Two hours after Spike’s departure.

“I think green will be the next color for this summer, what do you think, Miss Rarity?” Asked Pommel while holding a green dress above her cream fur. The top of it had a fluffy chest that, alongside the leaf-pattern running diagonally to the bottom of the dress, made the piece look like something stolen from Mother Nature’s wardrobe.

Rarity glanced up above the half-dressed mannequin in front of her, her eyes narrowing in thought as she focused on her next task while searching for an answer. “Green is always a complicated color, my dear, Personally I would go with orange this season, it looks more like a safe bet.”

The mare’s eyes darted down at the comment. A hum of disdain making her delusion more palpable. Rarity wasn’t the one to let other ponies’ inspiration to fade; and before Pommel could throw her dress into one of the many boxes scattered around, she took a hold of it with her magic and added.

“Now, now, darling. I said Green is complicated, not useless,” Rarity said before happily trotting to the mare’s side, “A lot of ponies will be flustered by the idea of something different and unique. But, most of these ponies will fret for their public image, especially in crowded areas like this city and Canterlot.”

The eye of the mare rose with high expectation and a content smile, “so... that leaves…”

Rarity eyelids rested, and with a confident nod, she said, “yes, Ponyville. My hometown is really tolerant to new things, what makes it a perfect place to forget about the stress of keeping a business and enjoy making what I do best,” she flicked her hair at the same time her chest swelled with pride, “Art.”

Rarity swirled on place and was about to resume her previous activity, but something caught her attention in the process, the store’s backdoor was mildly open, leaving a purple aura shine to the outside.

She lost herself at the sight for a second, a smile slowly curling up. “Besides… I can always count on someone to love my work in Ponyville.”

Pommel tilted her head to the side as she detailed the cuteness in the unicorn’s gaze, ”I was always curious about you two…” she commented at the same time her hoof trailed its way up to her cheek, “I thought at first you were more like... friends, but…”

Rarity woke from her dazzle. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she glanced to Pommel, “What do you mean, Darling?”

“Eep!” Pommel jolted, her hoof jumped instinctively to her shoulder, caressing herself in quivering motions as she eased her thoughts. “Well, you looked so worried about him earlier… and he is always searching for a way to help you… I thought…” Her eyes drifted to the side as a pink shade tinted her features, “you know, that you two were…”

Rarity’s confusion faded, replaced now with a something that could be more described as sorrow. “My most sincere apologize, Ms. Pommel, for showing that kind of impression…” Rarity eyes darted to the side, and like the clouds being caressed by the sun in the morning, her cheeks were too caressed by an inner fire which left a red tint that enhanced her beauty, “the truth is that we have certain feelings for each other… yet, those kind of feelings are something we cannot share.”

“Is because he is a…” Pommel hesitated, feeling the weight of her next word consuming her. She didn’t want to think of her friend as someone who would dismiss her own feelings for something as shallow as the difference between their species. Fortunately, she didn’t have to.

“Darling, I now that I was a pony that sought fame at the sake of her own happiness in the past. I learn from my mistakes and my eyes are now open to new ideas. Nevertheless, dating a male out of my own species was never a matter that could bother me.” Rarity explained before resuming her strode to the mannequins waiting for her delicate hooves to work, “More than once I saw Spike as a possible suitor, but the main idea changed as the years passed.”

Pommel narrowed her distance, she flicked ears demanding more information. Information that the fashionista was happy to share while working on her dresses. “First, I believed that he was too young for me. That he would wait years to come and restrain for any other relationship… keeping his heart for me and only me,”Rarity pampered her mane for a second as she composed her next words inside her mind, “That belief changed after the Greed incident.”

Miss Pommel scratched her fore hoof while her previous curious expression turned dreadful, “I did read about it… he almost destroyed Ponyville that day.”

“It was a disastrous day, Darling. A really unfortunate day for Ponyville. By Celestia’s mane, it could be the worst of them all!” Rarity exclaimed before letting her hooves rest on the soft silk suiting the mannequin. She breathed deeply and flicked her mane upwards, “It didn’t, however, Spike saved us, he stopped that beast that day… he won one battle against the monster who curses his race,” she paused, her hoof moving to her chest as she sighed slowly, “yet, the war was far from over.”

“He is still fighting his Greed?” Pommel’s head rose in bewilderment, “That’s horrible!”

“It truly is, my dear. And as long as he fights it, he will look like the child he isn’t and behave as the grown male he truly is. That left me with the only hope that one day he will overcome that dreadful beast, and we will finally-”

Like a bell disturbing the mind of a colt lost in the crowd, the door of the store interrupted the duo as four powerful knocks echoed inside the room. Rarity ears propelled up in realization, her eyes snapping towards the door as a sudden memory coursed through her thoughts.

“That must be the Sapphire shipment!” She cheered and applauded. Her magic surrounded the knob of the entrance door and pulled it, a blue stallion in brown attire waiting with boxes by his side.

Rarity’s eyes widened briefly before darting down below in thought, she glanced the mare soon after with an apologetic expression, “Pommel, my dear, I’ll need to apologize for this, would you mind if we keep this conversation for later? Some of those packages are a gift for Vinyl Scratch and I’ll need to go there before she starts her show.”

“Sure, I’ll keep working on the wardrobes positions and move the mannequin’s that are ready in the meantime,” The mare beamed. Rarity took her words with a pleasant hum and nod before taking her belongings with her magic and turning to the building’s stairs.

“Rarity… uhm,” called Pommel with certain shyness in her tone. The unicorn glanced back to her with intrigue, “Try not to take too long, I really want to know more about… you two, if that’s alright with you, of course.”

The unicorn brought a hoof to her muzzle, muffling the refined snicker escaping her lips before replying, “I will do my best, darling. Vinyl may be not the one to talk too much, but when she does…”Rarity turned back to the stairs, her voice raising to make sure her friend could hear her, “my goodness,” she laughed joyfully, “is like hearing one of Octavia’s magnificent solos!”

Ms. Pommel faintly laughed as she imagined the reference, a mare who speaks words so beautiful and captivating that could only be compared to the majestic sound of a cello. “That sounds interesting, I’ll try to know her better for myself in the future,” she said for herself before turning her gaze and thoughts back into work.

Author's Note

At first, I wasn't planning to make these interludes, the idea came from Dragon pony, who was curious about the details of the relationship between Rarity and Spike.

just like I said earlier, this is more like a silly project, but it deserves all the love and attention it can get.