//------------------------------// // - XXVI - // Story: Solem Perditum // by PropMaster //------------------------------// - XXVI - Celestia led the way, Pinkie Pie walking in a more sedate manner than her usual bouncing gait, staying close to Light Stride’s side. The walk to Carousel Boutique was a short one, it being relatively close to Sugarcube Corner. Celestia approached the front door of the boutique and opened it with a gentle push. The bell above the door chimed, to no response. Celestia took a few cautious steps inside, looking around the tidy interior of the shop. Light Stride and Pinkie Pie joined her, and Pinkie Pie grinned suddenly. “Oh, we’re at the Boutique!” Light Stride glanced at her, puzzled. “How’d you know?” Pinkie giggled, and poked his cheek with her hoof. “The nose knows!” “That’s my cheek, Pinkie.” Pinkie shrugged. “Eh, close enough.” Celestia chuckled, and then called loudly, “Miss Rarity? Are you available?” From upstairs floated Rarity’s sing-song voice. “Oh, just a moment!” A minute later, Rarity appeared at the top of the stairs, beaming down at the group in her shop. “Why, Princess Celestia, what a pleasant surprise!” Rarity was different, though. Her mane and coat were a bit more dull, and her usually luxuriously flowing hair had been cut short and pulled into a messy bun. Wrinkles showed beneath the usually flawless cheeks and around her eyes, and her shapely legs had grown thinner. Rarity dipped herself into a courtly bow, her joints creaking a bit in protest. “Princess, you do me a great honor, coming to visit an old nag such as myself.” Celestia smiled sadly. “You are still as beautiful as I remember, Miss Rarity. Please, rise. I won’t have you kneeling on my account.” Rarity chuckled, straightening up. “Very kind of you, Princess.” She squinted slightly, and grumbled something, before her horn lit up. A pair of red-rimmed glasses materialized before her, and she perched them on her nose. Rarity’s eyes widened in surprise. “Ah! And Pinkie Pie, my dear friend. So good of you to join us!” Pinkie Pie waved in the general direction of her friend. “Heya Rares!” Rarity trotted carefully down the stairs, still graceful in her old age, and gasped slightly. “Oh, my, is that Light Stride?” Light Stride smiled. “Yes, Miss Rarity.” Rarity laughed pleasantly, trotting over and looking him unabashedly up and down. “My, my, Princess Celestia. Is this my reward for defending the realm for all these years?” Light Stride’s face turned bright red, and Rarity laughed, winking at the embarrassed guard. “Oho, only joking, Mister Stride. I assure you, I don’t date stallions under sixty.” “O-of course...” stammered Light Stride, chuckling weakly. “Though I could make an exception,” Rarity murmured, almost to herself, a wicked glint in her eyes. Light Stride’s ears flattened, and he glanced at Celestia. “Help.” Celestia, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie shared a laugh, as Light Stride shifted uncomfortably. Celestia embraced Rarity carefully. “It is good to see you, Rarity. We’re gathering your friends together.” Rarity nodded sagely. “Ah, of course. Ever-busy is our Princess, and ever-ready are we Elements of Harmony to serve her.” Celestia smiled. “I appreciate your willingness.” “I’m not the pony I used to be, though.” Rarity sat down gently, and tapped one hip daintily. “These old bones, though well-maintained, are growing weak. I don’t feel as though I can gallivant around like I once did.” “Of course,” Celestia said gently. “I assure you, Miss Rarity, your aging is not your fault. It is easy for me to lose sight of the passage of time that so changes my little ponies. If I had any other way to do this, I would... but I am afraid that I must call on you to serve.” Rarity grinned at Celestia. “The burden of immortality, hm?” “You speak truly,” Celestia said, her smile sad. After a moment, Rarity made to stand up. Light Stride left Pinkie Pie’s side for a moment to help her, and she took his hoof gratefully. “The picture of a gentlecolt, Mister Stride.” Pinkie smiled in Rarity’s direction. “Rarity, you sound different.” Rarity chuckled. “Haven’t you—” she paused, her eyes widening briefly as she noticed Pinkie Pie’s blank eyes, and she cleared her throat. “That is to say... yes. I’m an old mare, Pinkie Pie.” “Well, you still sound beautiful as ever!” chimed Pinkie, winking. Rarity laughed softly. “Oh, Pinkie Pie. You are a good friend. How about I lean on you, and you take my hoof? Between the two of us, we’ll be like one middle-aged pony!” Pinkie Pie giggled at the thought, and carefully made her way to Rarity. The two mares shared a hug, and Pinkie Pie’s straight mane quivered slightly. After a moment, Pinkie stood at Rarity’s side, supporting the elderly mare, and Rarity kept one dainty hoof held tightly in Pinkie’s own. Rarity nodded to Celestia and Light Stride. “We’re ready.” Celestia smiled. “Excellent. We’re going to Sweet Apple Acres.” Pinkie Pie chimed in, suddenly. “Oh, we should go get Rainbow Dash! She moved her cloud house between Applejack’s farm and the edge of town, so she’s on the way!” Celestia smiled. “Very well. Let’s find Rainbow Dash.” The four ponies left the boutique behind, heading for the edge of town.