//------------------------------// // Celestia's Clarity and Luna's Lecture // Story: Clothes make the Mare // by Applefai //------------------------------// Rarity wakes up bright and early, the sun is just barely peeking out on the horizon as she gets her saddlebag and checks on Sweetie Belle.  As Rarity peeks her head into her room, she smiles as she sees her sister still fast asleep. She quietly shuts the door and walks downstairs, She takes out a pen and paper to write a quick note, and she reads aloud what she is writing. Sweetie Belle, I went to Canterlot early, for I have some business there, I will see you when I get home. I trust you to go to school by yourself, love, Rarity. She wrote before placing it on the fridge and heading out the door.  As she walked, she noticed several ponies waking up and going to work, no doubt Applejack was also up at this time and already working. "I'll have to talk to her sometime too, but I think I'll ask her and Pinkie when I return," Rarity said to herself as she approached the train station. Rarity purchased her ticket and boarded the train, taking her seat as she looked out the window and thought about how to word her question to Celestia.  Rarity is so deep in thought that she doesn't realize that she has already arrived in Canterlot, She exits the train and makes her way to Sapphire Shores studio. "There you are Miss Rarity, How've you been?" Sapphire asks as Rarity takes out a notepad. "I'm doing quite well, You wanted to meet me to discuss a new outfit?" Rarity replied. "I sure did, I have a new song coming out so I need something that'll fit, something astonishing," she replied as she put on a demo of her song. Rarity listened to it with a smile on her face, "It's really good, so what are you looking for?" Rarity asked, ready to take notes. "Well, I'd like to give you full creative control on the outfit, here," Sapphire said as she took out the demo and handed it to Rarity. "Take that, listen to the meaning of the song, and design an outfit that best describes what you envision, I trust you," Sapphire said as Rarity nodded. "I won't let you down," Rarity said with a smile as she left. Rarity takes a deep breath in as she mentally checks off her to-do list. "Ok, now I must talk to Celestia, hopefully she isn't too busy," Rarity said to herself as she started trotting to the castle. As Rarity approaches the castle, she is stopped by the royal guards. "Halt, who goes there?" One asks as he and his partner block the way with their wings. "It's Rarity, I was wondering if I could visit the princess, I have an important matter to discuss with her," she replied as the guards lowered their wings. "Go on thorough miss, sorry for keeping you," one says as they return to their original position. Rarity makes her way into the throne room where Celestia and Luna sit, enjoying some tea together. Celestia sees Rarity approach and smiles as brightly as her sun. "Rarity, how are you my little pony?" Celestia asks as she uses her magic to bring forth another chair. "Please, come join us," she says as Rarity joins them. "Thank you, Celestia, I'm doing well, and how are you and Luna doing?" Rarity asked. "We are quite well, We just got through visiting with dignitaries is now we're taking the opportunity to use this free time to relax, Luna always loved our tea parties when we were younger," Celestia replied, making Luna blush as she brought up their past. "That was years ago, dear sister, but I did miss them while I was imprisoned in the moon," Luna replied as she looked into her cup. "Well now we can catch up, I've heard of a thing called Long Island iced tea, I think I should learn how to make it," Celestia replied as she handed Rarity a cup of tea and an hors d'oeuvre. "That you, Celestia," Rarity said as she took a sip of her tea. "I do have a question for you and Luna if you don't mind," Rarity said as she took a bite of her snack. "We don't mind at all," Celestia said as Luna nodded in agreement. "Tis our duty to hear out our subjects if they have questions," Luna added. Rarity looked down before she spoke. "Do you think changelings can be befriended, and that a changeling could be a friend to pony kind?" Rarity asked as Celestia smiled. "Of course I do, as princess of Equestria, I must keep an open mind on such matters, If a changeling were to make friends, I would accept them with open hooves. I actually have a deep hope that Queen Chrysalis will see the error of her ways and meet with me to discuss open borders," Celestia answered, Luna rolling her eyes. "I have to disagree, sister. Although having the changelings as allies would be beneficial, I don't think that they have any intention of being friends, They could backstab us and we'd be none the wiser with their shapeshifting abilities," Luna said as Rarity lowered her ears. "How could you say that, Luna, as a princess you have to be open-minded and unbiased," Celestia asked, looking at her sister in shock. "That's true, but as a princess, we should also look out for our subjects, even if that means making a hard decision, or have you forgotten?" Luna asked as the tension in the room grew heavy. Celestia fell silent as the three ponies sat around the table. "Of course, I haven't forgotten, it was the hardest decision I ever had to make," Celestia said as she began to tear up. "I'm sorry I brought it up, but I've had time to think on the matter and I decided I don't blame you, I blame myself, so don't feel bad," Luna says as she hugs her sister. "But, do you think there's a small chance?" Rarity asked, causing Luna to break the hug. Luna sighed, "If there is it's a very small chance, but I don't think it'll come to fruition," Luna replied as Rarity finished her tea. "Thank you for your time, I must be going, I got other business to attend to," Rarity said as she got up. "We understand, Please come by again," Celestia said as she waved Rarity off.  As Rarity walked back to the train platform, she took out her notepad and wrote under Fluttershy's feedback. Celestia and Luna: Celestia has high hopes for our species to get along and hopes that Chrysalis will reach out to discuss being allies, Luna on the other hand doesn't think so optimistically and even raises a good point, though I know I would never betray my friends' trust intentionally, other changelings are loyal to the queen and will jump at the opportunity to please her. She wrote as she approached the ticket counter and bought a ticket back to Ponyville. After Rarity had taken her seat and the train took off, she went deep in thought until a voice snapped her back into reality. "Fancy running into you, Rarity," the voice said as Rarity turned around.