//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Sunset Serenade // by SoulFyre //------------------------------// ”Oh my gosh, Rarity that’s amazing.” Sunset stared, wide-eyed and with an ear-splitting smile, at the mannequin that Rarity stood next to. They were in Rarity’s design room and it was messier than usual. Fabric was everywhere, sketches lined the walls and hung from strings that crisscrossed the room, there were sewing machines with material still strung through, and tools were scatter all over the room’s tables. Sunset broke her gaze from the outfit on the mannequin and looked Rarity over. The fashionista was obviously frazzled. Her hair was a mess and there were bags under her eyes behind her red glasses. The hand she had placed on the mannequin’s shoulder looked to be more for support than anything. Sunset stepped forward and pulled Rarity into a bone-crushing hug; one that Rarity returned, with less intensity given her exhausted state. Sunset lessened her hug and pulled back enough to capture her girlfriend’s lips in a passionate kiss. Rarity returned it with great vigor, pouring what energy she still had into it. They parted when it became clear that Rarity was having trouble breathing. Sunset held the panting Rarity in her arms. “Heh heh, sorry about that Rarity,” said Sunset, “guess I got a little excited.” Rarity composed herself before she spoke, “Nonsense. No apology needed, darling. I just haven’t slept and I am truly exhausted.” Sunset smiled and kissed Rarity on the nose before reluctantly letting go. She found herself catching Rarity when her support left. “Oh god, sorry Rarity. I didn’t know you were leaning on me so much.” “Quite all right.” Sunset helped Rarity to a nearby chair that the fashionista quickly collapsed into. Rarity sighed deeply. “Well?” “Well what?” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you going to try it on?” “Oh,” Sunset looked back at the mannequin, “definitely.” She moved over to the mannequin and stripped off her jacket and set it on a nearby table, but as she went to remove her shirt, Rarity coughed. Sunset looked back at her quizzically with her shirt halfway up her body. Rarity was blushing. “Um Sunny… maybe just, I don’t know.” Rarity was obviously struggling to find her words. Sunset’s eyes widened. “Oh, right.” She let her shirt fall back down. “I should go behind the screen.” Sunset carried the mannequin behind a folding screen set up on the on the other side of the room and returned to pick up a pair of boots that were left behind. After she returned behind the screen she peeked out with a smirk. “I could just strip out there, put on a show. Not the first time you’ve seen me naked either.” Rarity’s blush deepened. “I-I wasn’t even looking last time.” Sunset cocked a brow. “Well maybe a peek, just… just stay behind the screen, pervert.” Sunset rolled her eyes and disappeared behind the screen. “Oh yeah, I’m the perv.” Rarity grumbled, but her eyes were drawn to the outline of the girl behind the folding screen. Said girl was going out of her way to slowly slip out of her clothes in a sensual manner. Rarity gulped. “J-just hurry up.” Sunset let out a short laugh before complying, the sensuality of her movements now gone. Sunset quickly stripped the mannequin and slipped the clothes on herself. She took a deep breath before stepping out from behind the screen. Rarity’s jaw dropped. Sunset now wore a teal and yellow dress over blue jeans. Over the dress she wore a new, shorter leather jacket with an orange stripe on each arm. Her boots matched the jacket, orange stripe near the top, silver buckles stood out against the black leather. Sunset was looking down and away with her hands behind her back. “Well, do you like it?” “Incredible.” Sunset blushed. “I knew it would look amazing on you, but seeing it now is just… you look just incredible, darling.” Rarity stood up and moved across the room. She pulled Sunset into a hug and kissed her cheek. Sunset returned the hug and the kiss. “Thank you Rare. You really didn’t have to do this.” Rarity just smiled. “Nonsense. You needed a something new to better fit the new you.” They held the embrace for what felt like a heavenly eternity, the actual time unimportant. What mattered was each other. They pulled back and looked each other in the eyes. The look in Rarity’s eyes was all that Sunset needed to finally say the words she couldn’t find until now. “I love you.” Rarity smiled as her eyes watered. “I love you too, darling.” They closed the distance and their lips met once more. In that moment, everything was perfect.