PART 1

It all started in Manehattan. Rarity was there yet again for a fashion show, where she'd be presenting designs of dresses that had yet to be made to the various fashion moguls of Equestria. Rarity had made this venture alone, leaving her pony friends and Spike behind to mind the Carousel Boutique while she was away.

Rarity loved the streets, the many stepping ponies of all lines of work. She displayed to them the generously that was instilled in her from birth, her high pitched and sophisticated voice well received by the many ponies she encountered. She was to stay for several days, and she'd arrived at her hotel the previous night. She'd seen much already, but there was always going to be more.

On her first day of sight seeing, Rarity had achieved much on her own. She'd seen the tallest and most attractive buildings, the many stone and metal statues. The designs amazed and inspired her to design more dresses, some of which might make it into reality when she returned to her sewing machine in Ponyville. As she made her way to a café where she could stop and get something to eat, a window sign caught her eye.

Amongst the heavy sidewalk traffic, Rarity pushed and read aloud what she was seeing.
"Boo & Co. Architecture and Design."
What caught her eye was not the words themselves, but the artwork. Inside, was a magnificent looking rendering of a hospital. Something about the way the lines were drawn pulled Rarity closer. She saw her own artwork, her own sketches, in this hospital. Beside that there was information regarding the time of day the company was open for business.
"They're open."

Rarity turned round to the door, several feet away from her left hoof. She looked up then as she stepped toward it, seeing the many floors that traveled upward for at least another twenty levels. Rarity stopped, now only a step away from the door.
"I really shouldn't trouble them, it wouldn't be... well I'd only ask a moment of their time, I'd be no trouble at all."

Rarity hesitated, knowing that the flow of the ponies on the sidewalk were traveling in the other direction then the door, but she couldn't help herself. Rarity pushed the door open slowly, and to her luck it was unlocked. Her heart raced, and after clearing her throat she made the rest of the way in.

The room was large, the ceiling high and made up of dark, spidering wooden beams crawling from side to side in an almost thatching pattern. The receptionist was smiling to the purple maned mare, but she was yet to notice such hospitality.
"Hello, welcome to Boo & Company Architecture and Design, do you have an appointment?"

Rarity nearly jumped to the ceiling when the receptionist unexpectedly greeted her. She took a breath out, shifting her head to correct the angle that her mane fell.
"No... no I don't have an appointment, I was going past your storefront and I noticed a marvelous rendering of a hospital, I'm a fashion designer and I was simply curious what this business creates."

"Absolutely ma'am, and I didn't catch your name."

"Oh! Where are my manners, my name is Rarity."

"Excellent, here we have a large team of artists and designers who create... Mr. Boo!"
The receptionist sat back in her high chair behind her desk, straightening her body and looking formally presentable. Her yellow body tensed, not in a way that displayed fear, but one that displayed surprise, she obviously hadn't seen the stallion standing behind Rarity.

Rarity took several steps back, quickly feeling her backside press against someone who was definitely standing behind her and to the left. Her hooves sliding on the shining stone floor as she sprang forward and away from the one called Mr. Boo.

He was a unicorn as she was also. His body was a creamy color, a bark brown mane somewhat flowing backwards in short waves. To the left of his still dark brown mane was a grey stripe that made its way down his scalp. He had green eyes, and they were locked at Rarity's as she composed herself. With that, came the usual businesspony attire: cuffs, a collar, and a tie, in Mr. Boo's case it was green as his eyes.

He'd done a quickly sweep of her body, and Mr. Boo found Rarity rather attractive, most certainly a mare worthy of her cutie mark. His was a sparkle, a sort of white star with reaching fingers in all directions.
"Hello, it seems I bumped into you, I'm terribly sorry are you alright?"

"Yes, yes I'm just fine thank you, my name's Rarity."
Rarity smiled and bowed her head, blushing. She'd obviously backed into him, but he took the blame regardless. His eyes were as penetrating as the sun, and Rarity found it difficult to stare back at them without smiling, she was in the presence of a very important stallion.

"It's nice to meet you Rarity, my name's Boo. Sunny, why is Rarity still down here in the lobby? Does she have an appointment with me?"

"No Mr. Boo, she doesn't have an appointment, she saw the window and came in. She's a fashion designer sir."

"Really? Well that sounds interesting Rarity."
The way he said the word 'really' was long and drawn out, his voice traveling to a higher note as his lips drew to a closed smile afterwards.

"You're Boo? Boo & Co.?"

"No beautiful, I'm only Boo, the company is upstairs."
Rarity laughed, and Boo ran his tongue over his teeth, happy his joke was successful with the girl in his lobby.
"Say, I don't have much left to do in the line of work today, let me take you out to lunch, and you can tell me all about the fashion business, how does that sound Rarity?"

Rarity took a shocked breath out of her nose.
"I'd feel awful if I was imposing on you, I shouldn't waste your time, I'll go now."

"No no no, talking with you wouldn't be a waste at all, I haven't had lunch yet, have you?"

"Well no..."

"See that? It would be a privilege to take you, I know just the café with the freshest carrots in Manehattan. Anything you want, it's on me."

Sunny was smiling in the background, her boss had courted a mare or two before, but she'd never seen him so willing and confident around a complete stranger.

"If you insist, I'd love for you to take me to lunch."

"Sunny, call one of the cabs around for me will you?"

"Yes Mr. Boo."
Boo lead out of the lobby first, Rarity staying close behind him. He had a thin black satchel over his back that Rarity hadn't noticed at first, but now assumed it had his work in it.

"This is all yours Mr. Boo?"

"Some of it Rarity, and just call me Boo."
A cab pulled around, painted black and pulled by two working class stallions in uniform. The two got in to what Rarity assumed was a private company cab. They arrived at a café not far from the office building, disembarked from the cab and went inside. The waitresses all seemed familiar with Boo, as they smiled and greeted him with his first name and no formalities.

"Do you come here often Mr. Boo?"

"Everyday Rarity, and it's just Boo."
They talked at their table over lunch, Rarity told Boo about the fashion show and her designs, where she was from and how long she was staying in her sophisticated voice. He told her of his work with buildings, such as hospitals, but noted that his work focused on residential locales.
"This is all so interesting Boo, you mustn't have the energy to all of this work on your own, do you?"

"At first I did Rarity, then came the offices and all the designers I hired to work under me. I started in my apartment with a notebook and a good pen, now I've got a business I'm proud of. You and I seem to bear a lot of similarities, you too have a business related to design, and I have every confidence that your dresses are breath taking, I'd love to see them sometime. You work alone don't you?"

"I do, I design every dress personally."
Rarity was proud of her craftsmanship, and was happy to tell him this. They spoke more of how they were both unicorns and other details that alluded to their closeness. Rarity stated that the fashion show she was participating in was the next afternoon, and was sad to announce it's sold out status.

"A shame I can't go, I'll figure something out in that regard Rarity."

"Boo, your satchel there, does it contain your designs? I mean to say, the ones you've made."

Boo smiled, grabbing his bag from his back and placing it on the table, moving it toward Rarity so that it faced her. She opened it, shuffling through the pictures. Most were houses, some the skeletons of walls and other framework, one a rather large mansion she'd never seen the likes of. It was very original. About half way through, she pulled one out that was a rough sketch of a stallion's jacket.

Boo was basically an artist, so his 'rough' sketch wasn't very rough at all. Rarity gasped, spinning it around on the table so it faced Boo.
"Is this yours! It's fantastic!"

"Thank you Rarity, that means a lot from an expert like you."

"Oh hush!"

"I speak the truth, it seems the designers don't make jackets to match my.. colors, so I sometimes draw up clothes just for me."

"Well I love it, and I love your tie, it matches your eyes perfectly."

"Thank you Rarity, I really should say, your mane is the cutest thing I've ever seen, it's incredibly well done."

"You're very good to me Boo."
She blushed, taking a sip of her drink and then giggling under her breath, still loud enough for the creamy stallion to hear.

"I really did enjoy this Rarity, and tomorrow after your fashion show I'd love to take you out again, you can tell me how it went since I won't be able to go."

"Absolutely Boo, this was an amazing lunch, you're very generous and you've been nothing but hospitable to a humble fashion designer."

"A very beautiful fashion designer, with one of the sweetest personalities I've ever had the pleasure to get to meet, let me walk you out."

Boo walked Rarity to the door, letting her take his personal cab back to her hotel. He promised that he was alright with walking back to his office. She departed the street side, vanishing down the road into the haze of other carriages. Twice Rarity looked back to see him standing there, watching her disappear.
Rarity was anxious for their next meeting, and at the same time her heart fluttered with a previously unknown emotion.

Boo made his way back to his office shortly thereafter, his satchel with him.
"Good afternoon Mr. Boo, how was your lunch?"

"Good Sunny, I need you to pull a few strings with me. There's a fashion show tomorrow and I need..."

"No problem sir, I'll have everything handled for you by tomorrow morning."
Boo nodded, making his way to the fifteenth floor where his office was. He was on the top most level of his business, and above him was the contracting firm that did most of the construction he required.

Rarity prepared for her show the next day. That afternoon, a certain creamy stallion with a grey stripe through his brown mane, and green eyes occupied her mind beyond the ability to work.

The next day, Rarity was able to finish all the work she needed, and to complete the necessary preparations for her fashion show. As the sun began to set, the show was just getting going, fashion moguls were arriving and taking their front row seats as hoards of ponies and fillies screamed in delight as their idols took their seats, and amongst this crowd of celebrities was one stallion no one knew.

After two other designers had presented their dresses and suggested styles, it was Rarity's turn to show her dresses on their respective models. She peaked out through the curtain, seeing the row of designers. Amongst them, next to the most famous designer in the row, sat the unicorn she'd spent her lunch with the past day. She smiled, knowing that he couldn't see her.
"What a sweetie, coming to see my show."

The fashion show itself was sold out, but she didn't care how Boo had secured a front row seat. Now with an ever increased reason to impress the crowd, Rarity was ready to leave everyone in shock and awe by her revolutionary new designs for the season.

As her dresses were strut out, Rarity watched in satisfied pleasure as the moguls and her new friend Boo applauded and commended the looks of her work. After her line had completed it's go around, Rarity stepped out, her models in a line behind her, and they all bowed together. The crowd seemed to roar and cheer, making Rarity smile and almost bringing her to tears. She was particularly proud of that years dresses, and to know everyone loved them was good news for her.

As the show progressed, Rarity sat in the back and was commended by her fellow designers, who of coarse were equally talented and fine, sporting individuals. She was truly waiting for one stallion in particular to commend her over all of these other mares, and that of coarse was Boo.

When the show finally reached an end, Boo made his way around to behind the curtain. It was difficult, as young security ponies tried to stop him, but he needn't explain too much as Rarity waved him through. He walked over and gave her a hug, one she accepted willingly that ended with a happy squeeze.

"That was amazing Rarity, they loved every dress, those designers and ponies were nipping at your hooves, you'll be receiving orders left and right. I loved them too, and if I had the body for it I'd buy a dozen."

Rarity chuckled to herself, happy that Boo had liked her dresses, and was capable of cracking a good joke as well that offended no one. She informed him she'd be just a while longer, as she had to attend a final goodbye meeting for the night and hang her dresses, but with the magic of her uniform horn she'd be quick.

Boo sat down against the curtain where he'd entered and watched her go to all her friends. Sitting there, he straightened out the aqua blue cravat he had on with his collar and cuffs. His receptionist and friend Sunny had picked it out for him, and he was pleased with the way it looked: he'd designed it himself.

After no more than an hour, Rarity reappeared with a scarf of her own: hot pink with the occasional sparkle, tassels capping off each end.
"Everything is perfectly in order now Boo, so where will you be taking me tonight to celebrate a show well done?"

"It's a surprise Rarity, one you'll absolutely love."
Boo took her to the roof of the highest building in all of Manehattan, one where you could see the entire city all the way around. Due to clear weather, Rarity could even see distant, glimmering lights that made up other towns and communities. The stars too were present, bright and shining under the early nighttime darkness. The moon and the city were all that lit the rooftop, and as Rarity hesitantly peered over the edge she shivered, from the cold and the fear of heights she was suddenly experiencing.

"We're ever so high up Boo, the city is flawlessly beautiful up here, but my is it chilly."
He moved to stand immediately next to her, warming her side with half of his body as they looked out over the city.

"We don't have to stay too long, I just wanted to show you this before I took you to dinner."

After a few moments of hesitant though, Rarity leaned her head against his shoulder and almost made contact with his neck, nestling into his forever warm feeling body while her own shivering sensations subsided.

"I like this Boo, I'm not prepared to end this moment just yet."

"Me too."

He kissed the top of her head once, and after that his heart was racing. Inside he didn't know if such an action was appropriate, but it was a good time, she was nestled up with him and in a good mood, why shouldn't he have not? Rarity's eyes grew wide for a moment, and her heart too was suddenly skipping beats. She liked the way it felt to be kissed, even if it was just an affectionate peck on the top of her head, so she calmed herself without any arguments, giggling afterwards and fiercely blushing.

"You really are a sweetie Boo."
As the night progressed, the only thing that upset Rarity was that she had a limited number of days in Manehattan. After dinner, while they were taking a walk through the central pony park, she expressed this fear to her suitor.

"I feel so awful, I won't be able to spend much more time with you Boo, I've only got tomorrow and then I leave the next morning."

"Let me spend the day with you Rarity, I'll show you everything a tourist doesn't usually see when they visit Manhattan, and who knows, I'd love to come and see your boutique in Ponyville."

"Would you really?"

"Absolutely, it must be the talk of the town, and I simply have to see where such a beautiful mare such as yourself calls home, I'd get to see you work too."

Rarity smiled, still pressed against his side as they walked to the end of the road, where the same private black cab was waiting.
"I'm certain you'll love all my friends, they'll be so nice to you and be just as kind as you are to me."

"Thank you Rarity, I'll come by your hotel tomorrow morning for another day of fun, well talk more about my visiting you, okay?"

Rarity nodded her head, kissing his cheek goodbye and giving Boo a hug. He didn't expect such a return of affection as quickly as it came, but they knew quite a bit about each other and it wasn't a swanky kiss, just a peck as he'd done to her.

"Tonight was wonderful Boo, I can't wait to see you tomorrow."

"Good night Rarity-" he helped her into the cab, again she'd be traveling alone, "-have sweet dreams."

The last thing she saw was his smiling face and bright green eyes, his sentence ended and the carriage lurched forward, gradually building speed as she traveled to her hotel by Boo's two stallion drawn carriage. After looking back and waving, she realized around her neck was his aqua blue cravat. Rarity told herself she'd offer it back to him the next day, but knew he wouldn't take it, the swatch was a parting gift to remember her big night.

Boo returned to his home, which was across the street from his office building where he worked everyday. Settling down for the night, removing his cuffs and trading them for slippers, his collar for a night cap which mussed up his mane, Boo could only think about Rarity. As she had felt the previous night, he now too was feeling an unknown emotion in his chest.

The next day was described with one word, 'magical.' Rarity loved every second of spending time with Boo, and he even showed her around his offices so she could see what a large scale design firm looked like; even if that firm was mostly an architectural one. They had all three daily meals together, went for walks, they even spent some time on the nearby, clean beaches just off of Manehattan. They walked and talked, and as it started to rain both of them shouted the same thing: "my mane!"

As they were both image conscious, they returned to the safety of Rarity's hotel suite where it was warm and dry. They had sat down together on one of the seats in the room, looking out the window at the busy street below.

"What's it like in Ponyville Rarity, tell me more about it."

"Well every morning I open my shop and wake up cat Opalescence, I get go work stitching my dresses together if I have to, and when I'm not busy I spend my time with all my friends: Rainbow dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy..."

"Don't forget your little sister Sweetie Belle."

"Yes, of coarse sweetie, you're just so good you can complete my sentences."

"I'm a very, very, very fast learner."

With each addition adjective Boo moved his face closer to Rarity's, eventually pressing his forehead against hers, his eyes close and looking into hers as he felt her aloft and fresh smelling breath. She too was smelling his heavier, almost woody breath and his mane touching her just a bit. She kissed his cheek once, and he really liked that. Boo hadn't yet kissed her as a couple would, and in fact they'd never mentioned anything in relation to their situation as a set.

The next morning, Boo was at the train station to wish Rarity a safe trip home. Standing on the platform, they were biding their farewells.
"It was so nice to spend my trip with you Boo, I'm so glad I walked into your lobby."

"Me too beautiful."
They were wrapped in a short embrace, and soon after Boo let her go so they were just standing in front of one another.

"When will you come to visit me and meet my friends? I'm so anxious already... I feel all fluttery."

Rarity rolled her eyes with a nervous huff, smiling and looking back at the green eyed stallion, today he wore a grey tie. She knew she was going to miss him, she'd spent the past three days with him, and now all of a sudden she wouldn't be in contact with him for the longest time.

He felt the same way, yes Boo had taken a few other mares out for dinner, but never ones he liked as much as he did Rarity, he wanted more than friendship, she was beautiful in more ways then one, and that's the kind of mare Boo could stick around with.

"Don't feel anxious Rarity, I'll send you a letter right before I come around to see you okay? I'll make the trip by train in a few days."

"A few days?! I don't know I can be alone that long."
Rarity made a pouting face, and Boo just smiled at her.

"Don't give me that face-" Boo lifted her chin with his hoof, smiling at her, "-show me that smile."

Rarity smiled, giggling and removing his hoof from her chin.
"Go home and keep on being a superstar."

In the background, the whistle to the train blew loudly, steam exerted from the stack of the train down the line: it was time to leave. The conductor cried for final boarding call, shouting to all who were on the platform.

"Rarity, before you go... can I kiss you?"

Boo's heart was really pumping, and Rarity's dropped with excitement. He was handsome and good to her, she'd get to see him again soon and she'd get a kiss before they parted. Rarity nodded while biting down on her lip, and slowly Boo moved in for the kill. They kissed, lips to lips, for several seconds before Boo broke it.

"Have a safe trip Rarity, I'll come to see you soon, with a smile and another kiss."

"Thanks Boo, for everything."
She stepped away and boarded the train, yelling back to him as she went to her car:
"I'll see you soon!"

For the third time, Rarity watched as she was carried away from Boo, his smiling face, grey striped mane, and green eyes slowly growing smaller and smaller, then he was just a speck on a far away object.

Rarity sat into her seat on the train, knowing she was traveling home, but at the same time leaving a piece of her heart behind for Boo's safekeeping. In her carry on bag, there was an aqua blue cravat hanging out on one side. Rarity tucked it into her bag, sitting back, and with a huff, closing her eyes to nap during the trip to Ponyville.

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