Threads of Gold

The process was long and taxing on the body, but it had to be done. If there was one thing Rarity had learned from being a designer it was that it was sometimes necessary to forfeit your own comforts for the benefit of the customer. Be it an awful design they request or a difficult material to gather. She looked to her clock, she did not have much time to spare but with the Cutie Mark Crusaders gone for the night she would at least be able to get some work done. That Sweetie Belle, even in her absence she managed to slow Rarity's work. She knew better than to use Rarity's good silks! Rarity put a closed sign on her shop door, she did not intend to be disturbed during her ritual. She opened the door to the basement and kicked down a laundry basket. She packed a box full of apples and any sweets she had laying around the house and put it on her back.

She walked down the steps with purpose, stepping over any pieces of cloth left on the stairs. There was no time to clean them now. She arrived at the bottom, turning back only to grimace at the mess she'd made. She picked up the basket in her mouth and walked to the back of her basement, where not a light shone. She lit a well-used candle attached to the wall and put the basket down behind a screen adorned with her face. There was not much in this part of her home, behind the screen there was a table with scissors and rulers spread across it as well as a few snippets of her old silk. There was a single stool at the table, she'd modified it herself so she could use it to make her threads, and a small trash-bin at the very corner of the table. An old sewing machine lay on the ground beside the table, blank papers and old sketches were strewn across the floor, almost covering it. She kicked the basket under the stool and put her box of food on the table, she picked up the sewing machine and a hoof-ful of papers, put them on the table, and took her seat. She began to estimate how much gold silk she'd have to make. She'd already lined eight robes, but Sweetie Belle had cut holes in what remained of her stock. She thought it better to make more than she needed "Better to be safe than sorry." she said to herself. Looking at the dust on all her tools, Rarity noted it had been quite a while since she'd done this.

She opened her box and took out an apple, examining it for any bruises. Being a proper lady, she would never degrade herself by eating a bruised apple. Realising what she was here to do, she let out a nervous laugh and quickly took a bite of the apple. It was crisp and fresh, as were all of Applejack's apples. Something about the bright red shine was off-putting however, Rarity managed to catch a glimpse of herself and her surroundings in it. She finished the apple and took out another, tossing the core in to the trash.

As she bit in to it, she made sure all the proper instruments were here. Her eyes scanned across the table and she flicked her hooves as she checked each item off her mental list. Everything seemed to be in place, now it was just a matter of time. She finished her second apple and decided to eat one of her cupcakes. The icing was sweet, too sweet for Rarity's tastes but she didn't have much choice, especially since she was doing this on such short notice. She began to draw rough sketches to pass the time.

Her stomach growled in protest as she continued to eat her store of food, she could feel pressure building in her gut as she stuffed herself full. Every bite became more painful to swallow than the last, but she had to press on. For her customers! She ate all the contents of the box she packed, and decided to take a rest before she started to make her silk. She cleared a space on her table and lay her head, letting her eyelids close themselves slowly.

"Oh Rarity, your mane is absolutely fabulous!" the gray Earth pony complimented. "And all your fashion designs are simply magnificent! The attention to detail! Every thread is in its place!" Rarity held her head up high, a self satisfied smile across her face. How kind of him, she thought. "I simply must have you at my next fashion show in Canterlot!" Rarity cleared her throat but before she could respond he spoke up again "You know, Celestia's nephew will be there" the earth pony winked, as a blush slipped it's way across Rarity's cheeks "and there will be a whole assortment of hors d'œuvres!" The sudden mention of food caught Rarity off guard, and her face reflected her confusion, raising an eyebrow. The earth pony turned away "Oh yes, more than you could ever eat, I assure you!" He turned back, his face had morphed in to a half eaten cupcake, one eye dangling out of from a bite mark.

Rarity awoke, her heart racing. She always had odd dreams when she ate so much sugar all at once, so it did not take long for her to calm herself. She looked at her empty box, and pressed a hoof against her stomach. It was stiff, it wouldn't be long now, she thought. She continued to make new designs, constantly scrumpling up her papers and tossing them towards the trash bin. A sudden gargle alarmed her, she was ready to make her first batch of silk! She sat on her stool, a small hole carved in to the center of it. She didn't force it, that would ruin the fine texture of her threads, she simply allowed it to happen. With her last shred of dignity, she winced and separated her buttocks.