R A R I T Y
Equestria’s Great Designer
AND
G E R T I E
“Fashionista, darling, thank you,” said Rarity, “but I do appreciate the gesture.” She squinted. Everything seemed rather white. “And whomever this Gertie creature is, I’m not sure I see her around at all.”
GERTIE,–yes, her name
is Gertie,--will come out
of that cave.
“Well!” said Rarity, pleasantly, “That sounds splendid. If you could just point me in the direction of...?”
But there was no need, for at that moment, lines began to weave their way through the world like thread, carefully assembling rocks and trees and in the distance, mountains – and, yes, a cave.
“Ah! Splendid,” said Rarity, again. There was a pause – no sign of Gertie. “I don’t suppose you can tell me anything about this creature,” she whispered, confidentially. “I’d prefer not to go in completely blind. ‘Gertie’ is a very strange name, after all; I’m not even sure what kind of creature she is.”
There was silence.
“Hmh!”
Come out Gertie, and
make a pretty bow.
At last, the promised Gertie! An enormous head emerged slowly from the cave, looked about, retracted – a moment later, peeked out again. Coy.
“No need to be shy,” said Rarity, stepping forward. “Gertie, is it not? The pleasure’s mine, I assure you.”
She shrank away again, peeked out – and this time, the rest of her followed, a long, long neck, arched back, and a graceful, tapered tail. Beautiful scales – Rarity was sure they would have glittered, spun like diamonds, had the world been in colour.
Gertie waddled forward, scanning the ground for...well, Rarity wasn’t sure quite what, until Gertie bent down and swallowed a rock. Goodness! She must have been some type of draconic relation, with an appetite like that. Rather impressive, really. She’d have to ask Spike the next time she saw him.
“Forgive me,” said Rarity, with a bow, “if I say anything that might offend. I’ve never met a...you know, I’m not quite sure your species.”
Gertie is a
Dinosaurus.
“I’ve never met a dinosaurus,” repeated Rarity, smoothly, “which I’m sure is my own loss, but! better to make up for lost time than lie around lamenting it, don’t you agree? Delighted to meet you. My name’s Rarity.”
The dinosaurus ambled along, towering high above her. Could Gertie even hear her? Perhaps she should try shouting. “Gertie, darling—” she began, but the dinosaurus ignored her again completely, eyeing a tree that stood almost head-height, before – to Rarity’s increasing astonishment – taking an enormous bite out the canopy. Well, this was a very strange dream indeed.
Aw, stop that! Be a
good girl and bow
to your audience.
Gertie finished off the tree, nodding absently, and finally dipped her head to bow; that long, long neck sweeping down almost to the ground, her large, round eyes meeting Rarity’s at last.
“Charmed,” said Rarity, sticking out her hoof.
Gertie’s eyes went wide with shock; she pulled back, startled, stamping her feet in alarm.
“Now, now, there’s no need for all that,” said Rarity, as the ground started to shake. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, Gertie, see?” she stepped back: big, slow movements. “I’m a friend.”
Gertie was having none of it, thundering and gasping, rearing back on her hind legs to stand tall as any building, letting out great worried snorts.
Gertie, don’t hurt Rarity.
Hurt? Rarity eyed Gertie with new concern. Yes, she supposed it would certainly hurt to be on the receiving end of one of those tremendous feet...
Gertie’s head swung down, her mouth snapping at the air above Rarity’s head, and Rarity took another step back, more shakily.
“Hah... Now, darling, let’s not be hasty. I’m Rarity. Remember? Rarity: friend.”
Gertie swept in again, and Rarity felt the whisk of air upon her fur. Close!
“Ahem. Say it with me. Rarity: F-R-I-E-N-D-aah!” She yelped as Gertie nipped at the tip of her tail, and jumped away. “Oh, that is it! I get enough of this in the real world! Gertie, you are to calm down this instant, do you hear me?”
Gertie trumpeted, but held back.
“Good! Yes! Now, you are going to stop trying to bite me, or whatever it is you were trying to do, and we are going to sit down and have a very pleasant, civil conversation!”
The ground stopped trembling, and Rarity allowed herself a smile. Yes, Gertie was related to dragons, all right.
“I’m going to take a step closer, and you are going to stay calm, yes? Yes.” She stepped forward, and Gertie shook her head, but at least she wasn’t doing anything else. Rarity felt a thrill like she hadn’t felt in years – it was like being back, when she was younger, dragged off on some adventure or other with the girls. The rush that made you run like there was a dragon on your tail.
“See?” she said, a little breathlessly. “I’m sitting down. Rarity: friend. Why don’t you come and join me?”
Gertie snorted, and whistled, and slowly lowered herself to four legs, then to the ground. Her great head came to rest next to Rarity, eyes rolling round to stare at her.
Incredible. The power
of determination.
“I do have my moments,” Rarity allowed. “I was the element of Generosity, after all.”
Are you comfortable,
Gertie?
Gertie nodded, still watching Rarity. She smiled. “Of course she is. Gertie’s a good girl really, aren’t you?” She patted Gertie’s cheek, very gingerly. The dinosaurus gave an eager nod, and nearly bowled Rarity over as she went to nuzzle her.
I think she likes you.
“Clever dinosaurus!” Rarity patted Gertie again, and the creature’s tail swept round to pull her closer. “Aww! Oh, yes, I like you too, don’t worry.” Her hoof traced down Gertie’s cheek, exploring the hard pebbled texture of the creature’s hide. “You have lovely scales, do you know that? Quite marvellous. In the right lighting, I can only imagine...”
The magic of the
moving image.
Luminous, alive, and sparkling. Sight to take your breath away. Rarity smiled, and kissed Gertie’s enormous head. Opalescent. Absently, she murmured, “I wonder how a dress would look on you.”
And she awoke.