//------------------------------// // Round Four: Generosity // Story: The Puppeteer's Creation // by Arreis Of Avalon //------------------------------// Rarity hung the last dress of the day up on the rack, closing her eyes in her happiness. She had made a new line of dresses today that looked utterly stunning. The colors blended perfectly and she was positive the ponies of Ponyville would buy them in a heartbeat. She had gotten quite a few orders today for dresses, maybe 5 or so. Today counted as a wonderful day for business, seeing as she didn’t often get customers anymore. Everypony went around… naked. Rarity shuddered at the term. At least style your mane! She heard somepony knock on the front door and smiled ruefully. Couldn’t ponies read the sign? She was closed for the day. She walked to the door and opened it. “I’m quite sorry, but we are closed for the rest of the day,” she said, her voice smooth as silk. “Such a shame,” the pony said. “Don’t you have time for an old friend?~” Rarity’s eyes widened at the ponies voice. Why, that had to be… “Discord??” “In the fur~” She glanced him once over, taking in his appearance. He had a brown coat and wore what seemed to be a professor’s outfit. It fit him quite well, which was quite surprising for the retired God of Chaos. Still, Rarity was sure she could… spruce up his suit a bit. “Oh, come in darling, come in! If I had known it was an old friend, then I would have let you in in an instant~” Discord smiled and walked in, taking in Carousel Boutique. “Business going well?” “Oh, it’s going splendidly. I JUST made a brand new line of dresses that I think will just FLY off the shelves.” She giggled happily. Discord smiled, and decided to begin his game. Enough small talk. “So, how is everypony?” “Oh, everypony is doing wonderfully as of late. Ever since Twilight became an alicorn, we’ve all been celebrating and resting up after that shock. Soon, I suppose Twilight will have to be returning to Canterlot. Oh, the sophistication~” Discord hid his eye roll. He had always hated dealing with Rarity. She had been his best creation, all those years ago, but now he found her utterly boring. How could you sit SEWING all day? That was the most ORDERLY hobby he had ever seen. Still, all order stemmed from Chaos. “Oh, really? From what I’ve seen of them today, our friends are rather… strange.” “Well, I suppose all our friends are a bit strange lately. Everypony is still a bit in shock from Twilights alicorn surprise. I’m sure we’ll all be used to it eventually. I, for one, am excited to be designing dresses for a PRINCESS!” She squealed in happiness, but cleared her throat quickly. Squealing was NOT a lady like action. “In any case, everypony is probably a little in awe of our best friend being a princess.” “Well, maybe that’s it… Still, Pinkie was VERY sad… and Applejack lied to me…” “I’m sure you’re mistaken, Discord. Pinkie is almost NEVER sad, and Applejack has hardly EVER lied. I’m sure it’s the same with the others~” Discord sighed. “Yes, I’m sure that’s it.” Rarity frowned slightly at his downhearted face. “Now now, don’t be so down. Here, why don’t I alter your outfit a bit? I’ve never known a new suit to make ME sad.” Discord smiled and nodded. Together they walked to the back where Rarity began measuring him for a new outfit. Discord groaned internally at the process, bored already with the agonizing wait of the measurements to be done. “I just hope everypony is alright. I’d hate for something bad to happen to them.” Rarity smiled. “I know you would. That’s what makes you a good friend.” Discord smiled softly. “Am I really? Seeing as the way I became your friend was through another trick of mine. I was merely trying to make Fluttershy betray her friends, and in the end, I betrayed my own. It caused me to become your friends, and that was that.” “Does that matter much, darling?~ We’re friends now, and that’s all that matters~” “Well, what if I’m your friend for the wrong reason?” Rarity stopped her altercations a moment, staring at him, confused. “How could you be friends for the wrong reason?” “Well, maybe not like that… It’s more like, why am I trying so hard? I’ve betrayed who I really am for a bunch of ponies.” Rarity narrowed her eyes. “Now now, Discord, you mustn’t speak like that. You know that just isn’t true. You still use your powers as much as you can, but now you can use them for good.” Discord shook his head sorrowfully. “Come on, Rarity. You of ALL ponies should know my problem!” Rarity gained a confused look. “Moi? What would I know about betraying who I am?” “You sit and make dresses each and every day for these COUNTRY folk, Rarity. Did you ever think to move to Canterlot where you could make enough money to make Carousel Boutique shine like never before?” Rarity gasped in amazement. “Leave my closest friends just to sell these old things?? How on EARTH could you suggest such a thing?! W-why, that would be utterly DEVASTATING!” Discord winced internally at the soft whine in her voice. She had always managed to grate on his nerves with that voice of hers. All the sophistication, gone to waste by her need to complain about the life she had. Blech. “But Rairty,” he continued. “Think about it. Rainbow Dash, element of loyalty, is leaving to join the Wonderbolts. Twilight will be moving to Canterlot soon to perform royal duties. Applejack is gaining say in the apple markets around the entirety of Equestria, and Fluttershy has been speaking of bringing her little friends to Cloudsdale to visit her family. Even Pinkie Pie has been talking about visiting her family at the old rock farm.” Rarity sighed, knowing it was true. Finally, Discord saw the grey hint to her coat begin to appear. Rarity put down her tape measure. “I know my friends have been thinking of leaving, but I MUST stay behind. There is always so much work to be done, and I can’t abandon them. I have promised to give them all I have, and that promise will be kept.” “Rarity, how on earth can you stay so Generous? After all, what have THEY ever done for you?~” Discord watched as Rarity’s eyes began to swirl with chaos. What HAD they ever done for her?... Twilight had rallied their friends to try and save her… But they should’ve known she could save herself. Did they think she was weak?... “D-discord, You don’t think I’m weak, do you?” “Well…” Discord let the question hang in the air, toying with the emotions of the now fragile shop owner. She hung her head slightly, her coat a full grey now. “Oh, don’t be too sad, Rarity.” “Sad?” Her face brightened, though Discord could see into her eyes and watch the pain dance in them. “I’m not at all sad. In fact, I’ve just finished your new outfit!~ How do you like it??” Discord took in the outfit with a grim face. “Fine, fine. Not sure how good it will be walking around Ponyville though. Too much heat and dust. I suppose I can wear it at home, though. Canterlot is JUST the right weather for this.” “O-Oh,” Rarity said, somewhat dejected by his comments. Not fit for Ponyville… Rarity loved to help her friends, but what if she couldn’t reach her friends? All of them were leaving… Maybe she would fit better in Canterlot. There she could at least speak with Twilight on important business… “Thank you very much, Rarity.” He gave her some bits for the alterations. “No charge for a friend Discord. Never a charge for a friend.” Discord smiled. “How Generous~” With those last words, he walked out. Rarity glanced in the mirror nearby, looking deeply into her own eyes. She saw the pain in them. How true was all he had said?... What good was she anymore? She sighed and walked away from her dresses, going upstairs and lying down on the bed. Perhaps a short nap would drive these ideas from her mind. Discord poofed away the outfit the moment he stepped outside. It was far too… orderly for his tastes. He glanced in his hoof at the now 4 grey figures there. Now for his hardest challenge yet… Fluttershy… Discord sighed as he poofed away the figurines, thinking. Though he absolutely detested to admit it… He had become friends with these ponies he had made. They were his creations. How could he not love them? And yet, he was using them… He shook his head to clear these thoughts. He reminded himself that these ponies were made for the sole purpose to be used. Knowing this, it was all okay. He smiled and began to walk towards the Everfree forest.