Thankfully for my empty stomach, Pinkie and 'Spect decided to leave to prepare for my welcome party. When they left we returned to the interrupted meal and I was soon in a much better mood. Amazing how food and coffee can do that.

"Feeling better Miss Asher?" Trace asked

"Much. And it's just Eleanor ok?" Maybe I should not have mentioned my last name. Then again being called Miss Asher beats being called Ma’am.

The tour was pretty basic, it's a small town. Bigger in person than it seemed on the show, but still nothing special were it not for the residents. Unlike Fillydelphia, nopony was hiding from me here. I noted more than a few glances my way. But nothing fearful, they just seemed curious about the new person in town. There were a couple of double takes and I heard the words 'human mare' a few times.

We walked to the town square and Twilight pointed out some landmarks I could use to orient myself when I was on my own. The library was the first of course, one could hardly miss a tree like that. Then there was the town hall, which seemed to be under some reconstruction. And the third most noticeable landmark was Sugarcube Corner. The sight of which was enough to make me want to find a dentist. No question about the kind of sugary treats one could find there. Pinkie Pie and 'Spect waved as we walked past. With those three places memorized I was fairly sure I could find my way around without too much trouble.

It didn't matter how many times it happened on my travels I was always surprised when I heard a familiar voice. Even though I knew it wasn't whoever I was thinking of I felt compelled to look. This time the voice came from the direction of a cart selling several kinds of roses.

Behind the flower cart was a cream colored mare with a lovely dark rose colored mane, and deep green eyes.

"Hello, I'm Roseluck. You must be the new human I've been hearing about.” She inclined her head toward me and stage whispered, “My friend said you're a mare, is that true?" She asked.

I looked down at my chest for a moment before answering. I realized that they really didn't have many referents for human gender differences so I shouldn't be surprised she had to ask. I wondered if I might have the reverse problem. I'd been guessing so far, but some of the mares I'd seen could have been stallions. I wasn't about to check in any definitive way.

"Yes, I'm female. Though I'm a woman, not a mare. My name is Eleanor." I found myself wishing this pretty mare was a human woman. There's something about pony eyes, so large and expressive. They're like a unique body language no other species has. They twinkle and little shapes appear to denote feelings.

"Twilight and Trace giving you a tour?" Roseluck asked, an odd intensity entering her voice.

"Yeah, a quick trip around the town," I replied casually.

"Well, if you come back after I've got my cart put up, I can give you a tour of some of the really interesting parts of Ponyville." Roseluck said with a wink and a twitch of her tail.

"Roseluck!" Twilight exclaimed, "Eleanor just arrived in this world! Don't you think you should let her get settled in before trying to flirt with her.”

“I just wanted to make her feel welcome. Besides, I hear you have to move fast with humans. From what I’ve been told Rainbow Dash was all over Mister Alex Roberts within hours of his arrival.” She said defensively. "But," she looked around conspiratorially, "they say he didn't have a clue for months."

“I do feel welcome Roseluck, just a bit overwhelmed still.” I said, trying not to think too hard about the implications of her flirting with me. If that’s what it was. Pretty or not, she was a pony and I was human. Mostly human I reminded myself, twitching the fingers of my mechanical hand.

"I can only imagine. Though Ponyville itself can be overwhelming some days. At least you arrived on a quiet day," Roseluck said. "I find it usually gets more exciting around this time of day. And now that you're here..."

I felt something odd like a kind of pressure behind my eyes. I blinked and for a moment I saw something like a vast intricate design tying everything together. It wasn't a simple three-dimensional thing but rather a form in motion back and forth in time, and I knew my ideal place to be at this moment was across the square in the building that looked like some kind of carousel. Something there called to me.

"Sorry to run so quickly Roseluck, but I've got this weird feeling that I need to be somewhere," I said, wincing a little at the look of disappointment she gave me. "But I'd love to talk some more, another time."

Not waiting for Trace or Twilight, I walked across the square to the carousel and went inside. I followed the sound of cursing to find a unicorn with a sleek white coat and perfectly styled purple mane, struggling with a clearly nonfunctional sewing machine. My memory took a moment to come up with her name, Rarity. I recalled her being a bit of a fashionista. Her cat, whose name eluded me at the time, walked over and wound around my ankles purring.

"Mind if I have a look at it? I... I think I can fix it." I said to her, though truly, I knew I could fix it. The sound it was making was like hearing a detailed description of the problem. Which was odd, because I wasn’t really mechanically inclined before, but I figured it was probably the least weird talent I’d picked up from my transformation.

“If you can get this wretched thing to function without me having to ship it back to Canterlot for repairs, I’ll make you whatever dress your heart desires.” She said backing away from the machine. Her pretty blue eyes widened a bit as she got a look at me. I gathered she had thought it was another pony speaking to her.

"I'm sure I can, Miss Rarity. I've got a knack for machines." I told her, not admitting that I'd only just realized I had said knack. The number of things I was filing away in my 'think about it later' box was getting a bit disturbing.

"Then I will be ever so grateful, Miss...?" Rarity asked as she looked from her sewing machine and back to me. She seemed to have picked up on my gender without me having to say it.

"Eleanor. Pleased to meet you.” I stepped over to to the sewing machine and opened a panel on the side of it. I set my bag down and just listened the machine.

"If you don't mind my asking darling, what is that you're wearing? It looks like some kind of armor, but it seems to be oddly fitted. How are you able to move in that? The articulation just looks wrong." Rarity asked as she looked over my mechanical parts.

"Um that's just me." I said, feeling a bit uncomfortable at the intensity of her examination. I tried to focus on the sewing machine.

"That isn't normal for human females though is it?" Rarity's eyes widened slightly. "If that's you then you aren't wearing anything? I was under the impression that humans had a cultural taboo against going around au naturel."

"We do... I'm..." Why was this so hard? "I don't have any clothes right now. This looks like clothing so I was trying to ignore the fact that it felt like I was naked." I tried to focus on my task to keep from thinking about how I had just admitted to being naked in front of this sophisticated mare. Seeking something with which to fix the machine, I pulled a small Orichalcum pin out of my arm. It likely went to some charm, but it would grow back in time.

"Oh you poor dear, you simply must let me make you something to wear, even if you don't repair my sewing machine,” she said as I looked at the inside of her sewing machine. “I'm sure I can find something to go with that remarkable metal. Fascinating material, when the light hits it, it looks like there are stars in the reflection."

"That's one of the reasons it's called Starmetal." I said as I watched Rarity’s measuring tape fly around me.

I found what I expected, a pin holding up one of the gears inside had bent causing the gearwork to lock up. I pulled out the bent pin. While I could have straightened it, it would have just failed again. There were minor weaknesses in the alloy that would cause it to fail under the pressure of sustained use. Besides, if Rarity was going to make me a dress, the least I could do is improve the tool she’d be using to do so.

"Really? Do you have any of it that isn't part of you? I'm seeing a set of accessories that could go with a truly stellar outfit,” said Rarity as she sketched out her ideas while still measuring what seemed like every part of me.

Keeping myself in a position where the measuring tape wouldn’t be in danger of getting caught as it flew around me, I held the Orichalcum pin in my metal hand. I watched in fascination as my fingers seemed to reshape themselves into something akin to a small vise grip and lathe, and then spun the pin rapidly as it was reshaped. Within seconds the pin had become a golden duplicate of the damaged pin from the sewing machine. I made a mental note that I definitely had an omnitool implant charm.

"No spare Starmetal at the moment, but if I find any, you'll get first dibs." I told Rarity as I inserted the new pin into the sewing machine. I marveled at the gears, each one looked to have been hand crafted. (Or was it hoof crafted?) Regardless of terminology, the sewing machine looked like a work of a craftsman (craftspony?) rather than something mass produced.

“I’m going to do something that should help keep this sewing machine in good working order from now on.” I said reaching into my bag to take out a brush and ink bottle.

On the inside of the access panel I started writing a delicate prayer with the special Moonsilver and Orichalcum ink I had brought. Carefully making sure each brushstroke was exactly placed, I entreated the spirit of the sewing machine to awaken. When I was finished writing out the prayer, I closed my eyes and tried to imagine filling the sewing machine with energy. It couldn’t hold much essence, but I could tell I’d been somewhat successful in empowering it.

“There. Your sewing machine is awake now, so it should be able to repair minor issues on its own. You’ll want to burn some incense to the spirit that lives within it about once a year.” I shook my head a bit at how silly it sounded. Even after all this time around magic, I still felt wrong using it.

“Spirit? Living in my sewing machine?” Rarity asked, looking at the machine as though it might grow legs at any moment.

Trace and Twilight were also giving the machine speculative looks. I guessed that Exalted style spirit magics were not something they were familiar with.

I realized I had forgotten that anyone had been with me in my haste to follow my vision. And I'd been so focused on the task at hand that I missed their arrival. I hoped they weren't upset with me for taking off like that. I also hoped that Roseluck didn't think badly of me.

"In the world I just left, everything had a spirit within it. I used a bit of material from that world to fix the sewing machine," I explained. "That gave the machine a spirit that I could wake up with a special prayer and a little essence. It’s still the same sewing machine, but now it wants to make fabulous fashion items. Not really magic so much making use of the properties of a magical world."

Rarity gave the machine another look and then turned back to me, "Since this is my first time making clothing for a human, I'd like to go over these sketches and make sure what I have here is fitting for your culture, darling."

"Ok, but I may need you to redo some of those measurements. I want to change back to my fully human form and get clothing for that shape. I'm really more comfortable being human," I admitted.

"Why certainly, darling. You should be comfortable," she purred as she levitated a privacy screen over to me. "Trace, Twilight, you may leave her in my capable hooves. I'll have her looking fabulous in no time."

"I think after this I'll be going straight to bed, so it's alright. And I'd be more comfortable shifting back to human if there were less people around." I told Trace and Twilight when I saw they were reluctant to leave their friend alone with me.

"I promise I'll be good," I added.

They still looked a bit dubious but Rarity started to push them out the door while assuring them, "Everything will be simply fabulous, darlings. Just leave her to me."

A small bit of concentration and I was human again. And naked. With a pony who was going to have to measure me all over. An elegant unicorn with the kind of sophistication and style I could only dream of. I did not think this through. Don't know why I'm worried though, she's a pony. There's nothing about me that would be of interest to her except as a challenge to her dressmaking skills.

"May I ask what happened to your old clothing? I assume you had some." Rarity asked as she brought her measuring tape over. She stepped around the screen and paused, looking me over like she was admiring a fine piece of art. "Actually, let me guess. You must have changed from this," a blush came to her cheeks. "To your metal form while you were wearing them?"

"Unfortunately. The change just shredded them," I replied. I was starting to be a little concerned. Rarity was beginning to show the same kind of odd behavior that Roseluck had. Also, the way my skin tingled as her magic brushed against it was starting to have me feeling a trifle flustered.

"How terrible, darling! To have that happen to your clothing like that. Oh if only I'd been there!" She blushed again and looked away. "To try to salvage your clothing of course."

She floated some of her sketches over to me. I started looking through them. The first one seemed simple enough. As I flipped through them I noticed the designs getting more and more risque'. The last one looked like some kind of saddle on my midsection with long gloves and knee-high socks the only other clothing. I could feel heat in my cheeks.

"Oh my, that blush of yours goes right down to your hooves." Rarity said, starting to seem even more flustered, "From that blush, I'm guessing that last one is a little too risque, darling." She said with a smirk, the purr as she rolled the 'r' in risque almost seeming like a verbal caress.

"A bit." I felt my blush deepen as I said this understatement.

"Don't worry, that wouldn't be appropriate outside for us either. That's more of a... bedroom item. I don't know what I was thinking when I included that," she said with an embarrassed smile.

"What do you think of the third one?" She asked, evidently sensing my discomfort.

"Pretty good, but I'd really want socks and shoes rather than those thigh high boots." I said, grateful to be discussing one of the tamer outfits.

Rarity's face exploded in a beet red blush and she looked absolutely scandalized.

"Wearing socks in public? I've caught a glimpse of some simple white ones on Alex, but he makes sure they're tastefully hidden under his pants. However, this skirt is much too short for that,” she explained after a moment.

"This is one of those cultural differences, isn't it? I suppose it's good I wasn't wearing my miniskirt with the stockings when I arrived, not that it would have survived my transformation." I noticed Rarity zone out for a moment after I said that.

“Ah, um. Will you be staying at the library with Twilight tonight?” if I didn’t know better, I would have thought she sounded jealous. “I mean, you could stay here and we could work on some designs. You’d be able to walk the town in fine fashion tomorrow.”

“Thanks, but Doctor Emerald wants me to stay at the hospital for some monitoring. Given the changes I’ve been through recently, I’m inclined to agree with the need,” I explained.

“Ah, yes. My dear Emerald usually knows best about such things. I can take you there, and visit him at the same time,” she said.

Intereresting. From the way she said that, it sounded like Emerald was her boyfriend. I knew it was terribly hard for the changelings I knew of to keep up a relationship with a normal person. Even though we acted like I was a changeling too, there were times Cupyri’s fae moods would make her incomprehensible to me. I hope Emerald fares better in that department.

“Now that you seem more comfortable, we should get to work.” Rarity said, interrupting my thoughts. She seemed to have regained her composure and was levitating various fabrics to me and holding them against my skin.

“No, that won’t do. Such a challenge! Your skin color isn’t anything like the coat of anypony I know, and I want to find a good shade to go with that mane and the blue of your eyes.”

She kept bringing over various fabrics settling on a soft blue. It was fascinating to watch as scissors, pins and fabric flew around the room. Within minutes Rarity held out a simple frock made from that blue fabric. Simple though it was, she had still added some trim and ribbon to embellish it. It looked lovely and I happily put it on, glad to have something over my bare skin at last.

"I'll work on a couple of the other designs for you later, my dear. I do hope you might try doing a bit of modeling for me. I'd like to see what designs I can come up with to flatter your form," Rarity said as she looked over her work. "It's so exciting to have a chance to make something for one of our human guests. Elusive has been getting nearly all the business from the others. And while I certainly don't begrudge him that, it is so nice to have a chance to try out some of the ideas I've had."

Many thanks to Techogre, Tosety, Discord's Advocate, KMCA, Genosaber, and Warpd for editing, suggestions and general wackyness.

To my readers:
Sorry about how long it's taken me to update this. Real life has just been beating me down lately, and sadly my creativity is the first thing to suffer when that happens. But many thanks for sticking around.