A Walk

"For the last time, no." 

"But--" 

"No." 

"Phillip, darling, a little makeover would do you so much good," Rarity told Phillip, who had just happened to be heading the same way as her on the path that day. "And a day at the spa would make you feel so much younger!" 

Phillip gave her a sidelong look of confusion. "Why would I want to feel younger? What does that mean?" 

"It'd help you to relax, give you more energy," Rarity replied. 

"Exercise and music help me to relax, and I don't have to pay an exorbitant fee to do them," Phillip replied. 

Rarity had to admit that he did have a point, but she wasn't ready to give up just yet. "But I could really improve your looks! A bit of a trim, some new clothes--maybe a nice suit and a tie, black and dark blue would really go with your eyes--and there could be a very handsome stallion indeed underneath that trilby." 

"Rarity, does my physical appearance and how it stacks up to the arbitrary standards of others have any bearing on my ability to do my work?" 

"But a stallion with a heart like yours deserves something to turn the ladies heads," Rarity replied. 

Phillip didn't reply for a moment. No blush graced his cheeks, nor did he look up or externally react, but Rarity could have sworn that he was either vaguely confused or mildly embarrassed. 

"I appreciate the thought and the compliment, Rarity, but I consider myself married to my work," he replied. "And I happen to be comfortable with my look, so I'll keep it, thanks." 

Rarity sighed. "I can see why you get along with Twilight and Applejack so well," she said softly. 

The two continued on their walk for a while longer in silence. But then that nagging voice in the back of Phillip's head lead him to speak up again. 

"Do we not get along?" 

Rarity puzzled the question over for several moments. "What are you asking me?" 

"Rarity...we are friends, right?" 

Rarity suddenly understood. She had, after all, not been given a throne in the Castle of Friendship alongside the Princess of Friendship for nothing. 

"Of course we are, Phillip," she said with an easy smile. "Just because we may differ in our interests and views and disagree from time to time doesn't mean we aren't and can't be. Take myself and Applejack. You couldn't imagine two ponies more different from each other than us. Has Twilight told you about that time when we had that sleepover at the library?" 

A low noise that may or may not have been a chuckle escaping Phillip's throat, accompanied by a brief smile, told her that he had heard the story. Rarity chuckled as well. "I learned that night that even if our conflicting personalities lead us to fight once in a while, and although we admittedly both have our own shortcomings, those aren't the things that make or break a friendship. Being friends means respecting each other's strengths and who we are underneath." She paused for a moment to allow Phillip to absorb this information, holding his gaze. 

"And I respect your strengths and who you are underneath. Therefore, you are my friend." 

Phillip considered this for a moment and realized that her logic was sound. "I guess that means you're my friend, too," he said. "And Rarity?" 

"Yes?" 

Phillip paused for a moment, internally struggling as he forced these vague emotions into words, impressing logic upon them. 

"I'm glad that you are. You and all the others." A smile, a true, genuine smile crossed his face, which Rarity returned. More was said in that gesture than could ever be put into words.

With nothing more to be said, the two continued on their way, side by side. 


"Maybe I could just--" 

"No."