Birds were chirping happily outside the window, and the sun was shining brightly through it, giving the room a warm glow throughout. The location? One of Canterlot High's many workshops, places where the students could be given leave to work on whatever personal project of their choice, within reason of course. As for this one, it was currently being used by none other than Rarity, the school's noted fashionista, who, as usual, was busying herself by looking over one of the many dress designs she had on hand. A look of thoughtfulness covered her face as she regarded it, before finally breaking into a smile, picking up a nearby pencil, and making a few slight adjustments. After looking over it a second time, she gave a final nod.
"There! Much better! Now I just need the materials."
But, for the time being at least, such a task would have to wait, as the girl instead turned her attention to other matters. For at this moment, she was not the only person to be using this room. Nearby, sitting at a small desk of her own, was Sonata. This former enemy of hers was sitting quietly, tending to what was clearly a sewing machine, which was currently producing, naturally, some form of clothing. With intrigue now crossing her face, Rarity set her own designs aside, before then walking over to her apprentice. She glanced over her shoulder, but nevertheless did her best to avoid interfering. A few moments passed before the youngest Siren was done, and when she was, a wide smile broke out across her face.
"I'm done!"
Turning, she looked upon her mentor, holding up her creation for her to see, and for the first time, Rarity could understand what it was that Sonata had been working on. It was a dress, not unlike the kind she herself might make, simple in it's design, with only a few colours to be seen. There were a few sequins and other such finishing touches on the edges, but for the most part it was a relatively straightforward look. Taking it into her own hands, Rarity looked it over, all while Sonata awaited her verdict. In the end, the fashionista gave her a knowing smile, followed by a nod as she handed her creation back.
"Fine work, Sonata. You're stitching is getting better every time."
Letting out a happy squeal over that, Sonata leapt up from her chair, embracing Rarity in a surprise hug. While taken aback by this, the purple-haired girl soon composed herself, smiling and returning the hug. Moments afterwards though, they parted, and as Rarity brushed herself down, Sonata looked to her with pure joy.
"I'm so glad you think so! I've been working on that one for a super-long time!"
Rarity nodded to her.
"Indeed. And you should be pleased. It is always nice to know that you have made something wonderful. In fact..."
A sly smirk crept onto her face as she continued.
"...I think you might be ready to start making outfits for other people to wear."
Upon hearing that, Sonata started to look a little unsure of herself, nervously poking her fingers against one another as she regarded her mentor.
"Oh! Um...I'm not so sure about that."
But Rarity, after brushing aside some of her hair, gently placed her hand upon the Siren's shoulder.
"Come now, dear, there's no need to be nervous. You and I both know that you make wonderful things here, and I think you need to take the next step in this."
Sonata looked deep in thought over that, taking a few moments to consider that proposition. However, before she had the chance to respond, there was a sudden knocking upon the nearby door. Both girls turned towards it, and while Sonata regarded it with confusion, Rarity looked to it with a smile.
"Ah! Right on schedule."
Sonata looked to her with further confusion, but said nothing, instead watching as Rarity walked over and opened the door herself. As it swung open, the youngest Siren could finally see who had come to visit them. It was a girl about Rarity's age, perhaps a year younger, wearing rather sensible-looking attire, with short blue hair. The moment she caught sight of her, Rarity let out a happy squeal, rushing forward and, in an echo of Sonata's behaviour, embraced her in a hug.
"Coco! It's so good to see you again!"
Unlike Rarity, however, the newcomer, Coco, was not taken aback by this hug in the slightest, cracking a smile and returning it soon afterwards. Getting up from her desk, Sonata walked over just as the two finally parted from one another, with Coco never taking her eyes off Rarity as she spoke.
"It's good to see you too, Rarity, How long has it been, five months?"
Rarity shook her head.
"However long it was, it was too long."
Here, at last, the fashionista turned, looking to Sonata and gesturing to her.
"Oh, but where are my manners? Coco, this is my apprentice, Sonata. Sonata, this is Coco Pommel, an old friend of mine from way back."
Smiling, Sonata stepped forward, offering her hand.
"It's nice to meet you," she said.
Taking the offered hand, Coco shook it.
"Likewise. Rarity's told me all about you."
At that, Sonata started to look a little nervous.
"Um...all about me?"
Her concern was short-lived, however, as Rarity carefully placed her hand upon her shoulder once more.
"I told her all the things that matter, Sonata. How you and your sisters arrived only recently, and have become firm friends of ours."
Hearing that, Sonata let out a sigh of relief, smiling once more as she looked to Coco, who now became the focus of Rarity's attention.
"So, when you sent your message, you were rather vague about it. I was rather surprised to hear that you were coming back to Canterlot."
Coco nodded.
"Yeah, sorry about that. My Mother's doing pretty well for herself over in Manehattan, but she needed to stop off back here for a few days to meet up with a client."
Turning to face her fully, Rarity's expression was an expectant one.
"So...how is the big city? Is it as wonderful as we always imagined?"
To this, Coco smiled and nodded.
"Better. You wouldn't believe all the opportunities over there. Heck, even I'm finding a few successes!"
Hearing that, Rarity clasped both hands to her own cheeks, letting out a gasp.
"Truly?! You've found some clients of your own?!"
Coco nodded with a proud look upon her face.
"I have. My work may not be as good as my Mother's, or as asked-for, but there are still one or two who have taken interest. If you like, I can give you their numbers, maybe help you get in touch?"
Naturally, Rarity couldn't help but let out a happy squeal at that, reaching forward and holding on tightly to Coco's hand.
"Have I told you how much I missed you?"
A brief giggle escaped the new girl, but, through it all, Sonata stood to one side, watching and listening to everything that had been said. However, when Coco's laughter finally died down, Sonata noted that Rarity was looking in her direction once more. No words were said, but the fashionista began to walk past her, causing both her and Coco to watch her. Then, to Sonata's slight concern, she saw her mentor approach the dress that she had just made, gesturing to it before looking to Coco.
"And as you can tell, Coco, there is another here who needs to get her work out there for others to see."
Sonata turned, watching as Coco moved over to her friend. Standing beside her, the new girl glanced at the dress, all while Sonata clasped her hands behind her back in a display of nervousness. But, after a few moments, Coco looked up at her, bearing a genuine smile.
"This is some excellent work, Sonata. I see Rarity wasn't wrong about you."
To this, Sonata tilted her head, before looking to Rarity. For a moment, the latter looked somewhat guilty about something, but it was only a few moments later before she finally started explaining herself.
"Yes...well...I may have mentioned that I had a talented apprentice working alongside me for some time. And I may have done some gushing about your work."
Sonata started to blush for a few seconds, before shaking her head slightly.
"Oh...you didn't need to..."
But, before she had the chance to say anything else, Coco raised a hand, adding her voice to the mix.
"You know...whenever my Mother goes somewhere, she always keeps an eye out for anyone with talent in this field. She already knows of Rarity, but, if you like, I can show her what you've made. I'm sure she'll like it."
Sonata stared at her for a while, looking quite taken aback by such words. But, when she finally spoke up again, her tone was one of uncertainty.
"You...you think so?"
Smiling, Coco gave a nod.
"I do. In fact, I think she may even be willing to come and visit you at some point, maybe offer a few words of advice on where you can go with this kind of work."
To say that Sonata looked astounded by this would have been an understatement, as she stared blankly from Coco, to Rarity, before looking right back to the former. After taking quite a while to get her thoughts in order, she shook her head to get herself out of her trance-like state, before putting on a nervous smile.
"I...er...I mean...sure! I would really like that!"
Giving an appreciative glance back to her, Coco then turned to look at Rarity, placing her hand upon her shoulder before speaking up.
"I guess that's settled then. I wish I could stay longer, but..."
But Rarity raised her own hand, stopping her.
"No need. Work comes first. Just know that it has been an absolute pleasure seeing you again, darling."
As before, the two girls moved closer, embracing each other in a warmer manner than before, all while Sonata stood by and watched them with a smile. When they parted again, Coco offered Rarity one final, friendly smile of her own, before starting to move off, making sure to take Sonata's dress carefully as she did so. The two girls watched, waving goodbye, before Coco then left the workshop in earnest. A silence followed her departure, and for a while, Sonata had no idea what to say or do about all of this. But, in the midst of it all, Rarity looked to her with a knowing smirk, poking her in the arm to get her attention, before finally breaking the silence.
"So...how do you feel about your work now?"
After staring at her blankly, and thinking hard on the matter, Sonata broke into a small smile, letting out a sigh and giving her mentor her honest answer.
"Yeah...I feel pretty good right now."
