Chapter 1
The sound of the shuttle of the Yakquard loom shunting back and forth was music to Rarity’s ears, filling up the interior of the Carousel Boutique with its steady rhythm. The beauty was not in the stark simplicity of the pattern, with hardly a syncopation to give it texture, though Rarity had been more appreciative of such things as of late. Rather, it was because the loom could not really be run on days when the Boutique was open to customers. The running of the loom in the background meant that the day was, well, not quite a day of rest, but rather a day when she could, if she so decided, go the entire day without seeing another soul besides the one that was working the loom’s pedals. As much as she loved both helping her customers and charming them effortlessly, she had to admit that these days when she was a bit less connected to the world felt more and more appealing to her as time went on.
She didn’t know how to feel about that, or about the stray silvery hairs she dutifully picked out of her violet mane whenever they made their appearance. More and more often these days. So many things were changing…
“Professor Rarity!” Yona beamed, the enthusiasm in her voice just the same as it ever was. The din of the loom suddenly cut off as the yak stepped off its pedals. “Please, come look at Yona latest design!”
With a quiet smile, Rarity approached the output end of the loom and lifted the banner of woven silk in her aura, admiring Yona’s hoofwork—or was it the machine’s? But it was Yona’s hooves that marked the curious punch cards that went into the machine to produce this pattern. A spiraling constellation of self-similar stars, perfect to incorporate into the next cosmic-themed dress design.
Yona had explained the rules of traditional yak weaving patterns to her before, but she could never quite retain the particulars, much like whenever Twilight would try to tell her the news of her latest thaumaturgical discovery. All she really remembered was how finding a pattern that both fit the rules and felt like a representation of something real was as much an art as a science.
“What Professor Rarity think?”
Rarity did not have to turn her head from the fabric to know how excited the yak’s expression would be. “It’s beautiful, Miss Yona,” she said, instinctively adding the ‘Miss’ despite herself.
“Yak ingenuity is best!
Rarity turned to face her, and smiled at the proud grin Yona wore.
“I must admit, I did not expect such wonders to be produced when I first agreed to have you work here—uh…” She set her jaw, cringing at that faux pas now, of all times!
“Yes, many thing not turn out as thought then!” Yona agreed, seemingly taking it in stride. “But life that way sometimes, Professor Rarity.”
Rarity smiled sheepishly at the wisdom. “Oh, Yona! It has been quite a few years since I’ve been a ‘professor’ of any sort! Like I’ve been saying for some time now, there is no need to address me that way!”
Yona’s response was the same it always was. “And like Yona always say, title are very important to yak.”
“No, but really!” Rarity used her magic to drag forth a clothes horse bearing a very green dress.of puffy sleeves and embroidered lace. She held it up in front of Yona’s body, as the yak’s eyes lit up in recognition. It would hardly fit her now, Yona being halfway between the body that once wore that dress to the Fetlock Fête and the size she would be for the rest of her adult life.
“I dug this up when going through my old designs, and it just reminded me of the years that have passed since then. And with everything you’ve built here, well…” She waved a hoof at the hulking mass of the Yakquard loom. “I believe it would not even be quite accurate to call you my employee. We are colleagues now, Yona. You have more than earned the right to just call me Rarity.”
Rarity put every oomph of pride she had into that practiced sentence, but did not at all get the reaction she expected.
A crestfallen stare, followed by a listless “Okay, Rarity.”
Rarity puzzled, searching for the misunderstanding.
“Oh, this hardly changes anything between us! I assure you, dear Yona, I am not trying to make you leave the nest. Far from it! I am offering to let you make this place as much your own as it is mine! I mean, it is only fair, after all, considering I spend half my time in Canterlot these days—”
“It not that, Prof— I mean, Rarity.” Yona sighed. “Hard to explain yak way to pony, but Yona like being Professor Rarity’s apprentice.”
Rarity frowned. “To be honest, I don’t quite understand. Surely you have something better to do as a princess?”
“Yona not really princess until Yona become ruler! Even then, Yona only princess to yak.” Yona shrugged. “Until then, Yona voice has no authority over other yak, so why treat Yona different? After schooling finish, Yona need to learn trade like anyyak else.”
“How delightfully practical,” Rarity remarked, trying not to take offense at her profession being called a trade.
“But to say truth, Yona is treated special! Is why Yona came to School of Friendship in first place. ‘In more modern and interconnected world, future yak ruler need to learn cultural competence, and understand way of other creature from other creature’ standpoint’.”
Rarity gave a wry smile at that. “You sound a lot like Twilight. I mean, that would have been more appropriate, wouldn’t it? Apprenticing with her?”
“Yona thought about that, but Professor Rarity was prettiest of all Yona’s teachers, which is why Yona so excited when Professor Rarity say ‘yes’.”
Rarity laughed an airy laugh. “Oh, Miss Yona! Such flattery will get you everywhere.”
“But Yona speaks truth! Yona never discover love of making clothes if not for Professor Rarity. Yona did not know that inside her before this.”
“Oh.”
Rarity did remember thinking it strange that the yak who had never shown any interest in dresses or even color had been so insistent on becoming her employee after graduation. How eager, yet completely lost she had been in this world, until she had found her groove. How downright bizarre Rarity had found the situation, yet felt that it would be untoward to question anycreature’s stated motivations.
“Is that how yaks choose their career path?” Rarity questioned, as if Yona’s future were anything other than waiting to take over her uncle’s throne once he retired. “Whichever of their teachers is the, er, ‘prettiest’?”
“Yes. Like Yona say, yak way different from pony way. Apprentice/Professor relationship very important to yak.” Yona began to fidget, suddenly seeming nervous. “But don’t worry, Yona understand pony way not the same.”
“Yona… Just what is this ‘yak way’?”
Yona fidgeted a bit more before speaking.
”Apprentice supposed to learn more than trade from Professor. Professor supposed to teach Apprentice not only how to be functional adult contributing to society, but loving spouse as well.”
Rarity’s jaw hung open as it all just clicked for her. The way Yona followed her around everywhere like a puppydog in those early days. That ridiculous blue eyeshadow she wore every day, in imitation of the makeover Rarity had once given her, until Rarity insisted that Yona find her own way of expressing herself. All things she chalked up to Yona being Yona.
“Miss Yona,” Rarity began before she could stop herself, “did you think that that would be the arrangement we would have?”
Yona cast her eyes down. “Yona knew pony way can be very different from yak way. Yona not stupid. But yes, Yona did hope.“
“I…” Rarity let that drift off as her jaw hung open once more, before closing it again. “Yes, that is very much not the pony way! You were my student, then my employee! For me to pursue such a proposition would be nothing short of inappropriate!”
“That why apprentice chooses Professor, and hope Professor say ‘yes’. It very important to yak culture. Loveless apprenticeship happen sometime, it okay. Just mean apprentice yak very inexperienced when time to find partner.”
Rarity took a moment to digest the implications.
“Wait, then… Did you and Sandbar never…”
Yona shook her head. “Yona thought we would! Yona thought Yona could do things pony way, but never felt right to Yona.” Yona shrugged. “But things better this way. Sandbar and Gallus very happy together. Yona very happy for them!”
Rarity smiled weakly. They did make a very cute couple, it was true. But then…
“So you’ve never been with anycreature?”
Yona shook her head.
“Oh, you poor dear!”
Rarity felt Yona step back a bit in surprise as she caught the yak in an embrace. Yona’s coat was not at all the layer of thick, coarse hair that Rarity expected. Had she never hugged Yona before? No. She hugged her friends, Pinkie and Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, often and easily. But she never quite thought of Yona as a friend to her in that way, did she?
“Your coat… It’s so much softer than I imagined.“ She moved her cheek along the side of Yona’s neck.
“Why would yak have winter coat during summer, Professor Rarity?”
“I don’t know!” Rarity laughed. She lifted her cheek from Yona’s neck, and looked into her eyes of olive green, filled with the same excitement that she remembered seeing in them so constantly throughout the years. An excitement that she now could see for what it was, if the blush on Yona’s muzzle was not a clue enough.
“Do you… do you still feel the same way about me as you did back then?”
The blush on her muzzle deepened.
“Y-Yes, Professor Rarity.”
Rarity smiled.
“Then, may I kiss you?”
Yona nodded, trembling.
Rarity held Yona’s face in the gentle glow of her aura, touching their muzzles together for a few moments before opening her mouth to lock lips.
When their lips parted, Rarity could all but hear the jackhammering of Yona’s heart as the yak stared at her, wide-eyed, as if she could not believe what just happened. Rarity gave her a conspiratorial smile, and breathily whispered.
“Twilight’s been insisting that I broaden my horizons. I never expected to find such a wonderful opportunity in my own home.”
Rarity’s aura gently brushed Yona’s cheek.
“And you are in for quite a treat. If you would allow me to do all the work.”
Yona squeaked. “Yona agree.”
Smiling smugly, Rarity summoned a particularly sturdy chaise longue from her collection, and positioned it next to Yona.
“Then be a dear and lay back for me, please.”
Yona did so, rolling her back onto the chaise, belly-up. Rarity bent down her neck to kiss her again, as she stroked the smooth coat of Yona’s chest with her hoof. Leaving Yona breathless once more as she parted lips, she turned her head to look down the belly that she was stroking.
A pillar of pink flesh, pointed toward the heavens, awaited her sight.
“Well, you did say you were a Princess,” Rarity whispered to herself. Then, to Yona.
“You’re in for a treat.”