Late that afternoon, there came a knock at the door. Pearl started in surprise and raised her head, ears twitching.
“It’s OK” said Sweetie Belle reassuringly to the foal, who didn’t understand a word, “I’m on it.”
She gave Pearl a stroke on her muzzle and patted her tummy, earning a little whinny of approval, before rising onto her own hooves and crossing to the door. Instantly, her breath was taken away; standing the other side of the door waiting patiently was the most well-known pony in all of Equestria, with flowing blue, lilac and green mane!
Sweetie Belle fumbled with the handle, her magic seeming to reflect her own nervousness in the presence of such a high profile houseguest, who just happened to be waiting respectfully for her to get to grips with opening the door.
Eventually, the little bell on a spring just above the door jingled happily as it bounced around, indicating that she had finally been successful. The Princess smiled caringly at the awestruck filly who was curtseying politely while her cheeks turned an obvious shade of crimson.
“Your Majesty …” she garbled out, while behind her, a gentle tap of small hooves announced the arrival of a pure white foal, who had got to her hooves and come over to see whether the new arrival would give her some attention too.
“You’re supposed to curtsey” hissed Sweetie Belle to her niece, who was much more interested in a tummy tickle than observing courtly protocol.
“It’s quite alright, Sweetie Belle” reassured Celestia, “I have been looking forward to meeting the latest addition to the family and it looks like she’s in very good hooves.”
“Th-thank you, Princess Celestia” she stammered, stunned that the Princess should even remember her name let alone give her a compliment!
Celestia reached a forehoof to the foal and gave her neck a tender rub before proceeding to stroke her mane.
“Is your sister around, Sweetie Belle?” she enquired, regarding her closely through deceptively placid lilac eyes.
“Yes, your Majesty. She’s upstairs having a rest“ came the reply, “You want me to get her? Do you need the Elements of Harmony? Is some evil monster invading? Are we in danger …?”
“If you are happy to show me to her room” said Celestia, cutting off the filly’s wide eyed speculation with a maternal smile, “Then I should like to see her alone, if you would allow me?”
“Of … of course Princess“ she replied stepping proudly towards the stairs, Pearl remaining steadfastly at the Sun Princess’s side.
Sweetie Belle led the way up two fights of stairs onto the landing from where Rarity’s room was instantly recognisable from the delicately painted name plate on the door. Faint sobs could still be heard from the other side, serving to remove all doubt as to where she was.
“She still sounds pretty cut up about something” remarked Sweetie Belle, developing a worried expression.
“Would you allow me?” asked Celestia, moving forward and directing Pearl back towards her aunt.
She tapped on the door, and wasn’t acknowledged at first, but after she knocked again, heard the crying stop and a forlorn voice reply, “Please Sweetie Belle; I’m not in the mood right now. Please go back and I’ll come down later.”
“It’s not your sister, Rarity; it’s me, Celestia” said her visitor in a compassionate voice.
Silence.
Pearl started showing some interest behind Sweetie Belle, who turned to see that Twilight had joined them. She wore a business-like expression that although not overtly angry, suggested strongly that anypony meeting her would be well advised not to challenge her on anything. She leaned down to Sweetie Belle and in the kindest voice she could muster, asked if she wouldn’t mind taking Pearl downstairs for a while.
Sweetie Belle wouldn’t deny she felt a little intimidated, but when Twilight gave her a reassuring smile and suggested the foal could probably use a bottle, she guided her niece down to the kitchen leaving the grown-ups to help Rarity with her problems.
The handle turned and the door opened a crack, a pair of bloodshot blue eyes peering out from behind the door.
“Princess Celestia - I’m so sorry … I’m such a mess” she apologised, opening the door more fully, “What can I do to help you?”
“Always thinking of others before yourself” sighed Celestia, “I am here with Twilight Sparkle; may we come in please?”
“I really am in a terrible mess” she protested weakly.
“Understandably so” agreed Celestia, ”But that’s why we’re here. I believe we can help.”
Reluctantly, she drew the door fully open, the light from the landing leaping in uninvited to illuminate the wretched scene of scattered handkerchiefs over every item of furniture in the room. Her muzzle showed trails of mascara highlighted starkly over the pure white of her fur, in a dishevelled look so unlike the perfect grooming she was always so fastidious to display.
The rumpled state of her extravagantly oversized bed bore witness to where she had spent the last few hours and Celestia motioned for her to return, whilst she chose for herself a more subservient position on the floor, respectful of her status as the visitor in her hostess’s bedroom, even though she was arguably the most powerful pony in all of Equestria.
“I am so, so sorry you should choose to visit whilst I am looking like … this” she lamented.
“Twilight has kindly given me the gist of what’s happened” said Celestia,” And has explained your desire to avoid any, er, physical retribution in favour of defending yourself through the Court.”
Rarity nodded, “It’s only right and proper.”
“I believe this isn’t the first time this designer has crossed your path” Celestia probed.
“Yes. He has never acknowledged his responsibility as Pearl’s father.”
A furrow formed on Celestia’s forehead, evidently disapproving of what she was hearing.
“What precisely is the nature of his grievance against you this time?”
“Well, whilst I was working for him, I designed a number of new fashion ranges, most of which became so popular, as to have influenced the fashion world to this day. So, when we parted company and I branched off into foalwear, I used the basis of these popular designs as accents to enhance their appeal.”
“Perfectly understandable” agreed Celestia.
“But now he says that I stole these ideas from him, because I was working for him when I came up with them, so he is accusing me of stealing what he thinks of as his designs.”
“Intellectual property theft can rob a pony of their rightful claim to original work” mused Celestia, “But I think there is a strong case here to show that the work is yours. What we need is a good legal team, and I just so happen to have the best on my payroll at Canterlot to uphold Equestria’s laws in the highest Court in the land.”
“But, you preside over that Court” observed Rarity, “You’re not in a position to judge this case, surely?”
“No, but I do have a Chief Justice who stands in for me during my absence, so everything would be above board. We are agreed then, my lawyers will represent you.”
Rarity opened her mouth to challenge Celestia’s offer, but couldn’t find an argument that didn’t sound churlish, so returned instead a smile and a thank you, the first stirrings of optimism she had felt since opening the letter that morning.
“I have a chariot outside” said Celestia, rising to give Rarity a reassuring hug, “Once you have had a chance to freshen up, let us all go to Canterlot to meet your defence team.”
“Oh, but what about Pearl and Sweetie Belle?” she asked.
“They will be welcome at Canterlot too; would you please accompany them by train, Twilight” she asked her former student, “If that’s alright with you, Rarity?”