Chapter XX

Pinkie Pie as a roommate. As usual, Rarity had made a decision affecting her long term future in just a matter of minutes; and just as typically, the process for this decision had involved her risking grievous injury in a thoughtless and probably pointless act of emotion. Pinkie Pie as a roommate; the two had a lot to learn about one another. Pinkie Pie brushed her teeth with frosting, Rarity did not allow non-organic vegetables within a hundred yards of her sleeping area. Their first week was an unmitigated fuckfest of lost tempers and unwittingly crossed borders.

Yet Rarity never considered sending Pinkie to live with Applejack or even Rainbow Dash; Pinkie Pie was her roommate, and she was going to live with her even if it killed her. She was going to make up the summer to Pinkie Pie. She was going to show her grace.

As far as her final dress was concerned, Rarity all but halted work as she spent most of her time making rules and agreements with her pink partner. As she awoke on a futon that smelled of formaldehyde, (she had given Pinkie the bed in return for banning caffeine after nine P.M.) Rarity realized she still needed to find her friend a job. She grabbed an apple from the newly purchased refrigerator (Pinkie needed to keep a few of her party implements below 40 degrees or “bad things would happen”). Party pony herself was still asleep and Rarity eased open the door so as not to wake her.

The fall had been relatively kind to her; her cuts had not required many stitches, and she had merely sprained three ankles. Nevertheless, she had spent the last week limping to and fro and hoping that nopony would slap her on the back. She really needed to find a way to express her thoughts in a way that did not involve serious injuries.

The Lone Star was already open and Sonny was at his usual position up front. His face lit up as she entered.

“Ah Rarity! Good to see you! How is your job?” He asked excitedly.

“Great, it’s great, I’m down to my last dress. Shouldn’t be too long now!”

He smiled.

“That is good to hear! So what can I get for you?” She clopped her hooves together nervously. How was she going to get Pinkie hired when they had already turned her down?

“I was wondering, could you maybe give my roommate a job? In the kitchen?” She inquired casually. He frowned.

“Ana does not wish to hire anypony but you. What is her name?”

“Pinkie Pie.” Rarity laughed nervously. “I think you might have met her.” Sonny sighed.

“Yes, I did. I was trying to hire her back when I heard that her work was going under.” He shook his head. “Ana does not wish me to employ her. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah but you run the store.” Rarity reminded. He grew a little upset to this.

“And Ana is my wife.” He replied sternly.

“I’m sorry, I just, well, she’s my roommate. Her life’s kind of on the downturn and I’m trying to find a place for her to work. It would really mean a lot to me if you could find a place for her.”

His resolve weakened and he rubbed his neck.

“I will see what I can do.” He said reluctantly.

“Thanks Sonny. How are things here?” The unicorn asked with a smile. He shrugged.

“Not as they should be. We are getting busy now that Sugarcube Corner is gone. Ana is not the baker she was and Applecrisp cannot fill all of the orders by herself.” Rarity realized that things would now be perpetually busy without the little confectionary. They needed her at the Lone Star.

“I’m sorry, I’ll get my work done sooner.” She promised.

“Nyet, do your work well. Give him no reason to avoid employing you. We will manage here.”

“Thank you.” She looked to the oven room. “Is it ok if I go see Applecrisp?” He nodded and she entered the warm room. Applecrisp was mixing up what looked like pretzel dough.

“Hey.” Rarity said with a grin.

“Thought we were hangin’ out on Friday.” Shit, she had forgotten about that.

“Oh shit, sorry, something came up. I jumped out of a window, I’ll explain later. How about tonight we get some beers and hang out at your place?” Applecrisp shrugged.

“Shure.” She turned back to her work. Rarity waited a moment, then realized that Applecrisp was done speaking to her. Even as a friend, Applecrisp wasn’t one for words.

Leaving the Lone Star, Rarity walked to the post office to check to see if her materials had arrived. They had not. It was a strange feeling, not having anything to do, like how things had been at the start of summer. Only now she had to find a job for Pinkie Pie. She started toward Sweet Apple Acres, maybe Applejack could help her.

The walk was pleasant, and Rarity cheerfully requested entrance from Apple Fritter via the intercom. The main yard was devoid of any ponies, they must all be at the brewery, or some amazing new expansion of the family business.

She started toward the barn. As Rarity approached the giant doors, Applejack herself came marching out of the building toward Rarity. She did not look happy. The farmer noticed her.

“Wai hi Rarity!” She said with a stressed smile. “Nahce a ya t’drop bah.”

“Good to see you too Applejack, I just dropped by to talk, if you’re not busy.” Applejack laughed.

“Ain’t been a day since this farm was planted that ah ain’t been busy. Well, ah got a few minutes ‘fore ah gotta head out and check Miguel on the west rows.”

The two went to her subterranean office. “S’whut’s new with Rarity?” Applejack asked as she sank into her black leather chair. Rarity sighed.

“A lot. Pinkie Pie is my new roommate, the long and short of it is that I’m her caretaker since the Cakes lost Sugarcube Corner.” Applejack raised her eyebrows in surprise.

“Nao whut made ya’ll suddenly want help the filly?” Rarity shrugged.

“I realized I had treated her fucking badly over the summer, her life fell apart and there wasn’t anypony there to help her. I realized that it’s awful for me to treat her like shit, even if she does get on my fucking nerves a lot. I’m trying to get her back on her hooves and help her like I do with Dash.”

“That’s a mahghty fahn thing fer ya’ll t’do. But ah guess that about makes ya square with alla yer friends!”

Rarity frowned.

“Well there’s Twilight, I’m still not sure what she thinks of me, I haven’t seen her since the party.” Applejack grinned.

“Maybe ona them fancy new dresses yer in the line of mahght sweeten things up.”

“Hey hey hey! Those are Hoity-Toity’s property, I’m just adding some flair.” Rarity said with a laugh.

“Oh yeah right, cause that’s all he’s gunna ask of ya’ll. Rarity, ah’m not a fashionista like ya’ll in any way. But ah am a business pony, and when somepony like ya’ll makes a profit for somepony like him.” She shrugged. “Well there ain’t no way he ain’t gunna capitalize on that.” Rarity nodded. The unicorn leaned back in her seat and thought for a moment.

“You know, it’s almost like things are better now.” She said thoughtfully. “I mean, yeah, I wish the Blast never happened, but, I don’t know, everything seems like it’s finally smoothing out. Twilight’s queen, you’re getting rich and your family is doing well. I’m, well, I’m going to get married to Spike, maybe settle down, and maybe be a housemare. I’ll probably do some design, just a hobby if Hoity-Toity doesn’t want to use me full time. Pinkie Pie, well, I’m going to help her out in any way that I can. And Rainbow Dash.” Rarity paused. “Well, she’s finding herself, and I’m sure I’ll get used to her without wings. She’s making some really noble decisions, and that’s great. I think that nine months after the Blast, we’re all getting past what happened.”

Applejack nodded in agreement. But they both knew the last two ponies Rarity had named weren’t doing better than before in any sense of the word.

The alarm clock on Applejack’s desk beeped.

“’Scuse me fer a sec.” Applejack said, rising from her chair. “Apple Fritter, ya’ll get granny her meds?!!” She hollered to the ceiling. There was a pause and then the scuffle of hooves on applewood floor.

“Uh, no. Ah was workin’ on them records like ya’ll asked!” Replied a nervous ceiling.

“Mah Gawd.” Applejack muttered. “Yew think a few books’re more important than Granny Smith’s well bein’?!!” She shouted to the ceiling.

“No no! Ah apologize, ah’m getting’ to it right away!” The ceiling said quickly. Applejack shook her head.

“That filly needs more lookin’ out for than a box a’ rattlesnakes.” She looked down at the clock. “Shit, speakin’ a lookin’ out after, ah gotta go see if Miguel is stealin’ mah apples.” She started up the stairs.

“Still having those problems?” Rarity asked. Applejack sighed and nodded.

“Paco’s the only onea them ah trust. As far as the rest a’ them are concerned, ah’ll kick their damned asses and send ‘em back to the sandbox if ah see ‘em steal so much as a straw from the cafeteria.” She said angrily. “Gawd damn if ah don’t try an’ give ‘em all ah can.” They parted at the steps of the farmhouse.

“We should hang out, drop by the tower some time, either me or Pinkie’ll be there!” Rarity called to the orange mare. AJ didn’t reply, she was too focused on her job and the problems that came with it.

Things were definitely not better since the Blast, but, they were going to get there. Rarity knew they would. With grace and a great new job on her side, she had nowhere to go but forward.

Her materials arrived the next day and Rarity got the same giddy rush at the delivery that she had when she was at the Carisol. Pinkie Pie became equally excited when she saw Rarity unpacking the boxes.

“Oh my gosh! Are those real?” She asked, poking her head over Rarity’s shoulder. Rarity giggled and held up the pearls.

“They are indeed.” She laid them next to the gold lace and dumb fabric. “Now, I’m going to add these to the dress.” She said happily. “And make Hoity-Toity have a heart attack from beauty exposure.”

“I’d go with a high trans-fat diet and a sharp blow to the chest!” Pinkie said cheerfully.

Rarity carefully slipped the dress over mannequin. She knew something was wrong as the dress quickly became taught against the white figure.

“Shoot, it’s not going.” Rarity said to herself.

“Hang on! I got it!” In a moment of innocent helpfulness, Pinkie performed one of the eight acts of high blasphemy in the fashion industry: she forced a tight dress. The earsplitting noise of expensive fabric tearing rang out like the screams of an infant dying of colic and Rarity virtually teleported to the exact place of the damage.

“Oops, I think I mighta torn it.” Pinkie said bashfully. A rip, measuring forty-three millimeters, placed at the right lower breast portion of the dress stood out like a black hole. She needed to fix it, NOW. Rarity flew to her wallet. She wrenched out everything it contained.

“Forty six, no, fifty bits. Out for the rest of the afternoon.” She presented Pinkie with the money. Bribery had been found to be the most effective means of mediation for the two.

Pinkie jumped up into the air.

“Yay! Although I really only need a quarter, the doctor’s office put in a gumball machine!” Party pony took the bundle of bills and dashed out the door. Rarity waited for the slam of the second door before she returned to her work.

The rip was below the threshold of overtness by five millimeters; she could technically repair it with a needle and thread. It was always a chore to go to a needle and thread and it had been almost a year since she had last attempted anything with the two basic tools of her trade.

After roughly twenty minutes of eye straining work, Rarity had managed to thread the needle.

“How the fuck did I ever do this before?” She muttered to herself. Presently, she heard a knock at the door. Eager to avoid her work, she abandoned the needle and went to see who it was.

Spike didn’t blush so much these days. He was still in a rapt cocoon of love, but he was more functional now.

“I’m getting better, I have a list.” He giggled, holding up a piece of paper. “Ok, in order: Blankets, picnic basket, annnnd, Rarity.” She giggled and gave him a kiss.

“That sounds lovely, where to?”

“The Falls.” He said with a triumphant blush.

That was his move, Spike was making his move. The Falls was where a relationship either lived or died. The little waterfall just outside of the town had been present to a good many proposals, as well as a fair share of teary confessions and subsequent death threats. As far as romance was concerned, it was pretty much the last stop on the train.

Rarity knew he was going to ask her to marry him. She was going to say yes; Pinkie would of course be an issue, along with the Lone Star and whatever Hoity-Toity might offer. But Rarity was going to marry Spike the dragon. She loved him and loved seeing him happy. The idea of the proposal was an unspoken agreement between the two and Rarity acted as if this were just another date.

“I’m looking forward to it!” She said excitedly. She remembered the sewing she had to do. “You don’t want to come in for some tea do you?”

“Would that be an imposition?”

“Oh no no no! I have a little bit to do on my last dress, but I can put that off to spend time with my little Spike.” He shook his head.

“Nope, you finish your work. That comes first, you’re still a professional pony.”

“Come on! It’d be fun!” She cajoled. Spike was adamant.

“Nope, you do your work Rarity.” She sighed.

“Well ok. But I expect you to spoil me when I’m a housemare!” She said, giving him another kiss.

“Hehe, yeah.” He giggled, blushing again. “I’m gonna spoil you so much.”

The rest of the sewing went faster, and Rarity was starting to place the first of the pearls when Pinkie Pie returned. She had been carousing and Rarity knew that the fifty bits were long gone.

“Ohmigosh! What an afternoon! Two parties, Snips sends his regards by the way, and a race through the trees! How is your dress?” Pinkie said breathlessly.

“Well, it’s good, but the mannequin’s too small, I need a model to work on.”

“Me me!” Pinkie cried. The pink mare was visible shaking from sugar intake and Rarity knew she would probably go insane from sitting still that long.

“Ohhhhhh, well, I actually just asked Rainbow Dash, sorry.” Pinkie frowned and looked at her hooves. Rarity hated seeing her frown.

“What am I gonna do now?” Pinkie asked. “I don’t have anything to do anymore.”

“Hey, cheer up, I might have gotten you a job at my bakery! Let’s go by there tomorrow and see if we can get you working again!” Rarity consoled.

“Do you think your boss will like me?” Pinkie asked nervously. Rarity nodded.

“Oh yeah, he loves ponies like you.”

She did not mention her boss’s wife, who did not like ponies like her.

It was as if Ana knew they were coming. She was standing stalwart behind the plate glass window, scanning for any threats to the little business. Rarity took a deep breath and strolled inside, Pinkie Pie trailing behind her.

“Hello Mrs. Salukas.” The unicorn said as politely and formally as possible.

“That filly is not working here.” Ana stated coldly. Sonny exited the oven room behind her.

“Oh, Rarity, I did not expect you!” He said in surprise. “What do you need?” She swallowed.

“This is Pinkie Pie, I think you know her. She, she wanted, or I wanted, well, to give her, well you to give her a job.” She stammered.

“She is not working here.” Ana repeated.

“Just let me explain!” Rarity pleaded. She realized Pinkie hadn’t said a word and the white unicorn looked back toward her friend. The little pink pony was looking around the bakery, her eyes were wide and she seemed to be studying everything. For a moment, Rarity feared that she would begin to cry. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie leaped up onto the counter. Rarity’s blood went cold.

“Thiiiiiiis place is full of food. And you might think me rude. But where’re the customers Sonny? I doubt you think it’s funny. No one buys or looks. Stuff that you guys cook. Your shelves are full of bread, big and hearty bread. Yet your business, well it’s dead. I think that I might know, just what you can show. To pull those ponies in, to make ‘em buy and grin.” Ana’s mouth dropped and Rarity felt faint from horror. Not a musical number. Pinkie leaned down and picked up a loaf of bread. “That thing you need is sweets. The kind that ponies eat. Sure it’s good and fine, to have some.” She squinted at the label below the bread. “Mesanine. But what they really want, all those ponies want. Is chocolate filled croissants. Doughnuts, tarts, lots of sugar, not this solid block of rebar.” She sang as she tossed the dark loaf into the air. Rarity prayed for it to stop, the music and bad rhymes were terrible enough for her, but Sonny and Ana had never experienced a song by Pinkie Pie before. Party pony jumped off of the counter and landed on Mr. Salukas’ back. She wrapped her pink arms around his neck and hugged him. “Now I know you like your bread, and the color red. But please oh Sonny listen. I can make this glisten.” She gestured to the Lone Star. “With a healthy coat of sweet. And that’s what ponies eat.”

Then it was quiet. Ana was breathing heavily and Rarity dared not move for fear of being scorched by molten outrage. Pinkie still clutched Mr. Salukas’ thick neck.

Applecrisp poked her head out of the oven room.

“Whut the fuck did ah just listen to?” She asked in utter obfusication.

Sonny took a deep breath, he closed his eyes and drew a long, slow breath. Rarity braced for what she knew would be the most violent excoriating ever known. Sonny opened his eyes and stood statue still for a second. Then he began to chuckle. Sonny lowered his head and a thickly accented laugh rose out of his throat. The brown workhorse pulled Pinkie off of his back and set her down before Applecrisp.

“That was your co-worker. Miss Pinkamina Pie, she starts immediately.”

And so it was that Pinkie Pie, former employee of Sugarcube Corner LLC, came to work for the Lone Star bakery. Sonny fell in love with Pinkie Pie, her infectious excitement and spontaneity seemed to strike a chord in the muscular horse’s heart and he put her to work on “sweets”. Precisely what Ana thought of the little pink pony was uncertain. She said nothing after Sonny’s proclamation of her hire and Rarity wondered if she was planning on murdering the giggly little mare when nopony was looking. At any rate, Pinkie was hired.

The next day, after a lengthy and extensive lesson on what to do and not do around the others at the bakery from her roommate, Pinkie Pie set out for her first day on the job. Rarity watched the cheery pony skipping down the street and smiled, she could get back to work now.

She still needed a model and there was no pony more still and quiet than Rainbow Dash. The leaves blew and circled around her like a flock of birds. Rarity walked the familiar route to the small cottage. She wondered if Rainbow Dash would be warm over the winter, she would have thought to invite the blue Pegasus to live with her if she weren’t getting married soon. She wondered what Dash would do after the operation, maybe she could find a soup kitchen to volunteer at or something.

Rarity knocked on the door. There was no reply. She waited a few minutes and knocked louder. Ten minutes passed, where the hell was Rainbow Dash? Rarity clopped harder. The door cracked open. A freshly awoken Rainbow Dash looked out.

“Hello?” She asked groggily.

“Dash, my mannequin’s too small, I need you to fit into a dress while I work on it. I’ll throw in twenty bits and whatever’s in my fridge.” Rarity relayed. The Pegasus rubbed her eyes and tossed her unkempt mane out of her eyes.

“Uhhhhh.” She seemed dazed. “Yeah hang on, just let me get myself together.” She said sleepily. She closed the door and Rarity leaned against the doorframe.

What time was it? Ten? Why was Rainbow Dash asleep at this hour? What was she up late doing? It was about two minutes before Rainbow Dash returned. She had fixed her mane and was more awake.

“So, a new dress huh?” She asked as they began the trek back to the town.

“I’m doing a request from Hoity-Toity! Can you believe that?” Rarity said excitedly. “Dash, I think I’m gonna be a designer again!” Rainbow Dash smiled.

“That’s great Rarity! That’s really great! Look at how far you’ve come!” She said appreciatively.

“Well, I couldn’t have done it without you. You kept me going.” Rainbow Dash shrugged.

“You had it figured out, I’m just happy to have been with you.”

“So what are you doing up so late?” Rarity asked. “I hope you weren’t out at Hennessy’s alone.” She said with a laugh. “I really hope you weren’t.” She added more seriously. Rainbow Dash smiled.

“No, I can’t sleep too well most nights. Most of my clients are on and off in the afternoon, so it doesn’t really matter when I get up.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for that.” Rarity said unhappily. Insomnia, Rainbow Dash had too many problems. “Well, anyway, this dress is gorgeous and it’s the very last one of the order.” She proclaimed. “I’ve had a hell of a week, Pinkie Pie just moved in and it’s been one big shitstorm of reorganizing.”

“Wait, what?” Rarity realized that Rainbow Dash really didn’t know what went on in Ponyville anymore. Rarity spent the rest of the walk filling Rainbow Dash in on the events of the past few weeks.

“So, are you going to do this after you marry Spike then?” The Pegasus asked as Rarity sewed pearls onto the dress.

“I really don’t know, he’s, well, he’s Spike and always so shy and nervous around me.” She sighed happily. “He’s so cute though, I guess that’s why I love him. I don’t know what our plans are, but I don’t think I’ll mind being a housemare.”

“He’s a loyal little dragon.” Dash agreed. They discussed weddings, stallions in general, and if Rainbow Dash would ever marry. Finally as she looked for possible tear sites, Rarity got around to asking her about the operation. Rainbow Dash seemed much more open about it.

“Well, it’s nothing big. The doctors here in town can do it easily, even though it’s an experiment. They’ll put me to sleep, remove my wings and ship them on ice to the hospital in Cantorlot. I hear the little colt they’re going to is yellow, I think they’ll look good on him.” Rarity’s stomach churned with the description. However, she was determined to accept Dash.

“That sounds wonderful! What, er, what are you planning on doing after the operation?”

Rainbow Dash sighed.

“I don’t know, maybe I’ll do another model. I’ve thought about donating my mane to cancer patients. I really don’t know.”

“Well, you’re waaaaay more noble than me, I’ll say that. It’s really selfless of how you are doing all of this donating.” Rarity said acceptingly.

“Well, I just feel like-” The door swung open.

“Honey, I’m home!” Pinkie called. Party pony mock staggered into the room, wearing a brown hat and carrying a black attaché case. She collapsed on the bed. “Whew! I’m bushed!”

“Why hello Pinkie!” Rarity said with a giggle. “How was your first day?” Pinkie rolled her eyes.

“HARD! That Sonny, he works us like horses! And I don’t understand Applecrisp, she keeps telling me to fuck myself. I don’t know what thanking myself has to do with anything!” Rarity chuckled.

“Just keep at it, and Applecrisp just means she likes peace and quiet.”

Pinkie’s eyes suddenly went wide with terror.

“Ohmigosh! Rainbow Dash!” She screamed. Rarity almost stabbed Rainbow Dash with the needle as she jumped up in fright.

“What?!” Asked the terrified Pegasus. Pinkie stared at her for a second, then let out a big sigh.

“Oh, nothing. I just saw you in that dress and I thought you had been stuffed.” She said in fear. “That really scared me!” Rarity took a deep breath and tried to steady her shaking hooves.

“Hey, Pinkie, why don’t you go and um.” Rarity looked for an excuse to remove her roommate while she worked with sharp objects.

“I gotta go do our taxes dear.” Pinkie said as she pulled an orange juice container out of the refrigerator. She was wearing a white undershirt and she had an untied tie around her neck; Rarity wondered where the hell she got her props. “See ya at nine, keep my dinner warm!” Pinkie called as she left again. The unicorn and Pegasus looked at one another, then both burst out laughing. For the first time since the Blast, Rarity laughed at a joke of Pinkie Pie’s.

“I love Pinkie.” Dash said.

“Yeah, me too.” Rarity agreed. Things were getting back to normal.

The deadline was next week, of course Rarity was not done. She had carefully planned and replanned her method of finishing the dresses to include time to spare. Today was comparison day, she was going to check all of the current magazines to make sure that her design was fresh. Tomorrow was finishing touch day, the day after that was final touch day. Then the day after that was OCD day.

Rarity was not done with her dress and Pinkie was off pissing off Applecrisp at the Lone Star. So when the knock at the door came, the white unicorn was rather unsure of just who it was that was calling on her. A Pegasus with an offensive purple and white mane that stood up like a watering can frowned down at her.

“The dress.” Was all he said.

Rarity stepped back against the stairs. No, no not now! The deadline was next week! Even for Hoity-Toity, this was an unreasonable change in plans.

“I’m sorry, it’s, well.” She sputtered. “I have till next week!” She unhappily protested.

“The dress.” The stallion repeated. Rarity flew back up to her room.

It was ok, it was fine! She gave the garment a quick looking over. Oh fucking shit fuck! There was a chip in one of the pearls and the collar had a stage two clash with the topaz!!!

“Just a moment while I box it!” She cried. Rarity hurriedly replaced the topaz with some extra sapphire, which altered the flow, which was already set and she didn’t have time to modify. What about the pearl? She had no idea how to fix a pearl. Yet the gouge was much too large and she knew it would be noticed. She looked frantically for a solution. A bottle of cream frosting lay strewn across the bed amongst Pinkie’s other affects.

She presented the unboxed article to the stallion (hiding the tube of frosting behind her back). Without a word, he took it and rose into the air. As he flew off, Rarity saw that one of the buttons on the back was missing. She screamed for him to stop, but he was out of earshot.

(In reality he heard her, but Sparx the fashion apprentice was sick of delivering fucking dresses for his asshole faggot of a boss and was quitting that night. He had had more than enough of fucking fashion.)

Rarity sank to her knees, Hoity-Toity would no doubt be disgusted with the flawed work and likely request a refund of his payment. She wouldn’t get her job back, she wouldn’t move on with her life. Rarity knew she was becoming irrational and she quickly galloped towards Applejack’s. She needed reassurance.

Apple Fritter let her in and Rarity frantically scanned the dusty yard for Applejack.

“Whao nao! Whut’s up with ya’ll?” Applejack called to her from the barn. The orange mare was crouched beside a small still just inside the barn. Rarity sprinted into the cavernous structure. Applejack had her usual straw dangling out of her mouth and she seemed to be in a good mood.

“Can I talk to you?” Rarity asked as she caught her breath.

“Shure, ya’ll wanna go t’mah office, or talk a walk?”

“I don’t care.” Rarity said unhappily. They started for the north orchard.

“S’whut’s troublin’ ya?” Applejack asked as they walked through the trees.

“The dress! The damn dress, Hoity-Toity sent somepony to get it today! It wasn’t done! I had till next week!” Rarity began to cry. “It’s not fair, I was doing so great, and then he fuckin’ pulled the rug out from under me!”

“There nao, y’don’t know he ain’t gonna like it.” Rarity shoved her off.

“You don’t know how many flaws there were. A Goddamn stage two clash! A button was missing! A whole button! You don’t even know Applejack-” The farmer turned suddenly and blocked her path.

“Yer rahght, ah don’t, ah don’t know a damned thing ‘bout fashion.” Her eyes narrowed. “Ah know Rarity, an’ ah know that y’ain’t bein’ fair t’yerself. Y’do good work, an’ y’get yerself down a lot. Ah want y’stahp that right nao. Y’don’t know any moar than ah do about whut he’s gunna say. There’s two possibilities about whut he’s gunna say, an’ y’might as well choose the better one. Worryin’ an’ frettin’ didn’t get ya nowhere in the summer, an’ it shure as hell ain’t getting’ y’nowhere nao.”

Rarity sniffed.

“You’re right, you’re absolutely right. Grace, grace for me, I should give myself some slack. And I can’t just worry and think that’ll change anything.” She wiped her eyes. Applejack always knew just what to say. “Thanks Applejack.” She said as she hugged the orange pony. Applejack laughed.

“Not a problem. Yer’ getting’ better all the time, y’turned that around rahght quick, that’s a world of improvement.” Rarity smiled.

“Well, you helped, and Dash, and those two stallions from my work, they taught me about grace.”

“There ya go! Things are really lookin’ up, y’got good friends and a good shot at getting’ t’do what y’want!” Rarity smiled.

“I guess I am.” She wiped her eyes. “How are you? Have you made any progress on those thieves?”

“Well, yeah and no. Paco had an idea, basically ah told ‘em that the eight thousand and five hundred that’s missin’ was a warnin’. Told ‘em ah was gunna fire the lot of ‘em if they went past the warnin’. They ain’t takin’ s’much as an extra breath a’ air since.” Rarity was happy that the possible crisis was averted; she wanted Sweet Apple Acres to go smoothly for her friend. “Oh, nearly fergot! Can ya’ll, y’know, invite Applecrisp over fer me?” Applejack asked quietly.

The Apples were going to make up their differences; Rarity was filled with joy at the prospect of no more fighting between the two.

“Absolutely.” Rarity said proudly.

“Nao it ain’t gunna be a weddin’ or nuthin, ah don’t even know if she’s gunna wanna come bah here. But ah thought maybe she’d like t’see the place this Saturday.”

“Oh she will, I know she will.” Rarity said excitedly. Applejack gave a cynical snort. “You keep telling me that I’m getting better, well now I’m telling you the same thing.” Rarity said with a grin.

The orange pony chuckled.

“Ah gotta be careful whut ah tell ya’ll.”

It was Friday. Rarity had not gotten any word from Hoity-Toity, but she didn’t care. She gave grace to herself and was at ease with whatever might come. Pinkie left for the Lone Star with a single musical number about how she was going to “Thaw that Ana’s heart, by selling bread as a start.” Pinkie Pie seemed pinker and happier now that she lived with Rarity. She made jokes, threw spontaneous parties and played practical jokes. The white unicorn felt a twinge of satisfaction whenever party pony grew excited and hyperactive, even if it was still slightly annoying.

After burying Gummy, Pinkie Pie had tearfully forgiven Rarity for her actions over the summer. Pinkie then threw Rarity a re-friending party, with better games and a more willing guest of honor. Pinkie Pie and Rarity were getting better, even if they still didn’t get along as much as they used to. Rarity and Pinkie Pie were going to be friends and the Blast wasn’t going to do a thing about it.

The day of the Falls and of course the proposition demanded nothing less than a stellar dress and Rarity rose early to go hunt for one. Of the three formal clothing stores in Ponyville, two were so far behind the times that Rarity wondered why the proprietors had simply not changed their professions to antique dealers. The final shop, a small green shop called Esoteria, held a few dresses, but nothing ideal. As Rarity nosed through the racks of formalwear and casuals, the teenage attendant approached her.

“Pardon me, is there anything I can help you with?” She asked sweetly.

“There is indeed, I need something that will wow a man, make him feel like he’s the luckiest fellow on earth.” Rarity related. The attendant smiled and showed her a row of dresses.

“These are sure to make an impression! I’m personally fond of anything with ruffles, do you know your size?”

“Dear, this is an atrocity.” Rarity said bluntly. She took two of the dresses. “These aren’t even Devotion dresses, these are both Trasks (for the lone mare who seeks to break hearts).” She hung them in their proper location. “And this!” She said carefully taking down a black silken dress. “If you were going with the basic classification of Devotion dresses, you could at least categorize them under indoor and outdoor.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Said the attendant, obviously not used to critiques of her business. “I like to keep things simple around here.”

“Evidently.” Rarity said in disapproval. She would not have cared so much, however, Esoteria was the only clothing store in Ponyville with any class, and Rarity wanted it to hold to the same high standard that she had.

“Well, what do you have that would work for outdoors.” Asked the unicorn. The filly pointed to a few racks scattered across the room.

“Anything with a grey label is suitable for indoors and outdoors. If it’s not an immediate need, I have some works by an excellent designer named Vanity coming in later that I’m sure you’d love.” Rarity stopped, Vanity was the only designer more influential than Hoity-Toity. The very existence of Vanity was esoteric knowledge that only the most well-informed fashionistas were privy to. Vanity was out of public eye and their rarely traded dresses quiet often fetched sums of millions of bits. Nothing, not even gender, was known about them. How did a very inexperienced retailer in Ponyville know anything about this shadowy figure of the fashion world?

“Excuse me.” Rarity said, tilting her head to hear more clearly. “Did you say Vanity?” The attendant nodded.

“Yes, he sends me a few pieces every now and then.” She was lying, the little imp had to be lying in an attempt to impress a customer that knew more about clothing than most ponies. Rarity pretended to be impressed.

“Oh interesting, say, do you know happen to know Vanity’s most famous work?”

“Little Black Dress.” She knew a common fact.

“Average price of a suit.”

“Four hundred thirty six thousand nineteen bits.” She knew basic statistics.

“Oh, so you would carry one of her works alongside these.” Rarity lifted a cheap sweater. “Chicom rugs?” She asked with a sarcastic laugh.

“Excuse me miss, but Vanity is a he, not a she.” The attendant reached behind the counter and brought forth a picture frame. She held it out to Rarity.

The unicorn stared at the picture, the attendant herself, a white unicorn with a pink mane, was standing beside a tall black stallion with a jet black mane in what appeared to be a workshop. Rarity’s mouth fell open, behind the two figures hung an unfinished Little Black Dress on a coat hanger.

Rarity dropped the picture frame.

“W-who are you?” She asked the young attendant.

“I’m Angora, Vanity is my uncle. I just graduated from the School of Advanced Arts with a major in preliminary fashion design. I opened my workshop slash retail outlet month ago.” Rarity was speechless for a second. The filly really did know Vanity.

“I, I’m so sorry for my suspicion. You must forgive me, I’m Rarity, I ran the Carisol Boutique outside of town until recently. I.” she picked up the picture and stared at the stallion. “Never thought Vanity was a he.” The attendant smiled and nodded.

“Nobody does. He’s really nice though, he paid for my tuition and got me this place. He sends me stuff from time to time. He wants me to just put it out along with the pieces that I make.”

“I used to make.” Rarity said softly. The pony nodded.

“Oh yeah! I’ve seen some of your works, they’re lovely! Would you like to take a look at my workshop?”

Of course she did. A small room, no larger than an oversize closet, but stuffed full of half made dresses sat behind the front end of the little store. Rarity inspected the pieces; Angora had talent, she needed refining, but she had talent.

“This is my first work.” The younger unicorn presented Rarity with a monstrously eclectic scarf. Rarity grinned.

“The Release.” Angora seemed surprised at her recognition of the hideous work. Rarity chuckled. “I had Mr. Molenda as my professor too. He told us that the Release scarf was supposed to take all of the evil clichés out of our minds.” She explained. “I burned mine.” She whispered.

“You attended the academy?” Rarity nodded.

“My degree was prelim fashion too. But, I haven’t made in a long time.” She added with a sigh. Angora laid the disgusting scarf down.

“What do you think of this?” She asked, holding up a half-finished dress. Red satin, oddly placed bow, effective hem. Rarity knew Angora had spent time on this piece.

“Why do you ask, I’m way behind on the trends?”

“Once a designer always a designer.” Angora said with a kind smile. “From what I’ve seen of your work, you’re vastly underrated. I wish you were still in business so we could do a Ponyville colab.” Rarity’s throat tightened from the kindhearted filly’s approval.

“It’s beautiful.” She said, pointing to Angora’s work. “Just keep the bow away from the neck, it’ll look like a noose if you move it up too far.” Angora looked at her dress, Rarity saw the spark of creativity in her eyes as she picked out a new place for the tied strip of fabric. Rarity looked around at the dresses and suits; Angora would go far, she could tell.

“Would this work for your Devotion?” Angora asked. Rarity looked back. Her heart stopped. There in Angora’s hooves, was Little Black Dress itself.

She had only seen pictures of the dress and it had been awe at first glimpse; Photo Finish had allegedly wept for hours at the first news of its existence. Valued at thirteen point five million bits, LBD had never been sold and every maker and designer from Hoity-Toity to the now imprisoned Greenwich had wondered what had happened to the groundbreaking work.

Angora held it out to her. With trembling hooves, Rarity took hold of the obsidian colored dress. The soft cloth electrified her arms and she felt faint.

“Yeah, I thought the same thing when I first held it.” Angora said quietly. “Vanity never liked it, he gave it to me and said I could never sell it, that I had to use it like something I owned.” Rarity was almost in tears as she held the garment. “Go ahead, that should impress your man.” The younger unicorn said.

“T-thank you.” Rarity cried. “Why are you letting me use this?” Angora shrugged.

“It’s just a dress. Maybe in return you can give me some pointers on some of my stuff sometime?” She suggested. Rarity sniffed.

“Absolutely.” She gave the white unicorn a hug. “Thank you so much!”

Rarity left Esoteria with more than Little Black Dress, she left with a friend. Rarity was going to pour out all of her knowledge and secrets for the little designer. She would give Angora all of the wisdom and foresight that had taken her a decade to amass. She was going to give Angora grace.

Buttoning up Little Black Dress was no easy task and Rarity stopped four times to simply weep at the sheer perfection of the work. As she felt the dark folds of ephemeral fabric against her skin, the unicorn grew lightheaded with awe. It was truly a masterpiece.

Pinkie Pie shoved open the door to their room. She had her brown fedora on again.

“Hay Rarity! Oh, cute dress! Can I try it on?” There weren’t enough No’s in the entire book of book of Leviticus to demonstrate Rarity’s refusal to this request. Seemingly undaunted, Pinkie Pie spun around in a circle and dropped onto her bed.

“Sheesh, you’d think that Ana is a Soviet or something with the way she runs the kitchen! ‘Dun do thees, dun do that, peehnk pohnee y u no maek sense’?” She said in imitation of the badly tempered mare. Rarity ignored her as she applied a light base of makeup. She made absolutely sure none of it could stain, just in case Spike’s proposal made her cry, which she hoped it would.

It was six o’ clock when the knock came. Rarity was just putting the finishing touches on her blush and Pinkie was cleaning her party cannon.

“I’ll get it!” Pinkie cried, dropping her Hoppes solvent and screeching down the stairs. Rarity hurriedly added the last of the pink to her cheeks and ran down to greet her fiancé. Spike looked marvelous. He wore a magnificently black suit complete with bowtie and bowed deeply as she descended the steps.

“Hello Rarity.” He said politely. “I’ve come to collect you.” She giggled.

“Well, collect away!” Pinkie looked at the two, evidently unaware of the occasion.

“Are you guys going to a funeral?” She asked curiously.

Rarity made a slashing motion to her throat indicating the consequences of the break in the moment. Spike laughed.

“More of the opposite Pinkie!” He said jovially. Pinkie Pie took a moment to process this.

“Would that mean-”

Rarity cleared her throat.

“Well.” The dragon said turning to his date. “Your chariot awaits!” They left the bewildered party pony and strolled out into the evening.

Spike led her out to the golden vehicle, it had been washed and waxed and looked like it did when Celestia had ridden it. He gave her a helping claw up into seat, then climbed into the driver’s position.

“Bye you two! Bring me back some potato salad or whatever they have at the buffet!” Pinkie called as they rose into the air.

The night was cool and crisp and the sun was starting to set. Birds fluttered past the side of the chariot, and Rarity peered down at the passing town. She was getting married, well, engaged at least. It seemed almost surreal that that baby dragon she had met so many years ago was going to be her husband. She smiled to herself, he had grown even cuter since then.

The Falls were thankfully devoid of other lovers, and the two sat atop the small ridge overlooking the falls and chasm-like pool below. The little stream feeding the falls emptied into a deep, well-like basin that sat about twenty five feet beneath the ground. As usual, Spike had cooked an excellent meal of steamed hay and flowers for her and for himself he had brought a dozen flawless rubies. Neither spoke during the meal and Rarity politely waited for Spike to pull the ring out of the basket, or pretend to fall to his death in the pool below, only to resurface carrying a “ring he had found.”

They finished dinner, and Rarity cuddled up next to him. She felt his heart pounding through his thick scales, he was of course, nervous. The sun fell a bit further.

“Is there anything you want to ask me?” She asked after a time. He thought for a second.

“Nope, I just thought we could enjoy the silence.” He said in satisfaction. This deflated her a bit. He was going to propose right?

The two snuggled for an hour, with Rarity growing more and more unsure with each noticeable change in the sun’s position. The sun finally set and darkness began to fall around them; Spike looked out toward the great expanse of forests, he didn’t even seem to notice Rarity.

It grew cold, a wind whipped around them, and Rarity snuggled against the dragon more for warmth than romance now.

“Oh, could you grab the blanket from the back?” He asked presently.

“Sure.” She replied unhappily.

“Make sure you grab the big one, my feet get kinda cold.” He added.

Was he breaking up with her? She rummaged through the back of the chariot. The blanket was buried beneath what looked like a strip of brass needles folded into a olive green metal can. Taking the blanket, she turned to bring it back to her selfish date. Spike was directly behind her, on one knee and holding a golden ring up to her. Rarity predictably screamed.

“No no it’s ok! I didn’t mean to surprise you, I’m sorry!” He said quickly, then saw that it had been a happy scream a not a terrified one.

He took a deep breath.

“Ok, um.” He looked up into her eyes. His dragon eyes went wide with fright. “Rarity, can you, or I mean, w-would you, d-do me, the um.” He cleared his throat.

She leaned down and kissed his purple nose.

“Yes.” She whispered.

He closed his eyes and embraced her. Spike lifted her off of the ground and pressed his lips against hers. Rarity wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back.

It had been a fairly perfect proposal. But a sudden burst of cold wind caused the two to remember their surroundings.

“Well, uh. I guess I should give this to you.” Spike said with an intoxicated sort of happiness. He held out the little circle of gold. Rarity reached for it, but as she did, the malevolent wind took hold of the symbol of pure love and cast it down into the watery chasm below them.

Both ran to the edge of the falls, just in time to see the ring swallowed up into the rushing water.

“No no!” Spike cried helplessly as he peered down to the pool. “I can’t see anyway we can get to it!” He said dismally. Rarity had already unbuttoned Little Black Dress. She was NOT having her engagement night remembered as the failure of a basic exchange of an object.

“Here, hold this.” She said, presenting her future husband with the folded garment.

“Rarity! Wait!” She dove from the ledge. As she hurtled toward the pool, Rarity really really hoped that it wasn’t a particularly shallow pool. The water slapped her and it seemed that every injury she had sustained over the summer, from the barfight to the very recent leap from the tower, rose again to attack her. Wounds across her body sang in outrage to the sudden impact. The icy cold water engulfed her and she struggled to see in the murky depths. She saw a flash of gold amidst the swimming blackness of the mud. She reached down, took hold of ring and kicked for the surface. The unicorn broke the water with a pained gasp. The frigid pool seemed to pull her back down and her strokes grew slower and slower. The water of the falls roared around her, and she lost her bearings.

“Rarity hang on! I’ll grab a stick!” Spike yelled from above her.

Rarity grabbed at the sheer rock around her. Slick from algae and years of erosion, the rock rejected her attempts to save herself. In a moment, Rarity felt the black water pulling her down. She fought, but the icy water soon overpowered her. Her strength sapped by the cold, the unicorn sank weakly back beneath the surface of the pool.

“Rarity! Hang on!” Spike cried.

Something orange appeared in the darkness above her. The glow of orange illuminated the water as whatever it was grew larger. In a few seconds, a missile-like object struck the water like a depth charge. The water surged from the impact and the pool became pitch black again. Rarity was almost unconscious as she felt something take hold of her.

Rarity awoke in a clean hospital bed, there were no nurses around and the room was empty save for her bed. Her head swam and she looked groggily around the room. Moonlight filtered through the curtained window aside her bed. How long had she been unconscious? She heard shouting.

“Let me see her! She’s my fiancé!” Spike yelled angrily as he swatted back the bunhaired nurse that attempted to cordon her room off. “Rarity!” Spike rushed over to her. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry! Are you ok?!!”

“Yeah, what the fuck happened?” She asked dreamily.

“You jumped into the pool and I was looking for a stick and then this Pegasus just hit the water like a comet!” He related. “Oh my God, Rarity, I’m so so sorry! I followed the Pegasus all the way here and I’ve been trying to see you for like an hour!” Spike said, starting to cry. “This was a terrible proposal!”

“Spike, Spike, it’s fine.” She said weakly. She put a hoof on his shoulder. “Can I still marry you?” He wiped a few tears away.

“Y-you, still want to marry me?”

“Of course! Why else would I dive into that deathtrap to recover a ring that is going to marry us?” She asked with a smile. He began to breathe heavily and she feared he might pass out.

“Here.” She rose out of the bed. “Sit down, it’s fine, I’m fine.” He took a trembling seat on the bed.

“God, what a night! I didn’t plan it this way I swear!” He said, wiping some sweat from his brow. She giggled and kissed him.

“Well, it’s all fine now. Although I really wonder who that Pegasus was.” She realized she didn’t have the ring. Rarity looked around. At the foot of the bed lay a mud covered, but still very gold and still very romantic ring. She squeed with glee and picked it up. Her rescuer was supremely thoughtful.

They left the little clinic, despite the protests of the doctors and nurse who warned her of pneumonia. It was late, probably about nine, and Spike helped her back into the chariot. He wrapped her in three blankets and drove slowly. They reached her tower and Spike helped her to the ground.

“You’re sure you’re ok?!!” He asked in concern. “I can take you back to the clinic, maybe I should.” She giggled.

“I am fine Spike!” She gave him a hug. “I’m more than fine, I’m engaged to you.” He blushed and began to sway dizzily and she feared he might collapse. “Go home, you’re all wound up.” She advised. “We got done what we needed to get done tonight. I’m engaged to you and we’re both alive.”

He nodded.

“Ok ok, I should get some rest.” He breathlessly agreed. She blew him a kiss as he climbed up into the chariot.

“I’ll be by soon to plan the wedding!” She called to the overwhelmed dragon.

Rarity shoved open the door to her tower. Pinkie Pie was carefully curling a noisemaker on her bed.

“I’m back. I almost drowned, got saved by a glowing Pegasus, Spike proposed to me and they only had egg salad.” Rarity laid the dark dress down beside her futon and went immediately to sleep.

Pinkie Pie sat up for a while that night, trying to make sense of the bruised, wet, happy and apparently sleepy unicorn that had burst through the door.