//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 // Story: The First Journey: Feelings of Etherealism // by Kaille //------------------------------// ~Chapter 15: Gettin' Swanky, Meetin' Sparky~ I read for a few hours - or whatever method of telling time that ponies used in Equestria - before I heard a bunch of banging and crashing, followed by load exclamations. Curious, I put my bookmark in the between the pages and set it aside. I left my room, and my eyebrow raised. There, in the foyer, was two stallions carrying a giant box with FRAGILE and THIS WAY UP red paint plastered all over it via a couple of straps wrapped around and under it, between their teeth. Accompanying them was Chroma with saddlebags loaded with groceries and various other items, and Rarity, a large sunhat draped over her head. She had a frantic look in her eyes, waving one of her hooves frantically at the colts. "Careful! Careful! Eeek! DON"T DROP IT! ! !" She turned to the side and saw me, face suddenly brightening. "Oh! Ink! Good to see you! I wou - CAREFUL! ! ! YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE A MARE A HEART ATTACK! AAAUUUGGGHHH! - would like you to stop by my boutique if you are free please!" Chroma and I could not help but smile at the fashionista's antics. After a few more seconds the delivery ponies got in far enough and slowly lowered the giant crate - roughly a pony and a half in height - in the middle of the living room. Rarity trotted over to it and closely examined the entire container, and nodded in satisfaction after combing the entirety of it. She smiled and nodded to the stallions, handing them a handful of bits each as payment. They nodded and trotted out. Chroma and I walked over to Rarity smiling. "So, what was that about visiting your shop?" I asked. She looked at me, eyes bright. "Yes! I finished that tux for you. And I must say, I took a bit of liberty with the entire arrangement. I think you will enjoy it." I grinned. "Well, I wont be able to pay right away, so-" "Not a worry! Pay at your convenience. I trust you to keep your word." She interrupted, beaming. I smiled, closing my eyes and shaking my head in exasperation. "You know, you should stop doing that. I don't like being in debt." I give a quick laugh, but I nodded to her. "Thank you though. I appreciate it. How long till I need it again?" She laughed with me and nodded as well. "You are very welcome. The show isn't for another month and a half, roughly, so you have time." I beamed. "Alright. Thanks. Well, I might as well come see what you have. I was only reading. I will be back later Chroma, alright?" She smiled and nodded, a crowbar held in her mouth. "Onkay. Shee ya then." Rarity and I laughed at her muffled words and trotted out. We were walking down the street to the boutique when I turned to Rarity curiously. "So what do you mean by taking liberty with adding things to the tux? It's kinda hard, to my knowledge, to embelsih such a simple and staple style." She grinned. "Well, I decided to use silk for the material, akin to the bag I made you, and I added gilding for your wings." I looked at her with a raised eyebrow at the mention of the accessory. "Oh! Right. Gilding for your wings is a series of metal plates that are wrapped onto your wings. They were created originally as armour for combat, but I feel they suit you, and I also have an inkling that they will be coming into style soon. I have been seeing an attraction to militaristic styles in the clothing world recently." "Ahh." I nodded my head in understanding. "They sound interesting." She shook her head emphatically. "Yes! I even used my magic to shape them. I got Twilight's help of course, because I didn't know a spell for it, and her raw magical prowess proved invaluable as well. They are chroma - like you mentioned - and have chrome chains to wrap into your wings to attach them." I grinned. "They sound it." I looked forward to see that we reached our destination. "Well, why don't you show me now?" Rarity's grin grew broader. "Yes! I would love to." She produced a key with her magic, from where I have no idea, and opened up her shop. We walked in and I closed the door behind me, scuffing my hooves on the mat as I did so to clean them. I turned around and smiled at what was in front of me. Upon her raised working podium was a stallion shaped mannequin, clothed in a smooth, shiny black tux. Under the tux was a white dress shirt, also silk, and on the right side was a small pocket bearing a flower - akin in shape to the one on the dress I saw last time I was here - that was a matching blue to my eyes. there were two holes in the sides of the tux for wings, and on a mount behind the dressmakers doll made out of real feathers attached to wooden wings, were the gilding that the alabaster mare described. I turned to her smiling, and she was staring back at me with a twinkle of excitement in her eyes. "That. . . is awesome. Can I try it on?" She broke out in the largest grin I had ever seen, nodding emphatically. "Yes! Please, do! I will help, if you don't mind. It is a very fragile ensemble, and you don't know how to put it on." We laughed and I agreed; I would most definitely rip it by accident. After a minute of dressing up Rarity stepped down from the podium and turned to me, eyes positively beaming with pride and joy. "Oh! It looks better then I anticipated! My, I imagine you will be a hit at the show!" I smiled and turned to mirror next to me. Reflected to me was a stallion appearing very refined, and very sharp. I spread my wings and admired the gilding. They were quite obviously inspired by something intended to be used for armour, but I could also foresee weapons being made of them if one were to sharpen them. I folded up my wings again and turned to the bearer of the element of generosity. "So, how hurt is my wallet going to be for this?" She laughed. "Oh, this one I will unfortunately have to charge more for because I am short on black silk, and the gilding were quite the process to create, so seven hundred and fifty bits should suffice." My eyes widen at the number. "Well, good thing I have over a month to pay for this. I will need it!" I laughed and shook my head. "Alright, I should take this off. It is perfect though." She grinned yet again. "Well, I apologize. That price can't be lowered, unfortunately. But it is a shame that you need to take it off; it suits you perfectly, if I do say so myself. Ah, pardon the pun, dear." We share a chuckle and I undressed, placing the clothes back on the mannequin. "I should be off then. I will see you sometime soon Rarity. It was a pleasure visiting again." "Likewise, Ink. I look forward to our next encounter." ~ I walked back to Chroma's place and walked in the door. I looked to the living room and found the mare in question flying above and breaking down the crate, cleaning it up. She looked up at me and smiled. "Hey Ink! Back from Rare's?" I smiled in response. "Yep! Just trying on a tux she is making me. Need help cleaning?" She sighed in appreciation. "I would love some help, thank you. So you have something big coming up, eh?" I nodded and flew over to her, taking the crowbar from her in between my forehooves. "Yep! Going to a show up in Canterlot." Chroma was taken aback in surprise at this statement. "Wow!" Her eyes narrowed slightly and she grew slightly cool. "Do you have a date for it?" I shook my head and broke a side of the crate, gently lowering it to the floor. "No. It was a free admission given to me by a friend." She seemed to perk up at this. "Ahh! That was very kind of them." I laughed a little. "Yeah, it was." I finished breaking the crate down and Chroma and I settled back on the floor. "So what was in the crate?" She waved a hoof and proceeded to pick up the packing materials from around us. "Oh, just a dress I ordered from Rarity a while back. She finally got the inspiration she needed for it recently and was able to make it. It's already up in my closet on the ponnequin." "Ahh." I nodded once in understanding. I picked up the sides of the crate on my back and spread my wings to balance them. "Where do I take the wood from the box?" She gestured with her head to follow her and we proceeded into the kitchen and past it to the back door. Next to it was a closet and she opened it to reveal her recycling storage. "Just lean them against the wall next to the bin." I nodded and deposited it where directed and looked out the window. It was starting to get dark out. "So, I dont really feel like sleeping yet. What do you-" Our stomaches cut me off, protesting a lack of food. We looked at each and laughed. Chroma shook her head in exasperation. "Hold that thought, food first." We walked into the kitchen again, Chroma to the pantry, myself to the fridge. I pulled it open and looked around, trying to find something to munch on. I grabbed a bottle of milk and a few veggies, then saw something that really caught my attention. Fish. Real, beautiful, fish. I picked it up and closed the fridge, turning to Chroma at the pantry. All that was visible of her was her rump sticking out the door, the rest of her inside. I couldn't help but admire her physique for a moment. "Hey, Chroma?" "One moment please!" There was the sound of some packages shuffling and then she came out of the cupboard with a few packages of spices and other ingredients in her teeth. She saw the fish and her face paled. "Uhh- yeah, umm. . . Sorry. I know ponies aren't supposed to eat that, but. . . It's so good! You should try it!" I smiled out one corner of my mouth. "I don't care that ponies aren't omnivorous. I LOVE fish. Got a deep fryer?" Her eyes widened and she beamed from ear to ear. "Yes. . . What do you need it for?" I grinned. Apparently ponies not only don't eat fish, they don't have many recipes for it. "You'll see." I put the fillets on the island and walked over to the pantry next to her and we both entered it. It was a good size; we had space for both of us to move and maneuver around. She grabbed the fryer off a shelf and some oil, I grabbed the ingredients for batter and placed them in a bowl, taking it into the kitchen and laying it out on the counter. She looked at what I grabbed and cocked her head to the side. "What are you making?" I grinned again and repeated myself. "You'll see." She smiled out the side of her mouth and chuckled. I returned to the pantry and grabbed some measuring cups, a pan, and various other items necessary for us to eat. I was about to walk out of the pantry when I noticed something else. Grabbing them with a smile and returned to the kitchen and began my preparations, starting with plugging in the fryer and filling it with oil. She went around the counter and watched in interest at my ministrations, cocking her head every so often at the ingredients I chose and mixed. She saw the last thing I grabbed and cocked her head a little more than usual. "What are the potatoes for?" I laughed. "Well, you know your hay fries?" She nodded. I pointed to the potatoes. "They're better." Her eyes widened a little; even I will admit that hay fries are bloody awesome. The idea that what I was making is BETTER, surprised her. I finished preparing the batter and proceeded to coat the fish in it and put it in the now heated fryer. The sound and smell that resulted was wonderful; Chroma got a big whiff of it and sighed in bliss. "Ohh, that smells good!" I laughed and started cutting up the potatoes. I chose steak cut and after cutting them I rinsed them off and set them aside. I returned to the pantry one last time and grabbed some vinegar. I put the milk back - doesn't go the greatest with vinegar - and grabbed some orange juice. Before closing the fridge yet another item caught my eye. I grabbed it and examined it. Vodka. This was shaping up to be the best meal ever. I took the two drinks and mixed us up a couple screwdrivers, not too hard. She cocked her head at the drink now. This must be a VERY interesting experience for her. I took the fish out of the fryer and deposited the potatoes in it now, putting a filet per plate. I waited a couple minutes before removing the fries, shaking them a bit to move them around and ensure and even cooking, and then put them in the fryer one more time. After another minute they started to float, so I removed them and poured them into a bowl I lined with paper towels. Shaking them a bit in the bowl to clean some of the oil of them I then poured half onto each of our plates and pushed Chromas plate over to her. I then slid her a fork and her drink, slid the vinegar over as well. I pulled up next to her and grabbed my food. I poured the vinegar over everything and ate my first fry. It was perfectly done; great crunch on the outside, nice and hot but still moist inside. I looked over to Chroma and she tentatively poured vinegar over her food, then stabbed her first fry now. She bit into it and closed her eyes, sighing contentedly. We both finished our first fries and then moved onto our first bite of fish. I pressed my fork to it and it split apart beautifully, flaky and white fish on the inside, crisp batter outside with the slight sogginess form the vinegar. We both bit into it at the same time and simultaneously groaned in pleasure; after going for so long without eating this, and with her having never had it, we were both blissfully contented. Chroma swallowed hers and turned to me. "How did you figure out how to make this?" I swallowed mine now and took a sip of my screwdriver. "It's very common eating where I'm from; I'm from an ocean side area, so we eat a lot of fish." She went through a few expressions at this. "Every pony ocean-side town and city I know of try to protect the fish; I don't know of one that eats it freely. Also, you never really mentioned your past before." I stopped eating and grew slightly cold; crap. Slipped up there. I swallowed slowly and turned to her. "Yeah. . . it isn't a pony area. And. . . as for my past. . . I. . . Will tell you later. Sorry, not quite comfortable mentioning it yet." Her look grew concerned. "Why? Sorry, I don't mean to pry. You can tell me when your comfortable. But what community did you live in that wasn't a pony one?" "Well. . . That ties into my past." She nodded. "Okay. Nevermind then." I nodded in appreciation and we resumed eating. I had no idea how she would react to my being human. I will have to tell her soon, though. ~ Meanwhile, elsewhere in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was taking a casual flight back home from hanging out at Rarity's place for a bit when she noticed something odd on the ground below. She lowered her altitude and flew in a bit of a circle, trying to get a closer look. Her eyes widened at what she saw. There, lying face first in the dirt behind some trees, was a unicorn stallion, purple fur and stark white mane and tale. He had a blank flank, which was incredibly odd for an adult pony. She landed next to him and walked over cautiously. "Hey, you alright dude? That doesn't look to comfortable. Or cool. Seriously, you look kinda like a loser with your face in the ground." The pony groaned and stood up. His eyes opened slowly and he shook his head to regain his focus. He looked at his hooves and gasped. His head snapped up at Rainbow Dash, surprising her, and then his eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. He stumbled back a few steps and plopped onto his rump, and the surprise caused him to loose a jolt of magic that exploded behind and under him. He shouted in pain and jumped forward, smacking his hiney to extinguish a fire in his tail which was now a slightly charred tuft sticking out in every direction. After stopping the fire he calmed down some, but he still appeared to be freaking out. "How - what - fuck?" He said and turned back to Rainbow Dash, then fainted, falling onto his face again. Rainbow Dash stood there for a few seconds, wondering what the hay just happened.