Chapter 1: Keeping calm under pressure.
Sassy Saddles raised her eyebrow nervously as she watched her employer packing yet another bag to add to the growing pile. "Rarity, are you certain we can afford this vacation?"
“Oh, pish posh, Darling, of course we can afford it!" Rarity laughed airily, a droplet of sweat running down her face. "Both you and I know we're fully prepared for the next upcoming fashion line, and with the Summer Sun Festival coming up in a few weeks, nearly everypony will be focused on that!” She leaned forward and finally forced the latches shut on the bulging case with a satisfied sigh. “Now Darling, where did I put my thread and needle?”
“Um...well..” began Sassy Saddles watching as Rarity fiddled around in her pile of suitcases. “Perhaps we can look for it on the way.”
“Darling, I cannot leave without my thread. What if some pony on the way has issues with their wardrobe? Do you really expect me not to lead a helping hoof, hmm?” said Rarity with a smile, batting her eyelashes for dramatic effect.
“But...Rarity, you said this was to be a vacation for the both of us, and as such you shouldn't need to worry about any pony but yourself for once.” replied Sassy in an honest, yet still concerned tone. Her eyelashes fluttered open and shut, and a slight sigh escaped her lips. This was just honestly how Rarity was, she was rather accustomed to it by this point.
“I suppose you are right...perhaps I won't need it after all.” Rarity let out a sigh of relief as she turned on her hooves, looking towards the shop's door. “Time to close her down for the weekend. I'm positive only good things can come of this. Besides, you have been working so hard for me with running the boutique in Canterlot that I insist we go on our cruise.”
Sassy Saddles wasn't one to argue, as she lifted her forehoove to speak, but then shook her head. It wasn't important. Rarity was right. She had been working her tail off lately, and she didn't like others to see that it did affect her, she tried to carry herself with a certain amount of class and proper equitique. She picked up the one suitcase she had planned on bringing along, just glancing over towards the pile Rarity had sitting beside her. No, perhaps it was best to not say anything at all.
Sassy Saddles quickly went to glance behind her one last time, just to make sure there wasn't anything the two might be forgetting in their excitement. She surveyed the boutique. Every little detail, everything arranged ever so delicately, all prim and proper, following the rules of Rarity. A slight smile widened on her lips, as tilted her head nodding to herself, yes! Everything was perfect, she could go on this weekend cruise that Rarity had provided the two of them with, and nothing would get in the way of them relaxing! Absolutely nothing.
“Are you finally ready to leave darling? How long are you simply going to gaze at the shop before actually leaving?” questioned Rarity, a roll of her eyelashes, as she fumbled with her luggages, it's a shame she hadn't thought to bring Spike along to carry her stuff for her. Alsas she would just have to manage, unless she might be able to convince one of the guards to leave his post long enough to carry her stuff to where they were boarding the train that would take them to the ocean, then they would be waiting in line to get onto the cruise ship, and once they were finally onboard, relaxation and full pampering would begin.
“Oh, yes Rarity forgive me.” replied Sassy quickly trotting on her hooves to stand right next to Rarity as she would then turn to put the closed sign over the boutique. Sassy wasn't at all surprised to see Rarity casually chatting with a royal guard whom had been walking by, on his lonesome.
“Why, hello there handsome, might I ask a tinsy favor of you?” questioned Rarity giving him a longing look of pure desperation, and pleading.
The royal guard stopped in his tracks, he was off duty right now, but still he had a promise to keep, so when he turned to Rarity he answered in a monotone voice.
“I apologize madam, but I am very busy and don't have time to spare for idle favors.” the guard closed his eyes as he went on to explain why he was busy, but when he opened his eyes again, the two were already long gone. The royal guard simply shrugged his shoulders and figured it wasn't that important.
“How dare he refuse me. I'll show him.” spoke Rarity about storming up to the castle, until Sassy put a hoof on her shoulder.
“You know Rarity, I hate to be rude, but do you really need all this stuff to relax?” questioned Sassy. She respected Rarity, but with certain things, well with most things she could get just a bit carried away.
“I...but...I...” began Rarity, she fumbled around for a reason for all of her belongings, and she dreaded that she truly didn't need everything she had planned on taking along. She shifted through her bags one by one, figuring out which ones were the most important for this trip.
It felt almost like it took her an entire day to figure out which bags to leave at the shop, she ended up with only four bags total, which she could easily levitate with her magic. She then nodded towards her fellow friend and worker.
“Shall we?” she gestured lifting her forehoof and smiling towards Sassy allowing her to go first aboard the train.
Sassy Saddles knew Rarity why she insisted on her to go first, it was just in her nature. She stepped forth onto the train and went to find their seats, even as she was walking, thoughts kept coming to her mind, would it really be okay to leave the shop closed all weekend? What if one of their clients had an urgent request for the summer sun festival and they weren't there to fulfill it. She felt herself panting, drops of sweat running down her face, as she was truly envisioning what might happen while they were away. She practically jumped when she heard Rarity behind her.
“Darling, you simply need to not think about it, or else it'll ruin the fun and excitement of it all. Don't tell Rainbow Dash now, but I do quite love the thrill of adventure, with pampering of course. This cruise is perfect! Do you know how long I've been planning this? I would hate for it all to be for naught.”
She once again, lifted her fore-hoof into the air, as Rarity swiped it down with her own hoof. A look of pleading in her eyes. Rarity...certainly knew how to milk it. Sassy smiled slightly. She then took her seat by the window as Rarity sat on the outside next to her.
“All aboard! Last call for the train.” called the conductor.
A few ponies last minute scattered onto the train, almost shoving one another to find last minute seats for the themselves, a few of them shoving just to get a place to sit. Sassy couldn't believe their behavior, they were acting rather un coft, and simply rude.
Once everyone was seated, the conductor went to start the train, and announcing that their first stop would be ponyville.
“Oh I haven't been to ponyville in a moon's age.” spoke an older lady from in front of their seats.
“Come on grandmare, it's not that exciting. I go there all the time. I don't even think the Princess of Friendship even remembers me.”
“Oh of course she does young one. Twilight would never forget a face.” spoke Rarity from behind them.
“Well...my my, if it isn't Rarity, element of generosity. Would you be a dear and say hello to Twilight for us? It's so hard for us to make time to see her with most of our relatives being from ponyville and all, and we wouldn't want her to think negatively of us because we didn't come and visit.”
“No worries, Twilight is probably too busy stressing over the festival coming up to worry about a few missing ponies.” replied Rarity bluntly.
“The Princess is stressed? Ah, that is truly a shame, there must be something we can do.” spoke another voice, this voice was a young male colt, who looked over towards what Rarity assumed was his sister by the way they locked eyes with one another.
“Ah come on, I was going to sit beside the window.” he pouted.
“I was here first.” spoke the young filly.
Sassy Saddles looked to the two young siblings fighting, and she knew what Rarity had said about the two of them relaxing, so she simply stood up from her own seat, standing up, and looking towards the siblings.
“Here, one of you can have my window, after all I much prefer an outside seat.” her voice soft yet prim and proper. No hesitation in her voice at all, she knew Rarity might protest, but this was their vacation and she wasn't about to let two arguing foals ruin it by them both wanting a window seat, so she figured to solve the problem immediately, rather than simply trying to ignore it.
“Thanks miss, say aren't you the lady that runs the fancy boutique? My mother just bought a dress from you last week.” smiled the young filly, as she took Sassy's seat. The young filly had a light coat of yellow with a lime green mane and tail, with violet hues that sparkled looking at Rarity's mane and simply to be amazed by whom she was sitting next to.
“Why, yes I do run Canterlot Carousel, but I wouldn't have been able to do it all on my own, Rarity has been an inspiration to me, and thus following her rules we are able to help one another.” explained Sassy towards the young filly.
“I like you better.” replied the young filly.
“Oh? Why?” questioned Sassy curiously, she was honestly rather surprised any pony would like her ahead of Rarity.
“You're mane is more...sparkly.” replied the young filly.
“Oh I honestly doubt that, but thank you nonetheless. Now I must find my own seat, enjoy your time in Ponyville.” she smiled towards the young filly.
Rarity managed to hold her breath, lifting her muzzle up towards the ceiling, clearly upset.How could anyone think that Sassy's mane was more radiant then her own, but she had to remember this filly grew up in Canterlot, so she knew next to nothing about Rarity, and scolding her for liking some pony better than herself was more than just a trifle bit un coft, so she simply remained silent, wishing she had the window seat right about now.
“Alright, we've stopped in Ponyville, time to depart if this is your stop. You have five minutes.” spoke the conductor, as ponies would be going to and forth from the train down into the ponyville train station.
Rarity was certainly glad to be ridden of those little kids, and get to finally enjoying her vacation. She leaned back into her seat, wishing it had a reclining function, she put her eye mask over her eyes as she waved a hoof towards Sassy.
“Darling, do wake me once we get to our next stop.” she spoke as she put two cucumbers onto her face to enjoy a nice mud facial for the rest of her trip.
“Of course, Rarity.” stated Sassy as she sat back down in her original seat next to Rarity. She had never been on a cruise before. Well, rather the only boat she had remembered was before she had moved to the elegant city of Canterlot. She had never been so nervous and yet so filled full of joy at the prospects of it, she was getting to spend a whole weekend with Rarity, a pony whom she very much looked up to, and yet she was always nervous that her best simply wasn't good enough, that she might not live up to Rarity's standards and if that happened...she didn't even want to think about returning to her home, or to her father.
Rarity snored rather loudly despite her ladylike charms, but it didn't bother Sassy much at all. There were far worse things that could come out of her mouth, and Sassy hoped she'd never have to hear them, or that Rarity might never learn just how overwhelming her job at the boutique was. She let out a heavy sigh, her front forehoof going back and to from her chest to the chair in front of her, attempting to calm any nervous jitters she might still have about the trip. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad?
She knew she was simply overthinking it as Rarity had stated. She would truly savor the chance they had to spend time together, especially with how often the map seemed to be calling Rarity away for friendship problems. Sassy still chuckled at offering to take care of things while Rarity had bonded with her little sister, perhaps that was what this was all about, Rarity wanting to bond with her, and that's why she needed to let go of her fears and doubts, and simply as Rarity said, savor the occasion to its fullest potential. Sassy smiled as she shifted in her seat and looked out towards the window. She was looking forward to the cruise, and to this precious time Rarity had given to both of them. She had to make sure it was perfect. After all, they both deserved a vacation.The rest of the train ride went rather swimmingly, Sassy had been enjoying the beautiful scenery along the ride. The way the luxurious trees shadowed ponies from the sun, yet the sunlight gave them all warmth and comfort. She felt inspired simply by looking at all the beauty that could be found in the most simple thing, such as grass. The way it rose up straight from the ground and felt almost like a blade when your hooves traveled upon it. It was both comforting and relaxing to think of something so simple, yet so majestic in his simplicity. Perhaps that was what she hadn't been able to see before. She never spoke it, but her failures still bothered her, how often she had tried and went above and beyond to make sure a boutique would not close had been her greatest downfall. She now understood, and she wanted not only Rarity to see it, but for the rest of Canterlot to see it as well. There was a certain simplicity as she glanced over towards Rarity, she was a small town mare from Ponyville who had made quite the name for herself in the fashion world. Sassy Saddles wished she had the same success with her own fashion, before she had met Rarity, but it felt like now things were finally going her way. Savor the time you have, to truly enjoy yourself. She kept repeating this to herself over and over again in her head as Rarity slept, because if there was one thing she knew for sure, she didn't want to disappoint Rarity.
"Last stop, the ocean port." spoke the conductor.
Sassy quickly went to nudge Rarity awake, trying not to alarm her too hastily of their arrival at the port.
"Oh are we here already? That seemed relatively quick, shall we?" smiled Rarity as she calmly went to get off the train.
Sassy Saddles followed behind Rarity, nodding to the conductor as she also got off the train, as once every pony was off the train, the engine itself would backtrack and turn around in a turn around section of the track and head back towards Canterlot.
Sassy stepped onto the tall sharp grass, and just by feeling it was simply such a nice soothing feeling. She stared down at the texture of how it was shaped, starting to envision her own unique dress design to be presented to Rarity at a future time. She knew Rarity wanted to relax and not think about fashion or deadlines over this weekend, but that didn't mean she couldn't gain inspiration from their cruise while they were on it.
"Darling, stop staring at the ground, and look upon the magnificent ship!" exclaimed Rarity, her hooves going to her face with utter glee in them, sparkling like a diamond. "Astonishing, simply radiant, wouldn't you say?"Sassy paused to lift her muzzle from staring at the simple beauty of the grass, to a radiant pearl white cruise ship with a blue trim, and plenty of luxurious space. Her eyes widened at the sheer majesty it beheld, that thing must be able to hold at least two thousand ponies at once. It simply...spectacular. She had to keep her calm and endearing expression on her muzzle, for she could see how fascinated Rarity was by it.
"Perhaps we should design our next line around the inspirations we see, while on our vacation hmm?" she would then suggest. She wouldn't force Rarity to think about anything about dresses for the next couple of days, but she herself couldn't help but be emerged and engrossed by it all. There was so much little tidbits of details, that they could use to fashion more unique dresses for the ponies of Canterlot. She was honestly expecting, Rarity of all ponies to be against the idea.
"I think that's a splendid idea darling, just no actual working until after some relaxation. Am I quite clear?" she asked as she turned to look her straight in the eyes. Rarity felt it was a good idea, but she didn't want Sassy to forget why she had booked this cruise in the first place, for the both of them to relax.
Author's Note
As always, I hope every pony enjoys the stories I bring forth, and this is my first time writing Rarity, so let me know if she seems in character. She seems easy to write, but you have to be careful and not think it's too easy.
I'm just hoping I don't go over 10k words with this as it is for a contest, so wish me luck! Updates should hopefully be weekly, if not bi-weekly at the latest.
As always I am only human so if you see any typos I or Google docs missed, please inform me and I will fix them.
