“Uhh...” Smiles started uncertainly. It was after the little talk at the EPF base and now the dark stallion was being walked around town with little Coral on his back. “Miss Twilight, you have not said where we are going.” He told the unicorn leading the way.
A lot of ponies who they passed stared at the trio, most gazes being aimed at Smiles’ intimidating mug. Twilight did not seem to notice, or mind the attention they were drawing.
“Well, since you will be living here I thought I’d introduce you to my friends.” She said with a smile. “You already met Rainbow Dash yesterday and… while that didn’t go too well, I’d still like to at least… inform them of your presence.”
Twilight obviously had Smiles’ best interests in mind. It was better for her to personally introduce Smiles to her friends rather than them finding out for themselves. In the case of the intimidating stallion Twilight was taking the pre-emptive approach
That, and forming some form of social safety net for Smiles seemed like a good idea for the future.
“Yay! New ponies!” Coral chimed from her place on the back of her big brother. Smiles himself chuckled.
“Ahh, I see.” He said in thought, followed by a moment of silence. “... But you have not told me where we are going.”
Twilight grinned knowingly. “To take care of the easiest one on my list.”
“... That does not answer my question.” Smiles noted, a bit confused.
“Well, this does.” Twilight said, stopping and gesturing at the building ahead of them. A building very much like a gingerbread house. “Coral, Smiles. This is Sugarcube Corner, Ponyville’s finest bakery.”
Coral’s reaction was like that of a kid in a candy store, which was appropriate. Smiles for his part… was not really showing much of anything but his creepy namesake. Twilight made a mental note to ask about that later.
“From here you can get all the baked goods you need. It’s run by a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Cake and my friend works here.” Twilight explained further.
Coral was noticeably salivating at this point at the sheer look of the house. “... This is awesome.”
“I do have to admit, the image for this bakery is very appealing.” Smiles noted in his usual calm and reserved way.
“Yeah, too bad it’s not really gingerbread. Just concrete and other nasty stuff.” Pinkie Pie added wistfully, making Twilight jump in surprise as the pink menace had appeared right next to her.
“Pinkie, when did you get there?” Twilight asked.
The pink bubbly mare giggled in response, playfully jabbing Twilight’s side. “I was here since now, silly! It’s pretty obvious it’s the writer’s excuse- hey, new ponies!” Pinkie Pie got easily distracted and looked up and down the tall stallion and the pink filly.
“Uhh… Yes, Pinkie.” Twilight began awkwardly. She cleared her throat and gestured at the siblings. “These are Smiles and Coral. They are moving to Ponyville and are staying at my place for a few days.”
“Smiles? I like smiles!” Pinkie gasped and grabbed Smiles’ hoof and shook it vigorously with a large grin plastered on her face. “Hey there, I’m Pinkie Pie, but friends call me Pinkie! I’ll have to throw a Welcome to Ponyville party for two now, oh this’ll be exciting!”
Twilight just stood there a bit awkwardly. “So, you’re not… scared of him, or anything?” She asked her hyper and odd friend, who looked dismayed for a second.
“Scared? Of this guy? P’shaa!” She replied with a laugh, then standing on her hind legs and grabbing Smiles’ head in a playful headlock with no resistance from the stallion’s part. “Look at this face, Twilight. How can anypony with a smile like that be scary? A smile means you’re happy!”
Twilight let out a sigh of relief. Just as she predicted, only Pinkie Pie could be so unaffected by something like that with that odd mind of hers. That was one problem off the list.
Smiles seemed too confused to do or say anything, even after Pinkie Pie gasped loudly and let go of his head. “Oh my gosh, a party for two! A double party, all the way! I will need to go plan this, pronto!” She spoke before disappearing somewhere in a flash.
Coral frowned. “What was that?” She questioned what had just happened.
Twilight just replied with an amused laugh. “Well, that’s Pinkie Pie. She’s a bit odd, but a really great pony.” She began to trot ahead. “Okay, the next one will be...” She noticed Smiles’ wasn’t following and looked back, only to see Smiles standing perfectly still. “... Smiles?”
He blinked and shook his head. ”Hmm? I’m sorry, what was that, miss Sparkle? I think I blacked out for a second.”
Twilight looked at him oddly. She decided that she didn’t want more problems to think about right now and just gave a resigned sigh and said “Nothing. Come on, my other friend’s home is nearby.”
Smiles nodded and followed.
“Well, that pink one was weird, but she seemed nice.” Coral said from her spot. Smiles glanced back at his sister shortly.
“What pink one?” He asked sounding slightly confused. Twilight also looked back at hearing that.
“My friend, Pinkie Pie. You just met.” Twilight reminded Smiles, who seemed to try to remember said event.
“... Oh. Yeah.” He said after a moments consideration. “Sorry, my mind blanked for a second there.”
“You sure you are alright?” Twilight asked with a hint of concern. Smiles shook his head in response.
“No need to worry. Your friend just sort of reminded me of somepony I used to know. I guess I was just caught by surprise.”
Twilight was about to question more about this, but ultimately chose against it. That could wait.
Twilight knocked on the door of the fancy building known as Carousel Boutique, home of the local fashion pony. Coral and Smiles were right behind her, taking in the very… unique appearance of the building.
“This place looks posh.” Coral said what both were thinking. Smiles just nodded in response.
“Yes, Rarity is a bit on the refined side of life.” Twilight said, knocking again.
“Coming~!” The voice of Rarity came and the door was soon opened.”Oh Twilight! I was just about to come see you. I was going to ask if your lovely assistant could- WA-AAH!” Rarity gasped dramatically and caught side of Smiles towering behind Twilight. The unicorn just sighed and began to say what she needed to.
“Now Rarity, I know there is a stallion behind me and that he may look a bit scary, but-” Then she was interrupted.
“What? Oh, no no. It’s just…” Rarity said, trying to find words for what she was seeing. “That… That mane is utterly criminal!” She screamed, pointing at the mess of a mane on Smiles’ head. The stallion himself looked up at his mane with a confused grunt before finding himself pushed inside the boutique.
Twilight looked as Rarity pushed a stallion much larger than herself inside, along with a small filly on the side, with a confused expression. She followed. “Rarity, what are you doing?”
“Not now Twilight. I need to do something about this… this rat’s nest!” She said, facing Smiles quickly with a polite smile. “No offence of course.”
Smiles just blinked in a confused manner and laughed nervously. “Eh heh… it’s okay. Umm...”
“... Wait, his appearance doesn’t faze you, but his mane is the thing driving you crazy?” Twilight asked in a disbelieving tone.
Rarity turned to Twilight while her magic brought in a comb. “Twilight, dear. I am a lady, and a lady knows not to judge based on outward appearance. It’s what’s inside that counts.” She then turned to look at the mess of hair with a pony attached to it, glaring at it furiously. “But a mane like that… it’s inexcusable! A crime to hairdressers everywhere! How can you be so negligent of it?”
“... Umm,” Smiles started, getting nervous again “W-well… combs do not really like my mane, so… I just leave it be.”
Rarity shook her head with a disapproving look. “No no no. This won’t do! Stay still now. Miss Rarity will fix your mane up in no time.” She proclaimed proudly.
“Uhh… Okay?” Was Smiles’ meek response. “I warned you though.”
With a gentle smile Rarity brought her comb to the stallion’s dark mess of a mane. “So, who might you be? My name is Rarity, a fashionista by trade.” Rarity started some small talk as she tried to get the stallion’s mane to look presentable.
“Smiles.” He responded, seeming a bit nervous to have Rarity in such close proximity. “Grimdark Smiles. I am moving here but stay in miss Twilight’s house until the paperwork for my house here are done.”
Rarity’s brow raised a tad, partly at his name and partly at how stuck the comb had gotten in just a few strokes. “Grimdark Smiles? That is a rather unusual name and, if I dare say so, surprisingly fitting.”
Smiles chuckled, relaxing a bit. “Yes, that’s what dad always said… oh yeah!” He said gesturing at his back. “That iss my little sister, Coral.”
Rarity looked surprised at the filly’s presence. “Oh, pardon me. I didn’t even notice.”
“What am I, a ghost?” Coral yelled in mock frustration, throwing her hooves in the air in a clearly joking manner.
This caused Rarity to giggle a bit at the cute filly’s action. “I’m so sorry, dearie. I suppose I was just so occupied with this atrocious mane you slipped my eye.” She then looked back and forth between Coral and her big brother. “However I seem to have a hard time to see the familial similarities.”
“Yes, a lot of ponies do not.” Smiles admitted.
Rarity shrugged and glared intently at his mane, in which her comb was now firmly lodged in. “Anyhow, how do you know Twilight? An old friend from Canterlot, perhaps?” She asked and tried to pull the comb out with her magic, but it was stuck real good.
“Not exactly.” Was Smiles’ reply as his head was tugged with the comb, though he didn’t seem to notice or mind. “While I am from Canterlot we have never met until a day ago. I just know her through a good friend of mine. He was the one who suggested me to move here in the first place.”
“I see...” Rarity said before letting out a defeated sigh and stepping away from the stallion, the comb still stuck in his mane. “Well, you were not lying. Your mane is the most knot filled mess I have ever seen.”
Smiles chuckled and scratched the back of his head. “Sorry, I did try to warn you.”
“Oh, it isn’t your fault, dear.” Rarity assured him. “I should have taken your warning with more credit.” She then got a good look at the stallion’s physique, which surprised her. “My, aren’t you a tall one! I mostly make dresses but not even the largest suits I’ve made would fit you.”
Smiles laughed. “Yes, my size has always been a bit of an issue with clothing. Thankfully I had a friend I knew who would custom make any suits I needed for special events.”
Twilight had been silent this whole time, just watching as things went on. She honestly had not expected Rarity to take this so well. That only left Applejack and… Twilight already mentally expected the worst, Fluttershy.
“Really? And who might this pony be?” Rarity asked, her interest growing since it was her specialty as a topic.
“A friend I met while I was in school.” Smiles said, thinking back to his school times. “We were both pretty weird back then, so we sort of sticked together.” He then tapped his chin and thought out loud. “Should probably write to Rosa soon now that I think about it.”
Rarity, much to Twilight surprise, almost seemed to choke on her own breath as her eyes grew wide as saucers. “Wait a minute! Rosa… as in Rosa Flamenco?!” She asked, getting a gleam in her eye.
Smiles blinked at the unexpected reaction. “Uhh… Yes.”
Then Rarity let out a squeal of an excited grade school filly and her eyes practically glimmered with a strong emotion as she turned into a jittery fangirl, much to the shock of everypony, most of all Twilight.
“Rarity, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked, a bit concerned for her fashionable friend.
“Wrong? How could anything be wrong, Twilight?” Rarity said through her temporary condition, quickly zooming close to Smiles. “You know THE Rosa Flamenco? Please tell me you are not just joking!”
Smiles seemed to hesitate at the sudden outburst. “Uhh, no I am not joking. As I said we went to school together.”
Twilight frowned. “Rarity, why is this such a big deal?”
“A big deal- Twilight, do you even know of who you speak?” Rarity asked in utter shock.
“... No?” Twilight said, really having no clue what Rarity was on about.
“Twilight, I know you aren’t that big on fashion but this… this is just inexcusable!” The purple maned unicorn said, glowing with admiration. “Rosa Flamenco is THE most famous and talented fashion designer in Equestria. I’ve admired the Flamenco line ever since I started this business.”
Rarity then turned to Smiles with a huge happy grin. “And you say you not only know them but are also their friend? Oh, you simply must put in a good word for me, I simply must meet them!” Rarity almost pleaded in excitement.
Smiles was not sure how to process this, but again not once did it come off in his smiling expression. “Well… I could always try, but I really can not promise anything. Rosa is a busy pony...”
But apparently all Rarity could hear was “I could try” and she squealed in utter joy and started rambling praises and fashion talk, seemingly going into her own little world leaving everypony else to just stare at her awkwardly.
“... We should go now.” Twilight suggested.
“Way ahead of ya!” Coral said, already trotting out the door.
Smiles looked at Rarity, chuckled a bit and left to follow Twilight to their next destination.