~ Chapter Five ~
"Little town, it's a quiet village - every day like the one before."
One slightly depressing event could not destroy the entire day.
That was what Rarity kept telling herself, anyway. She knew that there was a very good reason why her friends might have tension against her, and she honestly couldn't blame them. She just wished it didn't hurt to see them pained the way they were.
Still, she would keep pressing on.
After all, she could only hope that her other friends aren't going to be the same way.
Finding her way down the winding road to the town square, Rarity soon found herself near the marketplace. This place was as good as any to run into ponies she knew, seeing how it was easily Ponyville's busiest section.
Levitating her coffee up, Rarity took the last sip and tossed it in a nearby trashcan. She then made her way into the marketplace and soon found herself lost in the crowd.
Vendors chatted to one another through their booths, and customers didn't shove one another, unlike in Canterlot's street festivals. It had a small rhythm to all of it, a sort of offkey harmony she couldn't quite place. But Ponyville certainly did have its perks as opposed to the city. It wasn't exactly the countryside, but it did have that sweet theme to it. Rarity couldn't deny it; this little town certainly was the perfect area to host the Summertime Spectacular Fashion Show.
Rarity eyed one of the booths, admiring the jewelry that was awfully intricate and carefully designed, even the the vendor insisted of being hoofmade. However, for something at a marketplace, twenty bits for a bracelet seemed a bit overpriced. Besides, none of the gems even looked genuine.
Continuing to trot along the road, but not exactly sure where she was going, Rarity kept on with her little adventure, only before she ran into somepony.
Apologies immediately began spilling out of the other pony's mouth, and Rarity let out a soft laugh of disbelief at who she had bumped into.
"There is no need for saying sorry, dear," she chimed. "It was entirely my fault."
"Oh, but I should have taken mind of where I was going and-" Suddenly, the other pony silenced themself and peeked out from behind their soft pink mane. "R - Rarity?"
Rarity smiled wide. "Hello, Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy let out a light squeak, and her gaze scanned over her old friend thoughtfully.
"Is it really you?"
"Why, of course it's me," Rarity said, smiling sweetly. "It's such a pleasure to see you again."
Finding a small smile creeping its way across her expression, Fluttershy looked over her friend's appearance. "You haven't changed much," she piped up. "That's a good thing, o - of course! At least, I hope you haven't changed...?"
"I haven't," Rarity smiled. "How have you been?"
"Oh, you know," Fluttershy murmured, pawing at the road. "Nothing much has changed for me."
"I find that hard to believe," Rarity assured. "Come on now, let's walk. Do you have anywhere to be? I'm sure that if we talk, we'll find something interesting."
The pegasus' smile slightly widened. "Alright," she responded. "What brought you back to Ponyville anyway? If you don't mind my asking, of course."
"Business," Rarity replied, with a nonchalant wave of her hoof.
And so, the two mares began walking down the road at Fluttershy's reluctant lead. They swapped small talk, sort of dodging any serious topics, but still somewhat bonding. Rarity somewhat avoided answering any questions about her career, seeing how she was here in this marketplace to reunite with her friends, not to boast about her job. Fluttershy, true to her statement, actually hadn't changed much at all. Aside from getting a small degree in veterinary skills - thus making her an official professional in the task - she had stayed the same mare as she was five years ago.
Not that Rarity was complaining. It was a bit of a relief to not have an entire lifetime to catch up on. Still, it was nice to know that she had a friend who didn't hold a grudge against her for leaving.
The two of them were just about to depart from the marketplace, when all of a sudden, a small filly accidentally crashed right into Rarity.
"Oops, sorry, ma'am!" the little foal piped up, and just as she was about to run off, she noticed Fluttershy and waved her hoof. "Miss 'Shy! Hiya!"
Fluttershy looked back, and noticed the filly, causing her expression flickered with concern. "Why hello there, Sonya," she murmured. "What are you doing all alone?"
The filly identified as Sonya blew her frizzy navy blue mane out of her vision, giving a cute little pout. "My Momma said she would be back to the stand in five minutes, but it's felt like she's been gone too long," she whined. "I'm tryin' to find her!"
"Well, now she's probably trying to find you," Fluttershy said, suddenly alarmed.
Sonya nodded. "She always finds me, though."
Rarity raised an eyebrow as she looked over the filly. There was something very familiar about her, but she just couldn't put her hoof on it.
The foal dubbed as Sonya had a dark cream-colored coat, a wildly curly navy mane tied back with a golden ribbon and her eyes were a sparkling azure. All in all, she was actually quite precious, but she did indeed seem quite young to be wandering the streets of town all on her own.
Suddenly, a figure was seen shoving their way through the crowd, and in an flash of orange, somepony appeared.
Somepony that took Rarity's breath away as she saw them.
"Sonya Apple, what in the hay did Ah tell you 'bout— ...Rarity?"
"Hello, Applejack. Good to see you."