//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10 
// Story: Tales of the Sapphire Carousel: The Chef's Guardian 
// by Undome Tinwe 
//------------------------------//

"Oh, I am fortune's fool!" Rarity declared, raising her sewing needle high into the air. "Why must the Fates curse me so?"

Shimmer glanced up from her sketchbook as she set down her pencil. "It'll be okay, Rarity," she said soothingly. "You'll get through this."

"Will I?" The sewing needle dropped down to the table as Rarity sighed. "My body, perhaps, but I fear she's stolen my heart and may never return with it. Oh, why did I have to fall in love with my own replacement?"

"She's not really your replacement, is she?" Shimmer asked. She'd picked up some things about Rarity's past, but beyond having been raised by Lady Celestia herself, it was hard to tell what was truth and what was Rarity being a little dramatic for the sake of a good story.

"I suppose I'm too unique to be replaced," Rarity allowed. "But still! She's the first student that she's taken on since moi! My only love, sprung from my only hate!"

"You don't hate her, though." Despite the anger and venom that Rarity tended to spit when the subject was broached, Shimmer always sensed an undercurrent of love and hurt underneath it, and it pained her that Rarity was estranged from one she cared so much about.

Another sigh, this one much more genuine and raw, as Rarity settled back down in her chair. "I wish I did," she admitted. "It would be so much sweeter if I was stealing her student from under her nose if part of me didn't still care for her. But now, the only person who ever once made me feel ashamed of my chosen profession, and the only person who could make me feel that same shame now, are both living under the same roof. It's... well, it's quite terrifying, frankly."

"Love is a scary thing, even when it's not as complicated as yours." Shimmer glanced at the sketch she'd been working on, an attempt to capture a scene from her memory of Rainbow Dash practicing her martial arts in the gym. It was crude and messy, but she also hadn't started getting into art until a few months ago, when Ivormory had decided to start hosting impromptu lessons.

"You're lucky," Rarity said, picking up her sewing needle once again and making an attempt at continuing her stitching. "You and Rainbow are simply perfect together, and you understand each other so well."

"We weren't always like that," Shimmer said softly. "I used to be scared of Rainbow, scared that she'd be like the guards at my old place. It took me a while to really accept that she'd never do anything to hurt me. I think... I think as long as you can't trust the person you're in love with, you'll never be able to get over your fears."

"And what if she rejects me?" It was so odd, and so wrong, to see Rarity seem so small. The fashionista usually filled every room she was in with her presence, and to see her so vulnerable touched Shimmer's heart. She knew that very few people would have been allowed to see her like this, and she felt immensely honoured at being one of them. "I love her so much that I fear my heart may burst, and if she chooses to tear it in half instead..."

"Then you'll live," Shimmer said firmly. "Just like how I would have lived if Rainbow Dash hadn't wanted to date me. Because you're Rarity, and even if it hurts, you won't let it stop you from shining as bright as the sun itself."

Finally, Rarity smiled. "I suppose it's her loss if Twilight decides to follow in her mentor's footsteps," she said primly, raising her head high. "Thank you," she added afterwards. "I... I don't know if I have the courage yet to confess to her, but you've given me something to think about, at least." She then glanced over at her table. "You're improving quite well at your art, I must say."

Shimmer blushed at the praise. "It's been a good way for me to keep my mind busy so that I don't keep fretting about the Pavillion job."

"So, have you made a decision yet, dear?" Rarity asked.

Shimmer shook her head. "It's so hard. I really want to work at the Pavillion, but I'm going to miss this place so much."

"We'll miss you terribly as well, as will many of your clients, but don't fret about losing us." Rarity seemed to finally give up on making any headway on her dress, as she set it aside to devote her full attention to Shimmer. "As long as you still want us in your life, you'll have a place here at the Sapphire Carousel."

"It won't be the same, though," Shimmer pointed out.

"No, it won't," Rarity agreed. "And yet, change isn't always a bad thing, hmm? I think you of all people would understand that."

"Yeah, but this is the first time where I actually got to choose what I was going to do. What if I pick the wrong thing?" It was silly and childish, but Shimmer couldn't help but be scared of losing everything she'd gained since coming to work here.

"What if you do?" Rarity echoed with a smirk. "What's the worst that could happen? Perhaps you might end up meeting with a horrible fate." She gasped in mock horror. "Could you imagine if you wound up working at a brothel? There are some who would say that's worse than death itself!"

A moment later, Rarity's expression immediately dissolved into a fit of giggling, and Shimmer followed suit. "Okay, you have a point there," she said once she could speak again.

"I don't mean to make light of your dilemma," Rarity replied. "I understand what it's like to be pulled between two worlds."

"How did you end up choosing to work here?" It was the sort of question that was usually taboo here. The Sapphire was the kind of place where nobody was pressed for their past, and while all were welcome to share the circumstances that led them to this odd establishment, it would be on their own terms.

But Shimmer needed to know, and the broad strokes of Rarity's past were well-known at this point, so she knew she wouldn't feel uncomfortable speaking about it.

Indeed, Rarity simply shrugged. "I don't want to tell you what decision to make, but truthfully, it was never much of a choice for me. I walked in two worlds, and only one of them accepted me for who I was, so I chose to grace with my fabulous self the ones who didn't try to take my colours away."

"Oh." That was a far more direct answer than Shimmer had been expecting.

"We don't share the same circumstances, though," Rarity added. "If I had followed the path laid out before myself, I would have had to wear the mask of a proper lady my whole life as I mingled with the crème de la crème of high society. Working at the Pavillion is just a job that happens to have a certain clientele." She paused and smirked. "Which is not unlike what you already do when you decide to take a shift here, complete with those same nobles you serve pretending not to see you when walking down the street."

Shimmer snorted. "When you put it like that, maybe I'll just stay in the kitchens here forever."

"They're not all terrible," Rarity allowed. "Some of them make for quite pleasant company, though not many, I must admit."

"I guess that's true." Shimmer sighed. "I really don't know what to do, Rarity. If I take this job, it could open up a lot of doors for me, but I really don't know what it'll be like."

"If I had let fear of the unknown control me, I would still be sipping tea in a large mansion somewhere and turning my nose up at the servants," Rarity said, "instead of living the very exciting life of a seamstress, dancer, and prostitute."

"Who's also in love with a mysterious mage from the North," Shimmer added dryly.

That, at least, elicited a chuckle from Rarity. "It's all quite romantic, isn't it? Though, I think I would prefer slightly less romance and slightly more certainty in my romantic endeavours. Only slightly."

"There's definitely something nice about waking up next to someone in the morning and knowing they'll be there every morning afterwards," Shimmer agreed. "Anyways, I don't want to make decisions because I'm scared anymore. Do you think that's all this is?"

Rarity shook her head. "I'm quite perceptive, but even I cannot tell you what is in your heart. I will say, though, that instead of thinking of all that could go wrong, think instead about what happens if everything goes right instead."

Shimmer took a moment to really consider that. "Hmm, well, if things go well, then I could move up in the world, get better at cooking. One day, I could even have my own restaurant!"

The smile Rarity gave her was genuine, without a hint of condescension. "That sounds like a lovely dream, dear."

"But then, I wouldn't be able to cook for you anymore." Shimmer paused. "And if I owned a restaurant, I'd be too busy running it to cook for anyone. I don't think I want that. I think..." And just like that, the answer was so obvious to her. "I think all I really want to do is to make people happy however I can, and the best way for me to do that is to stay with people I love, and who love me, and cook for them."

Rarity's smile grew. "Well, it seems like you've made a decision, then."

Shimmer nodded, smiling with relief herself. "I guess I have. Thanks, Rarity."

"Anytime, darling. And now that you've made your decision, might I say how glad I am that you're not leaving us to grace your skills upon those stuffy nobles that don't deserve you?"

That got a laugh from Shimmer. "Hide your true feelings, why don't you?"

Before Rarity could respond, they heard footsteps coming from the entrance of the lounge, and a moment later, a familiar guard poked her head in. "Hey, I just finished my shift and thought I'd hang out here for a bit."

"Hey, Rainbow." Shimmer smiled and stood up, walking over to hug her girlfriend. "I have good news. Rarity finally helped me make a decision about the Pavillion job."

"Oh?" Strong arms wrapped around her, and Shimmer looked up to see Rainbow Dash's eyes fixed on her. "Are we moving out, then?"

"No." With that one word, Shimmer felt a sense of belonging settle into her heart. She had made her decision, had accepted the Sapphire, and now it was truly her home. "I'm happy here, and I don't think I'll be happier working in the Solar District."

"Sweet." Rainbow Dash grinned. "We all get to keep enjoying your cooking. Oh, and your clients are gonna be real happy that you'll keep taking night shifts too." She paused. "You're still doing that, right? I know we fixed the budget so that you wouldn't have to."

"I am," Shimmer said. "Not going to turn down some extra cash." It also made her feel more like one of the girls as well when she took those shifts, but nobody had to know that. It would just make them think she was being pressured into it, when that was the furthest thing from the truth. She knew she had a choice, and she chose to work alongside the wonderful people who had become her family.

"And I'm not gonna turn down you buying me dinner when we go on dates," Rainbow replied. She pressed a kiss against her lips before they made their way back to where Shimmer had been sitting. "Oh, hey, is that me?" Rainbow asked, pointing to the sketch she'd been working on.

Shimmer hastily scattered some blank pages on top of it. "Umm..."

A chuckle from Rainbow calmed her frantic shuffling. "It's fine. You can show me how hot I look when you're ready."

"I can think of another way to show you," Shimmer teased as she trailed a hand down Rainbow's arm, enticing her with the lightest touches and delighting in how she was making her girlfriend shiver.

"Oh, you two are simply too precious." Rarity's voice cut into the lustful haze that had been building up in Shimmer's mind, and she turned to see the seamstress staring at them with a longing gaze. "Would that I had someone to share in such passion."

"I mean, I'm right here," Rainbow said with a smirk. "If you want, I could grab us a bedroom real quick and show you some passion." She waggled her eyebrows comically. "Or, you know, you could actually confess to that Sparkle girl instead of being all mysterious and stuff."

"It's not that easy!" Rarity protested. "And you are in no position to criticize me when you spent months pining for one another despite both of you working here!"

"Yeah, but you're actually supposed to be good at lovey-dovey stuff," Rainbow shot back, her smirk never faltering. "Do you really wanna be as bad at romance as me?"

"You make a compelling if horrifying point, but as I told Shimmer, my relationship with Twilight Sparkle is complicated."

Rainbow snorted. "Not any more complicated than what I had with Shimmer." She wrapped an arm around Shimmer to punctuate her point. "Just tell her you have the hots for her, and if she feels the same, we can let you borrow some of our toys."

"Hey!" Shimmer protested, smacking Rainbow gently on the shoulder in admonishment.

"You're right, Rarity probably has her own," Rainbow quipped irreverently. "Whatever, if she's down, then it's cool. If not, you can still be friends, and it's not like it'd have been weird since you don't work together."

"And what of my profession?" Rarity asked. "In this simplification of my love life, did you consider that?"

Rainbow shrugged. "So what? You make good money. Nothing wrong with that."

"Not everyone is quite as understanding as you."

"If she has a problem with it, then she has a problem with all of us." For a moment, there was a darkness in Rainbow's voice that sent shivers down Shimmer's spine. She was always conflicted when her girlfriend got like this. On the one hand, Rainbow Dash could be very scary when she felt someone in the Sapphire was being threatened. On the other, Shimmer knew deep in her soul that the fierce bodyguard would never hurt her.

At least Rarity was able to wave off the implied threat without a thought. "There's no need for such dramatics, Rainbow. I shall fight my own battles."

"Then go fight!" Rainbow retorted. "It's painful watching you flail around like this."

Rarity snorted. "I must say, your better half was much more sympathetic about my plight."

"Yeah, well, Shimmer's nice like that." Rainbow shrugged. "I like to tell it straight. If this Twilight doesn't like that you're working here, then she's not worth getting worked up over, so you might as well just tell her."

"I'll take your advice under advisement," Rarity said dryly.

"If you need time, then I think we can all understand that." Shimmer shot a pointed stare at Rainbow as she said that, and Rainbow thankfully didn't comment on it. "But the longer you keep this secret, the more it'll hurt Twilight when you finally tell her."

"I know that," Rarity said. "I just... I simply need more time, is all. More time to learn about her, and to perhaps convince her that it's just a job."

"If you want, we can come with you when you tell her to explain how much it doesn't matter," Rainbow offered.

"I appreciate that," Rarity replied. "But I believe this is something I must do myself."

"Still, if you ever need anything, you just have to ask," Shimmer assured her, reaching out from Rainbow's arm to place a hand on Rarity's. She met her eyes, those fearful, uncertain eyes hidden beneath a casual mask, and spoke with as much love as she could manage. "We're here for you, just like you were here for me."

Rarity nodded mutely, and even Rainbow didn't break this moment of sincerity with a joke or comment.

Instead, she simply tightened her grip on Shimmer as she said, "We got your back, girl."

"Thank you, truly." Tears were glittering in Rarity's eyes now, and Shimmer felt an echoing wetness in her own eyes as well.

"Even if that means that we'll have to drag you to her door one day to confess," Rainbow added, completely destroying the emotional tension in the room.

Rarity leaned back, and the earlier vulnerability was gone, replaced by her confident smirk once again. "Turnabout is fair play, I suppose, though I was much more subtle in bringing you two together."

As Rainbow sputtered out a "what?" and demanded to know what Rarity meant by that, Shimmer allowed herself to melt into her lover's embrace once again. The storm had passed, and her decision had been made, and now it was time for her to enjoy this future she had chosen for herself, with the good company she had been lucky enough to be blessed with.

Life was good, and Shimmer was sure that in short order, Rarity would muster up the courage to confess her feelings and secrets to Twilight, and they could all be happy together.

Everything was going to be okay.