"Are you sure this is necessary?" Twilight asked, as various measurements of her body were being taken
"Of course, darling! This is an important event. You'll be seen by everyone, and you have to look perfect!" Rarity replied, noting down the measurements into a small book. "You're going to be opening the biggest museum of Equestrian history on the planet! All sorts of important ponies will be there. You must look at your best, you simply must!"
"Fine..." sighed Twilight, defeated. She still wasn't used to the demands of being a princess. And Rarity, being the fashion-conscious pony she is wouldn't allow for a princess to look even a shade below perfect. Still, it was nice of Rarity to offer to design a whole new dress just for her.
"Mhmm, I have all of the measurements done." exclaimed Rarity in triumph. "I'll have the dress ready for the big event tomorrow." Rarity said, beaming with confidence. "I really wish you would have consulted me sooner, I would really have preferred to spend more than one afternoon on such a big project."
"I know, I just didn't think opening a museum would be such a big deal." Twilight responded. "Well, I'd better get going. I should probably practice the speech I have to give tomorrow. Lotta important ponies watching me."
"Twilight, you'll do great" Rarity assured, waving to Twilight as she left her boutique. As soon as the purple alicorn left the shop, Rarity sprung into action, stitching and cutting fine silk sheets, creating a dress perfect for a princess. Rarity was in her element. She'd done this countless times before. Even the most complex of crafts were made simple by the unicorn. After constant adjustments, gem placements and sewing, Rarity placed the dress over a mannequin. The dress was of perfect quality. White at the front, fading into a deep purple towards the flank, with diamonds contrasting the deep colour. If it were not clothing, it would be considered art.
"Perfect. Rarity, you have done it again!" Rarity joyfully exclaimed. "Now, for the pièce de résistance!" Although the dress looked already perfect, one piece was missing. A large gemstone to hold the dress together. A staple of Rarity's works. The unicorn used her magic to levitate a small wooden box, laden with impressive looking gemstones of all shapes and sizes over to her. She examined each gemstone, before holding it against the dress to see how it would fit.
"No, no, nope, ugh, definitely not, nooo, nope" Rarity sifted through the gems, discarding all of them to the side, until the box was empty. "Oh no, this is a disaster! None of these gems go with the dress. What am I going to do?" Rarity cried, staring at her incomplete dress with discontent. "I know!" She exclaimed. "I can make a quick trip to the Ponyville mines. It might be a long shot, but I may just find the perfect gem to complete this dress." Rarity rushed to grab her satchel and darted out of the door, towards the mines.
Despite being a pony who didn't like to get her hooves dirty, Rarity was always keen to venture down into the mines in search of gemstones. The mines of Ponyville were traditionally rich in fine-looking gemstones, and Rarity had perfected her gem-finding spells. She was sure of finding the perfect jewel to complete the dress. Rarity climbed into the deepest clearing of the mine. Not many ponies went this deep, but Rarity knew it was where the best stones could be found. She began to cast her spell, as the rock around her began to shake. Luscious gemstones levitated towards her, and nestled at her hooves. However, the stones were far too small for what she was looking for. Her horn lit up again, as she tried once again to find the perfect stone. Once again, however, all she received were small fragments of lesser gems.
"Oh, this is hopeless." Rarity admitted. "I'll have to settle for ruby, or emerald. It just won't be the same though" Rarity slowly walked out of the mines, a disappointed look on her face. However, as she was leaving the clearing, she heard a solid thud behind her, as if something had fallen a great height onto the hard stone floor. Rarity turned, then gasped. Lying there was a perfectly cut gemstone, which glowed a brilliant red. Even in the dimly lit mines, the jewel radiated brightly, a wonderful aura surrounding it.
"It-it's PERFECT!" Rarity exclaimed, before scooping the gem up in the hooves. "I've never seen anything like this before, it's the most beautiful gemstone I've ever seen" Rarity was in awe of the perfect stone. "This will be perfect for Twilight's dress. Perfect for a princess". She hurriedly placed the gemstone in her satchel and quickly escaped the mines.
However, unbeknownst to Rarity, a voice could be heard from the gemstone.
"A princess? Finally, I will be able to take revenge on the ponies who trapped be in this wretched stone! Equestria will once again feel the wrath of Taron!"
Back at the Carousel Boutique, Rarity, overjoyed with her find of the brilliant gemstone, hastily began to take measurements of Twilight's dress, making sure the gem would fit onto the dress. Amazingly, the gem was a perfect size, no need for cutting. Excitedly, Rarity began the process of attaching the gemstone to the dress, making sure it was fitted tightly.
After the work was done, Rarity admired her handiwork. The stone completed the dress, it was one of her finest creations. The white of the dress offset by the shining deep red of the stone. It was perfect. Almost too perfect. Rarity was, unadmittedly, a little wary of the stone.
"It seems a little too coincidental that I happen upon a perfect gemstone in a time of desperate need" Rarity said to herself, pacing around the boutique floor. It was rather late, and Sweetie Belle was tucked up in bed, so no worry of anypony interrupting her thoughts. "I should see if I can find out any information on this stone".
Rarity had a knowledge of gemstones far beyond anypony else in Ponyville, maybe even the whole of Equestria, so her discovering a gemstone that even she had not seen before was concerning. At first she thought the stone to be a simple ruby, but it became evident it was so much more than that. It radiated such a powerful aura, it was definitely more than just a ruby.
Rarity searched through the books she owned about gems and minerals. If she didn't know of it, there'd definitely be something in her books. But no, as much as she searched, checked the books from cover to cover, there was nothing resembling this perfect gemstone.
"As much as it pains me to use a gemstone without knowing it's origin, I'm afraid I simply must use it" Rarity conceded, knowing this gemstone was her only chance of completing this dress, lest another journey to the mines in the blackness of night commenced. Rarity, being the perfectionist she was known to be, gave the dress a final once-over, ensuring every detail was perfect. The white of the dress at the front, slowly transitioning into a dark purple at the back, the diamonds around the base contrasting the darker colours, it was surely a dress fit for a princess. Satisfied with her work, Rarity retreated to her bed, the thought of the gemstone still on her mind. Once the pony had drifted off to sleep, a low eerie whisper resonated from the gemstone.
"Foolish unicorn, you do not know what you have wrought. When the Princess wears the dress, I shall take control of her, and take Equestria for my own!"
