//------------------------------// // 272: It's a Start // Story: Thirty-Minute Pony Stories // by Silvernis //------------------------------// 272: IT’S A START Rarity set up her shop next to the apple cart in front of Sugarcube Corner. “Shop” was admittedly a rather grand word for an old wagon and a spare clothes tree she’d dug out of her parents’ storeroom, but Rarity was a forward-thinking little filly with grand plans. She wasn’t going to limit her vision simply because her resources were limited at present. She’d make it work. It was merely a starting point, after all. Besides, what she was selling was far more important than what she was selling it on. She smiled proudly as she unboxed her scarves and hung them on the clothes tree so that they caught the morning sun just right. It had taken her three months to save up enough allowance money to order the fine fabrics and thread directly from Canterlot, but the finished products had most certainly been worth the effort. She saw it as an investment: it was never too early to start establishing a reputation for dazzling quality. Satisfied with the arrangement of her wares, Rarity set out her empty bit jar and her sign—Ponyville Boutique, in immaculate horn-painted script—then settled down to wait for her first customer. She just knew somepony would come along soon, eager to buy a fine scarf and maybe ask for some fashion advice. She simply had to wait. And wait. And wait. Soon, she told herself. Any minute now. Bored, she tried batting her eyelashes at the big red colt working the apple cart, but all that got her was a dirty look from the orange filly beside him. Rarity sniffed disdainfully and turned back to her non-existent customers. She sighed. Running a shop was a lot less exciting than she’d expected. She looked critically at her scarves. Perhaps she should rearrange them? Maybe they’d be more eye-catching if she sorted them by color instead— She froze as she noticed a pony trotting briskly through the square. It was not just any pony. It was the most glamorous pony Rarity had ever seen. She was an earth pony. Her coat was a lovely pale blue; her mane and tail were a striking white. She wore a bold black dress, paired with big, pink-tinted glasses. She exuded style, elegance, and cosmopolitan refinement with every step and haughty toss of her head. She was also walking straight towards Rarity’s shop. She drew closer and closer until she was quite suddenly there, peering at the sign, then at Rarity, then at the scarves. “You made dese?” asked the earth pony without preamble. She had a heavy Germane accent that Rarity found positively thrilling. “I did indeed,” said Rarity, beaming. She fidgeted, and couldn’t stop herself from blurting, “Do you like them?” The earth pony frowned as she examined the scarves, her eyes unreadable behind the big pink lenses. “Da shtitching is loose,” she said at length. “Your designs are appealing, but your shtitching must be tight and even if you vant to make someding truly wunderbar. And all dese gems . . . ” She shook head. “Too much, dahling.” Rarity felt her face burn, but she forced herself to keep smiling—a lady accepted both success and failure with poise. “Y-yes, you’re quite right,” she said as breezily as she could. “I—I suppose I rather did go overboard with the gems, didn’t I?” “Still,” said the earth pony, “dey are . . . not bad.” Her hoof lingered on a bold magenta scarf that matched her glasses. She pulled the scarf from its hook and expertly twirled it around her neck, then rounded on a brown earth pony behind her that Rarity hadn’t even noticed. “Mirror!” she barked. The other pony hastily yanked a small mirror from her saddlebag and held it up. The blue pony considered her reflection for a long minute, muttering to herself, then finally nodded and turned back to Rarity. “I, Photo Finish, vill take dis von!” she announced. Rarity knew it was unladylike to stare with one’s mouth hanging open, but she did it anyway. “You—you will?” she squeaked. “Yes, dat is vhat I am saying. How much?” said the earth pony—Photo Finish, was it? Even her name was glamorous! “Oh! Um . . . ” Rarity realized she hadn’t actually thought about her pricing. “Um . . . one bit?” she ventured. “Done!” said Photo Finish. She waved a hoof at the other earth pony, who promptly produced a coin purse from her bag, took out a single shiny bit, and dropped it into Rarity’s jar. It hit the bottom with a gratifying clang. Rarity smiled hugely. “Thank you for your patronage! Thank you so very, very much—” “Yes, yes,” cut in Photo Finish. “Fix dat shtitching, and you vill be able to charge ten bits. Now, I go!” The blue pony trotted away, followed closely by the brown one. Rarity watched them disappear into the crowd, enjoying the sight of such a fashionable pony wearing one of her creations. When she couldn’t see her anymore, she reached down and hugged her not-quite-empty jar to herself. “It’s a start, darling,” she murmured to the bit, smiling.