//------------------------------// // Down Time On SeventyNine // Story: Waking up as Rarity. // by TonydBrony //------------------------------// You know what has completely boggled my mind throughout the years? Braiding hair. I have absolutely no idea how to braid hair whatsoever, but that doesn’t stop me from asking Rarity to give me a few pointers. I mean, I’m getting sick and tired of having a purple mass of hair slapping me in the face every time I take two steps. So, it seemed like a reasonable thing to do. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to know how to braid hair. Right? That’s not girly or anything. Right? Of course it not. It’s a completely rational thing for a guy like me to want to know... Right? Okay, enough ranting. Ryan and I eventually got out of the smog filled city and reached a long highway that seemed to stretch on forever. After what seemed like hours, I lost track of time and before I knew it, our truck was the only thing rolling down this lonely road to redemption. As we rode on, the local radio stations slowly faded into static and I was left to watch the fields of snow roll by. I felt like something was watching me. Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but something about those white fields just gives me goose bumps. Maybe it’s just the desolation of the empty roads that is getting to me. Something wrong, Tony? Rarity calmly presses into my thoughts with her regular sweet tone. For a split second, I swear I see a flash of pink in clear contrast to the bleak and white snow. “No, I’m fine.” I mumble in response to my brain buddy. Clearly I’m hallucinating from exhaust and fatigue. “Just a little tired.” I say weakly and lean my head against the window. “And bored.” Perhaps that may be, but you’re practically going up in flames! Rarity jokes, and I swear she is laughing on the inside of my head again. You might’ve have caught cold! Sure enough, I press a hoof against my head and to no surprise, my forehead is warm to the touch. Just my fucking luck. “Rarity, I’m fine.” I quip followed by a sniffle and let loose a sharp sneeze. “If you went through what I have, I’m sure you would feel like shit too.” I affirm with a chuckle, yet I can feel Rarity’s glare burning a hole into the back of my head. Anthonie. She states calmly, but her words are etched in stone. The least you could do is pull over and pick up something for your fever. “Okay, okay. Geez, you sound like my mother.” I groan and look up to Ryan. My grand companion glances over to me and smiles warmly. “Done talking to yourself again?” Ryan laughs and turn his eyes back to the icy road. His knuckles are white from gripping the steering wheel so tightly and he appears very focused, despite his friendly demeanor. He must be working hard to keep this old clunker steady while as we race down the slick asphalt. I open my mouth to say something, but a shiver rolls down my spine once again and Rarity has taken over without warning! Un-fucking-believable. “Hey, Ryan,” says the alabaster seamstress. “What’s up, Tony?” He says calmly, but stalwart. “Do think that we could... Like, make a quick pit stop?” Rarity says, adding spice of gruffness to her petite voice and looks up to him with a rugged smile that I’ve worn from day one. “I think I might have a case of the sniffles.” She laughs half heartedly and props her hooves on the dashboard. Well I’ll be damned. She is better at imitating me that I am at her. Ryan smiles again and the truck suddenly staggers to the right, almost sending us onto the floor once again. “Yeah, sure man. I need to stop and get some gas or we’re walking to York.” He says, his face going dark as we turn off the exit ramp. “Thanks Ryan.” Rarity giggles happily and perks up to see the scenery as we tumble down the bumpy road. As we slid down the beaten concrete roads, a rusted sign comes into view. Shortly after, Rarity throws me back in control and if it weren’t for the fact she had done what she did for the better of my health, I probably would’ve been pissed. “Welcome to Burnsville.” Ryan says as we roll through the light fog that has settled over this ghostly looking town. Every building and storefront looks so lifeless and without joy. I don’t like it here. Ryan’s beat up truck rumbled down the eerily empty street, while a neon Exxon sign acted as our beacon through the fog to the gas station. Though nothing more than a petrol station, the gentle glow of the fluorescent lights seemed to give a ward to the dense fog and gave me a sense of security as we grew closer to the corner store. I’m unsure what it is about the layer of fog coating this town, but it seemed so unnatural and unreal. It’s too dense. Something is telling me that this is Discord’s doing; we can barely see ten feet in front of us! We pulled up to the deserted filling station and our doors clicked open in a synchronized beat. As soon as I step hoof out of the truck, I’m blasted by a cool gust of wind, forcing me to cover my face with my hooves. Rarity, take a note. Remind me to get a unicorn sized ski mask the next chance I can. Ryan waves to me and starts pumping his truck with gas. “Get what you need Tony. I’ll wait out here for ya.” I return his gentle smile and start trotting towards the glowing door of the convenience store, but I keep turning back to make sure I could still see Ryan. A few more steps later and he was engulfed in the blanket of fog, leaving me all alone in front of the glowing glass door. I hate fog. With a heavy sigh I push open the glass door and head on in. A bell overhead chimes and I’m greeted a blanket of warm air flowing over me. Much nicer than the harsh chill outside. Someone yells from the other side of the store. I spin around quickly to see a newspaper propped up and two hands on both ends of it. “No hoodies, backpacks, or thick jackets.” Says a masculine voice coming from behind the newspaper at the register. “If you’re wearing anything like that and are walking around, you will be considered shoplifting and I will call the police. Please place all loose articles of clothing that fall under this category on the counter and you can get whatever the hell it is you want.” He says in a very bored tone. “What if all I’m wearing is a hoodie and a backpack?” I ask cautiously. The man laughs from behind his paper. “Well damn. Why didn’t you just say that in the first place?” He laughs again. “How about a drink sweet heart? On the house.” I take a moment to think. I’m not wearing anything other than my hoodie and backpack. This guy wants to give me a free soda for that? Hell yes. My hooves make virtually no sound against the rubber mats as I trot to the counter. The guy who was talking still has his face buried into his paper as I tactfully placed my hooves atop the counter. “I’ll take an ice cold cola if you don’t mind.” The newspaper comes down, and at first I see a cocky looking young man, possibly in his early twenties. He stares at me for a few short moments, his eyes full of confusion. “Hi!” His eyes roll back and he slips off his chair, hitting the floor... THUMP “Was it something I said?” I ask and peek over the counter, seeing him sprawled onto the floor. “Are you okay.” He gives no response, but I can see his chest rising and falling slowly. He’ll be fine. I tell myself and take my hooves off the linoleum counter. I quickly turn about and head to the shelves of merchandise. I cut my shopping expedition short to grab a bottle of pink cough medicine, a coca cola and a bag of marshmallows. Before I leave, I drop twenty dollars on the counter, because stealing is wrong. I do not condone stealing, theft or bribery in any way shape or form. I made my way out to the parking lot and immediately noticed the only spot of color in the area was no longer the car. A pastel pink pegasus with a light purple mane and tail stood next to the truck, talking to my brony. “Excuse me?” I started as I trotted over to them, casually noting that the mist seemed thinner in this area, but still just as dense elsewhere. “Oh! You must be Rarity.” The pegasus said with a friendly smile. “Um, yes, sort of. Who are you?” I asked curiously, wondering where another pony could have come from, and why they would want to seek me out beside my celebrity status. “Oh, my name is Bonnie. Nice to meet you.” She says, looking to Ryan expectantly. “Oh, right. So the truck won’t start.” He says with a scowl, kicking a rock in frustration. “I went to make a phone call and when I got back it was dead.” He explained. “And she showed up... when?” I asked, gesturing to the still infectiously happy pony. Ryan’s eyes seemed a bit distant for a moment before he answered. “I... don’t know. A bit before you walked out I guess.” “Ooookay... So we need a mechanic right?” I proposed, and Ryan flipped out his cellphone with a nod before growling at the device. “No signal. Wait here, keep an eye on... Her.” He looked at Bonnie with a bit of confusion before trotting... er, jogging off to the gas station. I turned to the perky pink pony with a hollow smile. “So...” I started off, before silence fell between us and the mist swirled gently. Not the most talkative of ponies, is she? Rarity chimed in as my fake smile was stretched even thinner. “No, I’m not very talkative on normal occasions, but... Oh! I’m sorry, I didnt mean... My name is Bonnie by the way.” She said, her own now fake seeming smile just as stressed as my own. No words formed in my brain, so I did the only rational thing to do at a time like this. I uncapped the bottle of cough medicine, letting the soothing aroma of bubble gum waft into my nostrils. My eyes shifted from the bottle to the mysterious mare. A few short moments of silence later, I press the bottle to my lips while keeping constant eye contact while I can. She often would glance away, breaking from my gaze. Before I knew it, the bottle was empty and I instinctively trot over to a trash bin that is no more than five feet from the pegasus. As I throw the bottle away, I catch the mare as she is looking off to the side, noticing two blue parallel lighting bolts adorning her flank. The mark looks so familiar, yet I can’t place my hoof on it. I feel like I should know who she is, yet it’s so vague. It’s like a co-worker you never talk to, but know who they are. She turned to face me, still holding onto her smile. “So... you have the element of Generosity I see, congratulations!” I open my mouth to say something in turn, but stop myself. How does she know that? I ask myself, looking down at my chest; the necklace completely concealed underneath my sweatshirt. “Yeah...” I mutter, tapping a hoof where I would guess the gem would be inlaid. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Makes me feel... I don’t know... Useful.” “You are useful. Without you Discord would end up turning this world into nothing but a smouldering ruin.” Bonnie said with a frightening amount of sincerity. The thought of my hometown burning to ashes flashes through my mind. The place I once called home burning. Chaos and destruction claiming the parks and buildings I grew up in. The echoing screams... “Well, I’m not going to let that happen.” I said, with a lot more conviction than I felt with Discord’s figurative shadow looming over me. “Well no. I am not either. I need a favor from you Rarity.” Bonnie said nervously, looking back at the gas station as though afraid of Ryan’s return. “Two favors actually.” “Well, if you sought me out, who am I to say no?” I replied with a sincere smile. “What do you need done?” “Firstly, when you meet up with lauren faust, tell her that Bonnie is watching out for her. Secondly, I need you to turn around.” She explained with an apologetic smile. Feeling a little more trusting of the pony, I spin on my hooves with my tail to her. “Okay..?” A sudden gust of wind nearly knocked me over, before everything fell still. I turned to look back at Bonnie but she was gone without a trace, nothing left behind to mark her passing. “So the mechanics are all closed.” Ryan’s voice proclaimed, startlingly close. I shrugged. “And in other in news, Bonnie just pulled a houdini on me.”. “Bonnie?” He asks, raising an eyebrow as he walks over to the car and gets out his jacket to shield against the cold mist that was once again creeping in on us. “You know, pink coat, blue mane, lighting bolts on her ass?” It’s called a flank, dear. Rarity quipped with a great deal of sarcasm. “Is that another pony in your head now?” Ryan asked with a good natured chuckle. “Ryan. She was just here. What did you do? Hit your head against a stop sign on your way back?” “No, but you are being a bit screwy, insisting to wait with the truck while I went in, I mean not like it’s going anywhere.” He laughed as he tried the key again, sharing my look of shock as the truck started up without so much as a cough. “Well crap, what did you do to it?” He asked me in awe. “But I... You... Pony.... She... Fuck.” I start muttering and look back up to the roaring Ford. “I used magic. I don’t have to explain shit.”