of the building.
"Would that be alright with you?" I asked, not sure whether i should follow or not.
"What ever do you mean, darling, If I had offered, why would I back down on my word?" she said, smiling. We walked to what I think was her 'inspiration room' and up to her work bench. I looked around at the various sewing items, contemplating what would go well together. As Rarity got to work on my caps, I had found a box of scrap cloth. Walking over to the other side of the room, I pushed one of the ponyquines over with me. I didn't want to bother Rarity, knowing she was 'in the zone', so I started sketching on a piece of paper. A few minutes later, I was done with my outline. I grabbed the box of scraps and started laying everything out on the floor. I had transferred what i could onto the ponyquin, the rest lay on the floor. I was ready to begin. except- I didn't know how to sew. I tip-hoofed to Rarity watching how she moved the fabric through the sewing machine and changed the colored threads.
At the sound of a second sewing machine, Rarity had snapped out of her 'zone' as I could hear her moving closer to examine what I was doing. In a shorter amount of time than I had expected, I had finished the dress.
It was a simple yet elegant white dress, with long, thin wisps of rainbow starting at the tail of the dress with royal purple, and ending a few inches above the flank with a ruby red. At the front of the chest was a small pink jem, the only color that wasn't in the rainbow at the end of the dress.
Rarity was speechless. I had thought she was mad at me. I had completely forgotten the ONE RULE of Carousel Boutique. Don't mess with Rarity's things.
"Rarity, I'm so sorry, I had just gotten curious, and had wanted to try my hoof at dress making... I used scraps as much as i could, trying not to use much of your material, I didn't mean to-"I had been cut off.
"Why would you be sorry," her eyes widened, "for such an astounding piece of work!" Her smile grew as bug as Pinkie Pie meeting a new pony- well, most new ponies..
I was more confused than a filly in a college class. "But... I'd messed with your stuff.. fiddled around without your permission... you aren't mad about that...?" I hung my head low.
"Not when you have such a marvelous outcome! How did you even make this! You used the scraps I had thought I would never be able to salvage!" she was obviously still surprised at what stood before her.
I answered her plainly, "Well, I just saw what would go well together, and I knew in my mind what I wanted to make, and I just made my imagination a reality." She looked at the dress, jaw opened, holding it as if it were sacred. She turned to me with hope practically firing like a laser out of her eyes.
"Can I try it on!!" I don't think it was possible for her smile to get any wider. I was wrong. The second I had nodded yes, she was giddy to the point she had screamed with excitement.
Minutes later the graceful unicorn was snugly in the dress I had made.
"Oh it's simply magnificent!" she sighed, "But of course you'll want to keep it, I just wish I had the determination and creativity that you do to make another!" She posed in front of the mirror. In all honesty, I think she looked better in it that I would have, so I had an idea.
"Rarity you can have the dress if you really want it." I started
"She looked at me with disbelief, "I can have this?"
"Sure! If you want it you can have it, I don't have any use for it." I told her.
"Oh!!!!! How can I ever repay you!" she eagerly expressed her gratitude. She scanned me over time and time again as if she was looking for something. "Come on, darling! I know just the thing!"
She led me to another room, one I never knew she had. It was a closet... but the closet was the whole room. Accessories of every shape, form and color practically hung from the walls. Each wall had its own type of accessory, hats, bows, scarfs and other. A platform a few inches off the ground stood proudly in the center.
"Now, Rainbow Shine, if you'll just stand here, we can get started." Rarity showed me to the platform.
It felt like an eternity, trying on hat after hat, from barres to sombreros, even scarfs wrapped around my face. Until Applebloom came and knocked on the door. She seemed rushed.
"Rarity, Ah' can't find Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo anywhere, and Ah' need to get home to Sweet Apple Acres for supper. Could you tell her if she wonders where Ah' am?" the filly quickly explained. Rarity nodded, smiling.
"Yes, darling I'll tell her where you went and why." The filly farmer was already running out the door, towards her home.
Rarity took a long look at where the earth pony had once stood, as if she were imagining she were still there before her. The unicorn swiftly galloped towards the bows. She stopped, looking at the vast variety of colors that stood in front of her. Emerald green, ebony black, and every color in between. Everything from a dark magenta, to the royalist of purples she stood there examining each and every one of them. Rarity turned around and looked me dead in the eye, and I couldn't detect a specific emotion from the fire burning in her pupils. A mixture of determination, frustration, and creativity pierced my very soul. She quickly turned around and scanned her wall of bows. She twirled around again, looking at me, but this time ran her eyes over my whole body. Something hit her 'Boutique nerve' and she was having some sort of fascinating idea. Only I didn't know what it was. She immediately turned around and flipped a switch on the wall that had looked like an old light switch. Any other pony that cam in here would think it's just a switch that doesn't work, but I found out differently. Instead, a flap in the wall next to the switch had opened revealing a bow. But it wasn't like any of the bows on her wall. Nowhere close. there were brilliant red, greens and purples, but not a single bright blue.
"I had been saving this for a pony like you." Rarity started, "In all my years of dress-making, I have not once met a pony with eyes as vibrant and brilliant as yours are, Rainbow Shine. This bow before you is silk made from only the ripest of baby blue sapphires. Spike would know, I had him help me." she finished, levitating the bow towards me.
"You- you want me to have this?" I asked, not knowing what else to say.
"Oh, but of course, darling! Nopony has ever made me a dress, with me being the only dress-maker in town, it's an absolutely wonderful gesture! And as my treat, I'll take you out to dinner! I'm afraid it won't be all that fancy, but it'll give us some time to know each other!" she was ecstatic.
"That's very nice of you, Rarity, but I'm not sure I can accept all of this..." I started.
"Oh but you must!" she cried. I saw the look in her eyes; it was sheer gratitude. She was going to do everything in her power to get me what I wanted if I didn't say yes to this.
"Alrighty then, I guess we're going to dinner." I said, ginning.
Rarity in her new dress, and me wearing my bow, we walked to the café. We sat down at a table set up outside. The sky was turning a reddish color, it was beautiful. A waiter walked up to us, all dressed up and cheerful.
"What can I get for you two today?" he asked.
Rarity ordered for the both of us, "We'll both have a Daisy sandwich and a side of hay fries." She was very polite, I guess that's why the waiter was so happy when he came up to see us. The waiter disappeared into the restaurant.
"So, Rainbow Shine, how are you liking Ponyville?" she asked me.
"Well, it's certainly different than what I thought it'd be..." I said to the unicorn.
"Oh, I know! It's more marvelous than you'd think it to be, isn't it?" she sipped on the water that was provided for us.
A few minutes later, the waiter came out balancing a silver platter with a cover on his nose. He placed it down on the table, and before it was even opened, I smelt something delightful. I figured it was the hay fries. The lid was lifted to unleash all that is Holy- food. I hadn't noticed how hungry I was! I hadn't eaten since breakfast this morning. Rarity levitated her sandwich to her mouth with her magic, taking a bite. I sat there thinking to myself about the one thing I didn't think about before.
"How am I going to eat this..." How was it that I saw the ponies on TV eat? I had completely forgotten.. Pinkie Pie just uses her face, but I was with the most mannered, and sophisticated pony in all of Ponyville. After what seemed like forever to my stomach, I just tried picking it up and eating it.... it actually wasn't all that hard. The sandwich was better than I thought it'd be! Daisies taste just like lettuce! A few minutes later, after a few laughs, Rarity saw Rainbow Dash walking by.
"Oh, Rainbow Dash! Look! Have you seen the dress that Rainbow Shine made me? It's just marvelous!"she posed to show Rainbow Dash, who obviously didn't want anything to do with me.
"Humph." she snorted. The most disgusted look I've ever seen swept her face as she look at me. My heart sank, it felt like the pegasus had just penetrated a sword through my very soul. As she flew off without a word of goodbye, I lowered my head and ears.
"Oh, don't let her get to you, dear." Rarity ensured, "She isn't the friendliest of ponies when she's meeting someone new. You just have to talk to her, let her know you're on her side." she winked at me, taking some bits out of her stylish saddlebag, and placing them on the table.
"Come with me, darling, I know what'll cheer you right up!"
It was after dusk, and it became hard to see even the pristine white pony. Staying close behind, we went through town square. I was surprised to see that all the lights were out, even at Sugar Cube Corner! That reminded me- I haven't sen Pinkie Pie since this morning when she went off running... She's usually out and about...
Rarity walked me through a door to a house that still smelled like wet paint and it was more black than the night we just walked through.
"Rarity? Rarity where are you?" I called out. I had lost sight of her until somepony flipped on the lights.
I couldn't believe what I saw.
"SURPRISE!!!!"
The whole town popped out from beneath table, behind door, and even out of... the kitchen cabinets? Eyes wide, I looked around the room. Streamer hung from the ceiling in every color imaginable. Balloons were grasping onto the chairs and table legs of all shapes and sizes. Over on one side of the room, there was a mountain of gifts, and on the other, a table with the most amazing feast of deserts I'd ever seen! But the thing that got to me the most was the huge banner that stretched across the whole room that read:
Welcome To Ponyville!
I felt tears swelling up in my eyes as I smiled.
"Who- who did all of this?"I asked, starting to cry.
"Everyone did." called out a familiar voice.
"Twilight!" I ran over to her, giving her a hug.
"We all helped out, sugarcube."
"Applejack?" I couldn't seem to find her. I felt a tap on my shoulder from behind me.
"The one and only!" I just couldn't get my mind off her accent.
"We all wanted to make it really special so you'll always remember your first day in Ponyville." I knew that quiet, sweet voice anywhere.
"Oh, thank you all so much!" I wiped away a tear.
Twilight smiled, "None of us could have done this without the help of-"
"ME! Silly filly!" Pinkie Pie was hanging from- well, something, and she booped my nose and got down from whatever it was on the ceiling.
"Pinkie Pie? I thought you were afraid of me or something..." I backed down.
"Oh! You mean when I screamed and ran off? Well...
When I first saw you, you were with Twilight, and I hadn't seen you before! And if I hadn't seen you before, then you must be new! And if you're new then you must not have many friends! And if you don't have many friends, then you must be soooo lonely! Then I thought about what it'd feel like to be that lonely and it was scary! It was so scary, I screamed! And then I thought what would make you less lonely, so then I ran off to get this whole party set up! I invited everypony in town! Now you can make lots and lots of friends!"
Looking around the room... she was right! Lyra, Bon-Bon, Octavia, Vinyl scratch, Carrot Top, Derpy, even Snowflake was-
"YEEEAHHHHHHH"
........here.
Even with as many ponies there were, the whole room was silently staring at me. The DJ behind her turn tables, I saluted to her to turn up the volume. Since everypony in town was here, then it wouldn't matter! A few songs later, karaoke started. I had Sweetie Belle go up and sing her favorite song, "Hush Now Quiet Now" Her voice was beautiful! Afterwards, the crowd was cheering my name.
"Rain-bow-Shine! Rain-bow-Shine! Rain-bow-Shine!" They wanted me to sing. I shook my head, although smiling, until Pinkie Pie and Lyra pushed me on the stage. Vinyl handed me a headset with a microphone on it and i put it on.
"So, what track do you want?" Vinyl asked, pulling down her glasses.
"That won't be necessary. Does anypony have a cup I can borrow?" everyone looked puzzled. Twilight levitated a cup over to my hooves. Oh- right... hooves... I sat there contemplating how to do this when I had an idea. Using my back legs to turn the cup around, I started singing.
"I got my ticket for the long way round. Two cups of cider for the way... And I sure would like some sweet company, and I'm leaving tomorrow, whadaya say? When I'm gone, when I'm gone, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone. You're gonna miss me by my mane, you're gonna miss me everyday, oh you're sure gonna miss me when I'm gone."
Octavia started to play along on her cello.
"I got my ticket for the long way round, the one with the prettiest of views. It's got mountains, it's got rivers, it's got sights to give you shivers, but it sure would be prettier with you. When I'm gone, when I'm gone, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone! You're gonna miss me by my walk, you're gonna miss me by my talk, oh. You're gonna miss me when I'm gone." I slammed the cup down on the stage, looking up wildly into the crowd. Silence. Nothing but silence. I had started to think, looking back on what I could have been doing wrong. All at once, as if a tsunami hit me, there were cheers, whistles, and 'YEEEAHHHHHHH's amongst a stomping audience. I smiled, knowing I put on a good performance. Twilight and Rarity approached me with an astonished look across their face.
"Darling that was amazing! You have such a lovely voice!" Rarity exclaimed.
"You thought that was good..? I know fish that can sing better than me.."
"Oh Rainbow Shine, don't be so modest!" Twilight smiled, "You put on a more stunning performance than most singers in Equestria!"
"You could be just as fabulous, if not more, than... Sapphire Shores." Rarity sighed at the thought. After much admiration, there was a brutal knock at the door.
"I thought everyone was here..." Pinkie Pie said, She frantically scanned the room and turned around with the scariest face I've ever seen on her.
"RAINBOW DASH ISN'T HERE!!!" I have never seen Pinkie Pie so furious before. Not even when Applejack broke a Pinkie Promise.
"Calm down, Pinkie, it's probably her right now." Twilight stilled the pink pony. Fluttershy went to answer the door, when it bursted open anyways. Rainbow Dash flew inside, looking quite upset. Pinkie Pie went insane.
"WHERE WERE YOU?!?!"
"At my house, Pinkie. I only came here because I Pinkie Promised you I'd show up." she soared to the center of the room, still in the air. "I don't see why you all like this mare so much anyways. Doesn't anypony else think's it's sketchy that another pony that none of us had ever met, has the same mane as me, and the same first name? Seems a little out of place, don't you think? Rainbow Shine?" she had pressed her face against mine, backing me into a corner.
Twilight pulled the pegasus back by her tail with her magic, and countered her thoughts, "Rainbow Dash, there's always a possibility that your father, you know, with another mare other than your mother, and then passed on the rainbow mane gene to her. It is a dominant gene you know."
"My father was as loyal to my mother as I am to you, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie! But even if that was true, why doesn't she have her cutie mark yet? She's a fully grown mare!" she was almost yelling, pointing at me.
Twilight stood in front of me, "Rainbow Shine is perfect the way she is!" The other four elements started to stand around me, creating a barrier. "She doesn't need a cutie mark to be a great friend!"
They were shouting now. I was cowering like Fluttershy would if there were an adult dragon nearby... but, she wasn't cowering.. I looked up at her to see her proudly standing there, standing up for me.
"I have a bad feeling about her Twilight! She's not like us!" Rainbow Dash was in Twilight's face, pointing at me. I felt tears swelling in my eyes as I quivered on the spot. She was right.. I wasn't one of them.. I had longed for so long to be a pony, that once I was one, I forgot about my human life. Instantly, everything flashed in front of my opened eyes, my childhood, my friends, my family, and my boyfriend that I had left back in the human world. Not knowing how to react whether to Rainbow Dash's yelling, or the feeling of missed loved ones, I ran to another room crying. Everypony started to mumble as the cyan pegasus left the house. Twilight knocked on the door to the room I escaped to a few minutes later.
"W-wh-who's th-there..?" I asked, shakily.
"It's just us, Rainbow Shine." Twilight opened the door slowly, trying not to alarm me. Fluttershy flapped her wings and landed next to me, wrapping her arm around my back. The dim light above us turned on, as somepony flipped on the lights. Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie came in. I turned away so they wouldn't see my face as I tried to wipe my tears away. I rotated my body around to see Pinkie's mane and tail deflated, as she looked at the floor, and Applejack holding her hat over her chest, staring at the ground in both sadness and disbelief in what she just witnessed.
"Ah'm real sorry this happened at yer' welcomin' party, sugarcube...." Applejack looked as if she thought it was all her fault.
"Why- why does Rainbow Dash hate me..." I looked at the floor, stains in my coat where tears were once shed.
"Oh, darling, I don't think she hates you. I think she's just jealous of you for being somewhat like her." Rarity comforted.
I started to get up, and walked over to her. I hugged her, then Twilight, followed by Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Putting my hoof on her shoulder, she looked at me.
"Pinkie Pie..." I started, "I think we have a party to finish" I cracked a smile. Her blue eyes widened, and her hair popped back to its original poofy state. We walked back into the main room, most of the ponies still there. Only the families that had fillies or colts with them had gone home, to tuck their little ones into bed. But Vinyl was still behind her turn tables, drinking some cider, so we danced around for a while longer, forgetting the incident. At the very end of the party, a huge cake was rolled into the room. The icing was every color of the rainbow, and the cake itself was a rosy pink! On the top it read:
Welcome to Ponyville, Rainbow Shine!
After the party was over, Twilight and Applejack helped Vinyl get her turn tables out the front door. Everyone had left but the five Elements. I looked back at the room that not too long ago held so many dancing ponies. It was completely trashed!
"Oh no... we trashed somepony's house!" I started to freak out, picking up trash here and there. The five ponies giggled at each other.
"Uh... can I get some help here? What if the pony that owns this house comes back to find it trashed!" I was wide eyed.
"Oh, you're so silly!" Pinkie laughed.
"This ain't just somepony's home, this is you're house now, sugarcube!" Applejack smiled at me. I couldn't believe it... my very own house.. in Ponyville! I was surprised at the gesture.
"But- I don't have a job... how will I pay-"
"You won't have to," Twilight stepped towards me. "Everyone in Ponyville pitched in, and we all bought the house for you!" They all looked at me and smiled.
"Ho- How much was this house?" I asked, more shocked than I was not sixty seconds ago. Tears began to swell in my eyes, as I tried to keep them from leaking.
"It was one thousand bits, but with Rarity's gem-finding spell, she easily paid for most of it." Twilight explained.
"You easily paid me back though, darling! With this beautiful dress you made for me!" She was still wearing the dress! I had completely forgotten!
"You made this dress, Rainbow Shine?" Twilight looked at the dress and back at me, surprise in her eyes.
"Oh my, it's beautiful, Rainbow Shine!" Fluttershy said in her sweet voice, fluttering her wings.
"Uh, yea, I made it. I was just being curious and-" I was cut off.
"She found a box of scraps that I would have never been able to salvage, but! She made it work!" Rarity said, proudly showing her new dress to everyone.
After a while, everypony went home, and I toured the house until I came across a bedroom. I had brought one of the presents with me, as I would open the rest in the morning. This one, was from Twilight. I layed down on the bed, opening it up.
"Ponyville In A Nutshell"
I had forgotten it at the library! There was a note on top that was folded in half. I opened it and read aloud:
Rainbow Shine,
I want you to keep this book. I've already begun another with more detail,
and I'm going to include you in it. Welcome to Ponyville.
Yours truly,
Twilight Sparkle
I put the book to rest on the nightstand next to the bed, smiling. Life as a pony was much easier than that of a human.