by G. M. Berrow
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For Kiki—and all those who embody the Element of Generosity
CHAPTER 1
A Pony of Prominence
The mail in Equestria could be unreliable, but the Ponyville Post had an especially poor reputation for punctuality. In fact, it was one of the slowest post office branches around. It didn’t matter what sort of parcel a pony was sending: It could be a birthday card to a friend, a thank-you note to the host of a fabulous event in Canterlot, or even a shipment of silky skirts to a boutique in Neigh Mexicolt, and it would take ages.
But even though she was well aware of its slowpoke track record, Rarity couldn’t understand why she still hadn’t received the letter yet: the letter that would solidify her status as a pony of prominence in modern Equestrian fashion.
It just didn’t make a stitch of sense! Rarity had applied to the House of Outrageous and Opulent Fashion (H.O.O.F.) Summer Mentor Program months ago and still hadn’t heard a peep. At the time, she had been positive she was going to be accepted as a mentor. Why wouldn’t they want a pony like her? Rarity had designed for princesses, pop stars, and the Canterlot elite! Why, there was nopony more perfectly suited to guide a young, impressionable designer through the world of fashion and fabulosity. At the very least, she could teach a young pony how to achieve the perfect mane curl, she thought as she inspected her own purple locks in the mirror.
Rarity trotted over to steal a glance out the front window of the Carousel Boutique. She imagined that she was the main character in a storybook called Raponyzel. She was a forlorn damsel locked in a tower, with only her flowing, spectacular mane for company. Rarity wasn’t trapped in the Carousel Boutique, but she did feel hopeless just like the story’s heroine. Where was her letter?
The mailbox out front was adorned with glittering yellow gems. It was really quite pretty. As beautiful as something could look on the outside, Rarity still believed that what was on the inside counted more—especially in this case. Would it be another empty mailbox day, or would her precious, fate-altering letter be there?
There was no way to know for sure, but Rarity had a dreadful feeling about it. Just dreadful. She probably shouldn’t even bother going outside and checking. She should probably just stay inside and work. She trudged down the stairs as if she were headed back to the mines.
She was lucky that the boutique doubled as her home and as her shop—an inviting retreat filled with treasures. The clothes on the racks were all beautiful, and all designed exclusively by her. She spent both her days and her nights dreaming up wares that were “chic, unique, and magnifique.”
“Sweetie Belle?” she called out to her little sister. The young filly was probably down in the workroom pawing through the fabrics again. She had recently requested that her sister make her some new curtains for her clubhouse and was desperate for the perfect pattern.
Sweetie Belle appeared in the doorway, eyes wide and hopeful. “What’s up, Rarity?”
“Would you be a dear and go check? I simply cannot face the disappointment again.” Then Rarity sighed dramatically and collapsed onto a red velvet sofa. It just happened to be situated in the perfect position for her to gracefully swoon.
“I have so much to do already, anyway. This order of performance dresses for the Ponyville Choir is plenty more work than I thought it would be. Fifteen dresses and bow ties for the stallions, too! What in Equestria was I thinking?!” At least the Pony Tones, the other musical act in town, had only four members.
If only Rarity had a little helping hoof of an apprentice, everything would go much faster. But even so, she would never admit to the other ponies that she wasn’t able to maintain a shop on her own. Even when she was stressed out, Rarity thought it was important to keep up a certain elegant image. One of her favorite French designers, Coco Cheval, used to say, “A mare should be two things: classy and fabulous.” Rarity liked to think she embodied each at all times.
“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle’s little shouts came in through the window. “Rarity! Come out here!”
Rarity perked up. Could it be? Was the letter finally here? Thank Celestia, she could relax and start to prepare for her role as a fabulous, yet sage mentor. My goodness, she thought. What does a mentor wear? Some sort of robe? An elaborate hat? There were a lot of directions she could take this thing in, fashion-wise.
“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle called out again.
Oh right, Rarity thought. Better check that she was even in the program first. Rarity smoothed down her violet mane and trotted outside to join her sister. Her heart began to beat a little bit faster.
CHAPTER 2
Good News from Manehattan
Rarity was surprised to see that the little pink-and-lavender-maned filly wasn’t holding anything in her hoof. “Well, where is it?!” Rarity shrieked, then stopped herself. Raising one’s voice was not very refined. “Ahem. I mean… I thought you said it was here.” She motioned to the mailbox.
“No, I called you out here because I can’t reach the back!” Sweetie Belle’s tiny voice cracked as she explained. “I think there’s something in there, but I’m too short.” The little filly looked down at the ground in defeat. “Which just proves that I’m a blank flank and a shorty!”
It was true.
“That isn’t true!” comforted Rarity.
For all their trying, Sweetie Belle and her two best friends, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, still hadn’t earned their cutie marks. “It’s the worst. Possible. Thing!” Sweetie Belle cried out, and pretended to faint on the front lawn. Rarity smirked. Her little sister was certainly learning a thing or two about drama. Sometimes, Rarity couldn’t believe how much Sweetie Belle learned from her. It was cute.
“Calm down, Sweetie,” Rarity tutted. “You know that you’ll earn your cutie mark when it’s the right time. Now, what do we have here?” Rarity reached inside the mailbox and pulled out… a letter!
The envelope was gray, edged in silver, and addressed to Miss Rarity, Carousel Boutique, Ponyville, Equestria. This was definitely it. Rarity’s eyes sparkled with the same excitement as when she found a rare gem with her Unicorn magic. She wanted to rip it open, but she chose to display restraint and poise.
Rarity gently lifted the flap of the envelope with her magic and lifted out its contents.
YOU’RE INVITED!
TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY
AT THE ROCK FARM
FOR
CLOUDY QUARTZ
Please, oh please RSVP and come and be our guest!
The last part was scribbled in Pinkie’s hoofwriting. Real gravel, presumably from the rock farm, was glued around the edges as decoration. A few tiny bits of sandstone fell to the ground like sad confetti, and Rarity shoved the invitation back inside the envelope. She didn’t bother to read the rest of the invitation. “Well, that’s a rocky road,” she said, slumping down.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go to the party. It was just that getting the invite now instead of what she had been expecting made Rarity feel tricked. It was almost like the time she had ordered a bolt of cerulean-blue satin and accidentally received lime-green charmeuse instead. There was nothing really wrong with the lime fa
bric—it just wasn’t what she wanted. What she needed now was a H.O.O.F. acceptance letter.
“What’s wrong, Rarity?” Sweetie Belle looked very concerned. “Did H.O.O.F. reject you from the thingy? Do you want me to make you something to eat to help you feel better?” It was sweet of her to offer, but Sweetie Belle didn’t have the best track record with cooking. She had once even managed to burn a glass of orange juice, along with the toast and eggs that were supposed to go with it.
Rarity shook her head in protest. “No, no, no. Nothing awful like that. It’s just—” But before she could finish her sentence, a blur of gray and yellow zipped past them and smashed right into the side of the Carousel Boutique. CRASH!
A moment later, the mail pony—a gray Pegasus with a yellow mane—got up and came trotting over to them. She still looked a little dizzy from her awkward landing, and she was a bit dirty. But it didn’t matter… because she was holding a purple envelope in her mouth! It had to be it.
“Mmmmf umph mrrfff, ump mrfffn ferf,” the mail pony mumbled to the Unicorn sisters. Then she bowed her head to them, dropped the envelope, and took off into the sky. The Pegasus was still a bit shaky as she flew in a zigzag pattern rather than a straight line. How utterly odd that pony could be sometimes. What was her name again? Rarity tried to recall it, but she never could remember.
“Excuse moi?” Rarity called out to the sky. “Miss mail pony! What was that you said again, daaaaarling?”
“She said sorry for losing the letter at the Ponyville Post, but she found it again and it’s for you,” Sweetie Belle explained with a shrug.
“I’m not going to even ask how you understood that,” Rarity commented. “The important thing is—it’s here!” Rarity let out a little squeal of satisfied delight. She inspected the golden seal on the envelope and immediately recognized the H.O.O.F. crest. It was a coat of legs—a little shield pattern divided into four sections. Each portion bore a different fashion item: a fabulous shoe, a grand hat, a glittering necklace, and an exquisite dress. All of Rarity’s favorite things.
“ ‘To the illustrious Rarity of Ponyville,’ ” she read aloud from the paper. “ ‘We are honored to welcome you to one of the most exclusive and prestigious societies in Equestrian fashion today—the H.O.O.F. Mentors!’ ”
“Yay!” Sweetie Belle jumped up and down.
“ ‘We have taken great care to assign you an apprentice who we feel will benefit from your guidance. You will soon be joined by Sweetmint, a student from Larsons The Neigh School for Design and—’ ” Rarity mumbled the rest as she scanned the page. Suddenly, the smile fell from her face. “Oh no!”
“What?!” Sweetie Belle craned to see the letter. “What is it, Rarity?”
“This is a disaster! How will I ever be ready in time?” Rarity put her hoof to her chest in exasperation. “She arrives… tomorrow!”
CHAPTER 3
Welcome to Ponyville
Rarity was so lucky that her five best friends had offered to go with her to the train station. It was like the new apprentice’s own little welcoming committee. Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and Rainbow Dash always made things extra special. Rarity knew because having them around made her shine a little brighter—like a recently polished gem. It just proved that the enhanced sheen of one’s coat could be counted among friendship’s many benefits.
“This is so exciting, Rarity!” said Twilight Sparkle, trying to catch up to her. “Your very own student.” Her eyes were alight with an excitement only brought on by academia. Twilight loved everything associated with learning. “I’d love to have a student of my own someday!”
“Does sound kinda nice,” Applejack chimed in. “Sometimes I think I could use a little more help around the farm. Other than Apple Bloom and Big Mac, of course.” She tipped her yellow cowgirl hat. “Not that they don’t do a mighty fine job.”
“Well, I’m not hosting her because I need help,” Rarity explained defensively. “It’s more of a ‘giving back to Equestria’ sort of endeavor.”
Applejack glanced at her sideways. “How do you figure that?”
“I am going to guide an up-and-comer through the daunting, yet rewarding industry of fashion, of course. It’s the least that I can do to give back to the community that made me.” She puffed up with pride.
“Having an intern to boss around seems pretty cool,” said Rainbow Dash, hovering above them long enough to give her two bits. “If I had a rookie Pegasus to do whatever I wanted her to, I’d make her do all the boring stuff for me so I could fly all day!” she shouted, taking off into the distance and leaving a rainbow trail behind her.
“Apprentice, not intern,” Rarity corrected, picking up her pace even more. “Now hurry along!” It would be awful if this poor, confused Sweetmint was standing on the empty train platform alone. What would that say about Rarity’s attitudes toward punctuality? It was imperative to set a good example from now on.
“Well, whatever you want to call her—I’m very proud of you. Being a teacher is such a rewarding experience,” Twilight Sparkle added. “Or so I’m learning from all those little fillies I’ve been helping out at the Golden Oak Library lately. Maybe they’re the ones who are actually teaching me!” Twilight laughed at her joke. “So, have you made any lesson plans yet? If you need some ideas, I have some great guides that—”
“Thank you, dear,” Rarity answered quickly. There was no telling how long Twilight would ramble about schoolwork if given the chance.
Rarity scanned the way ahead. Was that the Friendship Express chugging into the station already? She thought she could make out little puffs of white smoke in the sky. “Tout de suite, girls! I think the train has already arrived!” She pranced ahead frantically.
The ponies tried to go as fast as they could. Twilight cantered alongside Applejack on the ground, the pair leaving little puffs of dirt in their wake. Fluttershy tried to fly fast, but because her wingbeats were so gentle, she barely rustled up a breeze. Pinkie Pie bounded forward with a smile on her face. She always bounced as if there were springs on her hooves. And Rainbow Dash was… already at the station. But she was the fastest Pegasus in Ponyville, so that was no major surprise to anypony.
“See, guys? Ten seconds flat!” Rainbow Dash bragged through a cheesy grin when the others finally caught up. She wasn’t a very modest pony. “About time you slow-ponies got here.”
“Speaking of flat.” Rarity gasped, catching her own reflection in the glass window of the station. “Look at my mane! It looks hideous! Where is the curl? Where is the bounce? Where is the body?”
“And this!” she cried, noticing a chip in her hooficure polish. What a state she was in. She hoped that Sweetmint wouldn’t take notice of that, either. It would be terrible to shatter the illusion of perfection she’d worked so hard to achieve. Even though nopony was perfect, Rarity liked to think she often came close. At least, she tried to. “Well, there goes making a good first impression on my young protégé.”
“Well, I think ya look great, Rarity!” assured Applejack. The others nodded in agreement.
“She’s totally right! As right as… chocolate rain!” said Pinkie Pie, licking her lips. “Mmmmm, chocolate rain. I miss it so much.…” Pinkie looked to the sky in mock despair. “We haven’t had any in forEVER!”
“That’s because Discord is a good little draconequus now and isn’t causing any trouble,” said Fluttershy in her soft voice. She smiled sweetly. “But I bet if you asked him as a friend, he might do you a favor.…”
“A flavor?!” Pinkie’s eyes grew wide just thinking of all the scrumptious possibilities. “Like, any flavor rain I want?”
Fluttershy shook her head in protest. “No, no, I said a fav—”
Applejack held out her hoof to stop Fluttershy. “Don’t bother, sugarcube. Just let her have this one.” They watched as Pinkie rattled off a list of fantastical flavors. They couldn’t help but giggle at her silliness.
Pinkie looked to
the sky with a wide grin. “What about sprinkle–peanut butter–marshmallow-flavored rain? Or envelope-glue-taste rain? Or saltwater taffy! Pickle-barrel flavored? Kumquats! Oooooo… chimicherrychaaaaanga raaaain?!”
“Ponyville Station!” hollered the conductor stallion as the train doors opened with a hiss. A stream of exotic ponies began to exit the cars. Rarity was always on the lookout for inspiration in what others wore, so she was intrigued by the array of characters. She observed at least six different ponies sporting regional fashion trends, including a mare wearing her mane in the traditional Crystal Empire updo and a Unicorn filly wearing some Baltimare jelly hoof bracelets. Which would be her guest, though?
“So, do you know what she looks like?” asked Twilight, craning her neck for a better look at the crowd.
“I haven’t the slightest idea,” answered Rarity. “She could be that one in the hat there?” Rarity pointed her hoof at a tall, willowy pony with an aqua-colored coat. She was sporting an extravagant purple hat with feathers. Rarity shook her head. “But no, probably not.” Feathers were very last year. Surely, her fashion apprentice would know better than to wear feathers!
Unless Rarity was out of the loop and feathers were back in style again? Rarity bit her lip in concern. The trends changed so fast, sometimes the second they reached Ponyville, they were out of style again in other cities.
“How will we know which one she is?” fretted Applejack, looking at the mass of ponies and scrunching her freckled nose. “It’s like pickin’ a horseshoe outta a haystack!”
“I think you mean a needle,” teased Rainbow Dash. “A horseshoe in a haystack would be a cinch to find.”
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Oh, appleseeds, you knew what I meant!”
“Can you two please stop?” Rarity interrupted. “This is a crisis here!”
