//------------------------------// // 2) Coco's Gift // Story: A Stitch In Time // by Short Stories //------------------------------// The moment they stepped through the doors, twenty ponies crowded around them. They both were surprised at seeing that many ponies fussing over their appearances, making sure they had a good trip here, and checking themselves into their rooms. Rarity gave two bits to the unicorn stallion who handled their luggage, winking at him just before he left.  “Oh, Twilight, what did I tell you? Swift service, attentive staff... not bad looking, either... darling, they will treat us like goddesses here! And we’re just here for the lectures and demonstrations! My dear friend, if you had doubts before, you can expunge them, here and now!” Twilight gave a nervous chuckle. “Yup,” she said, as they walked towards the stairs. She figured now was as good a time as any to tell her friend why she was acting strangely. “Listen, Rarity. I need to tell you something.” “Oh, Twilight, I know you’re a bit uncomfortable being waited on,” Rarity answered with a grin, “but you’re a Princess, after all! You ought to be used to it by now!” Twilight shifted uncomfortably and simply nodded. She had lost her courage as soon as Rarity grinned, and she didn’t feel it would come back for a while. The unicorn bellhop led the two mares to their room, and Rarity stuffed another two bits into his pocket before leaving.  She began giggling as the door closed behind them.  “Oh, the excitement! I feel I could just burst at any moment!”  She ran to her bed and jumped in, still giggling and snuggling up in the silky sheets.  “This is like a dream come true!” “Yup,” Twilight repeated, “sure is.” She sat down on her own bed and picked up a brochure that had some tourist attractions on it. She figured that, since she was here, there was no reason that she couldn’t sightsee while Rarity was in her classes. She began to circle the ones that looked interesting to her, which was quite a lot, when they heard a knock at their door.  “Ooh! Company!” Rarity chirped as she sprang up from the bed.  “Stay right there, Twilight, I’ll get it.”  Rarity trotted quickly to the door, opened it, and startled Twilight with a sudden shriek of glee.  “COCO!!” Twilight, unfortunately, fell off of her bed, stunned. Rarity turned around as soon as she heard the thump. “Twilight, whatever are you doing on the floor?” she asked, levitating her so she was on her feet. “We have a guest here!” Twilight looked as their visitor came in through the door, and saw a familiar beige-coated Earth pony mare with a sky-blue, bob-style mane cut.  Twilight placed her name immediately: “Coco Pommel! What a surprise! What are you doing here?” “I heard you just came in, and I thought I would come and visit you,” Coco said. “I wanted to give you a welcoming gift, as well.” As she said this, she pulled something out of her saddlebag and set it down on Rarity’s bed. Rarity gasped as Twilight walked over to see what it was. It was a display case, and set in the indented felt of the case were two beautiful, ornate, gold necklaces.  Each one was composed of a thin, fine chain that suspended a gemstone for a pendant (one was a sapphire, the other was an opal).  Rarity marveled at the two gorgeous trinkets with wide, shiny eyes.  “Oh, Coco... they’re absolutely magnificent!” Twilight marveled at the necklaces alongside Rarity. She agreed with her friend; they were beyond beauty. She reached out to touch the sapphire one, but Rarity swatted her hoof away. Twilight gave her a confused look. “Twilight, dear, these beauties are far too divine to be worn like ordinary clothing!” Rarity explained, a bit haughtily.  “We shall keep them on display, so that all of Equestria might partake in their pristine loveliness!”  At this, Coco blushed heavily, and it made Twilight smile.  Having somepony like Coco here, acting as something of a liaison between Twilight and Rarity’s fashion-savvy peers, would make things a lot easier.  “Besides, darling,” Rarity concluded, “if anything, the opal would go far better with your coloring.” Twilight was slightly confused yet again (she figured the sapphire would fit with her lavender fur, while the multicolored opal would fit better with Rarity), but she didn’t question it, and instead levitated the display case to a high shelf, where everypony could see it. “Oh, I almost forgot,” said Coco gently, and she turned back to her saddlebag to fish out something else.  “I was asked to pass these out to all the guests. It’s the itinerary for the week.”  She held two copies of the same sheet in her teeth, and both Twilight and Rarity took them with their magic.  “Well, if you need me, just ask for me,” Coco added, “and I hope you two enjoy yourselves.” “Thank you, Coco,” Twilight uttered as Coco exited, paying more attention to the guide than to the earth pony. “You too, Coco, dear! Take care!” Rarity called after her as she left.  She then glanced at the sheet and Twilight, her grin only widening.  “I told you we would have a wonderful time! Doesn’t this just keep getting better?” “Yeah,” Twilight replied, levitating her brochure off of her bed, and replacing it with the itinerary. “I was thinking I could go sightseeing tomorrow while you’re in your classes.” She lowered the brochure. “Is that okay with you?” Rarity, now fawning over Coco’s gift in its display case, heard Twilight’s words and turned to her.  “What?” she replied, sounding almost hurt.  “You... you won’t be joining me?” “Oh, um. . .” Twilight stuttered. “I just wanted to see their library tomorrow. . .” She paused. “I’ll join you Tuesday, though.” “Oh... I see. Well, if you insist. I mean, books and things... those are more your forte. I do hope you enjoy yourself, Twilight. That is what I... what I’d hoped for, after all....”  Rarity’s tone had gone down little by little with each sentence.  As pleasant as she had tried to make herself sound, her voice made the opposite clear.  And that was something Twilight could not ignore. She groaned to herself. “I guess I’ll accompany you to your classes.” She paused. “I’ll be able to see the library afterward, right? What time does the last class end?” Rarity glanced at the itinerary.  “Well, according to this, it ends at three o’clock. But really, there’s no need to put yourself out for me, not any more than you have. I insist, go and have a good time at the library. You needn’t spoil your fun because of me—” “No! You asked me to come, and I agreed. It’s only fair that I go with you to your classes. Who knows? Maybe I’ll pick up a few tricks!” Twilight claimed. Rarity looked at Twilight for a while, occasionally glancing back to the sheet.  “Are... are you sure, dear?” she asked tentatively. Twilight nodded. “I’m positive.” She levitated the guide over to her. “Let’s see, what’s the first class... ?” Rarity continued to eye her friend, now with a poignant look.  “Oh, Twilight,” she said, sounding a little choked up, “thank you so much. This means so much to me. Not just today, but this whole trip! You’re the best friend a mare could ask for!”  She approached Twilight and hugged her tightly.  “And after class, I’ll even go with you to the library! It’s the least I can do after you’ve agreed to come here with me!” “Thank...you...” Twilight replied weakly. Rarity was almost crushing the living daylights out of her. She never realized her friend could be so strong. After a couple more seconds, Rarity let go and Twilight could breathe normally again. “Anything for a friend! Now, we start bright and early at seven in the morning. Be sure to get rested, and I’ll have a lovely ensemble awaiting you. Oh, Twilight, you’ll look so gorgeous! We’ll have them on their knees in awe of our looks! You’ll love it!” “I’m sure I will!” Twilight cheered. But, in the back of her mind, she realized she could have been reading a book from the library tomorrow instead of drawing more attention to herself in all the classes Rarity had. She huffed and looked at the guide once more. Rarity had ten different classes for each day, and no doubt she wanted Twilight to join her for each of them. Twilight gulped. Rarity led Twilight down a corridor on the third floor of the building.  Twilight was wearing a redone version of the birthday dress Rarity had made for her some time ago; a lustrous collar of miniature gemstones and a lace hemline complimented the once simple gown.  Rarity herself stunned all whom they passed in a rosy-red ballroom number.  Her hair was done up in a classy knot on top of her head, and her fine Fancy heels clicked against the floor. They rounded a corner and were met with a series of doors. They walked a little further until they came up to the room titled ‘Season Trends Lecture, 8:00, SP.’ “Is this the room?” Twilight asked. Rarity nodded, and they both entered. “I wonder who the lecturer is?” Twilight asked as she held the door open for Rarity. “I’m sure I don’t know, darling. I don’t even think I recognize those initials on the do—”  Before she finished, Rarity gasped.  “It can’t be! What is the meaning of this outrage?!” “Rarity, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked from behind her, catching a glimpse of the pink-coated, purple-coiffed, ascot-wearing lecturer. When the two heard her speak, Rarity’s pupils dilated.