If you would like to read this as I intended, have a Google Docs link.
Rarity stood outside her door, flanked by a rack full of dresses and saddles to her left – carefully wrapped in opaque wax paper, of course – and a packed saddlebag to her right. She glanced towards Town Hall. The clock tower was visible and read one-fifty.
Twilight should be here soon. And that pegasus carriage, too, Rarity thought. So one last time, do I have everything? I have a couple of saddles and dresses for myself on the rack, my makeup and cleaning supplies are in the right bag, my emergency sewing kits are on the left, I packed my Element of Generosity necklace, and my bit purse is on the left as well. My sketchbook and spare pencils are in their case on the right. I have my scarf and two extras, and my hat. Everything is in order!
She glanced down the road towards Twilight’s library. And here comes Twilight with Spike. Of course, my heart chooses this moment to skip a beat and speed up. She bit her lip and glanced around, trying her hardest not to appear anything other than happy and excited. Oh, unrequited love, why do you torture poor Rarity so? Rarity sighed, a mixture of sorrow and excitement in her voice. She put on a smile for Twilight.
The lavender mare trotted up to Rarity and set down her saddlebag. Spike just stood to the side, staring at Rarity while he shuffled around nervously. Rarity couldn’t help but chuckle quietly at the little dragon. His crush was cute in a childish way, and the fact that she knew of his affections only made his hiding them more adorable. But she knew she’d never be able to return his feelings, if they lasted.
In her mind, she sighed. Spike was growing up and becoming a true gentlecolt, more worthy than any stallion she had met. But dragon or not, he still had much more growing up to do, and it didn’t make sense to wait for someone who could change, and become every bit the disappointment that every other stallion was.
She was shaken out of her thoughts by Twilight’s voice. She blinked nonchalantly and smiled at her friend.
“Rarity, are you really wearing a hat and traveling scarf? We're taking a carriage. It's covered. There won't be any wind unless we prop open a window,” said Twilight, levitating her dress off of her back and onto the rack.
“Yes, I am. It can be so dreadfully cold up there, in the air, flying so fast,” Rarity pouted.
Twilight rolled her eyes and deadpanned, “I doubt it'll be that cold. It's the end of summer.”
“Nonetheless, I will be traveling in style.”
“Fine. At least the weather pegasi have kept themselves busy today. Clear skies from here to Canterlot.”
“Indeed. We should be able to see the carriage coming, no?”
“Yeah, probably.” Twilight paused to search the skies, squinting against the afternoon sun. “That might be them, there in the distance, see?” said Twilight, pointing a hoof above the Carousel Boutique.
Rarity squinted against the afternoon sun to get a better view. “Ah, I think I see them. Four white pegasus stallions, correct?”
“That would be the carriage team, yes. So I take it you have everything taken care of? Sweetie Belle is off to spend time with Apple Bloom, and Fluttershy has Opalescence, yes?”
“Yes, everything is fine on my end. Sweetie Belle and Opal are both in good hooves for our trip. I even heard back from Hoity Toity, and he would love to see my new collection. I'll have to set up a specific time for tomorrow, of course, but it will work out.”
“Same with me. Spike and Owlowiscious will be in the library. Spike just wanted to come say goodbye to you, Rarity.”
Spike slowly approached Rarity, still wide-eyed and nervous, and wrapped his arms around Rarity's forelegs. “R-Rarity? I... Travel safe, and have fun.”
“Why, thank you, Spike. Such a gentleman, seeing a lady off,” said Rarity, smiling as she quickly nuzzled his cheek.
“Come back, soon, OK? I’ll miss you guys,” said Spike, smiling with tears welling in his eyes as he returned to Twilight’s side.
“We will, Spike. Don’t you worry,” replied Rarity. Then she pointed her hoof in the air and giggled excitedly. “Oooo, Twilight, it looks like they’re coming in for a landing!”
The pegasus carriage banked around Ponyville and began to descend towards Carousel Boutique, the golden armor of the stallions gleaming in the afternoon sun. The stallions finally set down several yards from Twilight, Rarity and Spike. The carriage trotted up to the group and halted when the carriage itself was in front of them. The front two stallions unhitched themselves and approached Twilight.
“Salutations, Twilight Sparkle and Rarity. Princess Celestia sends her regards. We are to assist you in loading your luggage. Once everything is on board, we will depart for L’Hotel d’Equestria,” said the leftmost of the two pegasi.
“Let me guess, you’re Flint?” said Twilight, pointing to the first stallion. She turned to the other stallion. “And if he’s Flint, then you would be Steel?”
“How is it that you can always tell, Lady Sparkle?” said Steel, the pegasus on the right.
“Flint’s prettier,” teased Twilight. “But you two would always be on the field trips when I was at school, remember? Even with that magical armor, your voices don’t change. And I know Celestia keeps family together. Most of the time.”
“Excellent observation skills as always, Lady Sparkle. Her Royal Highness knows we could use you in the Service,” said Flint. “Nonetheless, let’s get this luggage on board, shall we?”
He approached the two saddlebags and slung them over his back. Steel followed, pushing the dress rack behind the carriage. Twilight popped open the trunk and helped Steel maneuver the rack into the tight space. Flint set the saddlebags in the cabin and took his place up front. Steel shut the trunk after double-checking that the rack was properly secured and joined him. Both re-hitched themselves as Rarity and Twilight entered the coach.
It was definitely a carriage fit for a princess. Purple and red cushions lay perfectly arranged on the floor, while blue and gold drapes covered the windows.
“Au revoir, Spike!” said Rarity, waving to the baby dragon from the open window.
Spike waved back with a look of mixed sadness and excitement. “Bye, Rarity! Bye, Twilight! I’ll be good, I promise!” shouted Spike.
Rarity turned from the window and lay down on one of the many cushions. Twilight followed her lead, lying on a cushion opposite Rarity.
“We’re ready for takeoff, Lady Sparkle,” shouted Flint.
“So are we,” Twilight yelled back.
Rarity heard Flint’s indistinct orders to the other stallions. No doubt the takeoff procedures, she thought. Interesting stallions. Magical armor, though. They all look very similar, so I guess it changes their appearance. Rarity raised a hoof to her chin, mulling it over. But Twilight could still tell them apart by their voices. How odd.
The carriage began to lift off of the ground. It only took a few minutes to reach its cruising altitude. When the carriage finally levelled out, Twilight reached into her saddlebags and retrieved two bottles of apple juice. She magically chilled them before offering one to Rarity.
“Why thank you, Twilight. A gift from Applejack, I take it?” asked Rarity.
“Not exactly. Big Macintosh gave them to me. He, uh, doesn’t like ponies’ knowing about his reading habits,” said Twilight sheepishly.
“What kind of reading?”
Twilight cringed before answering, “You don’t want to know. I didn’t even know the library had those kinds of books.”
“Ah, I see. Well, his secret is safe with me, too.”
“Thanks, Rarity.”
Twilight was about to open her juice when she was interrupted by a question from Rarity.
“I was wondering, why did those two pegasus stallions address you as ‘Lady Sparkle?’”
“Oh,” said Twilight, blushing, “you know how I’m Princess Celestia’s personal student at the School for Gifted Unicorns? Well, that also means I’m technically a member of her court, which officially makes me a Lady. I really don’t like to talk about it, because I’ve never performed any royal function. I just have my assignment to study the magic of friendship. The Princess has never called on me to do anything, but she could.”
A member of the Royal Court? I’m not surprised that Twilight would keep something like this from other ponies, so why is she telling me? She’s not one to brag, Rarity mused. Perhaps it’s best not to press the issue. I’m sure she’ll tell me more when she’s ready.
Rarity and Twilight popped the caps off their bottles and began to drink. Rarity took gentle sips while Twilight took great draws from her bottle. She managed to finish it in the space of a few minutes and set it aside.
Twilight again turned to her saddlebags and withdrew her copy of Introduction to the Theory and Methods of Dressmaking. Rarity continued to sip her apple juice as she retrieved her sketchbook and set to work on a pattern of lilies.
Lying down with her forelegs crossed, Twilight propped up the book against some cushions. She continued to flip through the pages, pausing to turn back to the glossary when she came across an unfamiliar term. As she progressed through the book, she needed the glossary less and less.
“Twilight, are you reading what I think you’re reading? Is that really Introduction to the Theory and Methods of Dressmaking by C. Stitch and D. Bolt?” Rarity asked, taken aback at Twilight’s choice of “light” reading.
“Yes, I am. I actually packed it in case you wanted to take a look at it with me,” replied Twilight, barely rousing her from her reading.
She was thinking of me when picking out a book? I’m touched.
“That’s very sweet of you, Twilight. I’ll let you keep reading as I’ve already read it several times. But if you need clarification on anything, just ask,” said Rarity.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Rarity picked up her pencil and continued her sketches while Twilight returned to her book. Both continued in silence for several minutes before Twilight turned back to Rarity.
“Rarity, what’s the difference between these two stitches?” asked Twilight, pointing to the relevant passage in the book.
“Ah, the difference between a blanket stitch and a topstitch? I believe that’s… now, where is it? Ah ha! Here!” said Rarity after flipping through several pages to find the explanation. In her fervor, Rarity had practically snuggled up to Twilight.
“Um, thank you, Rarity. Would you, uh, mind… maybe scooting over a bit? I feel kind of crowded,” said Twilight, blushing furiously.
“Oh, dear, I am terribly sorry. I just got a little excited, is all,” replied Rarity, moving back a few hooves to the left. Way to be subtle, you dolt! We’re supposed to be playing this close to the vest, remember? We can’t slip up before we have a chance to make it something truly memorable.
Rarity downed the rest of her apple juice as she returned to her sketches, shooting the occasional glance at her companion. She saw that Twilight continued to read, still sporting a noticeable blush. The awkward silence filled the carriage until it began its descent into Canterlot. When Rarity could hear the flight team shouting new orders, she and Twilight packed their bags and sat up in preparation for landing.
As soon as they landed, Flint and Steel unhitched themselves and opened the carriage door for Twilight and Rarity. Both thanked the stallions for the ride and fetched a pair of bellcolts to grab their luggage. Rarity watched them work while Twilight headed inside to check in.
Twilight marveled at the white and grey marble that covered the front façade and lobby. The front desk, too, was done in marble, with quartz countertops polished to a nearly impossible shine.
Even the eggshell-colored unicorn stallion behind the desk didn’t seem out of place. His brown mane was carefully slicked back, and his red vest highlighted the bell cutie so commonly spotted on hotel clerks.
As Twilight approached the front desk, the stallion – “Beneficent” by his name tag – said in faux Percheron accent, “Ah, ‘ello, and bienvenue à L’Hotel d’Equestria. ‘Ow may I assist you?”
“Yes, I’m here to check in. The room should be reserved under ‘Twilight Sparkle’ and possibly paid for by a third party,” replied Twilight.
“Ah, oui, ‘ere it is. Twilight Sparkle, your room is indeed ready according to your specifications. One room with one bathroom, an oversized closet, and one king-sized bed. Paid for by a third party,” said Beneficent, looking over the sheet and fetching two room keys. His accent faded away as he continued. “You will be in room 1715. I need you to sign here, saying that you checked in at 4:05 PM Friday, and that you have received your room keys and agree to the hotel’s terms and conditions.”
“Sorry, did you say one king-sized bed?”
His accented returned when he answered, “Oui, mademoiselle, one king-sized bed.”
“No, no, no, no. I specifically asked for two queen beds. This can’t be right.”
“I am sorry, Miss Sparkle. Allow me to fetch my manager, s’il vous plaît.”
“Very well,” said Twilight, raising a hoof to her forehead. How could they have messed something up so badly?
An elderly unicorn mare with the same eggshell coat and brown mane as the clerk came from helping another clerk and stood to the side, looking authoritative but friendly. She had a pattern of three bells for a cutie mark. I wonder if they have the same kind of spell as the palace guards have? They all look so similar, even down to their cutie marks, Twilight thought. She heard the older mare whispering to the younger clerk. The clerk gestured wildly and looked concerned, but the older mare just nodded and smiled. She turned to face Twilight.
“Miss Sparkle? I’m Tout Suite, the manager. First, allow me to apologize on the behalf of the entire staff of L’Hotel d’Equestria. I’m afraid that any rooms with two queen beds and an oversized closet are taken,” said the manager, an elderly unicorn mare with the same eggshell coat and brown mane as the clerk, but with a pattern of three bells for a cutie mark. “While we can’t do anything about your room, how about complimentary meals during your stay and a free spa visit for you and your guest?”
“That will be fine. Thank you,” answered Twilight, signing her name on the sheet and picking up the two keys with her magic. She turned around and spotted Rarity chatting with the bellcolts next to their luggage. She quickly trotted up to them and tapped Rarity on the shoulder.
“Hey, we’re in room 1715.”
“Oh? Well then, let’s not waste any more time standing here.”
They made their way to the elevators, followed by the bellcolts. Their luggage went on first, and Twilight and Rarity entered last, standing at the front. Rarity tapped the button for floor 17, and the elevator began to ascend.
“So, the hotel made a little mistake with our room. Instead of two queen beds, they gave us one king-sized one!” said Twilight. She swore she saw Rarity give a look of mixed curiosity and excitement before Rarity straightened her expression.
“I suppose we can work out some kind of arrangement. I’m sure it will be no trouble at all,” said Rarity. Any hint of curiosity or excitement was absent.
I guess she was just a little surprised. It’s not like I’m an expert on reading ponies, thought Twilight. She straightened up as a ding announced their arrival on the seventeenth floor. A sign pointing to the left indicated that room 1715 was in the east wing of the hotel. The group trotted in silence to the room. Twilight unlocked the door, and everypony entered. The bellcolts set the saddlebags at the foot of the bed and pushed the dress rack into the closet.
“Well, gentlecolts, thank you for your assistance. Here’s a few bits for your trouble,” said Rarity, handing both a hoofful of coins and ushering them out the door.
Twilight and Rarity glanced around the room. It was covered with a plush gray carpet complemented by the alabaster walls. A round table stood next to a writing desk in the corner. A king-sized bed sat across from them, flanked by end tables. Lanterns were lit and placed on the end tables. An alarm clock was placed on one of the tables, on top of note detailing how to use it.
Rarity giggled and said, “Wow. You really were not kidding about just a single king-sized bed.”
“Sadly, no. But the management said we’ll get all of our meals for free, along with a free spa visit.”
Rarity bounced in excitement, and her voice went up an octave as she squealed, “A spa visit? Oh, Twilight, we must go!” She pleaded, her eyes wide as she batted her eyelashes. She ran her hoof over her shoulder and through her mane. She continued, “I want my mane and coat to be perfect for my show with Hoity Toity tomorrow!”
Tonight, really? This can’t wait until Sunday afternoon or something? Twilight thought. But it’s not like my parents will be waiting around and expecting a visit tonight. I should let them know that I’m here, at least.
“Let me get a note out to my parents to let them know I arrived and then we can head down, OK?”
Twilight handed her note to the front desk with specific instructions to deliver it to her parents, and asked where the spa was located. The unicorn mare staffing the front desk pointed them past the bank of elevators to a set of frosted glass double doors.
When Twilight and Rarity pushed the doors open, the sight before them took their breath away. Beautiful white marble and porcelain covered every surface. Scented tea candles gave the room a soft, yellow-white glow. Crisp floral scents wafted throughout the spa. This probably wouldn’t look out of place in the Castle, Twilight thought.
Two mares approached Twilight and Rarity; One was a white pony with a lavender mane, the other was a lavender pony with a white mane. Both had tea candle cutie marks in their mane color.
Rarity leaned over to Twilight and whispered, “Twins, running a spa? Sound familiar?”
Twilight smiled and nodded, whispering, “Yeah, that does seem to happen. I wonder if it’s some sort of unwritten rule or something?”
The white earth pony stepped towards the two and said, “Hello, and welcome! I am Jasmine, and this is my twin sister, Lavender. What can we do for you ladies?”
Rarity took the lead and requested her “usual”: a sauna, mud-mask, massage, mud bath, bubble bath, and a hooficure. Twilight opted for the same.
Jasmine and Lavender led the two back to the sauna. Jasmine opened the wooden door and Lavender brought in a pail of water and a ladle. Twilight and Rarity sat in the corner while Lavender poured water over the hot stones and left the room.
“So, Twilight, you never really talked about your time in Canterlot. Did you spend much time with the other students?” Rarity asked.
“Rarity, you and the others are pretty much my first true friends.Back before I met you, it was pretty much me, Spike, and the library books.” Twilight looked down, ashamed. “Mostly the books. I’d see other students around the school and in the Castle, and sometimes they’d invite me to parties or lunch and whatnot, but I always had another book I wanted to read or some line of research to pursue.”
“So have you ever been kissed?”
Twilight whipped her head around to face Rarity and her eyes went wide with surprise. She blushed and lowered her head. “No,” was her meek reply. Twilight looked back up and returned the question. “Have you?”
“I… I have not.” Rarity looked sullen.
I shouldn’t have asked that, Twilight thought. She reached out a hoof to comfort Rarity, patting her on the back. Rarity looked Twilight in the eyes and smiled. Twilight felt a sudden rush and her heart raced. She drew her hoof back and returned the smile.
“Ladies,” said Jasmine, poking her head into the sauna, “time for your masks.”
They arose and headed deeper into the spa. The twins instructed them to lie down on the massage tables and applied the mud masks. Both shut their eyes as the twins placed cucumber slices over their puffy eyelids. Twilight felt her eyes relax under the cool fruit, and one of the twins began her massage. She lay in silence; the tension that had built up over the past few months disappeared under the practiced hooves of her masseuse.
Sweet Celestia, that’s good, thought Twilight. Who knew I could get so wound up?
After what seemed like an hour, Jasmine stopped the massage and removed the cucumber from Twilight’s eyes. As she fluttered them open, she noticed that Lavender was doing the same for Rarity.
Jasmine nudged Twilight towards the showers in the corner and rinsed off her mud mask. Lavender did the same for Rarity. The twins led the two mares back to the mud baths, and they gently descended the stone steps. The two continued to relax as the shoulder-deep mud soothed their aching muscles and moisturized their skin and coats.
“So, Rarity, why do you want to look so good for your show with Hoity Toity? Are you going to model?” asked Twilight.
“Oh, no, darling. Hoity Toity has several models he employs. They will be doing the work; I’ll be in the audience with Hoity Toity, listening to his opinions,” Rarity replied. “I just want to look fabulous in case anypony special decides to pop in and join us.”
“Oh. Did you find out when you can do the show?”
“No. I’ve invited him for dinner here so that we can go over some of these details before tomorrow.” Rarity tilted her head and smiled teasingly. “Why, did you want to come?”
Twilight glanced aside and answered in a whisper, “I’ve thought about it.”
“Well, if you get a chance, you definitely should join us for the show. I’m sure that you’ll love it.” Rarity smiled sincerely now, and Twilight felt encouraged.
She smiled back, Dear Celestia, why is my heart pounding? thought Twilight. I feel warm all over, too. Maybe it’s the mud? I’ll ask about it and do some research back at the library. The library... it’ll be nice to visit there again.
Rarity relaxed once more, shutting her eyes and settling deeper in to the bath. Twilight took the opportunity to ask Jasmine what was in the bath. She memorized the list so that she could look up the ingredients when she visited the library.
By the time Jasmine went through the contents of the mud, it was time for a proper bath. Twilight and Rarity got out of the silt, rinsed off in the showers, and trotted to the large bubble bath in the center of the room. Lavender and Jasmine lit tea candles all around the tub and let the two mares soak in peace.
The minutes passed in silence as the two enjoyed the subtle, relaxing currents and delicate floral scents of the soak.
Twilight finally broke the silence with a simple question, “Rarity, if you don’t mind my asking, why haven’t you kissed anypony yet?”
Rarity hesitated before answering, “I guess I just haven’t found the right... pony yet. I want it to be special for me and the pony I choose.”
“I never thought about that before.” Twilight went back to enjoying the wonderfully relaxing waters, and she felt more and more of her worries melt away.
After many more minutes, the twins returned to the two bathing ponies. “Time for your hooficures, ladies,” said Lavender, gesturing towards two side-by-side shallow pools.
Rarity, being closest to the stairs out of the bath, was out before Twilight. Her coat was dripping wet and glistening in the candlelight.
Wow, Rarity is gorgeous, Twilight thought as she got out of the bath. Did I not notice before? No, of course I did. All of my friends are pretty. Twilight pressed her hoof to her face, feeling the heat radiating from it. And am I flushing again? What is wrong with me tonight?
Twilight and Rarity toweled off before climbing into the fetlock-deep water to have their hooves filed and polished.
Of course Rarity is pretty. She takes great care of herself. She tries hard, and it shows. Rainbow Dash and Applejack have a natural, kind of effortless pretty. Fluttershy, too, but she tries hard like Rarity. And Pinkie Pie... she’s Pinkie Pie, but she’s still pretty. I have beautiful friends, inside and out. Twilight smiled, but then frowned. Am I pretty? Do I want to know if I’m not? Rarity would know, right?
“Rarity, am I... am I pretty?”
Rarity raised one of her eyebrows and eyed Twilight curiously.
“Whatever would make you think that you weren’t? Of course you’re pretty, my dear. You have such lovely hair and a gorgeous smile. And you’re a wonderful friend with a great personality. Anypony would be lucky to have you, as a friend or... something more.”
There she goes with that “anypony” business again, Twilight noted. “Thank you, Rarity. I just get insecure sometimes, being around other ponies. When it was just Spike and I, I didn’t think it mattered how good I looked as long as I bathed and kept clean. But you and everypony else back in Ponyville, everypony is so pretty. I...”
“Twilight, there’s no need to feel insecure about your looks. You’re a gorgeous mare, inside and out. True beauty lies within, you know. All the pretty dresses or fancy hairstyles can’t make up for a lack of manners and an elitist attitude or being a pompous, cold, ungrateful stallion.”
Twilight chuckled and then placed a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder, giving her a bright, friendly smile. “Thank you again, Rarity. I’m really glad you could come.”
Rarity returned the smile before replying, “Me too, Twilight.” She then wrapped her hooves around Twilight in a light hug. She let go quickly and said, “I do appreciate you giving me the chance to visit Canterlot. Thank you.”
Twilight smiled again, and felt her heart flutter. Oh no... not this again! she thought.
“All done, ladies,” chimed Jasmine and Lavender together.
The group headed back to the lobby of the spa and Jasmine walked behind the counter.
“To what room are we billing this?” asked Jasmine.
“Room 1715,” replied Twilight.
“Alright, thank you ladies. Have an enjoyable evening and stay at L’Hotel d’Equestria,” said Lavender, waving as Twilight and Rarity re-entered the lobby.
“Rarity, I think I’ll pay a visit to the Castle Library. I wanted to look up the ingredients for the mud bath we just took.”
“Didn’t you just ask Jasmine about it?”
“I asked what the ingredients were, not what they did.”
“Ah, I see. Well, I have my dinner with Hoity Toity to get ready for, so I’ll see you back in the room later tonight?”
“Yeah, later tonight.” Twilight smiled as she trotted out the front doors into the cool Canterlot evening. And I get to figure out what I’m coming down with. Honestly, what kind of illness produces my symptoms? I have to find out.