“And then, Twilight announced the big news!” Rarity began, tailoring her latest sale to the mare it was intended for. She looked up to see Roseluck’s excited face looking back at her. “Try not to make a big fuss about it, but… Twilight is going to have a baby!”
The flower salespony squeed in delight, raising her foreleg to her head and fainting from pure happiness.
“Yes, well, I suppose that is a rather appropriate response, now isn’t it?” she continued, taking advantage of the position to hem the skirt better. She hummed to herself as the bell rang, directing her attention to the door, where a lanky yellow Earth Pony stallion with an orange mane and tail and green eyes, along with a slight underbite and a Cutie Mark of three cubed cakes and a smaller, slightly chubby blue Earth Pony mare with a two-tone swirly pink mane and tail with pink eyes and three cupcakes as a Cutie Mark walked in. The stallion wore a red and white triangular hat with a bow tie and a pure white apron, while the mare wore bright pink spherical earrings and a yellow apron that flared out with pink lace. They waved happily at the couturier with smiles on their faces. “Oh! Mr. and Mrs. Cake! How do you do?”
“Fine, thank you.” Mr. Cake replied. “We’ve actually got a request for our coordinated wedding services, and thought we’d come over to discuss ideas.”
Stars flashed in the Unicorn’s eyes at the mention of the word ‘wedding’. She rushed over to the confectioners, giving the pair her full attention. “How did this come about?” she wondered, guiding them further into the boutique.
“Ever since Twilight’s wedding, ponies from Canterlot have been climbing over each other, right there on our doorstep!” Mrs. Cake elaborated, excitedly squishing her cheeks with her hooves and letting out an exceptionally happy giggle. “Why, there’s so many posh ponies at our doorstep, we’ve had to come up with excuses for why we can’t get to all of them right away!”
Rarity recoiled as delicately as she could muster. “Canterlot ponies?!” She shouted, stirring her client from unconsciousness. “You mean the Equestrian elite?!” Her head swayed back and forth as she brought her foreleg up to her forehead, fainting from the scope of it all.
Roseluck stood up and looked at the fallen fashionista. She looked over at the cakes, pointing a hoof at the Unicorn. “You know, I think that mare goes way too over-the-top sometimes!”
Rarity opened her eyes, finding herself on the floor of her boutique, the Cakes standing over her with concerned eyes. She slowly sat up, her hoof on the back of her head. “What happened?” she wondered, looking between her guests.
Mr. Cake wiped his forehead in relief. “You passed out when we told you about the wedding jobs! We were worried about you. Are you okay?”
Rarity stood up, brushing herself off. “Yes, of course, dear.” She pulled herself together, guiding them into another room of the boutique. “So, what was this you were telling me about Canterlot ponies wanting our wedding services? I thought interest had dried up!”
“Well, you of all ponies know how much the ponies of Canterlot are obsessed with royalty!” Mrs. Cake began. “They were all tickled pink by how we handled the most recent royal wedding that all the lovestruck couples in the city want to come to us for the same kind of ‘royal’ treatment!”
Rarity stepped back, bubbling up with joy. “That’s wonderful!” she exclaimed, beginning to push Mr. Cake out the door. “Well, what are we waiting for?! Let’s go meet our next clients!”
The Cakes quickly acquiesced to the designer’s desires, heading out the door. They made their way to Sugar Cube Corner, where a pair of Unicorns stood in front of the counter, smiling and waving at them. Mrs. Cake took her usual spot behind the counter as her husband stepped up to the couple.
“We’ve brought Rarity for you.” Mr. Cake said, gesturing to the pony in question. “What is it you have in mind?”
The Unicorns looked like average citizens of Canterlot, rather than the ‘elite’ Rarity had expected, but she smiled all the same. She loved the city for every kind of pony that lived there, not just the important or wealthy ponies she had come to know. The mare of the couple stepped forward, looking at Rarity pleadingly. “Um… Miss Rarity, would it be too much trouble if I asked for a dress just like Princess Twilight’s?”
And then there was the part of the Canterlot fashion scene that she didn’t quite resonate with. The tendency to want to be just like royalty instead of trying to shine on their own. Rarity took a good look at the mare, turning on her fashion sense. She wasn’t bad-looking in the least. Teal coat, dark blue mane and tail with a few tight curls strewn everywhere. Lovely blue eyes, and a number of yellow stars for a Cutie Mark. Her hoof came to her muzzle, gingerly tapping on her slightly pursed lower lip. “I’m afraid that dress in particular wouldn’t work for you, dear.” she informed her. “I feel like you would do better with something different.” She straightened her posture once more, putting a hoof on her client’s shoulder. “Rather than trying to imitate Princess Twilight, how about you and I work together to create something that will make you look just as radiant, but in your own way?”
The mare looked at Rarity, then back at her companion, who gave another smile and a nod. She turned back to Rarity with a smile of her own. “Okay. Let’s work together on it!”
“Excellent!” Rarity replied. She led the mare back over to the Cakes. “Now, Our wedding package involves coordination between the food, the decorations, and, of course, the outfits! And in the last year, I have expanded my fashion repertoire to include more stallion attire!” She looked over at the would-be groom. “I can design a dashing tuxedo for you, as well, if you’d like!”
The dark grey stallion dropped his jaw slightly, surprised at the offer. “Seriously? You can do that?” he asked.
“Oh, absolutely!” Rarity confirmed, putting a hoof to her chest with a proud smile. “I designed every single outfit that was worn at Princess Twilight’s wedding! The bride, the groom, and the entire wedding party! Designing for you should be no trouble, whatsoever!”
The stallion’s face lit up, his jet black mane and tail bouncing with his movements. He nodded profusely, pulling Rarity between them, where they turned to the Cakes to discuss plans.
This continued for several hours as more and more clients began to show up. Each of the brides wanted the same thing, to look just like the Princess, but Rarity was a crafty mare, and was able to convince them to go with something a little more their speed. As the couples all spoke with the Cakes, Rarity would look at them. She would lean on the table, resting her head on her front hooves as she sighed. Putting together a wedding had started to become second nature to her, but the pure romance of it all would always bring a tear to her eye. When the last clients for the day left, the fashionista let out a sorrowful swoon.
Mrs. Cake turned her ears towards Rarity’s sudden vocalization, trotting up next to her and sitting down. “Are you alright, dearie? You seem a little down.”
“Have you ever looked at all the romance around you and just… wanted it for yourself?” The couturier queried. “Where you see so many happy couples that get married and end up happily ever after, and you just want to find the stallion of your dreams and marry him on the spot?!”
“Dear, I’m already married with two foals.” Mrs. Cake retorted. She put on a warm smile and put her hoof on Rarity’s back. “Of course I know the feeling! You’re quite a catch, if I do say so, myself! And I’m certain you’ll find the one for you…”
Rarity looked at the swirly-haired pony next to her, wiping away a small tear. “Thank you, Mrs. Cake.” She stood up from her spot, raising a hoof in front of her in a determined pose. “Now, let’s go! We’ve got weddings to plan!”
“... and now we have so many clients we just don’t know what to do with them all!” Rarity finished, sitting across from Applejack in the spa’s steam room. “Oh, isn’t it simply wonderful? Business is booming, and so many ponies are getting their…” she swooned, laying on her side while propping herself up on her elbow. “... happily ever after…”
“Wonderful?” Applejack repeated, leaning closer. “How’s havin’ more customers than y’all can handle s’ dang ‘wonderful’?”
“Oh, Applejack, it’s not about the work. It’s about helping all of these ponies start their lives together!” she elaborated, raising her free foreleg dramatically. “Spreading love like that far and wide… It’s only the most beautiful endeavor one could hope to undertake!” She sat back up, scooting closer to her farmer friend. “The Cakes and I are going to be going to Canterlot tomorrow to talk with the clients in greater detail, and I was hoping that maybe... “ she brought herself next to the orange mare.
“Yeah?” the Earth Pony replied. “What is it?”
“I was hoping you might come with me!” the Unicorn requested, putting her hooves together beside her face.
Applejack looked slightly taken aback, her head having reared back almost instantly as her friend made her suggestion. “Why the hay d’ ya need me along? This is all fer that fancy Canterlot weddin’ business, isn’t it?”
Rarity took a deep breath and put her hooves on one of Applejack’s, lifting it in front of her. “Applejack, you were the one who got the Cakes and i our first client for our wedding service, and while I may have nearly ruined the whole affair, you were instrumental to its success! I feel like you would be a kind of… good luck charm! What do you say? Can you help me through this, please?”
Applejack’s face went softer than applesauce, looking Rarity in her pleading eyes. “All right, then. If’n it means so much to ya, I’ll do it!”
Rarity pulled Applejack into a big hug. “Oh, thank you, Applejack! You’ve no idea how important this is to me!” She pulled back from her hug, getting up from the seat. “Next treatment!”
The next day, Applejack, Rarity, and the Cakes stood in Canterlot Carousel. Sassy Saddles tended tirelessly to the customers while the first of many couples came in to speak with Rarity.
“How lovely to see you again!” Rarity greeted, hugging both ponies at once. “Now, I’ve got some ideas for how we can perfect your ceremony! I think we should go with a color scheme that reflects each of you…” She went on for several minutes, bringing them up to a piece of parchment with a mannequin on either side. She floated over her design tools and began drawing, looking between the two of them. With every glance, she added a new detail. Once the designs were set, the Unicorns turned to the Cakes, beginning a long discussion of what kind of cake they wanted, ranging from decoration, flavor, and the overall types of cakes they had in their massive library of baked goods, Rarity swooning all the while.
After a full day of designing and talking to a myriad of couples, Applejack stepped forward next to Rarity, nudging her on the side. “So, how’re y’all feelin’ after all that?” she asked, giving her a knowing glance. “It certainly looks like it took a lot fer you ta keep yer cool. Care to let me in?”
Rarity gave a lonely sigh, looking at the last couple to leave. “All of this wedding planning is wonderful for business, but it’s also reminding me of… well… the last wedding we were a part of… And the beautiful thing coming from it.”
Applejack saw the pining look in her friend’s eyes. “I… think I see what yer gettin’ at.” She put her hoof around the white pony. “An’ I mean I really see it.”
Rarity looked over at her, smiling weakly. “It’s that obvious, isn’t it?” Applejack nodded in confirmation. “I just can’t help but feel a little bit jealous. I see what those two have gained from each other, even if it was only after a short time, and I can only think of how much I want it all for myself!”
“Even though you were the one that egged ‘em on into gettin’ together?” the work horse reminded her.
“That’s part of the reason, actually.” she confirmed, looking ahead once more. “I was able to help them make something beautiful happen for them, and now I’m just wondering if I can do it for me.”
“Well, I think any stallion who has an idea on what ‘beauty’ is is gonna want a shot at ya.” Applejack stated, patting her friend hard on the back and accidentally knocking her onto the floor. “Ya just gotta let ‘em know yer interested!”
Rarity stood up, thinking about what she’d just heard. “Let them know… I see!” She turned to Applejack with a brilliant smile. “I just need to put myself out there! Let all those lucky stallions know that Rarity is on the market!” She puffed out her chest, raising her right foreleg as she took a wide stance, casting a confident look out through the front door behind her.
“That’s the ticket!” Applejack cheered, swaying her foreleg in front of her as Rarity began bubbling with laughter and excitement. “Just make sure ya don’t get too excited ‘n go--” in an instant, the glamorous pony ran upstairs. “... overboard…” She lingered in the moment, finally turning to follow her.
Rarity was in the back room of the boutique, sewing on pure instinct. She knew what to do to make herself stand out to the stallions of Canterlot. Appearing in her usual state of fabulosity wouldn’t say much, but if she were to step up her game then there wouldn’t be a single colt who could resist her! Feathers, fabrics of blue, green, and yellow, gold earrings, bejeweled earrings, bracelets, sequins, everything suited to put her on full display!
Applejack stepped into the room, where Rarity had already finished her work. She was dressed in a blue dress with downright sparkly yellow trim that extended out from the waist, hem, and collar similar to that of sunlight. The patterns on the blue fabric resembled the tailfeathers of a male peacock, the train of the skirt dragging behind her only slightly. Her mane was pulled up with extra curls, plumes of blue and green inserted to it so as to flare out behind her.
Applejack’s mouth hung open, slightly unsure as to what exactly Rarity was trying to say with it. “Well, that outfit sure is… showy.”
“Why, thank you!” the designer replied, striking a pose. “Do you think the boys will notice me?”
Applejack facehoofed. “Rarity, I think everyone’ll notice you, no matter what ya do.”
Rarity giggled, strutting out the door with a smile. “Why, thank you!” She took one more look at the farmer, waving a foreleg. “Be back soon!”
Applejack shook her head, sighing to herself. “I just hope she doesn’t get all crazy with the romance stuff. Then again, this is Rarity I’m talkin’ about…”