Rarity was going about her day at the boutique. It was a rather slow day. It had been a pretty slow week, in fact. She had made herself a nice lunch and was bringing the plates to the kitchen when she heard a knock on the door. Rarity was confused, as she wasn’t expecting anyone, but perhaps this was a personal matter, not a business one.
“Welcome to the Carousel…” Rarity started, but was dumbfounded when she realized who it was.
“Surprise. Heh,” Sweetie Belle said, giving a sheepish smile.
Rarity had seen less and less of her sister in the years since Twilight opened her school. It wasn’t intentional at first. Rarity’s business and helping out at the school kept her busy. Sweetie Belle was on her own now with more adult responsibilities. But as time went on, Rarity found that Sweetie Belle was not only getting responsibilities, but becoming more her own pony. It was harder to find things to do and talk about. But Rarity still cared about Sweetie Belle and was glad she stopped by.
“Hello Sweetie Belle. It’s… good to see you,” Rarity told her little sister, still in shock. “Come in, want some tea or anything?”
“Just some water would be great,” Sweetie Belle said.
“Alright then. I’ll meet you upstairs.”
Rarity went to the kitchen to get water and tea and met her sister upstairs, as promised.
“So, did anything in particular bring you by?” she asked “Or did you just want to say hello?”
“Something did bring me by, actually,” Sweetie Belle responded, levitating a paper towards her sister.
“Figures,” Rarity thought as her magic took the paper from Sweetie Belle.
“I’m getting married later this year,” the younger sister continued. “We just sent out the save the date flyers. Thought you shouldn’t find out that way, so I’m here too.”
“Oh. I remember you brought a special somepony to my wedding a few months ago. Congratulations,” Rarity said.
“Gosh, is that really the last time we talked?” Sweetie Belle asked, blushing a little.
“I believe it is,” Rarity said matter of factly.
“I guess this whole becoming a teacher thing is taking up more of my time than I thought. I meant to write to you,” Sweetie Belle promised.
“No explanations needed,” Rarity said. “You’re going to be a wonderful professor. I’ve always thought so. You’re the spitting image of our mother in many ways.”
“Yeah, she’s excited for me to be a teacher like her,” Sweetie Belle agreed.
“Speaking of, I’m sure our parents are delighted about the engagement as well,” Rarity said, the slightest bit of bitterness leaking in her voice. Sweetie Belle frowned, noting the tone.
“When was the last time you spoke to them?” she asked.
“Probably around the last time I spoke to you.”
“I… I’m sorry. I tried to get them to contact you,” Sweetie Belle promised again.
Something about this bothered Rarity. She didn’t want her sister of all ponies to be a martyr on her behalf.
“You didn’t need to do that,” Rarity protested. “What goes on between me and our parents shouldn't concern you.”
“They were plenty happy for you and Applejack, you know” Sweetie Belle tried to remind her sister.
“But you’re their favorite, Sweetie,” Rarity insisted. “Always have been. It’s not my fault I chose a career they found a waste of time and haven’t even tried to understand. But it’s not yours either. I’ve come to accept it.”
“Rarity, please don’t say that,” Sweetie Belle said, more desperately than intended.
“It’s true and you and I both know it,” Rarity snapped. “You’ve always had more in common with them. Why do you think we hardly talk now that you’re older? We don’t have much in common anymore, either. You’ve always been the one they put their energy into. You’re the one they’re excited to see succeed.”
“You think I like that kind of pressure?” Sweetie Belle asked, raising her voice also. “I mean, I love what I do, but…”
“Sweetie,” Rarity interrupted gently. “I’m sorry for starting this. Seeing you again just brought up some feelings. I don’t want to spend the first time I‘ve talked to you in months fighting.”
“I don’t, either,” Sweetie Belle agreed. The younger unicorn then thought of something else a bit more constructive to say.
“All those times as a filly I was so jealous of you,” Sweetie Belle continued. “Thinking you wanted to steal the spotlight from me. I wish I could tell myself that just because you’re older doesn’t mean you don’t feel the same way sometimes.”
“But despite the typical sibling conflicts, we had good times when we were little, didn’t we?" Rarity remembered. "You wanted to be just like me. You even thought of being a designer at one point.”
“I thought you hated that,” Sweetie Bell said, rolling her eyes playfully.
“It might have seemed that way," Rarity admitted. "And it did get a bit too much to handle at times. But really, not to sound too narcissistic, I absolutely loved it. No pony looked up to me the way you did and dare I say it, I haven’t had an admirer quite like you since.”
“I still look up to you,” Sweetie Belle insisted.
“Maybe. But it’s not the same,” Rarity said. “And that’s okay. You were meant to grow beyond “Rarity’s little sister.’”
“Our parents are inspired by you, too,” Sweetie Belle mentioned softly.
“Are they?” Rarity scoffed. “I never got that impression.”
“Well, they mention you all the time.”
Even though Rarity wished they had talked to her directly, she smiled at the thought.
“I haven’t asked about them yet, have I?” she noted. “How are they? I hope choosing a place so close to them when you moved out wasn’t a mistake.”
“They’re just fine,” Sweetie Belle said. “We all are. They still love working and are as happy as ever.”
“I’m sure they’re delighted to hear you’re getting married,” Rarity said genuinely this time, winking at her sister. Sweetie Belle laughed and nodded.
“They’re glad for both of us. We’re both happy and healthy. That’s all a parent wants for their kids in the end, right?”
“Of course,” Rarity agreed. “They love both of us dearly. I’ve never forgotten that.”
Sweetie Belle looked around. Rarity lived with Applejack now, obviously, but she still stayed in the boutique’s upstairs living space on occasion. However, the evidence of her work was all around the bedroom, down to the mannequin in the corner and the skeins of fabric on top of the dresser. Sometimes, Sweetie wondered why Rarity’s passion would cause such tension between her and their parents. But then she remembered how lonely Rarity seemed making clothes for her dolls on her own when they were little. And as an adult, it was clear her business and love of fashion weren’t just interests, but an integral part of who she was.
“There is another reason I’m here," Sweetie Belle declared.
“What’s that?” Rarity wondered.
“I’d love for you to make my dress.”
“Me?”
“Of course, you fool!” Sweetie Belle teased. “How could I have a fashion designer as a sister and not have her help me with my wedding dress?”
“I’d be honored.” Rarity walked towards her desk and levitated a pencil and paper towards her. “Any particular vision you have in mind?”