The door to a non-descript house in Ponyville opens without even the hint of a squeak. A purple mane, exquisitely curled and draping nearly to the bottom of the white unicorn’s barrel, peeks out. The rest of the mare follows shortly, peering left and then right. Spotting nothing out of place her horn flares a cornflower blue, whisking the basket of Apple goodies sitting just outside her door.

“It’s okay, Rarity,” she says to herself, nearly hyperventilating. She crams half of an apple fritter into her mouth, then the other, spitting out little chunks of baked goods. She shudders, craning her neck to stare out the window as her aura picks the little pieces off the swept floor, popping them in her mouth.

Still not here. Maybe the train is late. The train is never late. Is he not going to show? He promised he would show. Oh, ponyfeathers, why am I getting so worked up about this? It’s just a bit of work, and if it just so happens to turn into something more, then so be it. But if it doesn’t, no skin off your horn, you’ll just have to keep searching.

A hoof taps around inside the basket, pushing aside the other varieties, eventually locating a second fritter. There aren’t as many as there should be. She draws it to her mouth, mechanically chewing and swallowing as she searches the streets just starting to crowd with morning ponies.

“Elegance and poise, Rarity. He should be here any minute now.” She gulps, hoof tapping around the basket again. She frowns, turning away from the window to check. Empty.

“You know,” her sire, Hondo Flanks, says good-naturedly as he walks up to the door, the remainder of the Apple goodies levitating in the same light brown aura as the three hoofballs on his flank, “these were supposed to be for each of us.” He withdraws one of the apple tarts from the bunch, savoring the sour taste.

Rarity sighs heavily, offering the bulky white unicorn a contrite smile. He’s not quite past his prime, rippling muscles the envy of many a mare on both sides of the field. “I know, I know, I need to stop stress eating. But I just get so worried!”

“It’s alright, sport.” Hondo winks as he replaces the contents of the basket; Rarity gazes longingly as it disappears into the kitchen. “Keep it up and you’ll be built like me!”

Rarity sticks her tongue out at her sire’s assertion.

He continues unabashedly, asking, “So, who is it this time?” with a jocund smile as he joins Rarity in peeking out the window. A frown flashes across his muzzle, instantly suppressed. “It isn’t that Big Macintosh fellow, is it?”

“Daddyyy,” Rarity whines with a roll of her eyes.

“It’s not that I have anything against earth ponies,” Hondo Flanks says quietly, gently pressing his withers against hers. “But I’ve seen how the stallions in hornless treat their mares.”

“Not every well-built earth pony is like those ‘roided up goons.” Rarity shakes her head, sighing as her dark curls bounce. She presses back against him, her head shifting to questioningly stare him in the eyes. “I don’t know why you push yourself so hard just to compete with them.”

“Same reason you push yourself so hard at Carousel. Live for the challenge.” Hondo gently nuzzles her, a mischievous look in his eyes. “So, is it somepony I know, or do I need to sit them down and have a nice little talk about my precious?”

“He’s a unicorn from Canterlot, so he’s likely watched you play, maybe even cheered you on.” Rarity sighs as her sire noticeably relaxes. “Come on, Daddy. If him being a unicorn means so much, then why did you herd with a pegasus?”

Hondo’s face instantly tightens, no longer hiding his frown. After a few seconds his voice comes out carefully guarded. “You’re old enough to know, sport, that you don’t always herd up for love. I just don’t want… I want you...”

Rarity sighs as her sire trails off. “I know. You’re just worried about my future.”

He closes his eyes for a long second, then nods. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get off on the wrong hoof. But I’ve got to catch the train, make sure everything is ready, so...”

“It’s alright,” Rarity says with a soft smile. “Don’t worry; it’ll be another few years, at least, before you’re a grandsire. Have fun at spring training; I love you.”

“Love you too, sport,” Hondo says with an apologetic smile, nuzzling his little filly, even if she isn’t so little any more. He levitates a single suitcase as he steps outside, making his way south towards the train station.

I suppose, if we really hit it off, then a foal might be in the cards. If only to rid myself of that Tartarus forsaken heat, and get my sire off my back. He’ll need to stay in Ponyville, though I can’t imagine many Canterlot types accepting such a move. Despite how nice it would be to have somepony working the store when I’m traveling or going on an expedition.

Rarity takes a deep breath, glancing towards the kitchen. Her horn flares; half of the remaining fritters stay in the basket that levitates to her side while she neatly arranges the other goodies on a plate on the kitchen table. The short stroll to Carousel Boutique passes quietly, the town far more subdued than she might have expected. Especially for the day after Winter Wrap Up; even she will be busy, especially with the planned expedition! Despite most of her work likely consisting of helping ponies package their winter garb for storage. It keeps her store in the gold, at least, though even without the tidy profit she would stay afloat. And if Rare Find comes through as spectacularly as his name implies?

Well, she’s always had an amazing imagination, and she passes the time doodling wedding dresses she would never wear. Oh, if only she was marrying a noblepony, like Prince Blueblood! Soon tiny foals join the dresses: pristine white coats, perfectly spiraled horns, and if she’s lucky they’ll inherit his amber locks instead of her dark curls.

The merry chiming of her bell breaks her focus. She turns to see a brown unicorn, stark white mane and cutie mark of four emeralds, enter her store. Certainly no Blueblood, but not bad either, and the possibility of white on white fillies briefly amuses her. She smiles at him, spirit buoyed by his wide grin, though the look of intense concentration puzzles her.

Then he sniffs, muttering to himself, “It’s stronger here… hmm…” as he peers around the store. His gaze passes right across Rarity, who can’t help but glare, only for his eyes to light as he spots the basket. “Ah ha!” He bounds forward, stopping only at Rarity’s disgruntled throat clearing. He glances up at her with an awkward smile. “Good morning! Are these yours? Truly, I say, it would be a Rare Find to find such a delicacy! And here of all places!”

“Good morning,” Rarity greets coolly, trying to keep her glare from turning too icy. “They are mine, but I did not make them.”

“Perfect.” Rare Find pops the top off the basket, a fritter levitating out in his brilliant green aura. Rarity gazes longingly at it, though holds her tongue, her teeth clenching. The brown unicorn inhales deeply, his smile growing larger and tongue nearly lolling out of his mouth. His muzzle opens wide, relishing every moment.

“This is amazing!” Rare Find says after a single bite, crumbs spilling from his mouth.

Rarity looks disdainfully at the once pristine wooden floorboards. He probably won’t even offer to clean it up.

“The smell, the texture, the way the apple filling oozes out perfectly to find its way to every taste bud!” Rare Find gobbles the rest of the fritter, gazing into the basket and obviously debating to himself if it would be too forward to eat the remaining one. “I simply must know where you obtained this!”

“Well,” Rarity starts, her brow furrowing.

The stallion continues without waiting, “I thought I saw an apple farmer when I got off the train. Striking, too, but there was something about her I can’t quite put my hoof on.” His throat rumbles as a hoof strokes his chin.

Why is it every unicorn who comes here falls for the earth ponies!? “Well,” Rarity tries again, this time uninterrupted, “once you are ready to leave, I do believe Applejack’s farm is along the way, or at least close to it. Perhaps I can introduce you.”

She pauses as Rare Find carefully inspects her, eyes tracing every inch of her body like she is one of her ponnequins on display. His muzzle purses to a sharp frown, hoof tapping as he scans around the room, gaze passing over a few of her dresses before settling on one of the lighter examples of her more, ahem, risque attire.

He can’t possibly be thinking about purchasing something like that for Applejack already, can he?! He knows nothing of her expectations for him, or what she likes. Or if she’s available!

"There is something I wanted to take care of before I go." Rare Find taps a hoof against his chin a few times. “No, she’s a bit larger. Similar height, width around the barrel, but the straps make those more of a one-size-fits-all.” He flicks back and forth between Rarity and the saddle-equipped dress, drawing a hoof along the edge. “Shouldn’t these be custom fit?”

“They can be,” Rarity replies after only a slight hesitation. Her trepidation about selling something for a potential competitor for the stallion’s affections finds itself beaten by her professional demeanor, a necessity when talking about these kinds of garments. “But, too often, one finds they need a bit of loosening after they serve their, ahem, intended purpose.”

“Ah.” His eyes nervously shift back and forth, checking to see if anypony else is in the room. Seeing nopony, he says quietly, “That wouldn’t be an issue in this case, you see; I’m looking to buy a set for my dam.”

“Your dam,” Rarity asks neutrally, disbelief plain. How many other mares has this line failed on? No wonder he was available to come here. I can’t believe I was considering him!

“For Foal’s Week,” the stallion confirms, nodding his head and smiling confidently. “You know, as a thank you present?”

“Naturally,” Rarity says, her smile strained. That confidence, though… Now I’m starting to worry how many mares this line has worked on.

“And I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind modelling it for me.” He motions towards the saddle, smile turning to a leering smirk. “It looks exceptionally well made, and I’m sure she would love being seen in it. Of course, I’m assuming you’ll give some sort of employee discount.”

Rarity pauses, torn between doing anything she can to make the sale and giving the stallion a piece of her mind. But it’s not like she’s never used a bit of coquettish comments and sultry suggestions to close a deal, and she finds herself levitating the dress. Oh dear; maybe I shouldn’t have used myself as the template for so many of my dresses. Even if I am just an average country mare, who has to gussy herself up to attract any attention. Oh, if only my mane wasn’t such a positively Nightmareish shade of purple!

“Oh, yes,” the stallion says seductively, hoof lightly pressing into the saddle. Rarity gulps as he circles around to her back and instinctively tugs her immaculately curled tail against herself. “Sturdy construction. Almost like it’s made to support two stallions.” He salaciously winks at Rarity.

She snorts, though it turns to more of a gasp as he mounts her. “Hey!” she exclaims indignantly, halfway to bucking him in his very exposed underbarrel. Her head whips around to glare daggers at him, his forelegs draping on the padded upper edge of the saddle and leaving his head close enough to nip at her mane if he so chooses.

“It’s okay,” he reassures, wiggling back and forth and finding himself in a very comfortable spot. “Just making sure everything fits. I must say, this is very well made; quite the... Rare Find.”

“Yes, well, this better be as far as that goes!” Rarity huffs, about to say more before she spots the shadow of a balloon in the window. Oh no. Oh no! I knew I should have been modeling this dress further away from the entrance! And behind a wall!

An explosion of streamers and confetti heralds Pinkie Pie’s grand entrance into the store, leaving Rarity and Rare Find gaping.

“Hey, Rarity!” Pinkie Pie exclaims as she wildly pronks up and down. She rolls her eyes at Rarity and Rare Find’s stunned expressions. “Oi! Save some of the new pony for the rest of us!” Pinkie Pie gasps, raising several inches into the air, her legs spasming as her lungs fill with more air than is commonly recognized than a pony should be able to inhale, her body exaggeratedly inflating.

“Ohmygosh! AnewponyinPonyville! Ineedtogeteverythingreadyforyour WelcomeToPonyvilleParty!”

Pinkie Pie deflates, a great gust of wind blowing her out of the door and carrying all the streamers and balloons with her and leaving the store looking much like she never arrived.

“What-” is all Rare Find gets out before Pinkie Pie reappears.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Or, maybe I didn’t forget, because how else would I be here now to tell you? So it’s more like something more important came up and that completely blew this other thing out of my mind, kind of like I blew out of here!” Pinkie Pie chuckles to herself.

“Pinkie,” Rarity starts, groaning under the dead weight of the stallion.

“Sooo, I came to tell you that the Everfree Monster is wandering around town and asking about you. Well, not so much asking, as he is randomly checking different stores and seeing if they are here. But they aren’t here because if they were here then he’d be here and he isn’t here! But we only know he’s looking for Carousel Boutique because that’s what Storied Pages said, and because he hasn’t gone inside anywhere else. Actually, he might have been asking about you by name.” Pinkie Pie stands upright, grabbing Rarity’s face and peering directly into her eyes. She loudly whispers, “You weren’t followed after your last trip, were you?”

“No, Pinkie.” Rarity sighs, debating flopping the oaf off of her and forgetting his offer for finding fine facets.

“Everfree Monster?” Rare Find asks, his voice quivering as his body shakes fearfully.

“Yup! We think he’s looking to enslave everypony. Turn them into his whorses or something. But I can see you’re getting ready for that part!” Pinkie Pie winks at Rarity, who shudders at the insinuation. “Anyway, your party isn’t going to throw itself! And he might have followed me here! Have fun!”

Pinkie Pie disappears just as quickly as she arrived, though the lack of balloons and streamers zipping through the air makes it difficult to tell there was, in fact, a pony standing there before.

Rarity sighs again, partially at the shut door but more so at the terrified pony atop her. “Can you please-”

“Everfree Monster!? Is that a normal thing around here?!” Rare Find gasps as a blurred somecreature walks up to one of the showcase windows, raising an oddly shaped limb to the glass and peering inside. His anxious whisper is nearly a shout directly into Rarity’s ear. “What if he eats us!?”

Rarity merely closes her eyes in exasperation as she feels the stallion slump on top of her. Of course. All that bravado earlier was just that. And now he’s gone and fainted on me. Not that I expected anything more from a stallion, but you’d think he’d at least have the common courtesy to get off of me first!

Rarity’s horn lights, but she was never that strong telekinetically and he’s managed to wedge himself around the saddle quite thoroughly. Her eyes flick to the front door as the bell chimes merrily.

A pale creature topped by a short auburn mane ducks inside. He (obviously, from his upright stature) pauses as he looks around the store, broad smile widening even more as he sees all the dresses she has on display. Though some of that cheer fades as he notices the prices, even for the hats in her discount bin.

Not at all what she expected from a ‘monster’, especially given the lack of threatening actions. His odd posture tickles some creative part of Rarity’s mind. She finds herself tracing the lines of muscles along his lengthy limbs, debating the kinesthetics of such upright movement and the articles of clothing he might wear. Or what colors would go best with his auburn hair and dark blue eyes similarly shaded to her own.

“Hello,” the creature greets cordially as he notices Rarity, along with a short wave of his foreleg. “I was…”

He trails off as he notices the stallion slumped over her saddle-equipped back. He gulps, awkwardly scratching the back of his head as he pointedly looks away. “Uh, I was going to ask about getting something made. But, I can see that you’re, um, busy.” He offers her a polite smile, grabbing the door before it shuts behind him. “I’ll try again later,” he says quickly, and slips outside.

“Wait!” Rarity calls as the door shuts behind him. She grunts as she dumps the comatose stallion off her, ignoring the heavy thump against the wood and loud groan of protestation, and races outside.

“Stop!” she shouts as her front door slams open with a loud crack. Dozens of heads turn as everypony outside who was watching him turn towards her. Including the strange creature, who pauses a dozen strides away in the middle of the street. His grin turns cheeky as he coolly regards her, gaze flicking to the saddle on her back.

The saddle!

“It, um,” she stammers as she takes half a step backwards, suddenly aware of everypony’s eyes on her. Judging her, furtive whispers springing up all around. She can’t help but shout, “It isn’t like that!”

“O-kay?” the creature says cautiously, nervously glancing around at the ponies whispering. He takes a carefully metered step away from her.

He must think they are whispering about him, and not the scandalous mare making a scene!

Any further thoughts are shattered as her front door bursts open yet again. Hopefully she doesn’t need a new one. The brown unicorn, now sporting an impressive black eye, staggers outside. His deafening shriek echoes through the town as he points a hoof at Doug. “Monster!!”

Doug exasperatedly sighs as the brown unicorn bolts off to the south. “I’m not a monster,” he says loudly, though the continued whispers around him suggest his assertion is not as widely accepted as he might have hoped. And the white unicorn, who is most likely Rarity of Carousel Boutique, has disappeared into her pony-ringed shop (what an amusing bit of advertising) that now has a closed sign out front. Great.

He thrusts his hands into his still-non-existent pockets, ponies giving him a wide berth as he continues wandering through town. His stomach grumbles, though it is easily ignored. Hopefully I can find something to do. Even plain bolts of fabric were quite expensive!

Next Chapter: Ch. 5 - Lightning Coil Estimated time remaining: 16 Hours, 13 Minutes