//------------------------------//
// The Day Off 
// Story: The Formula for Love 
// by MegaTJ 
//------------------------------//


The Day Off


A few days had gone by since Linen's first day in the Carousel Boutique. It was now Saturday, giving him his first day off to become more accustomed to and enjoy Ponyville. Cotton's furniture and belongings had finally arrived in from Trottingham, and now he and Cotton were busy getting the attic set up for him. Except that Cotton was only directing, leaving Linen with the heavy lifting.

"No, Big Brother, in the corner!" the little colt yelled from his bed.

A large thud echoed as Linen dropped the dresser into the desired spot. He mopped his forehead with a sweat rag. The morning's heavy levitating drained most of his magic energy, leaving him writhing without water in the desert of exhaustion. "Is this to your liking, Cotton?"

The younger colt looked around and nodded. "Yup, thank you, Big Brother!"

"You are very welcome Cotton, but next time you will provide assistance."

"Not if I sprang my hooves again!" Cotton announced, holding up his bandaged appendages. He might have lost his shot at his Cutie Mark by crashing a hang glider into a tree, and he might not have been able to go out crusading since, but he was enjoying the hooficap. He was free from all of his chores, and Linen was waiting on him every minute of the day.

"You must surely be more careful when ascending stairs", Linen scolded, "Mother and Father would not like the news of any further injuries."

Of course Cotton lied about what had happened, for the sake of his Cutie Mark and the sake of remaining a Crusader. Cotton held up his hoof to his heart, "I promise, Big Brother."

Linen nodded, and headed for the ladder. "If you need anything at all, merely call."

"I will." Cotton returned his gaze back down to the newest comic book that Scootaloo let him borrow.

Back downstairs, Linen levitated the much lighter boxes from the upstairs hallway and placed them in the trashcan just outside of the back door. In the living room, his record player was producing the beautiful music of one of Linen's favorite composers, Neighthoven. He gazed around, and soon was bored out of his mind with nothing to do. Since Cotton's injury, the older unicorn had no free time whatsoever. He was cursed with remaining in the house and confined to boredom. Linen levitated the raincoat he draped over the table in the living room for the sixth time that day. He rotated it in front of him, still unsure of just what to do with it.

Eager to see it finished, Rarity allowed him to take it home. She also told him that he was welcome to take anything from the Boutique he needed for its completion. Fortunately, he only needed the addition fabrics. He was thankful he didn't need to burden her by taking anything else. The only problem was that he was now stressing about his creative block. He was afraid that it wouldn't get finished by Monday and would remain as unfinished as it was on Wednesday. He sighed, and levitated the other fabrics up to it again.

"If only I hadn't finished Thorny's order yesterday", he said to himself, "Then, at least, I would have something to occupy myself with." He gave his clock a glance. "Eight-thirty. Twelve hours before the day is to halt." He sighed again. I really must bring Cotton along to the park, or someplace to spare us from the confines of our home…

He continued to rotate the coat, and just as soon as he had an idea for the direction he wanted to take for it, a loud knock rippled through the other side of his front door. He jumped, but set his uncompleted project down to answer it. A visitor this early?

Behind the door, and staring up at him, was a small Pegasus. She was pulling a wagon full of comic books behind her. Linen was unsure of how to approach this situation. "Err…may I assist you in some way, young one?"

"Hi, I'm Scootaloo!"

"Scootaloo?" Linen frowned as he tried to remember why that name sounded so familiar. Then it struck him with a smile. "Oh, you are one of Cotton's new companions! Oh, please do come in!" He stepped aside to let Scootaloo pass. He was elated that Cotton had made such a friend that would go out of her way to take her Saturday off just to visit him.

"Thanks. Where's Cotton's room?"

"It is upstairs, so I'll have to levitate your things up." He encased the wagon with his silver-blue magic aura, and led Scootaloo upstairs. He went up the ladder first, just so he could see his little brother's reaction. The wagon landed just as his head poked up the ladder. "Cotton, you have a visitor", Linen called, climbing through the hole.

Cotton cocked his head to the side. "I do?"

Scootaloo popped up through the floor. "Yup, me!"

The little colt's eyes lit up five times their normal shade. "Scootaloo!"

"I came by to keep ya company since you can't go crusading with us today. I brought all of my comics." She pushed her wagon to the bed and jumped on it with Cotton.

"Yes! I'm gonna read them all!" Cotton cheered.

"I'll leave you two to have fun." Linen climbed down the ladder, but quickly ascended as he remembered something. "And Cotton, I need not remind you that you are still injured despite your guest, so no jumping on your bed."

"I won't, Big Brother!"

Linen nodded, and was soon back in the living room. The raincoat remained on the table. The thought of levitating his algebra book from its shelf crossed the borders of his mind, only to be deported by a crunch under his hooves. He looked down to see that one of Scootaloo's comics had fallen from her wagon. Linen cared not for the title; it was the mysteriously dressed mare on the front firing a blue lightning bolt from her horn that interested him. He snatched up the raincoat, the fabrics, and a pair of scissors. "Inspiration", he chimed. The scissors snipped away at the fabrics as he shaped them into what was undoubtedly the best pattern for the trim and details.


L


While the three ponies were going about their day, a white unicorn in the Carousel Boutique dreamed happily. Rarity was attending a very fancy ball held in her honor. Everypony present was wearing something that she had created and sold to them. Needless to say she was very happy with being the center of attention for all of society's highest noble ponies. Even Fleur De Lis had pried herself away from Fancy Pants to compliment her on her many accomplishments and best styled dress of all the ponies at the party.

The colts also brought their attention to her. At first, she was polite in rejecting their offers to dance, but that led to her just ignoring them after the rejected ponies would turn right around and ask her again. It was becoming so badly that she soon found herself nearly suffocated by the stallions. Instead of decking colt after colt, she did the more lady-like action of slipping away to the outer, and vacant balcony of the ballroom's second floor.

Outside the stars twinkled magnificently, and the cool air was a much welcomed comfort from the heat of the crowded inside. Her breath sparkled in the moonlight. The generator of such light was huge and right in front of the balcony. She could easily see every detail of the moon. Every crater and every canyon. That's when she noticed she wasn't alone. Six yards away, leaning on the banister, was a lone unicorn watching the sky in wonder.

"Such a beautiful night", he said, "On my honor, I am at peace."

"That was perfect Sirish", Rarity said to herself in amazement. "Linen?"

His ears twitched, but before the stallion could turn to face her, she woke up from the dream. She lifted her eye mask to see that Celestia's sun was doing a magnificent job of filling her room with warm sunlight. "Oh, my, the day has only just begun and it is already off to a magnificent start!"

She left her bed, not at all remembering her dream, and wondered if she even dreamt at all. With the cravings of an herb, egg, and cheese sandwich plaguing her stomach with hunger, she set out about her morning routine. At the bottom of her stairs sat a small table and on top a brush and tube of mascara. Both levitated from the table, but only the brush went to work. Rarity shaped her mane without the use of one of the many mirrors she kept around the Boutique.

Next was her mascara. But she stopped just before the wand reached her eyelash. "Suppose I meet with Linen today. He would find me more appealing it if I were more natural in appearance."

The drive to look as beautiful as possible and the want to impress Linen fought inside of her head, causing the wand she levitated to waver in the air. Eventually, though, she defeated her instinct and replaced the wand and set the mascara down. She removed her robe and set it in a hamper inside her utility room. The kitchen was just as bright as her room. She opened the fridge and several cabinets to retrieve the ingredients for her breakfast and soon she was cooking a very delicious sandwich to satisfy the emptiness in her stomach.

The commotion in the kitchen lured Opal Essence to investigate. The cat hopped onto the counter and witnessed Rarity cooking and not filling her bowl with her wet cat food. She glared at the unicorn derisively and made her presence known by stepping closer to the stove. "Meow."

"Oh, silly Opal. You can't help me cook", Rarity laughed. She levitated the feline back down to the floor.

"Mmrrrrowww…" the cat hissed. She left the kitchen to go stalk a mouse, and maybe hack up a hairball for her owner's bed.

Once Rarity had finished toasting the bread, she carefully built her sandwich. Each layer delicately topped the next until she had a beautiful three layer breakfast stacked on a plate. It was so perfect that she almost regretted eating it. However, the void in her stomach was a bit more important, and soon she was eating away at the savory sandwich.

The morning was quiet, almost too quiet. Rarity thought about the day ahead. She didn't have anything planned, so it was just a free day for her. "Though I don't want to be bored…I must find something to do." The thought of visiting Linen was the first to cross her mind. "No, I must give him privacy. It is his first day off after all." She took one more bite of her sandwich. "Perhaps Fluttershy would like to go for a picnic in the park…"


L


"Lala lé li dum", Linen hummed as he finished sewing the purple trim to the rear of the coat. "Ah, finished at last!" He admired his work. The gray coat was well complimented with the trims he sewed into it. He used the blue to create lightning strikes that started at the top of the sleeves and widened toward the cuffs. They were so bright against the gray that they were almost neon. He snipped the violet trim into the shape of a sea of flames along the back. It combined the elements of mystery and action all into one vessel. "Any pony with a taste for things adventurous would surely love to own this!"

He checked the clock to assess how long he had been working. "Two hours? It only felt like minutes. Hmm…perhaps Mother was correct when she said that time does accelerate when one is enjoying the work they are doing…"

The folded the coat and made a note to check if for flaws later. For now he decided to check on the younger ponies in his attic. Two hours was plenty of time for the newly erected room to become a disaster in the wake of two underage ponies, even if one couldn't walk. Wanting to keep their privacy for themselves, Linen only barely poked his eyes above the floor.

They were both still sitting on his bed, but now Scootaloo had repositioned herself beside Cotton. She pointed to different panels of the comic and explained what was going on and why it was important in the next one they were going to read. They were both too absorbed in the book to see that he was spying on them. Linen smiled, and was just about to leave when he noticed something odd about Cotton. The colt was squinting unusually hard at the page. An optometrist visit is a must. He may have inherited our family's poor eyesight… He left the attic again to go find something to pass the time.

"And make sure you remember the move that Mare-Do-Well uses against the Shadow Salamander. What she does in the next one is super awesome!" She flipped the page. "Oh, and take a look here! If you look in the corner of the page you can see the mastermind behind the attacks hiding in the shadows!"

"Hey, is that a griffin?" Cotton asked, pulling the book over a little.

"Maybe. You gotta read to find out", Scootaloo snickered.

Cotton was about to take another look when a flapping sound above them rang in his ears. Scootaloo heard it too, and they curiously scouted the ceiling to find out what it was. They looked and looked, but couldn't find any sign of a bird. The flapping moved around the attic and for the love of the comics, neither pony could find what it was. Occasionally, a chirp would echo around them.

"What is that?" Scootaloo hopped off the bed for a better investigation. She looked up to the peak of the ceiling, and followed the line to the giant round window.

"Do you see it?" Cotton called.

"No, but it's creeping me out." When Scootaloo walked along the far wall, she saw the noise maker.

In the kitchen, Linen was busy fixing everypony an early lunch. Little did he know that in fifteen seconds total chaos would be unleashed. "I hope Scootaloo's palate would be satisfied with a carrot and, er…I believe these to be morning glory? I should have tended to the flower garden alongside mother…I suppose, though, it is of no importance what species I use so long as they are of adequate flavor…Perhaps a contingency brunch should be considered. This is my first time using tortillas for a sandwich wrap, after all."

"EEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

Linen didn't ask any questions. In a flash he was back in the attic. "Cotton!? Scootaloo!?"

They were on the bed holding each other for dear life, cringing as a huge bat flew over them in search for a way to get as far from the screaming ponies as possible. Linen watched the creature fly by curiously. Through the screams, he managed to memorize the terrified bat's flight pattern. He stepped in front of it and held out his left hoof. The nocturnal animal screeched but turned and latched its feet around the unicorn's perch. Linen examined it with great interest. The ponies on the bed stopped screaming, and now instead watched Linen take the bat downstairs silently. The younger ponies didn't get hurt, well, except for their pride.

"I won't tell anypony if you don't", the orange Pegasus told her unicorn friend.

Cotton nodded. "Deal."

They were still shaken, so the comic books were on a temporary hold while they calmed down.

"What do you think he's going to do with it?"

"Big Brother will probably let it go outside", Cotton replied. "He doesn't like animals very much."

"Let's see now…" Linen said to himself as he transferred the bat to a bar under the mantle's shelf. He observed the bat yawn, and comfortably attempt to go back to sleep. "Fascinating. You are the largest bat I have ever laid my eyes upon. I never attended mammal studies in school, so I must make do with my own research . I would like to become better educated about you. I do know that you are fruit species." He levitated an apple from the kitchen and held it up to its face.

"Scree!" it chirped. It took the apple in its mouth and flew to an upright position to Linen's back for the feast.

"My conclusions were correct! You are hungry, are you not?" he let his new pet munch away happily at the fruit. Linen watched in amusement, then in amazement as the bat's black fur washed over with crimson red. "Incredible! Your outer coat adapts to the color of whatever you ingest!"

The apple was soon completely gone, including the seeds. The bat yawned and draped its wings over Linen's sides for balance as it napped. Linen gently levitated it back to the bar, where it instinctively grabbed hold of it. He left it for his bookshelf. His eyes scoured the spines, searching for one that he barely opened. "I know I have kept the animal encyclopedia for some reason…" His gaze came to a stop once he spotted a blue spine sporting golden letters that read: Everything Animal: A Walk on the Wild Side.

The table of contents was a great help to the researching unicorn. Once he found where the "bats" section was, he began observing the furry flyer. It didn't match the description on the first page, but when Linen flipped it over, he gasped. It was obvious at that point that he was dealing with a Flying Fox. He had heard stories, but never thought they were true. "I should not be taken by surprise…You do resemble a small canine with wings…"

"Cheep!"

"Hmm…now to identify you as a male or female…" Using his book's instructions, Linen examined the ears. The tips were round instead of pointed. "You are a lady!" Linen announced. "You deserve a name befitting your incredible nature, and, ahem, the circumstances of how we became acquainted."

Hmmm…Ebony...no, much too ordinary. Perhaps, Penumbra? No no, her fur cycles colors…Chromasable! And Sable for abbreviation! Perfect!

"From now on I will refer to you as Sable, though when you are officially licensed to me your true name will be Chromasable", he told her.

She stretched her wings, no longer interested in what the crazy pony had to say. All she wanted was a nap. Linen crossed the room to the couch to read more about her. The more he read, the more fascinated he became. Flying Foxes had many magical abilities, almost as many as phoenixes. "I never expected a bat to be a magical creature…It says here that you are native to Colt d'Ivoire. How come I found you tormenting two children in my attic then?" Linen's theories didn't last long. He suddenly remembered that the ponies upstairs never got their lunch.

He placed the book down on the table and did just that. He levitated the plate holding the wraps up along with two cups of juice. "Cotton, Scootaloo, I've brought you lunch."

"What is it!?" Cotton asked excitedly. He had gone a full two hours without food, and was starving.

"I've decided to attempt something new. Instead of sandwiches, I've prepared wraps. I hope you enjoy them."

Scootaloo took a quick bite. "Hey, not bad!"

"Thank you, Scootaloo." Linen shifted his gaze to just see the tail end of the wrap disappear into the blue unicorn's mouth. "Would you happen to have tasted it, Cotton?"

Scootaloo snickered. "Seriously, did you even chew?"

Cotton blushed in embarrassment. "I don't eat that fast!"

"No, you just almost ate the plate", she laughed.

Linen only smiled. He knew Cotton would find a way to get him back later if he laughed at him. He wanted to stay longer, but a second knock at the door echoed from the stairs. He left without saying a word. The pony who knocked gave the door a few more raps. "Coming!" Linen called. He pulled the door through to reveal a minty cream Earth Pony. Her mane was pink and red. Linen saw her Cutie Mark and deduced she must be his landlord. "Ms. Roseluck?"

"Rose is fine, Linen", she replied, grabbing his hoof and giving it a friendly shake. "I've been looking forward to meeting you!"

"The pleasure is all mine", Linen chuckled. He motioned for her to come in. "I must thank you for your enduring generosity, Rose. I would never have expected to find my home fully furnished. You haven't the slightest idea of the trouble you have rescued me from."

"You're very welcome, Linen." Rose gazed around the room. "I love what you've done with the place. The colors are amazing."

"Why thank you again. When Rarity informed me that I had the freedom to ornament as I please, I immediately added my own preferences."

"It's nice to see you've made the house your own."

"Would you like a cup of tea?" Linen pushed his glasses back up his nose. He couldn't believe he nearly forgot to offer hospitality!

"Oh, no thanks, I can't stay long. I have to get back to my rose stand."

Sable, who had enough of the yammering, finally decided to say something about it. "SCREEEECH!"

"Yow! What was that?" Rose rubbed her ears.

"That would be Sable", Linen answered. He pointed to the bat. "I discovered her earlier tormenting my brother and his guest and have decided to domesticate her and keep her as a pet."

"You work fast", Rose complimented. "Most ponies don't get a pet until a week after they move in."

"Sable arrived in my life. It was not in my intentions to search for a pet."

"Believe it or not, that's how most ponies get their pets around here", Rose stated.

Linen was a bit skeptical at that fact; there was nothing, no mathematical equation that could explain that. He struggled for a reply, but thankfully, Rose went on.

"I have to get going now. Maybe me next visit will be at a time when I'm not taking care of the hotel." She headed for the door, which Linen politely opened for her. "See ya around, Linen!"

"Another time, Rose", Linen said warmly. He watched her leave, wondering just when she would visit again. Her stay wasn't long enough for Linen to properly repay her, but it did give him a few ideas of where to begin. Hmmm…At first a ballroom gown, but now I suppose a casual dress would be more appropriate for her personality…

His thoughts were interrupted by a high pitched whistle coming from the tea pot steaming on his stove. "Oh! The tea!" He rushed into his kitchen, turned the burner off, and quickly poured the hot water into a cup with an awaiting tea bag. The water slowly adopted the color of the ground tea leaves. He waited a few more seconds before removing the bag. Using the equation he crafted during his mother's kitchen lessons, he carefully measured the right amount of sugar and mixed it into the water. He repeated his steps over until there was no more water in the kettle. In all, he had mixed a total of four cups. "Once again, I have brewed more than what is necessary..."


L


While Linen struggled to figure out a new expression to prevent another tea overproduction, Rarity was struggling to find any means to cure her boredom. She paced around her home, cleaning what small messes were left around. It turns out most of her friends were busy with previous plans or working through the weekend to prepare for the upcoming change of season. She happened to be the only one stuck at home with nothing to do. Even Sweetie Belle was busy! Exasperated, Rarity finally decided to adorn one of her sunhats and go to Sugarcube Corner.

She didn't visit Pinkie Pie often, but at least so long as she wasn't out of town, the Earth Pony would likely be in the place doing something or other. Unsure of how long she would be gone, Rarity grabbed her purse containing her emergency kit of seventy-five bits, a small hoof mirror, a brush, and a ton of cosmetics. It was a good thing she got her sunhat; Princess Celestia had worked really hard at making it bright! "Such a beautiful day! Though a bit stuffy", Rarity observed. She quickly checked her mane for frizz before leaving her doormat.

Despite the heavy heat, the ponies of Ponyville were happily going about their day. The Pegasi Weather Crews were busy preparing the sky for an upcoming shower. Rarity looked, but couldn't find Rainbow Dash flying with them. Fillies and colts were busy enjoying their day off from the enclosing walls of school. No pony seemed be having a bad day.

Ponyville's wildlife added to the serenity. Birds chirped happily as they darted here and there. Chipmunks and squirrels hunted down nuts and berries for the hibernation months. A few dogs barked while they played tag and wrestled. The few cats lazing about meowed greetings as she walked by.

Sugarcube Corner's outside tables were completely full, indicating that it was probably going to be packed inside. Pushing past the door, she found that it was actually the opposite. Hardly anypony wanted to enjoy their sweets indoors, leaving the inside vacant enough to cause echoes.

"It has been a while since I've savored a fudge cube from Cupcake's ovens", Rarity told herself. She took a seat at one of the barstools. Her hoof struck the service bell a few times.

"On my way!" called an unfamiliar voice.

Rarity's five second confusion was cleared up when a light blue unicorn pushed his way through the kitchen doors. It's that charming new colt Pinkie Pie introduced to me…

"Hey again Rarity!" Strings greeted brightly.

"I wasn't aware you were working for the Cakes", Rarity stated, "Is that why you came to Ponyville?"

Strings chuckled and blew his bangs out of his eyes. "No, this is just an accident. Pink got me working part time until I can get a gig somewhere. I wanted to learn how to bake and stuff, so here I am."

"Speaking of Pinkie Pie…" Rarity looked around, "Is she in?"

"Ah, no, she took off somewhere. Think she said something about three welcome parties or something."

Rarity smiled knowingly. "I'm sure I know for whom."

"Might wanna warn'em", Strings chuckled.

She almost left to do just that, but wasn't certain it was a good idea. I shouldn't invade Linen's privacy on his first day from work. I'm sure the last pony he wants to see is his employer…And he may be practicing math anyway, and not working on a better way to rid himself of being a blemish to society.

Before she realized the bitter insult, Strings asked, "What can I getcha, anyways Rarity?"

"Hmm?"

"Most ponies eat when they come to Sugarcube Corner ya know?" he laughed. "I mean, unless you just wanna talk."

She thought it over. Staying would be the perfect distraction from Linen. "Maybe both…" Rarity leaned forward. "I would like to become better familiar with you."

Strings looked around awkwardly. "Uh, why?'

"Well, your visit to the Boutique was a bit rushed…"

He sighed in relief. "Oh, okay, then. What's up?"

"Oh, primarily work in the Boutique", she replied.

"Pink says you gotta new worker. He making it any easier?"

Rarity cringed at the thought of the pony she was trying to ignore the thoughts of. "Oh, yes, Linen is a very honest and hardworking pony." She withdrew a few bits from her purse. "A fudge cube please."

"Coming right up!" He took the bits, deposited them into the register at the far end of the counter and levitated her order from one of the display cases.

Rarity took a bite and chewed politely. "As always, the sweetness is extraordinary."

"How's your day been?"

"Oh, so-so, although there hasn't been much to do. That's why I've come here. I had hoped Pinkie Pie would be here."

Strings fell silent with nothing else to say. He tried thinking about something to say, but his mind couldn't find anything compatible with Rarity's personality. The silence got somewhat awkward, prompting Rarity to do something about it.

"Are you enjoying your work here in Sugarcube Corner?"

"Besides making tons of messes yeah."

"'Tons of messes'?" Rarity repeated. She raised a brow.

"Yeah, Pink's teaching me how to bake and stuff, but I can't really get much right. Usually spill something on her…"

Rarity swallowed her third bite. "Oh, I'm sure you will be a fantastic baker with practice. No pony can be adept in everything the first few tries."

"Pink says the same thing", Strings sighed, "But sometimes somepony can't be good at just one thing at all."

"Pessimism will only further hinder your motivation and confidence", Rarity pointed out.

He shrugged, "Glass is always half-empty to me."

She frowned. "Do you really think so?" She took another bite of her treat.

Strings smiled. "Okay, ya got me. I'm not really like that, no. You can't and be friends with Pinkie Pie at the same time."

"Very true", she agreed. "Pinkie Pie's cheeriness does have a way of affecting the ponies around her." Upon Rarity's final bite, she rose.

"Leaving?"

"Unfortunately, yes", Rarity repeated. "Our chat was interesting, Strings. We must plan another soon."

"Sure, yeah…okay!" He levitated away her napkin while he waved her goodbye.

Back in the heat, the white unicorn wondered just what to do after her short discussion with Strings. Another thought of visiting Linen interrupted her choices. "No no no!" she screamed to herself a little more loudly than she had wanted.

A few ponies jolted away and many stared at her in fright. A baby in a carriage across the street began to cry as the whole block went silently still. The crowd began to murmur while Rarity shook in embarrassment. She offered a simple apology before the gazes traced her as she ran as far away from them as she could.

Fate would have it that she galloped right into the one pony that could easily take her mind off of anything Linen.

"Oomph!" Rose gasped as she hit the ground. She turned her head to see to see who had just tackled her. She saw Rarity dusting off the sunhat that was obviously flung from the top of her head. "Rarity?"

"Rose!" she proclaimed happily. She hurriedly helped her friend up. "I apologize for my abrupt collision."

"It's okay Rarity", Rose replied, "I half expected to see Pinkie Pie!"

"Are you on your way to the spa?"

"Not today." Rose straightened her mane. "The hotel's super busy today. I barely managed to get away to finally meet your new employee."

Rarity's eye twitched. All day Linen kept coming up in some form or another. It was driving her nuts!

"Are you okay, Rarity?" Rose took a step back. She looked like she was going to explode.

"Oh, nothing." The unicorn's voice was higher in pitch, reflecting her strain to keep sane. "I've just been under so much stress lately."

"Really?" Rose scratched her head in confusion. "Shouldn't life be getting easier? I mean, you have a new hoof helping on those big orders you always talk about."

Rarity shut her eyes in an attempt to keep the colt from entering her thoughts. She gritted her teeth. The two parts of her mind were now viciously battling inside her. The half that desperately wanted to see the charming colt had been taking a steady beating by the unreasonable side that wanted nothing to do with the algebraic embarrassment to popularity. She just couldn't get over the fact that underneath his charismatic exterior he was a nerd. A pony that secluded his talents in books instead of attempting to become noticed by everypony.

Rose watched Rarity's condition get worse. She was now shaking and muttering to herself. The florist knew she had to do something before something went terribly wrong. "Hey, if you need to talk about something…"

Rarity couldn't hear her. Her longing to see Linen finally pulled out its secret weapon. A brief image of Linen's eyes rolled across her mental field of view. It was exactly what she needed to finally shriek, "That settles it! I'm going to see him!" She tore off in the direction of his home. She wasn't in the least bit aware that she had just scared the color out of Roseluck, who had fallen over and was panting to calm her racing heart.

She ran faster and faster until she finally reached her destination. Now that she was gazing up at the two story house, she wasn't sure what to do next. "Should I wait for him to exit? Or perhaps I should knock?" Her hooves moved toward the porch without her instruction. "Am I decent?" The thoughts and questions swirled in her head as her hoof reached for the door.

Knock knock knock!

"A third visitor?" Linen set his cup down. "Perhaps the unintentional fourth cup will not go to waste after all."

He paused in opening the door. Sable had just caught his eye, and the temperamental bat had already disrupted one conversation. "It would be best", he said, gently levitating the bat from her perch, "that you roost in a dimmer and soundless atmosphere." He quickly moved her from the living room to his room.

What is keeping him? Rarity thought frantically. What if he really doesn't want to see me? She shook her head. Preposterous. He doesn't even know who is knocking. She raised her hoof to knock again, but it opened, revealing the very stallion she was fretting over.

They simply gawked at each other. Both wondered why Rarity was visiting Linen on their day off. Neither had expected to see the other, although Rarity could have foreseen it through her constant debating. Absentmindedly, Linen forgot to greet her before he stepped aside to let her in. She walked in without taking her eyes off of him. They didn't know what to do other than stare at each other like chipmunks cornered by a cat.

Linen managed to fracture the mental brick wall a tiny bit to ask, "Would you like a cup of tea?"

She nodded. The calming drink was extremely inviting. It would completely restore her frayed nerves. Some of the tension melted away as soon as he left the room. Anxiety made it impossible for her to sit down. She felt like she was imposing so much. She was just glad he wasn't in the living room.

Linen was glad that he was in the kitchen and not in the living room. Rarity's sudden appearance sent his mind on a spiraling crash course through the skies of doubt and panic. But after a quick check in the mirror to find his mane tidy and his glasses smudge-free, he knew there was nothing to worry about. He calculated the odds of Rarity's arrival according to the law of probability to be actually very good. He should have expected her. So, with warm cordiality, he gathered up homemade crumpets sent by his mother, set them on his tray with the tea, and left the kitchen with a huge change of attitude.

The lingering stiffness dissolved completely as Linen's brightest smile brightened the room. Rarity, who was gazing at Linen's collection of glass math symbols, turned to the sound of the tray clunking on the table. She gasped when she saw Linen smiling at her. His trip to the kitchen completely transformed him to a shaken colt into a lively stallion.

Rarity blushed. He's so…handsome. Her other inner demon added, for a social outcast. She ignored it. Linen was very different from the colts she usually chased after. But it was the different that made him better than all of those other stallions.

The Ponyville Ballroom Blitz is in only a few days…