//------------------------------// // Generosity // Story: When Life Gives You Lemongrab // by Eventide Indigo //------------------------------// Rarity I squinted against the glare of sunlight which filtered in through the curtains. Holding a beautifully manicured hoof to shield myself, I used the other to prop myself up. It had indeed been a restful sleep, which became more and more evident as I surveyed the mess I had made of my bed; the quilt was completely tossed aside, and was now crumpled in a heaping mess at the foot of my bed, the sheets were crinkled and twisted around me, and the pillow had a sizeable dent where my head had been. I stretched, feeling a yawn rise in my chest. "Good morning, Opalescence. " I chimed to the lump resting in a corner of her kitty bed. The only thing discerning the cat from a lump of snow was the cute little bow that encircled a lock of her coat. The feline opened a single eye to glare at me before curling up once more. I rolled my eyes and swung my legs over the edge of the mattress, blindly fumbling about with my hooves for my pink slippers. I entered my private bathroom, flicked on the light switch and gazed with bleary eyes at the mess of a pony in the mirror. I chuckled at myself. Everything about me was a complete disaster. "I don't know how you do it, Rarity." I sighed as I raised the brush to my chaotic coiffure, gently smoothing out the knots and frizz. Knock. Knock. Knock. Angrily, I let the brush plummet to the granite countertop with a clatter. Was I expecting somepony? I pondered this as I made my way groggily down the steps to the main floor of the boutique. My parents weren't dropping Sweetie Belle of until next week, right? I opened the door a crack, sticking one of my sparkling sapphire eyes out. "Oh, Lemongrab. It's just you." I smiled, opening the door wider. He seemed to hesitate before stepping in. I was a tad shocked as I heard his first words to me. "Is there a dungeon?" he questioned, though I had noted that he had a tendency to state everything as though it were fact. "Why, Lemongrab! That is hardly a way to greet your host." I gasped, shaking my head in mock disapproval. Lemongrab blinked his eyes at me, casting me a steely stare. "Fine." he mumbled. "Hello, Rarity. How are you?" "Why, I'm -" "Where's the dungeon?" I stared at him for a good long minute, hoping my eyes had the capability of translating how much disdain I had for this lemon rat right now. When he showed no signs of joking, nor any form of apology, I harrumphed and stomped across the room. A manicured hoof pointed to the bathroom. "Dungeon." I nearly snarled. Lemongrab smiled with triumph. "Hmm." he said cheerily. "This castle is..." he began, glancing around the boutique approvingly. "acceptable." "Why, thank you. That was a very generous compliment." I then continued to pretend I hadn't meant to use that word to lead us on the right track. "Oh! And speaking of generosity, shall we get on with our lesson?" Lemongrab nodded in compliance, and I delightedly went to fetch a tablecloth and tea set. After all, I had the most dreadful of cravings for some tea. I returned and spread it out on the table, along with a perfect amount of sugar cubes and cream in their respective containers. My hooves smoothed out the white tablecloth, pausing to caress the beautifully embroidered roses that adorned the sheet. "There." I said with a satisfied smile. "I shall prepare the tea, what flavour would you care for? I have White, Black, Oolong, Ceylon, Green, Chamomile, Chamomile with mint, Sleepy Time, Earl Grey, Lemon, Herbal, and Ginseng." I finished short of breath. "Hmm... Oolong." he said contentedly, continuing to look around the spacious area. "Perfect. I'll have some Lemon." I smiled, but soon my heart sank. "Oops! I mean, I'll have what you're having." My cheeks flushed a brilliant rose, which was still clearly visible beneath my white coat. I gave a smile so meek I seriously considered teaching Fluttershy some pointers. I quickly hustled myself into the kitchen to evade Lemongrab's perpetual glare. About ten minutes of waiting passed before the tea kettle began to scream like a cat having its tail trampled. "Ah, thar she blows." I beamed as I plopped an Oolong teabag into each of our cups and stirred it gently with a teaspoon. "Your tea, monsieur." I said, placing the cup upon his saucer and the pot in the center. One of the many things Twilight and I have in common is that we both have OCD, while hers is much more... advanced than mine. Besides my inspiration room filled with organized chaos, I simply cannot have anything too obvious out of place. The teapot always goes in the middle. Always. Sweetie Belle and I both knew this was law in the Carousel Boutique. Twilight, on the other hoof, would flip out if she didn't hold her monthly 'book reorganization festival'. She added the 'festival' so she could trick Spike. "So, Lemongrab. I heard you have a brother?" "Yes." he replied, taking a sip of his steaming tea. "So, how about we roleplay! I will be your brother. You two are similar, yes?" "Very." he agreed. "Good, good." I nodded. "Now let's begin. I'm your brother. You are you. This sugar cube..." I said, picking up a single lump of sugar with my magic and plopping it on the table, "is your favorite object." Lemongrab's eyes widened, nearing the size of the saucer that rested beneath his teacup. He turned his attention to the cube, and ensued to stare unblinkingly at it for some time. I couldn't help but stare as well, as if his interest in this sugar cube gave it newfound value. I groaned. "Okay, okay. 'Hey Lemongrab.'" I said in my best imitation of his voice. "How are you? Oh! Is that our favorite object you are playing with? Can I have it?" "No." the lemon deadpanned, eyes still transfixed upon the almighty lump of sugar. I groaned. "Lemongrab!" I cried, breaking character. "The thing about generosity is giving. Sometimes, the most rewarding thing is to think about others before yourself." Lemongrab blinked, looking up at me in awe as if I had just broken some curse cast upon him by the sugar cube. "Ooooh." he said, his mouth still forming an 'o' long after he had finished. "That's how you do it." The room fell silent for a moment, and I hardly noticed him pick up the little sugar cube and give it to me. I smiled, thanked him and ate the sugar cube. Big. Mistake. Lemongrab stared at the table where the delightful bonbon had just been a moment before, his lip trembling as if he were about to cry. I reached out to place a hoof on his shoulder, but withdrew in shock as he smacked it away and rose so quickly from his seat that the chair fell over. "YOU!" he cried in a shrill voice, wagging a spindly finger at me. "YOU ATE LEMON SWEETS!" he cried. "Lemon... who?" "YOU ATE MY FAVORITE THING!" he screamed, raising his hands to his bulbous head as if he were trying to tear out chunks of imaginary hair. I trembled in my seat. "Ooh... that? Sorry! So dreadfully sorry!" I blubbered. The lemon did not relent. "BROTHER! ONLY OOOONE!" Before I could react, Lemongrab had ceased me and held me over his mouth. His jaw resembled that of a snake preparing to eat. I instantly began screaming. I let out a scream so shrill, so ear-splitting, that even Lemongrab halted for a moment to recover from the shock. "I'm not your brother!" I cried through a break in my horrified shrieks. That is when the door swung open, slamming against the door stop with gusto. In the doorframe stood a very shocked Twilight Sparkle, her horn fired up with a purple aura.