//------------------------------// // The Ball [Rarilestia Crackfic / Draft] // Story: Chrome's Scrap Folder // by Monochromatic //------------------------------// It was curious, wasn't it, how things changed, how time went, how life turned in ways one had not expected. Once upon a time, the sight of Rarity was enough to force Celestia to almost look away, lingering memories resurfacing alongside a seemingly everlasting mourning and heartache. A millenia had passed, maybe even more than that, and a single white unicorn had made the Princess of the Sun realize time had not completely healed all wounds. But, where time had failed, Rarity had not. Celestia had no ulterior motives when she offered Rarity a temporary job in Canterlot. Or, that's what she told herself, over and over, where the nearly masochistic longing for her past lover was replaced with the excuse that she simply admired the mare's diligence and hard work. There was no reason not to offer her a chance when already Rarity had done so much for Equestria… And for Celestia. The first few months, it had gone as one would expect. Rarity would constantly switch between confident and secure when she thought herself to be alone, but there was always that part of her that would be eternally in awe of Celestia. It had reminded Celestia of her long-lost love, and she was trapped in a paradox of wanting to stay away but being drawn to Rarity — and yet, it wasn’t the ressemblance that drew her, but the differences. While her lost-love had been demure, Rarity was bold and outspoken. Even when in Celestia’s presence, Celestia noticed Rarity’s constant supervision of all the nobles, and she prided herself (flattered herself?) in Rarity’s scowls whenever a particularly unpleasant noble stallion tried to get too friendly with the monarch. Eventually, Rarity became Celestia’s personal seamstress, and the monarch was remiss to admit that she couldn’t claim there were no personal intentions behind this promotion. She was fascinated by this unicorn that carried herself with the grace and poise of somepony who didn’t need a crown or title to know she was royal. There was an attraction (intellectual, mind… and perhaps a bit physical) to somepony who knew and understood the world Celestia was immersed in, who understood it to a level that books would never be able to teach, and what made it all the more fascinating was how it was almost innate to Rarity. Celestia did not truly believe in reincarnation, but sometimes she wondered… Things had changed, however, on the night of the fateful ball. A few drinks too much after hours of dealing with Canterlot’s nobility, and Celestia had found herself flirting with her seamstress. That was, perhaps, the last nail in the coffin that would seal their torrid romance. Rarity, in the end, did not back down and when it mattered, she did not treat Celestia as a monarch, but as a pony. In the late hours of the night, when ponies were too far gone to even realize, they both engaged in a banter both heated intellectually as it was in body language, and not once did Rarity falter, hesitate or feel intimidated by Celestia. For the first time in millennia, Celestia wanted to take a risk. The day after, Rarity danced around her, avoiding her as if shameful, yet too… too intrigued and confused by the alicorn’s action to completely shrink away. Too enticed perhaps? Gods, Celestia hoped so. “Rarity, I don’t expect you heard what Baron HoofWind said about the Duchess?” A simple question asked in the middle of an unusually silent fitting. Celestia smiled when she heard her seamstress gasp and ramble on. Gossip usually did the trick, as Celestia had learned, and she felt rather… excited to think about the idea of her and Rarity one day being the center of a scandalous rumor. Celestia herself was used to them, but for once… for once she was ashamed to admit she felt thrilled by the idea of lying in bed and for the umptenth time reading the rumors of her “supposed lover” as she let her hoof caress Rarity’s face, her neck, her chest, her— “Honestly, the rumors have gotten so ridiculous, it’d be easier for them to just come clean outright,” Rarity said, interrupting the Princess’ admittedly scandalous imaginings. Celestia giggled. “Heavens, I’d rather not. I’d have to deal with the aftermath of the scandal.” She paused. Risks were necessary, weren’t they? “Have you heard of any other rumor of the ball?” she asked, before adding with a giggle, “I can’t remember much, to be honest. I think Count Trottingham and his stories might have induced me to drink more than I should have.” Rarity smiled. “I don’t know much else, Princess. I admittedly wasn’t in the best of states, either,” she admitted with a blush. “I heard,” Celestia continued, her tone nonchalant despite the fact that every word was carefully thought-out, “that I spent a large portion of the early morning flirting with a guest! I can’t remember, but I assumed you’d know since you were there with me the entire time.” Was it terrible of her to have to hide the smile Rarity’s blush elicited in her? “Did you? My, my, Princess Celestia!” Rarity exclaimed, ever one to mask herself behind appearances and pretenses. “I’m afraid I missed out on that juicy scandal, Your Highness.” “Hm, too bad…” Celestia looked away, frowning lightly, equally a master in the art of acting. “You know, even if the alcohol blurred things somewhat, it’s been a while since I felt so taken by a mare like I did with her.” Rarity continued adjusting the dress, her tone leveled. “Oh, really?” Celestia nodded, watching Rarity carefully. Did she dare? She wanted to, but did she? Did she dare hope to allow Rarity to mend her broken heart like she mended dresses and clothes? “Yes,” she said. “It was quite a rarity.” Rarity stopped, her eyes growing wide and her mouth slightly ajar. Oh, Celestia would have gladly given all the riches in Equestria just to know what was going through Rarity’s mind in that very instant. “I-I see!” Rarity said, blushing more furiously than she’d probably care to admit. A good sign, was it not? One that… made Celestia feel… even more daring… “I wonder if she felt the same way,” the Princess continued, nonchalance her weapon, “I do hope she didn’t take it badly.” There. She was leaving space for Rarity to refuse if she so chose. Rarity smiled. “In my opinion, Your Highness, I’m sure she must have found the entire thing to be rather heavenly.” She finally looked at Celestia, and biting down on her lips, added, “Perhaps even celestial.”