Fire Opals

Kibitz opened the door with a flourish, and Rarity peered into the guest room she’d been led to before walking in. Neat and tidy as expected, and the bed was even bigger than the one in the little tower she’d stayed in the last time she’d been in Canterlot. Passing the desk by the bed, she noticed it was much more well-stocked than one would expect for the average guest. Both quills and regular pens, paper and parchment, pencils, measuring compass…

It was almost enough to make one a little suspicious. But after a quick magical inspection of the drawers, Rarity was satisfied. This was a draftspony’s room awaiting her answer, not a designer’s room having already expected her to say yes.

The sound of a throat clearing made her remember she still had a companion, and she turned to find Kibitz had produced a pen and parchment from the pocket of his waistcoat. “I’ll be having breakfast sent up shortly,” the older unicorn said as he wrote something down. “If you’ll give me your preferences. Also a list of things you’ll be needing to get started on whatever project this is the princess has you working on.”

“Oh, yes, of course. Hm. Ah, do they have sweet orange and blackberry salad here?”

“Naturally.”

“I’ll take an order of that, please. And a cu-” she had to stop to bite back a yawn and quickly changed her mind. “Make that a pot of Saddle Arabican coffee. Extra strong. With the sugar brewed in.”

“Yes, miss.” He had the grace to at least try to hide his smile behind the parchment as he finished jotting down her food requests. “And supplies?”

Probably best to know what she was working with first… “If you could gather me some research books… Let’s see… Materials with magical shielding properties. Um… materials with magic enhancement properties.... and shielding spells. That should be enough to start with.”

Kibitz looked up over the top of the parchment, and Rarity thought she caught a brief flash of concern before he schooled his expression into formal neutrality. “I’ll see what the archivists can come up with.”

“Thank you kindly,” Rarity said, nodding politely as he turned and closed the door behind him when he left. A flash out the window to her left caught her attention, and she shifted the curtain a little to see the sun princess, every inch her normal picture of poise and grace, lift off her balcony with her horn aglow to begin raising the sun.

Impressed at how quickly Celestia had gathered her public mask back together, Rarity drew the curtain back fully to let in the light before heading to the bathroom to see what she’d been given to do some cleaning up of her own with while she waited.

After a very quick shower and a brush of her mane and tail, Rarity came back out to find that breakfast had been delivered, along with three books and a note promising more once the archivist had finished the morning organization. Fair enough, she supposed. But one more thing first…

She’d been thinking while she was in the shower, and really, if this was going to be a month’s commission of such importance, and for one of the Princess sisters no less, steps were going to have to be taken.

Skimming through the drawers again, she found the stationary and envelopes she needed and quickly began writing off notes.

The Apple Clan had taken Sweetie Belle and Opal before, though not for such a very long time… She added in the information of her expense account so Applejack could access it for Sweetie’s care and any… mishaps. Any other pony, she would be loath to pass over such a thing to, but Applejack had always been good as gold when it came to both their family and business matters.

The second went to Coco to give her full control of the Manehattan office and its deposit box for the month so she would have no need to contact Rarity for permissions.

The third went to Fleur to let her know to ask Applejack to let her into Carousel to pick up her dress since Rarity would be out of town and the boutique would be closed.

~And please, my darlings, do not ask why I am currently indisposed. You only need know that I am working on a project of the utmost importance and I will tell you what it is when the time is right. I will be home in a month.

Sincerely yours, R.~

Hn… She was sure she was probably still going to get an earful from Ponyville, but they would have to do. Sealing up the envelopes, she found a few stamps in the roll cabinet on top of the desk and addressed the envelopes before going in search of a palace worker.

===

She was nearly finished with her first pot of coffee and three hundred and fifty-seven pages into Silver Rain’s Treatise on Rune Wards when there was a knock at the door and Kibitz poked his head in, another stack of books floating over him. “Oh, good, is that my next batch?”

“Indeed, miss. Also, the delegation from the Pantheon matriarchy has been delayed, so her highness has an open hour if you would like to take measurements.”

“Ooh!” Marking her place with a napkin from her tray, Rarity snapped the book shut and set it aside, sliding off the bed. “A perfect chance to stretch my legs a little. I don’t mind research in the name of a project, but I’m afraid this is Twilight’s passion, not mine.”

The elder unicorn chuckled as he set the stack he’d brought on the bedside table and produced a measuring tape from one of his many pockets. “Yes, her highness suspected as much. I rather think she’s glad for the deviance from schedule as well. Pantheons are not known for their ability to stay on topic.”

“If it’s not too rude to query, what exactly is a Pantheon?” Rarity asked as she trotted a little faster to match his pace down the hall. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“They’re a bit like Everfree’s Deer, only much less… rigid,” Kibitz explained after clearly having to search for a polite term. “They live at the northernmost borders of Equestria and assist their highnesses by creating the dyes with which the aurorae are made. Very nice folk, and talented artisans, but just between you and me, a little absent-minded in matters that require diplomacy.”

Muffling a giggle, Rarity made a locking motion at her mouth with her hoof to indicate the secret was safe, then entered the door he pushed open for her.

Princess Celestia looked up from a stack of paperwork at her entrance and smiled, quickly waving off any attempt to bow. “Make yourself comfortable.” Rarity accepted the tape measure from Kibitz and he made himself scarce. “How are you settling in?”

“My room is lovely, your highness, and very comfortable, thank you. And Kibitz has been most helpful. I’ve already made some good headway in materials research.”

She wasn’t exactly sure how to proceed. Anyone else she would have already ordered out into the standard measurements position, but to do so to a princess was a little intimidating. Thankfully, Celestia saved her the trouble. One more quick signature, and the alicorn gracefully walked out from behind her desk, shedding regalia as she came. Fumbling a little, Rarity motioned for the stance she needed, and Celestia complied without complaint.

“He’s always been a dear. It took a little nudging to get him to quit fussing so over me so much and shift some of his time to you instead, but I think it will work out to the best of the project.”

“Indeed,” Rarity agreed. She’d forgotten to bring a pad with her, but the princess didn’t seem to mind her nicking a pen and blank piece of paper off the desk, so she went to her work with quick and neat efficiency. “He’s very concerned, but he hides it well. I’ve no doubt that anything he thinks will protect you, he’ll find the best of.”

Close as she was, she saw the faint ghost of worry cross the alicorn’s face and bit her lip, then decided it was probably best not to bring it up. “Have you given any thought to color?” she asked brightly, trying to bring a little levity to the conversation.

Celestia blinked at her, shaken out of her funk. “I beg your pardon?”

“Well, it is your outfit, darling, surely you must have some input! Would you like it in teal? Silver sequins? Perhaps with some sheer violet ruffles and neon pink streamers?” Rarity asked with an exaggerated bat of her eyelashes.

The ploy worked. Celestia smothered a loudly unladylike laugh with the hoof she’d been holding outstretched, managing to turn it into a cough after a moment. “Ah, I ruined that set of measurements, didn’t I?” she asked when she’d gotten herself back under control.

“Nothing that can’t be fixed in just a moment,” Rarity said, motioning for her to hold it out again.

She’d just finished scribbling down the last notes when there was a knock, and Kibitz peeked in.

“The Pantheon delegation has arrived.”

Celestia glanced at Rarity, who nodded.

“Very well, show them up. Rarity, do you want me to have a guard see you to your room?”

“I believe I can find my way now, your highness, but thank you,” Rarity said politely, and this time it didn’t even occur to her to bow as she made her exit. As she passed one of the open stairwells, she saw Kibitz on the floor below talking to a group of deer with dark blue coats and short white manes and bellies. Surprisingly, even the adults seemed to have fawn spots, but when she squinted, they were little golden constellations.

“Wow… So they help make the aurorae...” Rarity murmured to herself, holding the little paper she carried a bit tighter in her magic as she walked the rest of the way back to her room.

An idea was forming in the back of her mind, but first, she had more research to do.

===

A huge yawn bubbled up in the back of her throat and her magical grip on Satin Slipper’s Guide to Magical Leather Binding  and her empty coffee pot slipped briefly, nearly tripping her when the book dipped low enough to tap her left foreleg. Managing to keep from yelping out loud and waking the entire hall, Rarity regained her balance and her hold, then shook her head.

Yes, definitely time for more coffee.

While her wing of the castle was snoozing, the kitchen night shift was in full swing, and the caramel-colored unicorn mare who’d been so helpfully keeping her coffee pots full cheerfully waved to her when she peeked in. “Still burning the midnight oil, miss?” Toffee Chip asked.

“Afraid so,” Rarity said with a tired smile. “Deadlines wait for no one. May I have a refill?”

“Of course! The sugar-brewed Arabican, right?”

She nodded and marked her place in the book, allowing herself a minute to just indulge in the sights and smells of the kitchen while the older mare went to wash out the pot and give her a fresh supply. There were some cranberry and honeysuckle scones just coming out of the oven that smelled absolutely divine, Rarity wondered if she might beg just one to take back with her to nibble on while she finished her last tome for the night-

A familiar booming greeting made the fur on the back of her neck stand on end, and she quickly scooted away from the door as Princess Luna entered to the amused replies of the night shift chefs.

Oh, ponyfeathers.

She’d forgotten to ask Princess Celestia if her sister knew about the project. And if Luna didn’t and caught her here, she was going to be in for an interrogation for sure.

Careful to stay well away from the princess’ line of sight, Rarity edged for the door, only pausing briefly to grab her coffee from a very confused Toffee Chip before fleeing for her room.

She hated to be a bother to the staff, but until she could catch Celestia next… maybe it would be prudent to ask that all refills be room service.

===

'Next' ended up unfortunately being nearly a week and a half into the project. A week and a half of avoiding Princess Luna. A week and a half of noticing little tensions that were beginning to nag at her. Her window, for better or worse, afforded her a very good view of both Celestia's balcony and Luna's observatory and she had been seeing things that were beginning to make her worry.

But the project came first.

She was busily struggling with stitching together the under-leathers for the armor when a hoof touched her shoulder.

"Am I intruding?"

Rarity jolted, startled out of her 'work trance', then looked up and shook her head. "Not at all, your highness. Have a seat," she said, scooting over to make room at the table she'd been using as her work space. Celestia accepted the offer, looking over the barely-organized chaos.

"When Kibitz said you had already begun the final design, I admit I almost didn't believe him," she said.

Rarity gripped the thick-spun thread in her teeth, finally yanking the stubborn thing into proper place, then made a face at the taste it left in her mouth and set the leathers down. "I confess, I wasn't sure about several of the materials. They were considered rare when these books were written, probably next to impossible to find nowadays. But your assistant really is quite a wonder. I gave him the list and he had everything ready for me to go within three days."

"May I?" Celestia asked, indicating said list, which was lying on top of the stack of note-tabbed research books. When Rarity nodded, the alicorn picked it up in her magic, and then made a soft noise of surprise a moment later. "He actually found Jackalope-Horn glue? They've been extinct for seventy years!"

"He wouldn't tell me where that came from. Ah... pretend you never saw that?"

The princess chuckled. "Forgotten already. Angha leather, that's impressive...Chrysomallus wool?"

"Enough for me to triple thread," Rarity said, indicating what she was currently working on.

"My, my. I'll certainly have to give him a raise," Celestia murmured. "And you've been working so hard as well. Castle gossip abounds."

The princess' tone was teasing, but slightly faraway, and Rarity could see the tiredness and worry in her face. "It's weighing on you, isn't it?" she asked gently. "The more progress I make, the closer the time is."

"I can feel it growing," Celestia said softly. "Like a headache slowly building. But this is a visual reminder that time is short, yes."

Rarity hesitated a moment, then reached out and covered the princess' hoof with her own. "I'll have it ready, your highness. Don't you worry."

That earned her a soft, warming smile. "Thank you. It's nice to have that reminder, too."

She squeezed a little, then let go and picked up the leathers again. Celestia seemed content to merely sit and watch, so she began working the thick leather-punching needle back through the holes she'd made to stitch the golden thread into elaborate binds.

Loop, loop, through, and back. The princess was so quiet that it was hard not to let herself go back into her working trance, and Rarity finally found she couldn't let herself keep the question in any longer, lest she accidentally let it slip her mind. "Does Princess Luna know what we're doing?"

There was a sigh, and then a shift, and Rarity looked up to see that Celestia had moved to look out the window. "No. No, she does not."

Rarity bit her lip, worried she'd caused offense, but before she could apologize for questioning out of line, Celestia continued. "My sister has enough on her plate trying to find her way back into Equestrian society. If she knew that this was caused by my taking on her duties while she was gone, she would find a way to blame herself for it. I can't put that kind of weight on her."

"That's awfully big sisterly of you," Rarity said before she could stop herself, and then shoved her hoof in her mouth when she realized what she'd said. "Er, permission to speak freely?" she asked in a tiny squeak when Celestia looked over her shoulder with a wry smile.

"I'd forgotten your friendship reports mentioned a little sister," Celestia said with a little laugh. "Go ahead."

"I fully understand wanting to protect family from the darker aspects of the work you have to take on. Cele- er, Tartarus knows I do it with Sweetie Belle all the time. But... I think something like this, you're going to eventually have to tell her. If for no other reason than because she's going to find out. If not before it happens, then when it does. Wouldn't you rather it be in the way that she won't assume the worst?"

That drew another pause, and Rarity held her breath. Then Celestia put a hoof on her shoulder. "You make a good point. Breaking it to her gently would probably be the best course of action. And it would give her some peace from trying to spy it out of me," the princess added much more loudly, and Rarity jumped to her hooves in surprise and dropped her work on the floor when there was a muffled crash from the ceiling, followed by an impressive string of cursing.

"What in the-"

A panel opened and a very ruffled Princess Luna dropped down to land on her hooves, shaking her feathers back into order before glaring at her sister. Rarity covered her gaping with her hooves, then felt herself slowly breaking into a grin. It seemed big sisters and little sisters didn't much change from ordinary ponies to royalty.

Celestia, for her part, didn't seem at all fazed, and simply motioned for the younger princess to take a seat at the work table. "All right, let's all get on the same page, then."