Glancing around the brightly lit establishment the pegasus filly was happy to see that there was no other ponies shopping or waiting for assistance. Even more important Scootaloo knew that Sweetie Belle was not here, and would not be back for at least another hour. She was off running a errand with Applebloom.
This would make what the filly wanted to do just a tiny bit less stressful. Not stress-free, but maybe, just maybe, the butterflies building in the orange pegasus’s stomach wouldn’t get any worse. There was only one pony here that she hoped to speak to right now; all she needed to do now was located Rarity.
Not spying the Element of Generosity on the boutique showroom floor the filly started making her way back to Rarity’s back studio area where the unicorn brought her creations to life. The filly really, really hoped that the mare wasn’t creating and in her zone at the moment. Because from past observations Rarity hadn’t enjoyed it when Sweetie Belle had interrupted her big sister.
Scootaloo was about to call out for Rarity when the mare came trotting out the back. Even with a measuring tape draped over her neck and a pencil tugged behind one ear the brilliant white unicorn seemed to be the living embodiment of beauty. Looking over the top of her red cats eye glasses the mare gave the filly a smile.
“Oh! Hello Scootaloo. I’m sorry but Sweetie Belle is not here right now.” Noticing the look of stress on the filly’s face Rarity looked at the pegasus with concern in her eyes.
“Dear are you all right?”
The filly looked up at the unicorn and tried, and failed, to give her a convincing smile. “Oh! Oh I’m fine! Yep! Just fine!” She then faltered for second before pressing on. “Um, Rarity can I ask you a question? It’s, It’s kind of important.”
“Of course darling. Lets go back into my studio. I don’t have any appointments until the late afternoon.”
With that mare lead the filly into the back area of her boutique. While the front part of Rarity’s boutique was meticulously organized, the back area where her studio was a portrait of creative chaos. In her work area Rarity was more focused on letting her creative spirit take charge. Bolts of fabric in a riot of colors lay scattered on floor in various degrees of being rolled up. Snippets of cut fabric and thread were scattered like autumn leaves on the floor. Jars of buttons looked almost like hard candies you would find at Sugar Cube Corner.
Almost every space on the walls that wasn’t devoted to shelves and cabinets was covered with a bewildering collection of concept drawings for potential outfits. Some were in charcoal pencil, while others were watercolor.
Multiple mannequins were adorn with projects in various state of completion, and part of another creation was draped over a hoof powered sewing machine that resided next to Rarity’s drawing table. The brilliant late morning light poured in transformed the tiny motes of dust floating in the air into thousands of tiny sparkling stars.
Rarity directed Scootaloo to sit down on stool next to her drawing table. The mare then sat down and in the chair next table and removed her glasses and carefully folded them up, she then set them on the table. Then she turned her undivided attention to the filly.
“Now dear, what’s on your mind?”
Scootaloo found it hard to look Rarity in the eyes. For the last few days the filly’s thoughts for her longtime friend Sweetie Belle had been gnawing away in her mind and sleep. Stone Mane had said that at some point she was going to have to ask the question, but in Scoots mind this seemed like the most important question she’d ever asked.
But now sitting there in front of Rarity it seemed the silliest thing to have bring up. With her head bowed and eyes covered by her fuchsia mane she spoke in a small voice.
“Um, Rarity I, I was wondering if, if, well, uh, what does Sweetie Belle think of me? Does she talk about me much?”
The mare giggled. “Oh darling! Sweetie is constantly talking about her adventures with you and Applebloom. In fact sometimes it seems to be the only thing she talks about; you 3 get into more adventures than I can keep track of some sound hilarious, some seem to be quite delightful.”
Rarity winced a bit mentally. “And some sound down right terrifying at times. As Celestia as my witness I have no idea how you girls still have all your limbs and eyes!”
Scootaloo chuckled weakly. “Uh, well, we definitely have had some adventures, but, uh that’s not what I was asking. Does Sweetie ever talk about me. Just me. Does…she seem to really like me? Just me? Not as a group with Applebloom?”
Rarity gently tossed her violet blue mane and peered out the at the flowers in the window planter box for a moment. “Well Scootaloo, except for those occasional disagreements one has with friends my littles sister hasn’t expressed any specific dislike or a desire about you.”
The mare looked back at the filly sitting in front of her. Scootaloo’s head was slightly bowed, her ears drooping, her orange wings folded tight against the barrel of her chest. This was a side of Scootaloo that Rarity had never beheld before. Pursing her lips the mare chose her next words carefully.
“Scootaloo dear. Have you done something recently to make Sweetie Belle not like you?”
The filly shook her head vigorously. “No! No! Not that I am aware of, but I am afraid that if I do something in the future I, I might make her angry and she won’t want me around anymore.”
“And what is this thing you might do that would make her angry dear?”
The filly took a deep breath. “Have, have ever read a story, say a comic book, and, and you think it’s the most amazing story, and you’re positive that everypony must think the same thing about it! But, but then you tell somepony, uh say a close friend, but then you find out they hate the story, and think you’re stupid for liking it?”
Rarity nodded her head. “Yes, yes I have experienced that as well, but what does that have to do with my little sister and you?” Suddenly a light seemed to go off in Rarity’s head. The mare leaned forward and in hush voice she spoke.
“Scootaloo dear. Do you have feelings for Sweetie Belle? Is she somepony you find very special?”
The filly found her throat dry and unable to talk. She just nodded her head. Rarity leaned back in her chair. “And you have not yet made these feelings known to her?” Once again Scootaloo silently nodded her head.
Unicorn looked out the window once again. “And you’re worried she doesn’t feel that way about you?” Once again the filly nodded her head. Rarity whistled softly. “Love is wondrous and terrifying thing. I cannot tell you what my sister will say, but I can assure you that she’s never spoke ill of you in my presence.”
Scootaloo shivered and swallowed several times before speaking. “Thank, thank you for tell me that Rarity. I still don’t know how I, I want to tell her, but I feel a little bit better now. I just hope she, she feels the same way.” The filly looked at mare. “Please don’t tell her we had this talk.”
Rarity closed her eyes and held up her right front hoof. In the solemn voice she spoke. “On my honor as a lady, I swear your secret is safe with me!”
The filly swallowed and then asked the next question. “And, and what do you think about me having feelings for your sister? Does, does that bother you?”
The mare gave a filly a critical look that made the filly shiver a little. “You’re not kind I thought would be attracted to Sweetie Bell, but it’s not my place to tell her who she can or cannot give her heart to. I don’t have any ill feeling for you caring about her, and if Sweetie feels the same way then I hope the two of you can create something that is long lasting and helps you both. But.”
Rarity leaned forward and her voice took on a very ominous tone. “If you ever deliberately abuse her or intentionally harm my little sister, You’ll pay a price and it will be very steep. Also I will not be the only one you’ll have to explain your actions to. Understood?”
The wide eyed filly nodded her head rapidly. Rarity leaned back in her chair and smiled.
Ooooh, I wonder just to what ends would Rarity go to punish somepony intentionally hurting her little sister. In her position as a pretty well established higher society pony, she must have some very interesting connections.
