My little pony:Adventure of Seresia

by Dreamy

chapter 2.4

"BAM!!!" An explosion of colorful ribbons and tiny confetti crashed right down Twilight's face as she opened the door to the castle. She instinctively tried to block it with her hoof, but she was still showered by color. After she shook the colorful confetti off her body, a cake was revealed before her eyes.

"SUR-prise! Welcome back to Ponyville! Twilight!!!" Pinkie Pie popped her head out of the back of the gigantic cake with the widest grin a pony could muster.

"Woah…Pinkie, there's no need to make it this grand." Twilight may have said that on her lips, but her face was overflowing with joy. She looked at the luxurious décor inside the castle, with ribbons and balloons pulled all over the ceiling, and said in amazement, "You did all this by yourself?!"
"Of course not! Silly! I had Rarity's help." With that, Pinkie stepped aside to reveal Rarity hiding behind her, who waved at the group.

"I saw Pinkie Pie setting up for the party when I arrived at Friendship Castle, so of course I wanted to lend a hoof."

"Hi~ Rarity, long time no see!" Twilight hugged Rarity warmly. "How could I possibly turn down an invitation like this from one of my best friends, right?" The two mares enjoyed this precious reunion in each other’s hooves for a moment. "How have you been?" Twilight asked finally.

"Exquisite, I must say! Some of my latest designs have been a hit with the fashion world, and they are planning to invite me to Vanity Mare to share my design philosophy!"

"That sounds great, Rarity! Congratulations!"

"Thank you. Twilight, how about you? How are you adjusting to Canterlot these days?"

"Ugh... It feels like I have a million things to deal with every day, not to mention the endless etiquette I have to learn. I don't know how I’ve made it through this month." Twilight signed. She had so much bitterness bottled up in her heart, and a friend to confide in was just what she needed. Rarity listened and patted Twilight on the shoulder comfortingly, "Don’t worry, I’m sure you'll get used to it in no time. Besides, you can always come to us if it gets too unbearable."

Twilight nodded appreciatively. "Speaking of which, thanks for the spa coupons, Rarity."

"Oh? Did Spike take you there already? He is such a clever dragon. I knew I could count on him. Well, how was it? Did you like the atmosphere and their service?"

"Couldn't have felt better~ The spa and massages were really great," Twilight said with a satisfied sign.

"I can give you some more coupons later if you want. I'm an honored VIP of that spa, so I have got plenty of coupons in my hooves."

"That's very generous of you, Rarity! ~"

"No need for pleasantry with me. By the way, where is our guest from the Eastern Continent? Spike has told me quite a bit about her." Rarity looked around Twilight but saw no foreign countenance. "She’s still in the back." Twilight looked over her shoulder as Rarity followed her line of sight out the front door.

"Dear Celestia!! Look at the contour of that dress!!!" The moment she saw Meng Yu, Rarity was immediately drawn to the ambassador’s attire, her eyes sparkling with inspiration. She dashed up beside Meng Yu, held up one of her hooves, and began to carefully examine the fabric of the dress, completely unaware of the two guards flanking Meng Yu who had already drawn their swords. "The texture... The craftsmanship... The pattern... My dear Princess Celestia!!!"

"Do you like the dress?" Meng Yu asked. Rarity nodded her head obsessively, "I have never seen this kind of dress before! The silky touch is like velvet! A surface as shiny as a jewel! This dress must be heavy?"

"Haha~ On the contrary, it's light as a feather." Meng Yu chuckled brightly at Rarity's impertinent behavior, then continued, "Clothes made of this material will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer; they are comfortable to wear and won't wrinkle." Meng Yu's tone was plain as if she wasn’t particularly impressed by its qualities, but in Rarity's eyes, this fabric was many times more precious than the rarest gems.

"Now I simply must know where I can acquire such divine material?"

"I do apologize, Rarity, but I’m afraid the material and the production process are strictly confidential. This kind of attire I'm wearing were bestowed upon me by the empress herself; most ponies won’t even have the chance to touch it, let alone witness its production process."

"Eh… But... I have already thought of a dozen different styles of clothing made from this material! They're sure to cause quite a stir in the fashion world!!!" Rarity's voice contained a hint of regret and more of a plea, but Meng Yu didn't seem impressed.

"Just think, what a great honor it would be! When the time comes, Vanity Mare will publish me on their front page!!!! I mean, you and me… And the sheer prestige! Glory and splendor! Help me, please!!!"

"I am terribly sorry, Rarity, but this is a favor I cannot help you with." Meng Yu shook her head firmly and marched straight into the castle. The grief-stricken Rarity, upon hearing this answer, collapsed on her recliner and bawled.

"Rarity, don't be so dramatic, perhaps the ambassador has her difficulties too." Twilight comforted her from the side. Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Applejack came over as well.

"Ain't it just a dress? Surely ya can find somethin' better." Applejack tried to calm Rarity down, but her remark only seemed to upset the blubbering fashionista even more. "Just a dress? How could you say that?! That's just rude!!!" The group looked at Applejack in unison, and Pinkie shook her head with a stony expression. Applejack laughed awkwardly and added, "I was aimin' to say .... You don't need that fancy dress to be on Vanity Mare, do ya? You said you were already invited, right?"

"Waaaaaaaa!!!" Instead of being comforted, Rarity cried even harder. The group looked at Applejack with scowls, while she could only cover herself with her hat in shame.

"I'm back! Did I miss out on any fun?" Just as the group was trying to figure out how to comfort Rarity, Spike came through the door. "Rarity?!!! What happened? Did somepony bully you?!" Seeing Rarity in such a state, Spike wasted no time in rushing to her side, holding one of her hooves in his paws in concern.

"Oh, my dear Spike… Nopony bullied me, it's just that my dream was right in front of my eyes and yet so far out of reach...." Rarity's talent for drama was on full display as Spike was heartbroken to see her like this, "What do you need? I promise I'll get it for you!"

"Really?... Oh, Spike, you're always such a dear~ I-I want to know where I can get the material for that dress the Seresia ambassador is wearing ......"

"Pssh, easy-peasy! I'll go ask! Where's the ambassador?" Spike said with a confident pat on the chest.

"The ambassador is in there, Spike. I believe you. You can do it!"