“I’m telling you, Rarity, you and your shops are just going to keep rising up to the top!”
 
“One step at a time, Sassy Saddles,” Rarity chuckled, looking behind her as she started dressing the mannequins in her new summer line: Urban Beach. “I’m also happy that the shops are  doing well, but we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves.”
 
“I know, I know, but just imagine it: Carousel Boutique stores in every major city of Equestria, your name and brand plastered on billboards everywhere!” she says, wrapping her arm around Rarity’s shoulder.
 
“Like I said, one step at a time. Helping run three shops is enough of a hassle as it is. Now, have all the deliveries come in as scheduled?” she asked, stroking her chin as she tilted the sun hat with her magic.
 
“Oh, that! Let me get right on that, they should all be here...” she said, rushing behind the counter to grab the packages and letters underneath.”Yes, I do believe that everything’s here on time!”
 
“Anything else of dire importance?” she asked, adjusting a bowtie on a mannequin.
 
“Let’s see...Seems like it’s mostly material deliveries, sequins from Las Pegasus, lace from Chicoltgo...Oh, panne and plush, Rarity! This looks important!” she said, holding up a white envelope with a golden border.
 
Rarity turned around, looking at the envelope. “Strange, it doesn’t say who it’s from…” she mused, opening it up to read the letter inside.
 
“To the staff of Canterlot Carousel, we would like to cordially invite you to our mansion’s soirée honoring the successful business owners of Canterlot. It would please us greatly if you attended,” she read aloud. “Hm? There’s an address, but absolutely no one is named. Do you know anyone who lives there?” Rarity asked, showing the address to Sassy Saddles.
 
“No, but a mansion soirée...I feel like I’ve heard that before…Ah!” she suddenly exclaimed, “I’ve heard the other Canterlot elites like Fancy Pants and Hoity Toity getting a similar invitation, and they said they were most certainly attending!”
 
Rarity put the invitation back on the counter. “It’s such short notice though, this weekend?” she mused, scanning the letter for any hints of the identity of the host. “Well, it sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you to go!”
 
“Actually, I was thinking that you should go instead of me, Rarity!” Sassy said with a sheepish smile.
 
“Me? Sassy, are you quite sure? You’re the manager and face of Canterlot Carousel, after all, I’m sure whoever wrote this invitation would be expecting you.”
 
“Yes, that’s true, but who would be better to spread the word about your stores than the mare in charge of it all? They’ll have lucked out seeing you there instead of me to promote your stores. This may be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for!”
 
Rarity looked back at the invitation. “You’re positive you don’t want to go instead? I’d hate for you to miss out…”
 
“Oh I’ll be fine, it’s not everyday you get invited to a Canterlot party, is it?”
 
“No, I suppose not, and I will still be in town when the party starts…” she said. Rarity had been to several Canterlot parties before, but there was something about the invitation that made her hesitant, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
 
“That’s the spirit! Now let’s finish setting up your new line. Hey, you can wear one of these outfits to the soirée!” she exclaimed, holding up a teal lace dress.
 
Rarity let out a small smile, trying to get her worries out of her mind. “Haha, yes, I suppose I could...”
 
A few days later, and Rarity made her way to the address on the invitation, double-checking to make sure she was correct. With the banter she was overhearing, she was either at the right place, or she was interrupting an entirely different soirée. A compass rose stamp at the bottom of the letter was meant to be her ticket in. She was surprised to see royal guards at the gates. As far as she knew, this was for Canterlot business owners, whoever the host was must be quite successful to be able to afford such securities. The guards checked the invitation, and she was granted access.
 
Past the gates was a lively party. The various guests were talking in their various cliques, as servers went around passing hors d’oeuvres around. The music playing was a more upbeat jazz that contrasted the usual elegance of classical music. Rarity saw quite a few familiar faces acting more boisterous than she usually saw them in public, presumably due to the wine that was being served at a crowded bar.
 
Rarity began to mingle, introducing herself to the other guests. They complemented her stunning teal lace dress with matching high heels. Rarity explained that she designed them herself, which lead to the advertisement of her boutiques. The others were impressed with the modest, yet spunky look she pulled off. They also explained what their business was about. Inventors, artists, professors, many of them were businesses Rarity hadn’t heard of, but piqued her interests.
 
Soon, she had increased her Canterlot connections, she couldn’t wait to tell Sassy Saddles about the new business partner opportunities.
 
After a bit more networking, she heard her name called by a familiar voice. Turning around, she saw Fancy Pants and his entourage. He began waving, beckoning for her to join them.
 
“Fancy Pants! It’s so lovely to see you here!” she said, walking towards the group.
 
“Hello, Rarity! The feeling is mutual, it pleases me that you decided to show up, and might I say that is a very stunning dress you have on. I assume you made that dress yourself for an upcoming collection, am I correct?”
 
Rarity blushed, “Oh, thank you, you’re absolutely right! This is going to be a part of my upcoming ‘Urban Beach’ collection!” she said, doing a little twirl and flourish to show her outfit off.
 
“Well, I must say that I would be happy to check it out myself when the rest of your collection is made public!” Fancy Pants said, the rest of his group quickly agreeing with him.
 
“Why, I’m honored that you’d take the time to do so! Sassy Saddles will be setting up the collection soon, it just needs a bit more tweaking before it’s finally ready to go public,” Rarity said, beaming. It was always nice to use your connections to get yourself higher in the world.
 
“Take all the time you need, you can’t rush perfection, after all!”
 
Rarity nodded. “It’s been quite a while, how have you been?”
 
“Oh, I’ve been doing quite fine, myself. Plenty to do in Canterlot. Wonderbolts, zeppelins, auctions, business as usual,” he said, adjusting his collar. “What about you? Anything new or exciting happening in your life?”
 
“Oh, plenty! There’s the new store in Manehattan, the dragonlands, Rainbow Dash becoming part of the Wonderbolts, the yaks in Yakyakistan...My, there’s just so much to say, it’s just been so long since we’ve gotten to talk!”
 
“Indeed, we’re quite fortunate that this party has brought us together again like this! But the night is still young, your tales are fascinating, and I’d love to hear more of them!”
 
“Oh, speaking of which, do you know who the host of this party is?” Rarity said, grabbing a glass of wine, taking a small sip.
 
“No, can’t say that I do,” Fancy Pants said with a frown. “They do know how to throw a rather smashing party, though!”
 
“Hm...and no one here has even seen the host?” she asked. The other guests shook their heads, much to her disappointment. While the party was splendid, she did wonder why the host was shrouded in anonymity. “Oh well, I suppose they shall continue to be a mystery…”
 
The party continued, and Rarity continued to share the stories of her adventures of her and her friends to Fancy Pants and her guests, who found her more suburban life far more interesting than any sort of business venture. Other familiar faces such as Saffron Masala and Photo Finish came to catch up with her as well. As time passed, the other guests started getting considerably more intoxicated, but Rarity knew better than to lose her composure from one too many glasses of wine. As she conversed with friends, new and old, one of the guards walked up from behind, tapping her on the shoulder.
 
“Miss Rarity?”
 
“Yes, what is it?” she asked, tilting her head.
 
“Please, come with me.” The guard quickly pulled her aside to a more secluded spot on the lawn. Fancy Pants and the group looked on with confusion, but continued their conversation without her.
 
“Miss Rarity, I have come to inform you that the host wishes to talk with you after the party has ended,” the guard stated.
 
“My, have I done something wrong? Am I in trouble?”
 
“No, ma’am, our host just wishes to discuss something in private. They believe that the best time would be after the party when the rest of the guests leave, I hope that’s not an inconvenience for you.”
 
“Well, with such a wonderful party, who am I to say no?”
 
“Thank you, please meet by the front door at 1AM, and enjoy the rest of your evening,” the guard said, returning back to his post.
 
Rarity returned back to Fancy Pants’s group, jumping back into the conversation. She was curious as to what the host could possibly want with her, but she wasn’t about to get answers anytime soon.
 
The party continued long into the night. Celestia had lowered the sun as Luna’s moon rose to the top of the starry sky. The lighting now provided by fire-lit lanterns against the moonlight. The wine supply had long since run dry, and a majority of the invited guests had started to leave, walking out with a stagger.
 
It was getting closer to the time that Rarity had agreed to meet with the mystery host, and the number of remaining guests continued to dwindle. She walked up to the front door. “Excuse me, but I believe the host wanted to talk to me in private at this time?”
 
“Yes, Miss Rarity, please step inside, the host shall be out with you shortly,” he said, opening the door for her.
 
Rarity walked inside, where she was guided upstairs into a parlor by another guard. She was instructed to wait there until the host was ready to get her.
 
The room was quite extravagant, every seat having some sort of golden decoration on it. She sat down at a chair by the window, watching the last remaining guests leave. The minutes continued to pass, Rarity began to yawn, ready to walk out, until she heard the doorknob start to turn, the door opening just a crack.
 
“Hello, Miss Rarity…”
 
Rarity felt a chill go down her spine. She instantly stood up from her seat. It had been so long since she last heard that voice, but there was no mistaking that slimy, snooty tone. “You!”
 
The pony stepped into the room, a white stallion with blonde flowing locks, it was none other than Prince Blueblood. “Yes, me! Truth be told, I was expecting Miss Saddles, but it appears that someone better has come back to me.”
 
“What do you want?” she asked, her body physically recoiling from him.
 
“Why, isn’t it obvious? I called you here privately because I want this moment to be intimate. You see...I want you…” he said, walking forward until he was only a few feet away from her.
 
Rarity paused, she was willing to give him a second chance...until she felt his hands grasping onto her breasts. Using her high heel, she stamped on Blueblood’s foot. When he recoiled in pain, she gave him a punch to the gut. “And here I thought you changed for the better. It turns out that you’ve only gotten worse, you disgusting pervert!” she shouted, starting to march out the door.
 
Blueblood had to take a moment to catch his breath, before straightening himself up. “I see, if that’s how it’s going to be, you leave me no choice!” he declared, suddenly lunging forward, slipping a ring onto Rarity’s horn. Before Rarity could pry it off, Blueblood used his magic to bring out the leather cuffs attached to golden chains hiding in the drawers. The cuffs wrapped around Rarity’s ankles and wrists, and Blueblood lifted her up off the floor by the chains.