The hotel suite Rarity and Coco had rented out for the entirety of their time in Canterlot was no exception to the capital's beauty.
The suite was circular and swept from one room, which housed two exceptional dark wood framed beds complete with veils and thick quilt blankets, to the other, which opened to a beautiful ivory and gold trimmed bathroom and a sitting room which overlooked the Canterlot streets.
"Well then, to work! I wish we could get started on Rose's line right away, Ivory gave me some excellent ideas, but a little fun before work never hurt anyone." Rarity threw open her massive trunk which could has doubled as an entire closet and brought out a dark blue dress with a gold saddle embellishment. "Fleur really is such a dear. I wish I could have gotten to know her better during my last visit." Rarity held the lovely garment up against her as she posed against a mirror mounted on the large side of the trunk.
Coco watched Rarity with a quiet chuckle under her breath before turning to her suitcase; Suri was always one for appearances but Rarity seemed to always want to redefine the word 'fabulous'. Opening her small, neatly packed suitcase, Coco looked over various professional garments she had brought with her; skirts, slacks, jackets and blouses.
"Rarity?" Coco asked as she shuffled through the folded clothes.
"Yes dear?"
"What exactly do I wear to a party in Canterlot?"
Rarity glanced over towards Coco and smiled as she laid her dress over the chair in front of the room's vanity table and walked over to examine Coco's clothes.
"It's not what you wear darling, it's how you wear it. And for you, definitely this. Simple yet refined; Perfect." From the trunk Rarity levitated a thick white turtleneck sweater and laid it nicely over the side of the bed behind them, then walked to her side of the room again. From her trunk she pulled out a simple gold trimmed wooden box and set it on the vanity. Opening the box, she pulled aside various pieces of jewelry until she found the piece she was looking for.
"And this too; it goes wonderfully with your hair pin." Walking back just as Coco finished pulling the sweater over her head, Rarity placed a pink flower pendant with a small purple crystal at the end of each petal. "Now, how are we going to do your mane?" Rarity chimed as she trotted back to the vanity and began lining a salons worth of mane products, brushes, and combs.
"Oh there's no need for that Rarity, I like my mane like this." Coco smiled as she straightened the pendant around her neck.
"If you're sure," Rarity picked up her dress once more and slid it over her head then straightened the train before pulling her mane up. Carefully she began to place various bobby pins in critical points to keep her mane held down. Minutes later, a single lock of hair curled down just past her ear. "Perfect." She sighed in relief as she stood and found Coco looking over her notebook. "Oh Coco dear, tonight's just for fun. We'll work tomorrow."
Coco shrugged her shoulders while setting her notebook into her trunk.
"I guess I'm just nervous about getting started; the usual."
"Don't be, you'll do fine, but tonight's a party darling, now let's have some fun before having to work our tails off, hmm?" Rarity's ever present smile seemed to calm Coco's nerves as she grinned and nodded. "Since we have some time though, how about we visit a few shops along the way?"
Leaving the room together, Coco closed the door behind them and they descended the stairs of the hotel and entered the streets of Canterlot.
Silver Gates Villa was a towering fortress against a picture perfect landscape of untouched green hills. To one side of the estate, even from the street anypony could see and smell the vineyards of sweet grapes grown for luxury wine. In the evening sunset, the lanterns set in the courtyard set a soft glow across the massive and elegant polished stone walkways. Through the gates, a large crowd of Canterlot's best separated into groups of friends and acquaintances. Rarity and Coco had just barely crossed the threshold before Fleur Dis Lis spotted them.
"Rarity!" Fleur Dis Lis excused herself from her group of friends and quickly walked to meet her two newest guests. Following at a slower pace was her supposed significant other, Fancy Pants. "Glad to see you made it."
"Of course, we wouldn't miss this for the world." Rarity kindly shook her head to a server who offered a tray of drinks.
"And of course you remember Fancy Pants, the only pony who matches your eye for expensive tastes I imagine. Well, except perhaps my mother."
"Why yes, how are you Fancy Pants? It's been a while since I've seen you; not since my last trip I imagine."
"Had I not been as busy I would have made time for a luncheon perhaps, but it's good to see you again Rarity. Is this charming young filly another one of your Ponyville friends?"
"An amazing friend of mine, but she's actually from Manehattan. Allow me to introduce Miss Coco Pommel."
"Hello," Coco smiled shyly, "it's a pleasure to meet you Fancy Pants, I heard a little about you when I was in Manehattan."
"Coco is also my assistant while we're here working for Rose Blossom. I've never seen a more talented pony in fashion."
"Coco Pommel, what a charming name, and since the both of your are working for Rose it seems we'll be seeing more of each other."
"Definitely. While we wait for anyone else arriving, how about the two of you head inside? Ivory Tower and Rose are mingling with potential sponsors. Oh, and do watch out for my mother though, I'd say she likes a grander entrance then you, Rarity." Fleur said with a slight chuckle.
"If her reputation proceeds her, I'd expect nothing less. We'll meet you both inside, Fleur." Fleur gave a gentle wave of her hoof as Rarity and Coco turned to cross the remainder of the courtyard. Coco followed slightly behind, in awe of the crowd around her and the massive estate in front of her. Sure the buildings in Manehattan were tall but this was laid over a vast expanse of land. At the top of a set of white stairs, two unicorn stallions opened the doors for the mares as they were met with the elegant melody of music playing through the halls. The foyer was dominated by a large fountain with a statuette of a posed mare on top. Down both sides large gold embellished pillars held a massive slanted roof that seemed more fitting for a cathedral than an estate.
"If I didn't know where we were, I would think this was some sort of castle." Coco said as she attempted to take in the architecture.
"Amazing isn't it? One of the reasons why I adore Canterlot so much. Let's find Rose, shall we?" Rarity strode fourth with deliberate steps, as if fully knowing that she belonged and was expected. Each step was graceful, yet powerful, and her presence caught glances from around the room from both stallions and mares alike. However, the smaller mare following her went nearly unnoticed as she walked with her head slightly lowered, her timid nature getting the best of her as she attempted let Rarity take the brunt of the attention. In crossing the foyer, Rarity spotted the unmistakable sparkling white mare known as Ivory Tower; and if one did somehow miss her sheer silk dress, they did not miss her voice which carried across the room in all directions.
"We have an extremely well known designer working on Rose Blossom's fall and winter designs; her own sister recommended her. Who? Oh, her name is Rarity - yes the mare from Ponyville, she took first place in Manehattan's Fashion Week not too long ago. Oh here she is! Rarity dear, please, join us!"
Rarity immediately stepped forward while Coco lagged somewhat behind as she admired her surroundings. As Rarity joined the group, she seemed to completely blend in as her voice joined the in with the ponies who were once again completely lost in conversation. Coco, finally remembering that staying close to Rarity was the best way to survive this flood of ponies, turned around to follow her mentor but found herself colliding into a taller body.
"Oh, excuse me- you're the mare from the meeting earlier. Coco, right?"
Coco took a step back to reveal Rose Blossom staring down at her. A large white and pink lily was placed in her mane, which was held up in a bun with a white ribbon, with curled pink bangs hanging over the right side of her horn. A thin white crochet style shawl was draped around her shoulders and tied loosely around her neck.
"Y-Yeah-Yes. Yes, you're right. Sorry about that." Coco took another step back, one hoof crossing over the other as she flick her tail back.
"Don't worry about it, my fault really for taking the long way. Procrastinating." Rose rolled her eyes as she dropped her head in a sigh, but quickly seemed to realize what she was doing and raised it high once again. "I swear Ivory's gonna give me whiplash, this is too damn ridiculous. Sorry but I have to go, my mom needs to introduce me to everyone... again." As Rose brushed passed Coco, she paused for a moment as her sister approached her.
Fleur De Lis painted a smile on her face as Rose approached and uttered a question that was drowned out by the mass of voices surrounding them. Fleur shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, and Rose's expression softened as her sister turned and stepped away. As the sisters went opposite ways, Fleur approached Coco with a small smile.
"You look a little overwhelmed dear, I know Manehattan must be different from Canterlot. Come on, things should settle down after my mother finished her usual party introductions." Fleur stopped a few paces from Coco and gestured to her with a hoof.
"I am a little, I guess... but, I'm with Rarity, I should wait for her." said Coco as she seemed glued to her place on the floor.
"She'll be talking for awhile dear. I can introduce you to my mother if you'd like, while you're waiting?"
Coco tilted her head as Fleur's smile softened further until it was barely noticeable, and glanced back at Rarity who was still absorbed in her talk with Ivory and the group of elite ponies. As she turned back, she nodded and followed Fleur as she walked through the crowd and through the large archway into the greatroom of the estate. On either side of the room were two large marble stairways leading to a second floor. Towards the back of the room was the source of music that Coco was greeted with when she first entered the estate; a small band the consisted of talented ponies playing the piano, violin, harp, and cello.
"Up there, she always speaks from the second floor balcony." Fleur pointed her muzzle towards the balcony above, and Coco turned to see the massive structure towering above her.
"Is everything always this big in Canterlot?" Coco asked as she took a step back to avoid feeling completely dwarfed underneath the rising staircases.
"I suppose everything is more open. Manehatten is built vertically after all, I suppose you're used to everything being tall compared to wide. Try visited the big city after staying here and you'll wonder how ponies ever get that high without wings." Fleur chuckled softly as Coco smiled in an amused way.
As the band's song ended, the voice of a stallion echoed over the room. Looking up, Coco saw that he stood at the top of the stairs, and across from him on the balcony stood Rose. Her eyes stared out in front of her almost lifelessly, as if she was staring passed the wall at the back of the room. When she turned her head to look at the crowd, her eyes met Fleur, and the feeling of being alone in facing the crowd below fell over her like the heavy veil of night.
"The Mistress of Silver Gates, Red Velvet, and the young lady Rose Blossom wish to address you personally. If you would please direct your attention to the balcony," the stallion spoke stiffly without opening his eyes, as if he had done this a dozen times before.
From the hallway beyond the staircase, sharp hoofsteps rang out, announcing the mare who appeared in on the balcony moments later. Her strawberry red mane was held up with strings of pearls, while her tail hung down to the floor in thick waving curls. Her dark green eyes commanded the attention of those below as she joined her daughter on the balcony.
"My dearest friends and colleagues, I'm delighted to see you all here again," as Red Velvet began speaking in as elegant and light a tone as her voice could manage, ponies from the other room began to join those in the greatroom. "and for those of you here to meet my youngest daughter, I personally extend my gratitude for assisting us with her career. Rose Blossom's headline is Fashion Week here in Canterlot is official, but we have more in store for you later this season going into the Grand Galloping Gala and Hearths Warming Day. Any business inquiries should be directed towards myself or Ivory Tower and rest assured that we will personally answer every letter we receive. After all, without all of you, Rose would never have made it this far and she adores the praise and compliments sent to her."
Coco tilted her head in a confused way as she glanced around the room while Red Velvet spoke. Smiling faces, nods of approval, and occasional soft claps of hooves on the marble floor all seemed to be the complete opposite reaction that she would have expected. In looking back to the pair of elite mares, Rose turned her gaze away from her mother, her brow slightly furrowed as her tail half lashed in suppressed emotion. Fleur seemed to notice this as well, as her shoulders dropped while watching her sister completely tuned out the advertisement her mother was selling rather than simply thanking the guests for attending.
"Now, on with the party! In celebration of moving forward with the start of Rose's career, please join us in the dining room for champagne and horderves." Red Velvet approached the stairs in a elegant walk as the room once again came to life with the band starting up once again and ponies resuming their conversations on the way to the dining room. Quietly slipping around to the opposite staircase, Rose descended after most of the crowd had followed the more demanding presence of her mother. Fleur was the first to approach her sister while Coco shadowed her.
"Rose, what's wrong?" Fleur asked as Rose rolled her eyes before staring daggers at her mother out of the corner of her eye.
"It's... nothing. I'll be right back okay? Can you cover for me?" Rose let her head sink slightly, and she rolled her shoulders back heavily.
"If you need a moment, sure. Just don't take too long okay? Mom will send Ivory looking for you if you do." Fleur laid a hoof on Rose's shoulder lightly, and Rose nodded her head slowly in response with the slightest smile of thanks on her lips for a fraction of a second. Quietly she slipped behind the crowd and into the dimly lit hallways leading back into the smaller servants rooms of the estate.
"Is she okay?" Coco asked with a concerned tone as she glanced between the two sisters.
"Rose... well she doesn't always enjoy everyone's full attention. Mother can be a tad too much for her sometimes. She'll be back, I wouldn't worry dear." Fleur offered politely as she watched her sister leave. "Let her compose herself. In the mean time, let's find Rarity, shall we? No doubt my mother is hunting her down at the moment, she was very interested to hear of your attendance tonight." Fleur tossed her soft pink mane to one side as she gestured for Coco to follow her around the crowd and into the dining room.
Most grand dining rooms would host a long, grand table to seat at the very least a dozen ponies. Red Velvet's dinning room took that concept and multiplied it two times over. Two massive cherry wood tables dominated the most space. Each was lined with silver platters of the finest Canterlot caviar, fresh cucumber sandwiches paired with bowls of pears, crisp apples and plump vines of grapes. Tall, multi-tiered cakes decorated with red roses dotted the spaces between horderve plates. In each corner a servant held a serving plate of bubbling champagne and white wine.
As soon as Coco and Fleur entered the room, Fleur levitated two glasses of champagne towards her.
"Do you drink at all, dear? It's my favorite brand; Whitemane's Savant." Fleur offered one of the glasses to Coco as she paused in midstep.
"Not much, but I don't mind a little champagne." Coco turned her hoof to balance the glass as Fleur released it from her magic's influence, and gingerly sipped the savory, sweet and tangy drink as Fleur lightly waved towards her quickly approaching mother.
"There you are darling, I thought Rose would be with you." Red Velvet said as she glanced around for the tell tale pink mane of her youngest daughter.
"She excused herself for a moment, she needed to fix her mane." Fleur said nonchalantly as she sipped from her glass.
"Ivory, could you help her? This is her first party as the main attraction and I need her perfect for her clientele." Red Velvet nearly spilled her drink as she gestured across the room, causing her levitating glass to kick forward slightly.
"Of course." Ivory's tone was calm and blunt as she took a step away from the group, but was stopped by Fleur who held her hoof out too her,
"Oh it's nothing terrible Ivory, just a few hairs out of place. Why don't we, er..." Fleur paused for a moment, swirling the champagne in her glass as she tried to quickly think up a reason to delay the manager. Coco glanced between Fleur and Ivory, and stepped in before Ivory decided to wander off in search of her model.
"Fleur and I were just talking about how Rarity already has some brilliant ideas planned for Rose's first line. Have you told them already, Rarity?" Coco asked in a bright tone, her blue eyes glancing in Fleur's direction for a moment, just long enough to catch the look of thanks in Fleur's expression as they looked to Rarity.
"I had nearly forgotten, Coco! Excuse me for talking so much about myself, with all the questions I'd forgotten why we're here in the first place. Well," Rarity took a breath as Ivory turned towards her in curiosity. Red Velvet did the same, fixing her scarlet eyes on the fashionista as if it was of great importance. "after everything Ivory told me, I picture Rose in a stunning winter line. With Hearth's Warming Eve and the Grand Galloping Gala both being in winter, that will definitely be her biggest show. So, I picture her all in velvet..." Rarity continued to speak to the two mares who listened to her intently.
"Thank you." Fleur whispered subtly to Coco as she listened to Rarity speaking. "Can I ask a favor?"
"Sure," Coco said quietly in return, keeping her eyes on Rarity as her mentor continued on.
"Can you find Rose? She'll probably be less irritated around you instead of Ivory. I can keep them talking for awhile."
Coco glanced at Ivory, but nodded a few times and took a step back from the group.
"Excuse me for a moment." Coco said as she turned away. Fleur levitated Coco's drink into the air.
"I'll hold your drink dear, hurry back." Fleur smiled in thanks as she stepped closer towards the group of mares. Coco nodded quickly as she walked across the now mostly deserted main hall and towards the hallway Rose had taken.
Entering the red carpeted hall, Coco glanced side to side as she scanned any open doors along either side of the hall. As a servant came out of two swinging doors, which could safely be assumed to be a kitchen by the smells of cakes baking coming from between the doors, Coco stepped towards them.
"Excuse me, did you see Rose Blossom come by here? Her mother is looking for her."
"I saw her earlier ma'am, she went out the servant's entrance there, I assumed she was looking for someone. Should I send someone to fetch her?" The stallion asked politely as he gestured towards the door at the end of the hall.
"Oh no, I can find her alright. Thank you, sir." Coco said with a friendly smile as she walked down the hall to the side door and pushed it open with her hoof. "Rose?" She asked as she peered outside. The servant's entrance was bordered by a tall hedge that led down to the rear of the mansion. With nopony in sight, Coco slipped out of the doorway and quietly followed the stone path to the back of the mansion where she was met with a massive hedge maze bordered by elegant stone benches and small potted trees. As she rounded the corner, she paused as she stepped on something other than stone. Glancing down, she found the familiar crocheted shawl that Rose had worn earlier, and picked it up and laid it over her back as she continued down the path.
A few more steps revealed a lone figure leaning on a raised porch just above the entrance to the maze. Her front hooves hung over the side of the balcony as she stood on her hind legs, and the bright glow of magic made her presence obvious. Coco trotted closer and climbed the stairs, only to paused abruptly at the piercing, almost angry gaze that met her.
Rose's narrowed eyes relaxed slightly as they recognized the mare in front of her, and she turned back to look over the maze before throwing her head back to take a long drink from a large brown bottle. Her mane was no longer neatly done up in a bun, but hung in messy waves down her neck. The ribbon and flower laid on the ground as if shaken out of her hair.
"I thought you were Ivory. Who's looking for me now?" Rose said coldly as Coco took a few quiet steps closer.
"... Ivory, and your mom." Coco said as she stood on her hind legs and laid her front hooves on the balcony railing. Rose narrowed her eyes again and rolled her eyes.
"Of course they are... can't get two minutes before they send the Canterlot guard looking for me." She snapped irritably as she took another drink from her bottle. After a moment, she glanced towards Coco and silently offered the bottle to her.
"I-I prefer champagne. Thank you though." Coco said while shying away from the strong, bitter smelling liquor. Rose withdrew the bottle and laid it on the railing. Coco glanced between Rose and her hooves, drawing a blank on what to say to the mare who seeming drunk enough to be easily irritated. As a cold breeze caused a background of rustling plants and trees, Coco pulled the thick neck of her coat up and pulled Rose's shawl from around her shoulders. She stepped closer and offered the shall to the mare who lifted her head slightly as she spoke.
"It's getting colder out, you should have a sweater." Coco said lightly,retreating back a step as Rose lifted her head and stared down at the shawl. She blinked and levitated the shawl towards her and tied it around her neck before laying her head on her front hooves.
"Fleur made this for me." Rose said quietly as Coco silently watched her. "She's the only one who knows how much I hate these stupid parties. Every week my mom throws these things and it's always the same hoity-toity high and mighty ponies who couldn't give two tosses about anything but their hooficures or their perfect manes or the next stupid fashion show. It's all fake, everypony in there is just a fake looking to hire me rather than just... just talk to me for once." Rose narrowed her eyes as she turned away from Coco and levitated the bottle in front of her again to take another long gulp of the strong liquor.
"Fleur's covering for you, we have Rarity keeping your mother and Ivory busy. I-I thought you would have liked people wanting to hire you. You are a model after all, it's your career."
"If they'd be straight forward about the whole damn thing, it'd be easier. Every time Ivory makes it into this big ordeal as if everyone wants to get to know me, and every time it's the same thing; measure her and make the dress or whatever. Then I only hear from them again if they want me to be some guest or attraction at their next generic party. Fleur likes that kind of thing, not me. Modeling is my talent, not the only thing in my life." Rose looked sharply at her cutie mark, three four pointed stars, and nearly glared at Coco, who drew back slightly in surprise at the mare's aggression.
"How would you feel if that mare, Rarity, dragged you around with her only to show you off like some street-filly until someone decided to invest with you? You never have time to sit down let alone talk to your own sister or see how she's doing, or even hope of seeing any friends..." Rose's voice trailed off as she hung her head, her bangs falling over her face as she slowly lifted her gaze to the bottle again. She shook her head and turned the bottle upside down, pouring the rest of the drink onto the stone below the balcony. "Too much. Sorry, I don't usually have someone listening to me go off... It sounds a lot worse now, it must be annoying."
"No, not annoying." Coco quickly added as Rose looked at her out of the corner of her eye. "I guess I'm just sorry you never had anyone listen before this point, I can only guess how long that was bottled up for." In attempt to calm Rose down, Coco took a step closer and pushed the now empty bottle away across the railing. "I didn't realize you disliked the attention either."
"It's not the attention." Rose said quietly as she laid her head down again, "It's the insincerity. Every one of them has this blank stare. I can tell they're not thinking of me, they're thinking of the money I make them or the attention they get for their line. There's no variety. It's the same thing, day after day. I can't stand it."
"Is that why you, you know, drink?" Coco asked hesitantly.
"I'm never allowed anything apart from wine or champagne. I have to sneak the strong stuff. I usually get in in fan mail; mom always checks it before I get to it but I sometimes get to some of the packages before she does. You'd be surprised what some ponies send me. It's not appropriate table conversation, if you know what I mean." Rose attempted a small, dry laugh but fell short half way through.
"I-I see." Coco said as she glanced between Rose and the balcony. "Well," She paused for a moment, then perked up and turned towards Rose, laying a hoof on her shoulder, "since we're going to be working together, but I-I don't mean just because we're working together, but... how about I buy you a coffee sometime? I always get a coffee in the morning, a-and since I'm new to the city, maybe you could show me a good cafe where I could... you know, buy you a coffee?" Coco asked shyly, her voice slightly stiff as Rose slowly lifted her head. She chuckled slightly as Coco withdrew her hoof.
"Doesn't sound like you've asked anyone out on a date before." Rose said with a slightly more amused tone. Coco's eyes went wide at what Rose said.
"I-I didn't mean--"
"Relax, filly, I'm kidding. How about tomorrow morning? I think a coffee could work for the hang over I'll have."
Coco drew her head back, but nodded slowly.
"S-sure. Should I meet you here?"
"Nah, not with Ivory hanging around. There's a small cafe on the corner of Solar and Main, just around the corner and a few blocks down from here. I'll meet you there. 8 o'clock?"
"Solar and Main, 8 o'clock. I'll see you there." Coco nodded with a smile, catching the smallest smile on Rose's face as well as she looked down and levitated the ribbon and lily off of the ground.
"You wouldn't mind helping me fix my mane before enduring the rest of this party, would you?" Rose asked as she looked at the messy ends of her mane.
"Of course not, sit down on the bench, I'll pin it back up."
Rose took a seat on the bench, lowering herself to the height of the shorter earth pony mare. Coco took one end of the ribbon in her mouth and as Rose held her mane up she tied the bulk of her curls into a tamed bun once again, and smoothed the few untamed hairs with her hoof before placing the lily back in her hair just behind her ear.
"There, Ivory approved, no one will even notice it was down." Coco said lightly as Rose smoothed her bangs to one side and straightened her shawl.
"Thanks for that; the less they notice, the better. Shall we?" Rose offered as she looked over her shoulder at Coco, who nodded and followed alongside her as they walked down the stairs and towards the servant's entrance.