//------------------------------//
// Lesson 4: Generosity 
// Story: A Valuble Lesson 
// by th3l0stch1ld 
//------------------------------//

	As the day began, I awoke, still dazed from the night.  I began pacing around my room with nothing better to do for the time being.  My choices were growing slimmer with each day, giving me less of a choice.
“Let’s see.  Element of magic?  Not right now.  So long as no one else smashes in my door, I shouldn’t have any other issues with that.  Laughter?”  I shuddered at the thought.  “No, no, NO!  not yet at least.  What else is there?  Generosity?  Well, I guess so.”  I walked to the door, slowly pulling it open.  “Well, I guess I’m going to see-“
“Perfect!”
I reared back at the sudden outburst.  I had no idea anyone was going to be waiting for me.  The door swung the rest of the way open without my concern.  Standing a few feet away, looking me over with a very thorough eye, was Rarity.  “Um, hello?”
“Come with me, right now.”  I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, a blue aura gripped my horn and dragged me behind her.  I stumbled at first, but managed to catch my footing after a few seconds.
“Where are we going?”
“No time to explain.  I need your help right now, it’s an emergency.”  She began moving faster, pulling me to follow her speed.
“Alright, alright, just lead the way.”
……….
We arrived at the boutique moments later.  At first glance, I couldn’t see anything wrong.
“What’s the emergency?”
“I have been asked to design a dress for the Fleur Dis Lee.  I need a model for the dress, and your figure is close to hers.”  I cocked my head to the side.  “Fleur Dis Lee?  Supermodel?  One of the most beautiful unicorns in Canterlot, possibly Equestria?”
“I’m still stuck on the part where you want me to wear a dress.”
“It’s just for a few hours.”
“I’m not wearing a dress.”
“You’ll be inside where no one will see you.”
“No.”
She was becoming slightly more irritated.  “You’re not leaving until you help me.”
I gave her the same look and pushed my face close to hers.  “Make me.”
“Oh I will.”
“I’d like to see you try.”  After having a staring contest for a few minutes, her horn began to glow, along with all four of my hooves.  She held me upside-down while she began digging out various cloths and other materials.  “You wouldn’t dare.”
“What are you going to do?  You would never hurt a lady, would you?”
“Of course not.”
“Then stay put.”
“As if I have a choice.”
“Oh, you’ll be fine.”
……….
I had no idea how much time had passed.  I kept my eyes closed the entire time, I didn’t want to even see what she was doing to me.
“Is it over?  Is it over yet?  Please, tell me it’s over.”
“Asking won’t make it go any faster.  Now sit still and stop fidgeting.”
As if to get her message across, she stuck me with a pin, pricking me on the flank.  “Ow!  Hey, watch it!”
“I said stop moving.  Now if you don’t sit still, I may have to start over.”
“No!  It’s bad enough I am doing this once, I am not doing it again.”
“Then sit still.  And open your eyes!  It’s not as bad as you think.”
“I am not opening my eyes until this thing is off of me.”
“Fine.”  She wrapped something around my body and it began pulling tighter and tighter, smashing my wings against my back.  I had never worn a girdle before, but I imagine this is what it felt like.  At one point it became hard to draw air into my lungs.
“I can’t breathe!  What are you trying to do to me?”
“Relax.  That’s as tight as it will get.”
“I will never understand why you put yourselves through so much to alter your appearance.”
“It’s a small price to pay to look good.”
“Is it worth dying over?”
“Possibly.  What would you rather me do?”
“You’re talking to the wrong stallion for fashion advice.”
“Point taken.  But you don’t truly think I always look this stunning, do you?  Believe it or not, even I must do things to make myself look beautiful.”
“It’s so much easier to wake up, pat your hair down, and go on with your day without having a care in the world about what others think of you.”
“Yes, I figured that out about you.”
“Don’t care.”
“You must care a little.”
“You realize who you’re talking to, right?  Holy legs, matted hair, fangs that stick out over my lips, tattered insectoid wings, etcetera, etcetera.”
“Okay, I get it.  Not everypony is the same.”
“Everyone has their differences.  How much longer?”
“I’m almost done.  Just need to add the finishing touches…there!  Now will you open your-“
“Get it off me first.”  I heard a heavy sigh.  After a few minutes of wrestling, the dress finally came off, so I slowly allowed my eyes to open.  I peeked first to make sure it was completely off.  When I was sure it was gone, I allowed my eyes to open entirely.  I looked around the room, seeing no sign of anything Rarity may have even been working on.  “So where is it?”
“I locked it away.  I want it to stay perfect when it is sent to Canterlot, so I am going to keep it safe and away from the public eye.  It’s a shame.  If you would have just opened your eyes you would have been the first to see my work.”
I rolled my eyes.  “Is that all you needed me for today?”
“For the time being.  Thank you for your help.  If my design becomes popular, I may need you more often.  Just think, I may become famous for my work!”  I could see a strange sparkle in her eyes as she stared out a window.  I shuddered again.
“Well, I should be heading home.”
“Goodbye.  Thank you again for the help, darling.”
“No one is to ever know that this happened.  Understand?”
“Of course.  That would just be the worst.  Possible.  Thing!”
“Right.  Well, I’ll be at my house if you need me.”