Sequinsby Party PopChaptersThe next big thingQueensPomp and circumstanceVelvet dreamsBookwormReperationsManehattan boundLimelightDiplomacyThe next big thingParty Pop rushed around her studio. rapidly picking up and placing things around the room. Her parents were coming to visit her for the first time in four years, and her design studio was a mess! Her storefront was, of course, perfectly organized and cleaned, because she maintained it to keep the customers happy, but they didn't usually see her design studio. As a result, she hadn't had any incentive to keep it clean yet, but now that she was going to have company, she was practically in a frenzy trying to keep it all organized. She was so worked up, she almost tripped over a fat orange tabby sitting in the middle of the floor. "Seriously, Bobby? I'm trying to work right now!" Party Pop groused as she levitated the cat to a windowsill. She would attend to him later, but right now, she had to finish cleaning her studio. She grabbed a broom and hurriedly swept up the floor, shoving the dirt into a corner and tossing it into the trash with her magic. "There, that's better." She sighed in relief. The studio looked at least somewhat organized, and the floor was clear of clutter. The door of her studio suddenly opened, and a tall male alicorn walked in. He was the lightest tinge of gray, with a two-tone green mane and tail, his large wings tucked neatly beside his lean, smooth body. Pop smiled and hugged him. "Sweetie, you're back!" She exclaimed. This was, in fact, her coltfriend, Gold Soul, a member of the House of Lords in Canterlot. He was often away in Canterlot, sitting in parliament to aid the princesses in their decisions and laws. However, he always made time for his special girl. He smiled as he hugged her gently back, nuzzling her fluffy purple mane. He loved getting to see her, and wished he could do it more. "Yes, and I missed you very much, my sweet little kitten." he replied. He and Pop had a special relationship. While most couples would enjoy moonlight cruises and restaurant dates, these two also enjoyed walks on leashes and playtime with balls of yarn and feathers. Party Pop wasn't just a marefriend, she was also his pet. Pop purred gently in her kittenish way and rubbed her head against his chest, causing the bell on her collar to jingle. "I missed you too, Master." she said, sighing slightly in bliss, happy to be back with him. Then the door of the boutique opened with a jingle, and a very tall, white unicorn mare with a flowing pink mane walked in. Pop recognized her at once as her best friend, Fleur de Lis, a prominent fashion model in Equestria, who had even been kind enough to model for her school projects once in a while. "Fleur!" Pop said, hugging her friend, feeling a bit small, as she always did near her friend. "How nice of you to drop in!" "It's always nice to see you too, Pop." Fleur said, smiling in her friend's arms. She always enjoyed getting to drop in on the snowy-white mare, for her love of fashion almost equaled her own. Even though they were on opposite ends of the spectrum of the fashion industry, their synergy was almost perfect. "I was just stopping by to see if you had anything new on your shelves today. Knowing you, you probably have something delightful in stock." Fleur commented, eager to see her friend's wares. "Well, I don't have it out just yet, but since you're my friend, I'll let you have a sneak peek at my latest design." Party Pop said, smiling slyly and winking as she led the supermodel into her studio. On a mannequin in the back, a curious and beautifully made garment sat. It was attached by a belt around the waist, and covered the back in black silk, curving gently and edged in beautifully engraved leather, complete with just the right amount of embedded diamonds. Fleur gasped in delight "Oh, it's simply magnifique! I've never seen anything like it!" she exclaimed, stroking it gently with her hoof as she admired it. "Thanks, Fleur." Pop said, beaming. "It's my own unique design, there's nothing else in the world like it. I call it a saddle.". Fleur looked over to her dearest friend. "Might you let me model this for you? I am certain this could be the next big thing in fashion!" She pleaded, eager to get to wear something so beautiful. "I would love that!" Pop said, hugging Fleur happily. The two mares chatted eagerly as Gold Soul looked on. He looked down at the chubby orange tabby cat sitting next to him. "I don't quite get it either, Bobby, but they seem happy." QueensRarity and Pinkie stepped off the train, carrying their bags with Rarity's magic, Pinkie bouncing ahead and leading the pair. "I'm so excited! I can't believe that our little girl already has her own boutique! She certainly does take after you, doesn't she Rarity?" Pinkie said, practically buzzing in excitement. Rarity looked up at her from the sidewalk, smiling gently. "Yes, I suppose she does." Rarity replied, feeling pleased that her daughter was as interested in the world of fashion as herself. Pinkie beamed even wider. "And her shop is right by the train station, too! I bet she gets a lot of tourists in there. I wonder what she sells most? Her business sure did get a boost when she and Fleur became friends, didn't it? I can't wait to see Pop! We'll make candy necklaces and go shopping and..." Pinkie rambled on and on as Rarity tuned her out, something that she had become very good at after years of marriage to the bright pink party pony. She focused instead on carrying the luggage and her own worries. She couldn't help but wonder how their interaction would go after so much time apart. What would she say? What if her mothering instincts took over, and she embarrassed her daughter in front of a customer? What if Pop's tourettes kicked in, and she panicked over it, something Pop had always dreaded? "I hope everything goes well..." Rarity murmured to herself. Pinkie looked behind her, and although Rarity didn't see it, her bounces were just a little lower for the rest of their walk. Party Pop polished the front window of her store carefully. Since her parents were coming to visit the shop for the first time, she wanted everything to be perfect. She lifted the cloth gently and looked at her handiwork. The window was crystal clean now, perfectly showcasing the mannequins in the window, displaying her most popular items. Inside, each rack, shelf, counter, and display was organized and displayed in the best way possible. She sighed in relief, and looked up at her sign, which had been custom-made by her mother's cousin, Applejack, back in Ponyville. She thought back to her hometown, and how she hadn't been there in a long, long time, and wondered how her old friends were doing. "I suppose my parents will be able to tell me how things are going back home." She said to herself. Just then, she heard a familiar voice behind her, calling out to her. "Pop! We're here!" Her mother, Pinkie Pie, nearly squealed in excitement as she ran up to her at breakneck speed. She pounced onto her daugher, hugging her tight as Pop jumped and twitched slightly from the startle. "Pinkie! You've frightened her, and now her tourette's is acting up!" Rarity, her other mom, shouted. Pop sighed and looked up at her, dusting herself off. "Well, hi to you too, mom." she grumbled, annoyed that she was already babying her. Rarity suddenly realized that she had embarrassed her daughter already and blushed. "Oh, sorry, dear. I keep forgetting how much you hate having it pointed out. It's been a while, I guess." "It's ok, mom." Pop replied, a little less irritated. after all, it had been a while since she had seen her parents. Maybe her mother really had forgotten. "Anyway, it's really great to see you both again!" Pop said, perking up right away. Rarity smiled, musing on how Pinkie had rubbed off on her daugher a little. Pop lead her parents into the store, smiling as they admired the interior. "It's not much, but it's what I've got." she said modestly. "Are you kidding me? This is AMAZING!!!" Pinkie said, practically teleporting around the room as she examined everything. Rarity giggled, amused at her wife's reaction to the space. "Well, if you like this, just wait until you see what I've got tucked away in the back!" Pop said, beaming in a similar way to her mother. She led them to the design studio, and showed them her saddle. "Well, what do you think? Fleur even said she would model it for me!" Pop said, bouncing in place a little. Pinkie hopped right up to it, even more excited that Rarity had ever thought possible. "WOW! I've never seen anything like it!" She exclaimed, obviously impressed. Rarity smiled as she looked at it, but inside, she couldn't help being a little envious of the beautiful saddle. It was slimming, sparkly, showcased a mare's curves... It was perfect! Rarity couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't come up with it already. Could her daughter simply be better at fashion design than her? She had always been proud of her daughter for being so talented at something she herself loved so much, but now she felt more like a competitor than a mentor. The rest of their visit that day went without a hitch, but Rarity couldn't properly enjoy any of it. All she could think about was that beautiful, groundbreaking garment in her daughter's back room. As she and Pinkie walked to their hotel after their brief visit for the day, Pinkie chirped "Wasn't that fun? And Pop's new design is just amazing! Didn't you like it, Rarity?" "Yes... Yes, I did." Rarity said, unable to think of anything else. Pomp and circumstanceParty Pop strolled about downtown Manehattan, enjoying the fresh air. The hustle and bustle of the large city never failed to amuse her, and she could always find something interesting to do just a block or two from her home. She smiled, reminiscing upon her move to the city, and how it had seemed so daunting to her at first. Now, she could navigate the crowded streets with expertise, almost never knocking over anypony with her tremors. Her parents had been a little surprised at her skill in their visit a week prior, and her mother, Rarity, was especially pleased with her latest fashion innovation. However, a loud noise intruded her thoughts, and she pricked up her ears to hear it. It was a local newsstand pony, hawking his latest story. "Extra! Extra! Rarity takes the fashion world by storm with innovative new design!" Pop smiled and walked over, buying a copy so she could read the latest story about her mother's career. She took up the paper and began to stroll down the sidewalk as she read it, but something on the page stopped her cold. The image accompanying the story was of a runway model at the recent Canterlot Fashion Exibition, but what she was wearing made Pop gasp in horror. It was a saddle. her saddle, that she had worked so hard to design. It had taken her months of work to come up with it, and now her own mother had stolen it! She flung away the paper, racing home with tears in her eyes, the wetness stinging her cheeks like the bitter sting of betrayal she felt in her heart. If someone had asked Golden Soul to guess what was going to happen to him in the next thirty seconds in exchange for a hundred bits, he would probably never have guessed that his special mare would come dashing into their home, sobbing her heart out because his mother-in-law had betrayed her and ruined her career. If he had been offered a thousand bits, he probably would still have no clue. Not even a million bits could have tipped the odds. But that was what happened to him that afternoon, just as he had finished cleaning up. Pop burst in, sobbing as if her heart would break as she flung herself into his arms. Her mascara ran streaming down her face, creating a startling contrast to her delicate white fur. He stroked her back, trying his best to soothe her pain. "Oh, kitten, what happened? Whatever it is, I'm here to comfort you, my dear." "She stole them!!!" "What? Who? What's been stolen?" "Mom saw my saddle design, and stole it!!! She used it as her own, original design in front of thousands of ponies! MY CAREER IS RUiNED!!!" Pop said in between her sobs, barely able to control herself. Soul gasped, horrified at the prospect that his sweet darling had been betrayed so. "WHAT?!? How could she? She's your mother! And you worked so hard on it, too..." He exclaimed, terribly shaken by the news. Pop only buried her face further into his shoulder as she sobbed. Suddenly, Soul had an idea, one that would expose the treachery that had befallen is one true love. He pulled her close to his body and kissed her neck gently. "Shh... Don't worry, Master's going to make it all better." Velvet dreamsIt was an ordinary day for Twilight Velvet. She had woken up, fully refreshed and ready for a day of work, had enjoyed her morning cup of tea, and had situated her mane in an acceptable fashion. It was just like any other day for the gracefully aging mare, mother of two lovely mares, and grandmother to two more. Or, rather, it was supposed to be an ordinary day, but something unexpected had turned up. Her granddaughter, Party Pop, had come over, obviously upset, and after an awkwardly silent cup of tea, had burst into tears in her arms upon being questioned as to her reason for her visit. Twilight Velvet soon found out that Pop's mother had, in her competitive spirit, stolen her idea for a new garment, and it had become popular practically overnight. Velvet was very concerned, obviously. She had always known that her eldest daughter, Rarity, could be very competitive, but she had never realized that she would go so far as to steal the hard work of her own daughter for the sake of her career. She stroked the fluffy purple mane of her daughter soothingly, trying to think of something she could do to fix things. Her daughters weren't fillies anymore, after all. It wasn't like she could ground her full-grown daughter, for Celestia's sake! The only viable course of action she could decide upon was to send her granddaughter to her aunt, Twilight Sparkle. Pop and her aunt had always gotten along nicely, so surely Sparkle would be able to come up with something. Meanwhile, however, something was going down in Ponyville. "Darling, aren't you going to say something? You haven't said a word for three hours!" Pinkie sat in the corner of the room, ignoring Rarity. Rarity was quite alarmed at this point. Her wife had always been the most talkative pony she had ever known. Usually, she had to tell her to pipe down, especially when their daughter had been little, and had trouble sleeping as an infant. Now, however, Pinkie had stayed silent for hours on end, a glare seemingly permanently etched into her face. She wouldn't look at Rarity, wouldn't touch her. She even ignored being offered a dozen cupcakes. Rarity was at the end of her rope. She had to do ~~something~~, for the sake of their marriage, for the sake of her sanity! "Pinkie, dearest, whatever is the matter? I can't understand why you're upset. Why are you ignoring me?" "Why? WHY?!?" Pinkie practically exploded, no longer able to stand it. "YOU KNOW BUCKING WELL WHY!!! How DARE you treat our daughter that way?!? I trusted you, Rarity!!! I thought you cared about making others happy, like I do! But you don't! You only care about YOURSELF!!!" She screamed, tears streaming down her face in her rage. Rarity was shocked. Until just now, it had never occurred to her that she had acted in a selfish manner. She had thought that it was the nature of the business, her trying to get ahead of the competition. She hadn't thought that she would be potentially upsetting anyone other than her daughter. But now, the mare of her dreams had broken down into a sobbing mess, and it was all her fault. "Pinkie... I'm so sor-" "GET OUT!!!" Pinkie bawled. Rarity saw that Pinkie couldn't handle being near her right now. She bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears, and walked out of their home, knowing their marriage was probably over thanks to her selfish pride. BookwormTwilight Sparkle sat in her castle library, dusting off the bookshelves as she reorganized them. She enjoyed maintaining her library, and had only hired one other pony to aid her, as she could easily do most of the work on her own. Her assistant was currently sorting the books on agriculture nearby, and Twilight couldn't help but notice how well her fiery red mane complimented her lemon yellow coat as it was swept back in a big pink ribbon, tied into a bow. The door opened, and she looked over to see her niece, Party Pop, walking into the library. She noticed almost immediately how miserable the snowy white mare looked, her lilac mane drooping slightly, as her mothers' often did. She immediately stopped her work and walked up to her, leaving her assistant in a mad scramble to catch the suddenly falling books. She put a caring hoof on her shoulder, ready to soothe her only niece. "Party Pop, what happened? You seem upset about something." Party Pop blushed and looked away. "It's dumb..." "Aw, c'mon, you can tell me anything! Nothing's too silly to tell your auntie Twilight!" She chirped, momentarily oblivious to how serious the issue might be. Marrying a chaotic being had helped her stop being so uptight, but sometimes she relaxed a little too much. Pop's lip trembled for a moment, then she flung herself onto her startled aunt, sobbing as if the world would end. "I made a new garment design, and showed it to mom, and she stole it, claiming it was her design, and showed it off during fashion week in Canterlot! She completely betrayed my trust! Nopony will ever take my work seriously again! MY CAREER IS RUINED!!!" She bawled, occasionally pausing to hyperventilate. Twilight stood frozen in place, horrified at what had happened. She knew that her sister could be a very competitive designer, but she never thought she could be selfish enough to do something like this. "Oh, Pop, that's horrible..." She said, stroking the mare's mane gently as she sobbed. Twilight had never seen her niece so upset about anything in her life. Then again, she had never seen her sister be such a bucking bitch to anypony either. Rage began to well up inside her as she processed the best possible course of action for her to take. "Do you want me to talk to her?" She asked, trying not so sound as mad as she was. Pop sniffled gently as she looked up at Twilight. "Ok." ReperationsParty Pop would normally spend her day working in her shop, sewing up delightful new gothy creations for her customers. Or, perhaps, she would take a day off, exploring the city to find fun things to do. If she was especially lucky, she would spend her day with her Master, who she adored so much, curled up in his strong, warm embrace as he wrapped his wings around her, stroking her back with his hooves... Those moments were her favorite. However, today she wasn't doing any of those things. Today, she was curled up in her bed, her mane a disheveled mess and she clung to her pillow, her eyes rimmed with tired rings of gray. She hadn't been able to sleep much, and her tourettes had been especially bad all day, as it often was when she was upset. She gazed out the window, watching the ponies in the street below go about their lives. Many of them were gathered around the newsstand, picking up the latest tabloid scandal. Her Master, in his blind fury that anyone would dare to do something so horrid as what had happened to her to his beloved pet, had told all the major tabloids what had really happened, her design sketches in hand. Now, they were debating whether it was true, the public busying themselves with choosing and arguing a side. She looked away, heartbroken over the whole situation. Her own mother, someone she should be able to trust completely, had stolen her hard work, had ruined her career, for the sake of advancing her own. She buried her face in her pillow and began to sob, wondering how and why such a horrible thing could happen to her. Meanwhile, her Master was outside dealing with an unexpected guest. "Give me one good reason why I should let you in, you horrid excuse for a parent." Rarity cringed at her son-in-law's harsh words. Usually, he was one of the kindest ponies she knew. Right now, though, he was taking no pains to hide his fury towards her. "I understand I'm probably not your favorite pony right now, but-" "You're bucking right you're not. Do you have any idea what an emotional wreck you've turned my pet into? How dare you treat her so vilely! What kind of a parent are you? I wouldn't be surprised if she never spoke to you again, you piece of shit!" Tears began to well up in the snowy mare's eyes. "You're probably right... After what I've done, she would have good reasons to disown me altogether. I just came here to try to make things right with her, if I even can anymore." Gold Soul contemplated his options. He could remove the mare from the premises, but if Pop found out, she'd probably be upset. On the other hand, what if the mare only made things worse and further upset his beloved? He took a deep breath, knowing he had to take a risk. "I'll be watching you the whole time, so don't even think about trying anything, lady." Rarity followed the large pale gray stallion into the shop, hoping she could heal the wounds she had made. Unbeknownst to her, a certain mare watching her in secret hoped the same thing. Rarity walked up the stairs behind her daughter's boutique, her heart in her mouth as she carefully placed her hooves on each step. She knew that this moment was probably the most important moment in her whole life. So much hinged on this one moment. If she could fix what she had broken, all would be well again eventually. If she couldn't, her whole life would fall into shards of broken hearts and shattered dreams. Holding her breath, she opened the door quietly, and made her entrance, her chilly, muscle-bound host close behind. She carefully walked up to her daughter, her heart pounding as if it would burst. She sat by the bed where her daughter lay, trembling slightly from nerves. She inhaled, about to begin, but was quickly cut off. "I know why you're here, mom." Rarity blinked, startled by her voice. Her ears began to droop, as she knew she probably had no chance of being forgiven. "I suppose you won't forgive me, then. I know I've been a horrid mother, and destroyed your trust... You don't even have to call me mom anymore if you don't want to." She trembled slightly, tears streaming down her face. She didn't even care about her career anymore, she just wanted her baby girl back. "Are you crazy?" Pop said, springing up into a sitting position and staring right into her mom's face, as Pinkie had done not long ago. "You were a huge bitch, but you'll always be my mom! Nothing will change that." Rarity Sat up straight like a shot, wide-eyed with even more surprise. "You're not off the hook though, mom. I expect some reparations for your behavior." Rarity looked into her daughter's eyes. "Anything." Party Pop smiled. "How about a trip to the spa for a start?" Rarity beamed back "That sounds like a lovely idea." Author's Note Thank you for reading this fanfic! I hope you enjoyed it. Leave a comment with your thoughts and suggestions for new stories if you'd like! Manehattan boundRarity gazed out of the window of the Equestria Express car she was in and sighed a little. Her daughter, Party Pop, had just graduated from the Manehattan university of the Arts, and was starting up her own fashion boutique. Rarity was proud of her daughter, and was pleased and a little proud of herself for inspiring her daughter to enter the world of fashion, but couldn't help feeling a nagging worry. She supposed that it was natural, being a mother and all. After all, she had nearly gone into hysterics over her daughter many a time when Party Pop was just a foal. "Isn't this exciting?" a voice piped up next to her. Rarity smiled a little. Her wife, Pinkie Pie, was already practically bursting with delight at the idea of getting to see their daughter. "I mean, we haven't seen little Pop since she left for college! She's always been too busy. I don't know what I would have done without her letters. But now we're going to see her again! Yippie!" Pinkie nearly squealed as she bounced around the train car, causing a few ponies alarm as she nearly knocked them over. "Pinkie! We are in a train, not outdoors! Show some restraint!" Rarity snapped. She didn't mean to, but the anxiety building inside her was nearly suffocating by now. Usually Pinkie's antics put a smile on her face, but right now, they were just irritating. "Awww, what's wrong, Rarity?" Pinkie said, looking worried. Rarity sighed again and looked back out the window. "You're worrying about Pop again, aren't you?" Pinkie whispered. Rarity looked up, startled. Pinkie always seemed to know what she was worried about. "I'm just worrying over nothing again..." She muttered, not wanting to cause stress to her beloved. "You've always worried over our daughter, but this seems different... Are you sure you're ok?" Pinkie asked, not wanting to drop the worries she had noticed. Yes, Pinkie." Rarity replied. She knew that Pinkie could be a little stubborn, and presumed that this wouldn't go down easily. "Absolutely, 100% sure?" Pinkie asked again, looking straight into Rarity's eyes and getting uncomfortably close to Rarity's face, putting her hooves on the armrests and leaning in closer. "Yes, Pinkie." Rarity said, a hint of annoyance in her tone. Pinkie stared deeper into Rarity's eyes, inching closer as Rarity began to sweat nervously. Then Pinkie springed back like a fluffy pink Jack-In-the-Box. "Okie-dokie-lokie!" Pinkie chirped, satisfied with Rarity's answer. Then she sat back down, leaving Rarity to question her wife's sanity. LimelightRarity paced around the hotel room, focusing on the dilemma at hand. She could harness the potential of Party Pop's saddle design before it even took off, adding her own unique flair and claiming it for her own. But could she do that? Could she betray the sacred bond between mother and daughter for the sake of her business? Would the fallout be something she could fix, or would she lose her daughter's trust forever? Was that a risk she was willing to take? So many questions swirled around in Rarity's head that she felt as if it would burst. "Um, Rarity? Are you ok?" Rarity looked up, startled at the intrusion to her thoughts. Pinkie was looking right into her eyes, a concerned expression on her face. "You've been pacing so much, the carpet has a ring in it! I haven't seen you this worked up in a long time. What's wrong, sweetie?" Pinkie said, putting a caring hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "It's nothing, dear. I'm just trying to come up with some ideas for my new spring line, that's all. The trends have been harder to predict lately." Rarity replied hurriedly, hoping her quick excuse would fool her wife. It didn't, but Pinkie knew not to pry when Rarity got this worked up. Years of marriage had taught her much about the beautiful, snow-white mare she loved, much more than many probably suspected there was to know. "I know what might cheer you up." Pinkie said, a sly look on her face. "And what might that be, my dearest?" Rarity replied, slightly curious. "We can make cupcakes!" Pinkie said, bouncing with excitement. "Making... Cupcakes?" Rarity said, hesitantly. Their hotel room didn't even have a microwave. "But how would we do that? We don't have so much as a hot plate!" "Oh, not those kinds of cupcakes, silly!" Pinkie giggled, seemingly laughing at a joke Rarity hadn't picked up on. "But, Pinkie, how can we possibly make cupcakes without a heating implement?" Rarity said, getting a little flustered and feeling very confused. "We'll make our own heat with friction." Pinkie said, winking at her and walking to the king-sized bed in the center of the hotel room. Rarity smiled, finally understanding. "Oh, alright, but just a few. I am on a diet, you know." she replied, temporarily forgetting about her troubles with the saddle as she laid down beside Pinkie. DiplomacyRarity sat on her favorite park bench, ruminating over the events of the past few days. She had presented the design she had stolen at Fashion Week, and it had been incredibly popular. She had never had such popularity in her whole career, and everypony who was important to the fashion industry had been practically breaking down her door, begging her to sign deals with their businesses to sell the new design in their stores. At the same time, her personal life had fallen into a pile of heartbreak and shattered dreams. Her wife had kicked her out, her daughter was heartbroken, and most of her friends who knew what she had done wouldn't go near her. A tear ran down her face as she felt her heart break into tiny shards. She barely even registered the sound of approaching hoofsteps. Whoever it was, they probably didn't care much for some bedraggled mare crying over her stupid mistakes in a corner of the park. She was startled when a caring hoof was placed on her shoulder. She looked up to see her friend, Twilight Sparkle, getting out a handkerchief to wipe Rarity's face gently. "Shhh... It's ok, Rarity. Everything's going to be ok." She said, doing her best to soothe her distraught friend. Rarity blinked, surprised that somepony was taking the time to care about her feelings, especially after how she had behaved. She bit her lip, unable to hide her tears, and flung herself into her friend's embrace. "Oh, Twilight! I've been so awful! Pop trusted me with her hard work, and I exploited it for my own gain! Out of all of the things I could have done as a mother, this is the worst possible thing!" Twilight rolled her eyes, slightly amused at her friend's melodramatic behavior in spite of herself. "Rarity, what you did was wrong, but you can still fix this. You just need to apologize and give credit where it's due. Remember when Suri stole your fabric to make her own fashion line? You were generous with her, and she took advantage of you. But in the end, it worked out and you ended up getting credit in the fashion industry for creating the fabric. You just need to own up to what you've done and give Pop the credit she deserves." Rarity's eyes shot wide open at the thought of doing something like that. That would mean publicly announcing that she had been horrid to her own daughter, and stolen her design. It would mean scandal and shame, perhaps for her whole life. The thought was too much to bear. "But if I do that, nopony will ever trust me again!" Twilight looked her friend right in the eyes, tightening her jaw. "Rarity, what would you rather have, a successful career, or your daughter and wife?"
The next big thingParty Pop rushed around her studio. rapidly picking up and placing things around the room. Her parents were coming to visit her for the first time in four years, and her design studio was a mess! Her storefront was, of course, perfectly organized and cleaned, because she maintained it to keep the customers happy, but they didn't usually see her design studio. As a result, she hadn't had any incentive to keep it clean yet, but now that she was going to have company, she was practically in a frenzy trying to keep it all organized. She was so worked up, she almost tripped over a fat orange tabby sitting in the middle of the floor. "Seriously, Bobby? I'm trying to work right now!" Party Pop groused as she levitated the cat to a windowsill. She would attend to him later, but right now, she had to finish cleaning her studio. She grabbed a broom and hurriedly swept up the floor, shoving the dirt into a corner and tossing it into the trash with her magic. "There, that's better." She sighed in relief. The studio looked at least somewhat organized, and the floor was clear of clutter. The door of her studio suddenly opened, and a tall male alicorn walked in. He was the lightest tinge of gray, with a two-tone green mane and tail, his large wings tucked neatly beside his lean, smooth body. Pop smiled and hugged him. "Sweetie, you're back!" She exclaimed. This was, in fact, her coltfriend, Gold Soul, a member of the House of Lords in Canterlot. He was often away in Canterlot, sitting in parliament to aid the princesses in their decisions and laws. However, he always made time for his special girl. He smiled as he hugged her gently back, nuzzling her fluffy purple mane. He loved getting to see her, and wished he could do it more. "Yes, and I missed you very much, my sweet little kitten." he replied. He and Pop had a special relationship. While most couples would enjoy moonlight cruises and restaurant dates, these two also enjoyed walks on leashes and playtime with balls of yarn and feathers. Party Pop wasn't just a marefriend, she was also his pet. Pop purred gently in her kittenish way and rubbed her head against his chest, causing the bell on her collar to jingle. "I missed you too, Master." she said, sighing slightly in bliss, happy to be back with him. Then the door of the boutique opened with a jingle, and a very tall, white unicorn mare with a flowing pink mane walked in. Pop recognized her at once as her best friend, Fleur de Lis, a prominent fashion model in Equestria, who had even been kind enough to model for her school projects once in a while. "Fleur!" Pop said, hugging her friend, feeling a bit small, as she always did near her friend. "How nice of you to drop in!" "It's always nice to see you too, Pop." Fleur said, smiling in her friend's arms. She always enjoyed getting to drop in on the snowy-white mare, for her love of fashion almost equaled her own. Even though they were on opposite ends of the spectrum of the fashion industry, their synergy was almost perfect. "I was just stopping by to see if you had anything new on your shelves today. Knowing you, you probably have something delightful in stock." Fleur commented, eager to see her friend's wares. "Well, I don't have it out just yet, but since you're my friend, I'll let you have a sneak peek at my latest design." Party Pop said, smiling slyly and winking as she led the supermodel into her studio. On a mannequin in the back, a curious and beautifully made garment sat. It was attached by a belt around the waist, and covered the back in black silk, curving gently and edged in beautifully engraved leather, complete with just the right amount of embedded diamonds. Fleur gasped in delight "Oh, it's simply magnifique! I've never seen anything like it!" she exclaimed, stroking it gently with her hoof as she admired it. "Thanks, Fleur." Pop said, beaming. "It's my own unique design, there's nothing else in the world like it. I call it a saddle.". Fleur looked over to her dearest friend. "Might you let me model this for you? I am certain this could be the next big thing in fashion!" She pleaded, eager to get to wear something so beautiful. "I would love that!" Pop said, hugging Fleur happily. The two mares chatted eagerly as Gold Soul looked on. He looked down at the chubby orange tabby cat sitting next to him. "I don't quite get it either, Bobby, but they seem happy."
QueensRarity and Pinkie stepped off the train, carrying their bags with Rarity's magic, Pinkie bouncing ahead and leading the pair. "I'm so excited! I can't believe that our little girl already has her own boutique! She certainly does take after you, doesn't she Rarity?" Pinkie said, practically buzzing in excitement. Rarity looked up at her from the sidewalk, smiling gently. "Yes, I suppose she does." Rarity replied, feeling pleased that her daughter was as interested in the world of fashion as herself. Pinkie beamed even wider. "And her shop is right by the train station, too! I bet she gets a lot of tourists in there. I wonder what she sells most? Her business sure did get a boost when she and Fleur became friends, didn't it? I can't wait to see Pop! We'll make candy necklaces and go shopping and..." Pinkie rambled on and on as Rarity tuned her out, something that she had become very good at after years of marriage to the bright pink party pony. She focused instead on carrying the luggage and her own worries. She couldn't help but wonder how their interaction would go after so much time apart. What would she say? What if her mothering instincts took over, and she embarrassed her daughter in front of a customer? What if Pop's tourettes kicked in, and she panicked over it, something Pop had always dreaded? "I hope everything goes well..." Rarity murmured to herself. Pinkie looked behind her, and although Rarity didn't see it, her bounces were just a little lower for the rest of their walk. Party Pop polished the front window of her store carefully. Since her parents were coming to visit the shop for the first time, she wanted everything to be perfect. She lifted the cloth gently and looked at her handiwork. The window was crystal clean now, perfectly showcasing the mannequins in the window, displaying her most popular items. Inside, each rack, shelf, counter, and display was organized and displayed in the best way possible. She sighed in relief, and looked up at her sign, which had been custom-made by her mother's cousin, Applejack, back in Ponyville. She thought back to her hometown, and how she hadn't been there in a long, long time, and wondered how her old friends were doing. "I suppose my parents will be able to tell me how things are going back home." She said to herself. Just then, she heard a familiar voice behind her, calling out to her. "Pop! We're here!" Her mother, Pinkie Pie, nearly squealed in excitement as she ran up to her at breakneck speed. She pounced onto her daugher, hugging her tight as Pop jumped and twitched slightly from the startle. "Pinkie! You've frightened her, and now her tourette's is acting up!" Rarity, her other mom, shouted. Pop sighed and looked up at her, dusting herself off. "Well, hi to you too, mom." she grumbled, annoyed that she was already babying her. Rarity suddenly realized that she had embarrassed her daughter already and blushed. "Oh, sorry, dear. I keep forgetting how much you hate having it pointed out. It's been a while, I guess." "It's ok, mom." Pop replied, a little less irritated. after all, it had been a while since she had seen her parents. Maybe her mother really had forgotten. "Anyway, it's really great to see you both again!" Pop said, perking up right away. Rarity smiled, musing on how Pinkie had rubbed off on her daugher a little. Pop lead her parents into the store, smiling as they admired the interior. "It's not much, but it's what I've got." she said modestly. "Are you kidding me? This is AMAZING!!!" Pinkie said, practically teleporting around the room as she examined everything. Rarity giggled, amused at her wife's reaction to the space. "Well, if you like this, just wait until you see what I've got tucked away in the back!" Pop said, beaming in a similar way to her mother. She led them to the design studio, and showed them her saddle. "Well, what do you think? Fleur even said she would model it for me!" Pop said, bouncing in place a little. Pinkie hopped right up to it, even more excited that Rarity had ever thought possible. "WOW! I've never seen anything like it!" She exclaimed, obviously impressed. Rarity smiled as she looked at it, but inside, she couldn't help being a little envious of the beautiful saddle. It was slimming, sparkly, showcased a mare's curves... It was perfect! Rarity couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't come up with it already. Could her daughter simply be better at fashion design than her? She had always been proud of her daughter for being so talented at something she herself loved so much, but now she felt more like a competitor than a mentor. The rest of their visit that day went without a hitch, but Rarity couldn't properly enjoy any of it. All she could think about was that beautiful, groundbreaking garment in her daughter's back room. As she and Pinkie walked to their hotel after their brief visit for the day, Pinkie chirped "Wasn't that fun? And Pop's new design is just amazing! Didn't you like it, Rarity?" "Yes... Yes, I did." Rarity said, unable to think of anything else.
Pomp and circumstanceParty Pop strolled about downtown Manehattan, enjoying the fresh air. The hustle and bustle of the large city never failed to amuse her, and she could always find something interesting to do just a block or two from her home. She smiled, reminiscing upon her move to the city, and how it had seemed so daunting to her at first. Now, she could navigate the crowded streets with expertise, almost never knocking over anypony with her tremors. Her parents had been a little surprised at her skill in their visit a week prior, and her mother, Rarity, was especially pleased with her latest fashion innovation. However, a loud noise intruded her thoughts, and she pricked up her ears to hear it. It was a local newsstand pony, hawking his latest story. "Extra! Extra! Rarity takes the fashion world by storm with innovative new design!" Pop smiled and walked over, buying a copy so she could read the latest story about her mother's career. She took up the paper and began to stroll down the sidewalk as she read it, but something on the page stopped her cold. The image accompanying the story was of a runway model at the recent Canterlot Fashion Exibition, but what she was wearing made Pop gasp in horror. It was a saddle. her saddle, that she had worked so hard to design. It had taken her months of work to come up with it, and now her own mother had stolen it! She flung away the paper, racing home with tears in her eyes, the wetness stinging her cheeks like the bitter sting of betrayal she felt in her heart. If someone had asked Golden Soul to guess what was going to happen to him in the next thirty seconds in exchange for a hundred bits, he would probably never have guessed that his special mare would come dashing into their home, sobbing her heart out because his mother-in-law had betrayed her and ruined her career. If he had been offered a thousand bits, he probably would still have no clue. Not even a million bits could have tipped the odds. But that was what happened to him that afternoon, just as he had finished cleaning up. Pop burst in, sobbing as if her heart would break as she flung herself into his arms. Her mascara ran streaming down her face, creating a startling contrast to her delicate white fur. He stroked her back, trying his best to soothe her pain. "Oh, kitten, what happened? Whatever it is, I'm here to comfort you, my dear." "She stole them!!!" "What? Who? What's been stolen?" "Mom saw my saddle design, and stole it!!! She used it as her own, original design in front of thousands of ponies! MY CAREER IS RUiNED!!!" Pop said in between her sobs, barely able to control herself. Soul gasped, horrified at the prospect that his sweet darling had been betrayed so. "WHAT?!? How could she? She's your mother! And you worked so hard on it, too..." He exclaimed, terribly shaken by the news. Pop only buried her face further into his shoulder as she sobbed. Suddenly, Soul had an idea, one that would expose the treachery that had befallen is one true love. He pulled her close to his body and kissed her neck gently. "Shh... Don't worry, Master's going to make it all better."
Velvet dreamsIt was an ordinary day for Twilight Velvet. She had woken up, fully refreshed and ready for a day of work, had enjoyed her morning cup of tea, and had situated her mane in an acceptable fashion. It was just like any other day for the gracefully aging mare, mother of two lovely mares, and grandmother to two more. Or, rather, it was supposed to be an ordinary day, but something unexpected had turned up. Her granddaughter, Party Pop, had come over, obviously upset, and after an awkwardly silent cup of tea, had burst into tears in her arms upon being questioned as to her reason for her visit. Twilight Velvet soon found out that Pop's mother had, in her competitive spirit, stolen her idea for a new garment, and it had become popular practically overnight. Velvet was very concerned, obviously. She had always known that her eldest daughter, Rarity, could be very competitive, but she had never realized that she would go so far as to steal the hard work of her own daughter for the sake of her career. She stroked the fluffy purple mane of her daughter soothingly, trying to think of something she could do to fix things. Her daughters weren't fillies anymore, after all. It wasn't like she could ground her full-grown daughter, for Celestia's sake! The only viable course of action she could decide upon was to send her granddaughter to her aunt, Twilight Sparkle. Pop and her aunt had always gotten along nicely, so surely Sparkle would be able to come up with something. Meanwhile, however, something was going down in Ponyville. "Darling, aren't you going to say something? You haven't said a word for three hours!" Pinkie sat in the corner of the room, ignoring Rarity. Rarity was quite alarmed at this point. Her wife had always been the most talkative pony she had ever known. Usually, she had to tell her to pipe down, especially when their daughter had been little, and had trouble sleeping as an infant. Now, however, Pinkie had stayed silent for hours on end, a glare seemingly permanently etched into her face. She wouldn't look at Rarity, wouldn't touch her. She even ignored being offered a dozen cupcakes. Rarity was at the end of her rope. She had to do ~~something~~, for the sake of their marriage, for the sake of her sanity! "Pinkie, dearest, whatever is the matter? I can't understand why you're upset. Why are you ignoring me?" "Why? WHY?!?" Pinkie practically exploded, no longer able to stand it. "YOU KNOW BUCKING WELL WHY!!! How DARE you treat our daughter that way?!? I trusted you, Rarity!!! I thought you cared about making others happy, like I do! But you don't! You only care about YOURSELF!!!" She screamed, tears streaming down her face in her rage. Rarity was shocked. Until just now, it had never occurred to her that she had acted in a selfish manner. She had thought that it was the nature of the business, her trying to get ahead of the competition. She hadn't thought that she would be potentially upsetting anyone other than her daughter. But now, the mare of her dreams had broken down into a sobbing mess, and it was all her fault. "Pinkie... I'm so sor-" "GET OUT!!!" Pinkie bawled. Rarity saw that Pinkie couldn't handle being near her right now. She bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears, and walked out of their home, knowing their marriage was probably over thanks to her selfish pride.
BookwormTwilight Sparkle sat in her castle library, dusting off the bookshelves as she reorganized them. She enjoyed maintaining her library, and had only hired one other pony to aid her, as she could easily do most of the work on her own. Her assistant was currently sorting the books on agriculture nearby, and Twilight couldn't help but notice how well her fiery red mane complimented her lemon yellow coat as it was swept back in a big pink ribbon, tied into a bow. The door opened, and she looked over to see her niece, Party Pop, walking into the library. She noticed almost immediately how miserable the snowy white mare looked, her lilac mane drooping slightly, as her mothers' often did. She immediately stopped her work and walked up to her, leaving her assistant in a mad scramble to catch the suddenly falling books. She put a caring hoof on her shoulder, ready to soothe her only niece. "Party Pop, what happened? You seem upset about something." Party Pop blushed and looked away. "It's dumb..." "Aw, c'mon, you can tell me anything! Nothing's too silly to tell your auntie Twilight!" She chirped, momentarily oblivious to how serious the issue might be. Marrying a chaotic being had helped her stop being so uptight, but sometimes she relaxed a little too much. Pop's lip trembled for a moment, then she flung herself onto her startled aunt, sobbing as if the world would end. "I made a new garment design, and showed it to mom, and she stole it, claiming it was her design, and showed it off during fashion week in Canterlot! She completely betrayed my trust! Nopony will ever take my work seriously again! MY CAREER IS RUINED!!!" She bawled, occasionally pausing to hyperventilate. Twilight stood frozen in place, horrified at what had happened. She knew that her sister could be a very competitive designer, but she never thought she could be selfish enough to do something like this. "Oh, Pop, that's horrible..." She said, stroking the mare's mane gently as she sobbed. Twilight had never seen her niece so upset about anything in her life. Then again, she had never seen her sister be such a bucking bitch to anypony either. Rage began to well up inside her as she processed the best possible course of action for her to take. "Do you want me to talk to her?" She asked, trying not so sound as mad as she was. Pop sniffled gently as she looked up at Twilight. "Ok."
ReperationsParty Pop would normally spend her day working in her shop, sewing up delightful new gothy creations for her customers. Or, perhaps, she would take a day off, exploring the city to find fun things to do. If she was especially lucky, she would spend her day with her Master, who she adored so much, curled up in his strong, warm embrace as he wrapped his wings around her, stroking her back with his hooves... Those moments were her favorite. However, today she wasn't doing any of those things. Today, she was curled up in her bed, her mane a disheveled mess and she clung to her pillow, her eyes rimmed with tired rings of gray. She hadn't been able to sleep much, and her tourettes had been especially bad all day, as it often was when she was upset. She gazed out the window, watching the ponies in the street below go about their lives. Many of them were gathered around the newsstand, picking up the latest tabloid scandal. Her Master, in his blind fury that anyone would dare to do something so horrid as what had happened to her to his beloved pet, had told all the major tabloids what had really happened, her design sketches in hand. Now, they were debating whether it was true, the public busying themselves with choosing and arguing a side. She looked away, heartbroken over the whole situation. Her own mother, someone she should be able to trust completely, had stolen her hard work, had ruined her career, for the sake of advancing her own. She buried her face in her pillow and began to sob, wondering how and why such a horrible thing could happen to her. Meanwhile, her Master was outside dealing with an unexpected guest. "Give me one good reason why I should let you in, you horrid excuse for a parent." Rarity cringed at her son-in-law's harsh words. Usually, he was one of the kindest ponies she knew. Right now, though, he was taking no pains to hide his fury towards her. "I understand I'm probably not your favorite pony right now, but-" "You're bucking right you're not. Do you have any idea what an emotional wreck you've turned my pet into? How dare you treat her so vilely! What kind of a parent are you? I wouldn't be surprised if she never spoke to you again, you piece of shit!" Tears began to well up in the snowy mare's eyes. "You're probably right... After what I've done, she would have good reasons to disown me altogether. I just came here to try to make things right with her, if I even can anymore." Gold Soul contemplated his options. He could remove the mare from the premises, but if Pop found out, she'd probably be upset. On the other hand, what if the mare only made things worse and further upset his beloved? He took a deep breath, knowing he had to take a risk. "I'll be watching you the whole time, so don't even think about trying anything, lady." Rarity followed the large pale gray stallion into the shop, hoping she could heal the wounds she had made. Unbeknownst to her, a certain mare watching her in secret hoped the same thing. Rarity walked up the stairs behind her daughter's boutique, her heart in her mouth as she carefully placed her hooves on each step. She knew that this moment was probably the most important moment in her whole life. So much hinged on this one moment. If she could fix what she had broken, all would be well again eventually. If she couldn't, her whole life would fall into shards of broken hearts and shattered dreams. Holding her breath, she opened the door quietly, and made her entrance, her chilly, muscle-bound host close behind. She carefully walked up to her daughter, her heart pounding as if it would burst. She sat by the bed where her daughter lay, trembling slightly from nerves. She inhaled, about to begin, but was quickly cut off. "I know why you're here, mom." Rarity blinked, startled by her voice. Her ears began to droop, as she knew she probably had no chance of being forgiven. "I suppose you won't forgive me, then. I know I've been a horrid mother, and destroyed your trust... You don't even have to call me mom anymore if you don't want to." She trembled slightly, tears streaming down her face. She didn't even care about her career anymore, she just wanted her baby girl back. "Are you crazy?" Pop said, springing up into a sitting position and staring right into her mom's face, as Pinkie had done not long ago. "You were a huge bitch, but you'll always be my mom! Nothing will change that." Rarity Sat up straight like a shot, wide-eyed with even more surprise. "You're not off the hook though, mom. I expect some reparations for your behavior." Rarity looked into her daughter's eyes. "Anything." Party Pop smiled. "How about a trip to the spa for a start?" Rarity beamed back "That sounds like a lovely idea." Author's Note Thank you for reading this fanfic! I hope you enjoyed it. Leave a comment with your thoughts and suggestions for new stories if you'd like!
Manehattan boundRarity gazed out of the window of the Equestria Express car she was in and sighed a little. Her daughter, Party Pop, had just graduated from the Manehattan university of the Arts, and was starting up her own fashion boutique. Rarity was proud of her daughter, and was pleased and a little proud of herself for inspiring her daughter to enter the world of fashion, but couldn't help feeling a nagging worry. She supposed that it was natural, being a mother and all. After all, she had nearly gone into hysterics over her daughter many a time when Party Pop was just a foal. "Isn't this exciting?" a voice piped up next to her. Rarity smiled a little. Her wife, Pinkie Pie, was already practically bursting with delight at the idea of getting to see their daughter. "I mean, we haven't seen little Pop since she left for college! She's always been too busy. I don't know what I would have done without her letters. But now we're going to see her again! Yippie!" Pinkie nearly squealed as she bounced around the train car, causing a few ponies alarm as she nearly knocked them over. "Pinkie! We are in a train, not outdoors! Show some restraint!" Rarity snapped. She didn't mean to, but the anxiety building inside her was nearly suffocating by now. Usually Pinkie's antics put a smile on her face, but right now, they were just irritating. "Awww, what's wrong, Rarity?" Pinkie said, looking worried. Rarity sighed again and looked back out the window. "You're worrying about Pop again, aren't you?" Pinkie whispered. Rarity looked up, startled. Pinkie always seemed to know what she was worried about. "I'm just worrying over nothing again..." She muttered, not wanting to cause stress to her beloved. "You've always worried over our daughter, but this seems different... Are you sure you're ok?" Pinkie asked, not wanting to drop the worries she had noticed. Yes, Pinkie." Rarity replied. She knew that Pinkie could be a little stubborn, and presumed that this wouldn't go down easily. "Absolutely, 100% sure?" Pinkie asked again, looking straight into Rarity's eyes and getting uncomfortably close to Rarity's face, putting her hooves on the armrests and leaning in closer. "Yes, Pinkie." Rarity said, a hint of annoyance in her tone. Pinkie stared deeper into Rarity's eyes, inching closer as Rarity began to sweat nervously. Then Pinkie springed back like a fluffy pink Jack-In-the-Box. "Okie-dokie-lokie!" Pinkie chirped, satisfied with Rarity's answer. Then she sat back down, leaving Rarity to question her wife's sanity.
LimelightRarity paced around the hotel room, focusing on the dilemma at hand. She could harness the potential of Party Pop's saddle design before it even took off, adding her own unique flair and claiming it for her own. But could she do that? Could she betray the sacred bond between mother and daughter for the sake of her business? Would the fallout be something she could fix, or would she lose her daughter's trust forever? Was that a risk she was willing to take? So many questions swirled around in Rarity's head that she felt as if it would burst. "Um, Rarity? Are you ok?" Rarity looked up, startled at the intrusion to her thoughts. Pinkie was looking right into her eyes, a concerned expression on her face. "You've been pacing so much, the carpet has a ring in it! I haven't seen you this worked up in a long time. What's wrong, sweetie?" Pinkie said, putting a caring hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "It's nothing, dear. I'm just trying to come up with some ideas for my new spring line, that's all. The trends have been harder to predict lately." Rarity replied hurriedly, hoping her quick excuse would fool her wife. It didn't, but Pinkie knew not to pry when Rarity got this worked up. Years of marriage had taught her much about the beautiful, snow-white mare she loved, much more than many probably suspected there was to know. "I know what might cheer you up." Pinkie said, a sly look on her face. "And what might that be, my dearest?" Rarity replied, slightly curious. "We can make cupcakes!" Pinkie said, bouncing with excitement. "Making... Cupcakes?" Rarity said, hesitantly. Their hotel room didn't even have a microwave. "But how would we do that? We don't have so much as a hot plate!" "Oh, not those kinds of cupcakes, silly!" Pinkie giggled, seemingly laughing at a joke Rarity hadn't picked up on. "But, Pinkie, how can we possibly make cupcakes without a heating implement?" Rarity said, getting a little flustered and feeling very confused. "We'll make our own heat with friction." Pinkie said, winking at her and walking to the king-sized bed in the center of the hotel room. Rarity smiled, finally understanding. "Oh, alright, but just a few. I am on a diet, you know." she replied, temporarily forgetting about her troubles with the saddle as she laid down beside Pinkie.
DiplomacyRarity sat on her favorite park bench, ruminating over the events of the past few days. She had presented the design she had stolen at Fashion Week, and it had been incredibly popular. She had never had such popularity in her whole career, and everypony who was important to the fashion industry had been practically breaking down her door, begging her to sign deals with their businesses to sell the new design in their stores. At the same time, her personal life had fallen into a pile of heartbreak and shattered dreams. Her wife had kicked her out, her daughter was heartbroken, and most of her friends who knew what she had done wouldn't go near her. A tear ran down her face as she felt her heart break into tiny shards. She barely even registered the sound of approaching hoofsteps. Whoever it was, they probably didn't care much for some bedraggled mare crying over her stupid mistakes in a corner of the park. She was startled when a caring hoof was placed on her shoulder. She looked up to see her friend, Twilight Sparkle, getting out a handkerchief to wipe Rarity's face gently. "Shhh... It's ok, Rarity. Everything's going to be ok." She said, doing her best to soothe her distraught friend. Rarity blinked, surprised that somepony was taking the time to care about her feelings, especially after how she had behaved. She bit her lip, unable to hide her tears, and flung herself into her friend's embrace. "Oh, Twilight! I've been so awful! Pop trusted me with her hard work, and I exploited it for my own gain! Out of all of the things I could have done as a mother, this is the worst possible thing!" Twilight rolled her eyes, slightly amused at her friend's melodramatic behavior in spite of herself. "Rarity, what you did was wrong, but you can still fix this. You just need to apologize and give credit where it's due. Remember when Suri stole your fabric to make her own fashion line? You were generous with her, and she took advantage of you. But in the end, it worked out and you ended up getting credit in the fashion industry for creating the fabric. You just need to own up to what you've done and give Pop the credit she deserves." Rarity's eyes shot wide open at the thought of doing something like that. That would mean publicly announcing that she had been horrid to her own daughter, and stolen her design. It would mean scandal and shame, perhaps for her whole life. The thought was too much to bear. "But if I do that, nopony will ever trust me again!" Twilight looked her friend right in the eyes, tightening her jaw. "Rarity, what would you rather have, a successful career, or your daughter and wife?"
