//------------------------------//
// Second Impressions 
// Story: The Formula for Love 
// by MegaTJ 
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Second Impressions

“Are you sure about this one Twilight?”

“Absolutely”, Twilight replied a-matter-of-factly, “Linen has a taste for symmetry and asymmetry, as well as contradictory colors. He will LOVE it!”

Rarity found it ironic how SHE was questioning the outfit SHE was being forced into while standing on her own display table. She and Twilight had spent the past two hours getting her ready for her dinner date with Linen. Now she was wearing a very beautiful purple dress. She wasn’t certain whether or not the yellow guidings for either side were necessary, nor did she believe that the dress needed a lightened fade at the bottom. But Twilight did spend more time with Linen that she did, so it only stood to reason that Twilight knew what she was talking about.

Twilight studied Rarity intently. She was trying her best to make her fellow Element appear the very best for Linen. After about thirteen hours on a train together, she was sure she knew a lot about him. She kept scanning the dress over and over again, and something finally struck her. There was something missing from Rarity’s dress. She recalled that Linen had mention something about accessories and she tried to figure out exactly what his taste would call for. Then inspiration hit as she laid her eyes on a pink cloth in the back of the store. She levitated it over to her and fashioned it into a large bow. She used her magic to attach it to the back of the dress.

“Walla!” she cheered. “All finished! What do you think Rarity?” She held her breath anxiously.

Rarity gazed upon the dress in the three mirrors before her. “Unique”, she observed, “Truly unique…and rather unusual…I love it!”

“I’m glad you think so.” Twilight smiled bashfully. It wasn’t everyday she wandered out of the library to dress up a semi famous dress designer, so any compliments were completely flattering.

“Thank you so much, Twilight. You may have saved my second impression from disaster!”

“It’s nothing Rarity”, Twilight replied, “You do the same for me all the time.”

Rarity admired herself in the mirror for a few seconds longer. Twilight did a fabulous job. The dress complimented the unicorn in every way. She studied her eyes and wondered exactly how Twilight got the dress to bring them out so brightly. She noticed her neck. It was somewhat bare since the dress was strapless. “Twilight”, she said to Twilight’s reflection.

“Yes, Rarity?” Twilight stepped forward.

“Near the door there is a small, oak box. Could you please bring it here?”

“Sure thing!” Twilight chimed. She saw it from across the room and simply levitated it over. “Here you go!”

“Thank you, Twilight.” Rarity took the box and opened it. Still staring at her reflection, she withdrew a very pretty sapphire necklace. She slipped it around her neck and fastened it. That seemed to wrap the entire outfit up. Only one last thing. From the stand to her left, a perfume bottle floated over. She gave herself two quick puffs of the aromatic essence.

She turned to Twilight, once again a questioning expression plastered to her face. “Are you sure I won’t need any more makeup?”

“I’m completely sure, Rarity. The mascara and blush should be more than enough. Linen told me himself that he believed in natural beauty and that it shouldn’t be covered up by artificial colors.” 

“I do hope you are correct…” The last thing Rarity wanted to do was make a bad impression.

“Trust me. Linen will like almost whatever you wear. He’s very calm and collected.”

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Come back here, Cotton!” Linen shouted. He chased his brother across the living room, causing him to dodge some of the furniture. Crashing and shattering could be heard racing throughout the house.

Cotton was leading him all over the place. The small unicorn dove under the couches and squeezed in every nook and cranny he could to avoid his older brother. “Captain!” he screamed at his brother. He jumped over the coffee table in the living room.

Linen stopped dead in his tracks. “ENOUGH!” With a surge of powerful magic energy, he threw a force field around Cotton. Instantly, he froze in midair.

“No fair, Big Brother!” Cotton grumbled.

“I have no further intentions to play nicely”, Linen retorted. He levitated the comb he had been chasing Cotton with up to the imprisoned unicorn.

“NNNNOOOOOOO!!!!” he screamed in vain as the comb neatened his messy mane. He struggled to break free, but Linen only tightened the hold on him.

“Yes”, Linen snapped, “Miss Rarity will be appearing here for dinner this evening, and I will not have you, who I may add is not even supposed to be here, present her with a worse impression than that of which will more than likely already be in effect due to your unannounced arrival!”

“Blah blah blah.” Cotton rolled his eyes.

“Don’t you DARE! I am your eldest brother and from this point forward your guardian!” Linen yelled. “You WILL listen to me, or so help me Luna I will have you sent back to Mother and Father!”

That threat did it. Cotton stopped struggling. Linen finished combing his mane and then lowered him. He refused to face Linen even when he was set back on the ground. Linen saw that he was crying. He only got to take a single step before Cotton spoke again.

“Y-you know what, Big Brother”, he sniffed.

“What, Cotton?” Linen asked softly. He slowly approached his little brother.

“I w-wanted to come w-with y-you, because e-everypony was mean to me in T-Trottingham!” He cried. He turned and grabbed Linen’s leg. “Please, d-don’t make me g-go back!”

It had never occurred to Linen that Cotton had been bullied back home. He never noticed any signs, and that is nearly impossible being as they had, despite the rivalry, the best sibling bond anypony had ever seen. Linen put a hoof around his brother. “I won’t, Cotton”, Linen whispered, “I promise.”

They stayed that way for several more minutes. Then Cotton broke free from the hug. Linen didn’t follow him. He knew Cotton would make no further interruptions. The little colt wouldn’t want to upset him again.

He sighed. “Oh, what am I to do?” He turned and gazed upon the destruction he and Linen had just brought upon the house. Two of the lamps had been shattered into a few hundred pieces on the floor, and one of the couches had managed to flip upside down. Linen shook his head and levitated his one spell book from the only intact bookshelf in the room.

“Ah, Restoration and Renewal, my old friend!” Linen flipped open the book and flicked through its pages until he came across the spell he was looking for. He set the book down and focused as much magical energy as he could to his horn. It glowed and sparked as he followed the instructions in the book. “Oh”, he groaned, “This would be much easier if I practiced magic more frequently like normal unicorns!”

In a sudden burst, the spell arced off his horn to the ceiling and shot around the room.  Everything the bolt of magic touched instantly started to repair itself. Linen looked up. He smiled at the progress. In a matter of moments, the house would be back to the way it was. 

He made his way to the kitchen. As soon as he crossed the threshold, the egg timer on the dining table started ringing. He pulled the oven open and withdrew the pan from within. He gave the dish a deep sniff. It smelled okay to him despite missing a few ingredients his mother had always used. He wished he had more time to make something better, but that was the best he could do in the time given to him. He placed the pan on the stove and withdrew three plates from a cabinet. He dished out an equal amount of the hay over rice on each plate and set the table.

“Big Brother?”

Linen turned his head to see Cotton holding the kitchen door open. “Yes?”

“It’s five minutes to six.”

Linen’s heart hit his throat. “Thank you, Cotton”, he said quickly. He dashed out of the kitchen so fast that Cotton didn’t even have time to correct him with “Captain”. 

He flew up the stairs and into the bathroom. In a matter of seconds, the sink was full of sudsy bubbles. He rubbed his hooves together vigorously in an effort to get them as clean as possible. He dunked his face under the water and scrubbed off any possible dirt. He pulled his head back out and instinctively grabbed his comb from the counter. He combed his sopping wet mane back into its normal neat fashion. A towel levitated up to his face and he dried it and his glasses. He sighed in frustration when he realized he had just mangled his mane again, and quickly combed it back into place.

Linen peered into his reflection. He pulled open his lips to make sure his teeth were still white. The frantic gray unicorn searched himself all over for any more flaws before rushing out and into his room, where he grabbed a collar and black bowtie. He struggled to get it tied and nearly fell down the steps in his attempt to multitask. He slid to a halt in the living room. By then the repair spell had completed its job and had since disappeared. Cotton was busy reading a comic book on the couch against the far wall.

Linen saw that it was a book that his brother didn’t own. “Cotton”, he said, “Where did you get that book?”

“One of my new friends gave it to me!” Cotton announced.

Linen smiled. “You made some friends?” Back in Trottingham, Cotton couldn’t even talk to very many ponies, and now he has made at least two friends!

“I made…uh…” Cotton looked off into space in concentration as he counted the fillies he had met just a few hours earlier. “Six friends!”

“That’s marvelous, Cotton!”

“Uh huh!” Cotton agreed. “Tomorrow they say they’re going to swear me in as a Cutie Mark Crusader! YAY!”

“What a delightful sounding group!” Linen nearly jumped and started to dance. With his magic, he grabbed Cotton’s cape and tied it around the colt’s neck. The magic field then spread to Cotton’s whole body. Linen picked him up and started to levitate him over the furniture and across the room.

“Captain Threads to the rescue!” Cotton  cheered as he flew around the room.

On the outside of the house, Rarity could tell something was definitely going on inside. Playful laughter and giggling could be heard as far away as the Carousel Boutique! She walked up the steps, eager to leave the steadily darkening evening for the inside of the house. A small tug at the back of her dress made her freeze. It felt like a snag. Her heart began to pick up its pace in her chest. She hesitantly turned around. Any sudden movement, and she would hear the horrible sound of the dress ripping. She shut her eyes and slowly backed down the stairs. The dress fell loose. She breathed a sigh of relief. Carefully, she gradually moved back up the steps to avoid the step on which the dress had gotten snagged. 

Now at the door, she paused before giving the door a knock. Something had been bothering her since she left the Boutique. Despite what Twilight had told her, she pulled out a compact. She quickly applied a very light blue-violet eye shadow to her eyelids. “Sorry, Twilight…” she said, “But I just don’t feel myself without it.”

She snapped the compact closed and finally gave the door a polite tap. It swung inward to reveal two unicorns. Linen smiled welcomingly.

Linen stared at her in awe for about ten seconds before speaking. “Ah, Rarity. Right on time!” He stepped aside and she walked in. When he shut the door, Cotton stepped forward. He put a hoof on the colt’s shoulder. “Rarity, I would like to introduce you to my youngest brother, Cotton Threads. He stowed away in my luggage with a note from my mother to say that he is to live with me. I hope that this doesn’t violate any regulations or provisions set for my employment or housing.”

Rarity looked to Cotton, then back to Linen. “I am sorry, Linen”, she said with a saddened frown.

The brothers tensed as they braced for the news of having to move back to Trottingham. Cotton was just about brought to tears.

Rarity’s frown rose into a smile, “But now I have to tell my friend Pinkie Pie to throw two welcoming parties!”

“Party!?” Cotton jumped into the air and darted up to her with wondering eyes.

“Yes, little Cotton.” Rarity replied. She kneeled to his height. She whispered, “And you know, I have a little sister. She’s very near your age.”

“Sweetie Belle!” Cotton yelled excitedly. “I met her today in the park! She said she was your sister, that’s how I know who you are!”

“Oh, did she now?” Rarity nearly forgot how idolized she was by her sister. She was the main topic of most of Sweetie’s conversations.


“Uh huh!”

“Rarity, er…could I interest you in a cup of tea before dinner?” Linen inquired shakily. It was his first time being the actual host for a guest. Back in Trottingham it was always his parents who had invited and tended to the visitors. He was just there for atmosphere.

“That sounds lovely, Linen. The trip was rather chilly.”

“Of course.” Linen rushed into the kitchen, leaving his younger brother and employer alone in the living room.

“I can’t wait to be a Cutie Mark Crusader!” Cotton blurted out.

“You haven’t earned your Cutie Mark yet”, asked Rarity.

“Not yet, but I’m working really hard.” He pulled his cape aside to reveal his blank flank. “Linen always says I can make it whatever I want, but I just don’t know what will look cool.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t work towards obtaining a Cutie Mark that will look cool, but instead a Cutie Mark that will always be a symbol of pride and skill in what you excel in.”

“I am!” Cotton chirped.

Rarity gave him a confused expression.

“I do all kinds of cool stuff! And any Cutie Mark I get will look the coolest!” He bounced with every word he shouted.

Before Rarity could continue the conversation, Linen walked in carrying a tea set. Three small cups were steaming with the hot tea. A kettle was placed in between the three and a small saucer held a few cookies. All arranged in accordance of 
mathematical probability of first use. Thank LunaI actually gave Mother’s teachings the proper respect and devotion. If it weren’t for his mother, Linen would be at a complete loss now. He set the tray on the table in the center of the room.

“Would you care to sit down, Rarity?”

“Oh, yes, why thank you.” She took her seat on an orange couch. She sat unmoving so she wouldn’t wrinkle her dress. She levitated one of the cups of tea to her lips.

“Dinner is currently cooling. Unless I have calculated incorrectly, I estimate it to be at the proper temperature in approximately twelve minutes.” Linen double checked his math to make sure he wouldn’t look like a foal if he was wrong.

“It seems that has given us an ample amount of conversation time.” Rarity gave her tea a sip.

“Now we are presented with the issue of a discussion topic.” Linen sat on the purple couch opposite of Rarity. Cotton bounced about the living room, having finally lost interest in the evening. Linen watched him nervously. Rarity didn’t seem to notice, but the grey stallion wasn’t taking any chances. He levitated a cookie from the tray and hovered it in front of his younger brother’s face. Giggling, Cotton followed it around the room. The two weaved in between the furniture, until finally the cookie landed on the arm of the green loveseat that Linen had positioned in a cattycorner fashion against the far corner facing the front door.

The colt immediately devoured the round sweet, barely leaving any crumbs.

Linen gazed sheepishly to Rarity. She was chuckling to herself. Linen decided that he had a suitable conversation topic. With a forced confident smile, he said, “Cotton’s stomach has the largest volume capacity I have ever seen. No matter what he eats, there will always remain an empty space inside that little void of a belly.”

Rarity giggled at his comment. “Yes, it seems that nearly all colts at his age level eat more than average.”

“The energy for growth must come from some source.”

Cotton watched the two quietly and tried his best to keep himself behaved. His adventurous nature was making that very hard for him and he soon found himself bouncing slightly with the urge to start running around the living room once more.

Linen, having noticed, decided to change the subject for his brother’s sake. “Would there happen to be any locations Cotton could…safely…explore and develop his magic talents?”

Cotton’s ears perked up. Now this he could relate to.

Rarity already had an answer to that question. It seemed that many new ponies always asked the same thing. “Why yes. Ponyville is home to many small caves and groves that can be very safely navigated. And if you require additional assurance, the Golden Oaks Library’s assistant librarian is a treasure and avid cave spelunker. He would be more than happy to bring Cotton with him on an exploration.”

“Really!?” Cotton hopped off the couch and once again trotted up to the white mare. “That’s so cool!” He turned and galloped back to Linen. “Can I, Big Brother? Please?”

Linen recoiled as cotton thrust the questions at him. “Well, of course, Cotton. But be sure to have all of your other affairs in order first.” Cotton had a reputation for a forgetful mind, and would often let many scheduled events slip his mind due to his 
excitement for something else. “You wouldn’t want to oversight your induction as a Cutie Mark Crusader tomorrow, would you?”

“Nuh uh!” Cotton shook his head vigorously.

Rarity’s eyes widened a touch. Another Cutie Mark Crusader!? Oh dear Celestia…the thought ran through her head again and again.

“Rarity, has something startled you?” Linen rose for any assistance he may have been able to offer.

The white unicorn rose too. “Not at all. Not at all”, she assured, “It seems as if my hunger has decided to spike.”

Linen bought the lie. “Well, if that is indeed the issue, then we may sacrifice the several last minutes to dine sooner.”

“That sounds lovely.” Rarity followed Cotton, who had first sprinted into the kitchen. 

Linen followed behind, hoping that the rest of the evening would flow evenly according to the algorithm he had formulated.

Perhaps, he thought, my second impression will surpass the results of my first…