Over a Cup of Coco

Manehattan.

She remembered the moment she took that first step off the train, a step which started her venture into a place unknown. To be in the center of a completely new atmosphere and culture was as exhilarating as it was overwhelming, but Rarity loved the feeling nevertheless.

All around her these ponies walked, talked, and lived in a different manner than those in the small towns and rural regions. To put it simply, they were city ponies.

Rarity didn't miss them in the slightest.

Her hooves clacked against the cold concrete sidewalk, its sound masked by the other hundreds of ponies whose hooves repeated the action. These ponies were all moving to and from like a well oiled machine, each one of them knowing exactly where they had to be and when, till it became second nature for them. There were still the many tourists like herself who were scattered among the cityfolk, but few were to be found on a early Wednesday afternoon. Rarity figured there would be more if she had come on a weekend.

She looked as out of place as could be, a lone green leaf among the browns and reds of a tree in the middle of autumn. These trees towered over the leaves, their immense size and presence intimidating the one green leaf till it too surrendered and joined the existing groups of colors. They served as their homes, their workplaces, their social hangouts, and sometimes all three of these could be in the same building. The leaves were attached to these massive trees, for the fear of leaving them would spell said leaves certain demise, and they would fall down to the bottom, never to be heard of again.

Rarity now realized just how much her excitement changed her outlook, and at the time of her first visit, clouded her judgement and acted as a beautiful veil which was draped over her eyes. Without said veil, she could really see the city for what it was.

"How could such an innocent mare like Coco survive in such a harsh place?" She thought, her eyes gazing up towards some of the tallest skyscrapers, wondering just how literal the word skyscraper really was.

Rarity looked back down, only to walk directly into a pink colored mare. Their bodies crashed into one another, sending Rarity to the ground along with the small purse she was carrying. To her surprise, the mare before didn't experience much more than a temporary loss of balance.

"I'm terribly sorry for that miss, are you alr..."

"Why don't you watch where you're going next time!?" The mare responded harshly with a bite to every word she uttered. She brushed a small amount of dust off the front of her coat, which was thrown into the air when Rarity fell to the ground.

"Hey! It was an accident." Rarity got up only for the mare to be long gone, her own needs much more important than to bother helping her up.

Brushing the specks of concrete crumbs and dust in her tail and mane, she desperately looked for the place she was supposed to meet Coco at. She didn't care what kind of place it was, as long as it provided her with a solace away from the hustle and bustle lining each city block.

"Now, she told me it would be at the corner of 56th street and 30th street," she mouthed aloud, searching for the large street signs at the end of the block she was currently on. Together, the two signs read 55 and 30th, eliciting a long groan from the unicorn as she realized she would have to walk another block.

Rarity watched the traffic flowed through the intersection, the many carts and other vehicles blending into a single multicolored blur at times. She stood along a large group of ponies, all whom were waiting for a stoplight to change in their favor. A couple ponies donning scarfs and other clothing by her idol caught her eye, pleasing Rarity enough to forget about the nightmare walk she had been on for the past half an hour.

The crosswalk sign switched to a walk signal, acting as a proverbial switch for all the ponies who were waiting for it to change. Rarity found it fascinating that they were basically at the mercy of whenever the signal decided to change. For all she knew, the signal could have stayed stuck on the stop signal, leaving these ponies standing there for an endless amount of time as they anxiously awaited its change, a change which wouldn't come.

She continued her search, noticing nothing that stood out to the extent in which Coco had described. Her thoughts wandered again, most of them centering on her Manehattan friend. Ever since the events following the fashion show, the two kept in touch via letters, acting as pen-pals in a way. It only took a few weekly letters before Rarity became enamored with the idea, and soon every delivery of mail turned into a question of "Did Coco respond yet?"

Even though they didn't meet again following the show, Rarity could find all sorts of traces of Coco's personality within the letters she wrote. Her hoof-writing was done in a neat and tidy script, easy to read and full of an educational prowess resembling a pony who had a PHD in their field. It threw her quite off guard the first time she read her letter in response to her own, as she was the one to recommend the letter exchange idea. The mare came off as intelligent and well versed, but also had a way of writing for laughs, possessing a lighthearted tone which mixed together well, and left Rarity with a desire to persuade Coco to write a novel of some sort. "That career path would fit her quite well."

Rarity did notice that after the first letter, the amount Coco wrote concerning the costume designer job had diminished greatly, to the point where it was barely mentioned.  Her last letter, save for the part about liking the meetup idea, merely talked about some random design ideas she had, along with a couple of other life related tidbits. She wondered if Coco was still enjoying the job or not.

Her head cocked up just in time to recognize the wording on the small folded chalkboard sign which sat in the middle of the sidewalk.

"A Slice of Heaven Cafe," Rarity read, "Oh what a delightful name!"

She looked up and was struck by the small town charm the restaurant had. The outside walls were a creamy white, similar to her own fur, with light cyan window shutters on the couple of pane windows that lined the exterior. There was a cute facade that protected the doorstep from the rain and snow, complete with the name of the place etched in bold, yet eye pleasing lettering.

"I see I picked out as good place."

Rarity spun around at the sudden voice and was met with an infectious smile she remembered from awhile back. Coco Pommel stood behind her, a tiny purse of her own in tow, with the a small radiant shine on account of the RPB logo.

"Coco! Oh how have you been darling?!" Rarity asked as she embraced the mare, unable to hide the enthusiasm ringing in her voice.

"I've been doing alright I suppose. Today is a better than normal day thanks to you," she replied. Rarity tried to hide the faint blush creeping up her cheeks but to no avail. "Speaking of which, how have you been?"

"Fabulous as of late, thanks to some incredible news in the form of a letter I got recently." She hinted carefully at the letter from RPB, knowing that Coco had no idea.

"Wow, from the sound of it, it sounds significant. You can tell me over lunch, I don't know about you but I'm famished." As if on cue, a loud gurgle filled the air around them, and both mares stared at one other before erupting into laughter.

As they walked inside, Rarity's eyes widened in awe at the decor on the inside of the cafe. The walls retained that light cyan color from the shutters outside, and made the room look gigantic in size. The tables and chairs were made of teak, and had the look and feel of a rustic tavern mixed with a higher class establishment, complete with individual chandeliers for every table along the walls. Rarity admired the handiwork of the glassblower who crafted such a fine work of art, and noticed that while all of the chandeliers were of a similar design, every one was different, similar to that of a snowflake. Rounding out the place was some minimalist artwork on the walls, depicting scenes of forest landscape and tiny villages.

Rarity looked over an saw Coco trying her best not to break out into a fit of laughter. "What's so funny?"

"I'm guessing that you like the place?"

"...Like it?!" Rarity said, walking back to stand in face to face with her friend. She moved so that her head was perfectly eye level, and only a couple of inches with Coco's, who was unsure onto what to do. "I love it!!"

Coco sighed, wiping the beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead. She saw something in Rarity's eyes as they stared at one another for that brief moment, even if for a second or so. It caused her entire midsection to flutter in excitement with thousands of imaginary butteries, and her entire body felt like it was going to float away.

"Coco are you going to sit down?"

Rarity's questionable glance met her eyes as Coco realized she had been staring at a wall as she thought. "Sorry, must have spaced out."

"Don't worry about it. You must have your hooves full with that costume designer position," Rarity said, scanning the menu which was placed at the table a few minutes prior to their arrival.

"Yeah, its definitely been keeping me busy..." Coco answered, hiding her face conveniently behind her menu. A twang of disappointment became evident on her face the second Rarity mentioned her work. Thankfully Rarity didn't notice and she could get away from having to talk about it for now. "So enough about me, how's everything in Ponyville," she asked, twirling a lock of her her multi-shaded cyan mane in her hoof.

"Oh everything has been quite fabulous as of late. Speaking of which, you'll never guess what I got in the mail yesterday." Rarity continued to look at her menu, her lips salivating at all of the delectable offerings.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Coco thinking about her question. Rarity watched as she would her hoof and rub it a couple of times over her forehead, before sighing and looking up, as if she was trying to coax an idea out of her head. She wouldn't admit it to herself, but she found the mannerisms adorable.

"Hmm... did Princess Celestia send you an invitation to become the 5th alicorn?"

Rarity tried extremely hard not to spit out her drink, and was relieved that she didn't. "Oh heavens no. I don't think I could handle all that stress."

"But think about it," Coco said, putting on the most convincing, inspirational voice she had. "You could have ponies bowing down to you, reveling in your presence alone. Heck, you could lead a fashion revolution just by wearing anything you feel like! Anywhere you would go, ponies would be dying just to get a taste of your fashion sense. You wouldn't just be a fashionista, you'd be a royal fashionista!"

"You make quite the argument Coco, or shall I call you Miss Pommel?" Rarity put on her best Canterlot accent, but couldn't help but giggle at how terrible it was.

"Likewise Miss Rarity. Oh and let me be the first to mention how positively smashing you look today." Coco joined in on the hilarity of the situation.

A couple other customers in the restaurant looked at the pair as if they had 3 heads, one of them a stallion with a monocle who muttered something along the lines of 'kids these days.' Rarity and Coco couldn't help it, and their giggle fits turned into full blown laughter that echoed through the building. They soon acknowledged the odd glances and glares they were getting, and quieted down, mumbling a couple of apologies.

"You know, its nice to finally hang out with a pony who has similar interests. I mean I do love my friends and all, but the only pony who would really understand my fashion jokes is Fluttershy, and she isn't exactly the most vocal. I still love her nevetheless." Rarity still wore a smile, enjoying her time with Coco even more than she thought.

"Wait... I remember her. She is the really quiet yellow pegasus right?" Rarity nodded. "That's funny, because her personality reminds me a lot of my own."

A look of intrigue flooded Rarity's face as she began to put two and two together in her head. She motioned over to one of the waiters that they were ready to order. Her gesture was echoed by a younger stallion with a light jade coat, who made his way to the window-side table.

"Are you ladies ready to order?" He asked, his voice possessing a crisp blend of a Manehattan and Canterlot accents.

Rarity was instantly enamored with his voice for a second, and completely forgot what she was asked.

"I'll have a glass of pineapple juice, and the tropical sea-breeze salad, with extra olives," Coco responded.

"And for you miss?" The waiter directed his attention towards Rarity.

"What? Oh, I'm sorry," she scanned the menu to find what she had decided on earlier. "I will take a peach and mango smoothie, and the tofu and pico de gallo wrapped in butter lettuce."

"Great choices. I'll be out with your drinks shortly," he responded, setting off back to the kitchen.

Rarity's eyes followed the sound of his voice, completely ignoring the judging gaze of the pony to the other side of her. She turned back to Coco, and cocked her head at her friend, who wore a cheeky, amused grin.

"...What? Is there something in my mane?"

"Oh don't tell me you weren't staring at him. I'm good at making these observations you know," Coco said, taking another sip of her water. "It was the voice wasn't it?"

Rarity waved her hoof dismissively. "His voice was alright, it was just really unique that's all. Besides, I prefer yours. I find it to be cuter."

Looking away to see if the waiter was bringing out their drinks, Coco attempted to conceal the slight blush forming on her cheeks. She decided to take yet another sip of water, thinking that the action would distract her friend.

"Returning to what you were mentioning before, you said something about comparing yourself to Fluttershy. Forgive me for my nosiness, but I'm curious," Rarity added, making closer observations of the chandelier over their table.

"Well, from what I could see from the outside Fluttershy is, simply put, shy. But she has a big heart, and is willing to help anypony out, even if they are not the nicest on the outside. It makes me really wish that more ponies around here were like her, and not just selfish all of the time. I try to be that kind of a pony, but its hard when you barely get an acknowledgement."

The mood of their conversation dipped to a more somber tone, catching Rarity off guard. She could hear a certain iciness to her friend's voice, and from what she explained, Rarity wholly assumed it was one that reflected many years of disappointment.Her thoughts centered around how Fluttershy would cope in a city environment. Coupled with large crowds of ponies who are centered on doing her own thing, she could see even a pony as kindhearted as Fluttershy becoming annoyed and lost, her uniqueness drowned out by the millions who called the city home.

"You know, I get the feeling that your heart is tired of getting stepped on so many times," Rarity said, sympathizing with her as she recalled a recent backstabbing incident involving an old friend.

"Thankfully it still strong, although its been bruised.

"Yeah."

The waiter returned with their drinks, setting them down on the wrong places. Rarity smiled at his mistake, and switched them as he was walking away. She looked over at Coco, who hadn't yet taken a sip of her beverage, and instead just stirred her pineapple juice with a straw. Both their drinks came with cute decorative umbrellas, a small piece of a tropical paradise fitted onto a glass.

Rarity felt a twang of guilt in making her friend uncomfortable, as the current silence between them was deafening. She tried thinking of something to break it.

"Say Rarity... what's it like in Ponyville?"

She looked up at her, genuinely surprised at the question. Coco's soft spoken voice bordered on how she was when they first met, when the mare was simply a shy dressmaker hidden behind Suri's commanding gaze. "Well there is a lot of aspects to such a question dear. Care to elaborate?"

"I've lived in the city my entire life, it's really all I know. But I was just curious how living in Ponyville is like. You know, being able to walk and say hello to random strangers and get an acknowledgement and a smile." Coco's cyan eyes lit up with a soft glow as she imagined how living in a small town atmosphere would be like. "Just the thought of living in a quiet town makes me anxious to pack up my things."

A mixture of temptation and curiosity flooded Rarity's head as she decided to egg on the current conversation. Never had Coco talked so openly about her life before, and she thought that the more she was told, the more she could use it to help her friend.

"Why haven't you? I'm more than certain that there are plenty of ponies who would be delighted in hiring you."

"Believe me I've checked. In fact, this isn't the first time I considered it," Coco said, taking a sip of her pineapple juice."The day quit working for Suri was the last time I was close to going through with it."

Rarity reached out a hoof towards the still downcast gaze of her friend. She cupped Coco's chin, raising it up so that their eyes met, each respective pair reading the thoughts of the other. Rarity offered a small smile of pity, one that Coco accepted, if reluctantly.

"I think I understand the situation you're in."

"Boy do I hope so. You'd be the first," Coco responded, chuckling halfheartedly at her own failure to create lasting friendships. "Maybe I wouldn't have this problem if I actually went out and bothered making some friends."

"Oh for heaven's sake, stop kicking yourself Coco," Rarity let some of her frustration vent out in her voice. "So you're current life isn't exactly a carbon copy with all the bells and whistles you dream about every night. I'd reckon that the vast majority of these cityfolk are stuck in a similar vine. You can choose to remain there if you'd like, or you can make an effort to squirm your way out little by little, till you're free."

Coco sat speechless, and even stopped playing around with the decorations in her drink. Her attention was narrowed, complete focus being put upon Rarity as her mind noticed just how genuine she was acting. Coco wasn't sure what to make of it, but there was a brewing warmness in her body over the way Rarity was able to have a natural conversation with her. Other than her parents, she had never met another pony who elicited such a reaction. Even Suri, whom she had a close relationship with at one point, lacked the real bond she felt now.

Suri always had an aura about her where she let ponies in, but only to a shallow point. The simplest of gestures and hints towards her deeper feelings and emotions was frowned upon, and remained hidden from Coco, even when she seldom shared her own personal matters.

Rarity was different.

An open book, as long as you volunteered to open yours to her.

"...Do you feel free?" Coco asked, her voice coming out much softer than she intended.

"As a matter of fact, I don't suppose I do. It explains the main reason why I wanted to finally meet with you again," Rarity said, unfazed by the question. "Remember the letter I mentioned getting in the mail?"

Coco's expression perked up at the incomplete guessing game they had started earlier on. She suddenly realized that she had no idea what the letter could be.

"I don't expect you to correctly guess who its from, but I'll give you a hint." Rarity lowered her voice to that of a whisper, leaning in her seat with her lips close to Coco. "Let's just say, that this mare might be one who we both look up to."

The subtle hint was all it took. Rarity chuckled at how Coco's eyes widened to the size of the dinner plates they would soon have their lunch on. "You can't mean..."

"Oh but I do darling. Rose Petal Bravo sent me a personal, genuine, hoofwritten letter! Your reaction is the same I had, although I would amplify the dramatics up to 11," she teased, continuing to have a fit of giggles from watching  Coco attempt to contain her excitement. Her multi cyan colored mane bounced as she squirmed in her seat, unable to comprehend the fact that their idol had not only acknowledged their existence, but had done so in such a direct manner.

"You better tell me what she said, and I hope to Celestia it was good news."

Rarity deadpanned for a moment towards her friend. "Do you honestly believe I could receive bad news from somepony like her? The fact she even wrote to me is good news in itself! But yes, it was perhaps the best news anypony like me could ever recieve!"

Coco rolled her eyes, but couldn't disagree with her. "I swear, you're making this seem like the biggest event of your life. Now are you going to tell me?"

"Yes... but after our lunch." Rarity gestured to her left, her hoof pointing at the incoming tray loaded with two plates of food. Coco groaned in multiple ways; her stomach greedily trying to pry her mind away from what Rarity's letter said while her mouth groaned in annoyance on having to wait for an explanation.

The waiter placed down both of their dishes, each one of them as colorful in nature as the ponies sitting before them. Their eyes mirrored one another as a dominating sense of hunger and appetite took over their minds. "Enjoy ladies. If you request anything else, just give me a call." He wasn't more than a couple feet away before the sounds of the two mares diving into their meals filled his ears. He smiled in amusement, and continued his work

"I know that it is extremely rude to talk with your mouth full," Rarity began, ironically with a mouth full of food, "But of all the times I have dined out, this dish in particular might be the best possible thing I have ever tasted."

Coco covered her own mouth as she laughed, which also happened to be full of food. She took a more polite route, and swallowed the contents before attempting to speak. "I take it you like the food Rarity?"

"Oh its heavenly! How did you stumble onto such a hidden gem of a place?"

"I walked by it one day when I was heading home. It looked interesting, so I made a made a mental note to myself about it. Arguably one of the best mental notes I've ever made," Coco said, using her fork to create a small stack of lettuce and other various vegetables. "I usually save this place for special occasions, like now. Judging by your reactions to the food and decor, I think I picked well." She smiled proudly, and in turn received a smile of gratitude from her friend as well.

"I appreciate that, really I do," Rarity responded. There it is again. Oh stop that you, Coco is just a good friend of mine, nothing more nothing less.

But from what I can get, she needs more than just a friend. She needs a pony who will be there for her, who she can depend on.

Finished with her meal, Rarity used her fork to rearrange the large array of food crumbs scattered about her plate. To her surprise, she indirectly formed a rough copy of Coco's cutie mark, a floppy hat with a feather sticking out of the top.

Should that pony be me?

"Uh Rarity? Are you okay?" Coco glanced curiously at her plate and then back at Rarity, who unbeknownst to herself, continued to perfect the art of crumb sculpting.

The unicorn jerked suddenly, her artistic masterpiece scattering around as she lifted her head up to face her friend. "Sorry bout that, assumed you weren't done eating for a second." I really need to stop spacing out like that.

"No it's alright. I just finished about a minute ago. Now then, before you become peeved, are you finally going to tell me what the letter said?"

Gears of many sizes and shapes clanked around in Rarity's brain as she tried to recall what they were talking about prior to the arrival of their lunch. "Oh yes! Well, I can give it to you, since I brought it with me." She pulled the same envelope out of her purse, and could make out the starstruck expression lining Coco's face, as if she had just seen RPB herself. "Go ahead hun, read it."

Coco unfolded the letter, already taking note of the sleek high quality parchment used. "Only the best quality for her huh?"

"But of course. You of all ponies should know that," Rarity said, acting as a thorn in her friend's side.

Coco just rolled her eyes. She started to read, taking in the easily recognizable style of RPB's hoof writing. With every word she held bated breath, wondering just how monumental this news was to Rarity. As her eyes landed on the beginning of the second paragraph, every question was answered instantly. She could feel her mouth clam up, a lump in her throat forming as she read over the paragraph a second time, and then a third, before looking up at Rarity.

Her words came out slowly, each one holding a high level of emphasis. "You mean to tell me that Rose Petal Bravo, the Rose Petal Bravo, offered you an opportunity to work with her one on one?!"

Rarity nodded. "I couldn't quite believe it myself, I..." she was suddenly hoisted into a tight and cheerful embrace by her friend, pushing all the air out of her lungs. Her face burned a bright crimson as she returned the gesture, enjoying the warm fuzzy feeling of hugging Coco.

"Oh Rarity this is amazing! When do you want to send the form in to accept her offer."

An odd flow of guilt snaked its way through Rarity's veins as she realized that she would have to admit the entire truth to Coco, even if it would break her spirits. "This whole thing, is exactly what I wanted to ask you about. Because I already made my decision."

The once bright features lighting up Coco's face dramatically dimmed as the mare noticed the seriousness to her friend's tone. "...You rejected her offer." Rarity nodded her head ever so slightly in response. "I don't understand. I mean, I respect your decision and all, but this kind of opportunity is the one ponies would fight over." The iciness returned to her voice, possessing an even sharper edge than before.

"I know how unbelievable and rare an opportunity like this is, you don't have to tell me twice dear. It's like if Rainbow Dash received an invitation to the Wonderbolts only to reject it, which she did. The reasoning behind her decision was quite similar to my own."

"Do tell me, what was that reason?"

Coco's pouting received a warm smile from Rarity. "When I came down here for the fashion contest, I didn't fit the mold a pony typically does in this industry. I felt an aura that didn't agree with my own, so I set out to show as many as i could the generosity that I have always believed in. Really, I just had these unattainable aspirations for what I wanted to achieve. In retrospect I should have seen what was coming."

A light yet depressing sigh escaped through Coco's lips. "I suppose that's when you met Suri again."

The image of her once close friend elicited nothing but annoyance in Rarity's mind. "Yes that's when I encountered Suri again. And I thought she was the same friend from long ago. Turns out she wasn't." She attempted to flush the mare out of her head to no avail.

Rarity felt a hoof lay on her shoulder, and her eyes met with her friend's, which were brighter and reassuring."Well you can't blame yourself. Even I didn't think she would completely steal your designs like that."

"I know Coco darling. However, I can't help but feel like I was still partially to blame for that happening in the first place, which leads to the real fear I have of going through with this." Unwanted shivers danced down her spine as Rarity recalled the day time following the encounter. Only recently had she finally tucked the memories deep within the recesses of her mind, tired of the nightmares it caused her.

An unwelcome silence filled the air as the hesitancy to relive that day. To most, a slip up in their demeanor wasn't a big deal. Rarity knew those underlying emotions could be provoked if she was in the environment which they could be of use. She could feel the smallest of tears deep in the recesses of her eyes, but knew crying about the past would solve nothing.

"You never told me what happened that night. I always wondered how you came up with a brand new line that quickly," Coco said.

"...How in Equestria did you know it was about that?" Rarity couldn't hide the genuine surprise in her voice.

"It was the one of the subjects of that trip you danced around." Coco reverted back to twirling a lock of her hair in such a way that it looked like her hoof was dancing with it. " I can clearly tell its bothering you just by the tone. So why don't you just tell me what's wrong? I promise it'll be between you and me."

"Coco I appreciate it, but it isn't that big an issue. I'm past it now anyway." Are you mad? Of course you're not, because if you were, you wouldn't be down here in the first place!

"No you're not. Whatever has you upset, please, just tell me Rarity, you'll feel better, trust me."

For the love of Celestia, tell her already!

I can't, heaven forbid she sees me in that light and doesn't want to be my friend anymore

Just tell her!!

"Alright!!" Some patrons glanced up at the unicorn, only to return to their meals. "Those dresses that I made that night, we made by my friends. All I did was shout at them and pressure them into helping me out, while I just barked orders at them. If they even thought about abandoning me at my time of need, I used the best trick I knew to stop them. I played the guilt trip, I did the whole "woe is me" act, all for a stupid first place trophy which I didn't even deserve, nor did I even want after becoming such a, such a..."

"A bitch."

Rarity froze at the mention of such foul language from her usually soft spoken friend. "I beg your pardon? Did you just call me a...?"

"Yes, I called you a bitch. Don't take it personally, but how you say you acted, is exactly how Suri acted to so many ponies over the period of time I spent with her. Its why I grew to loathe this place, and her especially," Coco explained, her timidness replaced with a more vocal, mature facet. "I had a side of me like that too. Without it, I don't think I would have been able to stand up for myself and leave Suri."

"Feel free to not answer this, but how bad did it get between you two?" She swore she saw Coco flinch slightly, her friend's lithe form shivering for a second. Something flashed across the mare's eyes, and Rarity suddenly wanted nothing more but to retract her question, guilty of bringing up unwanted memories.

"Is everything alright ladies?" Rarity jerked her head towards the deeper voice in question to find their waiter standing there with a concerned expression on his face. She had no clue how long the stallion had been standing there.

"Yes, we're just talking about a couple of things. Oh, and would you care to give the chef our regards, the food was simply divine." The stallion nodded happily, and left after he collected the two empty plates.

Her attention returned to Coco, who was now hunched over with her chin nestled in her hoof. The mare's eyes reflected off the window she was staring at, and Rarity noticed a single tear slip out of the corner of her eye.

"If you don't want to talk about it dear, its alright."

"... We used to be really close. Back when we first started out, I could tell her talents were coming to the surface faster than mine, hence why she became a designer earlier on. She was looking for an assistant at that time as well, and offered me the spot before asking anypony else." Coco's voice was that of a hushed whisper, and it was soft enough where Rarity started to lean into the table in order to hear her.

"I couldn't refuse that offer. I would be working in the city I loved, with my best friend. At the time it was the perfect position. And for the first few months it was."

"Manehattan had a quite nasty effect on her didn't it?" Rarity asked, knowing full well the answer.

"We started to get in arguments about the tiniest of things, like the length of a hemline, or what color buttons matched best. Suri started to use her higher position to win the arguments, belittling me about being just an assistant. Her attitude changed by the month, the once kind, generous pony turning into a selfish arrogant mare I wanted nothing to do with. But it was that afternoon after we got the results to that contest that everything took a turn for the worse."

As if on queue, a chilling breeze swept through as the front door to the restaurant opened. Rarity looked up to see that two mares had walked in, their faces reflecting ages remarkably close to herself and Coco. She watched from the corner of her eye as the same waiter came up to greet them and escort them to the table behind them. The pair followed, chatting to one another as if they were best friends. Her eyes widened a bit at the discovery of their intertwined hooves.

They're a couple...

For a second, she pictured the two mares as Coco and herself, but shook away the possibility. She's still hurt inside. I don't have the heart to ever take advantage of a broken mare like that.

Wait, do I really want to pursue something with her? Oh curses brain, don't focus on that! She's trusting you to listen as a friend, and that is what you shall do!

"We got into another argument, but it was really intense. I mean, we were really spitting out venomous insults at one another," Coco continues, and Rarity could sense guilt in her voice. "And out of nowhere, I punched her... multiple times, including one right on her nose. I'll never forget the reaction, or how I felt. Immediately I recoiled, and she stumbled backwards onto her backside. She was horrified, her eyes wide as blood poured from her nose. I remember being just as shocked and horrified as her, and I ran away."

Coco was struggling mightily to keep her composure. She felt like breaking down and finally letting the emotions pour out of her once and for all. The thought of using Rarity's chest as a place of solace continued to increasingly present itself as a good idea, and she didn't even care if the other patrons in the restaurant deemed her as crazy.

"There so much pent up anger I had, it was becoming too much to bear. I had no idea what to do with it, until finally it just broke me. I became the mare I feared, the kind cold heartless thing Suri was turning into, and the type of mare I reminded myself never, ever, to stoop to."

An idea suddenly struck Rarity as took some money out and left it on the table, along with some for a tip. She hopped off the chair and grabbed her bag, surprising Coco as Rarity gestured for the mare to follow her. Rarity motioned to their waiter that this was for their meals, and he obliged, but was definitely concerned about the sudden exit.

The pair briskly joined the sea of ponies walking about, with Coco questionably glancing at Rarity, who continued to walk with a purposeful stride.

"Rarity, is everything okay?! Where are you taking me?" The stains from her tears were evident as the sun reflected off Coco's face.

"Patience Coco, where we're going is nearby."

They rounded and corner and continued their pace, weaving in and out of ponies who were in their way. Soon, the pair came face to face with an empty lot. This empty lot was a small plot of land, sandwiched between two apartment buildings, whose wall were covered in all sorts of colorful graffiti.

"Wow... I don't remember ever coming to this part of town before." Coco's awestruck expression was music to Rarity's ears, and the mare couldn't help but beam from her friend's reaction.

An empty lot was far from the truth. The ground shined with some of the greenest grass Rarity had ever witnessed, each blade trimmed to near perfection. There was a rustic stone path which curved and snaked its way through the grass, shrubs dotting the way along with the first blooming plants of the spring. The graffiti on the brick walls of the surrounding  buildings only helped to brighten the atmosphere, most of it consisting of pictures rather than words.

Rarity remembered the place vividly, as it was the place she walked to once she ran out of the hotel after snapping at her friends. Surprisingly, the tiny slice of heaven provided her with clarity, and made her realize her actions.

She led Coco down the path, passing a couple of ponies who were relaxing, and motioned for her to take a seat on the cool crisp grass.

"This place is beautiful. But why did we rush out to come here?" Coco asked.

Rarity didn't answer, preferring to envelope her friend in a warm and tight embrace. She could feel her friend's jump in surprise at first, but then felt a feeling that she couldn't remember filled her. Her entire body felt warmed and at peace as she held her friend, when she had her second realization in as many visits.

This feels right.

"None of that matters now. What matters is you finally letting out all of the emotion you have pent up inside you. I promise that you'll feel better if you do."

For the first time in as long as she remembered, Coco Pommel stopped bottling herself up. It started with a single tear which soon grew to full body sobs, sobs she should have let loose a long time ago.

Rarity held her friend close, stroking her back like she did with Opalescence as she bled her soul. Her mind began to wander, thoughts centering around the idea of how things might change between them.

She could feel a small flame within her as the thoughts of Coco increased, still unsure of how to handle them. Rarity looked down to see a pair of tear stained cyan eyes looking back at her.

"Feeling better?" Coco nodded, the only acceptable response she could conjure up.

"You know, I didn't expect to have such a heart to heart conversation when I came down here, but I'm glad I did. Not only did I make myself feel better, but more importantly, I helped clear out all the baggage you've been carrying for such a long time."

"I think I'm happier about that than you." Coco wrapped herself around Rarity for another hug. "Thank you for that. Really, I can't express how much I needed that."

"No need to thank me, I'm always delighted to help a friend in need."

Coco and Rarity laid back, letting the grass nestle into their bodies as they relaxed. They watched the sun begin its daily descent, enamored with how the clouds helped to turn the sky into an artistic masterpiece, filled with warmth. Rarity reminded herself to visit a sunset themed clothing line in the future.

"So, I never did give you my recommendation, that's if you actually want it."

Rarity curiously glanced over at her friend. "Do tell please."

"In the light I see you, I woulds say no. I don't know if your personality would survive in such an environment, especially if you are fearful of what could possibly happen. However, I say it all depends on if you really want to make it big or not, and how important that is to you."

"You described it spot on. I think I'd be happier around my friends and in a town where people care about me. I'm not implying that I couldn't get that here, but I don't want the stress and heartache. I suppose the boutique is going to be open for quite some time," Rarity said with a hint of sadness. "Speaking of the boutique, you never did tell me how your costume designer position was."

Her question was met with a soft disappointed sigh. "Its not good. Don't get me wrong, the job itself is nice and has merit, but I don't think I should feel stressed out and annoying doing something I love. I'm beginning to believe that maybe the city has finally got to me."

They both continued to watch the night sky, when a brilliant idea hatched in Rarity's mind. "So, would you ever consider leaving the city?"

"Yeah I would. I've given the idea a lot of thought. Really, other than my job there isn't any friends I'm leaving behind here. It would be like a fresh start," Coco replied, not noticing the huge grin that plastered her friend's face.

Rarity sat up and clapped her hooves together in excitement. "In that case, I would like to make you an offer."

"I'm listening," Coco said, also sitting up to meet Rarity's gaze.

"I've had a lot on my plate over the past few weeks as a result of me winning the competition, with extra orders and such coming in. I also have a guest bedroom currently not in use. That being said, would you be interested in working with me?" The sheer disbelief in Coco's face caused Rarity to giggle inwardly. "It wouldn't be as an assistant, because I know your talented enough on your own. Instead, I'd like you to work with me hoof in hoof."

Coco sat there completely still and dumbfounded. She tried to formulate some coherence to attempt and answer Rarity, but all either mare could hear was a bunch of mumbling.

"Well, you don't have to if you don't want to," Rarity said, turning away from her and pretending to put on a facade of sadness

"Wait! I accept, at least I think I do? Could I have time to think about this?" Coco's face had jerked up so violently that her mane was being thrown in all different directions. Her expression registered panic as her mind was sent into overdrive.

"Coco dear, its okay! I only meant that as a small joke, that's all." Rarity's hoof came incredibly close to her friend's face, brushing away a lock of mane which had covered half of it. "I don't expect a sudden answer to such a monumentally important question. How about we give it a week, and you can come to me when you're ready."

The earth pony's gaze was locked upwards towards the rising of Luna's moon. The large heavenly body was a sight to behold, especially when it was as huge as it currently was. Its soft glow increased as the darkness of the environment around them deepened, casting shadows of their forms on the grass.

Coco's eyes drifted towards these shadows, along with Rarity's. They looked at the figures of themselves, and were taken aback by the shape they had created.

Before them, stood an outline of a heart.

"I uh... just give me a couple of minutes and I think I can decide."

Rarity's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure? Really, that isn't necessary if you want to..."

"Honest," Coco interrupted,"I really want to make up my mind now."

Rarity searched for any shred of doubt in her friend's face. She found nothing but confidence and determination. "Alright. I'll leave you to your thoughts for a few moments; I'm going to take a short stroll around the park."

The moon continued to hover up in the starlit sky, casting its glow on the park and the surrounding cityscape. For a brief moment, Rarity wished she had her beautiful butterfly inspired wings back. She could only wonder how pretty a picture the city painted at nighttime, all the flickering and glowing lights illuminating every building in its own uniqueness. In a way, she imagined it looked similar to the stars, a pony's best re-imagining of the sky at night.

She continued her stroll in the now lonely park, devoid of the ponies using it as a relaxation spot as they headed home for another day's work in the morning. The flagstone making the curved path was cool to the touch, while still retaining the day's heat that continued to radiant away, lost in the atmosphere above her.

Her head chose to focus upwards, the beauty of the stars too overwhelming to ignore. She noticed something different about them tonight; they were awfully bright. In fact, Rarity never remembered seeing them as bright as they currently were.

"They're spectacular aren't they?"

She jumped at the presence of Coco, who appeared out of nowhere. Coco giggled as Rarity smoothed out part of her mane which had become frazzled. "See that one, next to the really bright twinkling star above us? If you follow it down and then across, you end up with a bull like creature called Taurus."

Rarity looked at Coco, taking in the Twilight-like astronomy lesson. "Color me impressed, I didn't know you knew constellations?"

"Its an interest of mine," She replied, pointing out the constellation fighting the bull in Orion. "When I was stressed out I would go up to the roof of my apartment and just stare at the sky. I ended up buying a starmap and learning about all the different makeups of the stars. Definitely helped me with the stress. Also, I do accept the offer, on one condition."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that work the other way around usually?"

"Usually it does. But being like everypony else doesn't really mean much to me anymore. I want to be unique, not just another jane doe."

A flashback took Rarity right back to her first trip to Canterlot. She cringed at how obsessed she was at the time with getting her name noticed. "So, what is this offer now?" She swore she felt Coco tense up even without being to actually feel it.

An exasperated look of equal parts fear and apprehension flooded Coco's face as her confidence was left behind. "Well..." she hesitated, before letting out a long sigh. "Would you like to go out with me sometime?"

In an alternate dimension, another version of Rarity would easily accept the offer with a blend of excitement and confidence, having no problem in the world. She knew that Rarity was indeed not her.

"As in, a date dear?" She only received a shy nod in response.

The thought of her possibly marefriend living in the same house irked her, because of an endless worry stuck in the back of her mind. It played on a loop like a damaged record stuck on a particular section as the needle continued to move.

What if this doesn't work out? Surely ex girlfriends do not live together!?

Oh come on, your talking about Coco here. Sweet, innocent, shy Coco Pommel who would never hurt a fly.

She did punch Suri in the nose.

...Well she had it coming.

Rarity, think about the long run.

Her eyes widened slightly at the interjection of the new voice in her head. It sounded akin to a voice of royalty, and was quite serious sounding when compared to her others.

She is perfect for you, and she needs somepony who will tell her everything is okay, who will comfort her when things are tough. Right now she is all alone, and you're her only connection to living a normal happy life.

Well sure, but why me?

Tell me Rarity, that you weren't gushing over how cute she was during lunch, that you didn't enjoy just talking to the mare. If you don't accept her offer, thing of what you might be throwing away. You would never throw away a jewel, especially one which is offered right in front of your muzzle.

But how do I know if I feel the same way?

You've already shown you do to an extent. Choose what you want, but don't throw her offer away.

"Rarity, you alright?" Coco asked, waving her hoof right over her friend's eyes. "Its okay if you say no, I'll still take you up on your offer anyw..."

"Yes!"

Coco cocked her head sideways. "Pardon?"

For the umpteenth time of this day, Rarity took Coco in a massive hug, twirling her friend around with joy. Coco said nothing, content with her body melting into a pool of pony as the warmth of Rarity's body radiated through every pore and vein in her body. She wished she could remain there forever.

"I would love to go out on a date, just make sure that this time, it doesn't turn into a depressing heart to heart. I'd like this to be a more upbeat and happier affair."

A lovesick smile remained on Coco's face. "Whatever you say Rarity. Oh, you should help me write my resignation letter. I want to make it sound sincere, but still serious, and I think you would write that a lot better than me."

"Consider it done. Actually, my train doesn't leave for a couple hours, since I have a late night ticket. Perhaps we could work on it now... woah!" She felt her body being jerked as a hoof grabbed her own, dragging her towards a destination unknown.

Above the two, a certain princess soared through the sky, smiling down at another job well done.