Just as promised, once a month I would take the train to head down to Ponyville to visit one pony: Rarity. Since the premiere of her simplistic but charming dress worn by Twilight Sparkle before she became a princess, I’ve taken an investment into her designs. I tend to go there for an afternoon to see what new dresses and suites that the Canterlot elite would take interests in – in other words, to put in a good word for the dear.
As of now, I’m traveling with two other ponies with Acrylic taking the window seat, me in the middle and Fleur at the end. Of course, the Artist didn’t serve any purpose in my meeting with Rarity. Yet, I did think that giving him a change in scenery would be good for both him and his art. Under our seats are a blank canvas, the tripod and the bag of brushes, paints and a palette for him to work off of.
“Have you ever been to Ponyville Mr. Brush?” Fleur asked leaning forward.
“I have passed by it but never really stop to see it,” he answered, “How come Gustav doesn’t come with you, sir?”
“Because his services aren’t needed, after all, it won’t be all day and I’ll return by dinner time. You are here because I figured you might be getting weary of painting things in Canterlot that a change would be healthy for your creativity.”
“So… You’re taking me to this town for me to paint?”
I nodded, “Essentially. Once again, you may choose the subject and you may go anywhere you choose.”
“So how do I know where to find you if I get done before you?”
“Firstly,” my bodyguard said, “We’ll show you where Carousel Boutique is, and then we’ll let you go free.”
Acrylic looked out the window once more, “What are the ponies there like?”
“Filled with character,” I said, “its home to Princess Twilight along with five other national heroines. There’s a tiny community of artists, musicians, a writer or two, and the occasional monster attack.”
This got his attention, “Come again?”
Chuckling, I replied, “Oh nothing to be afraid of, that sort of thing happens on occasion which usually ends within half-an-hour or so.”
“Does anypony get hurt when that happens?”
“Trust us,” Fleur explained, “at this point, not even the residents there are that concerned about it since so many strange things have happened so often it’s come to a point that it’s practically routine.”
Acrylic blinked before turning to the window muttering, “Ponies are weird.”
“Still,” I said, “Ponyville has a rustic charm, apart from Princess Twilight’s new castle, I’m very confident that you’ll find something to paint about.”
Several minutes later we pulled up to the tiny station, after getting off the three of us started to head towards the Boutique. The weather was perfect from above, sky blue with a few clouds here and there; even the sun’s not too warm so that ponies were comfortable enough for local gossip. From the buildings to the locals, this town always has a laid back feel in the warmer months.
“So what do you think so far Mr. Brush?” I asked.
Acrylic, with all the supplies on his back, looked around for a moment. “It looks peaceful… I might get an idea somewhere.”
“Now, of course, we’ll have to be back on the train by four so you’ll have plenty of time. Oh, and before I forget, I might want to warn you of one resident here that you might be aware of.”
He craned his neck at me, “Is it dangerous?”
“I think that words aren’t quite accurate. No. Nothing dangerous at all, but something to keep an eye out for because there’s a mare here that’s known for getting too excited to meet somepony new. She’s pink, has a mane like cotton candy, has three balloons as a cutie mark, and she has the tendency to speak very fast. I’m not saying to avoid her completely if you happen to run into her, just don’t be too shocked if you happen to meet her.”
Mr. Brush blinked, “Okay? So how far is this boutique?”
“Around the corner,” Fleur said. Soon enough, we were in sight of the establishment.
“Well, there it is,” I turned to the artist. “You may go as you please.”
“Thank you, sir,” he looked around, “I think I’ll go over to the park over there and see if I can find something.”
“That’ll be fine, but you’re welcome to come back here if you happen to finish early.”
After we departed, Fleur and I went up to the door to knock on it.
“Just a moment,” Rarity’s voice called out as the usual sounds of her last-minute checking persisted behind the door. There was the clanking of fine china, the rearranging of furniture, the rustle of fabrics and clinking of jewels that went on for a moment before the mare in question opened the door.
Like the clockwork of a pocket watch, Rarity greeted us in her latest design. This time she had on a peacock inspired dress in which it was in a royal blue that had a golden thread that formed a feather-like pattern. At the edges of her dress were the famous gold, light green and dark blues like eyes of the tail feathers. “Fancy darling, it’s good seeing you again.”
I nodded, “Hello again Ms. Rarity, and I must say, what a smashing dress you have on today.”
“This is only the introduction to what I have to show you,” she said with a proud smile. “The birds from Fluttershy’s cottage have given me new ideas for the upcoming season. I’m very excited to show them off to you.”
“Birds you say,” I raised an eyebrow, “You’ve gotten me curious Rarity, may we come in?”
She happily abridged, thus preceded into our monthly ritual. In that, she introduces each new design with a pull of a cord to part open a curtain. Fleur and I would see a parade of mannequins dressed up in their finest in any given theme that Rarity has chosen. With the bird theme, I’m delighted to say that not every dress, suit, and a hat was made out of feathers but rather the color schemes that were used were a delight to the eye. We saw a suit that was inspired by seagulls, a fiery dress that had the personality of a phoenix, and a mare’s hat that Rarity told me was an abstract form of a blue jay.
Then after the parade was done, Rarity would offer us some tea while we got down to business along with some small talk.
_*_
“…. Yes, I agree,” Rarity said putting down her cup. “Last season was relying too much on gold highlights. Besides, all the other fashion designers were using it so often in the last show to the point that some of it looked rather tacky.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” I sipped on the green tea, “I wondered part way if nopony had checked to see if everyone else had the same idea. At least I’ll give you credit for coming up with something a little more original.”
“Sometimes there are plenty of things to find inspiration if one looked at nature. I think it’s rather impossible not to.”
Before I could reply, there was a knock on the door. My bodyguard offered to go see who it is, and a moment later came back with Mr. Brush following behind with a painting on his back.
“Sorry for that,” he apologized, “the painting took a little longer than I anticipated.”
“Fancy, who’s this?” Rarity asked.
“Oh, I nearly forgot.” I said, “Ms. Rarity, this is a new friend of mine: Acrylic Brush. You can clearly see what he specializes in.” Turning to the stallion, I asked, “So, what do you have today?”
“I think it’s still wet,” he said as he carefully knelt down, trying to get a hoof underneath the painting. “Uh… a little help?”
“Allow me, dear,” Rarity lit up her horn, and the painting was lifted off the Artist’s back and floated upright. “Oh my…”
The four of us gazed at the canvas, on it was a picture of two mares sitting on a bench with the trees and bushes as a backdrop. There were some touches of the sky in which the brushstrokes had only one layer of blue that almost looked like it was done with watercolors. The trees themselves had left of light and dark violet, dark green, a lighter green, and touches of yellow with a bark of deep crimson, dark orange and brown. The two mares were sitting on a bench of gray and light blue where they sat in different positions yet; they appeared to be quite close. On the left was a mare of light blue and light green that let her hind legs dangle down while sitting on her plot that looked down at the other with colors pink and a light sandy shade that rested her head down on the other’s lap. Both of their manes from the one with the gentle curls of the sandy color mare to the frantic fire-like green and white of the other was the most expressive of the piece. At the bottom of the painting, the grass itself had different shades of green with quick strokes of violet.
“Isn’t that Lyra and Bon Bon?” Rarity asked.
Acrylic nodded, “They gave me their permission to paint them. Although they were only around by the time I sketched them out, I was still able to finish it after they left.”
“It’s very detailed,” Fleur commented. “I like what you did with the trees and the mares.”
“Is it?” he looked at the picture again; “To me, it looks like a little foal painted it.”
“I disagree,” I said, “There’s so much complexity in this the way all the colors interact with one another. I’d say, I think you’ve outdone yourself once again!”
He on the other hoof had his ears folded back in embarrassment, “I’ve could have done it better.”
“But how could you?” Rarity asked, “This here is a work of genius.”
Acrylic blinked, looking behind him he said, “Are you sure you’re not talking about somepony else?”
“Mr. Brush, it’s wonderful as it is, let it be.” I said, “How about you join us? We won’t be going back on the train for another half-hour.”
“Who’s she?” he asked, pointing at the fashionista.
“I’m Rarity, a pleasure to meet your acquaintance darling,” she offered a hoof to him in whom he shook. Sitting down next to her, he asked how she knew me. “Well, a few years ago I came up to Canterlot in hopes to become noticed of my business when I happened to bump into him. I mentioned that I was staying in one of the rooms at the castle when he became curious about me, so he invited me to see the Wonderbolt derby along with his companions.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw the bloke’s polite smile drop, “Oh?”
“He did, after that; I was invited by him to go to public events like attending auctions, an opening of galleries, and the christening of a new airship. From that day Fancy and I have become quite the partners in influencing the most influential ponies in Equestria.”
“He did?”
“Oh yes, he… are you alright darling?”
I looked over in which I witness his expression quickly changed from disappointment to a forced smile, “What? I don’t know what you mean.”
“Are you sure?” Rarity asked before he suddenly got up, lifting the painting back on his back.
“Mr. Pants, if you and Miss Rarity don’t mind, I’ll be waiting for you and Fleur back at the station. I think I might put in some sketches before we go.”
“Mr. Brush, whatever the-” I was about to ask before he suddenly turned around and walked out of the door. Puzzled, I turned to the two mares, “What was that about?”
“Fancy,” Rarity said, putting a hoof underneath her chin, “was it me, or did that Acrylic fellow looked a bit… how do I say this? Disappointed?”
“Why would he be disappointed?” I asked, “You were just explaining how we’ve become business partners.”
“Unless…” my bodyguard started but suddenly paused.
“What?” I questioned, “What are you unlessing?”
“Mr. Pants, do you think that maybe, (and this is a huge maybe mind you,) do you think that Mr. Brush misunderstood Rarity for a moment?” Rarity and I asked what she meant, “Suppose for a moment that to him when Ms. Rarity explained how you’ve met that it sounded like… you asked her out on a date.”
Both mine and Rarity’s eyes opened wide in surprise, “What?” we asked simultaneously.
“From my point of view, when she was talking and before you sir looked at him, I could have sworn that he looked not just devastated but jealousy as well.”
Jealousy? Why would Acrylic be jeal…? Then a question popped into my mind in that instant. Something that up until now I haven’t considered before – Does Mr. Brush has some sort of crush on me and I haven’t realized it?
“Fleur de Lis,” Rarity said, “are you suggesting that he walked out because he thinks me and Fancy have some… romantic relationship?”
She shook her head, “Suggesting would mean that I would advise on something I already know about, this, however, is only a theory.”
While the two went back and forth, I was into my own thoughts on the subject. Considering what I know about him several weeks ago, I only assumed that we have a friendship between us. But after what we’ve just witnessed, I’m wondering if for Acrylic that he’s begun to develop feelings for me and I didn’t see it. If that were true, when did it start? Is it just a crush or is he infatuated with me? I admit, it is rather flattering now I think of it, but at the same time, I feel a bit ashamed that I didn’t realize this sooner.
“Fancy?” Rarity snapped me back into reality, “What do you think?”
“Hm?” I looked at the clock, “Oh! It looks like we’ve better get going then. As I’ve said Rarity, I’ll put in a good word for you back in Canterlot.” With that, Fleur and I made a rather hasty departure.
Back at the station, among the ponies waiting for the train to arrive was Acrylic, his face only focused on a sketchbook with a pencil while the painting rested at his side.
“Mr. Brush?” I asked as we approached him, “Is something wrong?”
There was a pregnant pause between us. Without looking up from his book, he said, “No, nothing’s wrong sir.”
“Are you sure? Acrylic, I did say that if there’s anything you want to talk to me ab-”
“Everything is fine, sir,” he interrupted. “Let’s focus on getting back home for now.”
For the rest of the trip back home, no matter what I or Fleur would say, he refused to speak any further on the subject. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder what this bloke is thinking right now considering from what I know about him. I hope to Celestia that it’s nothing serious.