//------------------------------// // Oh...Really? // Story: I'm Not a Fly // by Dr Atlas //------------------------------// Carl tapped his hoof impatiently at the train stop, looking left and right in hopes that he could see a train coming, but he knew it would be another fifteen minutes until it arrived. Carl looked around, seeing only a small group of ponies around him thankful that there weren't as many as usual. “Stupid mare,” He thought “thinking changelings are nothing but love sucking, mindless drones, well, I ain’t having any more of that, I’m goin’ to a pony town that actually respects a bug, someplace like...like...uh.” Carl then realized no such place existed, as far as he knew, anyway. He got tired of standing and walked over to a bench that was far away from the ponies. He sat down, staring at the floor. A strange feeling started coming over him, which he quickly shook away, knowing it wasn't his fault at all. “Oh, please, like that’s true...B-Besides, it’s her fault anyway. She’s the one who offended me, and my reaction was totally normal, I-I mean, it’s not like she’ll ever-” “Carl.” Carl jumped in slid to the other side of the bench. “AH...g-geez, pony, d-don’t scare me...like...that?” Once he turned right, he was astounded to see what was next to him. “Oh...hi, Rarity.” The white unicorn sighed and sat down next to him. “Hello, Carl. I thought I’d see you here.” “Uh, yeah, I didn’t expect to see you through.” He adjusted himself in the seat. “So, why did you come over here? Did you have more flyswatters you wanted to put on my horn or-" “No, Carl, I wanted to talk, and you’re lucky I am, too, because it’s not every day main ponies talk to background one’s.” She looked toward the nearby ponies. “I’m sure others hate that anyway.” Carl crossed his arms. “I’m sure ponies hate a lot about ‘background’ creatures, especially us.” Rarity knew this was going to be difficult. “Darling, listen, I wanted to talk about what happened earlier.” Carl put his hoof up to her face. “I don’t wanna hear it, Rarity, I’ve heard enough from you already, and I’d rather not hear more.” Rarity slapped the hoof away. “You need to understand. I’m not being the only one who’s acting like a jerk!” “Acting like a jerk?” Carl scooted closer. “The hay are you talking about?” “I’m talking about what you said and how you said it!” She pointed at him “I’m starting to think you acting offensive was just some way to get out of this place.” Carl’s face went blank, completely shocked. “Y-You really think I acted over there? You hit me with a flyswatter, Rarity, a fly-swatt-er!” “And you barged into my store the second I found out who you really were!" Rarity yelled. "Not only that, but half the things you said weren’t true!” “Oh really!?” Carl yelled back. “How the hay would you know how an idiotic bug like me acts around racist mares like you!” “Probably the same way a racist bug acts around a pony!” As the argument grew louder and louder, some ponies in the area started stepping further away while others watched in fascination. One stallion nudged a mare next to him and said, “What do you think they’re arguing about?” The mare shrugged. “I dunno, but it’s pretty entertaining to watch others argue over something silly, isn’t it?” The stallion smiled. “Yup, thank Celestia we’re not apart of it, don’t wanna make a fool outta ourselves, right?” The mare shrugged. “I just hope they realize how pointless it is. Last I heard, nopony wins in arguments.” The stallion shook his head in shame. “Nope. Hey, ya wanna get something to eat? This is making me hungry.” The mare nodded and the both of them walked off while the disguised bug and white unicorn continued yelling “It’s not just about being racist to me,” Carl yelled. “it’s about being racist to every creature you meet. I mean, what other type of monsters came into this place only to witness ponies scream and run away or get hurt by you guys?” “We never...W-We weren't...u-uh…” Unfortunately, Rarity had a couple creatures in mind. “Well...There was a zebra that we were afraid of at first,” She admitted, getting an even worse glare from him. “B-BUT, we quickly became friends afterwards.” “Was it forced or willingly?” Carl asked. Rarity didn't understand the question. “W-What do you mean?” Carl rolled his eyes. “What I mean is did you have to make friends with that zebra because you needed them or because you wanted to apologize for your rude behavior?” Rarity opened her mouth to answer, then shut it, then did it again, then closed it again. “Um...w-well, i-it was a little of both, y-you see, me and my friends had this...problem.” “Was it being offensive, because it doesn’t look like they helped you fix that.” Rarity held back her anger and continued. “No, it wasn’t that. We were contaminated with poison joke and-” Carl looked away. “Serves ya right.” Rarity’s ear flicked, hoping she didn’t hear that right. “What?” Carl looked up, not caring if she heard him or not. “Nothing; continue.” Rarity sighed. “As I was saying, we were poisoned and we needed her help to fix us, after that, we became friends.” She smiled, hoping he’d do the same. Carl still didn’t buy it. “Did you think it was their fault at first, because changelings have been known to be accused of something even though they didn’t do it, and I’m not talking about what my siblings did in Canterlot, that was their fault.” Rarity knew she’d be lying if she said no. “I..w-well, we...Ugh, okay, yes. At first, we thought it was some spell or jinx she put on us, b-but we quickly found out it’s-” “That it wasn’t their fault...and that it wasn’t from the very beginning either.” Carl turned away, starting to get sick of this story. “I’m sure she felt pretty good about hearing that. How long did it take for her to forgive you, a couple weeks, a month?” “Try the second we apologize.” Carl laughed. “Yeah, I thought it’d take at least a couple...couple...wait.” Carl scooted back in the bench. “I-Instantly?” Rarity’s face continued looking serious.  “She took it well, unlike you who over reacted to all of this.” “I didn't over react at all!" Carl said, feeling like he lied. Rarity knew this was more than an argument over a flyswatter. "Carl, please, just tell me why, why did you act like that?" "I-I was just..I-I can't...I-I was." Carl covered his face with his hooves. "I...I'm just..." “You’re just what, darling? Because whatever it is, it’s very serious now, and not funny, not anymore, not even when I pointed that-” “I’m just sick of seeing it every single day!” Carl yelled. “In every town I go to, in every city, in every place I visit, the second my disguise is gone, ponies act just like you did.” “And do you know why?” Carl looked at her. “Because I’m a disgusting bug?” “No. Think about it, darling. How long ago was the attack.” “Why are bringing that up?” “Because ponies, and I’m sure many other creatures, usually take a while to forgive others for what they did.” She slid closer to him. “Zecora might have been more forgiving, but that was only because we just misunderstood her.” “Kinda like how ponies are misunderstanding how not all changelings are evil?” Rarity had to bring it up again. “Your kind tried to take over Equestria, darling.” Carl flung his arms in the air. “But I wasn’t apart of it! It was all my siblings fault! They-” It was then Rarity knew exactly how to relate to this changeling. “They made others judge you for what they did, or have them embarrass you from time to time?” Carl couldn’t believe how right she was. “Y-Yeah, ponies always think I’m like my siblings...wait, how would you know about-” “I have a sister, darling.” Carl was shocked to hear that, he didn’t even know ponies could have siblings. “Ponies can have siblings too?” Rarity found that a little silly, but still nodded. “Yes, they can." Carl’s face went blank, but this time in confusion. “Oh, uh...I see. S-So, do your brothers and sisters make fun of you too?” Rarity laughed. “I Just have one, and, like yours, she can be a bit of a hassle, and sometimes others might judge me based off her, but I know that, sooner or later, once I show myself to the world, others will understand that I’m not exactly like my sister, I am in some ways, but I’m still who I am, do you understand?” Carl had a feeling she wasn’t just explaining herself and turned away. “Yeah, I understand, I-I’m sure if I can show myself to one pony, I can show it to more, right?” Rarity nodded. “Yes, but, um, be sure you act a little more...confident, darling. You were acting a bit...strange, in a way.” Carl could admit that. “Yeah, my acting skills need work.” He looked up at her, knowing he had to say this. “Hey...I...I’m sorry for how I acted, I-I should’ve just explained from the start instead of barging in, shouldn’t I?” Rarity smiled. “And I’m sorry as well. I should’ve listened to you instead of panicking and running all over the place to find something to hit you. I-It was just unlucky I used that, because it was either hitting you with a flyswatter or the...other thing…” Carl knew what she was talking about. “Oh yeah, what was with that second horn anyway? Was it something you wear on top of the other one or…” Rarity looked away. “It was something I designed for unicorns to wear, kind of like a ring only that it covers the whole horn in sparkling gems and diamonds.” “So, why were you blushing over it?” Rarity bit her bottom lip. “Well, because I found out that ponies used it for...other things besides fashion…” Carl was confused. “Other things? What other-” “ALL ABOARD!” Both of them looked up, seeing that the train was coming. Carl got up and stretched. “Welp, time to head out.” Rarity stood up as well, surprised to hear that after all they talked about. “You’re still leaving?” Carl held his chin up. “Well, I’m a jr. train operator, so I kinda stop between towns to grab a bite, but I guess I can go to the next, maybe the eight time will be the charm.” Rarity remembered another question she had to ask him. “That reminds me. Why did you come to me first? A dress shop is a strange place to find love, darling.” Carl shrugged. “Ponies make tons of things with love, food, art, stories...dresses are the same, right?” “Um…” Rarity thought about saying dress making had more work than love put in them, but she knew that wasn’t entirely true. “O-Of course we do...j-just, try finding a better place, like...a fancy diner, or a relaxing spa, or...well, I-I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Carl smiled. “I think I have a few ideas.” He stepped inside, but turned around one last time to say, “Hey, it was nice meeting you, I can’t remember the last time I had a nice conversation with a pony.” Rarity felt kinda sad hearing that, but continued having a grin on her face. “I’m sure you’ll have more soon.” She promised before waving goodbye. Carl waved one more time and went inside. The train started moving its wheels seconds after he went in before finally heading off into the next town. Rarity stopped waving and chuckled. “Perhaps some things need to be taken seriously, not matter how silly it is.” With that in mind she turned and started walking back home. Once she was inside her boutique again, she walked over to her work station again and realized just how far she had gone in the dress she was designing. “Now, about that blue fabric…” She studied it very closely, knowing there were tons of things she could make with it, perhaps a...or maybe a...or possibly a...or...or... *THUNK* She hit her head on the table, knowing those thoughts were still not there thanks to no inspiration. “Ow…”