//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: A Gem Unwrought // by Yinglung //------------------------------// “A gem unwrought is a stone unpurposed, a person unlearnt is a mind unreasoned.” – Chinese Proverb “RA-RI-TY-!” The ear-piercing scream of Rarity’s little sister rang through the entire Carousel Boutique. The white mare gasped, and jumped straight up from his bed. He hit the rosy-purple canopy and immediately got entangled. Flailing his arms in a panic, he managed to get down from the messed-up decors and fall onto his bed again, this time wrapped in torn-up satin like a postmodern fashion model. “RARITY-! Are you up yet?!” Sweetie Belle banged on the door repeatedly while loudly yelling Rarity’s name, creating a highly nerve-wrecking atmosphere. The white mare was reminded of those zombie invasion scenes that he read in comic books. Why in Equestria am I in Rarity’s bedroom? The white mare thought quizzically. Just a moment ago, he was cleaning up the Cutie Map in Twilight’s Castle. After the last time Twilight’s friends used it for their adventure, it had been a bit quiet. The crystalline table was collecting dust, so he decided to clean the surface with cloth. He didn’t quite remember what happened afterwards, as there was a strange blank in his memory. That’s when he noticed that the limbs he put near his muzzle in bemusement were white. Very white, like first snow. Those were also not claws of a dragon, but clearly hooves of a pony. A very familiar pony, in fact. The white mare blinked his eyes and shook his head numbly. A thin strand of purple fell into his eyes, partially obscuring his sight. Drawing in a breath of inevitability, he ignored the loud yells of Sweetie Belle and the smell of lavender fragrance permeating the room, and pulled himself up to the vanity mirror. “Oh, Celestia, you’ve gotta be kidding me.” The white mare muttered in shock, using the now sweet, sing-songy voice of his, or rather, not really his. The white mare’s teeth clattered. His memories clearly told him that he was not a ‘she’, but rather a ‘he’. Specifically, he should be the ever loyal and helpful dragon assistant to Princess Twilight Sparkle, not the very white mare that he always loved. Why in all Equestria was he now Rarity? The door suddenly trembled. With a crackling sound, the locked door was busted open in an aura of pure white. The lock on the door unceremoniously fell onto the floor. The white mare shakily turned, and saw Sweetie Belle looking him in the eyes with an apologetic grin. “Oops, sorry Rarity! I must’ve accidentally casted magic on the door handle again, I’m too excited!” The white mare kept on blinking, still not quite able to process what was going on. “Rarity? Are you okay?” Sweetie Belle trotted briskly near her sister, and tugged at the white mare’s disheveled night gown. She chuckled. “Hehe, Rarity, you look so funny! Why are you wearing the canopy as your cape? Is that one of your new fashion ideas?” The white mare gulped uneasily. His new curly tail swishing left and right nervously as he quickly ran through his mind for an appropriate response. “Uh, no, Sweetie Belle. It’s, um, just a wardrobe accident. Don’t worry, d- d- darling.” Sweetie Belle eyed the white mare briefly with suspicion, before blooming into a wide smile again. “Alright then! I’m hungry, and I want to have breakfast quickly before today’s outing!” “O- Outing?” Sweetie Belle tilted her head sideways and eyed his ‘sister’ strangely. “You promised me, Rarity! Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about the Summer Sun Celebration!” The Summer Sun Celebration? The white mare was even more confused. The last one, which was the very first Summer Sun Celebration after the return of Princess Luna, was held quite some few moons ago. Twilight hadn’t even got her own castle yet at that time! Sweetie Belle continued. “School is out today because of the Celebration, and you told me that you can spend some time with me before going to the town hall to set up the decorations!” She jumped up and down giddily. “Princess Celestia will even visit Ponyville tomorrow! I’m so excited! Can you believe it, Rarity? We’re going to see Princess Celestia raise the sun herself on the thousandth Summer Sun Celebration! Let us go around the town and see how other ponies prepare for the celebration!” “The thousandth c- celebration? Are you sure it’s not the thousand and first? Or the second?” Sweetie Belle paused for a bit, and then laughed aloud. “Hahaha, Rarity! What a joke! The mayor mare announced it to all town ponies two weeks ago! Surely you must remember, hmm?” Oh my dear Celestia… I’ve gone back in time… as Rarity?! The white mare thought to himself with utter disbelief. “Now be quick! We need to eat up and go out early, or you won’t be able to put up the decors in time before those inspectors from Canterlot come!” Right! Twilight and, uh, I will come to Ponyville soon enough! The white mare’s hope briefly flared up, but then it was immediately doused. This won’t make a lick of sense to Twi, and I won’t be able to convince her! She didn’t even know who Rarity was at this point! Unless I somehow swapped with Rarity, which is even more trouble…! Gah, why is any of these happening?!  He groaned internally, frustration welling up in his mind. He wanted to get close with Rarity, but not this close. Looking at the tumult on her sister’s face, Sweetie Belle’s smile faltered, and was quickly replaced by a puppy-dog gaze. “Rarity, if you don’t feel well…” Sweetie Belle’s ears drooped. ”O- or if you don’t want to go out with me, it’s fine… I can just stay home and wait till you finish work.” Looking at the disappointed look of the white filly, the white mare felt as if his heart was melting. His conscience wouldn’t allow him to hurt the feeling of Sweetie Belle, and he decided to humor her first. After all, this was what Rarity would do… and had done, right? He thought to himself. “O- Of course not! Sweetie Belle, dear, I- I’ll make the breakfast right away.” The white mare let out a light sigh and apologized. “I’m really sorry, Sweetie Belle. I just had… uh, a rather bad night of sleep, and I’m a bit disoriented.” Sweetie Belle’s grin returned to her face after hearing her sister’s explanation. “No problem, Rarity! Perhaps you would want to have a hot bath first? It might help you clear up your foggy mind!” The white mare raised a brow, thinking that it was not that bad an idea. “Hmm… That might do. Thank you for your suggestion… um, dear.” “You’re welcome!” The white mare was about to turn, but he then paused and looked back. “But wait, how about your breakfast? Can you make a toast by yourself?” Sweetie Belle looked surprised. “But Rarity, you said I’m no longer allowed in the kitchen after the one time I accidentally set the oven and the cupboard on fire!” “Huh-?! Uh… Oh, y- yeah, right.” The white mare inhaled through clenched teeth and muttered. “Just give me a moment, dear. I’d be coming out in a jiff- I mean, soon.” Sweetie Belle again showed some concern at her sister’s strange behavior. However, she eventually smiled again as she waved to the mare, who walked unsteadily towards the bathroom.