//------------------------------// // A Divine Meltdown… // Story: Rarity's Hearts and Hooves Daysaster // by Jatheus //------------------------------// By the time Rarity arrived back at her house, she could barely see. No sooner had she gained entrance than the tears finally burst forth from her eyes like a summer shower. Knowing her house as she did, and having had this scenario play out a hundred times over in days past, she had no trouble finding the red sofa. The distraught unicorn cast herself down on its soft padded surface without reservation and wailed loudly into one of the pillows. The repeated defeat of the day had finally overcome her, and she was completely out of ideas. Wallowing in despair seemed her most viable course of action. She continued this way until it became great heaving waves of lament as she was reduced to a sobbing mess. After nearly half an hour, she had calmed down enough to go for her emergency supply of vanilla oat swirl ice cream. She returned to her fainting couch with a carton of the comfort food and a spoon. The sweetness of it, like the double fudge brownie from before, did little to lift her sinking spirits. It was as if her heart had melted into a puddle. Without a doubt, of all the worst possible things, this was the, worst, possible, thing! She was on her second pint of ice cream when the sound of her front door being opened caught Rarity’s attention, bringing her back from the edge of lugubriousness. She quickly set down her tub of dessert and grabbed some tissue paper from a nearby dispenser to clean up her running eyeliner. At the same time, she began taking deeper breaths to restore some semblance of control. “Rarity?” her sister’s voice rang through the shop. The unicorn cleared her throat and called back, “In here, Sweetie Belle!” Rarity’s younger sister walked into the room, practically prancing. She stopped short when she saw Rarity on the red sofa. “Are you alright?” Sweetie Belle asked, clearly concerned. “Why, of course, darling. Whatever made you ask that?” A look of disbelief worked its way across Sweetie Belle’s face before she spoke flatly, “Your makeup is running, you’re on the red sofa, and there’s two tubs of ice cream beside you.” Rarity laughed nervously, “Oh, it’s nothing, dear. I appreciate your concern, but it is simply a combination of things, a lack of sleep among them. I’ll be fine.” Sweetie Belle shrugged, apparently willing to accept that explanation. “So, Sweetie, did you need something?” The filly grinned, “I’m here to pick up my dress for the Hearts and Hooves Social tonight!” “I see,” Rarity said. She began to realize that there may yet be a small ray of hope presenting itself to her. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were just fillies, so certainly they wouldn’t have dates. She stood, returned the half-eaten dessert to the freezer, and washed an inexplicable ice cream stickiness from her hooves. She then led her sister into the inspiration room, where the completed gown was waiting. “Behold!” Rarity announced. 
Sweetie Belle saw the dress on the form, and her eyes widened as a large smile took over her expression. “Rarity, it’s perfect!” the unicorn filly squealed. It was light blue, with frills appropriate to Hearts and Hooves Day, not to mention red, white, and pink lacy trim accents. The positive reaction lifted Rarity’s despondency somewhat. “Oh, I can’t wait until I show Button Mash!” Sweetie Belle practically sang. Rarity felt her heart stop. “Button Mash,” she heard herself say, almost in disbelief. “Uh-huh, he asked me to the dance tonight,” the filly said proudly. Rarity shook her head as she came to terms with this new knowledge, “But, Sweetie, are you old enough to have a colt take you to a dance?” Sweetie Belle’s visage transformed to one of a defensive posture. “Mom and dad are okay with it,” she said flatly. “Oh, yes, of course, I didn’t mean anything by that, dear,” Rarity laughed nervously. “I was simply… surprised!” “Scootaloo and Rumble are going with us,” Sweetie Belle added, her tone still suspicious as if she were unsure whether she needed to be on guard. Rarity smiled and said, “Well, I’m sure the four of you are going to have the best time! Let me get this boxed up for you.” “Thanks, sis!” Sweetie Belle said, her joyful attitude returning once more. Once the task was accomplished and the little unicorn filly was on her way home, Rarity found herself back on the red sofa, but she felt too low even for her ice cream. She had never met with such complete failure in something like this before. Perhaps the weariness of the day had finally overcome her. She lay there quietly weeping for a while and considering the utter futility of life before sleep finally took her for a while.