Chapter 4 – Some Kind of First Impression
Darkness fell on Ponyville as Icy, Tart, and me went on our “mission”: finding Twilight Sparkle. I say “mission” because we’ve circled the whole of the town at least four times so far without there being any sign of us stopping anytime soon, something Tart didn’t like.
“Stop being a chicken, Grey!”
“Leave him alone Tart. We’ll get to her when he’s good and around.”
“By the time that happens, there’ll be a new path going around the town because of us!”
“Yelling about it won’t make a difference, you dunce. We said we’d help me and we are doing just that.”
“How is us walking around in circles, actual flipping circles, helping him find his mare!?”
“Stop saying that!”
The two of them kept going on, back and forth, but I learned a long time ago how to tone them out whenever they get into what Bon Bon calls “their bromance moments.” Not like I had much to contribute anyway, with all of the questions that were running through my mind.
What am I going to say? Would she even listen to me to begin with? Would she be okay with me just randomly finding her? What if she thinks I’m a stalker? What if her friends don’t like me? What if...
“Grey!”
I snapped my head forward. “What?”
Icy shook his head and sighed. “Seriously, where’s your head at?”
I looked down and kicked a bit at the floor. “S-sorry about that.”
“Seriously Grey. You’ve asked for my advice and it looks like you aren’t going to use any of it. You’re just wasting my time at this point.”
“I, I do! I do want to use it.”
Tart gave me one of his ‘devilish grins.’ “Good, because one of her friends is over there.”
I followed his line of sight and saw a stunning white coated unicorn mare with luscious purple locks-Ponyville’s fashionista supreme, Rarity.
Icy ran a hoof against his face. “Rarity? Really? You think she’s not going to ask why we are looking for one of her friends Tart?”
I didn’t even give Tart a chance to reply as I trotted over to her.
“Hey Rarity!”
She turned around and smiled as she saw me. “Why, hello there Grey darling. It’s good to see that you are back from your trip. When did you get back?”
“Oh, earlier today; a few hours ago actually.” I ran a hoof through the back of my head and smiled, maybe a little sheepishly. “I’m an uncle now.”
Rarity brightened up at that and hugged me. “Congratulations Grey.”
“Thanks I guess,” I told her while chuckling.
She let go of me and looked at my neck. “My, that’s a marvelous scarf. It matches with your hat. Where did you get it darling?”
“Oh.” I looked down at my checker patterned scarf with the many gradual shades of light blue. “I got it at a shop while I was there. Manehattan never ceases to amaze me at times with what I can find.”
“Of course darling! It isn’t the fashion capital of Equestria for no reason.”
I smiled at her then shifted a bit. “Hey Rarity?”
“Yes darling?”
I looked down and gulped a little. “You are friends with Twilight Sparkle right?”
“Twilight?” She blinked for a moment before a gentle smile appeared. “Why would you want to know about our new celebrity?”
“W-well, I heard about what happened while I was gone. I w-wanted to get to know the mare w-who protected our town and my friends.”
“Why are you stuttering, Grey dear?”
“W-well, she’s a celebrity and a hero of Equestria. K-kind of an intimidating figure, don’t you think.”
“Intimidating you say?” She giggled a bit. “I do suppose you’re right. I mean, she is Princess Celestia’s prize pupil after all. And she did save Princess Luna.”
I gulped, maybe a little bit too loudly. She’s the Princess’s prize pupil!?
She quickly put a hoof on my shoulder. “There’s nothing to be worried about darling. I was just teasing is all.” She grinned. “You’re just so cute when you blush, I couldn’t help it.”
“I’m n-n-n-not cute, R-r-rarity.”
She just giggled at my response.
“I’m not!”
“Not at all darling.” She removed her hoof. “Besides, if you are looking for Twilight, all you need to do is be patient. She and the girls should be leaving the restaurant right about now.”
“I’m telling you, I’m not, right now?”
Rarity nodded.
“So, she’s r-right behind you?”
“In a way, I suppose.”
“I s-see.” I looked behind her and felt my legs slowly turn to jelly. It’s now or never Grey. You can do this. You can do this! You’ve talked to mares before. She isn’t any-
Beautiful. That single word was all that came to mind as I saw her exit the building, currently talking to her friends about one thing or another.
Rarity giggled a little. “Grey, I do believe you’re drooling slightly.”
I couldn’t move fast enough to wipe that drool off. “W-what drool?”
“Howdy Grey,” Applejack greeted me. “Good to see yah are back from that trip.”
Pinkie bounced over to me. “Oh, oh. We could have a ‘Welcome back from your trip Greyscale’ party!”
“Pinkie, please be patient. Grey here wanted to talk to one of you.”
“Oh really?” Rainbow said. “Which one of us is it Rares?”
Rarity turned to face me and I gave her a look that I hoped sent her how against I was with her doing what she was going to do.
“Twilight, let me introduce you to Greyscale. Greyscale, let me introduce you to Twilight Sparkle.”
As Rarity introduced us, my visual pleading to her not doing anything for me, Twilight moved closer to me.
With each closing step, my heart started to race faster and my legs shook more.
“Grey, are...are you a-alright?” Fluttershy asked me worriedly.
“I, I, I, I, I...”
“Yes Greyscale?” Twilight asked me.
Go ahead. Go ahead! Don’t be a chicken!
“I, I, I, I.....”
“Yes?”
“TEACH ME ABOUT HOW TO DO MAGIC!” I blurted out at her.
What followed was an awkward silence that was only “broken” because of Tart and Rainbow laughing their flanks off. Every pony else just stood there, just letting that hang in the air.
I slowly backed up then trotted away like a mad pony away, not caring for anything that would come about me doing that.