Almost a week later, Rain Bell and I were getting ready for our trip to go to Canterlot to see Fleur at her fashion show. The days dragged on as I waited for the week to be over. Gathering our luggage, we decided to meet up with Rarity at the train station and ride together. Walking across Ponyville, Rain Bell and I lugged our bags to the station ten minutes before our train was slated to arrive.
"Two tickets to Canterlot, please," Rain Bell said to the ticket pony in a booth.
"That'll be 20 bits," He replied in a monotonous voice. I stepped up next to Rain Bell, got out my bit pouch and placed twenty bits on the counter, which the ticket pony quickly snatched up. I levitated the two tickets he replace my bits with and passed one on to Rain Bell. We walked over to some seats watching the tracks and waited.
Four minutes later, Rarity walked up to the platform with Twilight and a butter yellow pegasus in tow. "I'll be gone for about three days so can you watch Opal for me Fluttershy?" Rarity said to the pegasus, as they walked up to us.
Oh, yes. I can do that for you Rarity. I'm sure she'll be just fine with me," Fluttershy replied. "Are these your friends that you were talking about?"
"Yes darling, and thank you." Turning to us, Rarity said, "Good morning, Amethyst, Rain Bell," with a curt nod.
"Good morning," We both responded back.
"This is Fluttershy here, and I take it that you have already met Twilight?" Rarity asked us.
"Hi..." Came the quiet response of Fluttershy.
"Hello Fluttershy. How are you?" Rain Bell asked politely.
"Um... good," The shy mare replied.
Meanwhile, I was conversing with Twilight. "Hello Twilight, how are you doing?"
"Oh, well I just discovered some new spells for transmutation, but I'm going to venture a guess that you don't know what that is," Twilight replied. I was about to reply when a loudspeaker above my head started to squawk.
"The train from Canterlot is arriving at Ponyville station. Please stand away from the tracks," The feminine voice from the loudspeaker announced. Sure enough, the colorful train arrived at the station, coming to a stop, and releasing its passengers. Many ponies greeted each other at the station, while others went to grab their luggage. Meanwhile, Rarity, Rain Bell, and I moved to the train as we waved goodbyes to Fluttershy and Twilight. We grabbed our seats on the train, picking a window seat, while Rarity and Rain Bell sat across from each other. Shortly after having sat down, the loudspeaker announced, "The train to Canterlot is now departing. Please take your seats now." The train started up again, and departed from the station, chugging along faster to our destination.
"So, Rain Bell, darling, what do you look forward to the most in the fashion show?" Rarity asked to my friend, trying to strike up a conversation to pass the time.
"I'm actually more excited about the food in Canterlot to be honest. I can't wait to try some of the restaurants there!" Rain Bell responded back, looking a little dreamy in the eyes about her food fantasies. "There are so many good restaurants I heard about. What piques your interest about the show, Rarity?" I looked outside the window as they talked about the fashion show, noticing the oranges and reds in the trees as we passed them. Autumn had started a few days ago, and all the trees began their annual color change. Staring outside the window I started to think about the show that we were attending tomorrow and thought about Fleur until my thoughts were interrupted by Rarity.
"How about you, Amethyst? Anything about the show that you're wanting to see?" She asked, startling me back from my daydreaming about my crush.
"Um," I started, not wanting to reveal my affection about Fleur to Rarity.
"Oh really, can't think of anything, Amethyst," Rain Bell piped up. "I sure can think of something that you want to see there," She said, flashing a look at me with laughter in her eyes. I shot her a glance, that, if looks could kill, Rain Bell wouldn't be alive anymore.
Rarity's eyes sparked with curiosity as she said to Rain Bell, "What would that be?"
"Nothing, really," She said, almost casually. "Amethyst just has a crush on Fleur." My face turned hot red with embarrassment as I tried to hide behind my mane.
"Amethyst, dear, there's nothing wrong with that. So what if she's a mare? The way I see it, if you love somepony else, it doesn't matter what their gender is," Rarity said. "Albeit, I prefer stallions myself," She added, more to herself though. I decided to peek through my mane at her and saw that she was serious about it.
"I... I guess that I'm still feeling a little, um... embarrassed from the teasing that I sometimes got during school..." I trailed off on my sentence.
"Oh, that's terrible. I hope that it wasn't too bad, darling," Rarity said, looking a bit concerned about me.
"It wasn't that bad for me, especially when compared to several other fillies in my school. I would only get the occasional name calling and maybe a push or two. Some other's would be bullied constantly though, oftentimes to the point of them breaking down in front of everypony," I replied.
"That's terrible," After a pause, Rarity said, "So, you have a crush on Fleur?"
"Um... Yes-I-do," I rushed out my words and ducked under my mane again, feeling another blush coming on.
Rarity paused before picking her next words. "Well, I can see where you are coming from. She does have a lot of fans though," Rarity finally said to me as I came out from under my mane. "I think I can see Canterlot in the distance now..."
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We arrived at the Canterlot train station and walked onto the platform, carrying our luggage with us. We left the station and started to walk through the finely paved roads to reach our hotel that Rarity had said that we were going to be staying at. There were many ponies with well-styled manes and expensive-looking clothing chatting with each other at cafes. Rarity piped up, "I love Canterlot. There are so many new fashions around all the time. It brings about new styles to look at wherever you go."
"I don't know..." I started to say, biting my lip before continuing . "It seems like if you step one hoof out of line or are not up to word with the style, your reputation would be ruined by all the other high class."
"It's not that bad when you get involved. You might have some trouble adapting, however, if you were living here, darling," Rarity brought up, while we kept walking. "Ah, here we are. The Hotel Richissimare!" It was an impressive building, spanning at least five floors high while sporting a very interesting architectural style.
"Wow! This is amazing! So this is where we're staying, Rarity?" Rain Bell asked, while I just stared at the building, giving off a faint squeak.
Rarity replied, "Yes. It is spectacular isn't it? A bit expensive, but well worth it." As we walked inside, I gasped at the interior design. It was a marble white, with pieces of purple furniture with golden trim dotted around at the perfect places. A red, velvet rug was placed to direct us towards the counter where the receptionists stood at attention. We walked up to the counter, where Rarity spoke up, "Hello, I'm Rarity. I requested two rooms." Towards us, she said, "I hope you two are fine with sharing a room. If not, one of you could always sleep in my room."
The receptionist interrupted her, saying, "Here are your keys for getting into your rooms. Please have a wonderful stay here at the Hotel Richissimare."
"Thank you," Rarity said, giving a gem to the mare at the counter. She had a startled look on her face for Rarity's show of generosity.
We made our way to our rooms, our luggage being carried by a bell colt. We opened up the doors to our rooms and he set them down. Rarity passed another gem to him and said, "Thank you for helping us. You have been such a gentlecolt to us, and I don't let good deeds go unpaid. Here, have a sapphire for your troubles."
"Oh, thank you, ma'am," He replied courteously as he made his way out of our rooms.
We set to work unpacking and after our things were set up, we agreed to go out into Canterlot to do whatever, but be back by nightfall. I decided to go with Rarity to look at the latest fashions, while Rain Bell would go try out a restaurant. Walking out of the hotel together, Rarity and I waved a hoof to Rain Bell as she ventured one of the restaurants that were recommended to her.
Rarity took the lead and brought us along our way to see the styles of Canterlot. We came across several stores sporting Autumn fashion as well as sales for last seasons styles that needed to be sold. Coming across a particularly fancy looking store, I opened up the door for Rarity with my magic. "Thank you, dear," She responded with a smile as she walked in and I followed.
"Welcome to Canterlotian Styles. How can I help you?" The stallion at the counter said to us when we entered.
"We're just looking, thank you," Rarity answered back. We started browsing the fashions styled after Autumn colors, with reds, oranges, yellows, and many different pieces of clothing. Rarity came across a fancy dress that was a red fabric with an orange trim. "Oooh, do you think this would look good on me, Amethyst?" She asked.
"Um... Yes, I think it would. You could always try it on." I answered. Rarity thanked me and went to the dressing room with the red dress in tow.
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A few hours later, we walked out of the store, with several bags and laughing at a story that Rarity just told me. We proceeded down the street as Rarity started another story. "So, I woke up one morning to the boutique filled with smoke. I fell down the stairs and I found Sweetie Belle cooking breakfast for me and my parents, who were visiting. She made us toast and juice, but it was all burnt! Don't even ask how she burnt the juice." She finished with a mortified look as she recalled the memory.
"What? I don't even... How do you even burn-" I started before I was interrupted.
"Rarity! Bonjour. How are you?" Said a familiar white unicorn. I turned my head to see her as Rarity replied.
"Hello Fleur. We're fine. How about you, dear?"
Fleur answered, "Oh, I'm fine. Just enjoying the peace before the big show." She turned to me, "And bonjour to you too, Amethyst. How are you doing?"
"H-hello, Fleur," I said, tripping on my words. "Um... I'm okay," I managed to say before I shied away from the beautiful mare and partly hid underneath my mane.
"Do you mind if I walk with you?" Fleur asked us.
"Alright," Rarity replied "Do you mind if we stop by the hotel first, so that we can leave our bags? I'd much rather not have to carry these all day." Fleur gave an affirmative and we started walking back to the hotel. Fleur and Rarity took the lead and I trailed behind.
They were talking, but I wasn't paying attention, looking around instead. Eventually, my eyes wandered to Fleur's flank. Oh, what am I doing? I chided myself Stop staring at that mare's flank. I doubt you're even going to have a chance with her.
Fleur glanced back at me and saw the conflicted look on my face and spoke up. "Is something wrong, Amethyst?"
"W-what?" I said, snapping back to reality, and then I realized who spoke to me. "I-was-totally-not-staring-at-your-flank!" I quickly rushed out, before I started to blush and hide behind my mane for the umpteenth time in front of Fleur. Your such a foal, Amethyst. Getting caught staring at flanks like that.
Fleur saw me doing that and said, "As I said before, You're cute when you do that." She quickly put a hoof up to her mouth in an attempt to stop talking, and mumbled through a mouthful of hoof. "I really meant to say that in Prench." She herself blushed, which I must admit, still looked beautiful, if not more than before, from my view between my mane. "I'm, um, just not going to talk anymore," She concluded.
"Well that sure was weird," Rarity said. "Should we get back to the hotel before somepony else embarrasses themselves?" We both agreed and started to follow Rarity, glancing at each other every so often. After what seemed like a long walk, we arrived at the hotel and set our bags down in our rooms.
Free of our burdens, Rarity, Fleur, and I went back to walking around Canterlot to look once again at more clothes. We came across another store selling this season's styles. Greeted by the cashier as we walked inside, we all couldn't help but gasp at the selection inside. Dresses of all colors everywhere in so many different forms. Fleur walked up to a light pink dress, the color of her mane, and asked to us, "How do you think this would look on me? I think I shall try it on." She grasped the dress in her magic and trotted to a dressing room to put on the dress. Meanwhile, I was looking at a lavender dress that I thought matched my mane, and might look good on me.
As I walked over to the dressing rooms with the dress I had picked, Fleur walked out sporting her dress and modeling it. I gasped in awe at how well she looked in the dress, it perfectly complimenting every curve of her body. "I-it's amazing!" I managed to finally say. "You look beautiful in it, Fleur."
"I could tell that by the way your jaw nearly hit the floor," She joked at me, before breaking out giggling.
"W-what are you talking about? I-I don't k-know what you're talking about," I stammered back, turning a bit red in the cheeks which fueled Fleur's laughter. "I'm going to try this one on, so don't walk to far now," I said, gesturing to the dress I was carrying. I went inside the dressing room and tried it on. The dress was so light that it barely felt like I was even wearing anything and felt silky smooth against my fur. I opened up the door to the room and walked out, trying my best to model for Fleur.
"With some more practice, I think you could become a model like moi," Fleur commented. "The dress looks beautiful on you though."
"Wow, that looks amazing on you, Amethyst. It perfectly accents your coat's color," Rarity said, walking up to us with her own dress to try on. "Are you going to buy it?"
A faint blush appeared on my face from their compliments as I said, "Um, I'm not sure. I might."
"Well, I'm going to try on this dress while you decide," She said before walking into the dressing room herself. Fleur and I walked into different rooms ourselves and took off our dresses so that we could purchase them. As we got out into the main room, Rarity followed close behind and as we turned around, she struck a dramatic pose. "So what do you think, ladies. Does it look good on me?"
"C'est très magnifique."
"It looks really good on you Rarity!" We said, as she did a spin.
"I think I shall buy it then," Rarity said and turned back to the dressing rooms to take it off, but turned back to me before doing so and said, "Have you made up your mind about your dress, Amethyst?"
"Um, well I really like the dress," I started, then making my mind, I finished, saying, "Yes, I think I will."
"Marvelous!" Rarity exclaimed as she started to head back to get changed.
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"I guess I'll see you girls later?" Fleur asked after we finished shopping and had walked back to the hotel. We nodded and Fleur, in response, said, "Au revoir," and waved a snowy white hoof at us.
"Goodbye, darling," Rarity said, waving a hoof in response.
"See you later, Fleur," I said, waving goodbye to the mare as she turned and walked away. I couldn't help but stare at her flank, again. I felt a nudge in my side and yelped, "Ow, what was that for?"
"Are you just going to stare at flanks all day, or go drop off these bags?" Rarity asked me, looking a little irritated at my tendency to stare at Fleur's flank.
"Sorry," I said, feeling a faint redness sprout in my cheeks. "Well, let's put these bags away then," I said as we turned away and walked into the hotel's entrance.
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Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Contact me at hunterofstealth@gmail.com
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