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// 1 - Hanakotoba 
// Story: Compatibility 
// by mechafone 
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Our story takes place exactly one and a half years before Twilight Sparkle's arrival in Ponyville.


Spark Storm made his way through town, a certain degree of bounce to his step. Today was the day-the day he would ask her. He'd spent the last few weeks in intelligence gathering, and he'd learned a lot. The only bit of information he cared about, really, was the fact that she wasn't seeing anypony. Spark was on his way there right now to ask her to be his date for the upcoming Ponyville ball in two weeks.

Of course, he didn't intend on going without anything to give her. He made a left turn to enter the market and made a beeline for Roseluck's stall, which was filled with the most vibrant of flowers. The perky botanist waved good morning to the pegasus. "Hey there, Spark Storm! You look happy today," she told him with a suspicious smile. "Something I can help you find?"

Spark cleared his throat with just a hint of nervousness as he looked over the dozens of flowers available. "Well, uh...I'm headed over to R...uh, somewheres...and, well..."

Roseluck rolled her eyes good-naturedly. So many stallions came by her flower cart, usually for a mare. They almost always stuttered like this. "Don't worry, sweetheart, I think I've got just the thing for you." She trotted over towards him, grasping something in her mouth, a chart. She beckoned him closer and set the chart to hang on her cart and gestured towards it dramatically. "Hanakotoba. It's a practice that originated from Neippon. It tells you the meaning of certain flower types, and pretty much does the speaking for you. Trust me, whoever this mare is, go by this chart and she'll get your message."

Spark's eyes lit up. This was just what he needed! "Wow, thanks, Rose!" Spark exclaimed as Roseluck returned to her cart to let Spark take a look at his choices. "Hm...'White Chrysanthemum, truth'...No, not what I need...Ooh, cactus flower, that's pretty." He paused, reading the meaning. 'Sex and Lust'. His face turned a bright red. Interesting, but not a good idea to open up with. Spark took a moment to clear his head, then returned to reading. His eyes lit up once more as he came upon the Camellias.

"Red, 'In love', white, 'Waiting'," Spark read to himself, then stopped at yellow camellia. "'Longing'...that's perfect. Rose, I think I'll-" he said, standing up straight to address the botanist, only to find that she had a yellow camellia waiting for him with a patient smile on her face. "Oh, thank you," he told her as he reached for his coin pouch that he kept hidden in his wings. He paused when Roseluck shook her head and held out the flower for him.

"It's on me, sweety. Now you go get her!"

Spark Storm couldn't help a small blush rise in his cheeks as he took the camellia and tucked the stem under his left wing. "Thanks, Rose, I appreciate all your help. See you!" With that, he waved with his free wing and set off down the road, returning to his original line of direction. The closer he got, the more and more nervous he became. What if she didn't understand the meaning of the flower? No, of course she would. She was among the most intelligent ponies in Ponyville. Oh crap, what if she did understand the meaning of the flower?

It was too late now to start freaking out, though. He drew closer, and closer, and the knot in Spark's stomach and a tightness in his throat began to make themselves known. Spark frowned at his nervousness. Since when he become such a pansy? He'd fought monsters, alicorns and sea dragons before, and this was making him scared? He shook his head to clear it as he came upon the large white building that held what he came for. No more nervousness, Sparky. This is it. Just knock on the door, give her the flower, and oh Celestia what am I doing?

Spark swallowed hard as he reached up and knocked on the door of the Carousel Boutique. "Coming!" Spark heard from somewhere within the dress shop. He also heard chaotic stirring inside, like the sound of several heavy things being hauled around and repositioned. Finally the door opened to a frazzled Rarity. Her mane had been pinned up in neat ribbons, she wore her red glasses, and her tail had received similar treatment as her mane. "Oh, Spark Storm, you're just in time!" she exclaimed and reached down to drag Spark Storm in by a hoof.

"Oh, uh, hello, Rarity," he mumbled with some surprise. "It's so good to see you!"

Spark's greeting went largely unheard as the unicorn pulled him into her work space. "Oh, darling, you have no idea how good it is to see you," she told him, prompting a grin on Spark's face. He loosened his grip on the flower he had for her, intending to get this part out of the way as quickly as possible. "I need you to model for me."

Spark nearly dropped the camellia as he heard these last words. "I...what?"

"Let's set your pretty flower aside for now, darling," she told him. Rarity's magic enveloped the flower and pulled it gently from Spark's grip, dumped an old flower from her table, filled it with water and set the new flower in, all without taking her eyes from the chaos that was her work station. She turned to him, her eyes a little bloodshot, probably from working for a long time. "Right now I really, truly need your help! Please model for me, please please please!"

Spark Storm looked down at the fashionista. She looked desperate, a little on edge, even. Let's see here. Deny Rarity her wishes and give her the flower and go, or let her take my measurements in close quarters? The flower can wait, Spark thought. He let out a politely aggravated sigh, tilted his eyes slightly towards the ceiling and said "Fine...I guess."

This was what Rarity was waiting for. She let out a little squeal and hopped forward to plant a kiss on Spark's cheek, completely taking from him any control of this situation he thought he had. The mare pulled him up onto her pedestal in front of her large mirrors and began taking measurements. He was barely aware of her instructions, and even less aware that he was following them.

Spark's dazed state didn't last long. It had only been about five minutes until Rarity began squeezing Spark Storm into tight uniforms. It was largely uncomfortable, at least until it came time to measure the under garments, specifically a white shirt that would present itself under the dashing tuxedo she'd just modeled on him. Now that Spark had calmed down a bit, he stood with Rarity in front of him, fussing with the front of the shirt and muttering quietly to herself.

As Spark had nothing else to do, he chanced a glance at her face. She looked hot, overworked, and maybe a little feverish. It concerned him to see her working so hard. "Geez, Rarity, how hard have you been working?" he asked and brought a hoof up to her forehead. Her skin was a little warm and feverish, and the touch made her stop what she was doing. The two ponies seemed to freeze. Both looked into each other's eyes, and as he saw Rarity's cheek flush more than they were already, he felt his burning as well.

A small sheepish smile escaped Rarity's lips, a small sign of embarrassment. But her eyes...they spoke volumes of confidence. Spark found himself getting lost in those big blue eyes, and it occurred to the pegasus that she wasn't overworking herself as she measured him - she was blushing. Spark felt a new sensation, one that pressed on his chest like a hoof. Wait, that was a hoof, and it was hers. Spark could feel his heartbeat speeding up, and he was positive Rarity could feel it where her hoof was positioned. A gentle, wordless smile of amusement played on her face as her eyes darted once to his chest, then back up to his face.

Spark tried to say something, to get past this moment and tell her what he'd come to tell her, but the words just wouldn't come, and time was running out. Finally, he just opened his mouth and blurted out, "The clouds in the sky have melted."

Rarity tilted her head slightly to the side, a gentle confusion in her eyes. His blundered statement was familiar, something she'd told him years ago. It was on the tip of her tongue when a knock sounded at the door. Rarity's eyes flew open in shock and horror as she exclaimed, "Oh, Celestia he's here! Quickly, Spark Storm, off with the clothes!" Spark was much too embarrassed by his flub to be further embarrassed by the unicorn's slip of the tongue. He helped her remove the modeling shirt, then watched as the fashionista find a place for all the clothes, put her work away, straighten up, then turn to him with a look of panic in her eyes.

Spark stared helplessly at her. She returned the look, a look of understanding passing between them. They needed to talk, they both knew this. A bright smile slowly spread across Rarity's face as she calmed down in his presence. She stepped forward, touched a hoof to his chest, and planted a gentle kiss to his cheek. "I understand, darling. If you're in town for a while, I'll find you. Now go on."

Spark sighed as he did as Rarity bade him to do. He turned and took one look at the vase holding the flower he'd gotten for her, then turned and made his way out. He opened the door to what might've been the best reason to ever hit a pony in the face. In the doorway stood an earth pony that reminded him of a grown Righteous River in every way from the rich hairstyle, to the way he carried himself, (aside from the girly pink color of his fur), but the real clincher was the pony's facial expression. He smirked up at the taller pegasus, his eyes darting up and down, immediately and undoubtedly marking Spark Storm as an unworthy commoner.

Spark Storm wasn't rich, but he preferred it this way. He worked for the Princess and her secret Fighters and received a paycheck that did more than keep some food on the table, but he'd learned so much from his teachers that he rarely had to go shopping. Keeping currency on his person was a rarity, so looking like he had little to nothing to call his own didn't worry or bother him when others flaunted their riches. It did bother him, however, when they tried to use their looks or cash to intimidate others. It didn't work with him. Spark leaned forward just a little to get in the smaller pony's face. You've got money? the look in his eyes said. Ask me if I care.

A quiet clearing of a throat brought Spark back to the present. He rolled his eyes at the earth pony before going on his merry way, feeling accomplished enough today. "Hmph," the earth pony mumbled, very much under Spark's hearing range. He turned to give the waiting fashionista a winning smile as she invited him inside. "Honestly, Miss Rarity, I don't see how you can stomach working here in such a filthy village. I feel exposed without something to cover me," he complained as Rarity closed the door behind him.

"Oh, it's not so bad, Cruising Voyage," the unicorn told him, a professional polite air in her poise and step as she lead the earth pony towards her modeling pedestal. "One is free to breathe the fresh air and feel a warm spring wind on one's coat. It's quite refreshing."

"Hmph. I don't see it. I'd much rather be covered and look dazzling...and be among others of my ilk," he said, taking particular care to put a bounce in his hindquarters as he stepped up onto the pedestal, displaying his flashy cutie mark - a yacht with bills trailing along behind it. "I must ask, have you had my orders measured yet?"

Rarity, who had been busy retrieving certain tools to begin fitting Cruising for his new cap, smiled patiently as she began to take measurements for the earth pony's head, also accounting for his poofy greyish blue pompadour. "Why of course. My personal stallion fitter was just here. He gave me the basic outline, I merely need to scale it down for you, and-"

Cruising Voyage blew a rather rude raspberry, interrupting Rarity mid-sentence. "Really? That...rough-looking pegasus with the rather distasteful blue coat and black markings? Did-did you see his wings, Miss Rarity?" he asked her, his eyes darting to hers to see if she was following along at her every word like his other faithfuls did. She was looking into his eyes, but she'd lost the patient look in them. Cruising didn't notice. "His wings were awfully bent. I'd not as soon trust such a crooked pegasus as -"

"Mister Voyage!"

Cruising Voyage stared down at Rarity. The tone in her voice was stern and angry. It was an unfamiliar sound, having never been told things like no or quiet down or shut up. "I'll not stand here and listen to you insult one of my personal friends while I'm standing here measuring you for your clothes!"

"Oh, uh..." he stammered, unsure of what to say or even what he'd done wrong to garner the unicorn's anger. He did this to everypony, after all. A thought suddenly struck him as Rarity continued to gather her measurings for his future cap. "Did you not just call him your personal stallion fitter? Now you're calling him your personal friend. Are you sure you didn't mean your personal stallion filler?"



The doors of the Boutique burst open, and Cruising Voyage found himself thrown to the ground, face first. He slid a few feet, gathering dust, as several ponies nearby couldn't help but watch. Rarity emerged after him, her fur standing on end in rage. "There's some clean air and fresh earth for you to consider, mister Voyage. Seeing as you've already paid for all your clothing I shall have it delivered to your doorstep in a much cleaner state than your mouth. But I warn you, don't you ever dare think to buy from my shop again!" she yelled, not caring at all who saw, before she rushed back inside to leave the earth pony to pick himself back up.

Cruising Voyage groaned and slowly got to his hooves. This was certainly a first for him - thrown out of a shop for simply speaking his mind. Perhaps it was a bit crude, a bit insulting, but...that unicorn was so sensitive! Certainly not to hold firm under pressure. Cruising dusted himself off with a curt little 'hmph' and went on his merry way towards Town Hall, where his carriage waited to take him away from this filthy place.



"Ooh, the nerve...the unmitigated gall! Of all the most pompous, rude, perverted, nasty..." Rarity fumed, pacing back and forth in front of her mirrors, her gaze low and glaring at the floor in front of her hooves. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself, and she felt a burning sensation at the top of her head. The tips of her ears felt like they were on fire! She took a quick glance at herself in the mirror just to make sure that she wasn't. There was certainly no fire, but her face was flushed and red, and not just from yelling.

A small giggle escaped from her. Then another one, and another. She turned to look at herself properly and reached up to brush a hoof through her mane and pulled it downwards. She bit her lip gently and gave herself a soft, 'I'm here, waiting', look. She imagined that perhaps while Cruising's accusation had been completely uncalled for and very, very rude, there might have been some desire for it to be true. No. Wait, she told herself. Spark has only just now expressed some interest, let's not get ahead of yourself. Oh...the flower. Only just now recalling the flower that she vaguely recognized, she searched around until she found the flower she'd taken from him and put inside a vase with fresh water.

Rarity's eyes opened wide as she gingerly grasped the camellia in her magic and brought it close. Tears of happiness joined the water dripping from the stem onto the floor. Longing. Spark Storm longs for me, and I have longed for this day for years...she thought as she closed her eyes and brought the flower close to her heart.



Cruising Voyage sat in his carriage as his driver pulled him towards home, to Canterlot. The rich earth pony glanced out the window, a bored gaze in his eyes. Since his birth, he'd been given nothing but the finest things in life, anything and everything and more than a growing colt could ask for. He was constantly at want for nothing. So why was he so bored?

Every now and again, something interesting would come along, something worthwhile, something that was perhaps maaaybe a little worth fighting for. Whenever this happened, it was almost always something that couldn't just be given to him. It had to be something he could put some effort into, and the more he thought about it, the more something tugged at him now, something that wanted him to stop the carriage and turn around. What was it? What was this feeling, this desire? Suddenly, it hit him, it him him as hard as the fashionista had thrown him out of her shop.

He wanted her. He wanted to steal her away from the pegasus with the bent wings. He wanted to succeed where he had failed. It would provide a challenge, something to pull him from the boredom of every day rich life. Even forcing himself to stay in that dreadful village would be something to work at. The very thought of this new challenge brought excitement to him like he'd not known in years! "Driver!" he called, the driver's actual name having never been important enough to remember. "Stop the carriage! Turn us around and get us back to Ponyville!"

Cruising's heart leapt in his throat with excitement as he felt the carriage make the turn. He returned to his earlier position, gazing out the window, but this time with wonder and excitement like a young colt on Hearth's Warming morning, thoughts of the hunt dancing in his head.