//------------------------------// // Shopping With Rarity // Story: Honorary Dreams // by Lonely Fanboy48 //------------------------------// Slowly, Oliver roused from his deep sleep. For all his time in a state of unconsciousness, he dreamed about gliding across the surface of the water. Only this time, he was not wearing skis. Simply, he was rushing across the water, periodically sliding on the soles of his feet and making a wave of a wake. After riding on a swell in the water, Oliver soon found he was flying through the sky. Not flying, actually. Rather, he was gliding on his feet through the air the same as he was doing on the water. Higher and higher the boy went, passing by the many birds that flew above the land. Around him, clouds drifted about, allowing him to pass through them and make them burst like fireworks. Next came a rainbow, which he touched his foot on and slid across, making a spray of color that blew in every direction. Then, there came the most wondrous sight of all. Ahead lay the largest could he had seen yet. A breeze wafted around the cloud, and morphed it into the exact shape of Fluttershy’s head. Every detail was exactly as he knew it to be, right down to the warm, yet modest and reticent smile. And Oliver was heading right for it. When Oliver was almost upon it, it suddenly took the exact shape and size of the real Fluttershy, still clad in her wetsuit and lifejacket. And she was closer to him now than before. The last thing before Oliver passed out flashed into his mind. The feel of Fluttershy’s lips against his forehead. And there she was waiting for him again. Or, so he thought. Through no process of change, Fluttershy had become Applebloom, the way he saw her last in her swimsuit and lifejacket. In an instant, he found that she was held in his arms just the same as by the lake. And he found that, for whatever reason, he did not want to let go. He and Apple Bloom drifted about in the clouds, listening to the gentle music the blowing wind and singing birds made. “Oh! He’s waking up!” Funny. That didn’t sound like music. “Do you think he’s alright? Should I get the first aid kit?” The world around Oliver faded completely to black, as the sounds around him gave way to a pair of familiar voices. The second one, he recognized as Fluttershy’s. The other was a girl he hadn’t yet met at the cabin: Pinkie Pie. Perhaps it was the simple desire to see his old friend again, but Oliver slowly started opening his eyes. And what he saw through is blurred vision was a wall of pink with flecks of brown. After his vision focused-- “Hiya, Oliver!” Pinkie greeted him. “Sweet cuppin’ cakes!!!” Oliver shouted, as he jumped off of the cot he was laying on. “No. Chocolate muffins,” Pinkie corrected, before wiping the crumbs off her face. “Thanks, by the way. Sorry I wasn’t here earlier. I was...busy. Yeah, that’s it.” Oliver briefly examined himself, noticing he was still dressed in his swimming trunks. Fluttershy, however, had changed into a sundress and a pair of sandals. A brief look around, and he saw he was now in a small room, likely a guest room in the cabin. When he glanced out the window, he saw that the time of day had not changed so drastically. “How long was I out?” Oliver wondered. “Oh, it wasn’t very long. Only a half hour,” Fluttershy said, as she sat Oliver down on the cot, and took a seat next to him. “I’m sorry if I did anything to worry you earlier. I was just trying to show Apple Bloom how she could make you feel better after that scary experience. You aren’t mad at me for making you pass out, are you?” “Mad? Nah. Not after what you did, anyway.” “Oh...that,” Fluttershy said, giggling like a schoolgirl and blushing red as a tomato. “Come on, you can say it,” Pinkie said, as she took a seat on the other side of Oliver. “Everyone else is already talking about it, and boy is Apple Bloom upset. You should see how her veins bulge when Rarity and Sweetie Belle talk about planning your first date with Fluttershy.” “That’s not happening, Pinkie,” Oliver said. “I said that we should throw a first date party, but Rarity said--What!?” Pinkie said. “Sorry, but that pig doesn’t fly here.” “I think what Oliver means to say is that he doesn’t want to date a girl that isn’t his own age,” Fluttershy said. “And, you know: I’m pretty okay with that,” Oliver added. “Well, this puts a dent in our plan,” Pinkie Pie said. She abruptly stood up and walked to the door at the other end of the room, and stuck her head through the doorway. “False alarm, Rarity. Kick the plans.” “What plans? If you’re referring to a date between Oliver and Fluttershy: you’re the only one who had that idea,” came Rarity’s voice from the other room. “No I wasn’t. You were planning their date. And Spike even said they’d make a cute couple,” Pinkie said. Rarity walked into the room past Pinkie, carrying a bundle of clothes in her arms. Behind her, the young girl with curly hair tailed after, carrying a folded article of clothing. Bringing up the rear was Spike, who was carrying a hat in his mouth. “I didn’t say that. I said it would be creepy and weird if they dated. Fluttershy’s almost twice his age,” Spike said. “And it was merely a joke on my part,” Rarity added. “And Oliver’s not even mature enough to start dating. I mean, I’m a puppy, and I know that,” Spike said. He hopped onto the cot next to Oliver, and placed the hat he was holding onto Oliver’s lap. “Hey there, Oliver. Nice seeing you again.” “You too, pups,” Oliver answered, as he scratched behind Spike’s ear, making the puppy’s back leg kick wildly. He looked to his lap, and used his other hand to pick up and examine the hat. It was a fishing hat, colored a bluish-gray, and had a black band with two feathers stuck in it. One feather was significantly longer than the other. “So, what’s with the hat? Did you get it for me, or is there a fisherman missing somewhere?” “It’s a gift of course,” Rarity giggled. She proceeded to place the hat on Oliver’s head, then place the rest of the clothes she carried on his lap. “As are these. I trust you need something to change into about now.” Oliver glanced down at the clothes in his lap, then looked back up at Rarity. “You planned this, didn’t you?” “Of course I did. After all, one must look their best, even in the wilderness,” Rarity said, standing up to model her sleeveless blouse and capri pants. “You wouldn’t believe how many sketches she went through. Normally, she only uses one sheet of paper for some shorts and a t-shirt. But this: you wouldn’t think there were any trees left in the forest after she was done sketching,” Spike said. “Well, I just thought the boy Apple Bloom dates should look at the very least presentable.” “Ew! Rarity, nobody’s going on a date around here,” the younger girl said, before she introduced herself. “Hi. I’m Sweetie Belle. I’m Rarity’s sister. I helped make some of these clothes.” Oliver looked at the jacket Sweetie Belle handed him, and held it up to better view it. “Oh. It looks...wonderful, Sweetie,” Fluttershy said. Oliver looked at the jacket. It was a simple jacket, made of denim and covered in patches. Patches that had images of blooming roses, diamond tiaras and sparkling unicorns. To add insult to insult, the patches weren’t stitched on very well. Neither were the pockets, Oliver noted. “I just thought you needed something practical. So, I made you this,” Sweetie Belle said. “Ahem,” Rarity began, “I made it. You simply added the patches.” “But, it was my idea to make him a denim jacket.” “Simply offering an outline and then having someone else complete every detail, and then fill in any design flaw does not make the work your own.” “Oh, don’t be such a nitpicker.” Pinkie had been listening to what the others were saying for some time now. Earlier that day, she, Twilight and Sunset were already planning to set up a surprise party to officially induct Oliver as an honorary Rainboom. If they were going to set up discreetly, Oliver would have to be out of the picture for the time being. Rarity had said she wanted some activity time with Oliver for the day, and Pinkie thought she knew just the thing that would accomplish that, and keep Oliver busy. “Rarity!” Pinkie interjected, “Why don’t you take Oliver shopping for some other clothes. After all, funny hats and denim aren’t exactly all-purpose outdoor wear.” “Yes. I believe you’re right,” Rarity said, catching on to Pinkie’s hint. “Right about what?” Sweetie Belle wondered. “You know. About Oliver needing something new to wear,” Pinkie said. “I don’t.” “Then it’s settled,” Rarity declared. “Oliver, dear, when you’re all changed, won’t you join me and Sweetie Belle for some shopping to get you some new clothes?” “Uh…” Oliver answered. “Splendid. Come along, everyone. Give the boy some privacy,” Rarity said, before leading everyone out of the room. In addition to their tour bus, Rarity had taken along her own car for such small errands as the one they were currently going on. After a twenty minute drive, Rarity had driven herself, Oliver, Sweetie Belle and Spike to the nearest clothing outlet. It was a small shop that sold just a little bit of everything. The merchandise was nothing of note, but as soon as Rarity stepped inside, she saw immediate potential in the simple garbs that the store sold. “Wah-ha-ha! Sweetie Belle, do you see what I see?” Rarity asked. Sweetie looked to where her sister was pointing, and gave her answer, “Uh...One of those fishing jackets?” “Oh, dear girl. I’d almost forgotten how naive I was at your age,” Rarity sighed, before she led her sister away by her hand, “Come along, Sweetie Belle. We must choose the proper evening attire for our young friend.” Oliver was left at the door, holding Spike’s leash. As he stood, one of the patches on his denim jacket simple fell to the floor. “Well, I guess we should look for something for us to do,” Oliver said. “Let’s see if they have a pet section in this place. I could go for some new chew toys,” Spike said, before walking off. There wasn’t a pet section per se, but there was an outdoor section with lengths of rope that Spike heartily chewed on, and used to play tug-o-war with Oliver. For a puppy, Oliver found Spike to be deceptively strong. Particularly when Spike jerked his head and yanked Oliver off his feet, and making two more of Sweetie Belle’s poorly stitched patches fall off. “Yes! And the tug-o-war champ has been decided!” Spike victoriously proclaimed. “I want a doping test done,” Oliver said. Spike made a retort, but Oliver didn’t hear it. He noticed something else in the next section of the store. Across the aisle they were on, there was a stationary section, and as if by fate, there was a card on display of a small apple tree on a hill. “Hey? What are you looking at?” Spike said. His eyes drifted to the card that was on display, and knew precisely what Oliver was thinking. “You’re thinking about Apple Bloom right now, aren’t you?” “What? No. I haven’t been thinking about her,” Oliver said, realizing then what he just said. “Right. And I’m a seven foot werewolf with a witch as my master. Look, I already heard about you and Apple Bloom down by the lake. Not nearly as much as you and Fluttershy, (gross, by the way). Applejack won’t shut up about it, and it’s driving me nuts. I mean, what is it about you that makes these girls go nuts?” “Well, I wasn’t really thinking about Apple Bloom like...you know, that. I just feel kind of bad about how much I scared her when we were supposed to be having fun,” Oliver answered. “Then, why don’t you tell her about that? Then we can put an end to all that girly stuff going on around here,” Spike said. Oliver thought about what Spike said to him, and realized the puppy was right. If anything was going to end any confusion, and reinforce his newfound friendships, he was going to have to set things straight. “You’re right,” Oliver said, as he walked over and picked up a card and an envelope. “What’re you doing?” Spike wondered. “I’m doing what you said, Spike. I’m going to tell Apple Bloom how I feel about all this mushy business. You don’t have a pen, do you?” Oliver asked. “You’re asking that to a dog?” Spike deadpanned. “Oh, right. Unless I want fleas and bad breath, I shouldn’t ask you for much.” Spike darted forward and started chewing Oliver’s shoe. “There you boys are,” Rarity said, as she and Sweetie Belle returned. The boys stopped their quarrel to pay their full attention to their friends. “It seems that this shopping trip was a complete success. We’ve picked the perfect clothes to modify for your little outing.” “For the next several outings,” Sweetie said, who was practically buried by the amount of clothes Rarity had chosen. Curse those general store prices. The items were bought and paid for, and they all carried out what couldn’t be packed up into the single bag that Rarity brought. Among the items she held, Rarity found an open envelope with a card stuck inside of it. “Hm. I don’t remember picking this up,” Rarity said. “Oh, there it is,” Oliver said, as he took it from Rarity’s hand. “Ah. I see. It’s something you bought to pass along words of amour to a special someone,” Rarity said, noting that it had a picture of an apple tree on it. “Me? No. I think I have to wait a few years for that,” Oliver said. “By the way, do you have a pen I can borrow?” Spike and Sweetie Belle rolled their eyes.