I had been a little curious but then she combed the hair into my face. I sighed. Yep, it was obvious Rarity had figured it out now, and was just making sure. I had a feeling this process was talking far too long. The various measuring tapes flew away, along with everything else nearby.
"So what was the big tip off."
"Oh come now. You may not think so but you two have nearly the same bone structure, and your lines were nearly identical before you entered the guard."
"I doubt that. I am much older than her. She was born when I was in basic."
"Oh, you don't look that much older. In fact if it wasn't for your coloration I think you could impersonate Fluttershy with a little hair styling. It's even long enough."
"My mane sticks out of my helmet as you noticed, and even if it didn't they're all enchanted to fit any style. Bumblesweet keeps her hair like that."
"As I said, a very hoofy enchantment. I must ask Luna how she managed it."
"Actually my girls make most of the armor now. Thanks to Luna we can even modify the designs easily now. Only mine is special. It's still in service because it's relatively invulnerable and will actually repair itself."
Rarity went wide eyed. "And that sounds even better." Then she sighed. "Though I suppose that's beyond me."
"I've been rather enjoying these last few days without it actually, and Luna still hasn't brought it back yet so perhaps you would like me to pass along your request to study it?"
"Oh, that would be wonderful." Then she blinked. "Wait, it's really on the moon?"
"Yes. She briefly sent Trixie there once. It saddens me it was at least not twice."
Rarity laughed. "Yes, Luna mentioned it now that I think of it. Though in truth I have grown rather fond of her with time. She is still far too full of herself but she is also a mare of exquisite taste. And not just her love of my designs."
"I suppose. I'm fine with just anything. I don't really care about fashion."
Rarity shook her head. "Ah, you say that, but that is simply because you have never seen any fashion that speaks to you."
"Well the dresses you make, especially the ones for my sister, are all very pretty, but I really can't say anything beyond that."
"Pretty. Hmmmm." Rarity then jerked upward, a huge smile on her face. "Oh now that's just perfect. Hmm, It might take a bit of extra work, but it could open a whole new market. Yes, I must create."
She was nearly out of the room before I realized it. I was quickly in front of her. She gasped and nearly stumbled. Hmm, forgot to make noise I think.
"Oh my, I didn't even hear you move."
"Sorry. So you have an idea?"
"Oh yes, a wonderful idea. I think I may need a little more input, but I wish to talk to Fluttershy about you a bit anyway. I really don't see why…"
"I have never been a big part of her life. I know her mostly though her letters. I was once very worried about her, but one by one I saw her gain more and more friends. Dash is as loyal as can be, but she alone would not be enough."
"And now you've taken your own advice?"
I blinked. "You've already talked to her, haven't you?"
"We speak often, but yesterday was spa day."
"So you knew the first day then?"
"Of course. I wasn't sizing you up today. I was taking some extra measurements to see how close you two really are. I must say you don't seem that much older at all."
"That's because I stopped aging."
She just stared. I couldn't blame her. In retrospect this wasn't that great an idea. Some of the girls knew, but most didn't. Rarity shook her head.
"I'm sorry darling but…"
"I said I stopped aging. I don't…" then sighed. "Didn't, know why. None of the doctors know why. Luna did, but didn't explain it until recently. And I most certainly can't tell you that."
"Because it's a state secret?"
"Yes, but also because all those whose swear an oath to the moon guard fall under a geas not to talk about a certain subject. This skirts the edge of that subject."
"Oh, how mysterious." She got a far off look in her eyes for a second, then shook her head. "Now when you say stop aging…"
"It's not just appearance. The armor's intense healing and fortification spells are so good that as long as you're wearing it you don't appear to age."
"That sounds marvelous."
"Yes, I suppose. However it's been confirmed that is not the case with me."
"So you're immortal?"
"Possibly. I am as easily injured as any other pegasus. Old age is only one of countless ways to die."
Rarity cringed. "Ah, yes. You are certainly, different, from your sister, aren't you?"
I nodded. "Indeed."
"Hmm, though there are some similarities besides that lovely bone structure."
"We get that from mom. She's really amazing. The only pony I know that can make my sister look plain."
One of Rarity's eyebrows began to twitch, and she started muttering something. I think it was "more" but I could be wrong. Then she got a dazed far off look in her eyes. After a long period of silence, where I sat quietly and patiently, she shook her had and focused on me again.
"Ah, sorry. I just had this image of the three of you in kimonos for some reason and…"
"I got the impression Fluttershy hasn't told you anything about our mother."
"She hasn't, why do you…"
"Because she is from Neighpon. In fact Shy-shy should have a picture of the three of us in kimonos. Dad jokes he can't look at it directly because so much beauty in one place is blinding." I smiled. "He can be surprisingly sappy at times."
Rarity had that distant look again. "I see." Then she shook her head. "No Rarity, now is not the time. Focus on the here and now."
"Actually unless there is something else I think we're done here. You could go talk to my sister about this immediately, as I'm sure…"
She waved a hoof. "Yes yes, we're done. I am tempted, but surely it can wait."
"Very well. So who's next? Unless you're busy again?"
"No, no emergencies. Also you were last. I even got those two pegasai of yours that weren't with you that first day."
"Yes, Luna informed them of her decision on the gala the moment they got back. It put Luna in a much better mood."
"I still wish I could do something a bit more with that stallion of yours though."
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
"While I don't make many suits for stallions there are considerably less options open to me in terms of pattern and to an extent color."
"An extent?"
"Yes. I could really make a suit any shade I choose without upsetting the lines too much, unlike some patterns which just can't work, but there are just so many that just are not accepted with stallions."
"And you can't change the suits at all?"
"Possibly, but honestly that's never really been my focus. Also the gala is very traditonal so I couldn't try even if I was properly inspired. One of these days I really must branch out, but so far my muse just isn't there."
"So once again, we're done?"
"Yes. Though don't you specifically have some time off?"
I nodded. "That is why I want to go. I don't really like time off, but if I have to take it, I will take full advantage of it."
I then left the back room and out the front door. Only after I left I realized that might have been a bit rude. I guess was anxious even though I was seeing a lot more of my sister lately.
It was truly quiet. I wouldn't have heard her approach otherwise. She gently set down beside me. Neither of us said anything for a long time after that. It was fine. But we had a lot to talk about, and one of us had to start.
"Hello Fluttershy."
"Hello Sky. It's nice to see you again. I mean besides you standing guard when Luna comes for tea. You were right. She is a very nice pony. Even though she's so loud sometimes, and only Angel isn't scared of her."
"That's not really true."
"Oh, I'm sorry. You're right. The bats like her too, and lots of the other cute little night dwellers seem to as well, but I forget since they're usually still asleep."
There was another long silence. The sun was low, but not down quite yet. It was too early for the bugs, but too late for at least most of the birds. But this little hill was far enough away from any perches so it was blissfully quiet.
"This is a nice place."
"Yes. I do like her. She knows that right? I mean Twilight and the others are special, but I'm still her friend."
"I know. By simply talking over a long period of time you saw her kindness, and Rarity saw her generosity by buying us all our gala dresses, and one suit."
"Dream is a nice pony too, and funny, but weird. He really reminds me of Pinkie sometimes. She is already Luna's friend."
"Pinkie's probably second to last. Luna is avoiding the center of town for a number of reasons, though I fear disappointing Twilight is not the most important."
"Oh my, really? Twilight has been very worried that Luna will show up soon and that she might disappoint her somehow, or on Nightmare Night she already did. She was getting really bad until Pinkie threw her a party."
"So, Dash is who Luna is trying to talk to now."
"She doesn't like Luna. Part of it is what happened Nightmare Night, even if she's said it was a great prank a few times."
"But mostly it's something else. I talked to her first. I knew you'd still be busy. Dash said she's a betrayer. That she betrayed her sister."
"She did." She gasped "Oh my, I mean not that she would now but…"
"We all know it happened. It was a long time ago and everything was different, but yes, it was a betrayl. Even Luna admits this freely."
"Sorry."
"It's okay Shy-Shy."
Dash had been a little too agitated to clear that up, but I got it now. It didn't explain why she thought it was so bad, but it did explain why I ended up watching over a crying Luna minutes after she left to talk to Rainbow Dash. The sun was really setting now, the moon coming up in the distance. Luna and Celestia seemed to have a great relationship now, even with the pranks, but neither wanted to talk of the past. I wasn't sure if that was a good idea or not.
"So what do I do? I have to help her."
"Have them race."
"What?" I turned to look at my sister
"It, will work. I know it sounds strange but Dash will know. She'll know what she felt was real and everything will be okay."
"How?" I looked back at the sunset
"I don't know, she's just that amazing."
I almost turned to look at her eyes, but decided I'd rather not know. "The crush is still there then?"
"Maybe. It's not like everypony thinks though. She's just so incredible, and she was the only one there. My only friend until I was knocked off that cloud." Then she suddenly gasped. "Oh I don't mean only friend I meant…"
I sighed. "I know what you meant Shy-shy. I wasn't there enough to be much of a friend really. Don't worry about it. Now what were you saying?"
"Oh, uh. Sky-sky, you sure you're…"
"I'm fine. You said you were knocked off that cloud then…"
"Oh. Well then I saw the ground and met so many new animal friends. That was all. She's just so amazing. It's hard not to admire her."
"So you're sure that's all it is. Not…"
"I'm sure." Then she blinked "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's okay."
I smiled at that. I just wanted her to be happy. I felt she deserved somepony in her life in that way, but Fluttershy always avoided the issue. Hinting that her admiration for Dash was a crush was as far as I was willing to push it. I then grabbed her in a hug.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Not being a good enough sister."
"No, that's not true. I wish I saw you more, but you're good enough. You're just busy. What you do is important."
"I'll come more."
"It's okay."
"I'm sorry."
She pulled out of the hug. "It's okay. I'm not worth worrying about."
I shook my head. "You are." I smiled. "I wasn't surprised you know. Dad was when he heard you defeated a dragon with a stare and a few harsh words, but I always knew you had it in you."
"I didn't."
"That's okay. Big sisters know these things. Also the really important thing is it's there, not that you know it is."
"But the stare…"
"I wasn't talking about the stare."
I wiped my eyes, sat down more normally and scooted away slightly, then looked at the near complete sunset. I took a deep breath. That was stupid. That whole thing was just plain dumb. I then turned to see Fluttershy crying with a big smile on her face. I was wrong, it wasn't stupid at all. Then she hugged me. Not even a little.