Return

Rarity had almost forgotten about that day. It was a few years later and Rarity had gained her cutiemark as well as a job as a seamstress. It was a cold spring morning and Rarity woke up freezing. She leapt up and over to her window. It was raining.

Rarity sighed in annoyance. She slouched over to her dressing table and then she remembered that Ladies do not slouch! She stood up straight and walked back over to the window so she could try again.

She gracefully walked over to her dressing table where she carefully combed and styled her mane. She was known at school for her sense of style.

She no longer lived next door to Cloud; when she discovered her talent for finding gems she managed to get enough money for her family to move up town. Rarity liked finding gems but it was getting harder and harder to leave the city because of the weather. It had been raining almost all year and last year. The ponies were getting depressed at the lack of sunlight. Celestia was doing her job perfectly but the pegasi were struggling to keep Canterlot cloud-free.

Rarity had heard rumours that the pegasi were going on strikes. Rarity thought she was quite updated on politics, however she had no idea why the pegasi were going on strikes. Perhaps not enough free time?

Sighing again, Rarity applied her false eyelashes- the only makeup she used.

She was thankful it was a Saturday but was annoyed at the fact that she still had to go into work.

When she went downstairs she found that her parents had already gone out to their weekend jobs. Although Rarity had offered to go out in the rain to find more gems her parents refused to let their daughter pay by hunting gems. Rarity insisted that she didn't mind going, in fact, she was happy to go.

She poured herself some cereal and quickly ate it; she would be late for work if she dawdled.

It was raining heavily like always. Rarity took one look at the rain and decided she would get an umbrella. She used her magic to lift it up as she walked on the pavement. She was daydreaming about the past when she saw a child shivering down an alley. She looked at the little pony in pity and no longer cared about her mane.

"Excuse me? Would you like this umbrella?" Rarity asked the little unicorn. The unicorn looked up in surprise.

"You would give it to me?" he squeaked. Rarity was appalled at the question.

"Of course! You need it more than I do!" Rarity said and passed it over to him. He thanked her and she smiled.

Her mane was now flat and dripping but she couldn't care less. She was filled with elation at being able to help someone. But she knew it wasn't enough to just help one person.

She was then struck by an idea. She happily walked to the boutique she worked in.

"Hello, Rarity, darling. OH MY GOODNESS! You must be freezing! Come in quickly so I can dry you off!" exclaimed her workmate, Thimble. Thimble used her magic to dry Rarity.

"Thank you!" Rarity said. Thimble passed her a comb but Rarity refused; her messy hair would serve as a reminder to help people.

"Thimble? I have thought of a brilliant advertising campaign!" Rarity told Thimble of her plan to distribute free umbrellas to those in need. They would have the Boutique's logo and colours. They would be cheap to make but Rarity would put an strengthening spell on them. They would help ponies stay out of hospital from fevers and colds. It was perfect.

"That is a brilliant idea, but how will we pay for it. We need a sponsor! Perhaps a royal sponsor. I know Princess Celestia and Luna will support it. We just need to speak to them!" Thimble said. Rarity bit her lip.

"But they have so many people needing to speak to them nowadays. Our plight will never be heard!" Rarity moaned.

"Well, we won't know until we try!" Thimble said and lifted a pen with her magic and began to write neatly. Rarity read the letter over her shoulder and was impressed. Thimble then signed it and asked Rarity to sign it too.

Rarity signed it with her curly script. Thimble proceeded to curl it up and sent it on its way with magic.

"Well, if we don't hear back in a week, we'll just try again!" Thimble said and they set to work designing dresses.

***

Rarity was just about to leave the boutique when a letter materialised in the middle of the room. Thimble's eyes widened in shock.

"That can't be a reply already!" Rarity said excitedly. Thimble unrolled it and began to read. As she read she kept letting out squawks and squeaks of thrilled joy. Rarity watched her eagerly.

"They want us to come to visit them!" Thimble shouted happily. Rarity's jaw dropped open and she blinked a few times.

"W-when?" Rarity stammered, struggling for words. Thimble read the letter again and her mouth opened in shock.

"Now!" Thimble replied. And just as she said it, a carriage pulled up outside. Rarity and Thimble raced outside in shock.

"Thimble and Rarity?" asked one of the guards pulling the carriage in a gruff voice. The two ponies just nodded. They climbed into the carriage and marveled at the luxurious quality of the material and carvings. They began flying though the air and the unicorns yelped in alarm. Then they settled into it and were both amazed at the view of the city.

The carriage landed on a massive landing balcony. Rarity stumbled out as gracefully as she could, whereas Thimble just toppled out. Then the carriage flew off again, leaving them there alone. Rarity turned and walked inside where she was met with the most beautiful sight she'd ever seen. The palace decor was truly spectacular and incredible. It was mostly polished marble and crystal that was carved exquisitely. Rarity was taken aback.

"Hello there, Thimble and Rarity? Follow me!" said a guard. The stallion walked quickly and the two mares had to trot to keep up. As Rarity looked around she realised how messy her hair was. She frantically tried to tame it with her magic. Thimble saw and pulled out a comb from the bag she was carrying. Rarity thanked her profusely and attacked her hair. The walls they were passing were so shiny that she could easily see her reflection in them. She was satisfied with her mane and handed Thimble back her comb.

"Your hair looks beautiful, Rarity!" Thimble said with a wink, this made Rarity grin.

They stopped walking at a humongous set of double doors. The guard opened them for the mares and they both trotted inside quickly.

"Welcome!"called a deep melodic voice. Rarity sank into a bow quickly.

"Thimble, Rari- Rarity!" greeted Celestia. She stuttered a bit on Rarity's name when she saw her. Rarity's mind was cast back to that almost forgotten day at Sweetie Belle's boutique. And her mind strayed to the dragon, who seemed to appear in her dreams frequently.

The look of surprise and disbelief on the Princess's face was clear.

"Princess Celestia! You have no idea how grateful we are to you letting us come here." Rarity said politely, trying to smile. She'd seen the Princess before, giving speeches in magazines but she felt she had spoken with her before. She brushed off the thought hastily.

"Oh, it was Luna and my pleasure to have such concerned and generous citizens here!" Princess Celestia told them, recovered from her shock. Her sister Luna arrived in a blur of blue.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I was just running so late at the meeting!" Luna rambled as she took her place next to her sister.

She then looked at the ponies in front of her and her mouth fell open.

"Rarity?" Luna gasped. Rarity blinked in shock.

"Y-yes?" Rarity stammered. Thimble stared at Rarity like she had two heads. Why did the Princesses both seem to recognise her?

"Oh, erm, we would love to hear your idea." Luna said.

"Well..." Rarity explained their idea in detail. Luna and Celestia seemed impressed. They looked at each other for a moment and then then turned back to the ponies.

"We would love to sponsor your plan! We will give you some money now and then next Thursday you can come back and we'll sort some more things out. You may go now." Princess Celestia said. She passed them a bag, in which, was an envelope with a cheque  in.

The ponies walked outside in a daze.

"Well, that went better and faster than I had expected!" Thimble announced. Rarity nodded. They stayed silent as they walked back through the castle.

"OK, Rare, explain why they knew you!" Thimble demanded, she couldn't hold it in anymore. Rarity stared at her for a second.

"I have absolutely NO idea!" Rarity almost shouted. They turned a corner and Rarity stopped in her tracks. The dragon was walking up the other end of the corridor. THE dragon. Rarity's pulse quickened and she found herself blushing. The dragon also stopped in his tracks in amazement. Rarity tried to not look at those gorgeous green eyes but she couldn't. They drew her in; she couldn't help it. She was flooded with recognition and another feeling that bubbled up inside her. She would have described it as love if she didn't know any better. She couldn't be in love with this dragon that she had never even spoke to and only seen once before this.

Could she?