Rarity was just finishing a brand new saddle for Apple Bloom. She used her magic to lift it carefully off of the model and into a large white box with a picture of her shop on the side. Spike would deliver it for her in the morning. Rarity swept her hoof over her forehead and gave a tired sigh. She lifted her glasses from her nose and set them down on her desk. She yawned hugely and looked at the wall clock.
"My goodness, look at the time! I'd better get to bed. Don't want to be exhausted for fabric shopping with Fluttershy tomorrow," Rarity said to herself. She was walking through the shop and was just stepping onto the stairs that would lead her up to her bed chambers when there was an insistent knock on the shop's door. She set her hoof down and uttered an annoyed sigh.
"Who could be knocking at this hour?" Rarity muttered. She flipped her mane and smiled sweetly before opening the door. She was met with the sight of Caramel Apple using his hoof to scratch the back of his neck. Caramel was a caramel colored earth pony with a dark brown mane styled neatly. He had deep blue eyes and three horseshoes as a cutie mark. He looked up and smiled nervously at Rarity.
"Hello Miss Rarity. Sorry to bother you this late but I made some caramel apples and I know how much you've been wanting some for the past few days. I'm just sorry its taken me so long to get around to it," he said holding up a brown paper bag. He had a light southern accent just like the rest of the Apple family. He was, after all, a cousin of Apple Jack.
"Oh Caramel, do come in. I've just finished a saddle for a close friend of my sister. She just got her cutie mark and they're all beside themselves with excitement," Rarity stepped aside to allow Caramel into the boutique. She closed the door behind him and followed him into the kitchen behind the main shop. She motioned for Caramel to put his bag down on the table.
"You look mighty tired Miss Rarity. Are you sure it's not too late for one of our chats?" Caramel asked, concern filling his eyes. Rarity shook her head and smiled at him.
"Oh not at all Caramel! I do so enjoy it when you come to visit." And her words were true. When Caramel Apple had moved in with the the Apples at Sweet Apple Acres he and Rarity hit it off very well very quickly. They often got together at the new cafe in Ponyville for tea and apple fritters. Rarity was a big fan of the caramel apples that Caramel specialized in making and Caramel couldn't help but love Rarity's fashion sense. Besides that, they had much in common. A distaste for anything different, a love of musical theater, and of course an insistent passion for physical appearance. Caramel sat gently onto a seating pillow by Rarity's small kitchen table.
"So Miss Rarity, what sort of outfits have you been working on lately?" he asked opening up the brown paper bag. Rarity settled herself across from him and lifted two caramel apples from his bag.
"Oh just personal orders for friends and such. You know I've got a bit of a delivery service going now. Like that saddle I was talking about. It's up in a box now for Spike to deliver for me tomorrow." She had lifted two plates from her cupboard and set them on her table, putting the caramel apples on them.
"Oh yes, I've heard that from Apple Jack. Do you think you could make something fancy for me?" he asked in a joking southern drawl. Rarity settled herself in front of her sweet treat and nodded her head.
"I would love making something for you Caramel! All you have to do is ask. Tell you what, I'll even make whatever you want for free." She then took a large bite from her caramel apple and made a sound of delight. "My dear I believe these are the best you've made so far!" she exclaimed after swallowing. A blush arose to Caramel's cheeks.
"Awe shucks Miss Rarity. You say that every time," he muttered. Rarity took another bite.
"And every time I mean it. Now about something that I can make you?" Caramel had already finished his apple and was wiping his mouth clean with one of the ever present napkins on Rarity's table. He looked thoughtful for a while then his deep blue eyes lit up with an idea.
"Well, I have always wanted a suit. Something fancy that I can wear to the family reunions." He was smiling shyly at Rarity. She was nearly halfway through her treat and smiled brightly at the suggestion. Once she had swallowed she said,
"Splendid idea Caramel! I can get you sizes done tonight and start work tomorrow afternoon when I get back from fabric shopping with Fluttershy! Oh I can just picture it now. Something brown to compliment your coat and bring out your eyes. And of course you'll need some sort of hat. I'm thinking a top hat, dark blue or brown I would think. And cuffs! You'll need cuffs!" She went on like that for some time. The rest of Caramel's visit was taken up with talk of his soon to be made suit and taking his sizes. It was nearly midnight before Caramel departed and Rarity could finally go to bed. Not that she got to sleep very soon. Her mind was full with ideas for her new found project. Soon though, she drifted away with the thoughts of different fabrics and stitches dancing in her dreams.
Hey guys. For those of you that have followed my only other MLP fanfic you know that I just dropped out unexpectedly. The reason? My computer overheated and I am not in a position where I can get it fixed. All my work is saved onto it and I can't use it to copy an paste like I usually do. I apologize and promise that as soon as it's fixed I'll start it up again. Until I can I've decided busy myself with a short romance. I've always liked the idea of Rare and Care together and I hope you guys do too. Leave a review on basic writing style and how you like it and such. It really helps to know what people think as an author in training. Thanks for reading and I promise to have the next chapter out ASAP!