Chapter 1

“If your life was a book, what would it be about?”

It was lucky that Ponyville’s streets were empty, or else Rarity wouldn’t have heard Twilight’s voice. She’d barely slept the previous night, staying up until six in the morning working on an order for a client, so her drowsy mind still had trouble processing sounds. It certainly didn’t help that it was a particularly chilly morning, and her scarf was doing absolutely nothing to alleviate the cold.

Twilight had stopped in front of a wall, curiously reading from the poster pasted on it. Rarity covered her mouth and yawned before making her way towards the alicorn. She took a minute to properly adjust Twilight’s scarf — which she’d insisted Twilight put on — and then leaned against her, rubbing her eyes before looking at the poster.

The poster was announcing a writing contest; one of Mayor Mare’s several attempts to encourage reading and writing in Ponyville. Surprisingly, the mayor had taken initiative on the matter without any coaxing on Twilight’s part — or so Twilight insisted, but Rarity had her doubts about that.

“Sweetheart, it’s far too early for you to be asking me existential questions, don’t you think?” Rarity asked, closing her eyes and cuddling against Twilight for warmth. She yawned again and continued, “Why not try asking me a bit later, hmm?”

Twilight snorted, and Rarity didn’t need to look to know Twilight had rolled her eyes.

“You’re shivering, Rarity,” Twilight said in a stern voice, wrapping her wing around Rarity as a makeshift blanket, eliciting a delighted sigh from the unicorn. “I told you to bring your coat… You know, sometimes I wonder if you ‘forget’ it on purpose.”

“Twilight,” Rarity whined softly, nuzzling against her marefriend and using her magic to tighten her wing-blanket. “Me? Purposefully wanting to use your delightfully warm and soft wings to shield myself from the bitter cold? Honestly, it’s too early to be accusing me of such sneaky behaviours!” she said indignantly.

Twilight playfully raised an eyebrow. “‘Too early’? It’s almost a quarter to eleven, Rarity.”

Rarity looked up to offer the lethal pout she knew Twilight couldn’t resist. “Can’t you give me a break, darling? I went to bed at six in the morning!”

Twilight leaned down a bit. “Should I remind you who else went to bed at six in the morning because you asked that she stay over to help?” When Rarity replied with a blushing giggle, Twilight smirked at her. “Thought so.”

“Well, can you blame me for wanting you to spend the night when you’re so adorably huggable when you sleep?” Rarity leaned in to kiss Twilight, and then turned back to the poster and read aloud: “‘Be a part of Ponyville’s history! The town council invites you to write your autobiography, and submit it to Ponyville’s creative writing group so as to have it included in our new library.'”

Twilight nodded effusively. “I set up a special bookcase in the castle, and some of the foals from Cheerilee’s school already sent their books,” she explained, her eyes lighting up in that adorable way Rarity loved. Twilight turned to other mare and clapped her hooves against the ground. “I know! Why don’t you write one? Pinkie’s going to write hers and so is Spike!”

Rarity mulled it over. “I don’t know…”

Writing an autobiography, even if it would be the most enthralling and passionate one submitted to the contest, was quite the chore. She had several dozen dresses to finish, not to mention many important engagements such as visits to the spa with Fluttershy, lunch dates with Pinkie Pie and Applejack, a fitting with Rainbow Dash, and then several dates with Twilight. Writing implied sitting down, pondering about the universe, and then having to actually put all that into words. She simply had no time for that!

“Oh, come on! It’ll be fun,” Twilight insisted, nudging Rarity with her hoof. “I’ll even help you! I can proof-read, and make critiques, and check for characterization, and fact check, and—”

Rarity laughed. “Twilight, I’m writing an autobiography, not the Manehattan Times’ next best seller.”

“So you will write it?” Twilight exclaimed, moving away and flapping her wings excitedly, leaving Rarity without her main source of heat. “There aren’t many ponies sending in biographies, and if you enter, maybe the girls will too!”

Rarity adjusted her scarf, looking away. “I don’t know, it’s too cold to decide…”

Twilight got the hint quick enough and once more wrapped her marefriend in a warm winged hug, followed by a nuzzle. “Please?“

Rarity giggled. “Goodness, you’re such a pampered princess, aren’t you?” she asked before sighing theatrically. “I suppose I’ll write it, but don’t expect a novel, Twilight. I’ll make it about ten pages and noth— No, don’t give me that look! You know these next weeks will be very busy for me!” she clarified. “Now, shall we move… Oh, for ponyssake…”

Twilight was blinking at Rarity, her eyes wide and pleading, her hoof gently pawing at the unicorn. Rarity absolutely detested it when Twilight tried doing a puppy dog face, not only because it was Rarity’s speciality, but because Twilight was so bad at it, she only made it even more adorable. Had Sweetie Belle been giving Twilight lessons on how to use cute expressions to get your way?

“Fine, fifteen pages, and nothing more.”

“Girls, will you please be still for five minutes?”

Fidgeting around in the prototypes of what would become the new uniforms for Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, the usually adventurous Cutie Mark Crusaders looked anything but adventurous standing uncomfortably in the middle of Rarity’s workshop. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom seemed to be getting used to the uniforms, but Scootaloo made no attempt to hide her discomfort. Rarity was well aware that there wasn’t really a need for a pegasi-style uniform since alicorn fillies were scarce, but one had to always be prepared!

“Rainbow, be a dear and pass me the measuring tape, will you?” Rarity asked, glancing over at the pegasus lying on her fainting couch, busy reading several sheets of paper.

Rainbow Dash looked away from the papers momentarily to throw Rarity the measuring tape before going back to her reading. “So tell me again why you’re writing your autobiography?”

It had been an entire week since Twilight asked Rarity to write her autobiography, and the unicorn had barely made any progress. She had other things to attend to, but she had tried to write a few pages at least.

“Twilight asked her to write one for the library, and Rarity is doing it because her special somepony asked,” Sweetie replied in a teasing sing-song voice, fluttering her eyes at her sister. “Right, Sis?”

“Yes, but I’m afraid I’m not very inspired by the entire thing,” Rarity admitted, unrolling the tape and measuring Sweetie’s shirt.

Rainbow snorted. “Then why’re you doing it? I mean, if you don’t even want to do it.” Rainbow put down the papers and raised her eyebrow. “Didn’t Twilight already rope Pinkie Pie, Spike, and Applejack into doing theirs?”

Rarity shrugged, putting down the measuring tape and floating over some sewing pins. “Twilight asked me to do it, and I thought I might as well give it a try since she seemed so excited by the idea. Writing and reading are two of her passions, and I should try to show interest in them too.” She looked over her shoulder and tilted her head, grinning. “I would hope you’d also try showing interest in your special somepony’s passions, Rainbow Dash.”

She received a big smirk in reply.

“Psh, that’s easy when my special somepony’s passion will be me,” Rainbow shot back, puffing out her chest and playfully scowling at Rarity when the unicorn let out a very loud and unladylike snort. “I bet you’re just doing it because you’re so lovesick, your brain automatically says yes to anything she asks you to do,” Rainbow teased, Rarity’s eye roll only feeding her smug smirk.

“See? Your reactions aren’t helping your case, Rares,” she continued, joining in with the giggling of the three younger ponies. “‘Ohhh, Twiliiiight, I’d write you soooo many sappy novels if I could~!’“

Rarity rolled her eyes again. “Shall I remind everypony of the way you acted when the Wonderbolts came to town? How fast you agreed when Spitfire asked you to do all those boring chores for the event? Hmmmmm?” Rarity asked, turning to look at the pegasus and smiling when the latter’s giggles ceased almost immediately. “I thought so.”

Rarity took a few steps back and admired her hoofwork, taking off her glasses and putting them on a nearby table. “Right, I think that’s enough for today,” she said, clapping her hoof against the floor. “There’s some pastries in the kitchen I bought for you as thanks for helping me, so you can all take off the costumes and — carefully take them off! The cupcakes aren’t going anywhere, for heaven’s sake!” She barely managed to catch the uniforms as the fillies threw them off their bodies before running out of the room and towards the kitchen.

While Rarity busied herself with folding the uniforms, Rainbow took another section of paper and looked through it. “So is she writing one too? I bet you’re both gonna fill them with sappy stories about each other.” She looked towards Rarity’s pages. “Almost half of those are literally just about Twilight.”

A pink tinge decorated Rarity’s cheeks. She cleared her throat and waved her hoof in a dismissive motion. “Yes, well, it’s still not finished, as you’ll remember. Nevertheless, I do plan on writing about something that isn’t Twilight.”

“Right. You’ll write about how miserable life is without Twilight. You do know that an autobiography has to be about you, right, Rares?” she asked, catching the pillow the flustered unicorn threw at her and then laughing at Rarity’s scowl. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop!”

Rarity’s reply was cut off by the distant chimes of the entrance bell. Odd, she thought, putting down the sewing pins and taking a few steps towards the room’s exit. I wasn’t expecting any clients today. Had she perhaps forgotten to schedule an appointment? She had only marked down Rainbow’s visit during tea time, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders stopping by to help with the last few uniforms.

“Hello? Rarity? Anypony?” a voice called. A voice that belonged to somepony who was more than welcome to trot into Rarity’s boutique whenever she desired.

“We’re in the workroom, sweetheart!” Rarity called.

Moments later, Ponyville’s very own Princess of Friendship stepped into the room, a saddlebag hanging around her and a medium sized rolled up poster floating behind.

“Hi, Rainbow Dash!” she greeted, smiling at the pegasus. Afterwards, she trotted over to Rarity and gently nuzzled her, drawing out a delighted hum from the unicorn.

“If you’re here to take the girls to their lesson, they’re in the kitchen,” Rarity said when Twilight pulled away.

“Okay…” Twilight replied absentmindedly, her attention drawn towards something else in the room. She trotted away from the unicorn and towards the papers next to Dash. “Is that…?” She put down her rolled-up poster on a table and started reaching for the auto-biography, only for the papers to quickly levitate away “Rarity!” She turned around, frowning at the unicorn and the papers floating behind her. “Oh, come on, why can’t I read it yet?”

“It’s not ready yet!” Rarity replied, placing her biography on a table. “I told you I’d show it when it’s perfect.”

Twilight’s ears dropped. “All right…”

“Yeah, Twi,” Rainbow said suddenly, grinning at the alicorn. “It’s better you wait, anyway. Some parts are pretty weak.”

“You read it?! How come Rainbow gets to read it, and I don’t?” Twilight exclaimed, throwing Rarity an offended look.

Rarity contemplated Twilight for a minute before relenting, “Oh, all right. I promise I’ll let you read it on our date Thursday night, just because somepony felt the need to brag. Now, hurry along or else your class with the girls will start late.”

Satisfied with Rarity’s promise, Twilight nodded and then turned to Rainbow. She levitated her poster and unfurled it to reveal it was about the writing contest.

“So! Rainbo—”

“It ain’t happening, egghead,” Rainbow replied immediately. “I’m too busy with my own awesome novel about the awesome leader of the Wonderbolts, and Spike is already too busy writing his to write mine.”

Twilight rolled back her poster. “Fine…” She trotted off and out the room, calling out to the fillies. “Girls! Come on, we’re going to learn about alchemy today!”

“Oh, wait! Those squirts better not have eaten all the cupcakes,” Rainbow said, trotting out of the room right after Twilight. “Hey, leave some for us, will you?!”

Fifteen minutes or so later, after having organized a bit of the mess in the room, Rarity left her workroom to join the others. Stepping into the entrance room, she found Twilight idly petting Opalescence while she waited for the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The feline was lying on her back, purring contently as Twilight’s hoof traced circles on her white stomach.

Honestly, how could she not be expected to spend so much time writing about Twilight when the alicorn was so adorable?

Rarity watched for a moment before quietly trotting towards Twilight. “Mmm, what a lucky, lucky kitten,” she murmured, nuzzling lovingly against Twilight and leaving a kiss on the alicorn’s jawline. She then looked down at the pampered cat and sighed theatrically. “How come you never treat me like that? I never get free tummy massages!”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Because you would never lie down on the floor in the first place,” she replied with a giggle, extending a wing and wrapping it around Rarity. She put her chin on top of Rarity’s head, let out a content sigh, and held Rarity like that for about a minute until a groan escaped her mouth.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Do you want me to go hurry up the girls?”

Twilight shook her head. “No, it’s not that. It’s just…” She drifted off and giggled slightly. “I wish you’d let me read your autobiography already…”

Rarity moved back to look at Twilight. “Now now, my darling, a princess must learn to be patient. A writer can’t be rushed!” she insisted, using her hoof to brush back Twilight’s fringe. “I must admit I’m surprised by how much you want to read it, though! I feel like you think I’m publishing the next Daring Do!”

Twilight blushed. “I…” She faltered slightly. “I’m sorry if I’m pressuring you… It’s just that I like reading biographies, I guess? I can stop asking about it if you wa—”

“Hush, sweetheart,” Rarity interrupted, tapping Twilight’s nose with her forehoof. “Your interest in my silly autobiography is what keeps me going. Now, why don’t you start heading to the castle, and I’ll go see what’s keeping those fillies, hm?”

“Okay.” Twilight nodded, opening the door and trotting outside. She was about to head off before stopping and turning to look at Rarity. “So, dinner on Thursday?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Rarity replied. “And I’ll be sure to bring my thrilling tale on my life thus far.”

Twilight smiled. “See you soon!” she said, turning around and trotting off towards the castle in the distance.

Rarity closed the door and trotted towards the kitchen. I better try and write a few more pages before Thursday, then. I doubt she’ll be very excited if I arrive with my four lonely pages. Oh, maybe I’ll decorate it! I can add illustrations!

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when she heard three knocks at the door. Who could that be?

She trotted back to the door and opened it, to her surprise finding a familiar alicorn. “Twilight!” she exclaimed, blinking at the mare. “Back so soon? I didn’t even have time to fetch the girls!”

“Oh, uhm, I didn’t come for that… I just forgot something?”

Rarity frowned, thinking back to some time ago. “I… don’t remember you leaving anything in the workroom.” She had cleaned up shortly after Rainbow and Twilight left, and she would have found anything that didn’t belong to her. “What did you forget?”

Twilight giggled, her flush intensifying as she trotted over and kissed Rarity. “I forgot a goodbye kiss,” she elaborated, leaning in to quickly nuzzle the blushing unicorn. “Okay, now I really have to go.” She then turned around and cantered off. “Don’t forget to get the girls!”

Once again, Rarity closed the door to her boutique, but rather than going to the kitchen, she pressed her forehead against the door and let out a string of foalish giggles. Heavens, she’s adorable, she thought with a smitten smile.

A minute later, she finally straightened herself up and turned around to find three fillies and a mare peeking out from the kitchen door, the four of them looking at Rarity with very teasing smiles.

“What are you looking at me like that for?” Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Awwwwww,” replied Sweetie and Apple Bloom, inadvertently increasing Rarity’s already noticeable blush.

“Oh Celestia, you’ve brainwashed Twilight into being just as sappy as you are!”

“Oh, do grow up, Rainbow Dash.”

By the time Thursday night arrived, Rarity had finished her fabulous autobiography. Twenty-three pages bound in a beautiful cover she had designed herself, filled with enough details about her life to satisfy anypony who’d be curious about her life. She could have written much, much more, but a lady never reveals too much about herself — she reveals enough to give a small taste of her life, but only enough so as to keep them wanting more.

After a lovely dinner, Twilight and Rarity had settled themselves in the library to do some reading. Large cushions were littered all over the place, big enough for two ponies to comfortably lie down on one. Nevertheless, Rarity had settled herself on a cushion all for herself, right next to the one where Twilight was lying.

“Goodness, I never would have imagined Mayor Mare to have been so… enthusiastic about gothic fashion in her youth,” Rarity said, turning the page of the mayor’s autobiography. After all, she had to set the example if she hoped for other to follow suit. “Maybe I can get somepony to model the gothic designs I’ve been toying with, after all.”

“Mhm.”

Rarity looked up and found Twilight engrossed in reading Rarity’s book. A quill was floating next to her, red ink dripping from the tip. To Rarity’s disappointment, Twilight’s expression was impassive. Usually, the alicorn would be so entranced in her reading, always reacting to it in some way.

Does this mean she doesn’t like it? Rarity thought, biting down on her lip. What wasn’t there to like, though? It wasn’t a fictional novel, it was a completely one-hundred percent true autobiography. Well… Maybe it was ninety-six percent true… All right, maybe ninety percent true.

Rarity shook her head.

No, Twilight wouldn’t be upset about a few embellishments here and there, would she? Then again, hadn’t she mentioned she’d be doing fact checking? What would she think of the entire Sonic Rainboom disaster? She’d only modified it slightly to… make her seem a bit less of—

Actually, she didn’t even want to think of that particular event.

“I’m done,” Twilight announced suddenly, putting the book down and pulling Rarity back from cloud cuckooland. Just like before, she remained completely expressionless. She then took a nearby purple notebook and made some annotations before looking back to Rarity’s book with a furrowed brow.

Oh Princesses, she hates it, Rarity thought, ears pressing against her head. She sighed inwardly, trying not to dwell too much on the matter. Not everypony would always be able to see her perfection, and she supposed Twilight was included in there. It was still sad that her special somepony apparently didn’t like… Rarity’s life thus far, though.

“I liked it.”

Rarity blinked, awoken from her thoughts. That’s it? No ‘loved it’ or ‘hated it’; she just ‘liked’ it.

“I.. I’m glad to hear that, darling!” Rarity said, clearing her throat. “Er, anything in specific you’d like to say?”

Twilight picked up the book and opened it up, leafing through its pages. “You have very good grammar and syntax, though you seem to get a bit carried away with commas and underlining words.” She stopped at a page and squinted her eyes. “The addition of illustrations makes it a much nicer read, and the text flows very well for the most part. You do use some technical terms when describing your dresses, though. I would suggest adding an annex page explaining the terms, or to at least do so in the footers. Content wise…”

“Yes…?” Rarity prompted after Twilight fell silent.

“I liked it. Even though you seem to remember certain events incorrectly, it was interesting to see your point of view on them, like on the whole ordeal with Tirek, or…” She faltered, a blush creeping up on her cheeks. “My Canterlot birthday party from a few years ago…”

“Birthday party?” asked Rarity, her lips curving into a sly smile. “I assume you’re referring to the one where I confessed my feelings towards you by kissing you in front of—”

“Yes, that one,” Twilight quickly interrupted, her face flushing. “Anyway, I liked it in general…” She drifted off, almost as if having cut herself off on purpose. She closed the book and put it back down, crossing her forehooves in a way Rarity had come to learn meant that Twilight was holding back.

“But…?” Rarity prompted again.

Twilight looked up at Rarity, her ears lowering. She opened and closed her mouth several times, apparently undecided on what to say. “I… Well, I mean, it’s not that I didn’t like it but… All the other autobiographies submitted so far have been at least forty pages long. But yours…” She picked up the book and rifled through the pages. “It’s so short! There’s some events you refer to that sound very interesting, but you just mention them in passing or skim them over! And you barely wrote anything about your foalhood! It’s kinda frustrating…” she admitted, putting the book back down and crossing her forelegs again.

A wave of relief washed over Rarity. “Oh, darling, I thought it was something serious!” she said, shaking her head and taking back Mayor Mare’s biography. She could continue with her reading now that she knew her relationship wasn’t in jeopardy. “I did tell you I didn’t have time to write anything lengthier than that, Twilight.”

“I know that, but you could have added a bit more on your foalhood,” Twilight replied. “It feels like you practically only talk about what happened after Nightmare Moon’s defeat.”

Rarity considered Twilight’s statement for a minute. “Well… An autobiography is supposed to be about my life, isn’t it?” She suddenly got up from the cushion and plopped herself down next to Twilight, making sure to intertwine their tails. “But my life wasn’t interesting until I met you, Twilight.”

Second later, Rarity wished she had a camera with her just to have a way to remember Twilight’s expression for the rest of her life. The alicorn’s face was completely flushed, and her expression kept switching between frustration and embarrassed pleasure.

“Rarity, I mean it,” Twilight said, the stern effect she was trying to achieve completely nullified by the smile she couldn’t hold back. “This isn’t an autobiography! It’s a.. a.. summary! An abridged version!”

“Twilight, darling, I told you I didn’t have time for anything lengthier than that,” Rarity reminded.

Twilight looked down at the book. “I know, but…” Her voice fell to a whisper, and she half-heartedly rubbed her hoof against the cover. “I want to know more about you…”

Silence settled itself in the room, broken moments later when Rarity cuddled up to Twilight. “Awwwwwwwww, Twilight! I can hardly blame you, though,” she said haughtily, flipping her mane back. “Even I want to know more about my wonderful self!” she exclaimed, giggling when Twilight threw her a playfully annoyed look.

“Gosh, you’re so full of yourself, Rarity.”

Rarity giggled innocently “Am I?” She leaned over, her lips inches away from Twilight’s, and brushed Twilight’s cheek with her hoof.. “And yet you can’t seem to get enough of me, now can you?”

Rather than using words, Twilight replied with actions. She closed the distance between their lips, allowing Rarity to step into a small moment of bliss. When they pulled away, Rarity sighed and leaned against Twilight, admiring her book.

“Since you really want me to do it,” she began to say, reaching out and flipping the book open, “I suppose I can try and write a few more pages for you to peruse. I’ll start tomorrow—” She’d barely finished her sentence when several sheets of blank paper and a quill appeared in front of her. “… Or right this instant, Miss No-Patience-Whatsoever.”

“Look, I’ll even help you write it,” Twilight said eagerly, taking the quill in her magical grasp, dipping it in ink and awaiting Rarity’s dictation.

“Let’s see…” Rarity closed her eyes, relishing the feel of Twilight’s coat against her. “Some time ago in the town of Ponyville, the single most beautiful and perfect unicorn in all of Equestria graced the kingdom with her birth.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “‘The most beautiful and perfect unicorn in all of Equestria’?”

Rarity nodded, nuzzling against her marefriend. “Don’t you agree?”

Twilight was quiet for a moment before enveloping Rarity with her wing and returning the affectionate gesture. “Yeah, I do.”

FIN