Sweetie Belle stood looking in confusion at the newest addition to the boutique. It was a large black curtain, obviously sewn by Rarity herself, hanging in front of what she assumed to be a room. Her innate curiosity began to get the better of her, and she inched forward, wondering what was back there. Part of her felt like she was doing something wrong, which made it all the more thrilling to peek. Was it a surprise for her? After what seemed like eternity, she was finally close enough to grab the curtain string in her teeth and pull it. Just as she was about to tug, she felt herself being lifted off of the ground by a gentle touch of magic.

“No, no, darling! You're not allowed back there.” Rarity explained, though she didn't sound mad as she gently sat the unicorn filly back onto the ground.

“Awww, why not?” Sweetie complained, forcing her big green eyes to water somewhat in one of her precision guilt trips. She should know by now that it doesn't work on her big sister.

“Because....well, I'll explain it when you're older.” Rarity waved a hoof, hoping that her abrupt dropping of the subject didn't' pique the little filly even more. The last thing she needed was her little sister robbing herself of her innocence because she couldn't take no for an answer.

“Is it a surprise for me?” the filly asked, her green eyes lighting up with hopefulness.

“Heavens no!” Rarity snapped. “In fact, if I had my way, you'd never get involved with that stuff! You are my little sister after all, and I have to protect you. Now go play with your friends.” With that, Rarity planted her hooves on Sweetie Belles rear and scooted her gently out the door.

When the door shut behind her Sweetie Belle found she was even more curious than before.

Maybe I can get my friends to help me! her eyes lit up at the thought as a smile played across her face. With that, she galloped off towards the clubhouse.

A few moments later, the bell over the door rang, signaling a new customer. Rarity emerged from behind the counter to see none other than Lyra. The aqua green unicorn bearing a harp as a cutie mark, looked nervous about asking her question.

“How can I help you dear?” Rarity asked, turning on the old salespony charm.

“Well,” Lyra rubbed her front hoof against her other foreleg as she glanced at the floor. “Bonbon said that you were selling....um.....things. She said she wanted to try something new....”. This poor girl was obviously worried about being judged, and she subconsciously brushed her white mane from her eyes and smiled weakly.

Rarity tried to hide her surprise. Here she thought those two were just really good friends. Perhaps this business venture would reveal more about the complex lives of the ponies she barely even gave a nod to on the street. This worried her. Such a responsibility was not to be taken lightly, especially when the customers violated the privacy rule.

“Well, was does she like?” Rarity asked, placing a hoof on her chest as if to calm her suddenly sped up heart rate. She then brushed her own curls out of her eyes, blinking innocently as she hoped that question didn't come off as too intrusive.

“She....she likes it rough....you know....” Lyra began to blush. For a pony who didn't wear clothes, it sure felt strange airing dirty laundry.

“Oh, well I have just the thing for that! Follow me!” Rarity's tail bounced as she trotted elegantly to the black cutain that moments ago thwarted Sweetie Belle and her curious nature. Even her cat Opalescence wasn't that nosy.

Meanwhile in the little ramshackle tree fort the Cutie Mark Crusaders spent most of their time in, Sweetie Belle was giving the other crusaders the low down on what was going on.

“So Rarity's got this room now, and she says I'm not old enough to see what's inside of it.” the unicorn filly explained as she tried to keep her balance draped over the multicolored ball.

“Won't grown ups ever learn?” Scootaloo asked through a mouthful of crayon as she looked up from her latest drawing, this one possibly more unsettling than the last batch she did for Cheerilee's art class. Scootaloo never seen the teacher so worried, and she could only smile. “The more you say we're not allowed to see something, the more we want to see it!”

“Ah don't know.” Apple Bloom replied, her face displaying nervousness. “Last time Applejack told me that about somethin' and I looked anyway, I got a switch to the flank.” she rubbed her flank with a hoof as if the memory brought the pain back in all it's stinging glory. She swore she could still feel the welt on her skin.

“Rarity would never do that!” Sweetie Belle's eyes widened, her shock causing her to roll off the ball and land hard on the wooden floor.

“I heard Rainbow Dash telling Twilight that Rarity had toys back there!” Scootaloo remembered, a smile crossing her face. She was walking by to the clubhouse when she saw Dash and Twilight engaged in a discussion. She didn't know it was a continuation of Twilight's education from when they were in the boutique, all she heard was toys.

“What kind of toys?” Apple Bloom asked, raising a brow in suspicion.

“I don't know! But maybe they she has those new robot pony toys that transform into things! Those are so awesome!” Scootaloo began to ramble now.

“That doesn't seem like something sis would be into.” Sweetie Bell replied, shaking her head. She rubbed a hoof through her pink and purple mane, checking to make sure she didn't hurt herself too bad when hiting the floor.

“Well, there's only one way for us to know for sure.” Apple Bloom spoke up. The three placed their hooves in the middle of the huddle and recited their mantra once more.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS BACK ROOM EXPLORERS!”