//------------------------------//
// 27 - Rain 
// Story: Gladiator 
// by Not_A_Hat 
//------------------------------//

"Everypony looks so cute!" Twilight said.

"You're just noticing?" We were on the path to Zecora's in the early morning. Mist hung low on the ground and gnarled trees loomed menacingly in the forest shadows, but birds sang cheerfully and sunlight slowly brightened our way. Dew hung heavy on the branches and leaves. My fetlocks were soaked. "Odd it would strike you today. I wonder if it takes time for minds to acclimate to bodies? Maybe if we stayed switched, you'd find yourself thinking like me?"

"Possibly. Do we really look this adorable to you?"

"Likely more. If you didn't notice yesterday, then tomorrow it could be even more pronounced. Most of you look like soft plush toys. Super cute and huggable. Especially the foals. The cutie mark crusaders are so sweet, sometimes it's all I can do to keep myself from snuggling them. Especially Scootaloo. Can you imagine how offended she would be?" We both burst out laughing, imagining the 'tough' filly's reaction to being adorable.

"I guess no matter what else we got out of this, it has put some things into perspective." I brushed a branch out of the way.

"Yeah." Twilight nodded. "Although now we've solved this, we have a whole new set of problems."

"One thing at a time."  I sighed. A sinister somepony was not what I needed in my life. "For now, we need the antidote. After, I need to talk to Lyra."

"You're taking her offer?"

"Yeah," I said somberly. "I'll ask if we can focus on mental discipline. I don't know if it was watching you fight the manticore, or almost punch Rainbow, but I realized that I can't afford to pretend I'm normal. I need to do something. One of the first things I learned from Splinter was indecision is usually worse than guessing. I can't pretend my problems don't exist. Lyra's training may not be the final answer, but it's a step."

"Makes sense. Well, it's been educational, but I, for one, will be glad to be back to normal."

"Amen to that." I turned the last corner on the trail, carefully edging past a puddle, and smiled with relief as Zecora's house came into view. Soon, one problem would be out of the way. Soon, I could start working on the next one.

Soon.





Zecora cured us quickly, although she burst out laughing upon hearing about our plight. After picking herself up off the floor and choking back paroxysms of giggles, she mixed the antidote with no fuss and no trouble. We went separate ways, relieved and planning to pick up the pieces as best we could.

For me, that meant heading straight into the Everfree.

I wasn't kidding when I told Twilight I didn't have money for a decent chair. I barely had money for decent food. I had a job, and it payed well; comparatively better than my job on Earth. But I hadn't put in a full day since visiting Canterlot. I had made bits here and there, but I couldn't afford to be just scraping by. Winter was coming eventually, and I couldn't subsist on hay. I needed to stock up, and that meant buying in bulk; I couldn't eat pony staples, and that meant a special order. Put those together and I needed big bits, cash up front. My house was worth it. I was very happy I'd laid out the money for it, and I wouldn't take that back. But things were...tight. Tighter than I'd thought, with wacky shenanigans filling my time. So, I seized the chance to get some work done.

I headed into the forest diagonally to the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters. The Everfree could be very dangerous, but not everywhere. Between Ponyville and the Palace it was scary, but fairly tame. Near the Palace, it was quite safe. Past the Palace, things started getting crazy again, like the old city had a calming influence of sorts. I hiked until things started to get interesting. I was nearly half a day from Ponyville, clockwise around the Palace.

One of the best parts of the hiking was exploring. I'd taken an hour or two in Twilight's workshop to make myself a decent compass. Combined with a good map and my orienteering skills, I could always find my way out. Not as convenient as the GPS on my long-lost phone, but I kept notes on my map, and carefully expanded my 'territory', slowly moving further and further into the unknown, slowly stretching my understanding of the wild.

 One part of being a naturalist I really enjoyed was the outdoors time. Hiking was a paid activity, and working meant leaving my paperwork behind. I was alone, the distractions of life, the hustle, bustle, and ponies of the town were far behind.

It was nice. Peaceful.

I didn't just wander anywhere, of course. Even before my run-in with Poison Joak, I moved slowly and cautiously. I stuck to trails as I could, and didn't let my thoughts stray far. Now I was a bit more comfortable with using Splinter's horn, I had another advantage. I couldn't cast spells without help, but sensing didn't take energy, so I could scan for magic; I could spot magic and enchantments from afar as long as I paid attention.

I was moving stealthily, dagger in one hand, horn in the other, on a thinly-worn rabbit trail. I'd found a slow-stone, which was quite good; if I didn't turn up anything else, I could call it a day. But I was enjoying the breeze, and decided to continue a bit. As I hiked, I caught glimpses of something odd through the trees. Finally stepping into a clearing, I found what seemed to be a relic of the Ever Free City. Ruins were scattered all through the Forest. The City had been a big place, and left lots behind, much to my pleasure. I enjoyed exploring ruins. Walking the hoofsteps of those who came before gave me a curious feeling, and I liked to imagine the days of those who lived an age ago. This one was a large mural, intricately and painstakingly painted onto a cliff.

I stood and appreciated the mural for a good five minutes. At some point, erosion had halved the hill before me, leaving a generously sized rock face footed by scree. Using an unknown technique, somepony had marked the surface, using the expanse of bare stone as their canvas. Dark swirls alternated with natural gray. It was abstract, with no obvious symbolism, and big enough that as I walked closer, I couldn't take the whole thing in at once, but more and more details sprang to light. As I neared the cliff, foreshortening bent the whole thing, drawing attention to a point where darker shadow lay. At first, it looked like part of the design. But the blackness didn't quite match the dark of the mural. With a start, I realized it was a cave. I scrambled up the scree to investigate. It didn't seem like much at first, just a crack in the rock; but as I looked deeper, I was surprised to find an ancient door in the depths.

I picked my way past the debris and ran a hand slowly over the old stone, excitement and apprehension warring in my chest. Heart thumping, I tried the handle; it was unlocked. Ruins were fun, but actual artifacts were something else. I paused before entering, but pushed past my hesitation and swung the door open. Inside, it was cool and dry. I sneezed at the dust and held my horn up, scanning for magic.

The response nearly knocked me over.

Panicked, I leaped backwards, dodging away and flattening myself against the cliff. After standing motionless for a few minutes, I started to feel a bit foolish. I carefully retraced my steps. The response didn't change; something behind the door was intensely magical. I fumbled a flask of fireflies out and tapped it to wake them up. The sullen glow barely pushed back the darkness, but it gave me enough to start.

This was...a guardhouse?

I stepped slowly through the door. The magical aura I sensed swirled around me, and started dissipating. I blinked in astonishment; had I panicked over thaumically charged air? Surely not! But my opinion changed as I stepped further in. My skin fairly crackled with potential as fresh air swirled in; the atmosphere here harbored the energy for a good sized storm. Whatever this place was guarding, for this much free magic to leak was extraordinary. I explored carefully while the room aired out. As my eyes adjusted, my lantern light revealed more secrets.

Mostly boring secrets.

This place was so ordinary, I could hardly believe it. A few small rooms, mouldering beds, a fireplace, the door I'd entered. An empty desk. Empty weapons-racks.

But finally, a trapdoor. It was the only interesting thing in the place, and it delivered.

It was wreathed in runes, and wired in silver. From the bits I understood, the whole thing was designed to ground wild magic, harmlessly releasing it into the surrounding stone and air. With the door sealed, the charge had built up over time. I might not have noticed if it hadn't been concentrated like that.

By now, I was starting to suspect I'd found an entrance to the Caves of Song and Shade.

The Caves underlay the Everfree, and were even more wild and treacherous, though oddly, in some ways they were better documented and understood. The Forest was a modern phenomenon, which the Caves predated by an era. When the Ever Free City was finally broken and its inhabitants scattered, the Forest rose in its place. Most entrances to the Caves were lost in the Forest. I'd studied them as a matter of curiosity. Some researchers claimed the Forest was merely the Caves magic aboveground; one account even called it the Forest of Song and Shade.

I'd never expected to find an entrance. And now I wasn't entirely sure what I should do with it. The Caves of Song and Shade had been important to the ponies of the Ever Free City. They'd founded their settlement here for a reason, and although I couldn't fathom the whole of it, the Caves factored in deeply.  

Even more curious now, I ran my fingers around the slab. It had no lock, or even hinges. It looked like something expected to see infrequent use, but built to last. Somepony had wanted this done right, the first time. Military? Government?

It didn't seem dangerous. I scanned the whole thing again. The dissipating circuits muffled whatever was below, but it didn't seem hostile, intelligent, or even alive. Just...very wild.

I slipped the tip of my dagger under the edge and levered it up a crack. The first note confirmed my suspicion. I let the trapdoor close, walked back to the entrance, leaned against the cliff under the mural, and thought this through.

That was definitely singing stone. The only place it was found nearby was the Caves of Song and Shade; it was even in the name. My heels were itching now; I wanted to explore. Partially because I was sure I could find something to sell, and partially pure curiosity. I'd found a purpose-built entrance. The idea that the Ever Free City had a systematic access to the caves was fascinating. What had they left behind down there?

But, was I ready for this?

I went over my mental checklist, frowning as answers rolled in. I wasn't equipped for a very long expedition. I'd told Zecora I'd be gone for a day; if I didn't drop by, she'd assume the worst. Twilight wanted help with an experiment, and I hadn't talked to Lyra.

But I did have extra supplies. And this was intriguing.

With a hint of regret, I closed the door behind me, and started to Zecora's. I needed to tell her, at least. Nopony else knew my schedule; nopony else should come looking for me. I'd scrounge some food, and explore the Caves. Maybe I'd head back tomorrow.

Maybe.

Three days later, I was still here.

I sat in the entrance to the crevasse, and watched the rain.

Exploring was slow going. I was camping in the guardhouse; it was sturdy enough for security, even in this fairly wild area of the Everfree. I smiled at that; surprise camping had caused me trouble before. As I guessed, the trapdoor opened into the Chorus Caverns, one of the better documented areas. Maybe because of this entrance. Of the known caves, they were fairly safe, but troublesome in their own way.

Singing stone wasn't worth much, but it had unusual properties. The obvious one was resonance. The longer I stayed in the caves, the more sound I made; the more sound I made, the more the caverns sang. The notes I'd heard on opening the trapdoor were faint, like a distant pipe-organ. I carefully lowered myself down, closing the door behind me, and raising my lantern. I'd removed my shoes, and my socks made little sound on the floor. But even small sounds echo in the right spaces.

I'd begged some beeswax from Zecora for a pair of earplugs. They were clumsy, but a lot better than nothing. With these, I usually managed at least a half-hour in the Chorus Caverns before needing a break.

On my first exploration, I was startled by the hum. It started building as soon as I touched the floor.

It was a gentle buzz in my bones, not exactly unpleasant, but slowly growing. I took a cautious step, and the buzz increased. I sighed in exasperation; if it continued like this, I'd need to leave the caves periodically or be shaken to pieces. I resigned myself to a slow, grinding process, and began documenting everything I could see.

By the time the resonance became unbearable I had started a serviceable map and taken samples of the surrounding rocks, noted the glowing stream that cut through the large entrance cavern, and even managed to find an unusual fungus. As I climbed out of the trapdoor, my whole body bubbled and fizzed with sound, transmitted strongly through the air and rock. I could hear it through my earplugs. It was harmonious, a thousand sweet instruments all signing as one, but monstrously penetrating. I felt brittle, like a wineglass shaking to pieces.

I slammed the trapdoor closed, and tweaked my earplugs out. The seals filtered the magical vibrations, and even muffled the sound; it was like a deep underground pipe organ, or distant church bells on a foggy morning. I sat, exhaustion flowing through me. The constant pressure had worn me thin. I felt drained, like I'd been on a ten-hour car ride.

This could take a while.

Today, I was taking a break.

I'd planned to gather food in the Forest, before exploring a bit more. But when I'd gotten to the entrance of the crevasse, I'd found it was raining. Not the gentle sprinkles we got in Ponyville, or even the more substantial stuff Applejack and Carrot Top scheduled for their farms; this was a real whiz-bang thunderstorm, with lightning crackling angrily overhead, and a sullen green cast to the air. I'd smiled at the sight; a bit of real weather wouldn't go amiss. Making a snap decision, I set my pack down, leaned against the warm stone, and watched.

That's what I'd been doing most of the morning. Watching it rain.

A bit bored, I'd scrounged samples of singing stone from my pack and began tinkering. Staring out into the storm, I touched my makeshift instrument, a framework of twigs with fragments of stone suspended. A clear note rang out. I flicked a few more, frowning as they sounded discordantly. They never did that in the Caves; maybe if I connected them...I cast around for something, and a flash of color caught my eye. I set my experiment to the side and stood, peering.

"Fluttershy?" I was surprised and slightly worried when I realized what I was looking at. The delicate pegasus was well and truly bedraggled. She stepped out of the trees as I called her name, soaked wings nearly dragging on the ground, mane dangling listlessly in her eyes.

Her ears lifted noticeably when she heard me. I waved her over, and cleared the clutter of my inventing away as best I could.

She picked her way up the path I'd cleared and stepped into the crevice with obvious relief. I stepped back as she shook water off herself. I'd been told pegasi were moderately water resistant, but when they got soaked, they were surprisingly absorbent. She flapped her wings a few times, dampening the area further.

"What are you doing way out here? In the rain?"

"My animal friends said you might be around here," she replied quietly. "I didn't check the weather schedule."

"Oh." I led her into the guardhouse, and threw a few pieces of wood on the coals in the ancient stone fireplace, and started my kettle heating. "I don't think the weather schedule would have helped. They forecast the edges of the Everfree, but this is pretty far in. Here." I threw her my poncho, a thick woolen garment I'd been using as a blanket. "Pull that over you. Just how cold are you?"

"I'm Ok."

The conversation lapsed into awkward silence.

I blocked the doorway open, retrieving my experiment. It had taken a bit of work to clear the chimney, but now I got pretty decent airflow through the room.

I'd been trying to connect the stones. I used twine to carefully tie them, and touched my instrument again. Now they sang harmoniously. I smiled and ran my fingers along the notes. The storm rumbled outside. The white noise of the rain reached us through the door, damp chill fighting the cheerful blaze of the fire. I began picking out a song, searching for sounds. I could change the pitch by adjusting the frame, so I would play a few notes, adjust my twine, and try again.

A melody began taking shape in the dim room. Fluttershy pulled the poncho close and scooted near the fire. After a few minutes, a shrill note disturbed my playing, and I put the instrument aside, and carefully retrieved my kettle from the flames. I fumbled a sachet of cocoa from my pack and dumped it into my mug, adding water and mixing thoroughly.

"Careful, it's hot." Fluttershy accepted hesitantly.

"Wesley, what's bothering you?"

"Nothing." It sounded hollow even to me. "Not much, anyways."

 "Um, I...I think I know how you feel." Fluttershy blew carefully on her drink. I smiled bitterly. "Oh, maybe not about being in another world." Her voice dropped. "Although I'm sure that's very scary." She shivered slightly. "But, about running to be in the forest. I know how you feel, because I'm good at running from my problems, too. And I love the forest." I stroked my instrument again. I could 'bend' a note depending on how I activated a stone. The melancholy song trembled in the air for a moment.

 "Did you come all this way just for me?"

"I thought you might need a friend." I was speechless at that. I knew she was 'kindness', but, like realizing just how sly Rarity was in undercharging me, I was just now realizing how well Fluttershy fit her Element. A half-day's hike through unfamiliar parts of the Everfree was no joke, even with help from the local wildlife.

"If you want to talk, I'll listen. Sometimes it helps." she said carefully. I mulled over her words for a while, listening to the rain. The storm seemed to be getting even fiercer, if that was possible. After finding tropical plants growing in one part, I'd begun speculating there were microclimates in the Everfree. Maybe this spot was particularly inclement?

"What are you playing?" she asked, when I didn't respond.

"I found some singing stones. As long as they're connected, they'll harmonize." I frowned. "I don't think the instrument has a name. I built it because I-" I cut off, my thoughts devolving into a muddy swirl of realization.

"Wes?"

"Because I wanted a distraction." I rubbed my eyes. "That's all I'm doing, isn't it?" I swallowed convulsively. "I'm such a fool sometimes. Am I really so shallow?" I drew a few more notes out to fill the silence. "I...I don't know how to deal with Ponyville." I finally confessed. "I can barely deal with friendly ponies. And now one of them is trying to make trouble for me." The situation loomed over me, an insoluble mass of problems. I shut my eyes, trying to ignore it, but it bore down more strongly. Unavoidable. Inescapable. Painful. I couldn't see a way through it; wherever I turned, my malefactor menaced me, safe in anonymity.

"It's so much easier to run away." Fluttershy filled in for me. I nodded.

"I even convinced myself it was a good thing," I said, "but I'm just shirking. Pushing the responsibility onto everypony else. Right?" I spat. "Faugh. I disgust myself. I thought I was stronger than this."

"We don't mind."

"Hmm?"

"We want to help."

I shook my head slowly. The melody was taking a definite form, now.

"Really?" I asked softly. I knew they were my friends. Twilight and I were nearly of one mind, and I had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Rainbow on the battlefield. Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie had welcomed me in their own ways. But it seemed I still hadn't grasped what 'friend' meant to these ponies. Fluttershy's assertion still blindsided me. They were Ok with helping pick up my mess?

"Sometimes we need to do hard or scary things." Fluttershy sipped her drink. "Sometimes we thoughtlessly hurt our friends, or they hurt us. Sometimes we do things we regret. But true friends are trying to help. I know about running from problems." She smiled. "But my friends have helped me through them. Let us help you too. We're okay with you pushing some of the load onto us."

I thought of Fluttershy as delicate, but her smile didn't look weak to me then.

"You right. Of course. This really isn't solving anything. I can tell myself that the caves are intriguing, and that I need alone time, but it's just an excuse, huh?" She nodded warily.

"I'm sorry." Her voice was soft. "I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine," I said. "It leaves a bitter taste to be called on my foolishness, but I'll grin and bear it." I sent a few more notes soaring into the rain. "Thank you." I said quietly. I got a gentle nod in reply. I composed myself, and re-ordered my priorities. "I guess we should head back." Her ears drooped a little at that. "We can wait until the rain stops, though." We shared a quiet laugh. I pulled a few more notes out of my instrument.

"Fluttershy..." I stopped.

"Hmm?"

"Why aren't you more scared of me?"

I hadn't fully understood until I saw her at my party, but Fluttershy was extremely shy. Ridiculously so, even. I'd realized just how odd it was that she easily spoke to me.

"Umm..." She hesitated, sipping her cocoa for a moment. "You...you feel like one of my animal friends."

I blinked at that. She saw me as...a wild animal?

"Hah. Hahaha!" She gave me an odd look as I burst out laughing. Looking back on our interaction, I realized she was right. She rarely met my eyes, and always acted very non-threatening, just like dealing with a potentially dangerous predator. The thing is, I realized I'd always made slow movements around her, and avoided using a loud voice myself...as if she was half-wild, and might spook.

"I guess we're even, then." I wiped my eyes. "I think I've been doing the same. Heh. Sorry."

"That's Ok." She blinked her huge eyes slowly. "You're calming to be around."

"Oh." I smiled slightly. Even strange compliments were nice. I adjusted a few bits of my instrument, and tried again.

"What's your song?"

"Auld Lang Syne. It means...long, long ago? It's about memory. The huge mural on the cliff outside got me thinking about it." I paused for a second, trying to marshal my thoughts. "Whoever painted the cliff-face is gone. Their work still stands bold, though. Why were they forgotten? Should we remember them, or are we better off not knowing? Moving forward means leaving things behind. What do we need to hold onto, what can we leave by the wayside?" I stopped, cutting off my diatribe. These were things I'd been trying to understand ever since escaping. I shook my head, dismissing the thoughts. Fluttershy was looking at me oddly, but blinked the expression away as I noticed.

"It sounds pretty." I nodded at that. I'd always liked the tune. I'd nearly finished adjusting my instrument to play it. I started again, and got most of the way through this time. We spent the rest of the morning there, talking quietly and drinking cocoa. Eventually, the storm broke, and we ventured out.

The path was muddy, and the trees dripped, but the sky was clear, and it wasn't far past one or two o'clock.

"Can we make it back before nightfall?"

"I...I think so," Fluttershy answered. I nodded, and we set off down the path. She kept glancing back towards the mural, but soon enough we were well on our way back towards Ponyville.





"Look, Rarity. This is worth twice what you're charging me!" I held up the wool jacket I'd commissioned. It was sturdy, but finely cut and woven, entirely too nice for the use I intended. "I just wanted something to hike in on chilly days! This is nearly a dress coat!" We were standing in the showroom of the Carousel Boutique. I shook the garment at her. She was being difficult.

"Wesley, you should always look your best. This will work just fine for exploring the forest. It's got all the pockets you asked for, and it's sturdy enough."

"That's not the problem." I massaged my temples. "You're practically giving it away! I can't, in good conscience, pay what you're asking!"

"But Wesley, we agreed! You're not trying to renegotiate, are you? That would be a shocking breach of etiquette."

"I want to pay you more!" I shouted, and instantly regretted it. Her ears flattened, and her eyes grew wide. A lip wobbled. Inwardly, I groaned. She was faking. Probably. Definitely probably. I tried to re-assure myself as a tear appeared at the corner of her eye, and she sniffled.

"You...you don't need to shout," she whimpered. "If that's how you really feel about my work-"

"Sorry." I mumbled. I tossed the coat onto a counter, dropped to my knees and threw my arms around her neck. She was probably faking, but I still couldn't stand up to that face. "Sorry. I didn't want to make you cry. I'll pay what you ask. Even if it's worth more."

"Well!" She stepped back and flipped her mane, every trace of tears gone. "You should have said that in the first place. Would you like some tea?"

"Fine." I followed her into the sitting room. "Look, Rarity, I just want to pay you a fair price. You do great work, and I feel guilty you're not being properly compensated for it."

"Wesley, things are tight for you. No, don't try and dissemble. I can see right through you." She fixed me with a piercing blue stare. "You're saving up, aren't you? You need to hold onto your bits."

"I can afford to pay you fair value." I said sullenly.

"But you do, Wesley. I set my own prices. Surely you don't think I'm too shy to ask for more."

"Hah. No." I poured for both of us, and sat down on the couch, taking up most of it. "No, not too shy. You're right, though; I'm saving up for winter. I'm going to order food in bulk, and store it in my basement; I think with a bit of work, I can make a decent root cellar." I sipped my tea, glancing around. The ornate furnishings caught my eye, and I had sudden thought. I tried to suppress a wicked smile as I set my cup down. "Just a sec, I had an idea." I stepped back to the entrance and rummaged through my pack, which I still hadn't emptied. Fluttershy and I had gotten back right around sundown. I'd seen her home and collapsed in bed.

I extracted a bundle and returned.

"How about this?" I waved it. "I found a piece of amethyst the other day." I loosened the rag I'd wrapped it in, showing the beautiful indigo color. I set it on the table, and sat down. "Would you accept it as part of my payment?"

She eyed me suspiciously, and carefully inspected the rock. I'd purposefully placed it out of her reach, but it was very clear, with a pleasant shade. I could see ideas spark in her eyes as the deep hue caught her interest. It was large, several inches in diameter and maybe a foot long, but smaller than many of the gems Rarity uncovered on her expeditions.

"It's uncut." I said. "And harvested poorly. It's yours, for, say, forty bits." Rarity gave me a searching look while I innocently inspected my fingernails. That was nearly fair market value, and probably confusing after my fuss about paying more. On the other hand, she wouldn't suspect me of cheating her. She could tell my protests were sincere; I did want to repay her. I don't know what swayed her, but she nodded decisively.

"Can I deduct the balance from your bill?" I nodded, and flipped a bit of the cloth over the stone to push it nearer her. She scooped it up for a closer inspection, and jumped in surprise as it chimed gently. "Oh!" She shot me a speculative look. "Wesley, this a singing stone!"

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow over my teacup. "How astonishing."

"Wesley."

"I had no idea." I continued. "What a perplexing discovery."

"Even uncut, singing gems sell for hundreds of bits on the Canterlot Exchange! They're not produced anywhere!"

"Astounding. Too bad we've already closed the deal." I grinned. "Rarity, you're not trying to renegotiate, are you? That would be a shocking breach of etiquette."

"Pfft." She sipped her tea, and grinned at me. "One day I'll pay you back, Wesley."

"Come at me. One day we'll get even." I smiled back, and then sighed. "Rarity, what's going on?"

"How do you mean?"

"With the town. I'm not expecting to be friends with every pony, but just walking here, they seemed apprehensive of me. Scared, even. I think I heard a door slam. They hurried past, wouldn't meet my eyes."

"Oh, Wesley...I'm sorry you found out this way. I hoped it wouldn't happen, but, well, our sinister somepony has started spreading rumors."

"What?" I was faintly astonished. "That's all?"

"Don't take it so lightly." She added a spoonful of sugar to her tea. "Did Zecora ever tell you what the town was like when she first arrived?"

"...yeah." I nodded. I knew she'd been ostracized. It sounded unpleasant. But she gave me some helpful advice; ponies weren't actually afraid of different people. They were afraid of the unknown. She'd unthinkingly exacerbated the situation by acting mysterious and living out of town. I'd purposefully been as open and transparent as I dared in my interactions, and the townsfolk had responded in kind.

Until now.

"Is that really all it took?" I was still trying to wrap my brain around simple rumors being responsible for the sudden change.

"Wesley, you're starting to fit in, but in many ways you're still a stranger here. Believe me when I say I know the power of rumor. Used well, it's more vicious and effective than a knife. And there are complications." She set her tea down, and locked eyes with me. "Other ponies heard the manticore roaring that day."

"Oho." That's what this was about. "So, the rumor is-"

"You're dangerous. You bring dangers to the village. I'd guess that was the start." She puffed a breath in annoyance. "As of now, you either killed the manticore, or are in cahoots with it to devour the whole town. And everything in between. Either way, they paint you as harsh. Powerful. Deadly."

"But...I am all that." I smiled wryly.

"So is Lyra. Come to that, Twilight and Rainbow aren't too far off. Even-Well."  Rarity cut herself off mid-retort. "Though you are all that, that is not all you are. Get your head right, Wesley. You're also a kind caring human who's making the best of a bad situation."

"So, what can I do?"

"First, stay in town." I winced at her tone, but nodded. "Your haring off into the forest limited what I could do for damage control. I can spread competing rumors, and try and trace things back to their source, but I'll need your cooperation for anything to be convincing. Will you follow my directions, even if they sound silly?"

"Um. Is this really necessary?"

"Do you want to live like an outcast? Even if this sinister somepony is only trying to make life difficult for you, that doesn't mean you should let them."

"...I guess it's rude to whine after asking for advice." She nodded firmly. "Ok, Mistress Rarity, what are your orders?" Her eyes twinkled, and a mischievous grin spread across her face.

"Well, we need to respond to the rumors about you. And the best-or rather only-way to do that is to spend time around town talking to ponies and being a pleasant, non-threatening human. In short, you need to socialize. So, you need to be presentable. The first thing we are doing is visiting the spa."

"Oh." I set my cup down. "Ok."