Chapter XVII

The next morning, as Rarity and Applecrisp were warming the ovens, Mr. Salukas entered the oven room. He stepped fully into the room and cleared his throat. They stopped working and Rarity became intensely nervous. What was going on with him and all of his secret trips?

“I am sorry if the past few days have been cold. I, or rather, my wife and I, were contemplating hiring a new worker.” He cleared his throat again. “But she does not think it a good idea, and you two are producing finely.”

“Ok.” Applecrisp said slowly. “Whut does that have t’do with us?”

“Since you are apparently doing the work that I thought three ponies should, you will each receive a twenty percent raise in your pay.” Sonny answered.

“Well thank yew!” Applecris said appreciatively. Mr. Salukas didn’t seem particularly happy about not hiring a new worker.

“Yeah, thanks Sonny.” Rarity said kindly. “You’re an awesome boss.” He nodded.

“You are awesome workers, both of you. I am sorry for the confusion of the past few days. There will be no more confusion, we’ve made our decision regarding any new hires.” The brown stallion stood for a moment, as if he wanted to say something else, then shook his head and exited the room.

“W’hell, ain’t that a bit a’ fahn news? Tell ya whut, next time we get t’gether, ah buy the drinks, just not at Hennessy’s.” Applecrisp joked. Rarity answered with a taunt about how she really couldn’t handle her liquor and the two soon fell to a conversation about alcohol their respective tolerances for liquor. But in the back of her mind, Rarity still felt uneasy about all of the secrecy. Who had Sonny intended to hire? Why did Ana veto his decision? She spent the rest of the afternoon wondering about the whole thing, and of course, how grace could have helped.

That night, Pish was at city hall applying for a license to place candles on all of the tables. Rarity and Posh sat in the center of the dining room. Rarity asked the younger stallion what he thought she should do for her friend Applecrisp.

In the few weeks that she had known Posh, Rarity had noticed a trend in his advice. Posh usually advocated for a more gentle approach with things. He maintained that a large part of grace was simply giving a helping hoof to ponies and letting them come around on their own time. For the surly and bitter Applecrisp, he advised that Rarity be her friend as she had been doing and Applecrisp would, on her own terms, begin to restore her relationship with her cousin. Rarity felt a little proud that she had already been doing the right thing on her own.

“And my friend Rainbow Dash, well, she’s.” Rarity didn’t really know how to describe her. “She used to be this crazy daredevil Pegasus, but, she got hit pretty hard by the Blast. She’s, well, she has trouble doing things now, and I want to help her. She’s a great friend, and she’s a lot like me in that she wants to make something out of herself. She talked about donating her wings to some sick kid.” Rarity sighed. “I dunno, I’m all for acts of kindness, but, it just doesn’t sit well with me.” Posh nodded.

“You have great questions Rarity. Let me first just say that I’m really proud of how you’re looking to help your friends. As far as Rainbow Dash is concerned, look at what you did and do with Applecrisp. It sounds like she doesn’t like anypony, but she does like you. Why do you think that is?” Rarity thought for a moment. She honestly couldn’t understand why anypony liked her. Applecrisp probably liked her because she drank and swore and wasn’t a normal Ponyville pony. Dash probably liked her because she was the only pony that came to see her in her seclusion.

“Because you accept her.” Posh finished. “If you think about it, most your problems with this town stem from not being accepted. After the Blast, you weren’t the pony that Ponyville thought you were, so they shunned you and your business.” Rarity had never thought of it like that. “So, when your friend Rainbow Dash tells you that she wants to make something out of her life, accept her. I realize it’s hard, the Blast changed her, just like it changed you.” He smiled. “But what makes a happy and well-adjusted life is accepting that change. Extending grace and accepting that things are different now. It took you a few months to finally accept yourself and become happy with who you are, Rainbow Dash is just doing the same thing.”

“Is it ok to feel uncomfortable about it” She asked guiltily.

“Absolutely, you probably felt uncomfortable first understanding who you are now. It’s the same with seeing who Rainbow Dash is.”

“But, who am I?” Asked the white unicorn. Posh laughed.

“That’s a bad question to ask other ponies, the best pony to ask that is yourself.” He thought for a second. “You’re Rarity, creative, organized, focused, and driven. You have tremendous ability for design in fashion.” He swept his hoof over the room. “And in interior layout. You love challenges and are very adaptable.” He finished proudly.

“But what do I do?” Rarity asked in uncertainty. The stallion considered this.

“Well, this is where dad and I disagree.” He said carefully. “For me, it’s not important, you’re going to get where you should no matter what. All that you need to do is be who you’re supposed to be, and the rest will fall into place. Don’t ask what you do so much as who you are. Do you believe you’re all of those things that I just described?” Rarity nodded. “Well then great! The rest will fall into place!”

Rarity wasn’t sure if she believed that. It seemed strange, lazy almost, to simply be who she was and assume the rest was going to work itself out. She left the Straw Purchase that night feeling confused. Could she really just wait for life to get her somewhere she wanted to be? Was it really that simple? As she laid down to sleep that night, she hoped it would be.

The next day passed by slowly, she and Applecrisp spent their lunch break seeing who could spit sunflower seeds farther. Sonny paid them, and at six, Rarity walked home. The leaves crunched deliciously underhoof and Rarity inconspicuously altered her gait to crush more. She set her paycheck down on her desk and checked the various containers of potpourri she had place around her room; the clock tower held a distasteful rust odor that she wanted gone. A knock sounded down at her door. Rarity made the long trek down to the door.

Spike blushed the instant he saw her.

“Hi Rarity!” He said with a contagious happiness.

“Why hello Spike! To what do I owe this visit?” She asked with a grin.

“Well, I wanted to schedule a second date.” He said formally. She giggled.

“How professional! Just where would we be going on this second date?” He swallowed, he still hadn’t come to terms with actually dating the unicorn of his dreams.

“Flying, on Twilight’s chariot.” A bold move, Rarity was surprised he had the audacity to steal Twilight’s chariot a second time.

“Sounds dangerous, what would the queen say if she found out?” She asked playfully.

“N-no, she’s fine with it. I talked to her, she’s happy that I’m getting out.” Rarity should have guessed that Spike would ask permission. Still though, it was awfully romantic to go flying in a golden chariot.

“When?” She asked.

“I was thinking Friday? We could watch the sunset.” Rarity blushed, that sounded unbelievably romantic.

“Ooooh, that sounds wonderful. Friday you say? Well, I suppose I’ll have to pack something warm to wear.” She paused. “Or maybe someone warm to hold.” Spike got that dazed, love-stricken look.

“That sounds awesome.” He said dreamily. “I mean, yes, I will see you then.” He quickly corrected.

“Right.” Rarity couldn’t help but smile at his adorable boyishness. “Friday.”

“Friday.” He agreed. She watched him skip off down the street. It was wonderful to be in love. She closed the door and had gotten three quarters of the way to her room when another knock sounded at the door. She walked back down, Spike was still blushing.

“I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you, you should still pack something warm, it gets pretty cold on top of clouds.” He said apologetically. She kissed his cheek.

“Well, I’ll pack a scarf, and the rest of me you can keep warm.” She felt his heart racing.

“Yeah.” He whispered in a stupor of preemptive passion. She again closed the door and shook her head. Spike was a darling dragon, she couldn’t have asked for a better mate. This time she only reached the second flight of stairs when the knock came. No amount of giddy love changed the number of stairs she again had to descend and by the time she reached the bottom floor, her heart was racing from exertion rather than affection.

“I’m really sorry.” Spike apologized. “But I didn’t give you a time. Is seven thirty ok?”

“Great, perfect.” She said shortly. She again shut the door. Rarity waited at the foot of the stairs for about ten minutes, she knew he had one more thing to ask her. After a bit, she figured he was gone and walked back up to her room.

A flight up to the clouds and a sunset! She broke out into a grin, she was going to kiss him. Not like a normal sloppy kiss, no, this would be a passionate, in your face, “sit down and let me teach you” kind of kiss. Spike was the kind of mate that she would enjoy spoiling. If they married, she would make him the happiest dragon that ever lived. She picked up the bowl of mixed flowers she was blending for an air freshener. A knock bounced off the brick walls and echoed into her room. Fucking hell, what could he have forgotten? She wearily trotted back down the length of stairs. She was out of breath and a bit red in the face as she answered the door.

“If you come back again, I’m going to pack a parka and keep myself warm!” She barked.

“Pardon me?!!” Hoity-Toity recoiled. Rarity nearly fainted. The In stallion lowered his obscenely fashionable sunglasses and looked her over. “My word! I seem to be mistaken! I was told this was the home of Rarity the unicorn! Not her deranged cousin!” He said in total surprise.

“No no! This is she!” She stammered. He squinted at her for a couple seconds. It took him a moment to realize that it really was her.

“Rarity?!! Good God! What has happened to you?” He asked in fright.

“Er.” She was speechless. Hoity-Toity’s presence destroyed any possibility for a good explanation of her current appearance and her mind was blank.

“Never mind, it’s obvious that you, have, had a bit of a breakdown. At any rate, I was just in the area, I stopped at that restaurant in town, that one with the waiter with the cross for a Cutie Mark. I was simply afflicted by the décor and he told me that a unicorn named Rarity had done it all herself. Now of course, I said that wasn’t true, since the Rarity the unicorn that I know went insane and is working for the gryphons. But I found your address, and.” He stopped, obviously trying to come to grips with her appearance. “Did you do the interior work for that restaurant?” She nodded. Hoity-Toity leaned in toward her. “You don’t smell, your eyes are focused. Are you insane?”

“No?” She said in uncertainty.

“Well what are you doing now?”

“I work at a bakery.” He gasped, then caught himself. The short stallion looked about him, then leaned in toward her and whispered.

“Your rates, they are, inflated? You’ve no doubt been following this cancerous infection of dresses from Manehatten and of course you adjusted accordingly.” she shook her head.

“I’ve been out of the game for a pretty long time.” He frowned.

“I’d heard you’d run into some business trouble a while back. That must have been what drove you mad. Tell me, what’s your output these days?”

“Um, nothing. My business closed, I’m no longer working in design.” She stated.

“But you could be!” He said quickly. “Rarity, listen to me, this whole Manehatten crisis has my workshop scrambling. I don’t have nearly enough time to match those curs in Manehatten, and the dresses they’re putting out.” He threw his hooves up. “Garish! Simply horrendous hodgepodges of cloth that only catch the eye in most pornographic manner. I need somepony to throw some garishness back at them. I need you.” Rarity nearly fainted. Hoity-Toity was the bastard fashionista known for his vicious critical regard of all other designers. He was impatient, demanding, impossible to satisfy, and above all else, picky. And he was asking for her.

“Me?” She asked in astonishment. “But I haven’t done a piece in months. I’m behind on the trend, I have no materials!”

“Shut up.” Said the stallion. “I have in my entourage four dresses, I have in my possession twelve thousand bits, take the dresses. Buy what you must.” His eyes narrowed from behind his opaque glasses. “And make me something to shoot back with.”

“Y-y-you-” It was too much and Rarity passed out. When she awoke, Rarity found that she was still laying at the foot of the stairs. A strange dream involving an old business acquaintance hung in her mind. She dizzily climbed the stairs to her room. She pushed open the door. Stretched across her bed were four silk dresses, red, orange, blue and green. On her desk sat a stack of hundred bit bills. It had really happened.

She fainted again.

When she awoke, Rarity saw that it was morning. She picked herself stiffly off of the dusty floor and walked to her bed. The dresses were still laying on the blanket. She touched one, it was a rich lapis lazuli blue and woven finely into ephemeral fabric was thin gold thread. She knew these dresses cost more than her tower, more than her entire job at the Straw Purchase. On her dask sat a stack of bits. She counted the bills, twelve thousand bits exactly. It was real. She stood a few minutes, staring at the scene before her. Was this a joke? It was just like Hoity-Toity to drop an assignment without waiting for a yes. No, it was way too fast, and even in the most desperate of times, he would never hire somepony who had been out of work for as long as her. She shook her head, he would have to pick up his props after she finished work.

Sonny manned the front end, Rarity and Applecrisp did as they always did and baked bread. It was Thursday, and Rarity walked a load of crates to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was still off in Cantorlot with her sister and it was Apple Fritter who let her in. Rarity dumped the wood and walked out of the cavernous barn. She caught sight of a few of the odd ponies that Applejack employed, they were milling around the side of the farmhouse and appeared to be planning something. The white unicorn paid them no mind and went on her way.

She finished up at the Lone Star and was just leaving the building when she ran into the designer.

“Rarity! How are my beauties coming?” Hoity-Toity had his entourage with him. She flushed with embarrassment at the sight of him and his servants all waiting before the door of the bakery. Was this still a joke?

“I just finished at work.” She involuntarily explained.

“At work?!!” He demanded. “You have your work from me! That’s all I’ll have you doing! I’ll go see if I can’t free your schedule!” He declared.

“Oh no, that’s fine!” Rarity said quickly. Hoity-Toity marched past her and into the Lone Star, leaving his entourage behind him. She chased after him. Joke or not, she was not having him piss off Mr. Salukas.

“Pardon me good sir, but I am going to requisition one of your employees.” The gaudy fashionista stated to Sonny, who was sweeping behind the counter. “A one, Rarity the unicorn. I will pay you for her time, or give you one of my personal eunuchs to recompense.” Sonny looked down at the frilly pony standing on the other side of the counter.

“Excuse me? Who are you?” He asked.

“Well! Seems my reputation extends everywhere but.” Hoity-Toity looked about for a sign indicating the name of the bakery. “The Lone Star.” He read from the menu. “I am Hoity-Toity, of HTE, I lead the premier fashion design workshop in all of Equestria-”

“Da, I know who you are, what is your business?” Hoity-Toity wasn’t used to being interrupted and stood agape for a moment.

“Well! I am temporarily borrowing one of your employees as I have contracted her for some design work. She will be returned to you once she completes my assignment.” Sonny looked down at the short pony before him. He looked up at Rarity, who was mortified from embarrassment. He took a deep breath.

“Rarity, please see me in my office.” He said in a low voice.

“Yes sir.” She whimpered.

She should have beaten up Hoity-Toity, or killed him, anything that would have prevented the impending outrage from Sonny. She followed the horse into the little office. He shut the door and turned to her.

“That disgusting stallion, do you know him?” Mr. Salukas asked, pointing to the door.

“I did, you see, back when I was in-”

“Is his business reputable? As he says?” Sonny asked.

“Y-yeah, he’s, it’s one of the two largest in the nation.” Sonny nodded.

“What does he want you to do?”

“Some dresses, he wants me to add some gems and things to them.” She explained. “He just sort of appeared at my place yesterday and told me to work for him.”

“Do you want to do that?” Mr. Salukas asked calmly. Rarity realized she hadn’t actually made a decision about the job, she had assumed that it was just no by default. She worked at the Lone Star, and she wasn’t even sure if Hoity-Toity meant to hire her.

“I don’t know. You, I mean, I work for you.”

“He said he would pay me for your time.”

“And he, I think he’s joking.” She added.

“He doesn’t seem like he’s joking. Rarity, I remember that you worked in this kind of business before you worked for me. Excuse me for overstepping my bounds, but isn’t this what you would like to do?”

“It is, of course it is! But, I work for you, and Ana-”

“Forget Ana, I am willing to let you go to work for this pony if it is what you would like.”

“Oh no no! I don’t even think he’s serious!” Rarity began. Sonny threw open the door, Hoity-Toity was squinting at the menu.

“You.” Sonny pointed at the diminutive stallion. “Are you serious in your offer to my employee?” Hoity-Toity rolled his eyes.

“I didn’t think my day would involve convincing immigrants of the seriousness of my work. Yes, of course I am serious!” Sonny closed the door.

“It seems you have a valid offer Rarity.” It was happening too fast for her, she couldn’t just up and leave the Lone Star overnight.

“Mr. Salukas, thank you, I know you-”

“Nyet.” He knelt down beside her. “Rarity, as I have told you before, your days at this bakery are numbered. I know you are not destined to be a baker.”

“I don’t want to leave you hanging, you need somepony to take my place.” She said desperately.

He smiled.

“Rarity, what do you want to do?” He asked quietly. She thought for a moment.

“Well, I.” She stopped. This was exactly what she wanted to do. This was what she had done before. Of course she wanted to do this. She wanted more than anything to be back in fashion. “Want to take his offer.” She finished with certainty. He nodded, there was a bit of a pause, then Rarity reached out and took hold of the tall brown stallion. She hugged him tightly.

“Do your work as you have done it here, and there is no doubt you will succeed.” He whispered to her.

“Thank you Sonny.” She was crying, Rarity wasn’t really sure why, but the tears were there. “Thank you for everything.” She looked up, his green eyes were shining, he was crying too.

“You are a good pony Rarity. You will do great things, I have known that since I first met you.”

“Thank you for believing in me.” She sniffed. “I’ll come back, it’ll just be this job.”

“Nyet, give him every reason to keep employing you.” His deep accent mixed with emotion and his voice grew hoarse. They held each other for a moment, then he released her.

Mr. Salukas cleared his throat.

“Go, that is an impatient stallion.” He pointed at the door. Rarity looked to the door, then hugged him again.

“I love you Sonny.” She whispered. She felt the warm tears running down his cheeks.

“I love you too Rarity.”

Hoity-Toity was waiting outside. He looked pissed. As she stepped out into the front end, he rose off of a chair.

“Well it’s about time! Now, can you please get to work?” She nodded.

“Yeah, I can.”