Rarity was what you would call a fastidious pony. Every piece of fabric had its own special place in her Boutique. Every sowing needle, every gem and every thread, each carefully organised and perfectly arranged to her exact specifications. This was the only way she could get any work done. Of course, from time to time, she would intentionally disorganise her space to create a suitable area where her mind could roam freely without restraint. Though these times were when she created some of her best masterpieces, she could never act on her thoughts until everything was put back into its rightful place.
After one such session, the dull whirr of her trusty sowing machine echoed through the halls. In the very last room of the hallway, Rarity stood gazing upon the mechanical device, slowly feeding a sky blue length of fabric through the machine.
“This will be the most fabulous dress ever! Though the last one will be hard to beat. Oh, Rarity, how do you manage to be such a brilliant dressmaker?”
Rarity continued to talk aloud to no one in particular as she levitated the fabric out and onto a dress form that she had positioned beside her. She ran a gentle hoof over the fabric, smoothing over any scuffs or imperfections. Unbeknownst to Rarity, the door behind her creaked open. From the small crack in the door, a white muzzle and a fluffy lavender mane came into view. Gradually, the the door swung open more to reveal Sweetie Belle, who was standing there with a sleepy look on her face.
“Rarity! What are you doing? Is that a new dress?” she asked, stifling a yawn.
Rarity flinched at the sound of her little sister’s quiet voice. Turning around, she smiled nervously at her polite intruder. “Oh, S-Sweetie Belle, I didn’t think you’d be up this early.” Rarity had in fact, counted on her not being up so early. The adorable voice of her sister could only mean that something was about to get broken, torn, or otherwise destroyed. The morning was the only time that Rarity had to do work without any well-intentioned chaos occurring.
“Can I help?” the little filly said with a newfound excitement. She bounced over to her sister’s side and looked up to her. Rarity did her best to hide her feelings and her face behind her sowing machine.
“Oh, You want to help? Umm, well you see, I’ve really got it all under control here.”
Sweetie Belle instantly deflated. “You sure?”
Rarity couldn’t stand the sight of her little sister looking up at her with big puppy dog eyes, seemingly almost on the verge of tears. With a sigh, Rarity bowed her head, ready for what was to come.
“Well, I suppose I could always find something for my special little helper to do,” she said, giving Sweetie Belle a pat on the head. “Lets see... Why don’t you go and fetch me my box of sewing needles from the top shelf of the cabinet over there.”
Sweetie Belle daintily hopped over to the cabinet and examined it. The cabinet was much taller than her and even taller than Rarity, the box was perched at the highest point, ensuring that there would be at least one accident before breakfast.
Sweetie belle steeled for her difficult task ahead. Tentatively, she placed her hooves on the highest shelf she could reach and began pulling herself up. Like a rock climber on a cliffside, Sweetie Belle scaled the shelf with a look of determination permanently etched onto her face. She was so close to her prize that she could almost touch it. Holding a hoof outstretched, she swiped at the box. A sudden weakening of her leg muscles made her lose her balance and almost slip from the shelf, only one of her hooves gripped tightly onto the wood stopped her from plummeting to the purple carpet. The cabinet wobbled precariously, daring to fall over and crush the filly and the treasured sewing box. Sweetie Belle screamed to alert her sister to the danger she was in.
Rarity turned from her dress form when she heard the scream and sighed at her sister. It never failed to amaze her how her sister could turn every menial task into a perilous mission.
“Sweetie Belle, must you make everything so complicated?” with a tilt of her head, Rarity’s horn sparkled with a brilliant blue hue. The light from her horn enveloped Sweetie Belle and the box, making them float in the air. The light gently placed Sweetie Belle back on the floor and the sewing needles went on the table besides Rarity. The cabinet that was previously destined to fall over gently rocked back and forth until it was in a stable position again. Rarity glanced at Sweetie Belle just long enough to see a frown appear on her face, the fashionista ignored her disapproval and continued working.
Sweetie Belle pondered on what just happened. Rarity used magic, that much was certain, after all she was a unicorn, that’s what made them different to the other ponies. A thought popped into Sweetie Belle’s head, one that she was surprised had never really occurred to her before. Why didn’t she use magic? It seemed odd, or downright strange that she was a unicorn and she had never used her magic. She ventured into her earliest memories to find any traces of magical use or ability on her part. Nothing. Not even a night light spell, not even a simple telekinesis spell. She decided that maybe her thoughts weren’t the most reliable, due to her having a lot of holes in her memories of being a baby. She needed an outside observer.
“Rarity?” she said in an oddly unsure tone. The larger unicorn neither turned around nor said anything to her, she simply hummed a note to indicate that she had heard. “Have you ever seen me use magic?”
Rarity sensed a slight change of tone in her sister’s voice, it was clear that she wanted to properly talk about this. Turning to face her, Rarity placed a hoof on her chin and put on her best pensive face. Throughout all her years of having a sister, Sweetie Belle had not once showed even the slightest hint of magical potential. It was understandable why her parents never mentioned it, since they would never dream of upsetting their little angel like that.
“Well, now that you mention it, no I haven’t.”
Sweetie Belle allowed herself some more time to think before raising a hoof above her head in a moment of inspiration. “Hey! Maybe I could get my cutie mark in magic!” she exclaimed in joy, not noticing her big sister’s vaguely condescending stare.
“Oh, Sweetie Belle...” she started with a motherly voice. “Only a few ponies can get their cutie marks in magic, like Princess Celestia or Princess Luna.”
Sweetie Belle huffed in annoyance. “Twilight has one, so why can’t I?”
“Because Twilight is the element of magic. I think it would be rather silly if she wasn’t skilled in the art that she represents.”
Sweetie Belle sunk down to the floor in defeat. It was true that the only ponies that she knew with magical cutie marks were special ponies, but even the simplest of unicorns could use magic to some extent, so why couldn’t she?
“Maybe you could teach me to use magic! You’re really good at it, like how you got the box down of the shelf just now, and how you use magic to style your mane and find gems.”
That certainly wasn’t what she needed, more time taken out of her schedule. Also, judging by Sweetie Belle’s track record with, well, anything, it was safe to say that teaching her magic would probably be a very long and arduous process.
“I don’t think so Sweetie Belle. I simply do not have the time to spare, this dress must be finished as soon as possible, or else my client won’t be too happy.”
Sweetie Belle shuffled in irritation. “Please! Please, please, please! I might never be able to do magic without some help!”
It was clear that Rarity had to do something to help her sister, otherwise, she may have to leave her precious dress for even longer. She just needed somepony who was good with magic...
“Twilight!” Rarity exclaimed, much to the confusion of Sweetie Belle.
“Uhh, what?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Rarity smiled at her own quick thinking. “I may not be able to teach you magic, but Twilight loves to teach ponies. I’m sure that if you ask her, she’ll be more than happy to give you some advice.”
This idea was evidently pleasing to Sweetie Belle, who jumped up off the floor and into her usual excited self. “Good idea Rarity! I’m going to go see her right now.” she said, already sprinting for the door.
“Hold it!” Rarity screamed, making Sweetie Belle freeze in her tracks. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Sweetie Belle turned around and instantly realised what she had forgotten. “May I please go out Rarity?” she asked with a cute smile.
Rarity’s glare turned into a happy expression. “Yes you may,” as soon as the words left her lips, her sister was out the door, slamming it behind her with a loud bang. “finally, a moment of peace.”
The instant she turned around, the cabinet that had perviously held the sewing box toppled over, releasing a loud crash as it hit the floor. Rarity placed her head on her dress form and sighed deeply.