Bejeweled

Just the way the Sun rose up from it's slumber - woken up by Princess Celestia - did Rarity wake up as a gentle yawn left her mouth. She stretched herself and took off her sleeping shades with her magic.

"Good morning Canterlot." she said as she opened her sapphire eyes. They looked sort of confused for a moment as they weren't used to such environtment. The mare didn't mind, though, in fact she thought she could get used to this in no time. Luxurious room in a luxurious hotel, worth every bit. She walked up to the balcony, something that she could not found at home and took a huge breath from the gentle scents in the air.

"What a beautiful day, the sun is shining, the birds are singing~" she blabbered as she went to the bathroom to wash her face. She only lett the water stop her monolouge, for a few seconds, before she left the bathroom with her brush "...and this suite is gorgeous. It's just the cherry on the top."

"Rarity?" a voice asked from behind. "Who're you talking to?"

"Oh, good morning Sweetie." Rarity replied, brushing her mane into its signature curly shape "I was just praising this marvelous place, just look at it-"

"Yeah, we went through this yesterday." cut in the filly with a moaning tone. Seems like she didn't want to wake from her slumber. "I'm going back to sleep." she turned around, taking her steps towards her room one by one.

"Sure, I'm taking a stroll outside meanwhile. I'll be back in a few minutes." the ivory unicorn sang before putting down her brush and leaving her suite.

Even at this time in the morning the streets of Canterlot weren't silent from the ponies. Though it wasn't all that full either, just a few residents walking up and down the streets.

'Ah, now this is life. Now I just hope I won't bump into-'

"RARES!!" A squeal broke her train of thoughts as the seamstress' worst nightmare ran up from behind on the other side of the street. Annoyed eyes of angered royalty helped her aim her eyes towards an olive-coated unicorn. No doubt, it was Agate. Her mane was obviously set with hooves instead of a propel tool and she had small wrinkles under her eyes.

"He-hey gal, what's up? Hope you slept well in that fancy hotel of yours." she said, with a gentle smile towards her new friend. Her speech was interruppted by the strange smell of cider and mint pouring out from her mouth. Agate was most likely hanging out with the Royal Guards yesterday night... again. She began to lower her already next-to-nothing reputation towards Rarity. The seamstress couldn't stand her, and she wanted to get her plan going as soon as possible. And by that she meant right here and now.

Regardless... even though they met about a day ago, Agate seemed to be outgoing towards somepony who has an above average class, which was rare. Of course, she also knew this is not the case to hate on the upper crust, as they were teammates for a while and hatred in a team has no benefits.

Once the crowd returned to mind their own business the two mares started to take a stroll around the town.

"Seriously though, how was that hotel? Were there any cool stuff like water beds or something?" the armorsmith asked, now in a more regular tone.

"It's such a lovely place, filled with all high class equipment from the entrance till the bathroom. Though, a waterbed would have been a bit of an overkill don't you think?" she asked, raising one of her eyebrows as they walked down the street.

Rarity and Agate were like day and night, yin and yang, and they both were aware of that. They were also aware that opposites attract, which would only result in a clash. And they were already pulling towards each other.

"But tell me, what is the reason for this random shout over the streets?" Rarity asked, her eyes piercing through the armorsmith's.

Agate let out a silly giggle before answering. "Well, from what I saw you enjoyed yourself. Didn't want to just trot up and then scare the, uh, soul out of you." she told with a quite notable stop. Agate may not be as sophisticated as other Canterlotian ladies, but she had her own manners and rules such as "Only swear if the other partner does".

"Hmphf, I was perfectly fine until the screeching sound of your voice echoed in my ears all of the sudden. That might just scared me even more then you just coming up to me." Rarity replied to Agate after the deep exhale, in the form of a huff, was done. But it did took her by surprise that the sudden silence had fallen. A thing she took as a sign of relief. Trying to hide something for the ivory unicorn was not as simple as it looked, though.

Agate yawned, not covering her mouth with any hoof before continuing of course "Maaare you should have been out with me last night. We had a party noone could remake, ever!" she shouted in the air. "Night Sparrow locked himself into the fillies' room, again. And imagine-" the armorsmith turned back to her friend, but as soon as she gazed into the steamstress' eyes she cut the annoying rambling. They were so close the air started to boil around them. The impact was inevitable at this point now.

"I was laying asleep in my bed at that hour after a long day. I never have been one for those wild parties and I made it clear to you, yesterday. But obviously, you were too far gone to save it in that brain of yours." The words spoken, could be harmful and Rarity knew that all too well. If she forces Agate out from her comfort zone it might be easier for her to gain some 'territory'. It was all part of her plan.

Agate took a sharp look at her face, then headed down to her chest, front legs and hooves, and with an arc her sight ended up on the ground in front of her. She checked her breath using her hooves. She brushed her teeth after waking up, but she didn't spend too much effort on it, same with her mane. Despite that, she felt nothing special, thus she turned to her friend, with a less energetic way of speech "Do I still smell like a zonker?".

"Oh you have no idea how bad you smell. I think you didn't even got any sleep last night." Rarity huffed once again. The action may had it's risk, but were extremely rewarding for both of them if it worked. From the signs, it did.

"Well, yeah, I didn't." replied Agate scrathing her hooves against her head. She knew she stepped over the line, though she didn't know where that line exactly was. Her standards were lower than Rarity's, no question about that. But the last thing she wanted is a hateful teammate. Determined to improve her relationship she decided to take action against the smell first place.

'This gotta do it.' she thought as she took out a bubblegum and started to chew on it. The gum had a nice, but strong minty taste. Strong enough that it was a bit of piercing the armorsmith's tounge.

"So if you're not partying and stuff in your free time, then what are you usually doing?" she asked with a curious gaze, hoping she can find a way to get a little bit more into the heart of the ivory one. Rarity was watching the skies as small white puffs started to gather up on them. She didn't fly away from reality though, and turned back almost in a second after the question.

"Well a party of high class from time to time can't harm, but in general, I just withdraw myself. Sit somewhere one a nice terrace and just enjoy the view to be seen. Sit still and let the world run by, watching the others hurry to whatever it is they were having to go it. And just, think. Philosophize about life itself. Heavy subject I know and, a little unexpected from a mare like me." she explained, not interesting Agate all that much. Moreover, the olive one rather gave her a strange look, as she couldn't decide if that was a joke or her friend really was serious? For her, standing and thinking was rather... incomprehensible. What good is in that?

But Rarity added one more thing "Oh, and there is reading. The scent of paper, the marvelous idioms, the emotions compressed in those words. Nothing is better than a good book to entertain you." she explained.

"I see, reading is pretty cool. I sometimes read a book before going to sleep, so I dream some nice stuff." she replied, which got her thinking. "Isn't there some library in Ponyville, by the way? If I'd have seen one before, like, some big tree or something?".

And there we go again, she got herself daydreaming about Ponyville. She has only been there once, but that was enough to her to set her goal. It was just the place to be: quiet streets, average, everyday ponies, pretty cheap shops, everything she was looking for was found there. The only thing she needed to move there was money. That money she and Rarity would get by winning the competition. The quote "One lives one's death, one dies one's life" seemed to be so true at that moment.

The daydreaming didn't go unnoticed, however. "May I ask what is so attracting to you in Ponyville this much?" asked Rarity. Agate was too busy daydreaming to realize she have been asked a question... for a moment at least. Though when she came to realization a wave of confusion washed over her.

"Huh? Ponyville? No, well, yes. Um, what's attractive? Well, uh..." she blabbered, descending back to real life before continuing. "Ponyville is so relaxed, calm, silent, you know... all these stuff."

Rarity giggled behind her wrist from the response "Well, it certainly has it's charm." she agreed.

"Not to mention the pony folks. They're all, um, you know, natural and not anywhere picky as these fancy fellas here." Agate replied, taking a look at a couple with two decorated hats on their head, their head looking straight up in the air from sheer pride. Her volume turning down bit by bit just showed her clear lack of impression towards the higher class.

No matter how the ivory coated unicorn looked at it, Agate had a major point made to her. One that was almost impossible to counter with any of hers. "I don't say it often, but you are right on that. Photo Finish and Hoity Toity are among the worst if you ask me." Her own reply was also lowered to make sure none of the ponies around them could hear them.

Agate, hearing the seamstress' reply raised her head in surprise. She didn't at all except such an answer, moreover she rather excepted the opposite. Though, it felt good to her to hear that, really good. She felt so warm inside in all of a sudden, knowing that her friend might be not one of those. It filled her with relief and hope.

"That's awesome." she said "I thought you're like these Canterlot ponies at first, but I see you're different." she explained.

Looking through the street, though, she realized she forgot where she was heading before, though she could mind it less. She rather joined Rarity on her journey instead.

"So where we are heading?" she asked in the most straightforward way possible, her face brightening up once again. Afraid of another hurtful impact, though, she slammed another sentence afterwards, turning her head away a little "If you don't mind me next to you or something, you know.".

"Hm? What?" she replied to the question before thinking a bit. "We weren't heading to anything in particular. Just setting a step at a time and see where the legs carry us." she told Agate. Though the plans for the morning may have changed a little, it was a great opportunity to improve their relationship a little. Either that, or a small self-controlling exercise. But why did she had that odd feeling she forgot something?

Few seconds of walking later something caught the attention of the armorsmith.

"Hey, how 'bout a light breakfast?" she recommended, pointing towards the logo of a small tea-house on the other side of the street. Though, her tip of her hoof suddenly changed direction as it ended up in front of her mouth as she yawned. Small pillows were lying on the ground in front of the tables, waiting for the guests. There were plenty of places inside as well. Agate knew that place well. It wasn't her favourite because of it's medicore price, but it was affordable and the pillows are the most comfortable there.

"Hm?" Rarity said before she followed the hoof Agate towards the logo. The place looked gorgeous, but it was alien to her, not to mention eating at this time in the morning was not her cup of tea. 'But a cup of tea can't harm, right?' she thought to herself before looking at Agate. The wrinkles on her face definetly grew bigger than few minutes ago. Something to eat would most likely come in handy to the armorsmith considering she was partying all night.

"Yes, I guess we can have ourselves a breakfast."

The teahouse had a cosy, warm feeling to it with it red carpet and pastel yellow walls. Chandeliers were hanging from the ceiling, emitting beautiful, gentle light when ordered. There was no need for that now as the red, silky curtains were attached to the sides of the windows, letting in the sunshine from outside. Pictures of various artists decorated the walls around the square shaped small tables, with the red pillows around them.

The two mares - lead by Agate took a seat next to the window. A waitress with a light grey coat and a blonde mane, that she wore in a bun walked up asking in a deep, gentle tone "Good morning madams! How may I help you?"

"Hello, I'd like to have aaaaa... Daisy and Rose sandwitch please, and some green tea." she replied turning to Rarity for a moment, until something caught her eye from the street, defocusing her from paying attention to her surroundings. It was her best Canterlotian friend: Fleur-dis-Lee.

The fashion model was walking down the street with Fancy Pants, as per usual. Agate started to wave her left hoof at the direction of her like some excited kid (or Pinkie Pie). Fleur took notice of her, of course, greeting her with a much gentler wave and a sweet smile. She forgot about Fancy for a moment but soon she realized it, the model rushed after her husband. Now that she was gone, Agate got back to spend time with her other, new friend.

"How about you miss?" the waiter asked Rarity... no answer.

"Yo' Rares, you drink nothing?" joined her Agate, with a strange expression.

Rarity was too much fascinated by the wonderful place, it was just divine. Took her a bit of a time to fall back into reality. "Hm, oh, sorry. For me just a strawberry flavored tea please.". The waitress nodded and left without a sound and as soon as she disappeared, Rarity jumped to the topic.

"About Fleur..."

Agate waited with patience this time before replying "Yes?"

"I still can't grasp properly how you know Fleur so well, while you're so hostile towards everypony else. Actually, I thought since I know Fancy Pants well enough we might as well work together." Rarity suggested. Bad idea. Hearing those last words Agate's eyes filled with bitter coldness. Her wrinkles were growing massive, her irises like freezing rays pointing at the ivory seamstress, just for a few moments only, shutting her eyes and looking away afterwards.

"You know, I have a rule: My enemies' friends are usually my enemies too, but you're an exception." she explained, turning back once again with a sweet smile in the second part.

Rarity - despite the harsh words - remained friendly. She started to build a relationship-tree inside her head. She knew Agate's relation with Fancy was anything but good, but she didn't at all except this word from the armorsmith's mouth. But this raised a question she was yet to ask. Instead she decided to call a differend card from her deck as the waiter returned with their breakfasts.

"You know, there is an old saying: Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." she told her friend, making the armorsmith even more furious inside, and that was clearly reflected on the outside as well.

"Rarity... don't ever try to push me any closer to the canterlotians. I hate them." she said in a demanding tone, with extra force on the 'ever'. Even though the words hurt much the seamstress as she had many friends from Canterlot, Rarity still remained calm and learned her lesson.

The seamstress however didn't stop here, she still had one thing to ask after sipping into her tea. "You know I am wondering just why I am an exception to that rule."

Agate giggled at Rarity's question... well, loud wondering. "It is easy, since you're different. You don't have that Canterlotian blood he does. You can throw away your manners and get your hooves dirty when needed. You're just like Fleur, an exception that proves the rule." she explained.

The armorsmith leaned towards the mare inch by inch, opening her mouth "I have a secret... I was there too at the Gala last year~ "

A small flashback appeared in her magenta eyes. She was walking in the hall of the ballroom filled with classier and classier ponies, chatting with each other. She wore but simple, puffy white dress.

"I was hiding a bottle of enchanted grafitti spray, strapped to my hind leg, hidden under the dress. Ain't nopony can scratch that stuff down once it's on. I planned on taking a revenge on Canterlot for all it have done to me."

"Do I... want to know in which positions those cans were?" Rarity spoke aloud with a disturbed look, cutting the film for a moment. Wait, didn't Agate said yesterday she turned down all of her gala invites? Agate didn't reply, though, just continued.

"So... I was strolling in the main hall when..." Then, from out of nowhere, screams broke the noisy mumbles of everypony. "The only thing royal about you that is you're a ROYAL PAIN!"

"It was you, Rares." Agate explained "Screaming at that spoiled, idiotic kid, Bluebood."

Rarity soaked the prince with cake, making him trip back, knocking over a statue, that a pegasus caught a second later.

"Then all hell broke loose." she became immobile, not being able to keep her balance under the sheer weight of the stone. It did not take her but a couple moments before knocking off several other pillars. On the top of that, from behind the back door, a horde of animals broke in, causing the possible biggest chaos one could see.

Agate shut her eyes, ending the imaginary playback in her mind "I'm not sure how, or why, but that day I felt Princess Fortuna was on my side." she finished, sipping up her remaining tea.

"Oh trust me, it wasn't miss Fortuna. The ponies I call my true friends caused the mess to happen. Well, mess, depends on ones point of view." she replied after watching the memory before the eyes.

"Oh yeah, the girls you ran off with first place." she recalled. "I thought they're just random ponies who had their mind-presence enough to find the exit, or were actually hearing the guards." she explained, standing up from the pillow. Only then did she realise that her limbs are weak. She was tired, exhausted, even if her brain told her otherwise, her body was begging for a rest.

"This reminds me~" she added to her conversation with Rarity "I have a wardrobe full of armors at home, maybe we should try to get one on you.

"Thank you, miss madam." she thanked to the waitress, who took her glass and plate off the table. Rarity gave her a small nod, as well as leaving a few bits on the table as tips. A little thing she loved to do.

"Well it always worth a look I guess." Rarity shrugged as they headed outside.

"So... right now or the aftern- noooooonnn." Agate asked, that last bit into a huge yawn having Rarity gape into her mouth yet again.

"Let's just say this afternoon, you really need to take a rest, darling. It is not at all healthy to stay up for this long." the ivory unicorn told the mustard one, with her voice being filled with some worry, something the olive one very much appreciated.

"Yeah, now that you say... I feel I could black out anywhere. See you later, then, I guess." Agate replied waving towards her before taking her way home one step after another.

"We shall see one another. Just tell my name at the reception and they'll call up to my room." Rarity explained as a last sentence. Agate turned back and gave a small nod as sign that she understood, then proceeded towards her house. The way she walked was rather strange though, slow and inballanced, as she would be a bit tipsy. Rarity couldn't help but chuckle. It was rather comical, but being a lady she didn't stare, rather focused on that strange feeling that mugged her since a while now.

A few moments later she let out an enormous gasp before shouting "Sweetie Belle!". She turned around to run to see her sister, only to smash into a black tuxedo, making her land on the ground.

"Well, that's not the most comfortable habit of meeting up, is it?" a gentle male voice said. One so distinct she could not confuse with anypony else's.

"F-Fancy Pants?" she mumbled. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I-I didn't see you there, I just-"

"Don't bother yourself, miss Rarity. As I said before, you're most definetly a pony worth bumping into." he joked, taking the incident like nothing. However the other pony with the strage movements caught her attention somewhat more. Enough for Rarity to look back.

"Pretty ludicrous a sight isn't it?" he said, still looking towards the olive coated unicorn in a distance.

"Yyyes, quite." Rarity replied, with a sort of awkward tone before turning around and running away. "I need to hurry to my sister, again, my apologies."

Fleur however kept her sight on her, like a living gargoyle on the side of an old church, only her eyes following the ivory equine.