//------------------------------// // 20 Rarity: "Checking In" // Story: Mission to the Pony Planet // by ersmiller //------------------------------// 09:12 AM Rarity cleaned. Rarity checked the foyer. Rarity cleaned. Rarity checked the foyer. Rarity got tired of waiting. And cleaning. Rarity went outside with pony Rarity’s sketchbook and pencil, stood by the steps outside the front door and sketched. Rarity got bored when she realized too few ponies wore clothing in this apparent nudist colony! Rarity looked out over a balcony to observe the town. Rarity found a spa! Rarity considered the concept of ponies using hooves to get intimate with her own brand new pony parts that she herself had not even taken the time to inventory yet and declined. Rarity got frustrated. Rarity went back inside. “Alright, Rarity,” Rarity told herself, wandering the upper hall outside the portal's room, “What do we know? We know Twi is in one of my shops, either in Canterlot or Manehattan. And, according to that table with the map on it, Canterlot is not that far away by train. Assuming the train schedule allows for it, we could be there and then back to our world with Twi in just a few hours!” She stopped and began pacing in a circle outside the portal's room. “But Manehattan seems much further away, though it’s hard to tell when my only map has no scale for measure. Is the map itself even to scale? It seems its features are sized by interest rather than geography like a tourists' map. Also, I don’t actually know how fast the trains are in this world. “I need to remain in or around the palace should my friends return looking for me or the others. But would they even do that? It was only Applejack who was a part of refining the plan all the way through. Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie—Especially Pinkie—all took off early. But how early? How much of the plan had we discussed before they left? Will they think to stop back here on occasion or will they wander the town looking for me? Well, at least Applejack will return … eventually. I just need to wait. “Unless!” she stopped suddenly. “Unless they’ve gone back before me! I spent so much time on this dress that—perhaps they thought I had gone back early? I should write to Twily!” Rarity giggled, her serious face changing to match. “And I can actually do that now that I know how to use my horn properly!” She got out Sunset’s correspondence journal, laid it on the nearest table, and … struggled to get her magic to let go of it. After several failed attempts to get the book to stay on the table and not keep floating, Rarity sighed and resorted to the Sweetie Fallback Method and tweaked her horn with a hoof. Suddenly, everything in her magical grasp fell to whatever surface was under them. In addition, a dull pain reappeared at the point just behind where her horn connected with her skull. “I simply must find a proper way to let go of things.” Rarity then flipped to the last message, tweaked her horn again to let go of the book’s pages, and re-read that last entry as written by Twily. “Oh dear. Is this really such a good idea?” If I write to Twily, assuming she’s still just as frazzled as before, and the others haven’t arrived home yet, would I send her into another breakdown? “But Fluttershy traveled back through the portal to talk to her directly and she said Twily just needed some reassuring. “But it’s Twily. We all know she’s a little high-strung. This could still have a poor effect on her. “But if I don’t write to her? It’s been hours since the last communication. At least three, or is it longer now? I’d have to find a clock to know.” Rarity looked around the hall and into the nearest two rooms. “For someone so … what’s the nice way to put this? Exacting? Just so? Detail oriented? It’s odd that there doesn’t appear to be many clocks around. Perhaps she has spells to alert her to the time? It's not like she has a smartphone.” Returning to the journal, Rarity also returned to arguing with herself. “If I don’t write, and they have returned home, or if I don’t write and they haven’t gone through then I’ll be stuck waiting longer. But If I do write, and they have gone through, then I can simply go and join them now. “But if the others did go back already, having been unable to find me, wouldn’t they have called Twily and asked her to write back here? Since Twily hasn’t written back to us yet, which likely means she hasn’t found Sunset, that should also mean the others haven’t gone back. Oh, but they don't know I have the journal and the ability to write in it! Or perhaps Twily did find Sunset and she’s in danger!” Rarity frowned, grabbed the pencil in her magic, and began writing. Darling! It’s Rarity. Are you well? A minute or two passed and Rarity considered writing more when she got a reply. Rarity! It’s good to hear read from you. Have you found Twi yet? In a way, dear. I know where she is, but I have not yet met with her. Rarity paused, considering if she wanted to ask about the others. But if they had returned, wouldn’t Twily have already mentioned them? She decided to ask about Twily’s search instead, hoping she’d also mention the others in passing. Sdo, ihd ayvoe u tfhien d It was then that the oddity of using a magical book made of paper pages and a plain writing utensil as a communication tool reared its head. What happens when people are writing in both linked books at once? Answer: the written letters appear on top of each other. Rarity stopped, and so, apparently did Twily, as no further letters appeared. ? Eventually a single question mark appeared. “Is she asking me to go first?” Rarity chanced a quick message. Should I go first?” Yes, please. And perhaps we should treat the journal as an old fashioned walkie talkie and write “over” when we finish writing. Over Oh, yes. That makes sense. I was going to ask how your search has fared. Over. I think we’re getting closer. Flash went to the city since he has a car. And he said he actually convinced one of the siren girls to help out over there. Wallflower Blush joined the search here in town (we never even noticed her following us). Spike’s not getting Sunset's scent anymore so we’re pretty sure we’ve cleared everything we can without risking trespassing charges. There were some strange lights to the southwest about half an hour ago so we think she might be in Ghastly Gorge. We’re waiting for the bus to take us that way now. Over Why on Ear multiple Earths would she be there? After a moment of no replies, Rarity realized her omission. Over In Ghastly Gorge there’s little she could accidentally burn. Over Rarity sighed at that. I see. Poor dear. Over Will it take you long to get to Twi? Over Hopefully just an hour or two.  However, if I remember correctly, didn't the two of you and Sunset discover that time is different in the two worlds. Didn’t you say this side runs twice as fast? Over It actually varies considerably due to the moon cycle in Equestria being manually controlled through magic instead of static like ours. Their moon cycle actually seems to control the time balance between the worlds. But it has been close to a fairly steady 2 to 1 ratio since the return of their Princess Luna. Their months are about twice as long as ours now. But that can change any time she wants it to. Over Rarity thought that over for a moment. There are so many strange things in our lives these days. Over No kidding. Hey, does Sweetie Belle have a driver’s license and access to your parents' van? That would make getting to Ghastly Gorge a lot easier. Over The thought nearly made Rarity drop her quill as if she had tweaked her horn. Oh heavens no! She does have a learner's permit but I’ve seen her drive! Do not let her get behind a wheel no matter how much she begs! Over! But how is she going to learn? Over NO! Over!! A thought came to mind and Rarity quickly added to her last entry. NO! Over!! my potentially many dead bodies! Her driving is almost as deadly as her cooking. Such a thing should not be possible! Over!!! Alright. I might be able to get one of the principals instead. School is ending soon. Over Rarity sighed in relief but a moment later smiled mischievously. How about Big McIntosh? I believe Wallflower may have a crush on him. She's a nice girl, and so shy. Let’s use this unfortunate situation to help her out. I suspect Sunset would like that. Over Half the girls in the school have a crush on him. But are you sure that includes Wallflower? Is this really the time for playing matchmaker? Over It’s always the time for playing matchmaker! Over Now you’re sounding like Cadance. Over Rarity hummed approvingly. I believe like Cadance. And Wallflower's Blush was quite telling. She was certainly taken with someone on our adventure last week. If not Applejack's brother, then it had to be Applejack herself. Rarity paused a moment, a smirk on her face, before continuing. Unless it was you or Sunset. Over There was a suspicious pause before Twily replied. And was her handwriting a little less calm at first? It must have been Mac then. Over Rarity's smirk turned dangerous for a moment before a shade of panic mixed into it. Wait, she’s not reading this is she? Over Wallflower is reading a map right now. I’ll text Big McIntosh. Class should end in a few minutes. I hope the principals don’t mind letting another student out for this since he does have only one more class. Rarity flipped to the next page to see the rest of Twily’s message. Over Rarity breathed a little sigh of relief. And I’ll rejoin the o She stopped. Should she suggest joining the others now? The whole point in messaging Twily was to learn if they had gone home. She crossed out what she wrote and tried again. And I’ll rejoin the o Anything else going on over there? Where are you right now? Over The next entry had different handwriting. Less exact and precise, but more flowing and flowery. This is Wallflower. We’re at the bus stop. We were planning to ride as far south as possible and walk the rest of the way to Ghastly Gorge, but Twilight said she’s trying to get a ride. Over. And it’s just the two of you? Over And Spike, and eventually whoever she’s texting. She won’t tell me. Over. Rarity smiled.  Twily was safe and seemed calm, and none of their friends had contacted her via phone so she it was clear that they were still on the pony planet. Also, Wallflower clearly hadn't read about the matchmaking plan, so more good news there. Splendid. Tell her I’ve learned how to use unicorn magic and will be bringing Sunset’s journal with me so we can write to each other anytime now. Doing it with hooves was simply not an option before. Over It’s still hard to believe this whole pony thing is real. Over. I have 4 hooves, bright, white fur, a pair of saddlebags over my back, and a horn and tail growing out of me. It’s quite real. Over Maybe I can try it sometime. Over. Once this is all over, perhaps you can. I believe you might enjoy it. Very green. Flowers and plant life everywhere. Over :-) Over. Rarity chuckled at the handwritten emoji. Another message came in before she could reply. And is it really "clothing optional" like Sunset said? Over. Very, I'm afraid. Over There were several pauses in Wallflower's response. Oh. Well, they are ponies after all. Over. Yes, but thankfully there are plenty of options for those of us not into going au naturel. The Rarity of this world has THREE boutiques! Including in Manehattan! I'm wearing quite the wonderful number right now in fact! Made by the both of us! Over Oh, good. That makes it easier. Over. Rarity chuckled again. Don't worry, darling. Us Rarities will have you covered in any world. You need only ask. Over Thank you, Rarity Rarities. Over. Anytime. I’ll rejoin the others here and go after this world’s Twilight, now that we know where she is. Over OK. Take care. Over and out. “Alright, then.” Rarity nodded resolutely and put the magic journal back in her saddlebags, tweaking her horn to get it to stay. “Twily is getting closer in her search, and so are we in ours. Now I just have to …” she frowned, “go back to waiting because I have no idea where the others are!  Perhaps this search isn't going so well.”