Alone, not Lonely

Chapter 3

The door opened, displaying the cozy shop owned by Rarity. The shelves were full of the most varied kinds of fabrics. While the exterior clearly displayed the store as anything but humble, Ash Cloud wasn’t really prepared for such magnitude in the quiet and peaceful Ponyville.

Twilight entered, making sure the stallion had followed her and that he wasn’t hiding behind her. Rarity had her back to the door, carefully sowing, while a white cat played with a button on the floor. Feeling a draft, she turned to face the pair, eyeing the grey pegasus from head to hoofs before addressing her close friend.

“Good morning Twilight. I see you brought a friend along. My name is Rarity, pleasured to meet you.”

Ash was pleased with the white unicorn. She had displayed the courtesy of introducing herself first and not asking for his. Her mane revealed that she, unlike Twilight, cared about her looks, but the store gave the impression that Rarity was a hard-working mare.

“I am Ash Cloud, the pleasure is all mine.” He bowed slightly, wanting to make a good impression. This was the first friend of Twilight he had met and he hoped behaving in a socially acceptable way would let him off the hook earlier. After all, if Twilight was in Ponyville to make friends, she probably had lots of them, and Ash simply couldn’t be bothered to make acquaintances he would hopefully never meet again.

“What brings you to my humble business, Mr. Cloud?” Rarity said, not hiding the fact that she was delighted to meet such a gentlecolt. However, she had no idea all he wanted to do was leave and never return.

“Ash is new in Ponyville. He has been traveling, and since he didn’t have a place to stay I invited him to stay at the library.”Twilight interrupted, not wanting to feel excluded from the conversation.

“We came here because the only clothing he has with him is an old cloak and I was sure this was something you would like to correct.” Celestia’s pupil knew this would prolong their visit. It took some time to get used to Rarity but it seemed Ash and she would get along nicely. But everything would not run as smoothly as Twilight had hoped.

“While I appreciate your concern, I assure you a travelling pegasus needs nothing more than the last thing he has from his deceased mother.” Ash stressed every word on the end of his sentence, making sure they were understood perfectly. He knew that it was too late to change what had been said, but one could only make the best of the situation. At least now Twilight would think twice before bombarding him with questions.

“And I don’t carry a suitcase, so I wouldn’t be able to carry them.” He stated, returning to his neutral and emotionally distant tone, as if he hadn’t lost control mere moments before.

Twilight felt guilt rushing through her body. She knew he had left his father’s house, but he had never mentioned his mother. Now she was aware that the stallion was capable of expressing feelings, something she had questioned due to his calm demeanor.

Rarity was unprepared for the sudden rage that had been visible for a moment in Ash’s eyes. She didn’t know if Twilight had seen it or even whether it had been her imagination but for a fraction of a second she could have sworn seeing the blue maned pony’s eyes change to a hateful glare.

“Well, if a vest is out of the question, perhaps there is something I could do for you, Ash.” Rarity used the stallion’s first name for the first time, hoping that would defuse the awkward situation for which she felt partially responsible for.

Ash Cloud looked at the fashionista, saying nothing for a moment, considering his choices carefully; aware that his next sentence would have a deep effect on the pony he didn’t wish to offend. After all, just because he hadn’t wanted to meet her did not mean he wanted to hurt her feelings. Over the years Cloud had learned that a mare’s feelings were something dangerous and should be handled with care.

“I apologize for my rude words, Miss Rarity. I must also reveal the true reason of our intrusion. Twilight mentioned her studies on friendship and after I showed interest she offered me the opportunity to meet one of her closest friends. Now, if I may be so bold, I feel that it is I who should do something for you. Anything you require assistance with I’ll gladly help.”

He no longer felt the desire to disappear. Bonding with Rarity had turned out to be fairly easily due to their similar nature, even if Rarity could be a bit more eccentric, especially when put under pressure. Perhaps if all of Twilight’s friends were like Rarity, he wouldn’t mind staying for a little while.

Twilight couldn’t help but smile. She knew that it would have been the perfect occasion for Ash to feint offense and flee, never to be seen again. Now he had even offered to stick around, even if only because of his silly outburst.

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Rarity had seized the chance to use Ash to finish a few vests for a client from Canterlot with roughly the same size. They had spent time chatting casually about the white mare’s work but no more questions were addressed to the stallion, who was now trying a green vest with blue stripes.

“I honestly think it’s time for us to stop discussing my career, even if it is most glamorous. Since Twilight is introducing you to our group of friends I feel I should warn you that not all of them are like us. I fear they might take you as snobbish and unapproachable, should you insist on talking like the gentlecolt you are.” Rarity was genuinely worried about Ash meeting Applejack, who while friendly, was impatient most of the time. Not to mention Rainbow Dash, who would certainly challenge Ponyville’s most recent visitor to a race as soon as she laid her eyes on his wings.

I’m sure there is nothing to worry about Rarity. They’re all very nice, all 4 of them. Even if one of them will probably drive you crazy.” Twilight said, tired of waiting for the rigorous unicorn to dismiss her volunteer worker.

“I am quite surprised, Twilight. I was sure somepony who was studying friendship you would have a lot of friends.”

“Let’s just say that I prefer a cozy group of close friends rather than a lot of ponies I hardly spend any time with. But I bet you can’t say the same for yourself. You must have had lots of friends while growing up, in whatever fancy school you were taught in.”

Ash didn’t quite know how to respond. She had assumed so much about him, it was ridiculous. But he knew perfectly why she had said what she did. In her attempt to squeeze information out of him, she had made something up, expecting to be corrected. How could she help him make friends if she knew nothing about him? But he indulged her.

“I did not have friends while I was a colt. Not that there was something wrong with me. I was homeschooled, so social interactions were restricted to say the least. You must have thought I attended a particular school because I am a gentlecolt. Know this, Twilight Sparkle, gentlecolts are born, not made. And it’s not something that can be passed from father to child. A gentlecolt is a well-mannered and considerate pony with high standards of proper behavior. I’ve known gentlecolts whose entire families were nothing short of simpleminded brutes.” This time, while his words had been harsh, he had managed to keep his cool.

Twilight had no idea what to say, so she said nothing. In the meantime Rarity, who would soon be over with her preparations, managed to talk to her unicorn friend in private while the grey pony undressed.

“Twi, I know you have his best interest at heart, but Ash will hardly be impressed with the likes of Applejack or Pinkie Pie. Perhaps it would be for the best if you just let him move on.”

“I can’t. He’s so much like me before I knew all of you. I want him to know what’s like to have friends.”

“I’ve seen how you look at him. If you let yourself become too attached to this stallion and he doesn’t stay, you’ll only be hurting yourself.” With that last piece of advice, Rarity left to check on Ash Cloud, who was ready to leave.

“It has been a pleasure meeting you, Miss Rarity.” The stallion noticed how she didn’t mind at all being called Miss.

“The pleasure was all mine. Thank you for your help. I sincerely hope to see you again in the near future.”

With these last farewells the guests left the tall building, where Ash saw a pair of cyan eyes extremely close to his face.

“A new pony! This calls for a PARTY!” And just like that the blue eyes vanished in a blur of pink, now far away heading towards Sugarcube Corner.