A Friend In Need

by Vietmane Veteran


Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Rarity gave a sigh. It seemed like today was another uneventful day. She hadn’t had a single customer in a week, but she couldn’t figure why business was so bad. Now, it wasn’t the bits she was missing, but the opportunity to work on a piece of art, a tapestry of fabric and silk! But it was about time to close up for the day.

She went towards the door, wishing for a customer. The door opened, and Fluttershy entered. “Oh! Speak of the Princess. I was just hoping a customer would arrive. Or did you just stop by to chat?” Rarity asked. A light blue foal walked in behind Fluttershy. Rarity squinted. Maybe she needed to get her eyes checked.

“Oh, um. No. I mean, yes. That is, I came to chat, and to get an outfit for Friend.” Fluttershy stepped aside, showing the foal more clearly. Rarity blinked. She must need glasses for casual observing.

“Friend? Is that their name? Hello, Friend. I am Rarity. Could you tell me what fashion of clothes you are looking for?” she asked. She turned and grabbed her glasses with her magic, bringing them to her face.

“I’m not sure. Perhaps something for comfort, but also easy to take off? I’m not sure. Maybe something warm?” the foal asked, looking around.

Rarity brought a hanky to herself, removing her glasses and rubbing them clean. She put them back on her nose, looking at the foal again. She gave a slight frown as she repeated the process of cleaning her glasses. She gave a small ‘ahem,’ drawing the attention of Fluttershy. With a toss of her head, Rarity indicated that they talk in the other room. Fluttershy gave a look of confusion, but followed.

Once in the other room, Rarity leaned towards Fluttershy. “What was that?” she questioned.

“What was what?” Fluttershy asked, tilting her head slightly to the left.

“What is that creature that you have brought to my Boutique?”

“Oh! Well, he’s Friend.”

“And what is it?”

“Well, Friend sounds like a colt to me,” Fluttershy answered.

Rarity lowered her head and gave a long sigh. “What is it?” she asked, raising her head.

“Oh. Um, I don’t know.”

“Where did you find him?”

“By the edge of the Ever-“ Fluttershy began.

“The Everfree?! Oh, Fluttershy, you know that the creatures there take care of themselves.”

“No, they crashed by the Everfree. They’re not from there.”

“Alright. Where is he from?”

“Oh. Um, I’m not sure.”

“So, you found a pony like creature by the edge of the Everfree after it crashed. You take it here, but you don’t know what it is, you don’t know where it’s from, and you’re not even sure that it’s a colt.”

“Um. . .” Fluttershy began as she took a step back.

“And what’s more, its head looks like an acid gel cube, or whatever they are called.”

“Well. . .” Fluttershy said as she pulled part of her hair in front of her eyes.

Rarity gave another sigh. “Fluttershy. I understand where your heart was, but you need to start asking questions first.”

Fluttershy gave a small sigh. Before either could say another word, something hit the wall outside the room. Both mares glanced at each other, and the bang repeated. Fluttershy opened the door and exited the room, Rarity right behind her. Friend was slamming his head against the wall, flashing pink. In one of the moments of pink, he spoke.

“We’re more than just ‘things,’ you stupid creature.” Slam. Slam. “Did you think I would be stupid enough to not realize you wanted to leave the room to talk about us?” Slam! SLAM! “We’re not idiots!”

“Not again,” Fluttershy whimpered.

“N- Not again?! What is it doing? What is going to happen?” Rarity shouted.

“Don’t get touched by him!” Fluttershy said as she approached the flickering creature.

Rarity backed up, before realizing how close Fluttershy was. “What on Earth are you doing?” she hissed. “Get away from that thing!”

Fluttershy continued approaching Friend. “Hey, it’s okay. Rarity didn’t mean any of those rude things. She was just confused, and sometimes, when we get confused, we say things that may not be nice.” Friend stopped flickering, leaning against the wall. He shuddered. Suddenly, he twitched and became pink.

“That’s no reason to insult us!” His left arm become some form of claw, and Rarity sent an ice spell to freeze him.

He stopped, not frozen, but stunned. He flickered blue. “Quick, again,” he said. Rarity repeated the spell, and Friend seemed to relax. His torso fell to the ground, his head landing on it. He gave a sigh. “Better. Much better.”

Rarity approached the two. “What? Was? That?”

“It was the Pink. I’m sorry. He just gets so angry so fast,” Friend answered from his spot on the ground.

“The ‘Pink’? Fluttershy, what did you mean by ‘not again?’” Rarity asked, turning her head to look at Fluttershy.

“Well, he did this before at my cottage. Angel kept kicking him, and Friend got upset.”

“Do you what this ‘Pink’ is?”

“Um. . . No?” Fluttershy answered, hiding behind her hair.

Rarity gave a sigh. “Of course. Well, time for a little Q and A, hmm?” Rarity faced Friend. “First, where you from are, and he’s fallen asleep. Fantastic.”

“Well, anger does take a lot out of someone, and he’s so small. I’ll take him home, and I’ll come back first thing tomorrow. Is that okay?” Fluttershy asked, flying over to Friend and grabbing his torso.

“Absolutely not. Tomorrow, you are going to bring him to Twilight. She is a researcher; she will know what to ask, and how to get the most information from a question. Oh! I almost forgot.” Rarity turned her head, levitating a small cloak to them. “Here, take this. This should stop any townsfolk from panicking if they see him. And no charge,” she added as Fluttershy was about to ask.

“Oh, well, thank you. Um, could you lift his feet and give them to me?” Fluttershy asked.

Rarity arched an eyebrow. “Darling, look at his feet. They’re floating close to the body. I don’t think his ‘limb levitation’ ends just because he’s asleep.”

“Oh. Um, goodbye, then, Rarity. See you tomorrow. Um, see you soon.” She left, gently flapping out the door.

Rarity gave a sigh. Ponyville was a nice town, but it didn’t need Discord’s influence to be the Capital of Chaos.