Meeeoowww.... Meeooowww....
MEEEEOOOWWW!!!
A small yet loud cat said as it called out to its owner. That owner was Rarity, who was getting her beauty sleep. The young mare slowly looked over to see her cat, Opalescence. Why must you- oh wait... ahem. Rarity thought before clearing her throat.
"Opal, darling, why must you wake up mommy?" She says with a tired irritated sigh.
Opal simply meows again, nudging her empty food dish towards Rarity.
"Oh, alright." Rarity agrees, slowly getting out of bed. "But, I must warn you- this will not help you get another treat from me today. You know how I need my beauty sleep." A slight shimmer goes about her horn before turning to a low glow. Her magic then going around the food dish as she levitated it into the air.
"I might as well have breakfast, too." She comments, going to the kitchen with the food dish levitating behind her. Opal following after as she gave a low impatient meow.
Rarity eventually found Opal's food, and fed her first. The cat purring as it began to eat. Rarity wasn't quite hungry herself, but a good breakfast was always a great start to a new day. She began to make eggs for herself, and let one of the eggs cook as she checked if Sweetie Belle was home. Strange, she wasn't. Perhaps she was at that clubhouse of hers? Oh well. She made herself two eggs then sat at the table. As she ate, she began to imagine her new clothing line that she finished designing the other night.
Oh! It will be the talk of Equestria! She thought excitedly, happily eating. After all, she worked quite hard on it. As always, she sketched the designs first and planned to start designing the clothing line today. She cleared her assignments so that she could have time for it. The new clothing line would be her new product, as it were. It would have been yesterday she began work for the clothing line if it wasn't for that sudden inspiration.
Last night, Rarity had just gotten out of the bath when the most wonderful idea came to her. No, dawned on her. It was the dress she had been hoping for, and she realized what colors would go perfect for it! Not only that, but what gems would go to accessorize it, as well! After all, she needed new clothing for herself. A fashionista wouldn't wear the same thing every now and then. It was almost fate that the idea came that night. Soon after her inspiration, she began to work late into the night on it. Sketching it, designing it, sewing it all together, etcetera~ She had it complete before morning, and went right to sleep once it was done. In fact, she was up so late that she slept well past into the late morning. No wonder Sweetie Belle wasn't home.
"Ah, and today I begin my work on my new clothing line~" She almost sang, finishing off her breakfast. She gave her plate a quick rinse before trotting off to her workshop. Opal staying behind as she finished her breakfast.
In the workshop, she quickly got out all her sketches for the clothing line. Oh how the theme suited each one perfectly. She laid out all seven designs, and picked which one she would begin first. "You, my dear, shall have a sapphire..." She thought aloud, moving the sketch over. She then went to her chest filled with gems where she..... wait, her chest filled with gems...... why...
It was empty!
Rarity stood in shock as her eyes looked at the bottom of the poor empty chest. How could this be?? She recalled last night that there were plenty of gems there. Why, she used some of them for her--- my dress! Could I have used the last of my gems for it?!
She quickly went to her dress, and even as it stood there as beautiful as could be.... sadly, yes. It held the last of her gems, and she was so tired last night that she did not realize it.
"How will I begin work now?" She questioned in almost complete misery.. Her eyes looked down, and she tried to think of before when she needed gems. Back then, there were so many gems from that silly little event. She let Spike have a bit to himself, he did deserve it after all. Yet, that was so long ago... it's no wonder that she was out now. She had created beautiful dresses and suits with them, plus more. Sigh.
"I'll simply have to go again, but... we cleared that entire area.. " She thought, recalling how those diamond dogs made her collect almost every gem from their underground cave. It was always easy to find gems there, yet now that she cleared that area before she'll have to go somewhere else to find more. Hm.. I'll just have to go to another cave. Perhaps Twilight knows where one is?.
Rarity gathered her things, and left to Twilight's home. Surely she knew where another cave lied outside of Ponyville. It'll be much faster asking her than going to look for it. Plus she could ask her and Spike to tag along.
She traveled to the library that was Twilight's home, and began to knock lightly on her door. "Twilight! It's me, Rarity."
The door opened only to reveal Spike instead. "Oh, hello Rarity.. Uhm.. Twilight isn't here right now. She's a... She's uhm... off running errands." He said with a strange hesitant tone.
"Oh, I don't have time to wait for her. Where is she so that I can meet up with her?" Rarity says next, more in an excited tone.
"Well.. she..." Spike thought, trying to look back into the library. Then, turned back to Rarity," She said that if you came by, to leave her a note!"
"A note...?" Rarity questioned, her head moving to see what Spike was looking at before Spike moved blocking her view. " Well then! How about I talk to you, instead. Spike, do you remember helping me gather gems before? I need to find more for this new clothing line I'm designing.. please, could you help?" She asked, not thinking much into what Spike was trying to hide.
Spike gave a low blush,"Oh, of course, Rarity! Let's go ahead, and I'll just tell Twilight later."
He closed the door behind him, and jumped off the step by the door to Rarity's side. His eyes slightly looking back to the library before rushing Rarity away. "Time isn't going any slower, so we can go ahead!"
Rarity stopped him as she gave him a curious look. To which, he gave an innocent one. She stared harder, but it seemed he still said nothing. But, she didn't have time for this foolishness. "Look, I'm not sure what you did, Spike. But, if you destroyed the library again- you're just going to have to clean it when we get back." She said, recalling how Spike did so before. She began to leave Twilight's home and headed back into town.
Spike quickly spoke up in his defense,"I didn't! I swear! That was the owl's fault, anyway." He grumbled, following behind Rarity.
Rarity simply went on, not paying any attention to what he said. She was more focused on how they were going to find the perfect cave now. Normally she just find gems naturally, but the ones she wanted best came from caves. Although she disliked going there without all her friends.
Speaking of friends: Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack could be seen up ahead. Perfect timing!
Rarity quickly trotted up to them to speak with them. "Oh, I'm so happy to run into you three. You see, I've run out of gems and I was hoping that all of you could come with me. Spike will help with the digging, of course, but you see I--"
"Oh! Rarity! You're.. uhh... here.." Rainbow Dash interrupted in surprise, as the other two were also shocked to see her.
Rarity just laughed," Of course I'm here, Rainbow Dash. I do live in Ponyville, after all. Anyway what I wanted to ask is if you all could-- "
"OH! Would you look at the time, I can't believe it. It's almost lunch time... oh, I must go home and feed all the little animals. If you'll excuse me..." Fluttershy interrupted, quickly leaving soon after.
"Oh, lunch? Why, I completely forgot!" Applejack pitched in right after she left. "Apple Bloom and her friends wanted me to pick up something for 'em. 'Scuse me." She said after, leaving the group just as well.
Rarity looked left and right as the two left. Her eyes looking up at Rainbow Dash who flew above. " Perhaps you could-"
"Oh! .. uh... Poor Tank must be hungry, too! Seeya, Rarity!" Rainbow Dash said as her wings took flight. She left with a wave, and rough take-off.
Rarity, meanwhile, stood next to Spike. It seemed they were too busy for her... lunch is important though, perhaps I'll pack a picnic. She recalls, thinking of how she was going to leave without it.
Spike looks over to Rarity, a bit worried for her. " Don't worry, Rarity, I'm sure Pinkie Pie could help."
Rarity shakes her head,"No.. she told me yesterday that today was booked with parties. Apparently three new ponies showed up to Ponyville and she wanted to welcome them. It seems like it's just you and me, Spike."
Spike just gave a grin," Well, it's like last time. Don't worry about it."
"I'm not," Rarity says with a smile,"we should be back before tonight if we hurry. But, those three did remind me we should pack a lunch. Let's stop by my shop first."
She lead the way this time, and the two of them leave to her shop. There she packed them both a lunch, and saw a map lying in her room as she went. She stopped what she was doing, and took a closer look at the map. The map was one she used before while gathering gems. On the map were markings she had put to mark where she already gathered gems. One spot was left untouched, however, and it was a cave far from Ponyville. She recalled borrowing the map from Twilight who said that the map had every cave near, and in Ponyville. Yet, this cave was far from what she imagined... Hm.. It would be perfect for her and Spike to gather gems. Who knew how many gems it held.
Looks like you helped me after all, Twilight. She thought with a smile as she took the map with her.
"Come now, Spike, we have a long way ahead of us~!" Rarity said, emerging from her shop.
Spike sat by their cart, looking a little surprised at what she said. "Long way? But, couldn't we just go to the same place as last time?" He said with a groan.
"No, Spike, we can't. Thanks to those diamond dogs, we gathered every gem possible from there. That's why we need to go somewhere new! Somewhere far, and it'll have precisely what we need!" She says, taking out her map. Rarity began to leave the shop and lead them out of Ponyville's borders. Her determination causing her to quicken her step as she went.
Spike just sighed as he stood up then began to push the cart behind her. Although he was having trouble catching up to her, he followed after. He gave Ponyville one last look before they left the borders, and just muttered under his breath. "If you say so..."