Chapter 3
Sweetie Belle was worried. Ever since Twilight brought an unresponsive Rarity home yesterday her sister had done nothing but mope in her room. All Twilight had said was she had taken a turn for the worse outside a new shop in the centre of town and had refused to come to her senses or explain herself.
Since Twilight had been expecting a delivery she hadn’t stayed long and at the time Sweetie had assumed Rarity would sleep it off. Then the morning had come with the promised rain, but no Rarity. Now it was afternoon and the rain had passed, but not whatever melancholy was afflicting her sister.
Sweetie had tried everything, from making her breakfast in bed to offering to help with her dresses. Usually either of those had her down in a flash, but oddly not today. Once again she tried the door to her room, still locked.
“Rarity? Come out already. It’s past noon, don’t you have stuff to work on today?”
“Go away,” was the muffled reply. Well this was an improvement, she hadn’t said a word all morning.
“What’s wrong sis? Why won’t you come out, you know you can talk to me right?”
“I want to be alone.” This was getting ridiculous.
“What happened this time? Did something get in your mane again? Today’s the day you wash it anyway.” She washed her mane every day, but that wasn’t the point.
“No.” Pause. She was being so insufferable today.
“Fine then. I’ll just tell Sapphire Shores that you’re unavailable then.” That had to work.
Sure enough there was a sudden scrabbling of hooves and the door crashed open to reveal the super sensitive fashionista.
“Sapphire Shores is here? How’s my mane? Is the shop tidy?” Rarity was a mess. Her mane clearly hadn’t been brushed today and she had bags under her eyes. At least she was responsive now.
“Nope, the only pony to come by today was Applejack. She was looking for something Granny Smith had lost but it wasn’t here.” Sweetie beamed up innocently at her sister, “But at least you’re out now. Fancy some lunch?”
Clearly Rarity was not impressed. “Sweetie, darling, couldn’t you just leave me to my woes in peace?” she sighed.
“Nope.” Was the quick and simple reply. “I’m worried about you sis. What happened with you yesterday? Twilight didn’t say much when she brought you home yesterday. Something about a new shop in town?”
Yes, the new shop. Rarity remembered it clearly. Those suits, those dresses. They had been stunning. Easily as good as anything she could make. The suits more so in fact, she had never really gotten the hang of making complex things for colts. If some other pony was that good, where did that leave her? Was there room for two clothiers in Ponyville? How could she compete with somepony who was as good at her with dresses, and better with suits?
These were the things troubling her that morning and she had no easy answers. It hadn’t helped when Sweetie had popped the morning papers under her door that morning either. She was a regular subscriber to both the Ponyville Express and the Canterlot Times, the latter so she could keep up with the latest trends in the capital. She had found the same advert in both papers broadcasting the new establishment in ponyville. Whoever it was clearly wanted to sell in the same circles she did, and if those display pieces were anything to go by they had to skills to do so with ease.
“It’s just some business things Sweetie dear,” She said finally. “Since the rain’s stopped at last I think I’ll take a walk to clear my head.” After catching a glimpse of herself in a mirror she checked herself, “After I’ve fixed myself up of course.”
Breathing a sigh of relief Sweetie Belle finally relaxed. At least Rarity was walking and talking again. While it wasn’t unusual for her sister to take a break from the land of the living, this had been one of the longer spells and had been getting worried.
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Twenty minutes later Rarity was heading out. She had chosen a simple hat for the occasion. Both stylish and practical, with Rainbow Dash on weather duty you never knew when you might find a rogue rain cloud she hadn’t cleared up yet. She had taken not four steps out the front door when her vision became inextricably pink.
The sudden change in colour was accompanied by a pressing sensation on her skull, and the pinkness was.....grinning.
“Hiya Rarity!” It was being quite chipper too.
“Good afternoon Pinkie. Would you mind terribly getting off my head please?” She would have been surprised, but Rarity had long become desensitised to Pinkie’s peculiar positions.
Pinkie Pie hopped off and started to bounce excitedly around her friend instead.
“I just came by to see if you wanted to come to my surprise party this evening?” she squealed happily. “There’s a new pony in town and that means we need a welcome party!”
Rarity should have been expecting this. Of course Pinkie wanted to get to know the new pony, she got to know everypony. It was like a burning need.
“I don’t know dear, I’m a little behind today.” she stalled. Rarity really didn’t want to have to confront this new pony. It would involve people talking about how they both made dresses and then the comparisons would come, with everypony judging her work against theirs. Right now she didn’t much feel like it.
“Okie Dokie Lokie.” Well that was odd, Pinkie agreeing to someone turning down a party invitation so easily? “It’s OK Rarity. If you’re worried about what people with think about the new tailors in town then I won’t make you go.” Pinkie beamed her usual big happy grin and bounced off to the next house, presumably to invite the next pony.
Sometimes, Rarity wondered, Pinkie surprised everypony with her stunning insights, and others she seemed totally clueless. It was like, selective mind reading or something.
The thought sent shivers down her spine. Pinkie Pie, a mind reader? What a terrifying thought.