One Bolt, Many Questions

by Boltsinger

A Lesson on Wings

It was a bright summer day in the city of Manehattan, and Rarity had gathered her best friends at Rarity For You. She was making ready to unveil her latest collection, based on the Saddle-Arabian Nights. The shop had been decorated to match the theme, DJ PON-3 had set up some slick eastern beats to play during the show. Everything was going swimmingly, except for one minor detail.

Twilight and Boltsinger were absent.

Rarity raised a hoof to her muzzle, hiding a sly grin that appeared there from everypony else. She had some ideas as to why the two of them might be late, but she didn’t want to make assumptions. Most things were ready. This was their third day in the city, and Twilight’s organization skills were on full display. She was hoping that the two would arrive soon, as she wanted each of them to model particular outfits, since their theme involved a stallion who had an unlikely romance with a Princess. She was very excited to demonstrate that theme to the visiting ponies. She turned to some of the outfits on display, making some final touches as the bell sounded.

Rarity turned to face the door, seeing Twilight trotting in. “Ah! You’re here!” She trotted over to her royal friend and gave her a hug. “I take it you and Boltsinger were… distracted?”

“His wings have been getting stiff again, so I was giving him a massage to help him relax.” the Princess explained, looking back at the door. “I don’t know what keeps causing it to happen… Once it’s calmed down, he’ll be on his way too.”

Rarity snickered to herself, putting her foreleg around Twilight and guiding her to the back of the boutique. “I see… Well, I’d like to show you some of the outfits. I’ve got some adjustments to make on the one you’ll be wearing, but Bolt’s is already complete, if you want a peek.”

Twilight’s ears perked up, looking at Rarity as they walked. “Are you sure? You don’t mind if I see it ahead of time?”

“I’d like to know what you think, darling!” the fashionista informed her. “I’ve got retail versions made already, so you and Bolt will be keeping your outfits. I just want to make sure you like them.”

Twilight smiled, looking towards their destination. “Well, okay. Let’s see it!”

Rarity stepped up to a nearby curtain, pulling it aside with her foreleg. There, on a mannequin, was a slightly poofy white suit in a royal Saddle-Arabian style. It bore gold trim that extended over the shoulders, and a long white cape that extended over where the tail would be. There were shoes on the hind legs, extending out to a slight upward curl. There was a gold belt around the midsection that came to a point in the middle of the stomach, pointing towards the head. Atop the mannequin’s head was a turban-like hat with a gold band at the base. It had its own little cape flowing out around the head and extending down the neck, with a red jewel situated at the base of the front that had a large purple feather protruding out of the top. Twilight admitted to herself that it looked more like a costume to her than something somepony would wear on a daily basis, but she was also unfamiliar with how things were in Saddle-Arabia.

“Can’t you just imagine Boltsinger in this?” Rarity asked, sparking the Princess’ imagination. In place of the mannequin, she saw Boltsinger, wearing the outfit. “Why, he would look so dashing and princely. The perfect gentlecolt to a swooning Princess!” The image in Twilight’s mind looked at her intently, spreading his wings and flaring his cape as he walked towards her, a charming smile on his muzzle and looking at her through half-lidded eyes, as if to suggest something. Twilight’s heart began to race, the color of her cheeks difinitively changing as she felt some tension in her wings. She put on a relaxed face as she imagined her special somepony in the situation, her wings standing straight up as Rarity looked at her with a mild blush. She cleared her throat, snapping Twilight out of her trance. “Well… Clearly you can imagine it quite well.” Twilight shook her head, looking at Rarity with a deep red lining her muzzle.

“What? How can you tell?” the embarrassed Alicorn wondered. “I was just thinking about it… It’s not like you can tell what’s on my mind just by looking at me.”

“Um… Twilight?” the fashionista began, approaching the Princess. “How much do you know about wings?”

Twilight let out a cocky scoff, going into everything she knew about the mechanics of wings and how they attribute to the way that Pegasi and Alicorns fly around, talking at length about the advanced mathematics behind it.

“No no no, not that.” the Unicorn corrected. “Have you ever taken note of how one’s wings might respond to certain… um… What’s the best word… Stimuli?”

Twilight shook her head vehemently. “No. I never thought it was all that important. My wings were a little hard to control when I first got them, but I always thought that they worked like any other limb. It’s not like they do things when we don’t want them to… Well, besides Boltsinger’s problem.”

Rarity sighed as she brought her hoof up to her face, stepping over to Twilight and flicking her wing with her foreleg. Twilight winced, looking back at her outstretched appendages from the impact. “Darling, you might need to study more on how wings work. You see, when a winged pony like you or Rainbow Dash have… certain thoughts or emotions… your wings respond accordingly.” She started rubbing Twilight’s back, causing the lilac pony’s wings to loosen up. “Have you ever noticed that whenever Rainbow is intending to… fight somepony… her wings are always flared out beside her?”

“Now that you mention it, yes.” Twilight confirmed, thinking back on the events at the Gala the previous year. “Brightling’s wings were like that when we saw him, too.”

“Well, that’s because their wings can be quite intimidating if used in such a way.” Rarity continued. “And if certain… thoughts or images… creep into their minds, their wings tend to… Well, you just experienced that reaction.”

Twilight smiled sheepishly, moving her wings to get the motion back. “How do you know so much about wings when you don’t even have them?”

Rarity laughed confidently, raising a hoof to her muzzle to strike a pose as she looked at her friend. “Oh, Twilight! When your sheer fabulousness has attracted as many suitors as mine has, the signs of when a Pegasus is into you become dreadfully obvious!” She patted her friend on the back, walking past into the main room of the shop as the bell rang anew.

“Sorry I’m late!” Boltsinger called, raising a wing to the entering Unicorn. “I had some… issues to take care of.”

Rarity giggled, beckoning the stallion over. “I’m certain you did. Twilight told me all about it.”

Boltsinger scratched his mane with his wing as he loosed a sheepish grin. “You didn’t… tell everypony else about that kind of thing, right?”

Rarity leaned in close, talking quietly. “The only pony who wasn’t aware of what it means was Twilight herself. And nopony blames you for your… responses.” She patted him on the back, pushing him towards the back room. “Now, we open soon! You need to get ready!” As he trotted on, she matched his pace. “Now, the plan is for you to actually model two outfits. One based on Alkham Fahm, and the other on Eazri Almas. Starlight is already back there and ready to help with the quick-change. Are you used to teleportation?”

Boltsinger’s face fell flat, looking at Rarity with a cocked eyebrow. “I live with Twilight. I’m used to teleporting.”

Rarity nodded, looking ahead. “Yes, I suppose that was a silly question, wasn’t it?” She situated him next to a changing curtain, floating a few garments over to him. “First, you’ll be wearing these. Nothing too complicated. This would be your ‘street rat’ attire.” She floated the curtain between them, placing the clothes on a table next to him. “I’m going to go and make the finishing touches on Twilight’s outfit. Remember, when you’re wearing this outfit, you need to be cocky, yet at the same time, humble. Daring, yet caring. Once your outfit has changed, all of that humility needs to vanish, and you need to be the epitome of ego!”

“Okay… So, I need to be like Rainbow?” he wondered, sliding into one of the garments.

Rarity stopped her sewing a moment, looking back with a laugh. “I never thought of it that way, but… Yes. Only more gallant!” The two of them laughed, continuing about their business.

Boltsinger stepped out from behind the changing curtain wearing poofy white pants, a purple vest, and a tiny red fez along with his usual pendant. He brought his wings forward, flexing the feathers at the ends. “I still don’t feel like I’m entirely in character, considering the character is something I’m quite literally not.”

“Oh, pish-posh! You needn’t worry over such minor details!” Rarity exclaimed, putting the other outfit aside and stepping over to the stallion. “You just need to act the part! You already look it, all rugged and mischievous in your little hat and vest!”

Boltsinger sighed, sitting on a nearby stool. “So, I guess you can just let me know when I go on. Where’s Twilight, anyway?”

“Oh, I’ve finished her outfit. Miss Pommel is helping her into it now.” Rarity stated, heading for the door. “You’ll see her when the showing begins!”

---

Boltsinger sat in the back room in what he could only think of as a ‘costume’, drumming on his knees as he heard Rarity explaining the various outfits in the Saddle-Arabian collection. There were a number of times in which the visitors would applaud.

“And now, I present to you, the finale of this presentation!” Rarity’s muffled voice announced, making the stallion’s ears perk up in her direction. “The initial inspiration for this line came from a good friend of mine introducing me to the stories you’ve been exposed to through this line. My favorite story, and his, is the story of Alkham Fahm, a young pony living on the streets…” From the entrance to the room, Starlight poked in her head, looking at Boltsinger. She lit up her horn with a nod as the stallion stood up, striking a cocky pose as a bright blue flash shone before him, appearing in front of several high-class ponies while a remix of traditional Saddle-Arabian music played. The spotlight shone on the stallion as he strutted across the stage. “He was always such a lovable street rat, but everything changed for him when he first saw the beautiful Princess Alyasimin, dressed in street clothes and trying to escape her boring royal lifestyle!” From stage right, a cloaked pony stepped onstage, looking around. She lowered her hood, revealing Twilight wearing an elaborate golden circlet that bore a dark red ruby in the middle of her forehead and just under her horn. Her mane was wavier than normal, the hair from the back of her head brought up in a loose but flattering bun. She ran across the stage, looking panicked as Boltsinger looked on at her, jaw hung open. Whispers were heard amongst the crowd about the identity of the Princess. “Upon his revelation of her identity, he had nearly given up hope!” The stallion hung his head and walked stage right, his ears drooping. “But fate had other plans for this rough and tumble thief! He was lured into a magical cave, where a magical artifact released a spirit that granted him three wishes!” What looked like an old fashioned oil lamp was teleported onstage, and Boltsinger dove at it, rubbing it gently. A magical aura lit up around it, extending over the Pegasus. “And the witty thief was no fool! He knew that if he wanted to impress the lovely mare, he would need to be on equal footing! So his first wish…” The bright blue flash shined around Boltsinger again, feeling his outfit suddenly disappear, replaced in that instant by the fancy white outfit he had helped Rarity to work on a while back. “... was to become a dashing Prince! He donned the name Eazri Almas, and paraded his way down the road to the palace!” Boltsinger put on his most charming grin, strutting across the stage as hoofsteps were heard from the end he approached. “This outfit is the crown jewel of my stallion collection in this new line! I call it the Royal Diamond!” Boltsinger stopped center stage, angling his head to look as appealing as possible, raising his eyebrows like he was making a sly offer. And coiling his tail in front of his hind legs. The crowd applauded once more, stomping their hooves as one of the reporters stepped forward.

“Because it symbolizes the polishing and pressing of the rough thief into the diamond he is on the inside! Brilliant!” The reporting stallion announced, looking as excited as Rarity did.

“Exactly! But the show’s not over yet!” Rarity declared, motioning stage left. “For you see, through all of the magic, the conflict, and the drama that came with entering the lives of royalty, the roguish stallion’s identity was revealed to the Princess!” Starlight’s magic flashed once more, Boltsinger having been returned to the simple garb he entered in. “But that didn’t stop their love from coming to life! The Princess Alyasimin opened up her heart to him, and they found their way!” The hoofsteps stopped in front of Boltsinger, Twilight appearing onstage, tossing aside the cloak to reveal a sparkling red outfit that featured loose-fitting pants that led to the same kind of pointed and curled shoes Boltsinger had worn, elaborate rows of fabric connecting the pants to a flattering top that puffed out at the shoulders, but left her forelegs bare. She had a bright gold and ruby-crested belt along with bracelets of a similar design fitted just above the hooves on her forelegs. Over her shoulders, she wore a translucent red shawl that flowed over her forelegs and back. She looked at Boltsinger alluringly, giving a coy smile through half-lidded eyes, intensely focused on him. Boltsinger felt his wings begin to tense up, but strained himself to keep them down. “This outfit, I feel, captures the exotic majesty of a Saddle-Arabian Princess, how she blooms even in the middle of the desert! I call it, the Desert Flower!” Twilight looked at the crowd, waving one of her hooves in the traditional royal wave. Rarity turned to the stomping ponies in the crowd before her, enamored with the praise that came from various sources. “And with that, our love story comes to a close!” She announced, the curtain behind her closing. “If you’d like to learn more about these fabulous tales, check your local bookstore!”

Boltsinger and Twilight stood behind the curtain, hearing the many ponies that showed up crowd around Rarity to make orders. The stallion breathed a heavy sigh, looking at his favorite mare again. As the vision of her entered his view, his wings demanded that he give up the fight, to which he immediately acquiesced. The appendages shot straight up, sending him slightly airborne with the force. Twilight looked at her special somepony’s response, her face turning almost as red as her outfit as she giggled.

“You know… I know what that response means, now.” she informed him, stepping closer. “I know that a massage will only do so much to calm it down.”

Boltsinger blushed profusely, sitting on the stage and averting his eyes. “Well, I can think of something we can do…”

Twilight blinked, stepping closer still with a relaxed face. “And what would that be?”

“Well…” he started, placing his muzzle next to her ear. He began whispering various ideas, diminishing the Alicorn’s blush as her eyes grew wide.

“Really? You want to do that?” She asked as he brought his head back to look her in the eye. She laughed out loud, pulling him into an embrace. “And here I thought you wanted to do something completely different!” She planted a kiss on his lips, pulling away slowly. “How about we make ourselves a bit more comfortable before we begin, okay?”

Boltsinger nodded, standing up again and making for the back of the store. After quickly slipping out of the simple outfit he was in, he found his way to the front of the store, many of the patron ponies having left. He waited eagerly, imagining what he was about to do with the mare of his dreams. His goofy grin crept its way back onto his muzzle as he looked outside, more hoofsteps sounding behind him.

“Bolt, your performance was spectacular!” Rarity declared, raising an excited foreleg. “I don’t think I’ve ever had so many stallions attempt to order from one of my stores before!”

“That’s nice…” the stallion replied, still looking out the door with dreamy eyes.

Rarity giggled, stepping closer. “From the looks of it, I take it you liked Twilight’s outfit?” Boltsinger nodded wordlessly. “And now I expect the two of you have… plans?”

“Eeyup.” he said, as if channeling Big Macintosh.

Rarity stifled a laugh, stepping away. “Well, then, I won’t keep you.” She turned to go to the back of the shop. “You two have a good time! I’ve got orders to fill!”

After a while longer, Twilight trotted up next to her favorite stallion. “Are you ready?” She asked, magically opening the door in front of them.

“Absolutely.” He answered, stepping out the door as the two took to the air.

---

Hours later, as night had begun to fall, the door to an ancient history museum opened up, Twilight and Boltsinger walking out with satisfied grins on their faces. Bags hung from Boltsinger’s wings, with more floating in the air above them thanks to Twilight’s horn. They turned down the street, headed for their hotel as the stallion turned to look at the mare.

“I can’t believe you’re actually fluent in Old Ponish!” Boltsinger stated, looking just a little dumbfounded. “I know you’re brilliant, but that’s just astounding! Where do you put all that knowledge?”

“I’ve actually got all of my knowledge mentally compartmentalized, ready for access in at least a quarter of a second in case I need some random bits of information!” she told him. Boltsinger burst into hysterics, small tears threatening to form at the corners of his eyes. Twilight looked at his laughter and tilted her head. “I… wasn’t joking.”

The stallion’s eyes shot open as his head rose up. “Wait, what?” He looked at her with a sense of disbelief. “Wow… You’re way more organized than I thought!” He brought a hoof up to his muzzle. “The mechanics of it seem pretty complicated, even if it is in your mind… I don’t think I’d be able to do something like that.” He looked into her eyes as they stopped at the street corner. “You really are amazing!”

Twilight looked dreamily into Boltsinger’s eyes, seeing her reflection in them as clear as day. After a long pause, she took a breath. “Thank you…” The two started walking again as the light changed. “You know, you’re pretty amazing, yourself.”

Boltsinger blew a playful raspberry at the idea. “Meh, I don’t do much. I just help where I’m needed.”

“And that always works out better for everypony.” She stated, pulling him close with her wing. “Don’t sell yourself so short.” She went into a trot, causing her special somepony to follow suit. “Now, let’s get back to the hotel and do the last thing on my schedule!”

“Last thing?” Boltsinger repeated, cocking an eyebrow. “What’s the last thing?”

Twilight giggled and whispered into his ear. Hearing her plans, his eyes grew wide, and his wings threatened to stand up again while his mouth took on an ‘o’ shape. “You sure about this?” he asked her.

Twilight gave a firm nod. “Definitely.”

“Well, who am I to argue with a Princess?” He said, his face turning red as he went into a canter. “Let’s go do this thing!”

Twilight smiled warmly, pointing her horn at the stallion and adding him to the myriad of levitating wonders. “All right, lover-bolt, calm down! I have a faster way!” She lowered him to her side, closing her eyes in concentration as a familiar magenta flash came to life, the ponies and their bags vanishing from sight.

Author's Note:

Okay, I think I'm done with Aladdin references. Once again, the new name is an Arabic word. This time "Alyasimin" is the Arabic word for "Jasmine". Needless to say, relationships may be... moving forward... some time in the future.

Comments

[Matthew Malysza]

Awesome!

[Amos Anon]

Why am I not surprised that "the thing" they were talking about was actually just a visit to the museum?