Dusk had spent the past two hours telling the same story that Twilight and Fluttershy heard a week earlier, he had their two reactions for comparison. Fluttershy's which was her crying uncontrollably about his tragedy, and Twilight who couldn't say anything, or move until it had fully sunk in. Rarity's reaction was a mystery, but Dusk simply assumed it will fall some where in between Twilight and Fluttershy, assuming they were the extreme opposites of the spectrum.
"That's the end, then I got a letter from the Princess telling me to come to Ponyville," he finished, "and that is pretty much where it leaves off, you know most everything else."
He waited for a response, she had been most quiet and attentive through his entire story, but she remained silent for a few minutes. "I... I don't know what to say," Rarity replied putting a hoof up to his cheek, "you've been through so much turmoil, but yet you decided to keep going. I certainly wouldn't be able to go on knowing I had been completely abandoned by the world, with my parents terrified at the sight of me."
Dusk might have gotten used to knowing that fact, but hearing it from some other pony still cut deep in his heart, he still couldn't live with himself. Suddenly, I knock came from the door and Dusk arose to answer, when the door opened, an adolescent stallion was there. He had carried all of Rarity's belongings up the ivory steps in one trip, that pony had back strength that could only be rivaled by the strongest of the strong.
"Good sir, I am thoroughly impressed," Dusk addressed him as he used his magic to remove some of the weight, "the amount of luggage you carried up here proves your strength."
"Thank... you sir," the pony replied, the strain of the weight made it difficult for him to speak, "so... where would you like... all of this?"
Dusk answered as Rarity was still in shock at what he had just told her, "there is quite fine and feel free to catch your breath here."
The pony dropped the luggage on the floor and rested, the work had certainly drained him for a moment, Dusk then took some money out of a pouch in his bag and handed it to the pony. "Ten bits my good man, you've definitely earned it today, I hope that the work load wasn't too much on your back, I certainly wouldn't have made the journey."
The pony took the bits as a wide smile grew across his face, he was used to some good tips, but only after performing some humiliating or impossible task for amusement. "Thank you very much sir, and don't you worry about me sir I've made this trip in the past, I have conditioned myself for such tasks."
Dusk simply smiled, "would you like a glass of water before departing?" the pony nodded and Dusk went into the kitchen for a moment. When he came out, the pony was leaning against the door, clearly he was exhausted from his task, he took the glass and drank it in less than a moment.
"The name is Dusk," he introduced himself, "I hope to be able to rely on your assistance in the future good sir, may I ask what your name is?"
"My name? it's Iron, Iron Spirit," the name suited his vitality and durability, "it would be a pleasure to assist you, just give me the word."
"I will be sure to do that," Dusk replied, Iron gave a salute before opening the door, "I hope your other tasks aren't quite as challenging as this one, good day to you."
"To you as well sir and madame," he closed the door behind and began the arduous journey down the tower steps to his next task.
"Such a hard-worker, a fine stallion to meet," Dusk turned to Rarity who had remained silent through his entire conversation, "is something bothering you?"
She turned to him, "how do you go through all of that, and still be able to hold others in such high regard and treat them with such a level of respect, when the world just left you to suffer and no pony tried to help?"
Dusk was confused by the question, but came up with the simplest answer, "these individuals haven't wronged me and haven't done anything to make me view them below myself. No single pony can be blamed for what happened to me, I won't let the experience make me cynical, that would be admitting defeat. Every pony deserves the highest level of respect unless they do something that revokes such respect, that's my view of it."
His philosophy had struck her as different, for lack of better words, "that's very philosophical, you view others on the same level you view yourself." She paused for a moment, as if to find the correct words to convey her thoughts, "most ponies could learn a thing or two from you, if every pony thought that way life would be so much improved."
"I suppose," he never thought that way about it but she did have a point, if every pony viewed each other as equals things would probably be better. Dusk quickly changed the subject, "so, should we get this pile in the middle of the room organized, there is a fashion show coming up after all."
"Oh, of course we haven't a moment to lose," she pepped up, he was glad to get rid of the dark cloud hanging over her head. The two then turned their room into a makeshift workshop in roughly three hours of labor, the clock just struck two when they finally finished.
"Now that looks like a proper shop," Dusk announced, "would you require my assistance in your work?"
"No, that's quite alright, I work better alone," she answered, "you should go see if Fancy Pants is around, I'm sure he would be glad to see you're in town."
Dusk nodded and headed out the door, well I have to be a little careful not to draw attention to myself, he thought, don't want any pony recognizing me, especially them. He wasn't terribly concerned, with all of the time that passed he would be very surprised if any pony recognized him, other than the Princess or Fancy Pants.
A sudden emptiness had taken control of his stomach, he then realized that he had forgotten to actually eat anything that day. There were plenty of cafes in town, he would have no trouble finding someplace to satisfy his growing hunger, though the cost might be an issue.
Dusk walked about a block away and found a little cafe called Le Matin Rose and decided that it would be a sufficient place to eat. He sat down and a waiter came up to him with a menu, the first thing to notice was the price, eating in this town will leave me penniless in less than a day!
"I will have the Traditional Garden Salad with a glass of water good sir," Dusk requested, a simple salad still bit into his pouch.
"An excellent choice sir, it will be prepared very shortly," the waiter left, Dusk was now by himself but not for very long.
"Mr. Dusk, is that you?" a familiar voice called from the street, he looked up to see a monocle being fixated upon his face.
"Mr. Fancy Pants, a pleasure to see you again," Dusk stood up and gave a formal bow, "I didn't expect to run into you so quickly, I had just arrived this morning."
"Likewise my friend," he adjusted his monocle, "just what brings you to Canterlot today?"
"Ms. Rarity is participating in a fashion show here and asked that I might accompany her," Dusk explained.
"Ah, such a helpful stallion, she really is lucky to have you around, is there any particular reason you are helping her so much?"
Dusk could hear the implications and simply ignored them, "I'm just assisting a friend in need of it, nothing more nothing less."
"Capital, dear friend simply capital to hear, not many ponies will help another simply out of kindness, it's good to see that selflessness still exists in this place."
Dusk's waiter had returned with Dusk's salad and water, after placing them on the table he turned to Fancy Pants, "Ah, Mr. Fancy Pants, will you be joining this young sir?"
He turned to Dusk, "do you mind?"
"Not at all, if you wish then by all means," Dusk gestured for him to sit down, "Rarity is working right now so I have some time to use up."
"Ah, splendid," he turned to the waiter, "I will have the usual good sir."
"Ah an excellent choice as always Mr. Fancy Pants," the waiter turned and headed back int the restaurant.
Dusk began to eat his salad, it felt good to be filling his empty stomach, after taking a few bites he looked up at his guest. "So what does a pony of your stature do in the city for entertainment?"
"I have been known to catch a Wonderbolts race or two in my spare time, there is one starting at three, care to join me?"
"Why of course, I haven't been to one since I was a young colt," the waiter returned with a plate with a plain daisy sandwich. This shocked Dusk, he was expecting a very extravagant dish that would have costed more than all of the money he was carrying on him.
"Excellent, we shall depart after lunch," Fancy Pants announced, Dusk nodded in agreement and the two finished their meals in silence, neither wanted to risk taking up too much time with idle conversation.
In about ten minutes, the two had finished their meals and the waiter came out with the bill, the two began to pull out some bits for payment. Fancy Pants offered first, "allow me good sir, I couldn't let you pick up the bill when I had joined so unexpectedly."
"Oh no sir, that is quite alright I can take the bill," the two were equally determined to pay and neither showed any sign of conceding defeat. "A compromise then, we each pay for our individual meals and split the tip," Dusk suggested hoping that an agreement would be reached.
"Capital idea, the fairest way, I believe," with that the two pulled out a small number of bits and placed them on the table and turned to leave. The two traversed down the street, Dusk being careful not to be too easily spotted until they came up on a large stone colosseum with ancient and modern structures.
"Still amazing to see, how long has it been here?" Dusk asked.
"Six hundred years I believe, renovations happened roughly ten years, a marvel of ancient architecture."
"Indeed it is, a miracle of civilizations past."
The two reached the large arch entrance, Fancy Pants took lead, "we'll be up in the spectator's box up top, gives a great view of the track throughout the race."
"Excellent, who will share the box with us?"
"Just a few others of similar stature, it certainly will not be crowded."
The two entered the box and Fancy Pants was right, it wasn't crowded, there were only five ponies in the box and each seemed to wear extravagant clothing. "Good day all, how's the view out there today?" Fancy Pants addressed the patrons.
"Mr. Fancy Pants good to see you," one stallion addressed him, while the others waved at him, "who is that young stallion with you?"
"Ah this young gent is Dusk," Fancy Pants gestured to him, "a fine sir I met on a errand run in Ponyville last week."
Dusk stepped forward to properly introduce himself but the patrons had received him quite differently than he was expecting, "Ponyville? That one horse town, what a laugh!"
These ponies started to laugh haughtily and immediately lost Dusk's respect, "did I miss something? is my town that low in your eyes?"
The laughter intensified, only Fancy Pants stood silent, his expression was nothing short of appalled and he wanted the others to be aware of it. "So, this is true face of the upper class? Ponies so high up on their pedestals that every other pony is an ant?"
The group fell silent, Fancy Pants turned to Dusk, "so terribly sorry my friend, here I thought ponies knew how to carry themselves with some form of humility. It seems that I was quite terribly mistaken, should we depart this unwelcoming place?"
"I believe that would be best," Dusk turned to the exit, "I can catch a race another time, should we check on Rarity's progress?"
"Capital idea, it's been too long since I've spoken to her," the two proceeded toward the exit, leaving the other ponies speechless.