//------------------------------// // Sojourn in Ponyville // Story: Double Vision // by EveningShadows //------------------------------// Sunrise sipped her tea and hummed with contentment. She wasn't a tea mare but she made do. The additive she'd snuck from her flask helped with that. Twilight had taken her to a picnic with her friends. The introductions went smoothly, but were a bit wild. All of Twilight's friends were unique in their own way and even gave the unicorn a run for her money in that department. She liked to control how conversations go, especially when meeting new ponies, but with these mares she was completely out of her depth. She ended up just following along and tried her best to participate. I hope I don't come off as shy... or standoffish. She'd gotten to share the story about her middle name, at least. They seemed to like it. "So I hear you're quite the athlete," Rainbow Dash was suddenly talking to her. "Hm? Well whoever told you that is a liar," she responded from behind her tea. "Well it was Twilight so..." the pegasus glanced towards the alicorn without turning her head. "Rainbow, I said she likes to jog," Twilight said in exasperation. "Running's a sport!" Rainbow said defensively. "No, I jog. It's slow and just for exercise," Sunrise said, she gave her flank a couple pats, "Gotta watch my figure." "Ah come on, I'm sure you're good at it. Let's have a race!" Rainbow said, always looking to test herself against everypony she could. "To, say, that tree and back." "But we just ate-" Sunrise tried to say. "It's good for the digestion," Rainbow interrupted. "I heard you like making bets too, we can make a bet." Sunrise chuckled. "I like making bets I have a remote chance of winning." Rainbow chewed her lip. "Tell you what. If I win you'll help me make Twilight take some flight lessons. If you win I'll owe you a favor, whatever you want. Low risk, high reward. That's fair, right?" "You haven't been taking flight lessons?" Sunrise said in a scolding tone. Twilight avoided meeting her sister's eyes and poked her hooves together. "I just don't want to fall..." Sunrise rolled her eyes. "And after I promised I'd take some magic lessons too, tch." Twilight focused on her tea. "Now what could I do with a favor from Rainbow Dash..." "Suuunriiisse," Twilight whined, "you said you wouldn't politic my friends." "That was before they started offering me favors," she pouted. "She's a popular, young pegasus. I bet a speech from her would go over really well." "Oh don't pretend you're just going to make her give a speech. You're gonna make her do some 'messy business,' as you call it," she made air quotes with her hooves. The girls, and Spike, watched in rapt attention. "Oh please, the 'messiest' thing I'd make her do is give me some introductions," Sunrise raised her snout derisively, pretending to be offended. "Uh huh," Twilight rolled her eyes, "and what are you going to do with those introductions? Make a weathermare's guild?" Sunrise was starting to regret telling her sister about her ideas for a teamsters guild. "Er, no..." she said. "Regulations are probably already too tight for it to matter in the weather biz, right Dash?" "Huh? Oh, uh," Rainbow was having a hard time coming to terms with being pulled into their argument. "I guess regulations are pretty tight..." Twilight simply glared at her sister who started poking her hooves together. "I mean a union would probably be more useful..." Sunrise said slowly. "Ah ha! I knew there was a scheme!" Twilight yelled in the happy tone of a hunter trapping her prey. "Scheme is such an unsavory term..." Sunrise said Twilight rolled her eyes. "An angle then." "Besides!" Sunrise said, gaining some steam, "did I scheme Rainbow Dash into offering me a favor? Unless I somehow tricked you into telling her about my jogging and the bet with Luna I don't see how this could be a scheme. What? Did I win that bet just so Dash could hear about it? Or maybe I took up jogging all for Dash to decide she wanted to race me and make a bet I have no way of winning?" Sunrise started laughing, "What am I, Ahuizotl?" Twilight's expression softened, "Alright, I see your point..." She giggled, "But I'm still not convinced this isn't an elaborate plot to have an 'industrial accident' over somepony's house," she air quoted again. "Hey, that's not a bad idea. I'll make a schemer of you yet!" The sisters shared a laugh. "Alright girls," Spike said, putting down the popcorn he'd been sharing with Pinkie, "that means the show's over." "They do this a lot?" Applejack asked. "Like every day," he said. "Hey, where do you keep getting that popcorn?" Sunrise asked. "Ask Pinkie Pie about it," Spike said, pointing a thumb at her. Sunrise looked into the mare's wide, happy eyes colored like soft ocean waves and saw herself drowning. "I'm... not that curious." "Aww..." Pinkie said, a bit dejected. "Er... Are we still racing?" Rainbow asked. "Dash, I really wouldn't recommend gambling against my sister," Twilight said. "Who, moi?" Sunrise asked, holding a hoof to her chest. "And I really, really wouldn't recommend owing her a favor," she continued, ignoring the interjection. "Don't worry, Twilight," Rainbow stood up and puffed up her chest, "there's no way I can lose!" Twilight looked up to the sky like she was about to start praying. "You ready to do this?" the pegasus asked. "Alright, wanna referee, Applejack?" Sunrise asked. "Sure, Ah can do that," the mare said, standing up. Once they'd stretched and got up to the starting line Applejack started the countdown, "Ready, set, go!" "Is that filly getting attacked by timberwolves!" Sunrise shouted. "SCOOTALOO!" Rainbow Dash shrieked. The mares shot off in opposite directions. "Rainbow get back here! There's no timberwolves!" Applejack called out Twilight was looking to the sky for help again, "Typical." By the time Rainbow Dash realized what was happening her opponent had reached the tree. She launched herself like a missile towards it, then off it, clearing the race in an instant. "Dammit, Rainbow!" Applejack yelled, "you have to run! Run!" And she did. She reached the tree and bucked herself off it by the time Sunrise was half way back. The unicorn put on her final burst of speed, sprinting like her life depended on it. Even with her head start, she almost lost. But she didn't. She collapsed on the ground and panted. She felt like her heart was going to burst out of her chest. Rainbow didn't even look winded, just angry. "I can't believe you tricked me!" she yelled. "I. Huff. Can't believe. Huff. You fell for that. Huff," Sunrise panted out. Rainbow growled, "This doesn't count! You cheated!" "No. Huff. I tricked you. Huff. You cheated. Huff," Sunrise pointed out. "I cheated!" Rainbow said in offense. "Uh, you did use your wings, sugarcube," Applejack added, trying to be helpful. "Why are you taking her side!" Rainbow yelled in exasperation. "You're supposed to be the referee!" "Now don't you be raisin' your voice at me," Applejack said firmly. Rainbow growled. "I told you not to make bets with her. Didn't I tell her?" Twilight said, looking at her other friends. Sunrise caught her breath enough to pull herself into a sitting position. "Rainbow, did you really think I was going to take a bet I was sure to lose?" The pegasus pawed at the ground with her hoof. "... Maybe..." She stomped her hoof "But it doesn't matter! You tricked me so it doesn't count!" "Sorry, hun," Sunrise couldn't help but slip on a smile that Twilight, who let out a long suffering sigh, recognized, "you're the one who stipulated the terms and conditions of our agreement. In which, you made no mention as to whether tricks were, or were not acceptable. As it was your duty to do so, and you failed to, I'm afraid the ref will have to side with me." Rainbow looked to Applejack with a pout. "Sorry, sugarcube, looks like you're starting a union." The pegasus groaned, "You're not gonna make me start a union, are you?" Sunrise giggled, "Nah, probably not. I've got a lot on my plate right now." Rainbow let out a sigh of relief. "But, hey, maybe in a few years." The pegasus groaned, "Please don't." Sunrise kept on giggling. She tried to contain herself as she was nearing malevolent laughter territory and she hadn't practiced that one yet. When she got a hold of herself she said, "Alright, alright. Tell you what, for my favor you've got to teach Twilight how to fly safely. 'Kay?" "Really? That's it?" Rainbow and Twilight asked at the same time. While Rainbow said it in a surprised happy tone, Twilight said it in a skeptical, deadpan tone. "Sure, can't have you, uh--," a brief flash of mangled flesh smeared into the dirt shot through Sunrise's mind and she had to suppress a shiver, "breakin' a wing on me, can I? The sky's a dangerous place," she said and bumped the alicorn on her nose. Twilight twitched her muzzle, "Thanks?" "Plus, you're not gonna make me waste my favor, right?" Sunrise said. "Fine! I'll take my flying lessons..." Twilight grumbled. "There we go," Sunrise said smirking. After they'd enjoyed the rest of the afternoon the ponies went their separate ways and did their separate things. The Sparkles spent some time reading, but Twilight had to start digging through some paperwork that she'd put off for too long, so Sunrise went jogging around town. Unfortunately for Twilight, she found the liquor store and when she got home she got drunk while reading a book on Austallion economics. She'd tried to chat her sister's ear off about it but it quickly went over Twilight's head, not that she'd admit it. Economics was a subject she'd read about, of course, but she'd largely ignored the field. Why read about money when you could read about magic instead? When Sunrise heard her express that sentiment she was deeply offended and launched into a long, drunken spiel about how it was about so much more than money, but was about the 'aggregate effects of ponies' decisions calculated en-mass,' which Twilight tuned out after the first thirty seconds. The night went on in a similar fashion until Twilight pawned the unicorn off on Spike. He showed her some of his comics. She admirably pretended to be interested until she passed out. Twilight walked into her kitchen at the crack of noon and found her sister digging through the cupboard, mane unmade and mumbling to herself. "What are you looking for?" "Aspirin," Sunrise croaked out. "Ah." She levitated some out along with a glass of water. Her sister took it greedily and chugged the full glass. "'Anks," she said. The full word 'thanks' didn't quite come out. "Bad hangover?" Twilight asked sympathetically. "Mmhmm... Ya got coffee?" Sunrise asked with half-lidded eyes. "I've got tea," Twilight suggested helpfully. "Nnnnnn... No coffee?" Sunrise whined. "Sorry, sis... You could get some at Sugarcube corner. Pinkie works there, you know?" "'Kay." Sunrise put on her oversized aviators, borrowed one of Twilight's old hoodies, and put her mane in a ponytail. "You sure you don't want to... do your mane?" Twilight asked, trying to be polite. "'S fine." It was sticking out at odd angles. "Okay... See you in a bit," Twilight said. "See ya," Sunrise droned out. Sunrise set out into the harsh glare of early afternoon. She got hellos and waves from the townsponies and tried her best to return them, but really wasn't up for it. "Hey girl, going for a jog?" Rainbow greeted from above her. She got a mumble for her efforts. "Whassat?" "Morning," she repeated. Rainbow looked at the sky. "But it's the afternoon?" She didn't get a response. "You okay?" "Hungover," Sunrise said. "Ah. Then what are you doing out?" Rainbow asked. "No coffee at Twi's," Sunrise said in a blank tone. "Harsh. Well, let me know if you wanna hang out later," she said before she took off. When Sunrise got to Sugarcube Corner she was just in time for the lunch rush. The chattering pounded at her skull but the aspirin was starting to provide relief. "Hey, Sunny," Pinkie said when she got to the front of the line, "you look like you got hit by a cart." "Hangover," she said. "Ah." Pinkie whispered just loud enough to be heard over the din. "So what can I get you?" Sweet girl, Sunrise thought to herself. "I wanna coffee." "Of course, what size?" She squinted at the menu through her aviators. "Medium. What roasts d'ya have." "Just the Prench roast," Pinkie said in her cheerful whisper. "Nnnnn... No morning roasts?" Sunrise whined. "You're so silly, Sunny," Pinkie said, making an oh-you gesture, "All coffees are morning roasts," "Nnn," Sunrise whined. "'Kay... An' a plain bagel. Cream cheese. With lox." "What's lox?" Pinkie tilted her head. "'S salmon," she said. "Eww. Nope," Pinkie said, making a face, "none of that here." "Nnnn," she was really starting to miss the castle. "Ya have salmon flavored cream cheese?" "Noperoonie." "'Kay, t's it then," Sunrise drawled out. She paid and Pinkie told her to take a seat. When she got her coffee she took a sip and frowned. "Not good enough to drink black," she mumbled to herself, she ignored the voice in her head that told her she was getting spoiled as she fixed up her cup. After a few minutes she heard a voice from behind her. "Hello, Sunny. Oh, a simple breakfast for a sophisticated mare?" "Hey, Rares," she said as the white mare slipped into the booth. "I was hoping for lox." "Ha!" Rarity laughed, "You won't find that out here in the boonies." They were silent for a moment. "I really should've known that'd be my nickname when I picked my name." "Yes, you really should have," she giggled. "Not many ponies get the chance to name themselves." "Well, at least they get to blame their parents when they get a stupid nickname," Sunrise said, starting to feel well enough to joke. "Too true... You okay, darling?" Rarity asked with concern, "You don't seem to be doing too well." "Mmm, I'm pretty hungover," Sunrise said. "Aww," Rarity pouted, "did you take a night on the town without me?" "Nah. I found the liquor store. Nice selection for a small town," Sunrise said, always ready to dish out a compliment. "Yes, that'd be Berry Punch's doing," Rarity said, chuckling. "Sound like a fun mare," Sunrise said. "Maybe we should hang out." "I'm sure she is," Rarity said. "Though not so fun when she throws up on your lawn." Sunrise raised an eyebrow, "She's done that?" "More than once," Rarity said from behind her cup. "Yikes!" They shared a laugh. "So what are you up to?" "I've got a free afternoon, my spa date with Fluttershy fell through because of some animal emergency..." Rarity said, before adding, "Say, you look like you could use a spa day. Care to join me, darling?" Sunrise look a long sip of her coffee, "I'd love to, but only if you take me to your boutique after. I've got a large wardrobe and it's empty." Rarity's eyes gleamed, "I'd be honored to show you my boutique!" "I mean, it's just so annoying not knowing what to do with my ears!" Sunrise pouted. They'd gotten to the bath stage of spa day and were now just chatting. "I know it must be a brain thing, I should know naturally but I don't and it makes communication so difficult." "As an amateur thespian, I sympathize, using your ears properly is almost as important as using your eyes in acting." "Hey, that's not a bad idea..." Sunrise said, "Maybe I should take some acting lessons." "They're lovely, darling, if a bit pricey." "True, but I think the castle can afford it," Sunrise said with a wink. After some more relaxing Sunrise piped up, "Oh, I've been meaning to ask you, can you help me pick a mane style?" "Not satisfied with the ponytail?" Rarity asked through closed eyes. "Well... It's a fine casual style but I need something to wear in public and in formal settings," Sunrise said, then added after a moment, "Plus, don't tell Twilight this, I need to get rid of these nerd bangs." Rarity giggled, "Your secret is safe with me. I may be a shameless gossip but I'm also a mare of discretion." When the mares exited the spa Sunrise came out in a wavy mane and tail with side swept bangs and immediately began admiring herself in the lobby mirror. Rarity saw her chance and snuck off to pay. Oh, no you don't, Sunrise thought. "Oh Rarity, please let me take care that," she said while walking up to the counter. "That's not necessary, after all I invited you," Rarity said sweetly. "Yes, but you were such a treat and you helped me get over my hangover," Sunrise said. "I'm afraid I must insist." Rarity narrowed her eyes. "I'm happy you're feeling better but you were kind enough to come with after my date with Fluttershy fell through. If it weren't for you, darling, I wouldn't have even been able to come, so really it's me who must insist." Aloe and Lotus sat at their counter, heads swiveling back and forth, as they watched the most polite argument they'd ever seen. Sunrise put on a sweet smile. "But you've been so helpful throughout, you even helped me pick a manestyle and your advice has been invaluable. It wouldn't feel right not to pay back your generosity." "That's the thing about generosity, darling, it doesn't need to be paid back," Rarity said, "And besides, you've given me the wonderful opportunity to have my styles displayed by royalty." "And I'm so thankful for your help in that regard. I don't know what I would do without your help in crafting my public persona," Sunrise said. "In fact your generosity has been inspiring, so please allow me-" "Oh darling, there's no need for flattery." Rarity interrupted. "I know you're working hard for Equestrians everywhere and it is my pleasure to give you a moment to catch your breath." "Which is why I'm so thankful for you taking me here," Sunrise said, content to leave Rarity's counter-flattery hanging in the air. "I was actually going to file this as a business deduction so it really is no trouble." Sunrise had been upset when she found out princesses have to pay taxes on their expense accounts. "Oh what a coincidence, so was I. This is a business meeting after all," Rarity said, knowing she was about to win the argument. Sunrise narrowed her eyes. Gotcha, she thought. "Oh, but Rarity, I know you give so much. I'm sure you've filled up your deductions on charity already." Rarity smiled serenely. "While that's true for my personal deductions, my business is its own entity and I've not nearly used up my deductions for it. Besides, I know you have a busy year ahead of you. I'm sure you'll run out of deductions quickly." Dammit! Sunrise cursed to herself. "Very well, Rarity, I know when I'm beat," she said with her mouth pulled to the side in a disappointed expression. After paying, the mares headed to the boutique and spent some hours trying on clothes, working on designs, and talking about what looks are best for which situations. Sunrise also took advantage of Rarity's discretion and got herself certain leather wear and a riding crop. She made an excessive amount of orders and she couldn't pay the full bill this month so they had to work on a payment plan. During which she was surprised to discover that Equestria had very tight usury laws. She would need a lot of loans to move her plans forward, and after some later research, found that it was almost impossible to profit by making loans, and therefore almost impossible to get one. No wonder Equestria's economy was stagnating compared to the rest of the world. Sunrise spent the rest of the day, as well as the next, exploring Ponyville. She hung out with Twilight and her friends, even getting some basic magic lessons for her trouble. She spent some more time working with Rarity. She took her jogs with Rainbow Dash, who was annoyed by her habit of reading while running. She had lunch with Twilight and Fluttershy, and got a serious lecture on wildlife. She was all too happy to sit through it, not just for the info dump, but to see the shy pegasus open up. She talked to Applejack and Big Mac about how the agro-economy works and who's involved in the business. She was happy to learn the Apple family controlled a large chunk of the pie. Although Sunrise and Applejack didn't really click, in fact they made each other uncomfortable in ways neither could describe, they were still able to be friendly with each other. Pinkie Pie threw a party for Sunrise, which she loved. The two got along pretty well. With them both taking a theatrical approach to life they found a lot of common ground, though Pinkie would occasionally shoot Sunrise with a suspicious glance when she thought she wouldn't notice. Eventually the unicorn got uncomfortably (for everypony else) drunk, and started singing Smash Mouth. During her stay in Ponyville, Sunrise couldn't help but think about the varied personalities she'd met and how she reacted to them, or rather, how her old self would have reacted to them. In Rarity she'd found a good conversation partner and a possible friend. In her former life she would never have been able to stand five minutes of conversation with the mare. Her old self would have found Pinkie to be, while bit annoying and overwhelming, the archetypal manic pixie dream girl. But with her new mentality she saw her as being really cool, even aspirational, almost a confident, older sister type. This train of thought gave her a series of weird dreams. Most of them consisted of Sunrise having come as a stallion. 'He' didn't die to get here, but was merely sucked through a portal. He didn't change in anything but body. Oddly, he found the one change harder to accept than the many changes Sunrise actually had to face. In the scant melancholy minutes that she could remember the dreams after she woke up she speculated that he would be forced to deal with the singular adjustment in self, but she had so many piled on top of her that she could hardly think about one loss of self before being confronted with the next. In the end, each shock was buried under the next, with none being dealt with. The stallion went on a whirlwind of adventures with the girls, somehow seamlessly integrating with the group. He became friends with each. He saved Equestria, even stole the show from the real heroes. He was a knight in shining armor, if ever there was one. Sometimes he was even a doormat, but, always, he was loved. The general theme of these dreams was that during his questing he'd catch the heart of one, or even more, of the girls and they'd embark on a romance for the ages. Eventually settling down, having a family, and growing old together. When she woke from these dreams she could do little but stare at the ceiling until their memory faded and all she was left with was a feeling of having lost something she'd never had. But this feeling was easily dealt with through coffee, so it wasn't a problem. She simply pushed the wispy thoughts out of her mind and got on with her day. Sunrise used her break in the countryside to work on what her plans would be and do more research, courtesy of Twilight's direct pipeline to just about every library in Equestria. She also got her shipment of papers and magazines sent to Twilight's and they continued the trend of good news when she was mentioned. By the end of the weekend she was well rested and enthusiastic to see how the renovations on her new bar were going, though mystifying feelings continued to cling to her like a blanket wrapped too tight.