//------------------------------// // Face in the Mirror (Part II) // Story: Rarity's Vacation From Herself // by SwiperTheFox //------------------------------// Rarity's eyes popped open. She rolled over on the couch, toppling onto the floor. She let out a little groan. She bounced up and stood right in the middle of the floor. She rubbed her hooves over her eyes, feeling as if her whole head was wrapped in a thick ball of cotton. "Goodness, what time is it?" she asked. She staggered across the floor, barely avoiding a stack of boxes and the nearby bookcase. She lurched against a bathroom door. "What happened last night?" She flashed back to Twilight's cracked smile, to Fluttershy's scared jump, and to that weird tingly feeling coming from the light of the moon. Rarity slammed open the door. The wall chipped around the hinges, making a horrible crackle. I still have the strength, thank goodness. She lurched over to the sink. Hope I don't have to... toss some cookies... She coughed, spitting out a little bit. "Relax, Rarity. I'lljust talk to Twilight," she said. She then stopped. That's... that's my voice? "This doesn't sound right. No, this is not good. This is not good at all!" She held out her hooves atop the sink. "I sound so-- so-- deep!" Rarity stared at the thick layer of muscles, bulging out under her hooves. She thought back to her last dress for Rainbow Dash. No, no... Dash is strong, she's got that body type of course, but she doesn't look quite like this. Rarity swung her mane around. It looked about the same, yet the colors seemed to have this coarse, pastel kind of layer dripped over it. Rarity nudged herself forward, still leaning down. She bonked her head against the mirror. I'm... I'm not going to like what I'm going to see. She took a gulp, and she curled her head back. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Rarity screamed, shivering from head to hooves. Rarity held up a hoof against the reflection, eyes dancing all across the horrible figure. "That hair, that face, that nose, those eyes, those shoulders, those muscles, those-- oh, Twilight! Twiiiilight!" Rarity let out a low moan, smacking the wall besides the mirror. She was a.... he. The stallion stared at his coarse, frizzy mane drooping down across his strong, broad shoulders. His eyes ran down his duller, thicker white body. Muscles seemed to pop up everywhere. He muttered nonsensically under his breath, hearing something so gruff and so weird. "Rarity, it'll all be okay," he said to the reflection, "I'll just take a little trip to Twilight's library. That's all. It'll all be undone, no problem. It was just a simple magical spell. That's all it was." He laughed. The reflection laughed back with the twisted smile and sideways eyes of an escaped mental patient. Everything will be fine. Just... fine... He sped out to the front door. He pressed his front hooves against it, a chill coming over his face. Surely, I'm not going out like this? When I'm hardly sane enough to walk? Everypony's eyes will be right on me! He sighed. I have to do something. He trotted upstairs and jumped in the shower, slavering soap all over himself. Water poured all over him, but he still couldn't feel clean. Everything just seemed so wrong, so weird. He bounced around in the shower, splashing as much as a little foal. Ugh, how do stallions keep themselves clean? I feel as if filth is pouring out of my every last pore. He gave up, magically throwing a pile of towels on himself. He stepped out into the middle of the floor, eyes staring down in between his legs. Well, that's rather... droopier than I thought. Pretty big, though, but is it bad that it leans to the left like that? He coughed. The back of his mind started to panic, but he shoved that as deep and as far down as he could. Relax, please, it's not like I haven't seen dozens of them before. He tried not to think of just reaching down and ripping the thing right off. The stallion moved out in front of the main bathroom's massive mirror. I don't what the circumstances. I'm not going up unless I look my best. He pulled up a thick brush and then stuck it into her mane. He wiggled it around. The brush stuck to him like a barnacle on a ship. He pressed down hard, gritting his teeth. The brush snapped in two. "Well, that's not a good... sign..." he murmured. The stallion wiggled his head around, nearly smashing his head against the counter. No, no! I'm going to look my best! He stared at the mirror, wiggling around his hair with his hooves. He pulled out some of the drawers. Make-up? No way, it's just too weird. Deodorant and cologne? He sniffed his shoulders. Definately! He lifted over a tray filled with bottles. He sprayed himself all over and rubbed himself with the most neutral, simply smelling things he could find. Finally, he stepped back, giving the reflection a good stare. As good as I'll ever be with this body. The stallion trotted out of the door. Several ponies darted about, none of them giving him more than a passing glance. He took a deep breath, and then he walked over to Twilight's library. Not too fast. Play it normal. Don't attract too much attention. His eyes danced across the numerous little gardens alongside the Ponyville shops. He looked straight up, seeing not a single cloud in the sky. *Smack* "Ow," Roseluck grunted. The stallion stepped back sheepishly. The mare picked herself off of the ground, putting the little basket of blue tulips back over her head. "Don't worry about it." The stallion gave a nervous nod. "Hey... I don't think I've met you before." She grinned, and she extended a hoof. "My name is Roseluck." The stallion shook back. "Surely, darling, you've seen me before," he muttered, "I've been living in that house and working at the boutique right down the street." Oh, goodness, how could I even begin to explain? It's me! Can't you see that, please! "Oh, oh! You know Rarity?" Roseluck asked, giggling and clapping a little bit, "She's so fantastic, isn't she? All of those outfits, those designs, and those details-- such talent!" The stallion beamed back. Roseluck curled her head back, thinking about that long white gown she wore at her last big date. "Are you her uncle or something?" "I am..." the stallion muttered. Think of something! Quick! "I'm Rarity own beloved... cousin." That's it! "I'm from Hoofington. I just got here late last night." He twisted his head about. Roseluck just gazed at him, hanging on every word. "My name is..." His eyes ran down Roseluck's body into the mare's flower basket, locking at the 'Pure Decorations' label dripping off. "Purity!" Both horses smiled. "Nice to meet you," Roseluck said, shaking hooves once again, "Not to sound selfish, but this is just great for me. My nephew was coming over, and he wanted to get some outfits from Rarity's boutique. But that poor thing, he's just--" She tried to suppress a chuckle, failing miserably. "Blackberry is so tense, so scared of girls especially the prettier they are. Just talking to Rarity would give him a heart attack for sure." She playfully smacked Purity's shoulder. "Glad that she's got you here." "Yes, darling, I'm helping out at Rarity’s shop. She has to meet these new demands and all," Purity replied. He glanced over at the library in the distance. I HAVE to get out of this conversation. "If you excuse me, I need to talk to Twilight about her next party dress, so--" "Oh, sorry," Roseluck said, and she headed out to the middle of the street. She waved, and Purity waved back. "Blackberry will love to meet you." "It's a date," Purity said without thinking, immediately regretting that choice of words. He shook about nervously, eyes darting at the ponies all around him. From Snips over at the bakery to Lyra stepping out of the jewelery shop, nopony seemed to care about him in the slightest. The stallion walked on over to Twilight's place. I guess everypony is buying it? Oh, well... I suppose I could do a lot worse than 'Purity'. It sounds like a soap advertisement, though. He giggled a little, and he stopped in front of Twilight's front door. Well, here goes nothing. "May I help you?" Twilight said, nudging open the door a few inches. "You come right to the door? You’re so courteous, as well? You’re not upset that I interrupted you from studying?" Purity muttered. Is it really Twilight? Goodness... He pushed the door open wide. "Wait, do I know you?" Purity stepped into the room, magically pushing Twilight over to the nearby desk. The unicorns locked eyes. "I can assure you that this won't hurt a bit!" Purity called out, jiggling her hooves in the air. "You're... they're... a... but then..." Twilight stammered. Her eyes turned over. She plopped down against the desktop, fainting.