"Oh! Was that the milk mare just now?" Rarity instantly shut her sewing machine off and trotted briskly toward the rear door of the Carousel Boutique. Twisting the lock, she pulled at the handle and opened the parlor to the outside world. "Hmmm..." Her eyes scanned, scanned the horizon, then darted down. "Oh! Silly me! Heheh... there it is."
Telekinetically, the unicorn lifted a metal basket filled with four glass milk bottles. She was about to turn back into the Boutique when a chilly wind blew at her neck and mane.
"Ooooh!" Rarity cooed pleasantly, her coat forming goosebumps. She gave a rosy smile to the breezy afternoon. "My, what a pleasant day! T'would be a shame to shut this all out." Her muzzle tightened with thought as she gazed at doorframe. "Oh dear, I seem to have misplaced my doorstop. Well, this won't do. This won't do at all."
Seconds passed. A minute...
Rarity's pout melted away from the crest of a bright expression. Smiling, she tilted her head towards the Boutique's interior. "Oh Sweeeeeetie Bellllle!"
Not long after, a pale white figure with a flouncing mane waddled up. "You called, Rarity?"
"Would you be so kind as to do your older sister a favor, dear?"
"Oh!" Sweetie's voice cracked as she hopped straight up with twitching hooves. "You bet! Anything for you, sis!"
Rarity pointed at the edge of the open door. "Just stand in this area."
Sweetie Belle obediently scooted over and gazed up with an innocent smile. "Right here?"
"Yes! Right there!" Rarity leaned away from the door, grinning victoriously when it refused to swing shut. "Perfect! Now, do not move from that spot!"
"Okay, Rarity!" Sweetie Belle said in a sing-songy voice.
Rarity levitated the milk jars after her as she trotted back into the Boutique.
Sweetie Belle stood in place, her hooves planted firmly against the body of the door. Silence reigned. She squirmed slightly, leaning forward and craning her neck to see into the Boutique. The brightness of the outside world made it difficult to see any deeper than three feet into the shadowed interior.
"How long do you want me to stand here?" she finally asked.
"Until you no longer have to, darling!"
"Oh." Sweetie Belle blinked. "Well, I guess that makes sense." She blinked again. "Hehehe, my sister's so clever!"
She stood there, swaying back and forth on her hooves, humming to herself. Another breeze blew at her, and the filly's teeth chattered a bit. She rubbed one fetlock, then the other, then resumed standing.
With a few errant chirps, a blue jay fluttered down and landed on her horn. Sweetie Belle gazed up, going cross-eyed. She winded and rubbed her eyelids.
Just then, the sound of hoofsteps shuffled up.
Sweetie Belle opened her eyes and smiled. "Hiya, Miss Shores!"
"Huh?" Sapphire Shores skidded to a stop, her flamboyant gown flouncing. "Who said that?!"
"You're here for another dance suit?" Sweetie Belle asked with brightly smiling teeth.
"Miss Shores! Oh, do come in!" Rarity's voice chanted from within the Boutique. "I have your latest ensemble ready to go!"
"Oh my stars do you work fast as lightning! Mmmm!" Sapphire smiled as she pranced into the parlor. "Miss Rarity, I swear, you are my main mare! Yow!"
A distinctly elegant "Squee!" could be heard from inside.
Sweetie Belle waved after her. "Oh, okay! It was nice talking to you, Miss Shores! It's so wonderful being alive and having fun, isn't it?"
The blue jay on her horn made a razzing sound, pooped on the filly's forehead, and fluttered away.
Sweetie Belle stared after it. She blinked again. "Yaay, fun!" she squeaked with her eyes shut.