//------------------------------// // Suited For Success // Story: The Jack of All Trades // by Lord Zalgo //------------------------------// Phoenix found it hard to believe that his friends were always getting into situations that should’ve torn them apart, but simply brought them closer together. In fact, there were so many shows of friendship that simply brought warmth to Phoenix’s cold heart. Rainbow showing her loyalty to them when Gilda was a threat to them. Rainbow’s bond with Applejack strengthening in Autumn during the Running of the Leaves. Applejack and Rarity putting aside their differences. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo defending Apple Bloom from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon during Diamond’s cute-ceañera. It was all wonderful. But, what about Phoenix? He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was growing more and more distant from his friends, despite seeing no evidence of it. Phoenix was contemplating his hypothesis as Cheerilee taught the class about the history of Canterlot. He decided to look into his hypothesis when he had more evidence and decided to think of something different. He remembered Twilight telling him that Rarity had had a burst of inspiration and promised to create dresses for all of the girls and a suit for Phoenix to wear for the Grand Galloping Gala. Phoenix’s thoughts were interrupted by the school bell sounding. As the children began to file out, Phoenix stopped two particular fillies in order to get to the bottom of something. Rarity sighed in relief as she finally finished the last of her friends’ dresses. Excitement overtook her as she giddily called the girls to let them know that their dresses were complete. “So, girls. Do you know why I want to talk to you?” Phoenix asked. “No.” Diamond Tiara said with a bored expression. “No, Mr Fortesque.” Silver Spoon said a little more politely. “I’ve been told that you two have been bullying the other ponies in the class, and yesterday I had confirmation to those claims at your cute-ceañera, Diamond. I really don’t like bullying, girls. I want to talk to you about it.” Phoenix explained to the girls. “Why? Because we laughed at that blank flank?” Diamond asked rudely. “Yes. Why have you been doing this?” Phoenix asked them. “Because, it’s funny.” Diamond said casually. “...What about when it stops being funny?” Phoenix asked. They didn’t immediately answer. “What do you mean?” Silver asked. “I once knew somepony who was bullied non-stopped by somepony else. It was really, really getting to him, so he tried to find any way to cope with the pain he was feeling.” Phoenix explained. “Did he find a way?” Silver asked, a little more intrigued than Diamond. “Yes.” “See? No problem with what we’re-.” Diamond started to interrupt before she herself was interrupted. “Self harming.” Phoenix said seriously. The look on both Diamond’s and Silver’s faces became ones of shock. “S-self harming?!” Silver asked in shock. “Yes. Feeling a physical pain distracted him from the deep emotional pain that he was feeling. As the physical pain faded, he would feel better. But, it was far from a healthy emotional vent. Eventually, he told somepony about it, but word of it began to spread until it reached the bully.” Phoenix explained. “What did the bully say? Did they apologise?” Diamond asked, actually fearful of the answer. “No. The bully laughed in his face. He then said that if he wanted to feel pain, all he had to do was ask. The bully then grabbed him and threw him around before dropping him into a manticore’s nest.” Phoenix said. The girls gasped. “That’s horrible! Not just the attack, but laughing at something so serious!” Diamond said with shock and disgust. “That would be like if we laughed at Scootaloo, because she can’t fly yet! We’d never do that!” Silver said in the same manner causing Diamond to nod in agreement. “You never know, girls. What if you run out of things to mock when it comes to the Crusaders?” Phoenix asked. “We wouldn’t go that far!” Diamond announced, none of her previous confidence present. “Bullies do evolve over time, because they lose the ability to see any differently than how they treat their victims.” Phoenix explained. “...Like the bully in your story?” Silver asked timidly. “Yes, Silver. And do you know who that victim grew up to be?” Phoenix asked. The girls shook their heads to show that they didn’t. Phoenix loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt to show the faint scars along his chest. The girls looked confused at first, but the looks of confusion quickly became ones of shock. Phoenix then buttoned his shirt back up and fastened his tie. “Scars don’t heal, girls. They can fade... but, they never go away. You two still have the chance to stop yourselves before you inflict any scars. Please, girls. Stop now.” Phoenix softly pleaded. The girls had tears in their eyes as they looked at the stallion before them. “Would what we’re doing really inflict that much damage?” Silver asked with a sniffle. It pained Phoenix to see, but some lessons are not easily learned. “The damage just builds and builds like a snowball rolling down the side of a snowy mountain. I’m not asking you two to beg the Crusaders’ forgiveness, or even apologise. You can if you want to... but, I just want to stop you both... before you become monsters.” Phoenix saw them flinch slightly at the final word. They nodded silently with tears streaming down their faces. Phoenix silently walked around his desk and wrapped the two of them in a hug to which they clung to him in sadness. Not for themselves, but for him. The bell rang again and the fillies and colts returned to the classroom as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon went back to their seats. Rarity sat on her haunches in the corner of her workroom after the rest of the girls left. She couldn’t believe it. They didn’t like them. She poured her heart and soul into those dresses and... they weren’t good enough. “Oh, Opal... I have to get these dresses done, but... why am I dreading it so?” The rest of the school day seemed to go as smoothly as one could hope. No disturbances, complications or harsh comments. There was another lecture about cutie marks which caused the Crusaders to look at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon with annoyed looks. But, that changed when they saw that the girls weren’t even looking at them. The Crusaders looked at each other in confusion before slowly looking back to Cheerilee. Phoenix in that moment, knew that his words had really left an impact on them. The final school bell of the day sounded and most of the fillies and colts ran from the classroom, laughing as they did so. Apart from two. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walked up to Phoenix and asked him the question he was praying that they wouldn’t. The question he’d hoped to never answer again. The question that’s answer he’s tried his hardest to forget. “Mr Fortesque, who was the pony who bullied you? My daddy can find him for you.” Diamond said with determination. Phoenix didn’t answer. He tried to swallow a lot of hatred, anger and shame before he could open his mouth. “...Amadeus Fortesque. My late father.” Phoenix said softly. The fillies gaped in horror at the new revelation as Phoenix walked out of the schoolhouse, leaving them to watch in sadness as he walked away. Phoenix walked into his house and dropped his bag down by the front door. He exhaled slowly before walking into the kitchen and using his magic to retrieve an apple which he immediately began eating. Out of his window, he saw the girls heading towards Carousel Boutique. Intrigued, he walked to his window and watched them go. A minute later, he walked out of his door and followed them. When he reached the boutique, the girls emerged with happy looks on their faces. They didn’t notice Phoenix as they walked in a different direction than the one Phoenix was in. He simply shrugged before walking into the boutique. Rarity was pacing in her workroom, contemplating what she should do. Let Hoity Toity see the horrific creations that should have never seen the light of day? Or cancel and be the laughing stock of the fashion world and an outcast among her friends? She was caught between a rock and a hard place and couldn’t get free. Her thoughts were interrupted by a stallion’s voice calling from downstairs. “Rarity? Are you here?” Phoenix called out. In that moment, Rarity remembered something that she had done. She’d forgotten to make Phoenix’s suit. “...Shit.” Rarity squeaked as she wished that Celestia would strike her down in that moment. Phoenix walked up the stairs and calmly walked into her workroom. “Evening, Rarity.” Phoenix greeted in a chipper tone. “H-hello, Phoenix.” Rarity said as she began to sweat slightly. “How’s your day been?” Phoenix asked despite noticing that she was very nervous and wondering what got her into that state. “I-it's... It could have been better, darling.” Rarity admitted sombrely. “What do you mean?” Phoenix asked. Rarity swallowed her pride and her borderline crippling anxieties and began to explain. She talked about the dresses that she made to be perfect for the girls, but the girls rejecting them, causing her to start from scratch and take up the whole day making the new ones. The dresses that were described as atrocities by Rarity. She finally ended her explanation with a pitiful and shamed confession about not having enough time or memory to make Phoenix’s suit. She covered her face with her hooves and didn’t dare look at Phoenix. She spent a few seconds imagining all possible outcomes of telling Phoenix the truth. Phoenix yelling at her. Hitting her. Abandoning her. Simply walking away. But, she never even considered... Phoenix hugging her. “Rarity. It’s alright.” Phoenix said soothingly as he let her go. “It most certainly is not! After focusing on our friends, but forgetting about you entirely? I can’t let you forgive me just like that!” Rarity announced with tears in her eyes. “That doesn’t matter. You made a simple mistake. Life’s full of them.” Phoenix replied, never once raising his voice. “What? What do you mean?” Rarity asked as her tears ran down her face, taking her mascara with them. “...Life is like a river. It has its twists and turns, it has things that can make it mucky and unpleasant. You can throw a stone into the water and it will ripple and disrupt the flow, but the river keeps going on. Things that can be easily fixed, forgiven and forgotten are just those little stones. Life goes on and so should we. Together.” Phoenix explained. Rarity didn’t respond as her tears continued to flow. She then sniffed and looked Phoenix in the eyes. “Thank you...” She said as she wiped her eyes. She then asked Phoenix if he could leave her to be alone. Phoenix hesitated, but didn’t want to disrespect her wishes; so he gave her one last hug before honouring her wish for solitude. He couldn’t help but worry as he walked home and the sun began to set in the sky. A few hours later, preparations were complete for the fashion show that the girls were setting up. A stage had been erected for special occasions, so all they had to do was hire it out for the fashion show. Phoenix was definitely nervous for Rarity as the show was about to start. He was praying that Rarity was exaggerating about the dresses that the girls wanted. She wasn’t. Phoenix couldn’t watch. He took a look at what the girls had the audacity to make Rarity create and left. He didn’t look back once until he reached his home and laid his head to rest. Over the next few days, nopony had seen or heard from Rarity. Phoenix understood and decided to wait until she was ready to talk. The girls, however wanted to comfort Rarity. One morning, Phoenix was awoken by the sound of knocking on his door. Without bothering to fix his bed-mane, he walked to his door and looked at the ponies there with sleepy annoyance. “Told you he’s a grumpy riser.” Pinkie said to the girls. Phoenix yawned before turning back to them with the same annoyed, tired expression. “What do you lot want?” Phoenix said simply. “We’re going to talk to Rarity.” Twilight answered. “Has it occurred to you that maybe she doesn’t want to be talked to?” Phoenix tiredly replied. “We were considerin’ that, but she hasn’t come outta her room for the longest time now.” Applejack said. “Yeah. I heard from Scootaloo that even Sweetie Belle hasn’t seen her.” Rainbow added. That caught Phoenix’s attention. “Not even Sweetie? Then, she’s trying to vent all by herself... You girls are right, we should go see her.” Phoenix said, his drowsiness and grumpiness forgotten. They walked to Carousel Boutique together to see that the front door wasn’t locked. They walked to the upper floor and Pinkie knocked on Rarity’s door. “Rarity? You okay in there? You haven't come out for days.” Pinkie said through the door. “I'm never coming out! I can't show my face in Ponyville ever again! I used to be somepony. I used to be respected. I made dresses. Beautiful, beautiful dresses! But now everypony is laughing at me. I'm nothing but a laughing stock!” Rarity wailed from the other side of the door. “You're not a laughing stock, Rarity...” Twilight started to say in a soothing tone. “She kinda is.” Rainbow Dash interrupted rudely. “Shhh! Come on out and talk to us.” Twilight finished in the same soothing tone. “Leave me alone! I want to be alone! I want to wallow in... whatever it is that ponies are supposed to wallow in! Do ponies wallow in pity? Oh, listen to me, I don't even know what I'm supposed to wallow in! I'M SO PATHETIC!” Rarity wailed. Before anypony could reply, Phoenix walked up to her door. “Rarity, this is just a pebble in the river.” Phoenix said, much to many other ponies’ confusion. But, not Rarity. “More like a boulder that’s blocking my stream, darling.” Rarity replied sadly. “Even the mightiest mountain erodes in the steady current of life. We’ll get past this. All of us, together.” Phoenix replied. “How can we get past this? My career is ruined!” Rarity yelled. “You can use the old dresses you made, still. I can get Hoity Toity back here.” Phoenix said. “...You can? How?” Rarity asked hopefully. “He owes me a favour. If I get him back here and he sees your designs, your career will be back on track.” Phoenix said. Silence fell. A few moments later, the sound of a door unlocking filled the air and Rarity emerged from her room. Everypony gathered and hugged her. The hours that followed consisted of Rarity and the girls completing a dress that Rarity had designed for herself as well as preparing the old dresses. Phoenix, on the other hoof, had already called Hoity Toity and gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse. “Hello, HT Fashion, how may I help you?” A female voice on the phone said. “Hello, I’d like to speak to Hoity Toity, please.” Phoenix said politely. “I’m afraid he’s not taking calls at the moment.” The mare responded. “This is Phoenix Fortesque. Tell him I’m collecting his debt.” Phoenix said darkly. He listened as the secretary called out and a male voice called back. The male voice got steadily more afraid as the secretary informed him on who was calling. Within seconds, Hoity Toity picked up the phone. “Mr Fortesque?” Hoity said nervously. “Mr Toity. You have a debt to pay.” Phoenix replied. “Come now, Mr Fortesque, s-surely we can talk this out.” Hoity tried to negotiate. “I stopped your company from going bankrupt. With what I want from you, you’re getting off easy.” Phoenix said, becoming annoyed. “Well, what do you want?” “You know the fashion designs you saw in Ponyville a few days ago?” “Oh, those abominations? Yes.” “Well, the designer wants to have you back for a second fashion show.” “Oh! I’d never see that designer again!” Hoity said in disgust. “...Are you saying you want to find some... other way of paying me back? Like your blood?” Phoenix said threateningly. “...I suppose one more show wouldn’t hurt.” Hoity replied quietly. “There we go. I expect you here within the next few hours.” Phoenix said before he hung up. Hours later when the dressmaking was finished and the runway was complete, Phoenix saw Hoity Toity walking towards the boutique. “This is all you want as payment?” Hoity asked. “Yes, thank you for this. Just sit and watch the show, that’s all I ask.” Phoenix replied. Hoity nodded and walked inside. Phoenix didn’t bother. He knew this one would go much more smoothly, so he just walked home. After doing a little cleaning, he heard a knock at his door. He looked to his clock and saw that it was half past nine, leading him to wonder who could be at his door. He opened the door to see Rarity standing there. “Rarity? Why are you here? Did the show go alright?” Phoenix asked. Rarity nodded before stepping a little closer. “I came here to thank you, Phoenix. You’ve done so much for me over the course of the past week and I’ve got nothing for you in return. Your suit isn’t even finished yet.” Rarity said sombrely. “It’s alright, Rarity. I don’t need anything in return.” Phoenix replied, but Rarity wasn’t finished. “No, darling. I refuse to let you go unrewarded and your gala suit is technically a gift, so it doesn’t count. So, I suppose this will have to do.” Rarity said before moving her muzzle to Phoenix’s face and kissing him on the cheek. Phoenix’s entire face went a deep red as soon as her lips came into contact with his skin as some of the hairs on his coat stood on end. His eyes shot to the widest they would physically go as they watched Rarity’s face in very close proximity to his. She finally pulled back and giggled at the redness of Phoenix’s face. Phoenix pouted and looked away in embarrassment as Rarity continued to quietly giggle. She began to walk back out of the door and looked back. “I’ve just realised that I don’t even have your measurements, darling. Come by the boutique tomorrow so I can get them. I’ll be sure to be quite... thorough.” Rarity finished with a wink before walking out and shutting the door behind her. Phoenix remained completely motionless for a number of minutes before touching his cheek with his hoof and walking absent-mindedly to his room and flopped down onto his bed. All with only one thought on his mind. ‘What the fuck just happened?’