As Rarity prepares to open her flagship boutique in Manehatten, tensions rise and a former antagonist returns...will the city’s cold disposition crush the mare’s spirit or will she rise above it?
As Rarity prepares to open her new boutique in Manehattan, tensions rise and a former antagonist returns...will the city’s cold disposition crush the mare’s spirit or will she rise above it?
Rarity basked in the morning light that pierced through the skylights of Grand Central Station. It was early in the morning and the first cool breezes of Autumn air were nipping at the mare’s nose. Even now, she couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh at Manehattan’s stunning surroundings. From the gorgeous couture of the ponies passing by, to the neatly lined trees that filled every footpath, the city was as spectacular as the day she first arrived.
In her heart, Rarity felt that fate had brought here. Only that morning a letter had arrived on her doorstep, notifying her that a shop had just come up for lease in Manehatten’s fashion district. Not only that, but it was on Saddle Row, which had become famous for being the most exclusive place to open up shop in all of Manehattan.
Of course, she had to come up to Manehattan right away in order to put down a deposit and begin work on opening her new boutique. It had always been her dream to open up a boutique on Saddle Row and now, she was finally taking the first step to making it come true!
The unicorn let out a little squeal of excitement as she started down Manehattan’s main boulevard. While she trotted along she noticed that Central Park had become a delightful forest of dewy yellows and bright auburn. Leaves fell from the nestles of trees that lined the sidewalk, blanketing the ground with their deep shades of brown and yellow. By the end of the season, no leaves would remain to tickle the branches of the trees.
Rarity tightened her silk scarf as she crossed over into the fashion district. The streets were busy as always. With ponies rushing from one place to the next, not taking even the briefest moment to glance in her direction. Taxi carts were everywhere, pulling up alongside the street and speeding away within seconds. It occurred to Rarity that in this fast-paced world, no pony took the time to slow down and smell the flowers, as it were.
Treading cautiously across the road, she immersed herself in the glittering shop displays that lined the street. Just a few blocks remaining now; the site for her boutique sat squarely between two other high-end fashion brands.
A chilled breeze sent shivers through her wool coat, entangling her in its frigid clutches. She stopped in her tracks, tightening her scarf once more, as her eyes wandered over to the mare waiting for her outside the boutique’s entrance. Her dark, crimson mane was pulled into a neat bun, and as Rarity approached she could see the Earth pony adjust her dark charcoal frames.
“You must be Rarity, my name is Savvy Sales. I’m the property manager for Saddle Row Elite, the real estate company that owns this building.”
Rarity gave the mare a beaming smile. “Yes, I’m Rarity, and I can’t tell you how exciting it was to receive your letter, Savvy. I had always hoped such an opportunity would come up.”
Savvy raised an eyebrow at her but her expression remained unchanged. “Well then, why don’t you take a look inside?” She gestured towards the shop’s front door, its once bright blue paint now faded to a much more subdued hue.
At no more than four stories high, the building stood as a relic of past glory. While the rest of the shops in the district had either been restored or torn down, this forgotten little place remained an aged and abandoned eyesore. She had always been keen to take on a restoration project and when the realtor had found this place, she knew it would be the perfect site for her new boutique.
She peered into the shop’s front window. Cobwebs climbed up the inside of the windows, dust-covered every surface. Rarity began to wonder why such a sought after boutique space in Manehattan would have remained empty for so long.
The sound of rattling keys pulled her from her thoughts as she noticed Savvy Sales struggling to push open the heavy wooden door. “Are you quite alright, Savvy?” Rarity asked as she wandered over.
“Yes, this door is always difficult to open,” Savvy said through clenched teeth as she pushed hard up against the door.
“Perhaps this will help.” Rarity cast a blue aura around the keys inserted into the lock and jiggled them slightly before pushing the key in, “Don’t worry Savvy, the same thing happens at my Ponyville boutique all the time,”she said as a clicking sound alerted her to the door that now swung ajar.
“Ah, thank you Rarity. At least the door is open now.” Savvy said as she pushed a stray hair back into her mane.
Rarity smiled. “That’s quite alright darling. You Earth ponies may be strong, but sometimes a little unicorn muscle can be just the thing that’s needed.” She gave Savvy a playful wink before wandering inside.
“Yes, indeed,” Savvy said in a low tone of voice before adjusting her glasses once more and following the mare inside.
Rarity gazed up and around the inside of the shop, her heart dropped. She could already feel any excitement she had rushed out of her as she looked around. A growing feeling of concern grew as her once beaming smile faded away. The front window had only been a precursor for what was now in front of her. Thick layers of dust covered every surface, cobwebs were sprawled out lazily from the corners and draped across the beams. She could feel the dust beneath her hooves and as she glanced down she couldn’t even tell what kind flooring was underneath.
“Well, this place could certainly use a bit of…” She felt her nostrils flare up, agitated by the mounds of dust falling in the air, and promptly sneezed. “Spring cleaning.”
Then, just as she could hear Savvy’s footsteps behind her...Rarity spotted something in the corner of her eye. A small, long-tailed critter could be spotted scurrying across the floor towards the back of the room.
“Was that a...?” She turned back to face Savvy.
“Yes. This property does indeed have a vermin problem. I do assure you, however, that it will be dealt with if you decide to lease this building.”
Rarity glanced around the room once more, trying to stay optimistic about the shop’s prospects. “Savvy, is there anything else I should know about before I place my deposit?”
Savvy stared at her blankly. “Yes: if you decide to lease this property you will need to have your shop up and running by the end of the week.”
As she stood there, Rarity could feel her chest begin to tighten. “The end of the week? But that’s only six days from now. How am I supposed to have this entire place up and running in such a short span of time? Most boutique openings take months!” she exclaimed, gesturing at the shop’s disarrayed state.
Savvy followed the mare’s hoof with her eyes, but despite Rarity’s outburst, her expression remained the same. “Yes, well Saddle Row Elite has had so many proprietors lease out this building, only for their business to fail that we have made the decision to take one final chance with a new tenant.” The mare took off her glasses, peering through them momentarily before wiping off the dust that had now gathered on the lenses.
Satisfied that her glasses were now clean, Savvy placed them back into position. “Rarity, I am only going to say this once.” As she walked closer to Rarity her gaze grew more intense, so much so that Rarity now began to feel a little uneasy as she stood there. “If you don’t have this boutique of yours up, running, and turning a profit by the end of the week, we will be contacting our contractors. They will come and this building will be torn down so that a new apartment building can be constructed in its place. Saddle Row Elite is tired of losing money on amateur entrepreneurs who think that they can just open up shop here on Saddle Row and make bits rain from the sky.” Savvy said in a quiet, harsh tone.
The mare then turned and started walking towards the front door. “Now, if you are still interested, please come see me at my office.”
Rarity felt a sudden, heated sensation rise in her chest. She took one more glance at her surroundings. “Savvy, wait!” she called out.
Savvy turned back to face her and for just a moment, Rarity though she could glimpse even the slightest look of surprise in the mare’s eyes.
“I want to lease this building. I believe it would be the perfect place to open up my new boutique and I promise you, I will have everything up and running by the end of the week.”
Savvy cleared her throat. “Well then, I shall return to my office so that I can prepare all the necessary paperwork for you. Please, come visit me this afternoon with your deposit ready.”
Rarity let out a deep sigh of relief. She could already feel the tension lift from her chest. “Thank you, Savvy.”
The pair wandered back out onto the street. Fiddling with the keys once more, Savvy locked up the building before she started trotting back towards Saddle Row Elite’s head office building at the other end of the street.
Rarity decided to head off back down towards Central Boulevard but didn’t make it far before she heard Savvy call out to her. “Rarity?”
The unicorn spun around to see Savvy pacing over. “Yes?”
“Don’t let me down,” she whispered softly into Rarity’s ear.
And with those final words, Savvy took off down the street once more, leaving Rarity slightly perplexed as she stood in the middle of the bustling street.
Still feeling a bit perplexed, Rarity tried to regain her senses as she took in the sights of the bustling sidewalk, which was now crowded with ponies and food-stand attendees. The rich smells of warm cinnamon bagels and freshly brewed coffee wafted through the cool air – the perfect touch for the fall season.
As she stood there, her mind wandered back to the boutique behind her. She needed to formulate a plan; the enormous task ahead of her was certainly too much for one pony to handle, especially with the small amount of time she had on her hooves. From her saddlebag, Rarity retrieved a notepad and pen and started writing out a to-do list.
Naturally, the first task would involve cleaning the shop interior from top to bottom so it could be restored to its once spotless state. Afterwards, she would need to find somepony who could help her design and renovate the boutique. As confident as she felt in her own design capabilities, Rarity knew that designing the inside of a shop and designing her new Fall collection were two completely different things. Hence, somepony with a more architectural eye would definitely be useful.
It would then be up to her to decide on the boutique’s overall style and theme. The Manehattan boutique couldn’t possibly emulate the style of decorum of its predecessors – it needed to be bold and exhilarating, much like the great city itself.
Rarity took a few deep breaths; she had learned over her years of running her boutique to take time to breathe and recentre herself. Now that she had written herself out a list of tasks and the order in which to do them, she felt much calmer.
Surely if I complete everything on this list, then hopefully I’ll be able to have the boutique open on time. Even if it is only six...days away.
“Stay calm, Rarity. You can do this. You just have to stay focused on the task at hoof,” she said aloud, once more taking another deep breath before yet another wave of rich coffee aroma wafted over her.
I should probably get something to eat before I tackle any more boutique business. Perhaps I could find a nice cafe to stop at?
“Hmm…” Rarity pursed her lips while slowly pacing along the footpath, completely oblivious to the ponies that needed to weave out of her way. She kept her eyes peeled for a nice looking restaurant or a cozy cafe as she strolled along – before slamming straight into somepony.
Rarity toppled onto her back with a squeal. Her vision was momentarily blurred from the impact, but before long she was able to see a pair of light cyan eyes staring down at her, a growing look of worry on her face.
“Are you alright?” the mare asked, lending her a hoof.
Rarity reached out and grabbed the mare’s hoof before quickly realising who she had just bumped into. “Coco Pommel?”
Coco beamed at her. “Omigosh, Rarity! I’m sorry for bumping into you. I didn’t see you there.”
“Well, I certainly wasn’t paying attention myself, Coco.” Rarity said as she brushed some of the dirt of her shoulders.
The pair started down Saddle Row once more, trotting along as they talked.
“What brings you to Manehattan Rarity?” Coco asked as they turned towards an intersection, stopping at a set of lights.
Rarity cleared her throat, trying her best to contain her excitement, but despite her best efforts, a wide grin spread across her face. “As you may have heard, I’ve opened a rather successful boutique in Canterlot and so I thought it wise to set up my next flagship boutique here in Manehattan.”
“How exciting! I’m so happy for you Rarity.” Coco’s eyes dazzled with joy as she beamed up at her friend.
They watched on as the taxi carts hurried along the road in an endless blur, the city streets certainly never sleep in Manehattan. Even long after the sun has set, the city is still buzzing with life as ponies continue to take in the sights, meet up for late night drinks or simply enjoy the cool Autumn weather with a stroll in Central Park.
“Thank you, Coco. I do appreciate that,” she replied just as the traffic came to stop. “I’m actually on my way for a cup of coffee if you’d like to join me.” The lights at the intersection turned green, and the pair joined the crowd of ponies as they crossed over. “I would love to. Where were you thinking of going?” Coco asked with a gentle smile.
“Well, to be perfectly honest I don’t really know. I was actually looking out for a nice cafe when I bumped into you.”
When they reached the other side of the intersection, they stopped on the street corner, ponies dodging around them, rushing past in a hurry. A comfortable silence lingered between them as Rarity waited for Coco to speak, she noticed the particularly fashionable attire of the ponies that walked past: from the mares wearing posh, tailored coats with embroidered hems, to the stallion’s donning their finest suits and fedoras. The ponies of Manehattan seemed to dress up whether they were seeing a fabulous Bridleway show, or just catching up with friends over lunch. Rarity noticed the ponies with impeccable taste and those who chose to make a statement, from the boldest of patterns to the simplest frock, each pony had a distinct sense of style.
Coco Pommel rubbed a hoof against her chin. “I do know a place that does some of the best coffee in all of Manehattan. Chester’s Diner, it’s this cozy little place tucked away on thirteenth street. It makes some rather fine coffee and scrumptious pastries. Even so, it’s usually rather quiet and I can’t work out why. I guess ponies in the big city really do judge purely by appearances.” Coco let out an exasperated sigh, her brow furrowed into a frown as she glanced at the ground.
Rarity placed a hoof under the mare’s chin. “Is everything alright Coco?” she asked softly.
As Coco met the mare’s gaze, her eyes were briefly filled with sorrow, quickly followed by a soft, half-smile. “Yes, Rarity, of course everything’s fine. It’s just saddening to know how superficial the ponies in Manehattan can be.”
“Well,” Rarity paused for a moment, allowing herself a moment to think before continuing. “Don’t let the ponies in this town get you down, Coco. You and I both know a good cup of coffee when we smell it. Why don’t you show me the way to this Chester’s Diner?” she asked giving Coco a gentle smile.
Coco brightened up as she gave Rarity a sincere but gentle smile. It was then that Rarity could tell that she had lifted her friend’s spirits. “Of course. It’s a bit of walk from here, but I assure you, you’ll be glad you made the trip.”
“So Rarity, have you decided on a name for your new boutique?” Coco asked as they trotted along the sidewalk.
Rarity took a deep breath and sighed. “No, I haven’t even chosen a theme yet, let alone a name. I’ve actually only just inspected the site of my new boutique.”
Coco Pommel’s brow furrowed slightly. “Well...how did that go?”
“Horridly. You should’ve seen the state that the building was in, Coco. Entirely unkempt would be putting it nicely.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, Rarity,” Coco replied, giving the mare a concerned but warm gaze.
Rarity smiled back at her. She appreciated Coco’s efforts to comfort her, she truly did, but she hadn’t even told the mare the most crucial detail: the insurmountable obstacle that stood in the way of her achieving her dream.
“That’s not all, Coco. When the property manager showed me the boutique, she made it very clear that I had to have my new boutique up and running by the end of the week.” Rarity eyes glanced at the concrete paving beneath, counting the little cracks in the sidewalk as she went.
When she looked up again Rarity noticed that Coco’s eyes widened with shock and her mouth hung ajar. She was quiet for a moment, searching for words. “But...but, Rarity that’s only six days from now! How could she possibly expect you to renovate, decorate, and have your entire business running by then?” Coco asked, speaking more quickly than before.
By the surprised expression on her friend’s face, Rarity could tell that Coco was still trying to wrap her around the entire concept.
“That’s just it Coco. I don’t know how I’m going to do it either.” She paused for a moment to contemplate the events from earlier. “But that doesn’t mean I get to just sit around and feel sorry for myself. I’ve already begun to formulate a plan.”
Coco’s cyan eyes brightened up as Rarity spoke. “Really?” she asked, perking up.
Rarity smiled. “Indeed I have. My first order of business will be to clean the entire boutique – it’s in desperate need of a makeover.”
The mare giggled. “From the impression you gave me Rarity, I’d have to agree.”
“Then I would begin my search for somepony who is – how do I put it?” She rubbed her hoof against her chin. “Somepony who has a deep understanding of architecture to help me design the boutique.”
Coco Pommel grinned. “You know, Rarity. I do know somepony who might be able to help you,” she said gleefully.
Rarity looked at Coco, her eyes filled with eagerness and anticipation. “Really, who?”
“Her name is North Point. In fact, you might’ve met her already. She was one of the patrons at your Canterlot boutique.” Coco said, glancing over at Rarity.
Rarity rubbed her chin, she always made a conscious effort to get to know all of her customers on a personal level. Surely, she would remember her. Thinking for another moment, Rarity’s eyes lit up.
“Why yes, of course! She was the mare that bought my In-spire-ation gown! Oh, yes that was most certainly a lovely dress and it suited her to a tee!” Rarity exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.
Rarity began to feel a little more optimistic about the boutique opening on time, if she could get the right ponies to help her, then perhaps her goal wasn’t too far out of reach.
“You know Coco, it really does seem like fate that I bumped into you today.” Rarity said, a warm feeling growing in heart.
Coco looked a little puzzled by the mare’s statement. “What makes you say that, Rarity?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Had I not bumped into you, I wouldn’t know about North Point and how she might be able to help me renovate the boutique. To be quite honest, I’m going to need all the help I can get.” Rarity replied, smiling back at her.
Coco’s eyes widened a little, “Gee, I never really thought about it that way. But I’m pretty sure North Point will be more than happy to lend you a helping hoof. She’s always been quite charitable with her time, especially when it comes to design and renovation projects.”
“That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear, Coco. I’m so glad you’re here with me today. How did you and North Point meet?” Rarity asked curiously.
Coco gazed off into the distance, happily reminded of the memory. “It’s quite simple really, she was the architect working on the sets of many famous plays, one of which I helped design the costumes for.”
“Darling, that’s wonderful! I’m so glad that I gave you that job, especially since you’ve now made a new friend.” Rarity smiled at the mare now, her heart filled with joy.
Coco blushed, “Thank you, Rarity. It has certainly opened a lot of doors for me here in Manehattan. In fact, since I worked on those costumes, production designers from all over the city have been asking me to come and design their costumes. It’s been really exciting, working on some of these bridleway shows. I’ve only recently been able to have some time off, which means I’ll be able to help you open your boutique.” She beamed up at Rarity with a brilliant smile.
“That’s incredible, Coco. I’m so happy to hear that you’re doing well here. If you wish to help me with my boutique, you’re more than welcome. I’m sure that together, we’ll be able to turn the rundown little shop into a boutique worthy of being on Saddle Row in no time!” she exclaimed, a triumphant feeling growing in her chest as the two mares shared a mutual smile and trotted along the bustling streets of Manehattan’s business district.
As they finally approached the diner, Rarity could see how it was tucked in between a small travel agency and an apartment building. Chester’s Diner certainly stood out, but not for the right reasons.
The wide windows that faced the street were a little grimy, the once brown bricks had faded away to a terracotta red. Everything about Chester’s Diner screamed Makeover! It was clear that it was in desperate need of renovation, but perhaps the owner wasn’t able to afford such an expensive undertaking?
“Look Rarity! We’re here!” Coco called out, as she pointed up at the sign that hung above the cafe’s wide front windows.
“‘Chester’s Diner, home to the finest coffee in all of Manehattan,’”
Rarity read aloud from the dingy little sign, which hung off an even dingier building. “Are you sure about this, Coco? I mean, there are far classier cafe’s in Manehattan than this.” But it was then when that same, rich smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted over her. Her nose perked up as she breathed in.
Coco watched her friend and smiled knowingly. “See, I told you the coffee was good here. Just wait until you taste it.” Coming out of her entranced state, Rarity looked at her. “Darling, I can hardly wait to try it.”
“Well then, we best be heading inside then,” Coco replied as she pushed on the heavy glass door that led into the diner.
Rarity let out a giggle of excitement as she followed the mare inside, not knowing who or what awaited her. Well, other than some of the finest coffee that Manehattan had to offer.
Although the aesthetics outside were anything but inviting, the interior of Chester’s Diner told an entirely different story. As Rarity and Coco strolled in, Rarity surveyed the room, eliciting a protest from the worn floorboards.
She scanned the discoloured photographs that were hung up against the faded, striped wallpaper. The faces of some particularly famous ponies beamed back at her, sitting in the once vibrant booths and enjoying their hot coffees. She glanced down and noticed that a portrait of Wind Rider had been taken down and set off to the side. The very same former decorated Wonderbolt veteran whom she had deduced framed Rainbow Dash for a crime she didn’t commit.
I can’t ever forget how in vogue my ensemble was that evening, I felt so chic in my lady detective attire. Even if I never get to wear it again I will always remember the feeling of sophistication and authority that outfit gave me.
In place of Wind Rider’s ‘heroic’ portrait was Coloratura, Applejack’s childhood friend. Except this photograph appeared to have been taken before her rise to fame. It was of a more candid shot, while Coloratura sat by a window, staring into some distant future of a faraway dream. Manuscripts and empty coffee cups were scattered on the table in front of the singer, a testament to her love and passion for her work.
I never knew that Coloratura came here to write her music, perhaps the quiet atmosphere and rich aromas would make for an ideal setting for me to sketch out my designs?
Of course Trenderhoof, the famous travel writer, had his photograph affectionately placed alongside his review of the diner, “There is no finer coffee in all of Manehattan, and nopony takes as much pride in that fact than dear Chester himself! Come for the coffee, stay for the company.”
Even one of her idols and most loyal of customers, Sapphire Shores, had once performed at the diner. It must have been taken much earlier on in starlet’s career, Rarity noticed, since her costume didn’t reflect the bold and eye-catching style of the Pony of Pop that Rarity knew so well.
Finally, her eyes fell on a photograph of a pony that Rarity knew she recognised but she couldn’t quite place her hoof onto whom. While she stared and wondered, Coco joined her by her side.
“What’s the matter, Rarity?”
Rarity turned to face her friend. “Coco, you wouldn’t happen to know who this pony is would you?” she asked, her hoof pointed up at the photograph.
After only a moment’s glance Coco already knew who it was. “Oh, that’s Charity Kindheart. She’s a Bridleway costume designer and the original founder of the Midsummer Theatre Revival that we helped restore remember?”
The unicorn’s eyes lit up. “Ah yes, Now I remember! That was such a fun project. It was so nice seeing the community come together and have the opening night of the play be a success.”
Coco smiled. “Yes, it was! I can’t thank you enough for helping me out that day; I don’t know how I could’ve done it without you and Applejack.” Her eyes gazed up at all the photographs. “It’s quite remarkable how many famous ponies have been to this diner; it must’ve been one of Manehattan's most popular coffee houses back then. I wonder what happened for it to be forgotten by everypony?” she asked, her eyebrows furrowed.
“I’m not sure Coco,” Rarity replied. “Manehattan is a city that is always moving at such an incredibly fast pace, and if ponies can’t keep up they get left behind.” She looked around the rest of the diner, turning in her seat to get a better look.
At the very back, a retired jukebox sat at the end of a row of aged vinyl booths. The sun’s bright rays had faded the once vibrant red leather seats to a dull pink forever tarnishing their glory. Swivel stools sat in front of the bar atop black and white tiles, as empty as the space behind the bar... In fact, Rarity – much to her dismay – noticed that there was not another pony in sight.
Despite all of this, Rarity somehow found the rich scent of freshly ground up cacao beans and cinnamon filled atmosphere familiar. She knew that she had never stepped a hoof in Chester’s Diner before today, but somehow Rarity felt that, in another realm perhaps, she might have come this way before.
And just when that thought entered her mind, a ruggedly handsome earth pony stallion stepped out from the kitchen and behind the bar. His dark grey coat was offset by his navy mane that he brushed aside. Dark, deep-set circles hung under his eyes and he let out a yawn. He looked as though he hadn’t slept in weeks.
His amber eyes lit up when he saw Rarity and Coco, obviously surprised by their presence.
“Good morning, ladies! What can I get for you two fine mares?” he asked, a smile grew on his face.
Rarity and Coco couldn’t help but let out a giggle as their cheeks flushed mildly, the unexpected polite greeting from the stallion was a pleasant surprise.
Rarity took a deep breath so that she could regain her composure. “You must be Chester, Coco Pommel here has told me so much about you,” she replied and gave him a warm smile.
Chester’s head perked up slightly. “Why yes, I am.” His gaze turned over to Coco Pommel, who was fidgeting with her mane. “It’s a pleasure to see you again Miss Pommel.” He gave Coco a playful wink which caused her cheeks to flush to a rosy pink.
“Coco has also informed me that you serve some of the finest coffee in Manehattan, is that true?” Rarity smirked at him, while she trusted Coco Pommel’s insight she also wanted to test Chester’s humility. Had he remained the same humble, pride-filled pony as Tenderhoof had written about in his review?
Despite Rarity’s prompt, a smile remained on Chester’s face, “Why don’t you try it and see for yourself?” He replied with a grin.
Somewhat taken aback by his confidence, Rarity chose to play along. “Alright then, I would like a piping hot cup of your finest brew.” She turned to face Coco, who had remained quiet throughout the entire conversation. “What would you care for, darling?”
Coco looked up at Chester. “Just the usual, if you’d please, Chester.”
“Alright then, one hazelnut latte coming right up. Please, take a seat ladies. I’ll be right out with your coffees soon.” And with that, Chester gave Rarity one final brilliant smile. She could almost feel the warmth and excitement that radiated off him as he disappeared back behind the kitchen counter.
When Rarity turned back around, Coco had already seated herself in one of the booths, a deep sigh escaping her she settled herself in. The scene out the large windows was busy and bright, letting natural light fill the diner as the sun rose higher in the sky.
“You and Chester seem to like one another,” Coco stated as Rarity slid into the seat across from her.
Rarity could feel her cheeks blush, she liked him but she wasn’t sure if she liked him so much in that way. Well, she didn’t want to admit to herself that she did...not yet.
“Well, I’m not sure if I would say that I like him so much, but I will confess he is rather handsome.” With a hoof resting against her chin she let out a sigh and stared longingly at the kitchen counter.
Coco giggled. “If you say so, Rarity.”
The sudden aroma of coffee broke her trance as Chester approached their table with two freshly brewed coffees on a tray. When he set both of their coffees down onto the table, Rarity noticed something unusual about the way her foam looked in her cup.
When she peered closer, she could see that her foam formed a love heart. She could almost feel butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
Rarity took a sip of her coffee and a wave of nostalgia washed over her once more. Not only was the coffee absolutely divine, but she noticed the familiarity of its rich, soothing taste. It was such an unusual sensation; the feeling of deja vu grew stronger as she looked back up at Chester, who was watching her carefully while she drank.
“So, how is it?” he asked as he met Rarity’s gaze, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
There was a moment of pause between them. Rarity needed a moment to contemplate what was happening. How could a place I’ve never been to, with coffee I’ve never tasted and a stallion I’ve never met all feel so… familiar?
Unfortunately, there were no answers for these questions; the sense of deja vu faded before she was able to understand it more clearly. Whether Rarity truly had been here in another life or not, she couldn’t deny one simple fact.
“The coffee is simply delicious, darling. I would like to say that I’ve never had anything quite like it, but some part of me feels like I have…” She stared into Chester’s amber eyes, which gleamed with pride.
“Well, I’m glad you like it, Miss… um… miss…”
“Rarity. You may call me Rarity,” she said simply, taking another sip of her coffee.
Chester rubbed the back of his head with his hoof, smiling happily. “Miss Rarity, I really do appreciate that you like my coffee. It’s a special blend that my father taught me growing up. It’s what made this place so popular back in its hay-day,” he said the last part with a distant look of sadness in eyes, the smile fading as he spoke.
“Coco Pommel and I were curious about that, actually. All those famous ponies up on your wall over there made me confused as to why this place is so empty.” Rarity motioned to all the portraits that were hung against the faded wallpaper as she spoke, looking at them with no small amount of awe.
Chester let out a sigh, his brow furrowed and his head drooped. “It’s quite simple. After my father passed away, all of a sudden these new cafes started opening up all over town. They called themselves Starhooves, and they sold these fancy drinks— what do they call them?” He trailed off, rubbing his chin in thought.
“Oh yeah! Frappes or something. Anyway, ponies started coming in for these special beverages that I didn’t know how to make and eventually I began to lose business because they stopped wanting traditional coffee; they all wanted what Starhooves provides. Plus they had big expensive sound systems and live music and whatnot. I still get a few regular customers though, like your friend Coco Pommel here.” He gestured to Coco who sat in quiet thought while she enjoyed her hazelnut latte, a bashful grin on her face when her name was said aloud.
“Oh, Chester. You know I could never forgo one of your fine coffees for something as flavorless as a Starhooves frappe. Besides, you and I have really bonded since I first popped in here.” Coco chimed in and gave him a wink of approval.
“Exactly! If it weren’t for my regulars – the few loyal customers that I have left – I would’ve closed up shop a while ago. Starhooves even offered to buy this place off of me for a very generous sum of bits, but I refused. I can’t bare to part with the old place, you know?” He looked around at the old decor and worn floorboards with fondness.
“I completely understand,” Rarity replied softly as she searched Chester’s tired eyes; his humility was still there but she could see that any hope he had was gone.
“You do?” he asked.
Rarity took another sip of her coffee. “Of course I do!” She placed her cup back down and rose, placing a hoof to her chest once she had. “If anypony ever asked me if I wanted my boutique to be bought out by some fast-fashion, tasteless, department franchise I would outright refuse. Even if business was bad and nopony was buying my designs, I would never sell my life’s work. Carousel Boutique is where I started, it’s my roots and I wouldn’t part with it for all the bits in Canterlot!” she cried aloud, Coco just giggled at her friend’s prideful antics while Chester watched in bewilderment.
Chester looked to Coco Pommel with a look that asked if this were true. She nodded her head, “Oh yes, Rarity is the most talented designer I’ve ever met. While I’ve never visited her boutique in Ponyville, I have heard that she’s really made a name for herself in Canterlot.” she sipped her latte.
Chester’s eyes grew wider and a grin grew on his face, “Wow! You sure must be one savvy business pony Miss Rarity. Which makes me curious,” he rubbed his chin. “What brings you to Manehattan?”
Before Rarity could even respond, Coco chimed in. “Rarity is opening up a new boutique here in Manehattan! She’s already found the perfect place and we will be starting work on renovations soon!” she blurted out, a wide grin grew on her face.
The unicorn smiled. “Coco Pommel is right of course, I just need to sign the official paperwork and find this North Point pony that Coco has told me so much about. She’s already agreed to help me oversee the renovation plans.” Rarity winked at her friend, the pair gave each other cheerful smiles, the scent of coffee in the air.
Chester beamed, “It’s nice to hear that you two lovely mares will be helping one another out. You just don’t see that sort of thing around here anymore… wait… did you say North Point?” he asked.
Rarity raised an eyebrow, “Yes. Do you know her?” she asked.
Chester rubbed the back of his head. “Well… I wouldn’t exactly say I know her. But I did reach out to her when I was planning on renovating this place. Then of course, Starhooves opened up across the street and my plans fell through. I still have her contact information if you would like me to give it to you.” he smiled through the sadness that shone in his eyes. Rarity could see his disappointment even while he tried so hard to hide it.
She tried to give Chester a soft, reassuring look, but all she could see was the long gone hope that his gentle features once held. “Thank you, Chester. That would be most appreciated,” she glanced down at the table for a moment, “I’m sorry you weren’t able to renovate this place, it’s such a shame what this town does to all the bright, beautiful things that don’t shine quite as bright as they used to.”
Despite her kind words, Chester’s expression remained unchanged. “Thank you, Miss Rarity. It is a shame...let me fetch North Point’s contact info for you. I’ll be right back.”
And with that Chester disappeared back behind the kitchen counter which left Rarity and Coco to sit and contemplate the sadness of the situation.
Rarity cast her telekinesis around her cup, she polished off her delicious coffee before she let out a deep, exasperated sigh.
“Is everything alright, Rarity?” Coco asked, saddened by her friend’s abrupt change of mood.
Rarity shook her head. “It’s just not right, Coco. It’s not right at all.” she replied.
“What isn’t right?” Coco asked, puzzled by her friend’s odd statements.
Rarity threw her hooves up in the air and back down on the table which caused the dinnerware to shudder with the impact. “This! All of this, something must be done about this diner. It’s a tragedy to let such iconic decor and delicious coffee be outright ignored by the ponies in this town.”
Coco could now see the frustration in her friend’s eyes, the way her chest rose and fell faster than before, even her lips were pursed. But all Coco could feel was hopelessness, she had been coming to Chester’s diner for quite some time and had never seen another soul seated at the counter or by the windows. As tragic as it might be, there wasn’t anything that could be done about it.
“I agree, Rarity. It is a tragedy but what can anypony do? It’s like you said, this city moves at a fast pace and those who can’t keep up, get left behind. Even though it's incredibly sad, Chester happens to be one of those ponies.” she extended her hoof across the table, trying to comfort her friend.
Rarity let out another sigh and shook a hoof at Coco. “Disregard what I said, Coco. It doesn’t matter anymore. What matters now is that we find a way to help Chester, I don’t want to see a foreclosure notice on this place next month and neither do you, which is why we’re going to do everything we can to remind ponies about what made Chester’s Diner so special in the first place.”
“And how are we going to do that?” Coco asked.
Rarity rubbed her chin as silence fell between them just as Chester returned from the kitchen.
“Here it is, I’ve written down North Point’s contact information here for you.” he said, placing a scrap of paper on their table.
Coco Pommel reached over and tucked it into her saddlebag, “Thank you, Chester. We appreciate it.” she smiled up at him.
Chester glanced over at Rarity. “Is she alright?” he asked.
Coco gigled. “Oh, yes Rarity is fine. She’s just very deep in thought. This is how she thinks of ideas when under pressure.”
“Oh, well okay then. I have some cleaning up to do in the kitchen, so if you ladies don’t need anything else for now I’ll be out back for a little while.”
“Thank you, Chester, we’ll be fine for now.” she replied while he cleared away their table and returned to the kitchen.
The pair remained silent for a few more minutes before Rarity’s eyes lit up and almost jolted out of her seat.
“I have an idea!” she exclaimed.
Coco shifted herself closer to the edge of her seat and leaned in to her friend. “What is it, Rarity?”
Rarity cleared her throat. “We are going to promote Chester’s Diner at my boutique opening this Sunday!” she clapped her hooves together excitedly.
Coco beamed. “Wow, Rarity! That’s a fantastic idea, but how do you plan on doing that exactly?” she asked.
She leaned in closer to Coco Pommel. “Well, I was thinking of asking Chester if he could set up some sort of coffee stand and serve his coffee at the opening. I was also thinking of donating some of my boutique sales towards the renovation of his diner.” she replied in a hushed tone.
“That’s incredibly generous of you, Rarity. I just hope we can get your boutique open in time.” she replied, before she sat back down against her seat.
Rarity smiled, “Well, with that in mind I need to ask a favor of you, Coco.”
“Anything, Rarity. Just let me know what you need.” she smiled back at her.
“Go and find North Point, tell her to meet us at the boutique right away. I will join you shortly, I just need to talk to Chester first. I just hope he’ll agree to my proposal.” Coco nodded and packed up her bag.
At that moment Chester had wandered out from behind the kitchen counter. “What proposal?” he asked, a confused look on his face.
“Oh, Rarity just wanted to ask you something before she leaves. I’m going to meet North Point now, so I’ll leave you two to it,” Coco slid across her side of the booth and walked away from the table before she glanced over her shoulder. “Thank you again, Chester. My latte was perfect as usual.” she said before she left the diner, a faint chime of the diner’s bell could be heard when Coco made her way out onto the street.
Chester slid in across from Rarity and let out a sigh. “So, Coco said you wanted to ask me something?”
Rarity met his gaze and for the first time could now see past his handsome features and directly at the simple, hardworking pony underneath. The genuineness of his smile and the labor of love in the dark circles under his eyes reminded her ever so fondly of Applejack.
She sat there and stared into his deep amber eyes and lost herself in his dreamy smile, entranced by the softness of his eyes.
“Um, Rarity?” he asked.
Broken out of her trance, she shook her head. “Yes, Chester?” she replied.
“You wanted to ask me something?” his eyebrows raised.
She cleared her throat. “Oh yes, of course. I wanted to ask you if you would like to serve coffee at my boutique opening this Sunday. I would be more than happy to make sure you had someplace to setup your equipment and I thought if everypony got to taste your incredible coffee they might be inclined to come visit. That is, if you want to of course.” she replied, a nervous grin on her face.
“I’d love to.” Chester replied.
Rarity’s eyes fell, not quite hearing what he had said. “Oh, well. Okay then, I just thought I’d ask you.” Rarity started to slide herself out of the booth.
Chester reached out, grabbed her hoof and looked into her deep, sapphire eyes, “I said I would love to.”
“Oh! Well then, I have something else I need to tell you.” she replied as she slid back into her booth.
She sat there in silence for a moment and thought about what she wanted to say. But when she looked back up at Chester and saw the eagerness in his face, she knew that her words would send his heart abound.
“When I heard about what had happened to you and your diner, I just knew that something had to be done. Which is why I’ve decided to help fund the renovation of your diner.” she replied.
Chester raised an eyebrow, “And how do you plan on doing that?” he asked.
“By donating a fair portion of money that my new boutique brings in towards the cost of your renovations, that is until they are complete and your diner is brought back to its premier state.” she gave him a winning smile while she waited for him to respond.
But she would have to keep on waiting because Chester just sat there in total silence, his jaw opening and closing as though he had suddenly forgotten how to speak.
“Miss...Miss...Rarity. You really don’t have to be so generous, I’m sure this place will be back on its hooves in no time.” he wiped away the onslaught of tears that streamed down his face.
Rarity reached out and placed her hoof over Chester’s, “Now, darling. Who would I be if I weren’t the Element of Generosity?” And with that she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before she slid out of the booth and started walking towards the door.
“Miss Rarity, wait!” he called out and wiped away the last of his tears, “How am I ever going to thank you?” he asked.
Rarity turned to face him, a playful smile grew on her face. “How about with a kiss?” she asked, her eyelids batted as she grinned.
Without hesitation, Chester leaned in and passionately met his lips with hers. His hoof cupped her face and she returned his embrace with the same eagerness. Rarity could feel her saddlebags slide off her when she wrapped a leg around his neck. Her heart thumped, her legs trembled and all she could feel was warmth.
In this one exquisite, perfect moment, Rarity could feel nothing but the wonderful sensations and the butterflies in her stomach. She was going to remember this one magical moment forever.
She pulled away, Chester’s eyes were widened and as she pulled her saddlebags back on she gave him one final peck on the cheek before walking out the door and onto the chaotic street. Which left the stallion standing there with the taste of her still on his lips.
A final chime of the bell was all that could be heard before silence fell over the diner, Chester returned back behind the counter with a wide grin on his face.
