The railroad platform was quite small but much more decorated, sure places like Manehatten and other big cities were adding a bit here and there but none had quite the style or quite the culture to back the amount of flaunting they had in this one. Canterlot was known for its snobbish uptight blue bloods but I never thought they would spend a single bit on something like this, maybe just to show off?
I blew my charcoal mane out of the way, not like the decor was why I was here either way. I'm just waiting for the train to come, my ear flicked towards the railroad entrance, judging by the distance it was slowing down, which wouldn't take very long which was good for me. A scream could be heard clear as day, surprising as it was a bit far away.
There were a lot of hooves coming from a couple of blocks away from the railroad station but I cared little for it, it's not like they could catch up to me now. The train will come by before they realize which pony I am, just have to wait here in the crowd for a little longer and- bingo.
The train slowly came by, with a hiss of succession stopping at the station, the mass of ponies waiting began to move. All in a wave of ponies the guards shouldn't be able to find me in it. I moved along the pace of everypony as if it was a normal Monday, no alterations to the steps, just another pair of hooves to move along the flow, nothing would point me out, moved further and further. My bag of bits jingled while moving and reminding me of its existence as well as the amulet every time I took a step, it was a small pain in the ass but one I was willing to deal with.
I trotted and past several rooms trying to put some distance before the guards could suspect anything, when I felt it was good enough of a space I found a bathroom and went in. While my disguise was good for fooling ponies I couldn't exactly keep it on after they saw me, I closed my eyes, focused on the amulet, and undisguised. I turned to see a mirror, found a face I haven't allowed myself to be, a bat-pony, near ashy like hair, grayer but teetering on the colors. A green streak going through the hair like a strike to clash the familiarity, a gray more dark-toned coat with some fluff on the chest. Light green marks on my back, the same mint-colored stripes through my front hooves but only one strike passing my wrists and a cutie mark of my curse. To say it's been a while would be a huge understatement, I've lived so many different lives it's hard to say which is part of me or just false. I shake my head, doesn't fucking matter though does it? I used my amulet to mask the cutie mark.
I stepped out of the bathroom and sat down on a nearby seat and not long after a unicorn Conductor came by to check my legitimacy.
"Ticket please" The Conductor was holding a puncher.
"Certainly" I smiled and gave what he requested but instead of the usual once over and punch he looked at it much longer than others. "Is something the matter?" I spoke in an even tone but with a raised eyebrow.
He looked at it much more intensely and raised his eyebrow at me but gave in, "Nothing" he punched it and went on.
As the train began to move and gain traction I was on a window seat to see the chaos the railroad station was at. Ponies were shocked and afraid while guards tried to calm everypony down, always a sight good to see.
And before anypony could be any wiser the train already began to move all the while I saw the land move by, to see it go past me was a small pleasure I was rarely given.
The door to my cargo opened, I was quick to notice but it was just a train attendant, a mare to be specific, with a candy cart. I gave it no attention, I just needed to keep the focus on where I was going, that was always the main idea.
"Would you like some candy for the travel?" She spoke with a smile to some random senile pony.
"Oh no, I'm quite alright" and that was the last thing I focused on, I moved my head towards the window. It was rare for me to have the view actually be nice and lush, I hope Ponyville will be much more comfortable than Canterlot, I never even heard of it before.
"And what about you sir?" My ear flicked and I turned to see her asking me, she was at first quite welcoming much to any other customer but as soon as she saw my face she visibly had a strained smile. I was more so numbed to this degree of what I usually get and just played dumb. "I'm fine"
"O-of course" she tried to play it cool with her usual body language for training but It was painfully obvious she was afraid of me, the poor dear didn't know what she was really supposed to be afraid of.
I looked back to the landscape, much the same before, and didn't seem like it was going to change either. I sighed, I really wanted this town to work, and have a normal life.
The train made its familiar hissing noise of stopping and ponies took that as a point to start moving out, I was still left with my thoughts on how I was going to work out my life here but I guess that's now a work in moment kind of deal.
I moved with them and left the train to see the surrounding area, it was actually kind of peaceful, a couple of ponies meeting and greeting others like lost relatives or family members, the railroad platform was made of wood with a nice stable base. I started to move but something caught my attention, a mare was trying to get her luggage out with her magic, making very little progress, and soon found me staring. "O-oh you! You look like a strong stallion, would you help a damsel in distress?" While I usually would've cared less for it something made me feel drawn to the scene.
I rolled my eyes but obliged, I wanted to get this over with, she levitated three or four pieces of luggage for me to carry. I actually nearly buckled from the weight at first but kept my strength steady and slowly straighten up, well the amount I could straighten up with.
"Thank you, dear" She spoke with elegance but I couldn't really give care with this fucking much weight, what the hell did she pack?!
"Yeah, yeah, lead me where I'm supposed to put this before I fucking let this shit drop." I was fucking losing the balance I had and what did she do? She just gasped.
"Such crass language! There are foals nearby!" She somehow got a newspaper from somewhere and rolled it up just to swat at the back of my head.
"Bitch" I hissed in discomfort and pain, I had to use some magic from the amulet necklace to lift it better.
"Hmph, come along" I'm this close to hitting her in the face.
The move wasn't all surprising, she came out of the same train as I did so I assumed she was coming to Ponyville the same as me. I wanted to use this opportunity to look around the town while covering as a helping hand and if it so happens she lives in the quaint place. I could get some knowledge speaking of getting some-
"So Ms?"
"Rarity" she stopped and turned around looking shocked, "I am oh so terribly sorry! Where are my manners? I am Rarity, I run a boutique at Ponyville, and you are?"
"Hah, I'm-" I paused, if I really wanted to let be normal around here maybe I'd have to use my real name- but what if it doesn't work out? Fuck what if-
"Are you okay?" I realized Rarity was closer than before, she stopped and looked concerned for me.
I smiled to try to wave off her suspicions and kept trotting, "Heh, yeah sorry, I'm...Flare, Shining Flare at your service madam." I stopped to bow to her, slightly to give a bit of chivalry, with the politeness and attitude of a snob I'd assume she'd be a sucker for the nonsense.
She moved a hoof over her mouth, "My my, what a gentle stallion," she moved her hoof back on the ground to keep moving while looking at me. "is what I would say if I didn't know what comes out of that mouth," she stopped to give a sly look to me, she was seeing through my facade "first impressions are everything, after all, Mr. Flare." She resumed leading the charge.
Well, there goes my cover on the politeness, "Well I try" I just kept moving, so much for a fake personality just as a backup.
She began to speak from the front and turned to me, "And don't be discouraged to do so, I am just not so easily swayed." She winked towards me before looking forward once more.
"Do you say that to all the stallions or just me?" I smirked even if she couldn't see it.
"That depends, do you try to woo a mare like this all the time or just me?"
"Hah, touche" while the banter was sorta a nice change to ponies cussing me out I wondered how much longer we would reach her store, the place was packed with stores and houses, all seemingly interesting in their designs from candy stores to quills and sofas.
"And here we are." I was so enamored I nearly bumped into her, but I managed to look where I was going for a split second. She hovered her keys before putting them into the keyhole and turned it counter-clockwise until she heard a click. "There we are!" She opened the door and a ring echoed through the house, "Welcome to the Carousel Boutique!" She smiled showing triumphantly but faltered the smile before speaking. "I'm sorry to have bothered you this far but if it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you move the luggage over to the couch? It's past that door, have to separate the store and living space somehow."
I was completely stunned, I stepped inside, the interior was, well extravagant, the room was filled with dresses, suits, ponnequins, and materials strewn all over. It was probably the messiest neatest place I'd have seen if that even made sense. "Uh, Mr. Flare?"
I zoned out enamoring the beauty but regained my train of thought by shaking my head. "uh yeah I heard you, sorry"
She sighed while putting down the luggage to move to shut the door, "Quite alright really" she lifted her part of the luggage again, "I am, sort of embarrassed to show anyone the mess I left behind right now," she started to move upstairs but I felt the need to speak while she was moving, "if it's any consolation, the neatest mess I've seen."
She was already in a room but she raised her voice high enough for me to hear. "Quite the flatter stallion, is this how you get all the mares to stay by your house?"
I bounced the weight of the luggage on my back to the couch, I felt actually really really light after that. Must've been putting a lot more magic into it than I thought, I could hear her move down from the staircase. "Interesting, I'm surprised YOU are the one to ask that." I saw her come down to the final step, she froze for a bit before she began to stifle a laugh, and then let it come out the flood gates. She seemed to enjoy that one.
"S-sorry that was improper of me, b-but that was quite the retort," she started to giggle then laugh again, not that I was complaining, the happiness was kinda infectious and I would be lying if I said I didn't start smiling myself. She started to get a hold of her laughter and try to recompose herself, "Phew, I must say it's been too long since I've laughed like that." she started to trot over to the kitchen and yelled out. "Would you like some tea Mr. Flare?"
"Nah, I'm good" I slowly started to slouch on the couch, usually I wouldn't let my guard so easily but I was feeling a bit comfortable sadly the coffee table was too far away to let my hind hooves rest. Besides, what was a white unicorn gonna do I haven't already dealt with.
I saw her coming back and didn't give it much mind, she was lifting a disk tray with her magic holding the teapot and two cups. She set them up on the counter and tried to move the luggage but found more weight than she seemed to think. "My, I nearly forgot the weight of the luggage, and in no way do I mean this in any sort of offense but I'm, rather surprised you were able to hold it up all the way to here. You seemed like you were struggling with it back at the train station."
I was surprised she caught that but I didn't show any of my shock, "Well what can I say? I'm more than meets the eye, I have to say, it held a bit more weight than I thought, what was in it?"
She turned to me just to smile at the question, "A lady never tells Mr. Flare"
"Yes yes, yet I see no mare around, please do send my regards, however." She started to pour the tea into one of the cups and lifted it to the level of her mouth before blowing the heat and speaking.
"I'll let her know a barbarian came by to ask of her hoof," she winked at me before drinking a bit of the cup.
She released a sigh of content from her drink then spoke again, "If you must know, however, it was mere supplies for my latest design-"
"Bullshit, there's no way-" I couldn't believe the shit I was carrying was 'mere supplies' but before I could put in anymore she shut my mouth with her hoof.
"Tat tat, let me finish before you speak, darling," she moved away from her hoof and waited a moment to see if I was done. I was kinda upset the fact she touched me but I played along to get some more information for a possible supporter in the town.
"Thank you, darling, as I was saying, they were supplies. I usually buy them in bulks and have them shipped over but well," she started to move a bit in her seat at unease and slightly blushed.
"I am a bit ashamed to admit but I ah," She started to roll of one of her hooves to keep the momentum of her weight on words, "have a tendency to buy supplies at the moment, I can't help it much, inspiration comes in all forms and I cannot help but feel the need to be moved by the pieces!" She ended that last piece of explanation with a dramatic tone and body language of having that same hoof strike to the sky with the other clutching her chest while looking off to the ceiling.
She started to recompose herself "Ahem, it didn't help I had visited Canterlot during my absence of the store so, might have gotten a little too eager to build my creativity."
"Uhuh" I raised my eyebrow, never met someone so enthralled in their passion.
"Oh! I'm so terribly sorry darling, I meant to tell you when I sat down that the tea was here just in case you changed your mind, completely slipped my mind with our conversation going on." She seemed genuinely sorry for not notifying me earlier.
"It's completely fine." I waved it off with one of my hooves, "So," I raised my eyebrow, "how does a pretty mare like yourself stumble upon this cozy little town, surely you would be more suited for Canterlot or Manehatten."
She seemed surprised but smiled again, "hah, a lively place like Canterlot with nobles, businesses, and where famous clothing trends begin?"
"Yeah" I was even more surprised she was talking it up like that, she obviously knew that's the most productive and profitable area she would start in.
"Originally I did, I imagined the high praise for my hard work, the articles, and stories drawn by my work, even being swept off my hooves by blue blood," she started to laugh a bit at that last part, "could you believe that?" I did believe that and I laughed too, many noble back at Canterlot were so full of hot air, it felt relieving to hear the same kind of side being laughed at.
"Ah, but, I stuck around here because I wanted a more organic start, being rushed with creativity wasn't quite my best style, besides I was still doing more rough drafts of work, something of an amateur really, and well, I made some good friends here." She seemed really happy for that last reason, it was kinda heartwarming, I haven't seen many smiles like that one over all the traveling I've done, to see it so warmly like that made me ache for my own content.
"But enough about me, I have my own questions about you darling,"
I perked up from that, "me?"
She seemed to giggle at that "yes you darling, how could I not? A stallion, a thestral to be exact, comes to aid a poor mare in help of a train leaving from Canterlot to our small village of Ponyville. How could I not be interested in a dark, mysterious stallion-like yourself?"
I blinked at that, I wasn't expecting anyone to ask about myself, most just snarl or give me a bad eye just for existing, I need a backup story "I uh, grew up at Canterlot, nothing really interesting trust me, nobles and snobs all alike trying to take a piece of the bits you make, really there's nothing too interesting about it."
She stopped to look at me with a raised eyebrow, she looked into my eyes as if gauging that statement, "I don't know about that, you seemed interesting as is darling."
I was taken aback, "O-oh, thank you Ms. Rarity,"
"Please darling, call me Rarity, you've been very generous with helping me move along some materials I needed without asking anything in return and I of all ponies, should return that generosity, come by anytime the shop, I'll even give you something of a deal for any clothes you might need next time you come by." She winked at me.
"Thanks, I don't know if I will stay in Ponyville for very long but, I do hope it'll be a while, I would hate to leave so soon without finding more about you. I should be going, again thank you Rarity." I started to get out of the couch and trot to the door.
"Anytime darling, besides, I should be thanking you, my offer still stands Mr. Flare." She still kept on the couch smiling at the good warmth of hospitality.
"If you must, call me Flare." I lowered my front half to bow.
"Very well, have a good day Flare, and please, forgo the pleasantries, I'm not one of those nobles in Canterlot." She seemed to laugh at the thought of my simple facade acts, she did seem to be genuine.
I laughed at that catch though "Hah, fair enough, have a good day Rarity." I was surprised she saw through them but kept moving on.
I wonder what I was going to find in this town, it seemed very low on notice and seemed kind of..nice.