Chapter XVIII

It was the beginning of the end for old Rarity. Although, Rarity really didn’t think there ever was an old Rarity. From what Pish and Posh had told her, she had just lacked grace to accept herself; old Rarity was just an angry and purposeless Rarity that was bitter about her loss. She learned about grace, she accepted herself, and most importantly, Rarity was happy. The first of the four dresses had at first intimidated her, but to her eternal delight and surprise, the ideas and flow of her work had returned seamlessly. Sonny had been right, she hadn’t lost her ability in the Blast.

She dated Spike (the sunset chariot ride lived up to its expectations) and as the days went by, the final pieces of her life were knitted together. Ana was working at the Lone Star, she would not allow anypony who wasn’t a white unicorn or a draconian earth mare to assist Applecrisp (which annoyed Applecrisp and flattered Rarity). After four weeks of intense design and sewing, the final blue dress was the only remaining portion of her project. She was nearly done.

Rarity wore a light green cloak, nothing showy, after all, she was just buying some figs. The walk to the grocer was calm and pleasant, leaves swirled around her, and she drank in the crisp fall air. She passed by a few ponies, Rarity smiled and nodded to them. She had returned to her pre-Blast mane and now looked like a proper designer.

A few figs cost her twenty bits, but what did she care? She had made seven thousand bits already from her design work and the final dress would no doubt be the most expensive. Who knew, maybe old Hoity-Toity would even throw in a tip, he had certainly liked her latest work. She wasn’t really back in business, no of course not, this was just a temporary job. But no amount of rationality could keep Rarity from the idea that she was almost at pre-Blast status. She passed Applebloom’s “office”, the lights were on. She wouldn’t have peeked in, but, Applebloom was off at college and Rarity had nothing better to do. She pressed her nose to the glass.

Applejack sat at Applebloom’s desk reading a leather-bound book, her hat lay upturned on the floor beside her. Her freckled face was tight with concentration and the only movement came from her eyes scanning the pages before her. Rarity knocked on the window, Applejack seemed to break out of a dream. The orange farmer smiled and rose to let Rarity in.

“Wai howdy miss Rarity! Ain’t seen ya’ll in awhahl!” She greeted. Rarity stepped into the warm office.

“I saw you in here pouring over whatever you’re reading, and that surprised me.” She pointed to the book. “Unless that’s smut.” Applejack laughed.

“Nawp, jus’ my ledgers, tryin’ t’see where ah stand.” She stretched her neck. “Been at it all day.”

“Financial troubles?” Rarity asked tentatively.

“Oh hell no! Farm’s doin’ better than ten a’ the old ones. We’ve made eight hundred thousand this year!” Applejack said quickly. She sighed and pointed to the book. “Jus’ had some troubles with the books, things ain’t addin’ up.” The door opened behind them. That worker Rarity had met at her party, Paco, that was his name, entered. He nodded to Applejack.

“I could not find the first volume, it had clearly been taken.” He said to her. Applejack sighed and ran a hoof through her hair.

“Gawddamn.” She muttered. She looked up at Rarity. “Sorry, Paco and ah are on an investigation a’ sorts. With eight hundred thousand bits a’ revenue, there seems to be an’ underlyin’ belief that a few thousand are gonna go unnoticed from the books.”

“Thieves?” Rarity asked in apprehension. Applejack nodded.

“Only these thieves work on the farm.” Paco explained. “With security such that Applejack has, there can’t be any other way that we are being robbed.”

“Ah ain’t pointin’ hooves!” Applejack added defensively. “But yeah, Paco an’ ah are pretty sure it’s comin’ from insahd the fence.” Rarity had never thought to suspect the workers of anything, they seemed like a given. “Sorry ‘bout all this Rarity, how are y’doin’?” Applejack asked, flipping the book closed. She flicked her head to the stallion. “Paco, wai don’t y’go get back t’the farm, we’ll pick this up t’morrow.”

“Aye, see you tomorrow Applejack.” He said with a nod. The stallion exited and Applejack took a seat at the desk.

“He seems nice, you think you can trust him?” Rarity asked.

“Whut, who? Paco? Oh yeah, ah’m pretty sure ah can trust him, he’s gotta good head, an’ had a lotta chances t’steal sumthin’, an’ he’s the one who tipped me off to the whole pro’blem in the first place.” She motioned to another chair. “Nao tell me about yerself, whut’s new with Rarity?” Rarity pulled up a chair.

“Not much, well I got a job doing fashion design.” She said, a smile breaking over her face. Applejack thwacked Rarity on the shoulder.

“Atta girl! Nao if ah remember rahght, ya’ll thought ya’ll were all done with that kahnda thing.”

“Well, it’s just a temporary job, nothing permant you know.” Rarity said modestly. Applejack grinned.

“Nao, you think this is all it’ll be?” Rarity had often thought about what the next step after the dresses would be. It really depended on what Hoity-Toity said, and nopony could predict that.

“I don’t know, I have to wait and see what my boss says about the dresses I’m doing for him.”

“Aw, nao ya’ll know as well as ah do that Rarity the unicorn knows how t’make a good frilly dress. Wouldn’t surprise me if he made y’a partner.” Rarity shrugged.

“Well I don’t know about that, maybe just a subsidiary.” Applejack guffawed and leaned back.

“Seems t’me we’re all fahnally movin’ on.” She concluded.

“I guess so.” Rarity looked at her hooves. “It’s been a ride hasn’t it? I mean, I thought I was done with fashion, and here I am with a second chance. Sweet Apple Acres is successful enough that even its own workers want to rip it off. Twilight’s running the whole country. Rainbow Dash is, well.”

“Yeah, how is that filly? Ah ain’t seen her since we moved y’in.”

Rarity spoke softly.

“She wants to, or is rather, getting her wings removed and donated to a sick kid in Cantorlot.” Applejack was silent a moment. Evidently, her feelings matched Rarity’s.

“She, wants t’do that?” The farmer asked quietly. Rarity nodded.

“She’s, like me I think. You know, looking for a new life. I think she wants to live less selfishly.” Applejack nodded.

“Tha’s mahghty serious, ‘specially fer’ Dashie.” She picked her hat up. “But then, so’s barfaghtin’, takin’ down terrorists, an’ pretty much everythin’ ya’ll an’ ah do. Guess tha’s just how she heals, sure is nahce a’ her ah guess.” Neither spoke for a time, they both were trying to rationalize Rainbow Dash’s decision.

“Y’know, outta alla the ponies ah’da thought would take the Blast hard, Pinkie Pie sure is doin’ mahghty fahn.” Rarity snorted. “Nao ah mean it, sure maybe her games are a bit annoyin’ and it’s been mora blessin’ than a curse that she ain’t had a party inna whahl. But still, she didn’t get fucked up or nothin’, gotta wonder whut her secret is.”

“Yeah, I don’t know, maybe denial. Actually, Applecrisp was saying that Sugarcube Corner was going out of business, so there’s another sorta secret.” Rarity realized her mistake. “Oh shit, sorry didn’t mean to bring her up.” She said quickly. Applejack waved her off.

“Naw, it’s no problem, ah’m gettin’ over her. Maybe ah’ll invite her out some time, show there’s no hard feelin’s. Course she is still lyin’ if she’s tellin’ ya’ll that Sugarcube Corner is goin’ anywhere but up. Ah saw Pinkie Pie an’ that yellow one mailing a shit ton a’ letters th’ other day, not sure wai, but y’don’t waste that much paper if yer goin’ outta business.” That made Rarity feel a little better.

“She asked me if I was her friend this one night.” Rarity confessed. “I kinda felt sorry for her, like she’s just now figuring out that I don’t like her anymore and she doesn’t know why.” Rarity frowned. “I really don’t know why, I mean, maybe it’s cause I’m jealous that her business didn’t close like mine did or something. Maybe I’m just mad that she didn’t get as fucked up as I did after the Blast. I don’t know, maybe once my life gets back on track I’ll warm up to her.” Applejack grinned.

“That sounds sooner than y’think, ah’d be careful whut y’say!” Rarity shook her head.

“Just a temporary job.”

The next afternoon she spent perusing the magazines she had ordered. One of the great joys that she had forgotten about fashion work magazine shopping. She glossed over the Manehatten dresses; Hoity-Toity was right, they were obscene. She chuckled, those poor Manehatten designers, trying to set a lasting trend, they didn’t know fashion repeated itself every forty years.

At around two, she moseyed out to the Café for a bite of lunch. She had a light salad, her stomach had been spurning anything heavy for the past few days and she was trying to get back to her Full Circle diet. She munched her food and watched Ponyville going about its day. From amidst the bustle of streets, she caught sight of a brilliant flash of fire red. Audacity and Octavia were out for a walk and were strolling down the street toward her. She desperately hoped they wouldn’t see her.

They did.

“Rarity! Hey Rarity!” Audacity called. Oh fuck it, she had a perfectly wonderful life and relationship, she had nothing to be insecure about.

“Yes?” She asked as if she had just noticed the pair. Audacity leaned over the railing.

“We were just out walking before my race! Oh, I should introduce you!” He pointed to his mare. “Rarity, this is Octavia, she’s the one who likes that protein bread! Octavia, this is Rarity, she showed-”

“We’ve met before.” Octavia said with a sticky grin.

She was a bitch, Octavia was a bitch.

Audacity laughed, typical stallion, he had missed the beginning of the catfight.

“So anyway, Rarity, I haven’t seen you around the bakery in a while!” The Pegasus said. Rarity smiled sweetly.

“No, I’ve actually been working on a request from Hoity-Toity.” She turned to Octavia. “I don’t know if you know who he is. Maybe you’ve heard of him.” She said in condescension. Her enemy put an arm around Audacity.

“Babe.” Shit, she called him babe, which probably meant they had done it, which gave her the upper hoof. “Why don’t you invite Rarity here to your race, I’m sure she’d love to see you in action.” Octavia said without the slightest hint of ill will.

“Hey yeah! Rarity, you want to come to the race? The Wonderbolts will be there, I could have you meet them if you’d like!” He suggested.

“Oh no sorry, I have to get back to work. It’s a thirty thousand bit contract, and well, it’s a competitive business.” She rose from her seat. Taking a fifty bit bill from her bag, Rarity dropped her tab carelessly on the half-full plate.

“Wow! You must be making some serious money!” Audacity said. Rarity was about to say something about it “not being that much” when Octavia pulled him back toward the street.

“Better massage those wings babe!” She advised.

“Oh shoot! That’s right!” he said, dismounting the railing. “Guess you’ll have to save the roughness for later.” He said, kissing Octavia’s cheek.

The bitch giggled at this.

“Hope your dress or whatever goes well Rarity!” She called as the pair started off. Octavia looked back, she wore a sugar-encrusted smirk that would have sickened even Pinkie Pie. With a light flick of her tail, she motioned to the fiery Cutie Mark on Audacity’s flank. They had totally done it.

Rarity took the rest of the walk home to calm down. She had Spike, of course she had Spike! Maybe he wasn’t some passionate moan of ecstasy kind of lover like Audacity had to be, but he did have a wonderful sense of humor, and he was a gentleman. This notion helped her in rationalizing her defeat to Octavia.

Once at her tower, Rarity opened her closet and gazed upon the dress. She also had an opportunity to work for one of the premier fashion designers in all of Equestria. All Octavia had was a dust-filled store full of music shit nopony wanted; hell, she had probably sold more torture instruments than musical instruments. Rarity shook off the feelings of entirely illogical jealousy and got to work. She worked the rest of the day on a preliminary sketch of the requested “garishness”. At six, she set down her pencil, rubbed her eyes, and walked down the several flights of stairs to her door. Per norm, Spike was waiting with a plate of hay.

“Hey there milady! Thought you could use some victuals!” He said with a bow.

“Well of course! Come on in!” She replied coaxingly.

Spike came most nights, he would bring something to eat for her and give her massages. Out of all of the many wonderful attributes that Spike held, none tickled Rarity more than his insatiable desire to please her. Maybe it was how he was made, to serve anypony he liked or was born to. In any case, Rarity always made it worth it for the little dragon. She set the plate of hay down upon her bed and he cuddled up with her.

“So how’s the dress? Where did you get to today?” He asked, laying his head against her chest. She pointed to her desk.

“Just did some sketching, nothing permanent.”

“Twilight says that half of the time spent on most great works of art is sketching.” He kissed her chin. “I bet that’s true for you.” She giggled.

“So how was your day mister Spike?” He sighed.

“Boring, as usual. I did all of the regular chores, then read some, then just sat around. That new guy, Brutus, he talks even less than Praetorian and Maximus, and it’s an awfully quiet house.”

“Aww.” She kissed the top of his head. “Maybe I should come by some night, we could make some noise.” She feel his heart beating faster at this.

“Well, maybe in a few months.” He answered softly.

She loved Spike. She loved how cute he was about everything. He would gladly sell his soul for a chance to cuddle with her, yet when it came to the ultimate form of cuddling, he declined. Sex, like Rarity herself, was something he wanted to enjoy properly. Just like how he always tried to treat her with respect and affection, Spike also made an intentional effort to reserve their bedroom for their wedding night. He was the cutest little dragon she had ever heard of.

And of course there was going to be a wedding, Rarity knew that from the moment she had started dating the purple dragon, maybe from the moment she had met him. He was kind, sensitive, and a gentleman, what more could she reasonably ask?

The pair snuggled and talked about date things for a time. Spike might not have known how to make love well, but he did know how to win her heart with words. They traded tidbits of conversation and kisses for a time, but finally, the growing dragon fell asleep. Rarity smiled, no matter how big Spike may have had gotten, he was still a young dragon and still fell asleep at the cutest of moments. She usually carried him home whenever he fell asleep, but tonight she was tired herself and decided to simply steal the blankets from around him.

Rarity was about done with her final sketch when he awoke.

“Ah! Rarity!” He recoiled in surprise. “What happened?” She giggled.

“You were quite the man dragon last night, honestly, I don’t think it would be fair to compare you to a puny stallion.” He blushed heavily and rose out of the bed.

“You, we, I mean.” He stuttered. She giggled.

“No, we didn’t, you just fell asleep.”

He heaved a sigh of relief. For a moment, he seemed to catch his breath.

“I really should go.” He said after an awkward pause.

“Well ok mister stud, if you have to!” She said playfully. He blushed again and Rarity walked him to the door.

“Anyway, thanks for dinner. I’ll have to return the favor!” She said, as she hugged her dragon.

“Oh you don’t have to!” He said self-consciously.

“I’m going to be your mare! That’s my job!” She said with a shy smile. He swallowed.

“Yeah, yeah that’s right.” He said, almost as if he himself were not sure of their future together.

She worked for the rest of the day gathering the materials she needed. She dug up a few batches of sapphires. She mailed an order for some dumb fabric, this was just a garish order after all. And finally, Rarity checked her sewing kit for the needed materials.

It was Tuesday, and after her work was done, she made her way over to the Straw Purchase. Pish was clearing the dishes from a table when she entered.

“Oh hello Rarity. Good to see you.” He said pleasantly as she entered.

“Great to see you, how’s the place going?” She asked. He smiled and pointed to the messy tables.

“We’re blessed to have a good flow of diners, you’ll think it’s something else, but I can guarantee that it was your renovations that made the difference.” She shook her head.

“Nope! I’m doing great! If everypony tells me that I’m good at something, then I’ll take their word!” He set the dishes on the counter and sat down on the table.

“Good good, I’m happy to hear progress. How are your friends?”

Pish was more direct than Posh. He didn’t use the word “accept” so much and the rules of the pair’s God seemed to come up more in his advice. Rarity liked him, after all, he had been the only pony who had been able to bring the concept of grace into her life. The grey stallion took the direct means of dispensing advice to her and he never seemed to take much time to deliberate over her inquiries.

“Good, they’re good. Where’s the waiter?” She asked. He smiled.

“In the office, you’ll have to excuse him. God put something on his heart, he’s been praying all day.”

“Oh, I see.” She had never seen either of them pray before and wondered if she had committed a faux pas by asking. “Well, things are good. I don’t know why I came over here really. My boyfriend is good, I’m good, Rainbow Dash is good, honestly, things are coming together.” Pish nodded.

“You’re happy then?”

“Yep! Definitely! There are still some things I’m not sure on, if I’ll get another offer from my boss after this order, one of my friends is having a bit of a conflict at her farm.” She stopped. “But those are things that I’ll just have to wait and see for.”

“Well, I’m not sure how much more you need to learn from either of us. Your anger seems about gone, you’re happy, is there anything you’re still concerned or unsure about?” Pish said with a shrug. Rainbow Dash came to mind.

“Well, my Pegasus friend, Dash, I’m accepting her and all, but I can’t shake how uncomfortable I feel about her donating her wings.” Pish sighed.

“Accepting, yes.” He picked up a fork and toyed with it. “Do you think it’s right?”

That was the other difference between Pish and Posh. It didn’t happen often, but on occasion, Pish almost sounded like he questioned his son’s advice. Virtually all of their teaching of grace they agreed on; in fact, the only time that Pish and Posh seemed to disagree was over Rainbow Dash and her impending grounding. Rarity herself had always taken Posh’s advice of acceptance and tolerance, and usually the less vocal Pish said nothing.

“I don’t know. It seems like it’s wrong, but it can’t be, but I still don’t like it.” She frowned. “It’s not my place to judge her though, I know the right thing to do is accept her.” Pish started to ask another question when Posh exited from the office.

“Hello! Any words?” Pish called. Posh looked troubled and he didn’t even seem to notice Rarity.

“I feel like there’s somepony really in need of intercession tonight. Dad, do you have a few minutes to pray with me?” He asked.

Pish slid off of the table.

“Been looking for those few minutes my whole life.” He said with a chuckle. The younger stallion noticed her.

“I’m sorry Rarity, I don’t mean to shut you out. It’s only that-”

“Oh no no no!” She said quickly, she was eager to avoid another faux pas. “I’m really doing well, I’ll come by next week!”

“On your problem Rarity, do what your heart says.” Pish called as he entered the office.

“Oh, ok.” Rarity said awkwardly. In a moment, the dining room was empty, as the two stallions met together for prayer and Rarity left for home.

It was a little after seven, the sun was almost set and the air was chilly against her skin. Do what her heart said? What the hell did that mean? Rarity felt one way about Rainbow Dash, but she also had to accept her. Wasn’t doing what her heart said against the nature of grace and acceptance? Of course their prayers had interrupted the explanation. She felt a mixture of annoyance and understanding at taking second place to godly rituals.

"Rarity, please." Pinkie's voice sounded really messed up and Rarity jumped in surprise. The unicorn whirled around, Pinkie Pie was standing in the middle of the street. She was crying. "Please, help me. I don't have anyone." The pink mare begged.

“Uh.” Rarity was taken completely off guard by the out-of-character party pony and stood staring at Pinkie.

"I-I-I." Pinkie started to sob. The perpetually chipper Pinkie Pie was crying uncontrollably the middle of the street at 7:33 PM. She looked toward Rarity. There was a desperation in her bright blue eyes. "P-p-please Rarity” She stammered.”I don't have anypony else to ask for help. I need you to come somewhere with me.”

"What about Sugarcube?” Rarity began in uncertainty.

"I HATE HER! SHE RUINS MY PARTIES AND SHE’S NOT FUN!!! SHE WAS ONLY HERE BECAUSE NONE OF MY OTHER FRIENDS WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH ME ANYMORE!!!" Pinkie's helium voice was wrenched with a sudden ferocity and Rarity took a step back in surprise. In a moment, the unexpected rage dissipated from the earth pony and she seemed drained of life. Pinkie Pie collapsed into street and for the first time since the Blast, Rarity felt something besides dislike for her. The sight of the defeated little cupcake baker sitting by herself in a dark street pulled at Rarity.

Rarity walked over to the weeping pony. She sat down beside her in the middle of the cobblestone road. She had no idea what to do.

"What, uh, what do you need me for?" Rarity asked. Pinkie looked up at her. Goddamn it, she looked a shit ton like Dash when she did that. Pinkie Pie’s soft eyes were wide and pleading and tears streamed down her pink snout.

"I need somepony to help me take Gummy to the vet." She said amidst sobs. Rarity sighed, another bullshit errand that Pinkie got emotional over.

"Yeah, whatever, I can walk you there." The unicorn said, beginning to rise.

“He's not coming back.” Pinkie cried. “There’s a law in Ponyville that says alligators over the age of four have to be put down for safety purposes.” Party pony began sob harder now. “His birthday was yesterday.” Rarity stopped.

“What?”

“I have to put him down!” Cried Pinkie.

And then Rarity held her, stupid fucking Pinkie Pie, the pony she had treated like shit for an entire summer, the pony she had hated for being such a giggly little headache. She held Pinkie because there wasn't any pony who could. Rarity held the despondent party pony, she remembered Opal, and her throat tightened and her eyes stung.

"Yeah." She sniffed. "Yeah." Her voice grew rough. "I can walk with you."

The doctor's office was a starched white. The lights were bright and the little crying she had done made Rarity's eyes burn. Pinkie held Gummy, the green alligator looked around the room curiously. The door opened.

"Miss Pinkamina?" Asked the nurse. There wasn't anypony besides them in the room. Pinkie stood.

"Yes, that's me." She said softly.

The nurse smiled.

"We're ready for you." Rarity didn't know if the nurse was actually trying to make her feel worse, or if she didn't know what their appointment was for. They shuffled into the operating room.

The doctor entered

"Good evening Miss Pinkamina." The stallion said formally. He looked to Gummy. "Will we be needing to restrain him?" Pinkie shook her head.

"No." She swallowed. "He trusts me."

The doctor, anxious to avoid emotions, cleared his throat. "Well, then, I will need to prepare the compound." He pointed awkwardly to the table. "If you would like to place Gummy on the table, you may." He bit his lip. "Say goodbye."

He backed into another room and Pinkie laid the little reptile down on the cold metal. Gummy cocked his head and looked around him in curiosity. Pinkie was trembling.

"Now, Gummy, I." She stopped. Rarity looked on as Pinkie started to unfold. A tear landed on the metal and shone brightly under the lights. Pinkie fought back her sob. "I love you very much." Another tear fell and she swallowed. "There are some things that you must trust me on. You are a wonderful alligator and I don't even mind that you ate my gum." She struggled to speak. "Mommy wants you to know that she never wanted this to happen and she didn’t know that this would-" Gummy crawled up and bit her harmlessly on the nose, almost as if he understood her sorrow. The doctor returned, he waited until the alligator released his grip.

"Well, then." He said quietly. Rarity saw Pinkie summon what strength she had to keep from crying out as the stallion took hold of her alligator. Gummy was still looking intently toward Pinkie Pie when the needle broke his scaly skin.

"Mommy loves you Gummy." Pinkie said in a faint whisper. It was the loudest whisper Rarity ever heard.