The Greatest Of These

Prologue

It was the hair that finally tore Rarity from her work.

Losing the occasional hair was nothing new, it happened to the strongest mane, but five at once? Rarity glared at the deep purple strands laced across her latest piece of work, marvelling for a moment at just how they improved the look of the piece — but no no no, to start using her own hair in her work? That would never do! — and then let out an annoyed huff. It was stress. It had to be stress, she'd been overdoing it for weeks thanks to a series of profitably huge orders from Canterlot, orders resting on the back of her performance for Cadence's wedding, for a dress that had survived an invasion of bodysnatchers or chrysalids, or whatever they were. A work of art from Carousel Boutique had once again become the thing in Canterlot high society.

Too good, that was her problem. Too good for her own good. Rarity gently lifted the hair from the dresser's dummy before her and scooted it over to a table, ignoring the twinge at her shoulders as she turned her head. Too much work, not enough fresh air. She'd probably pulled a muscle carrying all four bolts of cloth back from the station but it would be worth it. Orders from Canterlot were always so very profitable. She'd take a long, relaxing holiday afterwards, forget about work for a while and just rest on her laurels a little bit. Surely she deserved that?

Rarity cantered to the door and stepped outside, shivering as the cool night air caressed her body, its chill fingers sparkling her mind awake. She looked up at the stars, ignoring another tweak of pain in her back. The sky was so wide, so deep. It almost felt like she could fall in. Yes, an escape was what she needed. A few weeks away, to herself, where there were no more rush jobs and last minute orders to fulfil. Maybe she should take a little time and visit her cousin in Coltchester. Maybe she could go somewhere else entirely. Somewhere across the sky...

She closed her eyes, uncaring, as the cooling breeze gently unwound another long lock from her mane.