Reborn

“Wow…” Sunset looked around in barely restrained awe at the sheer size of the boutique she had just entered, dresses lining the walls as mannequins displayed various outfits and accessories. “The other Rarity would faint in jealousy of this place!”

“I take it she has similar aspirations?” asked the pale, marshmallow white unicorn mare that made her way down the stairs, her magic slowly levitating a pair of red, horn rimmed glasses to rest just in front of her unmistakable mane of luxuriously coiffed hair.

“She’s a seamstress as well, yes.” Sunset nodded towards the Equestrian Rarity as she landed on the main floor of the shop. “Nice to meet you, Rarity.”

“The pleasure is mine, Sunset, dear.” Rarity gave a polite bow before moving over to Twilight, wrapping her hoof around the alicorn affectionately. “And Twilight, so good to see you, of course!”

“We just met the other day for tea, Rarity.” the purple mare chuckled as she pulled back. “I do hope that we caught you at a good time?”

“But of course, darling! I always have time for my friends!” Rarity giggled as she took a step back to address the two mares, Sunset freezing when she realized a familiar glint come to the fashionista’s azure eyes.

“Oh no…” the amber unicorn uttered softly. “Not you too…!”

“Oh I have just the most fan-tabulous dress for you to try on, dear! Come this way!” Sunset never got a chance to struggle as Rarity’s horn lit up with her magical aura and Sunset found her hooves no longer on solid ground.

“Twilight! Help!”

The alicorn merely stood still, laughing quietly as she watched her friend being helplessly dragged to the back room.

~

“This dress is amazing, Rarity.” Sunset complimented the now frizzy haired mare, genuinely impressed at how well the fabric had all come together in the end to sit across her. “Like, really, this is superb- but, uh… I don’t exactly have a way to pay for it, nor do I imagine it would travel across the portal all that well.”

“Oh, pish posh!” the mare chuckled, waving a hoof at the model standing and shifting on her runway. “It’s the least I could do to try and show real Generosity!”

“Well I deeply appreciate it, Rarity. Thank you.” Sunset gave a deep bow, causing the mare to giggle in embarrassment.

“Rarity? Are you here?” a squeaky voice called out as a bell rung in the air, signalling that somepony had just entered Carousel Boutique.

“I’m in the back, Sweetie.” Rarity called back. “Er, do you know my sister? I would hope that the other me would have a sister as well, regardless of her personal… actions.”

“Yup, other you has a sister as well.” Sunset nodded as a young unicorn, coloured the exact same marshmallow white as her sister entered the back room, her poofy, dual coloured tail flicking behind her.

“There you are, Rarity! You promised to take me to Apple Bloom’s for the Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting!” Sweetie sounded exactly as she did back on Gaia, maybe a little bit more like a squeaky toy, but that may be due to how time and age worked different in the two worlds.

“Of course, dear, a promise is a promise after all.” the older sister responded, nodding her head as she levitated her work glasses onto a nearby table.

“Nice to meet you, Sweetie Belle.” Sunset smiled warmly as she waved to the filly, the younger child looking slightly confused.

“Er, h-hi…?” Sweetie looked over to her sister, a questioning look on her face.

“Oh! However rude of me! Sweetie, this is Sunset Shimmer! She’s the friend of ours that lives through that portal. She knows the you from that world.” Rarity set about to straightening her mane as she introduced her sister to her new friend.

“Isn’t she the one that stole Twilight’s crown?” Ah, childish innocence... Sunset couldn’t help but chuckle as Rarity’s face somehow paled even more, Twilight giving an uneasy cough as she strode forward.

“She’s become a better pony since then, Sweetie.”

“I’m sorry, Sunset.” came Sweetie’s apology, the filly looking embarrassed that she had even mentioned that.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m used to it.”

“I am terribly sorry you two for having to leave like this,” Rarity said, appearing from out of nowhere with a pair of sunglasses and stylish hat on her head. “But our hour was just about up, anyways. Do you know where you are off to next?”

Twilight pulled a hoof up to her face, pawing at her chin as she pondered where her and Sunset were off to next. “I believe it was…”