Chapter 4
Rick was gently nuzzled awake, sadly, it wasn’t one of his beautiful wives doing it but rather his faithful canine companion, Paul, wanting to be let out. As gently as he could, Rick lifted Rarity off his chest and, after getting up off the sofa, laid her back down. Upon his return, he was surprised to find two entrancing, blue eyes watching his every move. Actually two sets, Fluttershy was watching him from the kitchen while Rarity still lay across the sofa.
“So, just how long have you been awake, Princess?” Rick asked with a smirk.
Rarity giggled a little at being called ‘Princess’, “only a few minutes. It was very kind of you to try not to wake me up.”
“Yes, I agree. Not many, um, stallions would go to such lengths for something they might consider unnecessary.”
“For one thing. Flutters, in this from, I’m a man and you are a woman, the plural is women. Second, there isn’t anything I would consider unnecessary if it made any of you even a little bit happier.”
It was a bit sappy, he knew, but it was also the honest truth. If one of his wives had asked him to rip his horn off all over again, he would. When he arrived in Equestria, they all, Rainbow and Pinkie included, accepted him, befriended him and sheltered him. He called them all his family and he meant it.
“By the way, Fluttershy,” Rick addressed her as he helped Rarity up off the couch, “you’re doing very well on your feet in there. Are you also managing to cook breakfast?”
“Not exactly, I’m just flying really low to the ground. But I am cooking breakfast.”
“Very clever, Dear,” Rarity complemented her friend.
“I agree completely. Just remember, we can’t eat any type of grass except wheat that’s been processed. Eggs, grains, dairy, fruits and vegetables are the only things we can eat. Especially since meat is totally out of the question.”
“Oh, alright, well I’ve made pancakes if that’s alright with everypo… everybody else.” Rick and Rarity both noticed Fluttershy’s attempt to adapt to her new, temporary human body by copying Rick’s unique words.
“Pancakes sound marvelous.”
“Absolutely, and nice work on your word usage. You’re taking to being a human very well.”
“Oh, thank you, but it isn’t a big deal.”
“Maybe not here in Equestria, Darling, but we don’t know what to expect on Earth. It’s best to prepare now where a slip would not cause any trouble.”
“That’s a very good point, Rarity,” Twilight’s voice could be heard from the top of the stairs. She was with Applejack and they were leaning on each other for support. Rick rushed up to them to offer his help. “Nop… No one from Equestria has ever been to Earth. We all need to work on our dialogue.”
“To be honest, I don’t think it will be a serious issue, just don’t call people ponies and we’ll be fine,” Rick smiled at Twilight, “but it is still a good idea. Besides, if Applejack can master talking like a human, she’ll blend in better than anyone.”
“An’ jest wut is that s’posed to mean?” Applejack asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I mean, your accent matches a lot of those in my home world. Once I was done running from you when we first met, it was a pleasant little surprise.”
“Really? Ah’m lookin’ forward to thu trip even more now.”
“Applejack, are you saying you weren’t looking forward to it before?” Twilight asked with a hint of sarcasm.
Applejack’s reply came at the same time as they reached the table and sat down, “now that ain’t wut Ah said ‘n’ you know it.”
“Oh, I’m sure she’s just teasing. Now, Rarity, Fluttershy, why don’t you take a seat while Spike and I bring breakfast over,” Rick said as he did just that.
*****
After Breakfast, Rick walked to Rarity’s boutique with the unicorn in question, plus one earth pony and a small dragon. Fluttershy had gone back to her cottage, taking Paul along with her, and Twilight had gone to library. Both had promised to practice using their hands, walking on two legs and avoid pony references in their speech.
There were a few stares as they walked through town. The majority were simply out of curiosity, Rick had lived here as a human before, so humans weren’t exactly anything new, though some were from the occasional stallion. Most of those stares were cut short when they happened upon Rick’s scowl, size and build. Rick had loaned each of them one of his shirts to wear, they couldn’t walk around in robes forever. Besides, Rick didn’t think there was a man alive who didn’t love the sight of a beautiful woman wearing nothing but one of his shirts. It’s not like he could fit in them anymore anyway, Shining Armor and his training made sure of that.
“So what kind of outfits are you gonna design, Rarity?” Spike asked as he easily kept up with the slow walking trio.
“Why, I’m not quite sure right now, Spike. I suppose I will just have to see what inspires me.”
“Ah’m sure Rick could help ya with that,” AJ suggested while she hung on his arm and rested her head on his shoulder, “ain’t that right, Sugar?”
“There are a lot of outfits that I would love to see you all in, but first thing’s first, daily casual ware. Once Rarity gets the measurements she needs, I’ll offer any advice she asks for.”
Spike looked up at the three and was a little curious as just what Rick had been talking about. “Um, I know what casual ware is, but what are those other outfits you were talking about?”
“The types of outfits a young’un like yourself shouldn’t learn about just yet,” Rick answered with a quiet chuckle.
“Now, Ah’m curious,” Applejack looked into Rick’s eyes with a look of incredulity, “wut type uh ‘outfits’ would ya like ta see us in but Spike shouldn’t learn ‘bout?”
“Ahem, I believe he is referring to, um, clothing of a more intimate nature,” Rarity offered with a little blush and the tiniest of sly smiles.
AJ looked at Rarity with in confusion for a second or two, then her eyes shot open with realization, “ohh… hehehe. Maybe later, lover boy.”
“I still don’t get it. What do you mean by ‘intimate nature’?” Spike asked.
Rick used his magic to pick Spike up and rest him on his shoulders, “like I said, something you’re still too young for. I think Twilight would kill me and bury me in the yard to help the flowers if I explained that without her presence and/or permission.”
“*Humph* whatever,” Spike crossed his arms and huffed in frustration to the amusement of the three humans.
A short time later, they reached the Carousel Boutique. Once inside, Rick led Applejack to one of Rarity’s many fainting couches she kept around her shop in case of drama. After she was settled, he took Rarity to her work table where she could easily reach anything she may need for designing and sewing. Spike had been given the job of ‘gofer’ as he already knew where everything in the shop was and he was plenty capable of moving around with his clawed hands and two legs already. Rick had retrieved the old human mannequins from their storage.
“I don’t know if these will work out. You ladies don’t exactly share my physique.”
“True,” Rarity considered, “but the shape is right and I’m sure if the need arises, I can make new ones. Until then, as the resident expert on human fashion, I would like some suggestions on designs and maybe even some patterns.”
“Yeah, saddles may be all well ‘n’ good fer ponies but Ah doubt they’d do fer humans.”
“You’re right there, AJ, humans don’t use saddles except for riding horses, so we’ll just-”
“WHAT?!” The unified shout shook Rick for a second or two.
“What?”
“Ya’ll ride horses?” Applejack stared at him.
“Yeah, have for millennia. Why?”
“That’s just so, so cruel,” Rarity seemed almost horrified at the revelation.
“I suppose it can seem like that, but the horses on Earth are very, very strong. An Earth horse can easily run at twenty-five miles per hour with a full grown human on their back, they stronger horses can run even faster with more weight.” Rick walked over and stroked Rarity’s hair for assurance and looked over at Applejack, “I promise, most horses are very well taken care of, it’s legally mandated, and horses tend to like humans too. You’ll see when we get there.”
“If ya say so,” Applejack sounded less than convinced, but being the Element of Honesty allowed her tell pretty quickly when someone was telling the truth or just trying to pull the wool over her eyes. Like always, Rick was being completely honest with her.
“Very well, let’s just move past this and continue with the goal at hand.” Rarity took a few sheets a paper and a couple pencils and placed them onto her work table. “Rick dear, if you could draw up some basic designs, I’ll work out the fine details later. I will get your new measurements and start putting something together, I’ve already gotten the other’s measurements and can start work immediately.” Rick nodded in agreement and set to work.
*****
“…and why do Ah have ta wear these if no one but us are gonna see ‘em?” Applejack asked as she tested the straps on her new bra before she looked down at her new panties.
“Partially hygiene, partially comfort and sometimes simply ‘cause they’re damn sexy,” he grinned as he wrapped his arms around her. “How does the material feel?”
“It’s a little unusual, but Ah’m sure Ah’ll eep!”
“Feels pretty good to me,” Rick leaned down and kissed the giggling farmpony.
“Now stop that, I just made those and I don’t want them dirtied so soon.”
“You can always just join in on the fun,” Rick offered without removing his hand from the freshly tailored underwear. He paused for a second, completely ignorant of the death glare Rarity was giving him from over her sewing machine, “that actually brings up a very good point, you are all married to me, and I’m married to all of you… does that mean you are all married to each other?”
Rarity and Applejack looked at each other and shared a look of uncertainty before Rarity answered as best she could, “I’m… not entirely sure.”
“Ah guess we are, but Twi would know better, we’ll jest have ta ask her.”
“Puhahahlease, let me in,” Spike’s whine came from the other side of the door.
“Sorry, Spike, but we’re a not decent in here,” Rick told him.
“Indecent? We don’t normally wear clothes, Dear,” Rarity defended.
“We also aren’t normally humans either, Rare,” AJ replied.
“Once we get some shirts and pants for you two, then we’ll be set. Though some skirts would probably be easier and more comfortable for you,” Rick offered.
“Hmm… I do have some very lovely designs that I could use,” the seamstress started to get lost in the euphoria of creation.
“Just remember that we have no tails anymore and the hemline will need to be changed. Also, your breasts will require more room to prevent tightness, although…”
“Rick, Ah don’t think she’s listenin’ anymore.” Both looked at Rarity and realized that AJ’s suspicion was correct. They shared a chuckle before AJ turned back to Rick, “besides, the kind of outfits Ah know yer thinkin’ ‘bout kin wait.”
Rick looked into her gorgeous, green eyes and smiled. Then, he looked down and drank in her firm, lean body hidden only by a matching set of white underwear with lace trim. He just couldn’t take his eyes off the scene before him.
“If ya like, I can get these outta the way,” Applejack offered as she playfully tugged at one of her shoulder straps.
“No, no, believe it or not, leaving a little for the imagination is pretty damn nice too. Besides, we’re not exactly alone and Rarity needs to concentrate.”
“That so? Hmm… Ah guess I could see that. Sorta like… the wrapping paper on uh Hearth’s Warming present. Ya can’t be exactly sure what’s underneath, but ya know it’s gonna be pretty darn good.”
“Exactly. One more benefit to skirts, they only barely hide the ‘presents’ and the ‘wrapping paper’ looks about ready to come undone on its own.”
“Do you two mind?!” Rarity shouted. “It is hard enough to concentrate without you two distracting me.” Both Rick and AJ nervously smiled as an apology. “Besides, you had your turn last night, Applejack.”
“Alright, fair’s fair,” AJ consented, “how ‘bout Ah head home ‘n’ ya’ll just keep workin’.”
“Now, there’s no need for that. I won’t be working for much longer and then we can all go home together.” A shirt and skirt floated over to Applejack and another shirt drifted to Rick. “For now, try these on.”
The skirt was a blue denim and the shirt was a simple tank top, orange in color with three red apples on the left breast. Rick’s shirt also matched his fur color but lacked the bandaged crystal heart that was his cutie mark. They fit perfectly, Rick’s loose enough to allow him freedom of movement without hanging loosely. Applejacks skirt come down about half-way to the knee while her tank top showed her figure off splendidly.
“These’re perfect, Rarity,” Applejack complimented.
“I agree completely,” Rick concurred, “now hurry up so we can get you home. You look like you could use a massage after all the work you did today.”
This earned an excited gasp, some cooing and a giggle. “Ooh, I won’t be but a minute.”