Talking is Fun

"Welcome to Carousel Boutique: where every garment is chic, unique, and Magnifique. How may I help you?"

"Sweetie Belle...?"

"Y-yes, Rarity?"

"That... was... perfect!"

"Really?"

"Yes! You have finally done it, Sweetie Belle! You are officially ready to watch over my Boutique!"

"How long will you be gone, again?"

"About a week. Sure, closing for that long won't necessarily make me run out of business, but..."

"But I'm old enough to run the shop on my own?"

"Yes, quite. But don't get too cocky about it, Sweetie Belle. Just because you have earned your cutie mark doesn't mean you're suddenly mature. Oh, how I was when I first got my cutie mark!"

"Yeah, I know Rarity. I already heard that story a hundred times."

"Yes, Sweetie, I know. Just... be careful."

"I know, Rarity! I'm not a little foal anymore. I'm thirteen!"

"I know, I know. I just can't help but remember the old days when you would have used my golden fabric for your caps or my jewels for a little picture of you and I... your intentions were always good, but had cost quite a lot of valuable things. But, if you are able to stay home alone while Mom and Dad are off, then I suppose it's about time I put the same trust in you."

"Yeah, yeah..."

"I'll miss you, Sweetie Belle."

"I'll miss you too, Rarity."

"See you in a week... oh, right after one more hug! Mmm... Okay, I'm ready!"

"..." “...” “...”

"Heya, Sweetie Belle!"

"Wha?! Oh, hey Pinkie Pie. You came out of nowhere."

"As always! So, whatcha doin'? Is Rarity around?"

"No, she left."

"Oh... then who's running the shop?"

"..."

"Hahhh! YOU?! You're running the shop?!"

"Yeah."

"Wow... that's almost like the time I got to run Sugar Cube Corner all by myself!"

"Yep."

"I remember I ended up cooking all those baked bads and got everypony in the hospital..."

"Pinkie, that was Apple—"

"And the fact that Mr and Mrs Cake weren't around..."

"Pinkie—"

"And the worry and panic I had whenever I baked something and only I tasted it before serving because Mr and Mrs Cake, again, weren't around!"

"Pinkie—"

"And every time I had to take an order and had to bake it all by myself I could imagine all the walls were closing in! I was alone! I was gonna mess up anything and not have Mr and Mrs Cake help me fix it! I could have failed Sugar Cube Corner and I did! Mr and Mrs Cake hadn't left me in charge over Sugar Cube Corner for a whole year since! And every night, I'd curl up in bed and twitch whenever I remember another one of the ponies I had poisoned or given the wrong order to because I failed and a failure pony can't be trusted and a pony that can't be trusted when trusted is a bad apprentice and a bad apprentice is an apprentice that shouldn't be one and if I shouldn't be an apprentice then I should just head back to the rock farm and keep farming rocks FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!!!"

"PINKIE!"

"WHAT?!"

"This isn't helping! I know you want to help me and all, it's just..."

"Oh, right, sorry. I shouldn't make you panic like that. I'm sure you'll be the bestest—"

"But what if I'm not? What if I fail, too? Rarity trusts me with her shop because, well, I don't know! I've helped out and learned a lot, and Rarity made sure there were more than enough dresses prepared for me to sell, but... why me? Why not just close the shop for a week? I can't handle this! This is Rarity's thing, not mine!"

"Hey, don't you worry! You didn't mess up anything yet!"

"But I will, won't I?"

"Nah, just calm down and sell me a dress!"

"... what?"

"Ya heard me. I got a date, so I wanna look my super-duper best for him!"

"A date? What's his name?"

"His name's Boulder. Maud and I knew him ~forever~ growing up!"

"Hah... well, congrats, I guess. Let's see... no, too sparkly... too casual... too formal... ah, here we go! It's stylish yet casual, blue fits you really well, and the sleeves should make you look extra cute."

"That... is... perfect! Bould is gonna love it! Thanks!"

"Sure, that'll be fifteen bits."

"Here ya go! You see, Sweetie Belle? You'll do perfectly at running Carousel Boutique! Just make sure to duck under cover."

"Wha— OW!!! What is... a potted plant?! How did that even get in here?!"