The solar chariot was massive, with a white frame and large purple cushions. It was embellished with gold trim and filigree. It must have weighed a ton. Even with centuries of spells applied, it took four strong Royal Guard pegasi to pull the thing. Another flight of four would fly protective top cover. And the third flight of four would fly ahead to prepare a landing space. The solar chariot was not a thing to be taken out for a random joy ride. It was used when royalty wanted to make an impression.
When Twilight had been Celestia’s student, her brother Shiny had been commander of the Royal Guard. He told her that pegasi would practically come to blows to win the honor of serving chariot duty. Pulling the beast was the position of greatest status. It seemed that prestige radiated from Celestia. Everypony fought to be closer to her. As one of the ponies that spent the most time in her presence, filly Twilight had approved of that system of measurement.
The system seemed even more appropriate now that Twilight’s place was on the solar chariot next to Celestia. They sat so closely that their marks brushed against each other. Spike was with them as well, sporting a far off grin.
The chariot was pulled through the evening sky on the short hop from Canterlot Castle to the city's fashion district. Twilight had finished her turn as Princess of the Day. They’d shared a wonderful dinner together, and now the three were going shopping.
Celestia’s relationships with Twilight's friends were different than with most other ponies. The Element Bearers were national heroes. Their friendships affected how they wielded the most powerful magic known to ponydom. When Twilight first came to live in Ponyville she sent Celestia regular letters. They detailed what she’d learned about maintaining the group’s relationships. After the first few years, Celestia asked her friends to do the same. Many of these ‘Friendship Reports’ detailed the group’s foibles and how they overcame mistakes. Through them, Celestia learned to know the Bearers as good-hearted, if flawed, individuals.
Also, Twilight and her friends had been involved in world saving situations more than once. Celestia didn’t need to maintain her ‘aura of perfection’ around ponies that had seen her captured by plunder-vines or trapped upside down in translucent changeling pods (twice!). Celestia was able to be much less formal with Twilight’s friends than she had to be with the castle staff or the Canterlot elite.
Celestia took special pains not to promote one merchant over another. Her favor was sought after. A word from Celestia in the wrong ear could lead somepony’s fortunes to rocket up or plummet down. Twilight didn’t have anything like that kind of influence yet.
But as purveyors went, everypony knew Twilight’s friend Rarity was a special case. If the citizens of Canterlot saw the solar chariot parked outside of Rarity’s Canterlot Carousel boutique they could explain it away. The meeting might concern the defense of the realm. Or, Celestia might be there because Rarity created the most beautiful gowns in Equestria. In either case, the sight of the solar chariot parked outside of the boutique would do wonders for Rarity’s business.
Twilight wondered if that was one of Celestia’s goals the whole time.
Rarity had closed the boutique to the public for the evening. After appropriate welcomes and introductions, she sent the rest of the staff home. Rarity honored Celestia’s wish for reduced formality. She limited the head bobs and royal titles to her welcome. Once the staff was gone, she focused the rest of the conversation on “mare talk”.
In the fashionista’s presence, Spike went from being Twilight’s assistant to Rarity’s. With practiced ease, he bustled around the boutique. Spike made tea, carried bolts of cloth, and acted as a living pincushion. He and Rarity had learned long ago that none of her sewing implements would pierce dragon scales.
“I’m happy to help the two of you with anything you might need,” Rarity said.
“Thank you, Rarity,” Celestia said. “This year, Princess Cadance is hosting The Grand Galloping Gala in the Crystal Empire. It is another way to cement the empire as a part of Equestrian society.”
“I’m sure it will be lovely; the Castle of the Crystal Empire is a magnificent venue,” Rarity said.
“Since Cadance is the Princess of Love she decided to move the date of the Gala. It will be held on Hearts and Hooves day this year,” Celestia continued.
“And since Celestia isn’t hosting, she and I will get to spend the entire evening together.” Twilight sported the widest grin at the thought.
“I remember that was your goal at our very first Gala,” Rarity replied.
“Really? I didn’t know that.” Celestia smiled at Twilight, who blushed and looked away.
Rarity’s eyes darted between the two. She barely suppressed a smile. “You must have new gowns for the event. Not matching, but complementary. Everypony must know that both Princesses of the Day are gracing the gala with their royal presence.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Celestia said. “This is a personal commission, not a royal one. Twilight’s gown will be my gift commemorating her first public event after assuming her new responsibilities.”
Rarity raised a hoof to protest the word “commission”. Celestia stopped her with a stern glare. “I know that look, Rarity. I was the bearer of Generosity before you. I won’t hear of you charging anything less than your full rate. If necessary, I’ll have a royal auditor determine that rate and have the funds deposited directly into your account.”
Rarity looked to continue her objection but withered before Celestia’s gaze. “Who am I to stand in the way of such a beneficent gift?”
Celestia nodded and looked pleased. She levitated a large chest into the room. It had a lock and many drawer pulls on the front. Golden wisps of magic swirled about the lock and it snapped open. Celestia levitated open the top of the chest. She pulled open the drawers in a stair-step, so the contents of each were visible. Every compartment was lined in padded purple velvet. The cloth was formed to protect and display pieces of the most amazing jewelry any of them bar Celestia had seen outside of a museum.
There were brooches, earrings, mane pins and mane clips, tail rings and tail clips, tiaras, brow-bands, bridles, halters, collars, barrel chains, necklaces, chokers, torcs, bracelets, bracers, bangles, along with barbells and rings for all types of piercings. Each one was beautiful, unique, and exemplified the pinnacle of their individual craft.
Fascinated, Twilight and Rarity lit their horns. Twilight to study the magic she felt radiating from the open chest. The potpourri of powerful spells infused in the jewelry overwhelmed her. Rarity to use her gem finding to understand the type and quality of the stones on display. She was awed by rare stones she’d never laid a spell on before. They both marveled at the absolute perfection of every object present.
“These are from my private collection,” Celestia said. “I thought you might find pieces in here that would make worthy accessories for Twilight and me.”
“They must be worth more than the crown jewels,” Rarity said with reverence.
”Of course. The crown jewels were selected as much for their political value and ostentatiousness as they were for their craft,” Celestia replied.
Twilight tried in vain to separate out the magical signatures radiating from the chest. There were too many powerful magical effects on the jewelry to understand them with a single detection spell. “Some of these are ancient and very potent. Somepony could spend a lifetime studying their magic.”
“Many lifetimes,” Celestia said.
“Are you sure you have to pay for the dresses?” Rarity whined. “To work with pieces such as these will be more than enough…”
Celestia put her hoof on Rarity’s muzzle to silence her. “Do not make me call the auditor.” She smiled. “And from whatever pieces are left over after you outfit the two of us, you and Twilight’s friends may borrow one each for the event.”
Twilight didn’t realize that Rarity could “squee” at such a high pitch or with such volume.
Rarity’s Carousel Boutique in Ponyville was smaller than her Canterlot Carousel shop. It wasn’t as fancy and it didn’t have as many customers. But it was the original and because of that, it was Twilight’s favorite. She’d made a lot of fond memories in this place. Today was a good day to make some more. She was getting to spend time with two of her best friends at once. It was a fine way to make progress on “keeping up her connections” like she’d talked about with Starlight.
Applejack was standing on the platform in the center of the boutique. Rarity was putting the finishing touches on Applejack’s outfit for the Gala.
“Thanks for not going too fru-fru,” Applejack said. She adjusted her ever-present cowpony hat with a hoof. “And for making the dress work with my hat. I’m not going to any Gala without my hat.”
“Of course dear,” Rarity said. She was an expert in making Applejack look good in ways the farmer would tolerate.
“I think you like the way you look in your Gala dress,” Twilight said. “I caught you admiring yourself in the mirror when you thought nopony was looking.”
“Harumph,” Applejack snorted. “Nothing wrong with trying to look your best,” she said under her breath.
Rarity stayed out of the exchange. “Now for the pièce de résistance,” she said. “A generous benefactor is allowing all of us to wear some unique accessories on the night of the Gala. I saw this piece, and it screamed ‘Applejack’ to me.”
She levitated a cloth away from a bump on the table and revealed an exquisite jeweled broach. The centerpiece was an abstract round shape in crimson rubies accented by a trail of forest green emeralds. Twilight could see why Rarity thought Applejack would like it. From one direction, the shape could be a heart or a comet with a trail. From another angle, it could be an apple with a stem. Any way you looked at it, the piece was breathtaking.
Applejack stared covetously at the broach. “Oh, Rares, that’s beautiful.” She sighed. “Do you think the dress will make me look as good as that?”
“Darling, this is an accessory; it only shines as brightly as the mare wearing it,” Rarity said. “I shall make sure both you and the broach will dazzle all onlookers.”
“Wearing a beautiful piece like that, knowing you look good, can give a mare confidence,” Applejack said. “Maybe I’ll ask somepony to dance I’ve never asked before. This Gala being on Hearts and Hooves Day, it seems like anything could happen. Know what I mean?” Twilight nodded, though she wasn’t sure it was as simple as Applejack was saying.
“Speaking of Hearts and Hooves Day,” Rarity said. “Applejack, what would you think was going on if somepony gave a mare flowers and candy? If they presented them precious jewelry and a beautiful gown? If they were going with them to a romantic event in the Crystal Empire on Hearts and Hooves Day?”
Twilight got very quiet. The pits under her wings seemed very warm all the sudden. Her eyes flicked from Rarity to Applejack and back again.
Applejack started. “Rarity, I’ve been dense,” she said. “I never realized you was court’n me.”
Rarity was flabbergasted. “I’m... what?”
“You made all the signs plain as can be. You shared half your daisy sandwich with me the other day,” Applejack said.
“I’m watching my figure,” Rarity sputtered.
“And you gave me one of Bon Bon’s bonbons.”
“She was having a two for one sale,” Rarity retorted.
“Now you offer me that beautiful broach and this here fancy dress,” Applejack continued. “And on Hearts and Hooves Day we’ll both be at the most prestigious social event in Equestria, presided over by the Princess of Love. What could be more romantic?”
“This conversation is not turning out at all how I expected,” Rarity exclaimed.
Applejack slithered out of her dress and draped it over a ponyquine. “Thanks for opening my eyes, Rarity,” Applejack said. “I’ll be honored to offer you the first dance at this year’s Gala. We’ll see where things go from there.” Applejack strutted out of the boutique, head held high.
Silence reigned for an embarrassingly long moment.
“What happened?” Rarity asked Twilight.
“I think you’re going on a date with Applejack,” Twilight replied softly.
“That’s what I thought happened,” Rarity said. She levitated her favorite fainting couch over behind her but did not drop onto it as Twilight expected. “I’m not sure if this is the ‘worst possible thing’ or just the opposite,” Rarity said. She put her hoof to her chin and assumed a thinking pose, with her eyes cast skyward. “Ultimately, it’s not the first dance of the night that matters, it’s the last dance.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Twilight asked. She wasn’t sure what she could do and hoped that Rarity would say no. But it seemed like the thing a good friend should offer.
“No dear,” Rarity replied. “I’ll finish your fitting here in Ponyville in a few days. Princess Celestia asked me to go to Canterlot Castle and complete her fitting there. Who am I to deny a client any part of the experience?”
“Okay then, I’ll leave you to your work here,” Twilight said. She backed out of the boutique and closed the door behind her. But she could have sworn Rarity was forming a wide grin as she left.