Return

A soft wave of mist rolled along the cold ground. Rain from the previous night still shone on the cobbled street. The sky was still fairly dark as the sun hadn't fully risen. Nopony was outside yet. The houses of this part of the city were far more rundown than the rest of the city. This part was sprawled with alleys and small streets where children would dodge out of in the mornings. But today seemed too cold for them to be out.

Spike sat across the street on a wonky bench. He had been walking all night and only just stopped. Since Rarity died he had been doing that a lot.

It had been four long years without her. Twilight and Luna had really helped him though it. Their advice was to remember the goodness and charm of Rarity and to know that he will see her again. Like Rarity had told him, we'll meet again.

Spike sighed and looked at the ground. The sun was rising higher and the ground glistened like gems. Gems. Rarity. A tear leaked from Spike's eye slowly.

A chirping song made Spike look up in confusion. A lark? There were no larks on this side of the city. Was this one lost? It carried on singing as it flew up. Spike followed it with his eyes as it flew over one of the cracking houses. At the exact point he lost sight of the lark, the door of the house opened and a small figure stepped out. Spike looked at the cloaked figure with interest. He could see the breath rush out from under the cloak, proving how cold the morning was.

"Cloud!" piped an enchanting little voice. The little filly called up to the neighboring house.

"Rarity! Wait a minute!" called a pale blue filly from the window of the house. Spike's heart jumped at the name Rarity. He studied the cloaked filly even more now. He knew she wouldn't be as beautiful as his Rarity but he must know if she suited the name at all.

The door of the house opened and the little pale blue filly leapt out.

"Come on, Cloud! You'll never believe what I found in that adorable boutique yesterday!" the filly called Rarity called excitedly. Spike had to admit that she sounded like Spike imagined Rarity sounded like when she was young.

"Rarity, will you wait a minute? I want to have a race!" Cloud ordered. The cloaked filly stamped her hoof impatiently. Cloud looked at her friend determinedly.

"Of course, darling." the cloaked filly said. She removed her cloak in a swift movement and Spike's eyes widened.

Purple hair bounced out and fell in a soft curl over a pristine white fur.

Even from where he was sat, Spike could see the beautiful blue eyes. It was Rarity.

Spike watched with his mouth open as 'Rarity' had a race with her friend. Cloud won but Rarity didn't seem to mind. They then began to walk off. Spike was just frozen in place. He knew it must just be a filly that looked like Rarity; it couldn't actually be her. It was impossible.

Spike stood up and walked after the fillies. He spotted them stood outside a small boutique. Cloud looked bored, whereas 'Rarity's' eyes were lit up in wonder. And Spike knew what she was looking at.

Rarity's old Grand Galloping Gala dress was displayed in the boutique window.

***

"See, Cloud? It is the dress that I drew! The one I saw in my dream! It sounds far-fetched but I just feel like it was made for me! I'm going to go in and ask about it!" little Rarity said.

"But, Rarity, you won't be able to buy it!" Cloud reminded her. Rarity chuckled softly.

"I'm not going to buy it! I just want to know who designed it!" little Rarity told her friend. She entered the little shop.

At the desk sat a pony with pink and purple hair.

"Welcome to the Boutique of Finesse!" said the desk clerk.

"Hello! I want to know about that dress in the window! Did you make it?" Rarity asked with a smile. The other pony laughed.

"No, it was made by my Auntie. My mother knows more about it, I'll bring her out. Wait here, please!" said the older pony. She then went into another room and left Rarity to look around.

She returned with another mare. They had the same hair but the older pony's was heavily streaked with grey. And she looked frail and shaking.

"Welcome to the- gasp." said the older pony when she saw Rarity. Rarity turned in alarm and looked at her.

"W-welcome to the Boutique of finesse. My name is Sweetie Belle. How can I help you today?" Sweetie Belle asked, her eyes wide.

Rarity smiled at her, concerned at why she was so shocked.

"Erm, I just want to know more about that dress in the window. You see, I think I dreamt about it and I just wanted to know who designed it." Rarity answered, her small voice was faltering.

"Oh, well, my Sister designed and made it. She wore it for the Grand Galloping Gala one year. Her name was Rarity, perhaps you've heard of her?" Sweetie Belle asked. She watched the young filly's face intently. The shock was clearly shown on Rarity's face. Her namesake had designed the dress from her dreams?

"Of course I've heard of her! The element of generosity! I was born the day she died and my parents named me after her because I looked like her too." Rarity said. She was a great believer in fate and she thought it was slightly alarming that the Rarity had worn that dress.

"So your name is Rarity too?" Sweetie Belle asked. Sweetie Belle seemed just as shocked as Rarity was.

"Yes it is. I- I think that I should, perhaps, leave now." Rarity stammered and backed out of the shop. Her heart was pounding. That had to be a coincidence!

"Rarity are you alright?" Cloud asked her shell-shocked friend. Rarity shook her head and tried to calm herself. She turned to see a dragon watching her from across the street. Rarity stared at him. She noticed the beautiful colour his scales were and how they glistened. She averted her eyes as she felt a pang of remembrance. Her heart was pounding even more now. She had never seen a dragon before so how could she remember one?

"Rarity? RARITY?" Cloud yelled at her.

"Cloud. I'm sorry, I think it would be best if I returned home." Rarity said in little more than a whisper.

"That's fine Rarity, you look paler than usual. Maybe you can design more of the costumes for the school play!" Cloud suggested. Rarity simply nodded as her friend practically dragged her home.

Rarity looked around one last time and saw the dragon who had the most enchantingly green eyes. They seemed to burn an image into her brain and even after she looked away she could see them.