Scootaloo buzzed home from dance practice on her scooter, exuberant. Rarity had become her foster mom a month ago and since that time Scootaloo had acquired her own set of towels, some dishes and a few more pictures for her walls in her room. There were a few sleepless nights of worry, but she hadn’t cried in a few weeks. The Carousel Boutique still wasn’t home, but it felt like something close.
But right now, at this instant, that didn’t matter, because she had her very own dance solo in an actual show. She could be staying at an orphanage with horribly abusive caretakers and it wouldn’t have lessened the smile on her face one bit. The advanced class was preparing for a show and Toe Tapper had announced the roles at the end of rehearsal. Despite not being in the class for very long, Scootaloo had been cast as one of the featured performers. It wasn’t the lead of the big closing number, and it wasn’t one of the featured tandem, but it was still a solo, which was more than most ponies could say about their roles.
“Rarity, I got a lead! I get my very own solo!” Scootaloo exclaimed gleefully as she burst into the main room of the Carousel Boutique.
“That’s wonderful dear! I’m very proud of you and I want to hear all about it over dinner,” Rarity replied with a smile.
Confused by Rarity’s not wanting to hear all about it right this very moment, Scootaloo looked around and finally noticed the red coated mare standing in front of the mirror with contrasting white and black fabric swatches with an expression that read as more than a little annoyed. “Oh sorry,” she said, blushing.
“Scootaloo this is Scarlett, Scarlett this is my daughter, Scootaloo,” Rarity offered by way of introduction. Though they had agreed not to use the Mom label, introducing Scootaloo as her daughter was the most straightforward way of explaining their relationship; “This is the filly I’ve adopted but it’s not final yet and also we’re not comfortable with the Mom and Daughter label, regardless that is the approximate nature of our relationship” was too unwieldy.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Scootaloo,” Scarlett said before reconsidering her fabric options.
“Nice to meet you too,” Scootaloo replied. “I hope you get a nice dress, miss,” she added, before turning toward the kitchen, slightly embarrassed but still intent on celebrating with a snack.
Scarlett waited until the door to the kitchen closed before speaking again. “I didn’t know you had a daughter. You poor dear, you must have had her so young,” Scarlett said turning her attention to a blueish fabric swatch, whilst Scootaloo retreated from earshot, the judgemental implication clearly evident.
Rarity bristled at the condescension, as though it was anypony’s business how old she might have been when she had her non existent foal. “She’s adopted,” came the flat reply.
Her client visibly released the tension in her shoulders, which Rarity found more condescending than her original choice of words. “Oh. Oh, poor thing. It was awfully kind of you to take her in, considering..
“Considering?” Rarity asked, ceasing to do anything other than look at her client with an icy stare.
Rarity’s glare wasn’t as famed as “The Stare” from Fluttershy, nor did it have the threat of physical violence behind it the way a glare from Rainbow Dash would. Regardless when Rarity fixed her icy, blue eyes on a pony, it was unnerving. “W-what I mean to say is that... you know, her not knowing her real family and all. I can't imagine what that would be like for her,” Scarlett stuttered.
From in the kitchen Scootaloo heard those words and froze where she stood, a fresh wave of self doubt crashing over her. She slumped down against the fridge as she was reminded that Rarity’s client was right, Rarity wasn’t her real family. Her real family had abandoned her and so she was never really going to have a real family, the last few months were just a temporary illusion. But because she couldn’t move, she also heard what came next.
“Excuse me,” Rarity scoffed.
“I didn’t mean to imply you’re not a good mother. I’m sure you’re doing a wonderful job considering the circumstances, but well, it can’t really be the same for her.”
More than a hint of steel crept into Rarity’s voice. “I believe we are done here,” she said, lowering the floating measuring tape down on the table.
“But you haven’t finished my fitting, you didn’t even measure my neck.”
“Trust me you don’t want me anywhere near your neck with anything that could fit around it,” Rarity muttered. “I’m terribly sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to make a dress that suits you. Perhaps you should try Filthy’s Barnyard Bargains,” Rarity said louder, not bothering to mask the increasing level of disgust she was feeling.
Scarlett snorted a very audible “Hmph” and muttered something including the phrase “overpriced rags” before storming out, slamming the door behind her.
Rarity set about putting away the measuring tools she no longer needed and Scootaloo slowly walked back into the showroom. Rarity saw her adopted daughter and smiled brightly, Scootaloo’s presence helping to wash away the previous negativity. “Was there something else you needed dear?” she asked with a smile.
“She was going to buy a dress,” Scootaloo said softly.
It took Rarity a moment to realize whom Scootaloo was referring to, having already dismissed Scarlett into the portion of her brain that housed ponies she would never need to remember.“Who? You mean Scarlett?”
“She was going to buy something and you kicked her out,” Scootaloo said, repeating the events as she understood them.
“I didn’t really—”
“Yes you did, you kicked her out just because she said I would never have a real family. Why would you do that?” Scootaloo asked. Her tone wasn’t angry, rather it was one of someone struggling to understand what happened. Had Scarlett threatened her or said something truly awful Scootaloo might have been able to fit that into her understanding of how the world worked, but she couldn't make her interpretation of the facts fit that narrative. All Scarlett had done was told the truth, and even if Rarity was aware that it was an unpleasant truth, likely to hurt Scootaloo’s feelings, that was still no reason to forgo a commision. Bits were important, certainly more important than her feelings.
“Because Scarlett is a boorish, uncouth, haughty cloud-brain who doesn’t know what in Tartarus she is talking about,” Rarity said, covering her mouth as the slur unintentionally slipped past.
“But you would have gotten paid,” Scootaloo repeated, trying to comprehend the mechanics of what she just heard.
Rarity studied Scootaloo and yet again in a countless number of little moments she felt her heart break a little as she watched Scootaloo wrestle with the idea that her feelings were worth far more than whatever profit Rarity would have received from the dress’s sale.
“Perhaps, but—”
“But you didn't and it's my fault.”
“It is not your fault.”
“Yes it is!” Scootaloo insisted. “If you hadn't adopted me, I would never have walked in, and you would—”
“Would have probably kicked her out for a different reason. I have quite enough clients who aren’t judgemental—” Rarity stopped herself before she completed her thought. “There are some words a lady shouldn’t say in polite company; the point is that I wouldn't change a thing about adopting you and don't you for one second think otherwise.”
That Rarity seemed genuinely angry with her former client, actually made Scootaloo feel better, but it didn’t answer her question.“But she's right. We’ll never be a real family. Why do you even bother?”
“Because we are family. Not by blood, perhaps, but that doesn't mean that I love you any less than a biological parent would.”
“But how? Why? How could you?”
Rarity softened her voice and directed Scootaloo to look at one of the many mirrors in her shop. “You don't see yourself like I do, and I wish so much that you could. You don't see the wonderful, talented, special, frankly amazing filly that I'm so happy to see everyday.”
Scootaloo crossed her forelegs and looked away from the reflection. “I'm not any of those things. If I were, I would have a real family, just like she said.”
“If you'll pardon the indulgence, I consider myself to be quite the judge of character. So if I say you are wonderful, talented and special then you are.”
Scootaloo sighed. “If you say so,” she replied, but she still seemed unconvinced.
“I do,” Rarity said with a satisfied smile. “Now, that’s enough of that. What's this I heard about you getting a solo?”
You actually wrote a Reylan fic... Oh boy... That won't end well.
halfway through, you've switched from left justification to centre justification in your formatting.
Spike did you know what you've done!
It's no big deal I only sneezed a little flame and brimstone
You vaporized all of Mrs. Scarletts hair! Main and tail included!
Spikey tell me you didn't do it for Scootaloo
Nope
are you sure?
Maybe If we talk it over some vanilla oat swirl ice cream
It's not like it wont grow back
next winter!
that's so cold of you
6885934 It kinda works though, given the chapter. Bugs me a bit as well however.
Aww, good for Scootaloo! Not only did she get a confidence boosting solo, but to have Rarity defend their relationship...regardless of how Scoots took it, I'm sure it'll be a wonderful memory she'll look back on in a few years and for the rest of her life.
Needs end quote marks.
_________________
From here on down everything is center aligned rather than left aligned.
___________________
Other than shifting indentation / formatting of the story randomly. This has been an all around enjoyable chapter. I really look forward to seeing Scoots tell Rares all about her dance recital.
6885955
It doesn't really work though. It jumps formating style right in the middle of a dialog. Not even the start of the dialog, or at the start of the important bit. It was randomly placed. That and formatting needs consistency. Even if it does change itself it should follow a particular type of event, or cue throughout the fic.
But yeah that is bugging me as well.
6886010 I wouldn't be above formatting changes myself, though.
i'm glad Rarity did that
6886033
If they were done throughout the chapter / fic. I can agree that it could stand to be indented [not that this fic isn't great as is]. But there's a good change, and an abrupt / bad change. Making a uniform change throughout the chapter to see how it looks is one thing, changing the last few paragraphs out of the blue in the middle of a conversation, is too abrupt of a change.
Then you have appropriate format for a particular body of literature [of course author's privilege / artistic choice trumps that technically]. Left indenting is great for stories / fics. Center aligned, is good for a forward, or most notably for works of poetry. But in a fic setting [other than page dividers / noting time / location changes], doesn't really. Since not only would they have to add " marks to each beginning line [which didn't happen here], but the paragraph format doesn't play well with dialog / story format.
.
6886210 While you make a good point, I half expected an ironic sudden format change...
Aww what a sweet chapter, I'm glad Scootaloo is slowly warming up to Rarity ^///^
And people say Rarity doesn't deserve being Element of Generosity.
I like this line. Well-thought-out, if a bit violent. (Could use a comma after "trust me", and the other sentence looks comma-spliced, but don't mistake my grammar nitpicking for lack of enjoyment.)
That's the most heartwarming insult I've ever heard
6886282
Yep got fixed ^_^.
6886356
Honestly up until S6, Late S5. She really didn't outside of very few fanfics. Like this one, Green, Unexpected Confessions, and the Savage Skies Series. Cannon Rares was manipulative, self centered, always looking out for herself and her image / bottom bit first, and worst of all, knowing how Spike felt about her [as they were plummeting to their supposed doom when Spike went all dragon]; not only never returned his feelings, but used him for manual labor / her own interests while giving him a rather childish nickname [6 seasons of this *facepalms*].
But Fanon Rares, much like Fanon Dashie can be pretty freaking awesome. Honestly we need Rarity to be more like this fic, than she's been throughout 5 out of 6 seasons [with some very rare moments where she's actually generous in a way that she doesn't do for some selfish reasons.].
Still .. this Rarity in this fic is freaking epic. I want to hug her so bad right now. Well both her and Scootaloo.
6886489 I think you are a bit too hard on canon Rarity. How many times has she given up dress for no price. Yes she is vain and hates to see waste. But she has given of herself often before the past two seasons.
Kuodos to Rarity for sticking it to Scarlett. Clearly, she's one of those ponies who that likes to stick her nose where it doesn't belong.
Have I mentioned I love this fic? I love this Rarity, I love this Scoots, and I love the idea of Rarity being this kind of Mom.
6886600 Inspiration Manifestation had a good bit of her issues "You're my favorite dragon"
and the season five ending contrast of the nightmare timeline with
"I don't associate with dragons" heart break to his enjoying helping Rarity with dressing up Glimmers at the ending.
The animators still have a ball slipping Sparity in the cracks. . .
6886600 Cannon Rarity is my least favorite of the mane six. It's more the writer's fault than the characters but she is the one who least represents her element.
Like I said it's mostly the writer's fault though. They write episodes to teach a moral and they make characters act out of character to teach it.
Want to teach children it's wrong to lie? Have the Element of Honesty get in a situation where she's failed and doesn't want to tell everyone, that way we can teach that a lie of omission can be just as wrong as a lie.
Want to teach kids Generosity? Have the Element of Generosity abuse Spike's feelings for her to get his birthday gift for herself. It's okay though later it reminds Spike how to not be greedy. Not Rarity though she was greedy as can be and never called out on it.
Over the past few hours of reading up to this point, I've enjoyed this completely. I'm diggin this Rarity.
Now to throw a fave on this beast, and wait for more feels/word count.
Another very nice chapter! keep it up!
I start to enjoy this little chapters about both of them.
"And you haven't even fitted me for my hat yet!"
"Madam, there isn't a hat large enough in all of Equestria."
Can you actually strangle someone with measuring tape? I assume it would break in the ensuing struggle...
6886786
Exactly.
__________________
6886600
Not really.
I rewatched all of seasons 1 -3 with my little bro [I got it for him for Xmas, and we got around to watching them last week], and even remembering past seasons.
She did that very few times, and very few times without a personal reason behind it. And even then, only for friends or family.
1) Her act with Steve Magnet, could be seen as Generous, maybe. But it was something needed to cross the river, as well as an affront against fashion. Same as with Twilight's Mane. Still almost generous, if she didn't squeal and promise never to part with it again after the EoH grew it back.
2) Ticket Master ... honestly everyone was in the wrong there trying to pressure poor Twilight. But Rarity's gift was down right manipulative. Twilight was liking that saddle Rares made, then Rares slipped out, "Oh look! I made another just like it, we should totally go together." [paraphrased].
3) The gala dresses, yes she made them for free. But as she stated when offering, it would be great for her business, and she'd be using it to do a fashion show showing off her work.
______________________
That's only a few things in Season 1. There's very few times she shows Generosity. Even then it's a token effort without any real generosity involved. It's just a random something she throws out. Such as springing dresses onto her friends [which happened twice in S1-3. Once for the Gala, the other when she used Spike's feelings for a Fire Ruby, and was inspired to make clothing for Spike and her friends]. Then there's the few times for Spike [and once with Owlicious getting the same thing as Spike.].
Even in Rarity Takes Manehatten. She explicitly states, you do good things for others, then others will do good things for you [and we see that in action in that episode]. So while nice ... isn't really generous, since she's expecting that by doing something nice, they'd be repaying her later when she needs it.
But if you tally all the times she's done something generous for its own sake, rather than either stating outloud she's doing it to get something in return, to further herself, or to assuage any bad feelings she may be having. Against the times she does it simply to do it. Those are rare Pre-S6.
Although it's like 6886786 said. It's the writers fault more than the characters. They either need to make a moral, or they need a foil. And Rarity exists perfectly for that. To the point being self centered, and manipulative is part of her core personality [I mean just look at what she makes others do with her luggage, even her poor sister while "camping" [of course she then complains that she's [Rarity] sweating, while her sister is making rivers of sweat pushing and hauling]]. To the point that you actually have to look very hard to see any acts of Generosity that she doesn't use for personal gain, countering it being generous.
6887558 Some of those yes. And the Gala dresses she HOPED they would drum up[ business. She has no guarantees. Granted they have done her better the last two seasons those the bulk of the rest of the writing went to crap last season.
6887839
Hoped was the key word . Although I doubt anyone would forget that gala. What with the stampede of cute adorable animals, Pinks being herself, and Rarity chewing out Blueblood.
Still while I didn't like cannon Rares until this latest season. I will say that while her cannon form was at the bottom of the list, there's plenty of fanon Rares that make her really likeable. It's a pity that the shows writers never used fanon Rares to write her cannon form. Sort of like Rainbow Dash pre-Wonderbolt's Academy [where she started getting her personal Character Growth in. Well that and May The Best Pet Win.].
Although I didn't think a majority of last season was horrible. Honestly IMO Season 3 was the worst season. This latest one ... while disappointing in some areas, did have some good character growth moments. Such as Diamond Tiara, Rarity, and the Crusaders. Although the Big Mac episode pissed me off [not because he was in drag. Although I'm seriously disappointed his family members didn't at least help him look good. That outfit was atrocious with his coat color and build] because it would have been the first and only real Big Sister episode with Scoots and Dash [something I've waited 4 Seasons for] since Dash promised to be Scoots big sister ... but instead we got another lame Apple Family, Cookie Cutter Episode. With ScootaDash in way in the background.
6887888 I hate the crusaders marks. Princess Spike was MDW bad. And a lot of wasted potential.
I will admit that Fanon Raritys are better.
6887957
Yeah there marks were a bit of a cop out, and there special talents could have been better defined than "helping others understand their cutie marks". And yes, Princess Spike was horrible. I'm actually kind of sad when it comes to Spike. There've been many potential character building moments between him and others. But nothing sticks. He's made to do a lot of the work a majority of the time, doesn't get a chance to enjoy his child hood ... if he actually has a childhood, and whenever there's a break through that'd make him closer to the others. Nothing comes out of it by the next episode. Other than the Crystal Empire making him a hero. That was a win well deserved at least.
A certain red pony should've watched what she said about Scoots.
6888122 They can't write him as a main character. best in supporting roles. The fandom does much better by him in this regard.
Aww...but no joke this time around? But you just said that you enjoyed them! I wanna hear what Reylan did this time! Why must you deprive me so!
What is a Raylan fic?
Anyway, nice job on this little chapter.
Go, Rarity go!
6888142
But he does have his own center focused episodes ... that are horrible, but still makes him a better ascended background character than Applejack XD. Seriously though, I completely agree. The fandom does such a better job with Spike, and once my schedule stops getting as insane as it's been lately I can do more with my own Spike fic.
6888135
Let's get the mob rolling, I'm sure if we're fast enough we can get her before she floats away. Seeing as her head is so full of hot air.
6888212
You know the running gag of himself (Raylan) who is super awesome and perfect, who comes in and saves the day? A fic centered around that gag is a Raylan fic.
6888375 is Raylan a term used somewhere?
6888398
Authors name, and throughout the A/N's scattered throughout the story.
6888372 That it is.
WOOOOOOT, GO RARITY!!!
The next client Scootaloo barges in on should be Sapphire Shores, I think she'd be more supportive, especially if Scootaloo has news of another dance role.
6885954 It's actually very heart warming and mane burning, not cold at all AJ.
6890812 LIKE THIS?img00.deviantart.net/d100/i/2015/244/3/d/his_ladys_honor_by_hillbe-d982b0w.jpg
6890973 Nah, for Prince Douche Bag you need to dump him into the most noxious filth you can find after shaving him completely bald. And take blackmail pictures.
well the funny thing is this sort of thing can only be good for rarities business
an element of harmony, two princesses on her clients list.
and now her clientel is selective, she'll be the talk of canterlot.
Rarity now needs to...very...very...gently prod Scootaloo into NOT coming up with the lyrics for her performance. Unless it's a comedy, of course.
Can we get a link to that fic u said u made
6901267 pffffff hahaha I get the refeance lol
6911212 Here
6911222 thanks
Now that I am caught up in your story I feel I should say "Good job!". Once this story reaches a completed stage it will make it's way to my "must read" list (no story makes it onto that list without being complete) but in the mean time know that i will add this story to my favorites.
Reading your story made me realize two things. First, I think I like Stories with Rarity and will be looking for more of them in the future.
Second while reading your story I finally realized why I am having so much trouble with the stories I want to write (I have 3 possible stories but each one was missing something). I can't thank you enough for epiphany I received on how to change my writing style.
I look forward to reading more of this story in the future. Keep up the good work.
6925509 Your welcome?
If my stories were able to help you in any way then I'm glad, though I would say that as an author you should be sure to write in your style, and not try to change because of anyone else.