I don't know what came over me. I had never felt so compelled to comfort someone before. I wasn't sure about what happened, or even why it happened, but when I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close to me, I felt… good. No, I felt great.
I must had spent a while with her; perhaps longer than I was aware of. I wasn't about to leave her until I was sure she was gonna be okay.
I sat with her and talked with her, trying as best I could to get to know her. I admit that I was impressed when she told me that she was a one pony travelling magician. if only my job was that spectacular.
Oh, wait, I don't have a job.
But when she told me about her life when she arrived in Ponyville---her first coming and recent reappearance---I couldn't help but feel some discontent with her... and pity her. It wasn't exactly a surprise to me when she admitted her own boastful and overconfident nature, but I knew that somewhere inside her was a little hero who wanted to get out. I just hoped that she wouldn't have to go through more hardships to get to it.
I gave her a goodbye and good luck before we parted ways, with her heading out of town while I continued down the path I was on. Finally I could breathe, and my legs weren't aching nearly as much as before. Not only that, but I felt… lighter. Not physically lighter, though. It was like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders, but I still couldn't figure out what it was.
Must have been something to do with the cuddle…
Pfft, no way!
The dirt soon turned to light a light dashing of cobblestones as I made my way to the end of the path. I wasn't sure exactly what happened but I ended up back in Ponyville -- except on the other side of it; I could see Twilight's tall tree house off in the distance. I looked around and saw a scattering of brightly coloured tents around the place, with little close-cut paths of grass stemming from all of them onto a main path that headed back to the town square.
It looked like some sort of circus or something. I edged from the path and stepped into the square, following the path as I made my way around the place. But it was the same as before, with all of the pony folk staring and gazing at me. I could feel them judging me, labelling me with their eyes and minds.
I made my way towards one of the buildings---the biggest building in the square, actually--- having to trek over a small hill to get to it. I had hoped that there was someone inside who could help me; it seemed to be quite an important-looking building if it was so much more decorative than the others… and the fact that it was a building and not a tent.
As I got to it I couldn't help but look up and marvel at its design. It looked like an extravagant circus tent, but the structure itself was visibly more stable, having actual walls as opposed to being held up by a frame. A lot of different pale and complimenting colours and patterns made the place stand out more so than anything else. It was like some sort of Barbie doll play house.
I looked up at the sign that hung upon the awning; "Rarity's Carousel Boutique" it said. I just hoped that whoever was inside was going to be a bit more… civil than the others.
But as I stepped up to the front door I felt my heart jump into my throat. This would be the first time for me actively approaching a pony instead of… well, being chased by one. And what would I even say to whoever was inside? They're supposed to be this really awesome fashion designer, and I know next to nothing about fashion; I'm wearing a Diablo Three T-shirt, for crying out loud. And it would look pretty darn rude to knock on the door, all covered in filth and stuff.
But I was here now. I had to do something. I shrugged and shook myself down, breathing out heavily as I did so. "Okay, Jay," I muttered to myself, "don't wuss out…"
I ratted on the door, hoping that the door looked more stable than the rest of the structure did. Thankfully I didn't end up putting my fist through it. I stood patiently, waiting for some sort of reply, but… nothing.
Perhaps they weren't in? Or maybe they're just busy? Maybe they just didn't hear me?
I tried once more, knocking on the door a few times.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!"
The regal, female voice was muffled, having come from inside the house, but it clearly sounded rushed. I just hoped that I wasn't bothering her.
The door opened inwards, revealing a snow white Unicorn with a very stylish, very elegant mane. Her eyelashes were thick, almost shadowing the pale blue makeup over her eyelids. Her horn radiated a very pale, soothing blue as it opened the door; all four of her legs were placed on the ground as I considered how she opened it.
"I'm sorry," she apologized as she looked behind herself. "Now then, what can I---" she stopped abruptly as her attention drew to me. As soon as her huge, blue eyes met with mine, I saw the pupils shrink into small dots. Her lips scrunched up before exploding into a gaping mouth. "Ahhhhh!" she screamed in my face before rushing back inside, slamming the door behind her.
I need to get some decent earplugs just in case this whole screaming in my ears thing becomes a bad habit.
I was stunned, if not for her voice popping my eardrums then definitely for her reaction. I couldn't blame her, though. Either way I tried to reintroduce myself, knocking on the door again.
"Shoo! Go away, you beast!"
Well that was pretty rude. Demon, sure, but a beast? That's a bit below the belt.
I tried to call out to her. "Please, Rarity," I cried, trying to reach her, "I… Uh, I need your help. I think."
With a tight chest I waited for what felt like minutes. I couldn't help but feel so awkward and so tense. As far as I knew, she could very well run out the door and chase me away with a pair of scissors. As I stood by the door I kept adding everything up, and thought about what I was doing more and more to the point of just turning and walking away.
Then the door lock clicked once more. A slight creaking sound came from its hinges as it opened slowly. Rarity poked her head between the gap, her snout just squeezing through. She gazed upon me once more, but with distinct calmness this time. I could still see her judging me, though.
"On a second glance," she began. She paused, instead conveying to me her thoughts through her expressions; her face scrunched up lightly and her eyebrow rose when she scanned me from top to bottom. "Despite your weird looks, you are nonetheless an affront to fashion and clean clothes everywhere! You had better come inside. I can see why you've come for my help."
I didn't know if I was being invited in because I was in need or because I looked like an unfashionably and unwashed tramp. In any case I wasn't gonna refuse the offer. I followed her inside before she closed the door behind me with that weird magic of hers.
"Thank you," I said, trying to make myself look a bit more sophisticated than I actually looked. "You're Rarity, right?" I asked.
"The one and only," she replied without even trying to hide her vanity. "And… what do you call yourself?"
I didn't know if she was referring to my name or my species. "My name's Jamie," I responded without putting further thought into her question.
She paused, almost as if in thought. "Jamie… Is that all? I'm a bit stuck figuring out what a "Jamie" would do. Do you have a second name?"
What a… "Jamie" would do? The more she spoke, the more confused I got. "Uh, Summers. Jamie Summers," I replied, just rolling with the conversation.
"Oooooh." her face lit up with a smile. "Now that's a good name. Jamie Summers… I bet you bring a lot of good light and cheer wherever you go!"
Girl, you don't know the half of it…
"So what can I help you with -- you know, besides your clothes being covered in filth?"
As I had before, I told Rarity of myself -- I was a human from another world who somehow got thrown into this one. I had told her how I'd been chased by cuddle-obsessed ponies all day, but that only made her snort and chuckle at my expense. Finally I asked her if she knew of anyone or anything that could help me get back.
Her answer wasn't inspiring in the least.
"Well I don't know anything about that," she admitted, "but you should go and see Twilight; she lives just down the road from her in the---"
"---Old tree house that looks like a library."
"Oh, you've met her, then?"
"She was one of the ponies who's on a manhunt to cuddle me to death."
Her eyes widened. Her lips began to tremble and curl, slowly spreading across her muzzle until it form a crude, patronizing grin. As if it was a shock to me, she then burst into laughter. "Are you suggesting that… Princess Twilight is out there looking for you? To cuddle you?"
I didn't say anything. I stared at her as she kept laughing. In my mind I wanted to make her head explode.
Her hysteria died down somewhat. "Oh… I guess she's taking Pinkie Pie's talk about cuddles a bit too far." She wiped a tear from her eye and cleared her through, obviously trying to regain her composure… but she still had that smirk on her face. "Now then, while you're here I had might as well clean your clothes. Now, if you could take them off for me…?"
I would be lying if I said I wasn't the slightest bit uncomfortable with stripping in front of a girl… even if that girl was a pony. Slowly I lifted my arms, pulling them through the sleeves of my T-shirt and undershirt. I felt my face flush with embarrassment, probably looking like a cherry at this point.
"You're taking too long!"
Before I could even reply, I felt my clothes tug away from me. My shirts got pulled over my head, dragging me forward while I felt my shoes, socks and pants get pull from under me, almost flipping me backwards if it weren't for the door keeping me balanced.
At least I got to keep my boxers on.
"Those need to go, too."
… Like hell they do!
I felt her magic tug on them as soon as I gripped the waist band. I clung on as hard and as tight as I could, trying to keep them up while she kept trying to pull them down. "No," I yelled out, "you're not taking these away!"
"I said I was going to wash all of your clothes! That means them, too!"
I felt her tug on them harder, determined to part them from my hips. With whatever strength I had in my arms I kept fighting her, wrestling against her for control over my underwear, as stupid as that sounds. Of all the girls to be adamant about taking off my underwear, it was just my luck that it was a pony.
She wasn't just content with pulling them down now. She began swishing her head around, pulling my boxers in whatever direction she dictated -- dragging me forwards, backwards, side to side, she was intent with getting them off me. I ended up nearly tripping over her stool and getting dragged across the table.
"Why are you so intent with keeping them on?" she cried out.
"What do you think I'm keeping in these!?" I yelled back.
"I don't know! Are you storing nuts in them?"
"Yes, In a manner of speaking!"
"What do you mean, "In a manner of"---" She froze in place. Her grip loosened. Then her mouth began to open slowly. "… Can you not… put "them" away?"
"No! "They" just… you know… hang there."
I wasn't sure if the thermostat broke or not, because her face began to wash over with a very bright red colour. Her lips curled into her mouth, with her biting down on them. Her eye sank into their sockets.
"I'm just… going to be over here for a while…" With that said, she took a hold of my clothes and immediately turned and walked away into the next room -- very quickly.
I had the feeling that this day was only going to get far, far worse…