Many of you probably know about Baron Engel's dream-visits to Equestria, where he and two of his friends from the North African city-state of Andur (Petina D Mouse and Carol) have become friends with the ponies. I figured it was only a matter of time before the ponies asked them about 'their' dimension, and once they heard about the art, the wealth, the beauty, the new and exotic ways of life, Rarity in particular would just HAVE to visit.
I have no idea where the rest of the Mane Six are (okay, Twilight's in the royal library, but the rest?) but Rarity made it a point to hit the bazaars. She also met a young wolf who, to her surprise, knows of her. Apparently he has some connection to yet another world Baron/Sky Brush has mentioned. Anyway, he was delighted and begged for a chance to help her.
"I'd do anything for you, Miss Rarity; anything at all!"
"Anything?...."
And so Rarity got a personal servant for the day who also 'happily' loaned her the cash she needed to go shopping. He was rather dismayed until Rarity paid him back. And my but was she surprised at the prices a few of her less valuable gems got here in Andur. Hmm, gems are cheap in Equestria but very expensive here... Andur has perfumes and fabrics that are unheard-of back in Equestria but relatively inexpensive here...
"No, Rarity, we're not helping you set up the first cross-dimensional fashion and trading consortium."
And in case you wonder what's being said:
Rarity: "Now that we're done with fabric shopping let's hit the perfume bazaar."
Ardashir is thinking:
One bit equals two dinars. One dinar equals ten dollars. I've spent three hundred bits so that equals... Oh boy.Done for me at FC 2013 by
himself. Thanks Baron! And of course Rarity is © to Hasbro and Lauren Faust, at least when she's a four-legger.
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Sta.sh
My, that's quite an outfit Rarity is (almost) wearing.
Yeah, interdimensional trading is a problem. Transferring unbalanced mass causes "interesting" problems. Information is much more portable and less likely to upset natural forces. (Creative works can have the greatest value, as it's unlikely they won't "work" in another realm, unlike technical information.)
At least it's an anthro version of Rarity. I'd hate to imagine what would happen to a unicorn found in the vicinity of Andur.
I figure it's more a case of, "When the Mane Six went to Andur via the spell/gate/whatever, they became anthropomorphic." I imagine that even with advance warning from Baron and Petina, it would have been a shock for them. They had to work out the new balance of their bodies, and of course, "What the hay are THESE things?" *Probably said by Dash as she points at her chest.*
And what do you think would happen? They'd chop her horn off, or they'd try to sell her like a wild animal?
My, that's quite an outfit Rarity is (almost) wearing.
Well, given that the ponies habitually go around nude anyway...
And given the warmth of the climate and what seems to be a Equestrian bias against covering one's cutie mark (or so I'm guessing), that's probably all the clothes Rarity wants to wear. I figure that the pegasi are best at handling hot and especially cold climates, given that they're fliers. They might have had some trouble convincing Dash to put anything at all on, especially if it interfered with her wings.
Yeah, interdimensional trading is a problem. Transferring unbalanced mass causes "interesting" problems. Information is much more portable and less likely to upset natural forces. (Creative works can have the greatest value, as it's unlikely they won't "work" in another realm, unlike technical information.)
Which would mean that Rarity's creations might make her some very fine money in Andur, though given that they're not made for humanoids I can see her being very dismayed to see her fine fashions being worn by race and war horses!
Some combination of those, or just present her to the Sultan as a "gift." As special as unicorns were thought to be, they were pursued for some very exploitative ends.
And given the warmth of the climate...
Another factor is the sun. As in "keep it off me." Yes, most people today think of taking things off, but those robes are reasonably comfortable and better than sunburn.
...though given that they're not made for humanoids I can see her being very dismayed to see her fine fashions being worn by race and war horses!
At least she'd have a larger market for her saddles.
It would be interesting to have the Princesses and the Sultan establish diplomatic relations. (Or maybe that's what the Saddle Arabians were?)
True, but wouldn't a fur pelt or coat of hair keep most of the sun off their skin?
It would be interesting to have the Princesses and the Sultan establish diplomatic relations. (Or maybe that's what the Saddle Arabians were?)
True enough! That sounds like it's worth a story, maybe one Baron will tell us some day. And I like your idea on why the Saddle Arabians were there, as well as why they looked so different from 'normal' ponies.
Debatable, but worthy of research. Yet there are still parts of the skin that would get less protection (nose, inside ears, palms and fingers, etc.) and anyone used to more temperate climates would probably want sunglasses.
Hm, that's something to bring up to Baron when he starts posting Andur images to DA -- how do the locals react to "moderns" wearing sunglasses?