To say that she was tired would be like saying ponies walked on four hooves. It was worth it though as the small town of Ponyville was coming into view. Rose was looking forward to stopping as she pulled the wagon behind her, her daughter and sister resting as the two older mares had taken turns pulling. At first Trixie seemed much better suited to it, but Rose had remembered a spell she read back at the bookstore and was able to use it to make the wagon seem lighter yet she still grew tired because of the strain of constantly using the spell.
Now, after such a long trip, they were finally at their destinationthough now Rose was beginning to question herself even more over the decision coming here. She knew a little about how some of these ponies here treated heryet Trixie had a point that if Rose wanted the best to teach her daughter then they had little choice in coming here. Question was, would they be able to get Rainbow Dash to help teach Summer to fly and Rose the knowledge and skills to take care of a pegasus child.
She didnt have long to worry though as she was coming up to a large building with six ponies in their teens playing volleyball. Rose couldnt decide if she should skirt around such a large group or chance making a bad impression with her cloak being so dirty from being on the road.
"Welcome to Ponyville, darling." A voice called snapping Rose out of her thoughts. Looking up she saw a white unicorn trotting from where the group of children were playing. Rose tried to take a step back as she started feeling a panic rise inside her.
"Are we there mamma?" A sleepy voice asked from beside Rose calming her down some.
"Yes honey, we are." Rose said nuzzling her foal just as the unicorn caught up to them. "This here unicorn was just welcoming us."
"Dont you dare insult my mamma, it isnt her fault she was hurt!"Summer said taking a defensive posture towards the unicorn who covered her mouth holding back a giggle.
"Relax darling, it wouldn't be ladylike to do something souncouth. Whereis my manners, my name is Rarity and as I said, welcome to Ponyville." Rarity said, tossing her mane back and giving the two a small smile though there was a hint of suspicion in the mare's eyes. "May I ask what business you have here?"
"My mamma is upset because of the way the big ponies make fun of her andand wont let me play with their foals." Summer said sadly kicking the ground. "It isn't her fault."
"Of course it isn't dear." Rarity said giving the small filly a small smile while Rose groaned in embarrassment. She didnt exactly want this to be how her first encounter here went. "So I take it you are moving here? If so, let me assist you in finding lodging. I take it that..."
"Why didnt you wake me shorty?" A new voice joined in on the conversation, sounding as if it just woke upwhich by the state of her mane she probably did.
"We're here Auntie! And the nice unicorn is being nice to momma!" Summer cried out hopping around them in circles making Trixie giggle at her antics until she noticed a white unicorn glaring at her.
"Charity..."Trixie grumbled, looking away from the glare guiltily.
"Rarity." Rarity said as she gritted her teeth before letting out a sigh. "Darling, I feel I mustapologize for my uncouth behavior during yourshow here."
"I should apologize to,I may have went a little overboard when I showed you and your friends up." Trixie sighed, though she still didnt particularly like this pony. She knew it was one of Rose's old friends and one of the ponies who hurt her. Still, she would be more civilized than she was the last time she was here
"Yes, well, I shouldn't have interrupted your show even if you were being a little boastful." Rarity said, once again flipping her mane back.
"Wow, your really pretty when you do that. Can you teach me that? Huh, can you?" Summer pleaded giving the dreaded puppy dog pout making Rarity giggle a little. Rose simply rolled her eyes at her daughters antics though couldn't blame her daughter for having the same thirst for learning new things that Rose herself possessed. If only the filly's interests were a bit moreacademic. Sure she was a genius, but she seemed to love fashion, the Wonderbolts, games and sports. Rose rued the day when her daughter started being interested in boys. It wasn't that Rose didn't want her daughter to have those interests though,it was because they were subjects she herself wasn't good with so couldnt really help Summer all that much with them which often made the mother feel a little bad.
"Why thank you darling, and I suppose if your sticking around and your mother allows it, I could help teach you to be a proper young lady." Rarity said smiling. "Anyways, I did mention lodgings and actually I may have a place you all can stay if your interested."
"It's okay, we can stay in our trailer." Trixie said a little too quickly as Rose moved closer.
"What's wrong, sis?" Rose asked softly, not wanting the white unicorn or her daughter to overhear.
"There's no way we can afford a place until we get a job. I was thinking about trying to busk if needed, but seeing Rarity's reaction I dont think it would do much." Trixie admitted. "We used a little more than we planned getting here."
"Well, I think I can help with both of your problems." Rarity beamed, "Tell me, how are you with running a store front?"
"I can handle that no problem,both of us can." Rose replied, returning the smile while Trixie looked on dubiously.
"Well then your in luck, the pony I had working in my boutique quit recently when she moved to Canterlot to be with her fiancé. I'm hiring a couple ponies to just run the shop and I have living space above you can stay at."Rarity explained, looking back over her shoulder at the building where the teenagers milled around talking to each other. "Ever since I had the orphanage built and moved in to run it, I've had less and less time to run my boutique. I do work there a few hours every night doing appointments and making clothes, but most of my time is devoted here."
"Soall of them lost their parents?" Summer asked sadly looking over to the other ponies.
"No dear, I actually only have two orphans living with me and my sister. I've pretty much adopted them myself." Rarity said giving the young filly a smile at how kind she seemed to be. "We're all very happy, but our doors are always open if some pony needs a home and family to love them."
"That sounds really awesome! What's it called?" Summer asked, Rose and Trixie looking to Rarity also wanting to know the answer.
"I named it Twilight House aftera very good friend who I messed up with badly. Ihaven't seen her for so long." Rarity said sadly, wiping at an eye. "Well ladies, if your interested I'll show you the way. Just pleasedont run off without an explanation or anything. I'm giving you a chance so please don't let me down."
"We plan to stay, I want to see if I can't convince a pegasus to teach me how to take care ofpegasus thingsand hopefully teach her how to fly." Rose explained, "Her name is Rainbow Dash."
"This way ladies." Rarity said as she led the trio down the road toward the center of town while giving a worried look to them.
"I'm good friends with Rainbow Dash, and usually I would say she would likely be eager to help you outbut with circumstances, I can't say what she'll do." Rarity said, "We can talk about that later,why can't you teach your filly though? Aren't you a pegasus?"
Rose shot Trixie a questioning look unsure if the unicorn was serious. Of course the cloak covered her entire body, but surely she could see the bulge in the hood where her horn was. She sighed as Trixie's helpless shrug.
"Her fatherwas a pegasus..." Rose said softly.
"Papa died protecting the princess." Summer said sadly as she lowered her head, not able to answer as a pink earth pony seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Hiiiiii! Are you new here? Well obviously if I don't know you, you must be since I know every pony here. Im Pinkie Pie by the way, who are you?" The pink pony gushed out without seeming to take a breath making Rose's mind whirl. "Woware you like batpony? Huh? Huh? Why the creepy dark cloak and hood?"
"No! Dont touch it!" Rose cried, trying to jump back, but she was still connected to the trailer pulling it. The pink pony stopped though looking shocked at her.
"Please don't touch mamma's hoodshefeels safer with it." Summer explained softly making Pinkie and Rarity look at each other in sympathy.
"That's enough short stuff, I'm sure she didnt mean anything by it." Trixie said before getting a faceful of Pinkie Pie's own face.
"OoooooI know you,your that braggy meanie mcmean pants." Pinkie said as her eyes narrowed.
"LookI wasn't bragging, I was putting on a show for entertainment. Im sorry if any pony took it seriously." Trixie sighed, pulling away from Pinkie and wondering if the pony was actually on something.
"Oh, ok then!" Pinkie cried out doing cartwheels between all of them before somehow taking Rose's place at the reigns of the trailer. "Come on, let's go. Sooner we get where we're going, the sooner I can plan a super, secret awesome welcoming party!"
"Umm, Pinkie dear, it isn't a secret if you tell every pony about it." Rarity sighed rubbing her head while Pinkie grinned at her.
"Well duh, of course it won't be a secret if you tell every pony about it so shush." Pinkie Pie shushed, holding a hoof to her lips making Summer giggle loudly which in turn made Pinkie grin even more. Rose couldn't help wondering if maybe the pink party loving pony was insane...
The group quickly made their way to their destination, a good sized building which was primarily pink with a fading sign reading 'Carousel Botique.' Pinkie seemed to just disappear after unstrapping from the trailer leaving all three of the new comers gawking as they tried to figure out hoe she just vanished like that.
"Don't bother trying to figure out, trust me, it's for your own good if you just go along with it." Rarity explained as her horn lit up, using her magic to unlock the door since it was currently closed. Rarity sighed sadly as the place was once her life, but for awhile she lost her touch after Twilight left. Sure she got it back and still kept the place going, but it didn't get as much of her attention as it deserved.
""Wow, this place is beautiful." Rose gasped seeing all the gowns and suits on display as well as racks of fabric, ribbons and other things.
"Thank you darling, there is two bedrooms upstairs that is fully furnished. There's anotehr room that is being used for storage, but you can move the stuff down to the basement to make a third bedroom. You will all have to share a bathroom though." Rarity explained, "And Trixie, I have something for you in the storage room. When you left, your trailer was damaged beyond repair, but I did fix your cape and hat and kept it for if you came back."
"You shouldn't have, I'm not too sure if I want it anymore." Trixie said, her eyes tearing up a bit. She had thought she had lost them, but after being told by the woman that was supposedly her mother that she wasn't wanted kind of made the outfit a touchy subject. "Maybe it would be better if it stayed destroyed."
"Don't think like that sis." Rose said moving over to hug Trixie, Summer joining in adding her own support. "She was a big part of your life for so long in your memories. Forget that witch that came to see you and just remember the loving mare you remembered as a filly."
"Thanks sis." Trixie sighed, pulling back and rubbing her eyes. "And thank you short stuff."
"Thank you for fixing it." Rose said as she turned to Rarity as Trixie collected herself.
"It's fine, darling." Rarity said waving her off, "If you want to talk about it I can make some tea."
"Thank you, but that's okay." Trixie said shuddering a little. "Thank you for going to the trouble of doing that."
"Your welcome dear, since you are okay I probably should head back to the orphanage...I have to get ready for my quarterly inspection in a few days." Rarity said turning to leave before turning back for a moment. "Go ahead and get settled in and I'll come by sometime tomorrow and show you what you will have to do to run the botique. I'll also see if I can get Velvet to come by and help key you three into the lock...I hate to admit it, but I'm not very good with magic."
"I can do it if you help, it shouldn't take more than a few minutes." Rose said, "I'm really good with magic."
"Okay, we can do that as I fill you in on what your job duties will be. I'll also see if I can get Cherilee to come by and talk to you about enrolling your daughter in school if you want." Rarity said, relieved that Rose could do the locks. She hated having to get Velvet to do something so simple seeing how the older mare tended to get annoyed when bothered for little things like that at times.
"That would be great, thank you. I'll see you tomorrow then." Rose said seeing the white Unicorn out before turning back to Trixie. "Please tell me you can deal with this fashion stuff."
"Sorry, but you know better to ask that." Trixie laughed, though the situation was a little serious. They were expected to run a shop all about fashion, something neither of them were exactly well versed in. While trixie loved style, she wasn't exactly on the cutting edge of the fashion industry, nor cared to be.
"Guess I better go see if there's a library I can get us some books to study." Rose sighed.
"Great...we're doomed." Summer moaned dramatically.
"HEY!" Rose cried out in mock indignation before attacking her daughter, making the filly squeal with laughter and cried of mercy as mother tickled her daughter laughing as Trixie joined in...their spirits lifted for the moment.