Rarity was aggravated.
Oh sure, it was her fault in the first place for making that order and not checking it out when she was at the store, but at the time she had been so sure that it would have made the best. thing. ever. The box was closed and sealed shut again, and she strutted her work area, absentmindedly using her magic to pick the box up again and then put it down elsewhere in the room. No matter where she placed it, however, the thing inside the box was still the most hideous thing she had ever seen in her life.
"Oh, this will not do at all. I pride myself on being able to make any pony wondrous! Such a thing shouldn't bother me that much," she chided herself and took it out of the box, holding it to the light. Nope, it was still the ugliest thing she had ever seen. "Perhaps I need to take a break from it and make a beautiful dress."
She set the object back in the box and shut the lid again, then kicked it towards the back of her work area near some of her less used fabric. "The first pony that I see will be getting a fabulous dress from me, just to forget that tacky thing."
Rarity smiled and opened the door to her shop, where Bubblecup was standing, trying to open the door with her mouth and fell into the store unceremoniously. "Oh, Bubblecup, how nice to see you," Rarity said graciously and offered a hoof to the downed pegasus. Bubblecup smiled and took the hoof, her two eyes focusing on one thing for once.
"Rarity, you and Rainbow Dash are good friends right?" Bubblecup said and stood up on all four hooves, "I was wondering if you could have a talk with her about letting me back on the weather team. I really didn't see the building next to me when I was trying to get rid of that cloud."
Rarity hesitated. Perhaps she had been too hasty about the first pony she saw getting a dress. Bubblecup's left eye wandered to the ceiling while the other eye focused on her, eagerly waiting for an answer. She did pride herself on making any pony fabulous though. Even if they had shaggy blonde hair and a gray coat of fur.
"Rarity?" Bubblecup asked and then looked down sadly, "I understand. I'm different and you don't want me around."
"Oh no!" Rarity felt her pride get to her, even if the pony's coloration reminded her firmly of the object she was trying to forget, "I was just thinking about how to" a pause "approach Rainbow Dash about it. Would you like to stay here and help me out? I was really wanting to make a dress and you're coloration is" another polite pause "perfect for what I'm thinking about."
"Really Rarity! I would love to. All the other ponies think I'm a bother," Bubblecup smiled as Rarity shut the door with a tiny bit of magic and walked the two of them to her studio with her mirrors and supplies.
"Oh, you're not a bother at all Bubblecup, just a little," crash! One of the model ponies she used fell over as Bubblecup walked into it. Quickly, Rarity used her magic to pick up the model and dusted it off, "clumsy. I'm sure the others understand."
"They might understand, but that doesn't mean they accept," came the bitter words as Bubblecup sat down in the middle of the floor and cringed as a bolt of fabric flew through the air.
"Nonsense, Ponyville is about accepting ponies, and with Princess Celestia's bright eye watching over us, we should all be welcoming to one another," Rarity stared at the bolt of black fabric and held it close to Bubblecup's flank. Seven tiny white bubbles were her cutie mark, and lead to no inspiration for Rarity to work off of. Her coloration was so plain, and her cutie mark had none of the glamor that Rarity's had. Chewing on her lips, she pulled out another one of her more common bolts of fabric and draped it around her model, pulling here and there to try and have the form of the pegasus turned into something of beauty that even an alicorn might stop and look closely at, "Bubblecup, dear, please stand up tall for me. I simply can't get this right if you're sitting down."
As Bubblecup straightened out, Rarity went to the back and stared at the table full of her less common fabric. Not many ponies were born with such neutral colorations, and those that did were usually men. Of course, you didn't get to be a fabulous world renowned fashion designer if you weren't prepared. The box laid next to the table, and absentmindedly she lifted it up with her magic and opened the lid. Yes, the object was still inside, but now she could see that it wasn't that ugly. It just didn't shout the way her other orders had. Subtle, not loud.
Inspiration struck, and with a fury she didn't know she had, bolts and pins flew through the air and attacked the tiny pegasus pony in the middle of the fury of the storm. Colors circled in a blur, creating a rainbow of colors, and Rarity stood calmly through it all, her vision focused on one thing. "Stupendous!" she shouted and arranged everything the way she saw it all fall in her head.
Bubblecup stood tall in the storm, not wavering as scissors clipped closely to her body and ribbons fell into her hair. For a long time, Rarity stared at Bubblecup, moving things with ease and gracefully touching the fabric into place and pinning it, then sewing it so it was tight on Bubblecup's body. Of course, a few times her attention was caught by Bubblecup's wings, reminding her to be careful to not trap them, and so she would gently touch the wings to make them spring forward and fall back so they would be able to move to their full abilities.
Blushing, Bubblecup looked away to the ceiling as Rarity touched her wings yet again. Knowing that this was Rarity's job, Bubblecup couldn't help how her body felt about the attention and shifted uncomfortably away from Rarity's hooves.
"Darling," Rarity spoke with authority, "I've more than touched one male who couldn't control himself. I know how you pegasus feel about others touching your wings, but I simply must take care that you don't have to worry about your wings being caught. Don't worry, I'm not thinking any scandalous thoughts."
And then she was done. Everything stopped as Rarity took a step back and looked over the dress. Yes, she wasn't the brightest of ponies, but something about the yellow in her eyes brought out a brightness in the dress, and the dull gray made the dress pop against her skin. Rarity felt pleased that she had been able to once again prove that she could make any pony glamorous.
"You're beautiful," Rarity said and carefully lead the pegasus to the mirrors so she could have a better look at Bubblecup.
With a grace that the pegasus usually didn't have, she glided across the floor to the mirrors and carefully moved around so that Rarity could admire her work. Bubblecup gasped when she saw herself without the business of the storm, and felt herself swell up with pride. Everypony else she had ever seen was brightly colored and dazzled in the sun, while she had always felt like a stone that no one could see, but now, with this dress on, she felt pretty for the first time.
Rarity nudged her gently with a hoof, noticing that the gray mare was about to cry, "Why don't you go out and show off your new dress?"
"Are you sure Rarity?" the mare said and smiled when Rarity nodded yes, "Oh, thank you so much!"
Floating like a butterfly, she took off and left the shop, leaving Rarity alone.
Maybe, if Rainbow Dash said no to putting her back on the team, Rarity could borrow her. There was something about having a live model that just couldn't be replicated with mannequins. Rarity moved her supplies back to where they belonged, stopped at the back with the last roll of fabric, and picked up the object in the box with a tenderness that hadn't been there earlier that day.
The gray rock that had been what she thought was a bad mistake had proven to have a beauty of its own that she had overlooked. Gently, she pulled out her jewelry making supplies, and hummed to herself.
The rain splashed against Rarity's raincoat as she looked up at Rainbow Dash who was busy moving clouds around. The storm was starting to build to an uncomfortable level, and Rarity knew that pretty soon it would become a torrent of water.
"Oh Rainbow Dash!" she called out and waved with a hoof, "I have a matter I need to talk to you about."
"Man Rarity, can't you see I'm busy right now," Rainbow Dash yelled back, maneuvering another cloud into position and gave it a light kick. The lightning shot out of it, and Rarity gulped.
"It's important Rainbow Dash. You know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't," Rarity said and tapped her hoof impatiently against the soggy ground. Rolling her eyes, Rainbow Dash floated down the ground. "Make it quick then. We're behind schedule as is," Rainbow Dash said and pushed her hair to the side, "Although we'd be on schedule if somepony hadn't interupted us."
"It's about Bubblecup," Rarity said and waved a hoof, "You need the help."
"But she's so clumsy!" Rainbow Dash said, "She'd just get in the way."
The rain pattered against Rarity's head, and she shook her head, knowing if this kept up her mane would be ruined, "You know the rumors around town are that she's getting better."
"While wearing your dresses," Rainbow Dash spat back, "Everyone thinks you put magic into them to make her not so clumsy."
"Untrue!" Rarity thought for a moment about how the dresses clung to Bubblecup's form and made her normally gangly movements controlled and constricted. Unfortunately they weren't really made for hard labor, and moving clouds around was hard work. No, and even in this weather, the coat she had made speciffically to deflect water wasn't doing that great a job. It would probably just get in the way, "What if I could teach her?"
Rainbow Dash snorted, "Yeah right. You'd have a better chance getting Pinkie to give up cupcakes."
Pride swelled up in Rarity, "I bet I can have her dancing for the Ponyville Gala that's at the end of the month."
The blue mare's mouth twitched, "Deal. If I win, you're going to help me with a side project."
"And if I win, you'll hire Bubblecup back on the weather team."
The two mares shook hooves, and with that, Rarity turned and started galloping through the streets, trying to outpace the growing overhang of clouds. Preoccupied with the storm, the full weight of what she had said didn't dawn on her until she stood on the threshold of her shop. Realization struck Rarity as she shut the door, and saw Bubblecup tripping up on her hooves to greet her. The gray mare slid a few feet and looked happily up at Rarity. "How did it go?"
Chewing on her lips, Rarity undid the buttons on her coat and put it gently on the clothes rack to dry. "It went great Bubblecup. You're going to be back on the weather team in no time."
"Yay!" Bubblecup jumped up and fluttered in the air for a brief second before crashing down on the floor.
"Yes, well, we are going to have to make you less" Rarity paused and thought about how to say not a walking disaster, "I mean, have you dance at the Ponyville Gala later this month."
The hopeful look in Bubblecup's eyes died, and she looked down at the floor. Picking up a towel, Rarity twisted it harshly and then placed it over her hair and made it up into a bun, "It won't be easy, but I know you can do it Bubblecup. You just have to focus."
With a long glance her way, Bubblecup stood up tall, "You'll help right."
"Sure thing," Rarity said and bit her lips again, "All it is is a little bit of dancing."
With a single, masterful stroke, Bubblecup took a hoof forward, and imediately caught the edge of the raincoat and dragged in, the coat rack, and herself into a giant heap on the floor, tangling her hooves on the yellow material. Tasting blood, Rarity looked in the mirror and gently applied some lipstick to her lips to hide the redness. Oh Celestia, what had she done? With a tiny bit of magic, she removed the coat from Bubblecup's limbs, and put the coat rack back where it belonged.
"Sorry Rarity," Bubblecup said, and looked back down.
"Nonsense," Rarity said and removed the towel from her head, letting her hair cascade down, "All you need is practice."
It was some time later when Rarity had excused herself from Bubblecup and went to the spa in an effort to regain some control she was losing in an effort to teach Bubblecup grace, beauty, and charm. Maybe she was fighting Bubblecup's disabilities. Rarity scolded herself for that thought. Yes, she was clumsy, but was it a result of her sight, or because no one had ever given her positive attention and taught her how to walk properly. Yes, Ponyville was welcoming to all ponies, but that didn't mean that those who had special needs got what they needed to grow and thrive.
Sipping her tea, Rarity thought darkly about her childhood. Her parents meant well, but they were simple folks, more like Applejack than Photo Finish. No one had taken her under their hooves and taught her the skills that were required for running her own business. All she had were the movies she watched as a filly that spurred her towards a goal that felt achievable and the belief in herself that she was good enough to do whatever she put her mind towards.
"Oh Rarity," Fluttershy spoke up. Who knew how long she had been sitting their patiently, waiting for Rarity to notice her, "Are you okay? You seem really angry."
"Fluttershy! When did you get in? I am so, so sorry. I was just lost in my own little world," Rarity motioned to the spa ponies that they were ready to start the treatments, and the two spa ponies nodded and lead them away from the lobby. Steam and heat pressed all around Rarity, and the cold from earlier the day became a distant memory. Oh, if only Bubblecup's problems could melt away so easily.
"I heard the rumors," Fluttershy said and put on the fluffy white robe that had been left on the table for the two friends to put on, "Rainbow Dash was bragging about how you were going to fail."
"Nonsense," Rarity waved a hoof, "Rainbow Dash doesn't realize who she's dealing with. I know Bubblecup has the grace and beauty within to dazzle the crowd."
Wincing, Fluttershy looked at Rarity for a long, long, uncomfortable minute, "Oh, okay."
"What is it Fluttershy?" Rarity asked, and stretched out on the massage table. She considered asking Fluttershy to help her with Bubblecup, but she had a feeling that it would drag up the old wound of Photo Finish and her brief modeling career.
"You're not going to ask me to help?" Fluttershy said and looked away so that any silly filly looks wouldn't have any power.
"No sweetie. I learned my lesson from last time. However, if you would like to give advice on how you learned, I'd love to hear it," Rarity smiled as Fluttershy looked visibly less stressed and her body relaxed upon the table as the two spa ponies began touching their backs with their delicate hooves and delicious smelling oils. Lavendar filled the air, mixed in with the smell of hot, moist air and soft, soothing music. The stresses from her situation left her body in tiny little pushes, and she gasped out in pleasure as gentle hooves worked out a large knot in her body.
From far away, she heard Fluttershy, "I'm sorry Rarity, but in my case, um, it's all inborn talent."
"Of course, I knew that Fluttershy. I guess I was just being hopeful that you'd have any advice for me." She closed her eyes and lowered her head as the hooves worked up her mane, leaving a tingly trail of pleasure and looseness that she hadn't felt since the last time she had been here.
"Foals learn from their parents, so maybe all you need to do is model the dances and have her imitate you," came the helpful suggestion. In a flash, all the work that had been done on her back and spine was undone as a memory caught hold of her and tossed her into a childhood she tried to forget.
Her mother's hooves clopped harshly on the floor as a young Rarity looked in the mirror and tried desperately to fix the chips in her hooves. It wouldn't do any good to become a dancer if her hooves looked horrid! She wailed as her mother took from her hooves the bottle of hoof polish.
"You don't need this sugar," her mother said and put it high up on a shelf, "You should be more like your father and I. We don't need any of this fancy stuff."
"You just don't understand mother! This is my life," she shouted and waved a hoof at the television behind her, "I want to be like them."
The show was one that her mother knew well. Glamorous ponies danced in sparkling costumes as the story played out the same in song as the lead mare moved in hypnotic movements across the stage. The red mare wore a dress of glittering rubies that clung to her body in ways that small fillies would go wide eyed at seeing, and the lead stallion in his simple black tux would dance around her, teasing her with his white smile and nipping at her with his teeth as they danced around each other and the back up dancers in a frenzy of movements that took a cordination that few ponies had, even if they trained their whole life.
"Rarity," her mother said harshly, "we saw the rejection letters. I'm sorry honey, but you're just not talented enough to be what you wanted to be. I'm sure you'll find something you're great at though. Now, your baby sister needs you to watch her while we go out. We'll be back late tonight, and Rarity? Try not to stay up late watching these old things. You have better things to do."
A single bubble popped in front of Rarity's eyes, bringing her back to reality with a sharp sting that felt as harsh as her mother's words and the clear rejection of what she had really wanted in her life. Dressmaking had become her life, but it didn't allow her a chance to shine. All she wanted was her spotlight and her lead stallion and her story to play out in the spotlight, and instead she had to take second best. Granted, she was grateful that she loved doing what made her happy, but sometimes the old dreams reminded her of what could have been.
"Umm, Rarity, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked as Rarity choked back her tears and wiped her eyes with a single hoof.
"Sorry dear, I'm just feeling really stretched thin right now, you know with the gala and Bubblecup," she flashed Fluttershy a smile, "I'll be fine. I think it's best if I go home and get some rest for tomorrow. I only have twenty nine more days until the gala."
"Oh, yes, and Rarity? Good luck," there was a pause, "You can do it."
Her lips formed a tight smile, "Yes, thank you Fluttershy. See you next week at the spa? It's my treat."
"Thank you Rarity." Fluttershy twitched her wings, "If you need me for any reason."
"I will have Spike come get you. Don't worry so much dear, it's just how it always is. Stressful." Rarity slowly climbed off the table, feeling a thousand little pins of pain from where her body had tightened at, but she knew that now she'd have no rest if she stayed here. With more effort than she thought was reasonable, she walked out to the lobby and picked up the bill for this session. As soon as she signed the bill, she trotted out the door into the dark, damp weather and felt the full pressure of everything falling on her shoulders. Their were so many orders pilling up, and spending time with Bubblecup was taking away time from her work but ...
It didn't feel so important at the moment that somepony might not shine as brightly today.
She looked up at the sky and noticed a tiny mare floating above her, holding an umbrella in her mouth. Waving at her, it fell to the earth as slowly as a snowflake, and enfolded her in a hug. "You forgot your umbrella at the shop, so I brought it for you."
"Were you waiting this whole time for me to come out Bubblecup?" Rarity said and shook her mane, "It's simply miserable out here."
Bubblecup released her from the hug and smiled, "I was just day dreaming about how great a friend you are and how blessed by Celestia I am to have met you."
Blushing, she took the umbrella from the gray mare, "Thank you Bubblecup. See you tomorrow?"
She was hugged tightly again, and faintly smelled soap as the gray mare shook her head yes. "Goodnight Rarity."
"Goodnight Bubblecup," Rarity said and lifted the umbrella over her head. The gray mare looked completely soaked, but she seemed oblivious to it as she drifted off in the wind back to her house. Standing and watching her float away, Rarity stifled the urge to beg her to come home with her. It wouldn't be fair to burden Bubblecup with her workaholic attitude, even if something about the mare sang to her creative side. No, it would be best to go home, check on Sweetie Belle and Opal, and make sure the orders were aligned for tomorrow so she could work on them swiftly and effectively to make more time for Bubblecup's training. She wasn't as obsessed with lists as Twilight was, but she had learned the value of managing her time wisely with Twilight's help.
Maybe Twilight had some books on this little matter. It would be hard to squeeze time in with the library's normal hours, but she knew that Twilight always made time for friends. All she had to do was finish the orders, train Bubblecup, take care of Opal, take more orders, fill out another supply list, go through and see what she needed, fit some customers in, and find time to take care of herself. Well, Spike would be over tomorrow, maybe she could sweet talk him into seeing what was available at the library.
She opened the door to the shop with one hoof and closed it with her back hoof, careful not to make a noise. It was late enough that Sweetie Belle would be home from playing with her friends, and hopefully she had found the food Rarity had made before she had left to the spa. Granted, she usually wasn't home this early if she left the shop.
Pausing, she thought about checking on her little sister quietly. She knew she should respect her privacy however. It wasn't like she was chasing after colts or anything. Chuckling, she picked up a small amount of lettuce from the fridge and shredded a few baby carrots on top. It smelled good, and she noticed the bookbag left on the table with Sweetie Belle's books and homework spilling out. Casually she picked up the top piece of paper and smiled at the picture of Sweetie Belle and her two friends playing. Maybe her special talent would be art work, following in her sister's hoofprints.
Then she noticed a tiny bit of purple poking out, but the unusual thing was that it wasn't in the shape of a book or paper. The purple thing was shiny, and reminded Rarity of a shoe, but Sweetie Belle wasn't old enough for that kind of thing yet, surely! Pulling it out, she gasped and dropped it on the table. "Sweetie Belle, get in here this instance!"
"Okay big sis, what's going on?" Sweetie Belle shouted back and tromped down from her room.
Collapsing with a bit of flair into a dramatic sit, Rarity stared at the shoe. This had been her first pair of shoes, made specifically because she had been old enough to finally dance in the school play. Dark memories clouded her mind as she saw her little sister skid in. "Where did you get this?" She asked and hovered the shoe over the table, then stopped when she noticed it was dancing unconciously
"Oh, I went over to mom and dad's and they said this was yours, so I kind of borrowed it to see if dancing was my special talent, then I took it to school so Scootaloo and Apple Bloom could try it out too. I meant to give it back to you, I swear!" Sweetie Belle looked about to cry, and Rarity's anger vanished. Of course she wouldn't understand. She hadn't even been born when this chapter of Rarity's life played out to it's conclusion.
"It's okay little sister," Rarity smiled weakly at her, "How did you do?"
Her tiny face schruntced up and she stook her tongue out, "Horrible."
They both laughed together and Rarity sighed, "Sorry Sweetie Bell. I know I keep saying I'll be over to get the rest of my things, but it seems like I never have the time. Ha ha, I didn't even know I kept these old things."
That seemed to relieve Sweetie Bell, and she began talking about just how great Scootaloo had done and how unlike most pegasus ponies she was better on the ground then in the sky. A brief question about how come Scootaloo didn't try finding out if dancing wasn't Scootaloo's special ability led to an explanation that Rainbow Dash was so cool and that what she wanted to do was follow her idol's wings in the sky and how silly it'd be for a pegasus pony to not fly. Well, it did take all kinds to make the world go round, and when Sweetie Belle looked confused, Rarity laughed and explained it was an expression. Then it came time for Sweetie Belle to go home, and sad to see her go, Rarity stopped her for a brief moment.
"Why don't you give those shoes to Scootaloo if they work so well for her?" Rarity asked and put her hoof down next to them, "I think I'm just a tad too big to fit in them."
"Really sis," she asked and then leaped with glee, "That's so nice of you. Scootaloo just loved wearing them and was so sad when I had to take them home. Are you sure?"
Rarity chuckled, "Anything to help you and your friends fulfill your dreams."
Sweetie Bell gave her a brief hug, then shoved everything in her bag with one motion and took off running home, leaving Rarity alone once again. Opal stared at her as she got up and opened a can of cat food, ignoring her cat's playful swipe at her mane.
"I hope she gets better use out of it then I did," Rarity said and emptied the can into Opal's special food bowl. The cat sniffed at it while Rarity dropped the can into the trash. "Oh Opal, I know it's not that bad," she said and sighed as the cat stuck its paw in its mouth, "Don't be like please. I need to get ready for tomorrow and I simply need your support to make it through the night."
Staring at Rarity as she picked at her salad that had been long forgotten, the cat began to eat just to ease some worries off her mistress. "Thank you Opal," she said and took a small bite. Her stomach growled loudly in response, and she sighed as she took dainty bites from her dinner. Even though no one was around, that didn't mean she had to be uncouth and shovel it all in her mouth, although that's what she really wanted to do. Crunching loudly on her meal brought up not for the first time that her luxurious house was so empty when she wasn't working and no one but her was around. When she had been younger and first starting out, it seemed like a blessing, but now, the space seemed overwhelming.
But wasn't this what she wanted? Her own space, her own business, her own friends, and she even had a cat. Her parents hadn't let her have a cat growing up. Yes, everything should have been perfect. Leviatating the dish into the sink, she squirted a tiny bit of soap into her now empty bowl, noticing the tiny amount of bubbles swirling around as the water poured into the bowl. Turning the knob, she stopped the water. There wasn't any need right now for her to do a single dish after all.
Yawning, she decided it was late enough that she could turn in. An early bird caught the worm after all. Moving up the stairs, she noted how much space she had in her house. Once, she had thought about getting a stallion and sharing her life with him, but after her experiences with Prince Blueblood and all the others who wanted to date her for her reputation and not because of who she was, she had placed those thoughts away. Love would come in due time. Madame Rose didn't get the stallion because she had taken the first one after all. Sure, real life wasn't like her movies, but if it never happened, then their wouldn't be books and movies about it either.
"Perhaps I'm being a romantic," she said to no one in particular and donned her fuzzy slippers and her thick robe. Her bed welcomed her with its soft mattresses and tasteful bedding, and she slipped between the two covers, fluffing her pillow just a tiny bit before flicking the light off. Normally, she would have put her eye mask on right away to reduce puffiness, but right now her mind buzzed with possibilities and thoughts and memories. Staring at the ceiling, she tried to tuck them away like a mother would tuck her foal into bed, and noticed with a distance that she had never noticed before that the ceiling was the same gray as Bubblecup's fur. She scolded herself, and turned towards the wall. A street lamp tossed a yellow light casually into her room, making the shape take form of a familar pony as night ponies strolled across its domain, oblivious to the private dance it played inside her home.
Angrily she donned her eye mask. She was just tired and stressed. That was all. No need to worry about why she was being haunted by one silly pony.