Chapter 16: Fitting In
The first thing Bryce did once he and Rarity reached his room was to remove his worn out sneakers and torn socks. While he did this, Rarity rubbed the towel through her mane, "Now, Bryce, while I'm taking care of this could you please remove your...undergarments?"
Bryce's jaw dropped. "Excuse me!?"
"Those things you wear on your back legs are undergarments, are they not? Take them off."
Bryce crossed his arms and turned away from Rarity. "Well I take offense in you asking me to do that."
Rarity removed the towel from her mane and neatly folded it. "What's the matter? I'm only asking you so I can get a more accurate measure of..."
He cut her off. "Well that's where I keep my privates…"
"Your privates?" Thinking for a second, Rarity realized what he meant. "You do realize we're all naked?"
"Y...yeah, I know."
"Then remove your undergarments."
"No," he stated firmly.
Rarity sternly stated, "I asked you nicely. Now remove them!"
Bryce turned back around. "Well, I said..." Bryce's pants were suddenly enveloped in a transparent blue aura and drawn down to the floor, his underwear suffering the same fate. Bryce could only look down in shock, then at Rarity, then back down.
Rarity did the same, blushing from embarrassment at the human's exposed appendage, turning her head away. "P...put that...thing away."
Bryce covered it with his hands and pulled his feet out of his blue glowing shorts. "I can't; that's how human anatomy is. Male reproductive organs stick out like that, and when it gets stimulated..."
"Then put your undergarments back on this instant," Rarity interjected hastily.
"Well, stop doing whatever it is you're doing to them!"
Rarity released her magical hold on Bryce's pants; the blue glow around them dissipating. Bryce poked at them with his toes, "How...how did you do that?"
"Oh no. I'm not saying a word until..."
"Okay, okay, alright." He reached down with one hand, picked up his boxers, and stuck his legs through the holes. When he had pulled them up to his waist, he calmly said to Rarity, "I'll keep my boxers on if that's alright with you."
The fashionista replied, "Fine, fine; stand in the center of the room and remain straight." Bryce did so as Rarity pulled a pair of eyeglasses out of her saddlebag along with a writing pad, quill, and tape measure. With Bryce in position, Rarity went to work.
After a few minutes of watching the tape measure float around his body, Bryce spoke up, "How are you doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"With the tape measure, it's floating as if by..."
"Magic? Of course it is."
Bryce twisted his torso around. "Wait, really?"
"Stand still!" she ordered.
"Sorry!" Bryce exclaimed as he turned back around. "You’re not kidding around, are you?"
"Of course not. Could you lift your...forelegs up for me?" Bryce held his arms out to shoulder level. "Here in Equestria, all unicorns have the ability to use magic. Have you not heard of it?"
"No. I'm not from Equestria, and there aren't any unicorns where I'm from.”
"Oh...but there must be magic where you're from, is there not?"
"Yea— No, NO! We don't have any magic where I'm from, no ma’am!"
"Stop shifting around or we'll have to start over." Bryce tried his best to stay still. "Well I suppose that would explain - fifteen-and-a-quarter inches near the shoulder - why you look so surprised."
"Well, back on Earth, we usually do work with our hands or machines."
"Oh, that's - thirteen at the joint - interesting, but how do you control the weather?"
It took all of Bryce's concentration to not turn around and face Rarity, "What do you mean? The weather controls itself...right?"
"Here in Equestria, the weather is controlled by the pegasi, but I don't see how you can. You don't have wings."
"Humans don't have wings; the weather more or less controls itself... Is that why I sometimes see the clouds move around at such odd angles?"
"Why yes, that is exactly the reason."
"OK, then what about earth ponies? What are they good for?"
"Oh, now they're...eight-and-a-half at the fetlock...more ambiguous. Earth ponies don't have wings like pegasi, or the abilities to perform magic like unicorns, but a few have... " Rarity paused to write down Bryce's dimensions "...a few have a power over the earth...or so I've heard."
"How so?"
"I'm not very knowledgeable on earth pony anatomy. You should ask Applejack if you're interested..." Rarity then took notice of Bryce's left arm, "Why does your left foreleg look different from your right?"
Bryce brought it forward so he could see it, "It's...a burn."
"A burn...? But it's so...large though, how could you possibly have received something so...grotesque, so...alluring?"
Bryce bluntly stated, "I was struck by lightning."
"Lightning, gracious how did you survive such an ordeal?"
"I...I don't know."
"Are you alright, it just seems so..."
"I'm fine, really. It happened like two weeks ago."
Rarity wanted to press the issue, but decided it best to resume their business, "Keep your forelegs raised while I measure your barrel and chest." Bryce continued to do so. "So what do you do? Back in your world, I mean?"
"I didn't have a job, so to speak. I was a college student."
"Oh, what was your area of study?"
"I hadn't actually declared a major. I was more of an independent study major. You know, just...testing the waters."
"That's... interesting... forty-one-and-a-half around the chest.... What were you studying then?"
"Well, I was about halfway through the semester, but back on Earth, I was studying analytical calculus. I kept an A in it too. Then there was biology, microeconomics, and a history course. That last one I enjoyed the most."
"Why’s - forty-five at the barrel - why's that?" Rarity inquired.
"Because to understand a culture, or how it got the way it is today, you need to look at the events leading up to now and how their beliefs and practices have changed over time."
"Well, in a sense I can agree with...Bryce, darling, please stand still."
"I can't help it; my ribs are ticklish."
"We're more than halfway done, so just try to stand still." Rarity stood in front of Bryce and batted her eyelashes. "Do it for me... won't you, darling?"
"Um... okay, I'll try." Bryce bit down on his lower lip.
"That's better, now then... hips... forty-one-and-a-third.... Are you standing up straight? Your back seems to bend forward."
"No, that's how I always stand."
"Well it just seems…. It doesn't matter. You may lower your forelegs." Bryce did so, letting out a sigh of relief. "Now, would you please spread your back legs apart? Good now... twenty-seven around at the gaskins…."
Bryce asked something that had been on his mind ever since he'd introduced himself to the white unicorn. "Why were you so concerned about my name before?"
"Whatever do you mean... twenty one and a half...?"
"Before when I told you my name, it looked like you'd heard it before."
Rarity stopped to record her work, taking her time in doing so. "Oh, you... noticed that?" Bryce turned to Rarity and looked her in the eye, his face expressionless. "Very well; if you must know, I have heard your name before, but in a more... antagonistic way."
"What do you mean?"
Rarity wasn't quick to answer. "I mean no offense, but you were described as being fifteen feet tall with razor sharp fangs and claws that could rip through bone, deep, glowing red eyes that could pierce a pony's very soul, a mane of flaming snakes, and had absolutely no regard for pony life."
Bryce covered his eyes with his large hand and shook his head, knowing of only one pony in this world that would sink to such a level. "Mind if I take a guess at who you heard it from?"
"Don't you worry darling, I'm sure it was..."
Bryce interrupted, "It was Rainbow Dash, wasn't it?"
Rarity's sentence caught in her throat. "Actually yes, it was her.... But how did you...?"
Bryce turned back, facing away from the blue-eyed unicorn, "I... may have laid into her last week, in a bad way."
"What do you mean by 'laid into her'?"
"I... told her how she looked like a boy in a very descriptive detail."
Rarity walked over to the human. "What would force you to do a thing like that? I know that Rainbow Dash may look...and act a little virile, but there must have been something she did to force your hoof."
Bryce tried to avoid meeting her gaze. "Well... a few days before she... I smacked Apple Bloom, and she must have seen me do it. When I was alone, she came out of nowhere and attacked me."
"My word! Did you really hurt that little filly that hard?"
"Well... sort of. She had jumped in front of me when I was out back cutting wood. I was... angry at her for doing something so... so... stupid. I regretted doing it the second I did it but... Rainbow Dash must not have seen it that way."
"What all did she do exactly?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"Wellllll…."
Bryce shook his head again. "She...broke my nose... blackened my eye... nearly broke my jaw... cracked a few of my ribs.... It was just horrible."
After a short pause, Rarity asked, "But that's not what's upsetting you, now is it?" Bryce weakly shook his head. "Then what is it?"
Bryce sat down on the bed, not looking in Rarity's direction. "Well... a few days after that she...... I noticed her hiding up on a cloud. I... I was only joking, you know, just trying to make her come down. She must not have seen it that way though and... we got in an argument and I... I wasn't easy on her."
"Well from what's she done to you, I'd say you were too easy on her.” Rarity stomped her hoof. "Why the gall of that... bucking hoyden...." Rarity closed her eyes to collect herself. Now, Rarity, that's no way for a lady to react. When Rarity had calmed herself, she firmly stated, "While I don't like the fact you hurt that little filly, I'm more upset at Rainbow Dash."
"Wait, don't—
"I've had just about enough of that... mare. The gloating and tomfoolery I can take, but that she would actually handle a misunderstanding in such a manner is unforgiveable."
"Rarity, there's no reason for you to get invol—"
"Darling, I know your heart may be in the right place, but anything you did to her was too forgiving."
"No…. Just... no." Everything in the room began to shake with his ire. "I already feel bad enough without forcing someone else to get involved." Rarity took the hint and kept her mouth shut. "I know what happened; I won't deny what I did, but if you get involved in this....This is my battle; let me deal with it on my own as I always have."
There was a much longer pause. Rarity was the one to break the silence. "Bryce...?"
"...What?"
"Why are you forcing such a burden on yourself? You didn't do anything wrong."
"*Pfft* Say that to Apple Bloom or Rainbow Dash."
"Well you have, but the most important part about it is you regret doing it."
"Yeah... so what?"
"So you have nothing to worry about." Bryce didn't show any sign he comprehended what she was saying. "How can you feel so bad about this?"
"Because…."
Rarity was getting tired of going back and forth with Bryce. "Because why?"
Bryce stood and walked towards the unicorn, forcing her back. "Because the way I treated Rainbow Dash is no better than how others treated me! The whole time I was growing up, I was talked down to! Every day of the week, no matter what I'd done, right or wrong, people would treat me like crap! Just... the pain of it all hurt me so much, so much sometimes that I felt like ending my own life!!!" When Bryce was finished, he had his hands balled into fists, his heart was pounding inside his chest, his anger forcing tears to stream down his cheeks. Rarity's flank was against the wall.
As quickly as Bryce's anger had peaked, it just as soon began to recede. His senses slowly began to come back. The unicorn, less than half his size, was cowering in fear at his feet. The only protection she had was her raised hoof. Bryce turned away, "I... I'm sorry...."
He made his way for the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Somewhere far away from here."
Rarity reacted quickly, using her magic to stop him from passing through the passageway. "Oh no, I'm not about to allow you to do something drastic to yourself."
"This doesn't involve you."
"Oh yes it does. If I were to allow you to walk out that doorway, I'd never forgive myself."
"Is that what you're worried about?" Bryce turned around to face her. "Fine. I, Bryce Smales, absolve you pre-humorously of everything that is about to happen," he said as he drew a cross in the air.
"I don't care if you do; I'm not letting you outside this room. Now why don't we just sit down, and we'll talk this over."
Bryce huffed. "And after that, do you promise to let me go?"
"That depends on how things turn out."
Bryce let out a heavy sigh. "Fine...." He sat down on the edge of the bed.
Rarity took a seat on the hard floor. "Now I can understand you feeling bad about being 'talked down to', but why are you so upset with Rainbow?"
I'm not upset at Rainbow.... I'm upset at myself."
"I don't follow."
"I'm upset at myself because what I did to her was no better than what was done to me. Like I said, when I was younger, people treated me as the whipping boy, always the one that received the worst end of the deal whenever someone else screwed up. No matter what it was, the finger was pointed at me in the end. Everyone else got away with a slap on the wrist at best."
"Did you ever do anything bad?"
"Well... sometimes I did, but my infractions were always equated as a mortal sin. I may have done things that hurt others, but it was never intentional."
"But how could they treat you such a way?"
"I don't know; it just human nature I guess. Every time, there's something 'different' or 'abnormal'. They always find something. If it's not looks, it's race. If not race, then beliefs. If not beliefs, then preferences. They find something, whether it be wealth, religion, gender, weight... mental competence." Bryce put his hands together and brought them to his forehead. "They find some reason to belittle anyone that's undesired."
Rarity was confused, "Then why are you so upset? From what you've said, you were the one that 'talked down' to Rainbow."
"That's the point. I was the one that did it this time. I admit, when I was doing it, I felt on top of the world, but when I came down... I... I saw that I'd become the thing I despised the most. When I walked down the path towards town, I met Ditzy, and she told me she'd seen Rainbow Dash, and that she was upset because 'some jerk kept on calling her a boy'." Bryce folded his arms and looked down. "My entire life, I promised myself I'd never do anything to make anyone feel like I had... but I did."
Rarity stood up and stepped forward. "Surely it wasn't all that bad?"
"Well, yeah. There were a few good ones."
Rarity took another cautionary step forward. "Can you describe it for me?"
"Well, there were a few classes I really did like. Like computers and art. They gave me the chance to be myself. The teachers were always praising me on my creativity. I never saw it though."
Rarity stepped forward once again, close enough for Bryce's stench to make her nose cringe. She pressed through, however, not wanting to upset him more than he already was. "How have you been able to survive though? Your world seems so...cold and...hopeless."
"I...always kept hope...hope that the next day would be better. True, many of them were worse than the day before, but when those few times, those very few times they were better... they made it all worth living."
"Then...what about today? Does this count as a better day?"
"Well, I was finally told I was well enough to do stuff with Apple Bloom, wrangled what could have been a deadly snake, threw said snake onto you, which I am sorry for, exposed myself—"
"Which I'm sorry for."
"It's Okay, really. The best part was that I got my measurements so I don't have to go around half naked anymore, and I met the first female on this world that hasn't hurt me in some way or another. All in all, it's been a good day, I guess." Rarity cleared the rest of the distance between them and threw her hoof around his neck and held him tightly. "What's that for?"
"Because..."
"Because why?"
"Because the weight on your shoulders is too heavy for any one pony to bear alone."
"H... How can you forgive me? You just wanted to help and I..."
"Shh... It’s alright; I forgive you."
Bryce cried. He grabbed hold of Rarity and pulled her tightly into his chest. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, darling, but could you just... please…."
Bryce released the unicorn. "I'm sorry."
Rarity looked him straight in the eye. "I forgive you. Now if you don't mind standing back up for me, Bryce, I'd like to finish your measurements. The sooner it’s done the sooner I can return to the boutique and get your clothes done."
Bryce stood up. "Well... about payment…."
"Don't you worry about it, darling; it's on the—"
"I can't accept that. You're generous, but I can't allow you to do this for free. When I can, I'll pay you back in almost any way I can."
"If you insist, but this affair with Rainbow Dash… I refuse to just sweep it under the rug. The only way she'll understand is a proper dressing down." Bryce made to speak but Rarity raised her hoof. "I will allow you your condition, but only if you allow me mine."
Bryce thought it over for a second. "If you feel you must, but...please don't say I had anything to do with it. I'm in deep enough water with her as it is."
"You don't have to worry. Besides, what else are friends for?"
Bryce meekly asked, "Friends... really?"
"Of course, Bryce; you deserve at least somepony to turn to when you need it. Now if you could..." Bryce stood in the center of the room again to allow his friend to work her magic. "And... eleven-and-a-half at the coronets and... done. You can relax now, Bryce."
Bryce did so as he walked over to his shoes. Holding them up to her, he asked, "If you could, could you see if you can do anything with these. If I keep wearing them the way they are, my feet will get all cut up."
"I can try. Why have you kept them for so long?"
"I... have a hard time throwing things away until they cease to do their intended function... and breaking in a new pair of shoes is like stepping on broken glass to me."
Rarity grabbed them in her magic. "Okay, but I won't promise anything."
"Well, do what you can. That's the best I can ask."
At that moment, Granny Smith came running in through the door. "Is everypony decent?" Both Rarity and Bryce looked at her in surprise. "Well if y'all are done, lunch's ready. We have hay fries, corn on the cob, anything a pony could want. Just come on down when you're ready." Granny Smith left the room.
"The... hay fries. They aren't... actually hay, are they?"
Rarity replied, "No, we call them that because they're made to resemble hay. They're made of potatoes."
"Well that's good. I will admit I'm a picky eater. Just the other day I couldn't eat a pastry because I didn't like the feel of it. It was...flaky.
"Well, everypony has their quirks, I suppose. Come, it's impolite to keep everypony waiting."
Bryce and Rarity exited the room and went downstairs to the dining room.
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That night, after everypony else had gone to bed, Bryce jumped out of bed and cracked the window open. Immediately, a red, black, and yellow banded head popped over the window sill. Bryce stuck his hand out, and the head slithered onto his body. He pulled the rest of the head through and brought it up to his eye level. "See, I told you I was going to do it."
Jack flicked her tongue out at Bryce.
"Well I told you before, just be glad I let you do this. Now, you can stay here at night, but in the morning, you're going right back out the way you came in, got it?"
Jack only stared at Bryce.
"Good, now you can either stay on my forearm or my calf. And please don't do it so tightly if you can. You almost chocked me to death this afternoon."
Jack snaked her way down his hand and coiled herself around his forearm.
"Well...good night, Jack. Sweet dreams." Bryce kissed her once on the head and went to sleep himself.