Finally, nearly an hour later, Coco was on her way back to the Boutique, her mission accomplished and then some.
Beside her was a catering wagon, towed by a poofy-haired pink pony that Coco had recognized as another one of Rarity's friends. Atop the wagon were two large tins holding deluxe salad dinners, two vials of salad dressing, and one more extra-large tin the pink pony had brought out from Sugarcube Corner.
"Thank you so much for your help, Pinkie Pie," Coco said. "I'm sure Rarity is going to love this."
"No problem! Thank you so much for bringing Rarity back from Crazytown!" Pinkie singsonged. "I've been there. Nice place to visit, buuuuuuuuuut..."
Coco chuckled. "Point taken." She pointed to the largest tin. "So what's in this, anyway?"
Pinkie beamed with pride, and took off the lid by its handles. Beneath was a towering, majestic, brown cake.
"This is Rarity's favorite dessert: triple-mousse-whipped double-chocolate single-serve ice cream cake! The way you can tell it's her favorite is that it's the cake she always says she can 'neeeeeever eat' when you put it in front of her, yet always accepts anyway, saying she'll put it in the cooler for Sweetie Belle, and then completely devours when she thinks nopony's looking!" She replaced the lid. "I always keep one around for emergencies like this."
Coco held back her mouth's watering. They were nearly back at the Boutique, after all, and it wouldn't do to have Rarity see her a drooling mess.
When they arrived, Coco knocked. Rarity answered the door, and her mane, coat and tail were no longer rumpled. She was back to her normal style.
"Welcome back, Coco," Rarity said, all easy confidence again. "And Pinkie! Good to see you too, dear." She looked at the catering wagon. "Oh, my. This looks professional. And expensive. Coco, please tell me you didn't break your budget on my account."
"I'd have been okay with doing so," Coco said, "but everypony told me not to pay."
"They told you what?" Rarity blinked, then looked to Pinkie, who was unhooking herself from the wagon. "Pinkie, explain please?"
Pinkie bounced. "When Coco and I told everyone how super duper down in the dumps you'd been all week, everypony at Sugarcube and Cloverleaf went straight to work!"
"But why?" Rarity asked. "I-I mean, I'm grateful, but this all seems so out of the blue."
"Du-uuu-uh!" Pinkie said. "Because you're good for our businesses! Rarity, ponies from all over Equestria come here just to get styled by you! And once you're done, salads are, like, the only thing they feel comfortable eating without messing up what you've done for them. Then they have dessert at Sugarcube Corner! Usually something small. With small bites."
Pinkie stepped closer to Rarity and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"Rarity," Pinkie said, softly, "I know it's easy to forget when you're working, but this town loves you. That includes us chefaroonies. You don't let us down, and we won't let you down. 'Kay?"
Coco watched Rarity blush.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, Ponyville," the unicorn replied. "Very well—I'll do all I can to stay in the game. One last question, though: why is the Sugarcube Corner tin so large?"
"Oh, come on, Rarity," Pinkie said, lifting the tin just an inch. "You know what this is... "
Rarity's reaction upon seeing even the barest hint of the cake was immediate and obvious. Her lips quivered and shone with drool, prompting Coco to wonder why she had even bothered with restraint herself.
"H-haaah... w-well, I-I suppose I do," Rarity uttered. "A-and honestly, I have no idea why you keep bringing these over. All I do is give these cakes to Sweetie Belle and her friends. Into the cooler it goes, I suppose—"
"But didn't you tell me last week that the Cutie Mark Crusaders left for filly camp for an entire month?" Pinkie said, mock-dramatically. "This cake totally won't keep that long! I'll just take it back—"
Rarity's hoof darted onto the tin, hitting it with a clang. She fixed Pinkie with a manic glare.
"I. Said. I'll. Take. It," Rarity uttered through clenched teeth.
"If you insist!" Pinkie backed away from the wagon, winking at Coco as she passed by. "I gotta go. The Cake twins need a bath, and that's always an adventure."
"Do join Coco and me at the spa tomorrow?" Rarity asked, stroking the cake tin like nothing had happened. "It sounds like all of us could use a refresher."
"Sure thing!" Pinkie replied. "I'll see you then. G'night!"
Coco waved at a departing Pinkie, then turned to Rarity. "Spa?"
Rarity scoffed. "Oh, dear, I've gone and spoiled the surprise. Yes, Ponyville has its own world-class, luxury spa. It's where I go to melt my cares away on a weekly basis. Hot tubs, mud masks, and oh! You have not lived until Aloe and Lotus have put their hooves on you! A grander massage you will never receive."
Coco gasped happily as she pushed the cart inside the boutique. "Oh, that sounds fantastic! I can't wait." Once inside, she raised one of the salad tin's lids. "I'll start putting dinner together."
The lid snapped shut, and all three tins shimmered with a magical aura.
"You'll do no such thing," Rarity lectured. "Coco, you've already done so much, and I will no longer stand and simply watch. What you will do now is sit on my couch until I call you into my kitchen."
"But-"
"Ah, ah, ah! Out here. It won't be long, I promise. Relax, for Celestia's sake."
Using her magic, Rarity wheeled the cart through the kitchen door, humming to herself. Soon, Coco was alone in the main boutique hall.
Looking around, she could see things were a lot cleaner now. Fabric and garments were neatly hung on racks, the books and magazines were nearly stacked in a corner, and Rarity had even cleaned the mirrors.
Coco went to Rarity's work desk, which she could see was also a lot more organized too. The book of clippings was still there, but now closed.
Perched atop the book, Coco spotted a familiar, multicolored, spool of thread.
"Coco?" Rarity's voice sounded from the kitchen door. "Dinner... is served."
Coco left the table and walked to the door. Rarity took Coco's hoof and opened the door, gesturing for Coco to pass.
When Coco stepped through, a candlelit dining room greeted her on the other side.
Salad dinner and dessert cake lay on the table, prepared and scrumptious-looking. Every so often tiny lights would twinkle over the table itself—more of Rarity's magic, Coco guessed.
Not only could Rarity improvise when needed, but she really had a talent for true beauty. "Rarity..." a stunned Coco eventually managed.
A gentle hoof to Coco's mouth was Rarity's reply. She walked behind Coco, draping a green shawl over her made of the lightest and smoothest fabric Coco had ever felt.
"I don't live in Manehattan," Rarity said, her voice low, "but the impression I always got is that it's not a place where one is able to enjoy luxury without paying exorbitant prices. Now, I most certainly did not show you a welcome befitting a lady earlier. Therefore, the least I can do, in apology and gratitude, is to make the rest of your stay in Ponyville as lovely as possible... and start by providing the atmosphere you do deserve tonight."
Coco's heart swelled. "Thank you," she said, soft as a whisper. "I love it all."
"I'm glad," Rarity said, her tone showing that she meant it. She started walking to her side of the dining table, when Coco held up her hoof.
"Rarity?"
Rarity turned to look back. "Yes, Coco?"
Coco expected the words to be harder to form, but in the end she barely had to think as they rolled off her tongue.
"I never asked for your generosity. But you still showed it to me, and showed me what it meant. Not a day goes by when I don't thank Celestia for that. That's why I was here for you today... and why I'll continue to be. If you want me."
Rarity turned around completely around, walked back to Coco, and stepped in close. Very close.
One more time, there was that smile. That smile that spoke volumes. That smile that leaned in closer still.
Lips brushed against Coco's cheek—and as warm shivers rippled through her, she heard a whisper in her ear:
"I do."