Though she may not have been an official student of Canterlot High just yet, Twilight Sparkle, the most accomplished student of Crystal Prep, was nevertheless a frequent visitor of the former. Despite her brief-yet-memorable turn as a force of darkness, she’d been more than welcomed in this place, especially thanks to the urging of those like Sunset Shimmer. Now, as before, she found herself visiting this place, being greeted with a friendly smile by everyone who passed her by in the hallway. Although still not the most social of people, Twilight still did her best to return the greeting, albeit in a nervous manner. Eventually however, she happened upon her destination, a small workshop that she had been told was the frequent stomping ground of Rarity, one of the girls who had competed against her school in the recent Friendship Games. Letting out a long sigh, she turned the knob and entered the room.

Immediately, she was taken aback by the vast array of dresses on display here. Even with just a few moments to take it in, the spectacled girl had a good feeling for this place, and that it was, quite frankly, the work of one who had great passion for what they did. Not only was there a huge variety of designs, but also colour combinations, each of which was a sight to behold for the girl. Smiling at it all, it wasn’t long before Twilight noticed that Rarity herself was here, sitting at a desk and staring intently at a design sheet upon it. So engrossed was she in her work that she hadn’t even noticed Twilight’s arrival here. And as for Twilight herself, while she may have been somewhat nervous about interrupting someone while they worked, she soon mustered up the courage to do so, clearing her throat in a deliberate manner. In an instant, Rarity turned to her, a wide smile creeping onto her face as she did so.

“Twilight, darling! It’s so good to see you again!”

Putting on a somewhat nervous smile, Twilight nodded in response.

“It’s good to see you too, Rarity. I’d have called ahead, but…”

But the young fashionista, after getting up from her chair, merely waved her hand a little.

“Oh pish-posh! You’re welcome here any time you like! Please, come in!”

Smiling wider at that, Twilight entered the room in earnest, closing the door behind her. Once inside, she looked around, getting closer to the dresses on display, all while Rarity looked to her with intrigue.

“You approve?” she asked.

Twilight nodded enthusiastically at that.

“I do! They’re…they’re so beautiful!”

Smiling at that, Rarity brushed aside some of her hair.

“Well, one doesn’t like to toot her own horn, but I do think of myself as having a certain sense of style when it comes to these things!”

Looking to her, Twilight was utterly enraptured.

“You’re not joking. These are probably the best-looking dresses I’ve ever seen!”

A half-prideful half-bashful look crept onto Rarity’s face, and shortly afterwards, she turned, heading instead to her desk once more.

“You flatter me, my dear. In truth, I haven’t been able to get as much work done as I normally would. My assistant has been off with her sisters on vacation recently.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow at that.

“You have an assistant? Wow, you really are a professional at this.”

To that, Rarity simply let out a brief giggle.

“Well, the reality is that I was merely helping the girl with a budding talent of hers. Had a little difficulty with her and the other two in the past, but that’s all behind us now. I’ll introduce you at some point perhaps.”

Twilight nodded at that, after which she turned her attention back to Rarity’s creations.

“They’re so lovely. Crystal Prep never had anything like this on our grounds.”

Rarity turned to her with a look of curiosity.

“No? There are no students with a love of fashion or fine clothes?”

Twilight let out a sigh, shaking her head.

“Afraid not. Mostly we focus on more…um…academic things.”

Rarity considered that for a while, frowning a little in response before putting on the same smile as before.

“Well, far be it from me to question how a school should do things, but at the very least you’ll be coming to a place that appreciates this kind of thing a little bit more.”

However, immediately after saying that, Rarity gained a look that suggested that she’d just remembered something important.

“Speaking of which…when is your transfer going to happen?”

Twilight scratched the back of her head and re-adjusted her glasses slightly before giving an answer to that.

“A few weeks. Dean Cadence still has to sort out the last of the paperwork…and Principal Cinch isn’t really helping out with it.”

After a few moments of silence, Twilight looked down at the ground, deep in thought.

“I don’t think she really wants to be helping me with anything these days.”

Rarity frowned, showing clear disapproval over the absent Principal’s apparent attitude, but, for the sake of Twilight, put on a more cheery face.

“There there, dear. It’ll all work out. Still, let us focus on more pleasant topics, shall we?”

Twilight nodded, looking to her with a small smile of her own.

“Sure. I mean…what’s that new design you have there?”

Turning to her desk, Rarity picked up the design sheet and gave it a look over before letting out a sigh.

“Well, one of the girls here at CHS has a birthday coming up and she heard about my dress-making, so she asked if I could make her something. I’ve got a lot of other stuff I need doing, but I should be able to finish the order by then.”

Twilight opened her mouth to speak, only to stop when Rarity let out a happy-sounding squeak, turning to her with eagerness in her eyes.

“Oooh! I nearly forgot! I actually have something for you!”

Twilight raised an eyebrow at that.

“For me? Really?”

Rarity nodded before, to Twilight’s surprise, rushing right past her. The bookworm watched as her new friend rummaged around many of the dresses on the racks, looking through them as if searching for something specific. After a long while, the fashionista let out a hearty “aha” before emerging from the racks again, holding another of her outfits for Twilight to see. It was a good-looking item, that much was certain, and what appeared to be a strapless pink-and-purple party dress of some kind, with a skirt that cut off at the knees. Looking at it, Twilight smiled.

“That’s…that’s for me?”

Rarity nodded, looking quite pleased with herself.

“Go head, dear. Try it on!”

But, looking to her, Twilight gained a small blush.

“Oh! You mean…right now? I’m not ungrateful, but I’m not sure if…”

But Rarity was having none of it, and walked behind Twilight before gently nudging her towards the nearby changing room.

“There’s no need for embarrassment, Twilight. It’s just us friends here.”

Twilight tried to protest, but it was clear that there was no debating Rarity on this point, and so, she instead put on a more appreciative look, taking the dress before walking under her own power into the changing room. Rarity stayed outside, and instead waited patiently. As the minutes rolled on, she listed to the distinct sound of someone changing outfits on the other side, until, at last, the door finally opened again. Turning, Rarity gained a massive smile, as Twilight did indeed look good in her new clothes. Taking a step out, the Crystal Prep girl looked at herself in a nearby mirror, still looking as nervous as ever.

“How…how do I look?”

Rarity, unable to contain herself, merely giggled before giving an answer to that.

“My dear…you look stunning! I swear, every head in the room would turn in your direction if you were to show up like this.”

Twilight’s blush grew more fierce at that.

“Oh, I’m not sure about that.”

But Rarity waved her off again.

“Believe me, darling. You’d be the talk of the town!”

Giving off a brief giggle of her own, Twilight looked down at her new outfit before putting on a look of curiosity.

“How did you think to design it like this?”

Rarity smiled before answering.

“Well, it’s actually an updated design of a previous dress from a couple of years ago. If you can believe it, the original was used by Twilight…I mean…our Twilight.”

At that, Twilight stopped smiling, though Rarity had not noticed as she kept on speaking.

“She loved it too! She wore it during our rather eventful Fall Formal. And to give you something similar, well…”

Looking straight at Twilight, Rarity was practically beaming at this point.

“…it’s almost as if she never left!”

Rarity turned, putting her attention back on her other design, leaving Twilight to look at herself in the mirror. Slowly, and after much hesitation, she raised her hand, untying the bun that her hair was normally kept in, and letting it fall down to her shoulders. Looking at her new appearance, she couldn’t help but feel a little bit down at everything she’d just taken in, leading to a slow and hushed utterance.

“Yeah…your Twilight.”