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// 1 Bad News 
// Story: A Dish Best Served Cold 
// by Bronyxy 
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Rarity finished reviewing the new Mother-of-Pearl sales literature and finally put it down with a satisfied smile. She had created the range of stylish foalwear that was taking the new mothers of Equestria by storm, providing them for the first time with an opportunity to dress their fillies in fashions that they themselves would like to be seen wearing. Even the complementing range for colts was so smart that stallions, who were not widely regarded as having much fashion sense, would admire them with a strong sense of pride.

She harboured few regrets for having left behind the high pressure world of haute couture to focus on the new life that gave her a lot more time free to enjoy her sister and her new daughter. In addition, this new venture was proving to be more financially rewarding than she had ever known before, but, true to her generous nature, she found plenty of good causes to share it with.

Rarity was watching contentedly from her chair as Sweetie Belle tickled the pure white tummy of her niece, clearly very happy to be playing with her, when she heard a knock at the door. She rose to answer it, thinking it to be Sweetie Belle’s Crusader friends, eager to take the opportunity to earn their cutie marks in some foalcare related activity, but was instead greeted by the postmare who handed her a letter bearing a Canterlot postmark. The smile was wiped quickly off her muzzle when she saw the YSL logo on the envelope; what could that horrid stallion possibly want now?

She opened the letter and read the few words that had been spared to her. Her mouth fell open and she reeled backwards, reaching out to support herself before reading it again. Sure enough, she hadn’t misread it; the YSL organisation was taking her to Court for infringement of their copyright!

Suddenly it seemed like the whole idyllic lifestyle she had carved out for her foal and herself in the wake of his previous appalling behaviour was going to fall about her ears too. She felt around for a seat and drew it close, placing herself down on it while she considered whether to cry or scream; she was just too numb to even think.

She rocked gently where she sat, thinking about everything she had achieved for herself and the legacy for her daughter, all being dismantled by avaricious teams of greedy lawyers while Yves stood on, watching in that aloof way of his.

Just then she registered another knock at the door.
“Surely he’s not come around to start taking things away already?” she said to herself.
She opened the door, feeling an irrational surge of trepidation as to who would be waiting outside.

“Hi Rarity!” greeted Twilight happily, her face dropping like an elevator when she saw the look on her friend’s face.
The fashionista did not respond, just stayed locked in a faraway stare.
“What’s happened, Rarity?” asked Twilight, her tone suddenly serious.
Rarity handed her the letter wordlessly. It spoke for itself; jealousy and venom dripping from every word.
“Nopony does this to my friend!” she shouted, the anger rising within her, “I’m going to make sure that he doesn’t try and get the better of you again!”
“Twilight” shushed Rarity, casting a motherly eye over her shoulder and seeing Pearl jump at the outburst while Sweetie Belle turned to see what was wrong.
“I’ve taken down Nightmare Moon, Queen Chrysalis and Lord Tirek, and I am not going to see you have to take this from a jumped up …” she fumbled for words that would not be inappropriate when heard by those of tender years, “ … Clothes horse!”
“Twilight, shush please” begged Rarity, composing herself.

“I’ll make him wish he had never been born …” continued Twilight in a quieter voice laden with menace. The fact that she had to restrain herself just made her madder still, and she stood outside to explode where the fillies wouldn’t get hit by the shrapnel. Rarity watched sadly and waited until the immediate fury was spent, although she could see her friend running through plans of the most hideous retribution in her head.

“Twilight, darling” she began, “I want to play fair …”
“Fair?” ranted Twilight, “You call what he’s done fair?”
“Well, no, no I do not, but I have no desire to step outside of due process. It would never do for the Bearer of the Element of Generosity or any of her friends to use their power to strike down a competitor, now would it?”
“OK” Twilight acquiesced, sounding like she was calming down, but still wearing an expression like a volcano about to explode, ”OK. Due process; right. No magic; right. Gotta go, Rarity.” 
She looked a little perplexed as Twilight gave her a perfunctory hug, then turned and sprang into the sky, heading in the direction of the Castle of Friendship.

“What’s up Rarity?” asked Sweetie Belle inching slowly towards her sister, who was stood in the doorway watching her friend fly off into the distance, shrinking into an ever smaller dot. She continued to stare, transfixed, until long after the dot had disappeared out of her sight, staring forlornly into empty space before peeling her eyes away and turning to meet her little sister’s worried gaze.
“Nothing that need concern you” she sighed sadly, suddenly looking much older.
“Do you want a fainting couch?” she offered, “I could drag it out here if you needed …”
“I’m afraid I’m rather beyond that at the moment” replied Rarity, her head fixed at a quizzical angle while she reflected on the latest turn of events and relented slightly, “I don’t suppose you would be prepared to look after Pearl while I take a little lie down, would you?”
“Of course, Rarity” she replied, heading back to take up her foalcare duties, while her sister trudged wearily up the stairs, one leaden hoof in front of the next until she found her bedroom, opened the door and closed it carefully so nopony downstairs could hear, then fell onto the bed sobbing loudly.