Selfishness and Generosity
By Alaborn
Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.
Snip. Snip. Each pulse of magic directed the scissors to cut a precise length of silk ribbon. Each precise length of ribbon would be added to a waiting dress, perfecting her latest design. Rarity was in the zone, as they say.
When the door to Carousel Boutique was hesitantly opened a crack, then closed, Rarity’s concentration did not break. Continuing her work, she called out to her guest. “Come on in, darling.”
The door opened just enough for a timid pegasus to poke her head in. “If you’re busy, I could come back another day,” Fluttershy said quietly.
“Nonsense, Fluttershy. I have our spa date on my calendar, and I fully intend to keep it,” Rarity said.
Fluttershy stepped into the boutique and closed the door behind her. She gazed upon the large number of dresses Rarity was working to complete. “It’s just, you look so busy, so I understand if you need to cancel.”
Rarity set down the scissors and looked at her dear friend over the top of her glasses. “Fluttershy, dear, I am almost finished. I will have plenty of time after the spa to make my final adjustments and board the overnight train to Canterlot. As long as nothing else comes up, there’s no need to worry….”
The door to Carousel Boutique burst open, swinging so hard it hit the backstop. Sweetie Belle rushed in with a similar level of energy, jumping up to hug her sister. “Rarity!”
“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity said, smiling. “I wasn’t expecting you to stop by today,” she continued, desperately hoping her eye wouldn’t twitch.
The two unicorns’ parents followed the filly into the boutique. “Good afternoon, Rarity!” her father said.
“So nice to see you again, dearie,” her mother added.
Rarity forced her smile to stay on her face. “Mother! Father! What an… unexpected surprise.”
“Now, I know it’s short notice, dear, but do you think you could watch Sweetie Belle for a few days?” her mother asked.
“Again?” Rarity blurted. She immediately regretted saying that, no matter how true it was.
“We wouldn’t be asking you if it weren’t important,” her father said.
Rarity looked over her parents. Her father, wearing his favorite flowered shirt, that fashion atrocity that came out of Hoofalulu. Her mother, with her mane freshly done up in that atrocious beehive ‘do. They were clearly going on vacation again.
Taking care of her sister for a week, back around the time of the Sisterhooves Social, was enough of a challenge. But at least her parents arranged that visit months in advance. After that week, there was Hearts and Hooves Day, the Summer Sun Celebration, the Running of the Leaves, three, no four, long weekends…. So many visits, some with very little notice. It was so much to ask anypony.
Rarity looked down. Her sister watched her expectantly, her big eyes appearing ready to tear up at any moment. Would it be right to take her out of town? Rarity would be occupied by her business dealings, hardly the best situation for her sister. Finally, Rarity put her hoof down, both literally and figuratively. “I’m sorry, but I simply must leave town to deliver my latest order. And I don’t think it would be appropriate to take Sweetie Belle with me while school is in session.”
The room fell quiet, so quiet that everypony could hear Fluttershy when she spoke. “Um, I could watch Sweetie Belle, that is, if it’s all right with you, Mr. and Mrs. Belle.”
Rarity turned to her friend. “Why, Fluttershy, that is very kind of you, but I couldn’t ask you to take on this responsibility.”
“I want to help. I hope you don’t mind, Rarity,” Fluttershy said quietly.
Rarity’s mother positively beamed. “So you’re the Fluttershy Rarity keeps talking about?”
“Kind and courageous,” her father added.
“Oh, I’m not, not really,” Fluttershy said.
“Nonsense! If the Fluttershy wants to watch our daughter, then she has my blessing,” Rarity’s mother said. “That’s all right with you, right, Sweetie?”
The filly nodded. “I love staying at Fluttershy’s cottage! I’ll get the Crusaders!”
“Um, if it’s all right with you, I’d like to watch just you,” Fluttershy said. Sweetie Belle pouted.
“Well, I’m glad that’s all settled,” Rarity’s father said. He dropped off two bags. “And here’s what you’ll need while we’re gone. Shall we go, dear?”
The older mare nodded. “Goodbye, Rarity, Sweetie!” their mother called, waving. “And good luck with your delivery!”
Rarity watched as her parents departed the boutique, smiling and waving, a slight twitching in her eye betraying her true feelings. She continued to wave long after her parents had left her sight. Fluttershy finally broke the unnerving silence. “So, um, about the spa date?”
“Why, yes,” Rarity started, “I think we all could use a relaxing trip to the spa. Even you, Sweetie Belle.”
“I don’t get it, Rarity. Why is the mud at Sweet Apple Acres the worst possible thing, but you’re sitting in mud now?”
Rarity unwound in the spa’s mud bath while Aloe gave her front hooves a hooficure. Sweetie Belle, relaxing in the hot tub, was observing her sister curiously. In the background, Lotus massaged Fluttershy’s tired muscles; the pegasus hummed in approval.
“This mud serves to cleanse the skin, Sweetie,” Rarity explained.
“But that doesn’t make any sense! Mud is dirty!”
“Oh, Sweetie,” Rarity cooed, “perhaps you’re just not old enough to appreciate the spa.”
“But I am old enough! Mom and Dad say so!” Sweetie Belle protested.
“Oh, really?” Rarity inquired.
“Yeah, they keep telling me how I’m growing up, and how I’m ready for more responsibility.” Sweetie Belle swirled her hoof along the surface of the water in the hot tub. “I think they just want me to do more work.”
“I’m sure it’s not so bad,” Rarity said.
“Well, the grocery shopping is kind of fun. But I’m not a fan of all the yard work they’re having me do. I wish there was a spell for trimming hedges!”
“I wonder if Twilight knows something,” Rarity mused. “Speaking of magic, how are your studies progressing?” she asked her sister.
Sweetie Belle hesitated. “I’m seeing a tutor now.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Rarity said. “They only want what’s best for you. Anyway, I’m glad Mother and Father are giving you some freedom, Sweetie Belle. All a part of growing up, I suppose. I always did feel their concern for me when I was your age bordered on the overprotective.”
Aloe finished Rarity’s hooficure. She examined the spa pony’s work. “Fabulous!” the unicorn said. “Now what would you say to a steam bath, Sweetie?”
After returning to the boutique and seeing Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle off, Rarity made the final alterations to her latest masterpieces. She carefully packed dresses, coats, scarves, and sweaters into several trunks, and carried them to the train station. Or, rather, she carried her own overnight bag, while a porter struggled with the heavy trunks.
“Almost there, darling,” she said to the overburdened porter, as the train station came into view.
Finally, the porter deposited the trunks near the tracks, and then fought to catch his breath. Rarity tipped the porter generously and smiled. Thanks to Fluttershy’s kindness, Rarity’s plans remained intact. She had arrived early to the station. There were no last minute preparations for an extra traveler, no fevered struggles to finish her designs before the train departed.
Once the train arrived and her trunks were loaded, Rarity took a seat in her sleeper car. “A light supper, a soothing cup of tea, and then straight to bed,” she said to herself. “Beauty sleep is quite important before a big day.”
The first two steps of the evening’s plan went as planned. Her salad of crisp greens and tart green apples was refreshing and satisfying. The chamomile tea soothed her nerves. Finally, she returned to the sleeper car and stretched out. It would never equal the comfort of her bed at home, but as she always said, some sacrifices must be made in the pursuit of perfection. She had made the overnight trip many times, a necessary evil if she wanted to have a full day to conduct business in the capital.
Rarity slept best in the quiet of a Ponyville night. However, she had learned to find a different kind of relaxation in the noise of a moving train. Just fall into the rhythm. Feel the soothing pattern of the sound. As she willed herself to slumber, a discordant note rose above the mechanical melody. It echoed in her mind, fighting her desire to sleep.
In another sleeper car, two ponies were arguing.
It was too distant to understand the words, but their tone carried quite clearly. On and on, they complained. Their frustration infected Rarity. One pillow over her head, then two, then three, failed to drown out the noise. The bickering ponies would… not… stop.
“AAARGH!” Rarity screamed. “SOME ponies need their beauty sleep!”
Rarity awoke the next morning, neither as well rested nor as happy as she had planned. A donut and an extra large coffee from Pony Joe’s, consumed only after donning a suitable disguise, improved her mood considerably. By the time of her first appointment, the previous evening’s stress was almost gone.
Her four appointments went well. Her fashions won the favor of the shop owners; she really felt she connected with them. Seeing the work of other designers, in the stores and worn by the patrons, inspired her. Between stores, she sketched a few preliminary ideas, the fires of creativity stoked anew. She left the final store with so many ideas in her head that she wasn’t paying attention to where she was walking. She bumped into somepony.
“Rarity? Rarity, is that you?”
Rarity looked up, a feeling of déjà vu flooding her. “Fancypants! Fancy meeting you here. No pun intended, of course.”
Fancypants smiled. “Of course.”
Rarity did notice one difference from her previous run-in with the dapper stallion. He was alone, without his lovely companion. “Mustn’t offend Fancypants,” she thought. Looking for a neutral way to continue the conversation, Rarity settled on, “What brings you to this part of Canterlot?”
“Just a bit of shopping. I’m looking for the perfect gift for my lovely Fleur,” he responded.
Rarity smiled. “Perhaps a lovely scarf? I did deliver several of my designs to the shops here.”
“A wonderful idea!” Fancypants said. “Would you happen to have some time? I would love to talk fashion with you.”
“I would be honored,” Rarity replied.
“The honor is mine,” Fancypants said. “Come, walk with me.”
Together, Rarity and Fancypants walked to the royal gardens. The stallion, while mostly interested in learning what gifts Fleur de Lis would likely appreciate, turned out to have a reasonable eye for fashion.
“I am expecting next year’s fashion trends will lean in a more understated direction,” he commented.
“Can you reveal your source?” Rarity said conspiratorially. “Let me guess—Hoity Toity.”
“A rather more personal source,” Fancypants replied. Rarity raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
“It’s a simple matter of observation, my dear Rarity,” he continued. “Quite often, I have heard my Fleur de Lis and our friends complain about the weight and unwieldiness of this season’s fashions. I suspect the trendsetters of Canterlot will embrace simpler designs next season, and I do hope you’ll be at the forefront of this new fashion.”
“That’s quite generous of you to say,” Rarity said. “Surely you have closer ties to some of Canterlot’s top designers, no?”
“I do, but I want you to have this tip for two reasons. First, I believe you can pull off elegant simplicity better than any other designer. And second….” Fancypants paused. “Second, I hope it will help make up for the way I treated you when I first met you.”
“But you treated me to a performance of the Wonderbolts! You welcomed me into your elite circle, and made sure I was accepted!”
“When I said you were a pony worth bumping into, I was thinking only of myself,” Fancypants explained. “I welcomed you for selfish reasons, and I apologize.”
“I was so caught up in realizing my high society dreams, I didn’t notice,” Rarity admitted. “I was rather selfish myself.”
Fancypants stopped walking. “Do you remember this place, Rarity?”
Rarity examined her surroundings, a well-manicured garden. In the distance, she saw the glass walls of one of the castle’s wings. “That garden party. The one I abandoned my friends to attend.”
“As bad as you may feel, Rarity, I feel much worse for the way you were treated by the ponies I call friends. Not just you, you and your friends.” Fancypants stared off towards the castle. “When you mentioned the name Rainbow Dash, back at the Wonderbolts Derby, I finally recalled why your name was familiar. But none of my companions that day recognized it. Even later, when they saw the six of you in the flesh, they simply did not realize they were in the company of the ponies who had saved Equestria twice. All their parties, their hobnobbing, their very well-being? They owe it to you and your friends.
“I was right back then. You are somepony worth knowing. And if the elite of Canterlot won’t recognize you as a hero and exemplar of generosity, then the least I can do is get them to recognize you as a brilliant fashion designer.”
“I’ve never really thought of it that way,” Rarity said. “It doesn’t make me special. What I did… it’s what anypony would have done. Right?”
“I don’t know,” Fancypants said. “In a circle of friends and acquaintances numbering in the hundreds, I don’t think I know one with even half your generosity.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Fancypants,” Rarity said. She took in the beauty of the garden as Celestia lowered the sun, orange rays illuminating flowers, trees, and ponies. She focused on one couple in the distance. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m about to do something very ungenerous.”
Fancypants’ legendary composure was broken, his mouth hanging open, as Rarity stormed off.
The sunset over the royal gardens is one of the most beautiful and serene sights in Canterlot. Artists and philosophers argue over whether the sunrise or the sunset is more beautiful, but the sunset attracts more aficionados. It is especially popular with couples, particularly young couples, but even a pair of middle-aged unicorns can sit on a bench and enjoy the tranquility of the sunset.
Until the stomping of an angry young mare drew their attention.
Rarity scowled as her parents turned to her. “THIS is what you call IMPORTANT?” she screamed.
“It is. More than you know,” her father replied.
“And WHAT, pray tell, is so important about a VACATION?” Rarity yelled.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” her mother said, waving her forelegs, as if it would halt her daughter’s fury.
Rarity leaned forward, inches from her mother’s face. “Every time, I see you in your RIDICULOUS vacation clothes. Every time you drop off dear Sweetie Belle, you tell me it’s IMPORTANT. And I’ve GENEROUSLY accepted that, EACH and EVERY TIME. And THIS is how you repay my generosity?”
“Rarity, stop. Stop this, and listen to us,” her father ordered.
“And just WHY should I do that, dear father?”
The elder Belles looked at each other. Rarity’s mother nodded, almost imperceptibly. “Because we need to talk,” Rarity’s father said. “The three of us need to have an adult conversation.”
“And you must promise not to talk to anypony else about this,” her mother added.
Rarity sighed loudly. “Very well, I promise. Now what is....”
“Rarity, this is im… this is very serious,” her father interrupted. “Make a Pinkie Promise.”
“I promise not to speak of this with anypony. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” As Rarity spoke the silly phrase and completed the gestures, she couldn’t help but feel her rage dissipate. A flash of pink filled her vision, and she was reminded of the seriousness of the situation.
“There’s something we haven’t talked to you about. I was afraid it would make you angry,” Rarity’s father said.
“And look how well that worked. She’s not angry at all,” her mother added sarcastically.
“Dear,” Rarity’s father hissed. “Now, Rarity, do you know what this place is?”
“The Royal Gardens?”
“Do you know what this place is to us?”
“I’m afraid I don’t,” Rarity admitted.
“Back when we were young, younger than you, we sneaked away from home and rode the overnight train to Canterlot,” Rarity’s mother explained.
“Skipped school, didn’t tell our parents, everything,” her father added.
“We kissed on this very bench under the setting sun,” her mother continued.
“Not like today,” her father said. “Rarity… things aren’t going well between your mother and me.”
“What?” Rarity gasped.
“Some time ago, we just lost something,” Rarity’s mother said. “We spend more time at each other’s throat than in each other’s forelegs.”
“We’re two selfish ponies, and nopony should care about our failings, except there’s one pony who shouldn’t have to suffer,” Rarity’s father said.
“Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said. “When did this all start?”
“A couple of years back. We started arguing. About money. About each other. About what to do to teach Sweetie Belle,” her father said. “Trying to get her to master multiple object levitation, and no matter what I tried, it wasn’t working.”
“That’s because you were pressuring her,” Rarity’s mother said.
“If you had set some ground rules from the start, we wouldn’t have had a problem!” her father snapped.
“Father! Mother! Stop arguing about Sweetie Belle right this instance!” Rarity demanded.
“You’re right. I feel like I did that night. I almost snapped at Sweetie Belle,” her father admitted. “I’m such a terrible pony.”
“We’re doing all we can to shield her from this,” her mother said. “Getting her a tutor. Chores to get her out of the house when we’re at our worst. And yes, having her stay with the sister who loves her.”
“I didn’t know,” Rarity said.
“All these trips we’ve taken, they’re all trying to help us remember what we once had. The thrills, the spontaneity, the simple joy of being together,” Rarity’s father said. “But it is a lot to ask of you, Rarity.”
“Now that you’ve explained it….”
“We should have told you,” her mother interrupted. “You’re a grown mare, and you can handle it.”
“But not a word to anypony else,” her father warned. “We’re doing everything we can to make things work, but if we can’t do it, Sweetie Belle is going to hear it from us. Not from some cruel rumor.”
“And no matter what, she needs your support,” Rarity’s mother said.
“Of course, Mother, Father,” Rarity said. “I’ll do anything I can to help my sister. But please do understand I have responsibilities. If spontaneity hasn’t helped you so far, then perhaps you should try a planned excursion. An excursion planned well in advance.”
Rarity’s father embraced her. “Thank you, dear, for not giving up on this selfish old stallion.”
Her mother joined the embrace. “Thank you, thank you.”
“No, thank you, for thinking of your daughters,” Rarity said.
Rarity backed away, smiling at her parents. It may have taken a lot of shouting first, but Rarity’s parents were in each other’s forelegs again.
Rarity left her parents to their special evening. Reflecting on the day’s events, she didn’t notice the stallion in front of her in time to stop their collision.
“Rarity! This is some habit you have,” Fancypants said.
“Oh, Fancypants!” Rarity exclaimed. “You needn’t have waited up for me,” she continued.
“Nonsense,” Fancypants replied. “I do hope you’re all right, my dear,” he said quietly.
“Quite all right,” Rarity replied. “It took some work, for certain, but I’ve gained newfound respect for two of the most generous ponies I know.”