Family and Friends

Rarity sighed and flipped the ‘Open’ sign to ‘Closed’. She watched through the fogged glass doors of her boutique as fillies and colts, many wearing hats, scarves and saddles designed by hers truly, played in the snow under the watchful eyes of their parents. The grey overcast evening sky was not as depressing as one might imagine when it had granted the foals a day off school to go play. White flakes gently floated downwards, and the foals attempted to catch them on their tongues.

The last day before she closed for the holidays had come and gone without much fanfare, and now she was left to put away her winter stock and begin planning and creating her new spring line. She had been very carefully observing the trends and how they were going, and she was confident that her airy and elegant new designs would win the hearts of ponies all around. Yes, this holiday season promised to be a productive one.

So why did she feel so lethargic?

Despite her assurances that she would throw herself into her work immediately and design the perfect new outfits, Rarity honestly wanted nothing more than to lay down in bed and stay there until Hearth’s Warming was over. The boutique seemed cold and unfriendly, despite the cheerful music and warm fire she had in the background. Every sound seemed to echo, and Rarity couldn't help but feel desperately alone.

She turned back to the fillies and colts playing outside. It didn't take long for her to spot Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, but Sweetie Belle was nowhere to be seen. Of course, that was to be expected. Sweetie Belle had been spirited away to Fillydelphia by her parents for the holidays. Rarity had insisted upon staying behind, given that her parents only had enough bits to take one of them along. Rarity had claimed that she needed to work on her designs anyway, and had seen them off with a big smile.

Now she was regretting that decision. She should have saved her own bits and gone along. Without the ball of warmth, excitement and destruction that was Sweetie Belle, the boutique felt too big. It wasn't meant for just one pony to be in all alone. Even Opal wasn't enough company for Rarity, especially at this time of year when ponies were supposed be spending time with their families.

Rarity sighed again and sat down at one of her workbenches. She wrapped a blanket around herself and lazily drew a quill towards herself. Half-heartedly, she began doodling a potential new design, only to crumple up the page and toss it into the wastebin. She knew instinctively that she wouldn't get anything done tonight. But Hearth’s Warming Eve was tomorrow, and she would be spending that and the day after eating and lounging about. She had to at least make a start of her work.

Once more she put quill to parchment and tried to come up with something. But her quill wouldn't move. It was as though it was frozen. Rarity groaned and smacked her head down on the workbench. She knew what this was. A curse so terrible no designer dared speak its name lest it strike them next: artist’s block. There was no point in wasting time and energy trying and failing to come up with something tonight. It simply wasn't going to happen. She might as well begin her lonely Hearth’s Warming now.

Putting away the quill, ink, and parchment, Rarity trotted over to her fireplace with a romance novel levitating in her grasp, blanket still tangled around her. She curled up on the floor, opened the book, and began to read. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted movement. Rarity turned her head and glanced over at the window. Briefly, the yellow face of Apple Bloom looked back at her, but then she looked away and scampered off.

Thinking nothing of it, Rarity returned to her novel. After only a few pages, the words began to blur, and Rarity found herself reading the same line over and over again, her mind elsewhere. She wondered what Sweetie Belle and her parents were doing right now. Was Sweetie playing in the snow like her friends? Or were they all huddled by the fire in whatever hotel they were staying at, sipping hot chocolate and having a good time?

Whatever they were doing, it was almost certainly better than what Rarity was doing. She sighed once more. She was doing a lot of that today. She wasn't getting anywhere with her designs, and she was entirely too distracted to read her book. This night was not working out for her in the slightest. It seemed the only course of action for Rarity was to go to bed and hope that this depressing and lonely holiday would be over soon.

Rarity slowly opened her eyes and pulled back her sleeping mask. She barely stifled a most unladylike yawn as she rolled over in bed to check her clock. Half eleven. She'd overslept, but what did it matter? The boutique was closed, and there was nopony around to notice. She could have slept for the whole day and it wouldn't have mattered.

She had considered spending the holiday with one of her friends, but Twilight had returned home to visit her parents, as had Pinkie and Rainbow. Fluttershy spent most of her holidays alone in her cottage amongst her animal friends, and Rarity wouldn't want to intrude on that. Applejack was spending the holiday amongst her own family, and Rarity knew from hearsay that they took their traditions and family very seriously. Yet another thing Rarity wouldn't want to intrude upon. So it seemed she was alone this Hearth’s Warming.

Let this be a lesson for me, she thought. Next time your family is going on a trip for the holidays, simply bite the bit and pay for your own ticket rather than endure this heartache and boredom.

With nothing better to do, Rarity propped herself up on her bed with the intention of reading the day away. The hours slowly whiled away as Rarity read through her novel, savouring each page of the thrilling romance between a naive young mare and a dark, mysterious changeling drone masquerading as a shady businesspony. Getting some rest had certainly improved her focus, but Rarity’s mind still wasn't entirely on the book.

At around one o'clock, Rarity’s stomach finally got the better of her and she got up to make herself a late brunch. A few eggs, some toast and a nice glass of apple juice should do the trick. While she was putting butter on the toast, somepony knocked on the door. Rarity snorted. Couldn't they see she was closed? Still, she must be polite even as she turned this pony down.

“Coming!” she called, in a tone of forced cheerfulness. She switched off the stove, put her toast down, and trotted towards the door. To her surprise, the pony on the other side was not simply a passerby who couldn't read, but Applejack.

“Oh, hello, darling,” said Rarity, a genuine smile on her face. “What brings you here? I would have thought that you would be spending the holiday alongside your family.”

Applejack smiled. “Hey there, sugarcube. Yer right I'm spendin’ these few days with my family, but I thought I'd invite you over for the holidays,” she said.

Rarity’s eyes widened. “Moi? But Applejack, dear, I'm sure that your family has already planned extensively for today and tomorrow, and my inclusion would only be an extra part in a well-oiled machine, so to speak.”

Applejack smiled once more. “Extra parts only make our operation run smoother, trust me. Come on over. We’ve got room for ya, I promise.”

“Well, if you insist…” said Rarity with a growing grin. “Allow me a few moments to gather myself and I shall be right over.”

Rarity and Applejack walked alongside one another through the snow-covered streets of Ponyville. Upon Rarity’s back was a set of ornate saddlebags filled with her overnight supplies, as well as a needle and thread with which to cobble together a few gifts. Rarity and the rest of her friends had already exchanged gifts at Pinkie’s Hearth’s Warming party, but if she was going to impose on the Apple family she couldn't very well show up empty-hoofed, now could she?

“So, Applejack, if I may,” said Rarity.

“What's on yer mind?” asked Applejack.

“May I ask what brought this about? Not that I am not grateful of course, but what inspired you to invite me to come and spend time with you?”

Applejack chuckled. “Apple Bloom saw you through the windows of the boutique last night. She said ya looked lonely ‘cause Sweetie Belle ain’t around, and Big Mac suggested we invite you over. Honestly, I think that stallion’s got a crush on ya. Don't tell him I told you though!”

“Really?” said Rarity. “I shall have to give him something extra special then.”

Applejack laughed. “Ya just might!”

Rarity joined the laughter for a moment, but then stopped abruptly. “In all seriousness, darling, I do sincerely thank you for allowing me to come and spend the holiday with you. It's certainly preferable to my original plan of lazing about and eating too much food.”

“Yer very welcome. Nopony should have to spend this time of year alone. Hearth’s Warming is a time for spendin’ with family. And, do ya remember when the Flim Flam Brothers came around and I said y’all were honorary family members? Well, I meant it. Yer always welcome around the farm normally, so why should today and tomorrow be any different?” said Applejack.

She looked up at the grey sky. “And sometimes, it's good to visit and let a friend know that somepony is thinkin’ about ‘em, and that they ain’t alone.”

“Indeed it is,” said Rarity, also looking at the sky. “Indeed it is.”

Next Chapter: A Rarity (for Denim_Blue) Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 2 Minutes