“That’s… me?” Stormcloud asked, in disbelief.
“Yes darling, that’s you”
Stormcloud still couldn’t believe it. He looked-
Pretty
At the thought, euphoria rushed through him. For the first time ever, he enjoyed the way he looked. It was a nice change of pace.
“What do you think?” Rarity asked, snapping Stormcloud out of her- his stooper. There was a edge of worry in her voice, as if she thought that she may have made a mistake.
“I-“ Stormcloud started, causing Rarity to lean in closer, “I like it. A lot, actually”
“Oh good!” Rarity said, relief obvious in her expression. “I’m glad. You look as though you’re seeing yourself for the first time!”
She wasn’t completely wrong.
“I just realized,” Rarity commented, “ I never caught your name darling. Would you care to tell me?”
“It’s, Stormcloud” he replied, saying Stormcloud in a voice just above a whisper.
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”
“Stormcloud” he managed to force out, trading volume for speed.
“Stormcloud?” Rarity asked, amusement spreading across her face. “Well, that isn’t exactly the most fitting name now, is it?”
Stormcloud stayed silent, his thoughts blocking out all other noise.
He was so unsure of so many things. He was a colt, right? Why did he feel like that was a lie? Why was it so hard to understand himself? Why wa-
“Stormcloud?” Rarity nearly shouted, pulling him out of his head. “Are you ok darling?” She asked, the words almost dripping with concern.
Just say yes. He thought.
“I don’t know,” he said.
Stormcloud stood there in shock. Why did he say that? He had just met this pony, and here he was, practically pouring his heart out. Why did he feel like he could trust her?
“What’s wrong darling?”
“Well,” he started, before logic could stop him, “I feel uncertain about so many things”
Rarity looked at him, worry etched on her face. Why wasn’t he just staying silent?
“Well,” Rarity started slowly, “What are you sure about?”
Stormcloud thought for a moment, and replied with, “Um, I like animals”
“Ok, what else?”
“Well, uh,” Stormcloud quickly realized that there was nothing else. Great. He thought. You know practically nothing about yourself.
“Is that it?” Rarity asked
Stormcloud just slowly nodded his head.
“You're unsure of your own name?” Rarity asked, almost jokingly. Joke or not however, Stormcloud just stayed silent. “Oh,” Rarity said, understanding. “Well, how do you look right now?”
Stormcloud looked up into the mirror again.
“I look… pretty” he replied
“And do you like looking pretty?”
Stormcloud took a second, but that little voice didn’t hesitate. It had an answer, and it gave it to Stormcloud immediately. He voiced what that little voice had been saying.
“Yes, I do”
Rarity and Stormcloud just sat in silence for a while, which was fine with Stormcloud. His head was loud enough with the seeming millions of thoughts rushing through it.
“Well, I’m glad we got that out of the way.” Rarity said, almost beaming, “After all, a mare such as yourself ought to feel pretty from time to time”
Stormcloud froze, that sentence pulling him out of his sea of thoughts. A mare like him? Oh, he realized, Rarity thinks that I’m a mare. The thought made him smile.
“Well,” Rarity said, breaking the silence. “Thank you for your time, patience, and for saving my precious little Opalescece. But I must be going now. I do so hope that you will come visit me at the Carousel Boutique sometime, Goodbye!”
And with that, she was gone, leaving Stormcloud alone with his thoughts that lived up to his name. She thinks I’m a mare. That thought had taken center stage.
He didn’t know why, but the thought of being seen as a mare excited him, almost. It filled him with joy, excitement, and euphoria.
She liked it.