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“Feeling nervous Sweetie Belle?”

The younger unicorn jumped a bit as she trotted next to her older sister. It all felt like so much; walking through the castle in lingerie, feeling the gaze of other ponies on her. She could feel everyone looking at her, judging her; even when she tried to ignore it. She was just one of many mares walking these halls, so they couldn’t ALL be on her, right?

Well, it didn’t help that she was walking with her older sister. Sweetie’s known for years that Rarity was a high ranking member of the Red Velvet Society. Ever since she followed her to a meeting when she was 16. She shouldn’t have; she saw things she shouldn’t have, but if she never did, then she would never have found herself being mentored by her older sister and she wouldn’t be here, now a proper mare at 21.

“Is it that obvious?”

Rarity giggled, “Sweetie Belle, even if you managed to hide it, I’m your older sister. I know you well enough to know when you’re not feeling yourself.”

“I mean, I can’t help but be nervous. This is my debut…and, well, this is gonna be a long night of first times.”

The older mare giggled, “now Sweetie Belle, it’s okay. Everyone gets nervous every now and then. In fact, I don’t think anyone came to their debut without feeling a few nerves creep up on them.”

“Really?” Sweetie Belle cocked an eyebrow, “even you?”

Rarity let out a hearty laugh, “oh Sweetie Belle, don’t be silly. I don’t get ‘nervous’.” She watched Sweetie Belle huff an roll her eyes before she said, “I was ‘mortified’.”

Sweetie Belle let out a small gasp; she wasn’t a filly anymore, so he knew the invincible visage of poise and grace Rarity put on wasn’t entirely accurate. She’s seen her sister vulnerable and seen her flaws. Brief moments of weaknesses, but never did Rarity ever admit to them.

“When I was your age Sweetie Belle, and having my debut at the Red Velvet Gala, I was a nervous wreck. I was sweating bullets. I swore I’d slip out of my lingerie. I was practically shaking in my stockings.”

“Really? You? But, why?”

Rarity giggled, “well, Sweetie, not everyone gets picked by a Stallion at the Gala. Some don’t wanna be responsible for scaring a newcomer away. Others simply watch and see how young mares handle the stress of entertaining a large room. And others just don’t want the hassle of teaching a young, inexperienced mare how to work it. And don’t get me started on the horrors of some mares who get a little too clingy. I was afraid I’d be lumped in with one of those mares, who didn’t have their first time and were left feeling unloved and unwanted.”

“I can’t imagine anyone feeling that way about you…”

‘Oh, you’re just biased.” Rarity giggled, “it’s not right to think this way, but there is something of a competitive atmosphere at this here gala. Everyone wants to be picked and everyone is fighting for attention. That was my mindset. So, when I finally made it to the waiting room, I held my nose up high and strutted into the room, trying to look confident and composed. I figured the other mares would smell my nervousness like a shark with blood if I didn’t.”

“And you know what happened next?”

“No?”

“I was stuck in a room with over 30 mares, all looking just as nervous as I was!”

Sweetie Belle bit her lower lip, trying not to laugh at her sister’s punchline.

Rarity giggled herself. “No, no, it’s true. Everyone was such a mess. Some were fiddling with their straps, others were doing last second preenings in the mirror, others looked ready to pass out. It was like I walked into a room of mirrors, cause they all looked exactly like how I felt. And then, to my horror, they all saw my forced composure and all began to crowd around me.”

“Crowd you? Why?”

“Cause I was the closest thing they had to a leader, somewhat who looked like they had it all together. They asked for any kind of advice, for the ‘secret’ to me looking so calm and collected.”

“What did you say?”

“At first, nothing.” Rarity giggled, “cause I couldn’t say anything! My lips felt sewn shut!” Rarity smiled as she watched Sweetie Belle giggle beside her. “I tried to talk, but I was so nervous; it was bad enough when I thought a room full of Stallions would be looking at me, but now a room of Mares were staring right at me, encircling. I felt so trapped.”

“That’s when I finally opened my mouth and said something.”

“What did you say?”

Rarity took a deep breath, “I said, and I quote, ’buh-deer-eh.”

Sweetie Belle gasped, erupting in even more fits of laughter. “You. Did. Not.”

“Oh, but I did Sweetie Belle! My tongue was tied into knots. All I could say was gibberish. In that moment, I felt like such a fool! I just wanted to crawl away and die as they all stared at me.”

“Then, someone laughed. And then someone else. And soon, the whole room was filled with giggling Mares. I felt so embarrassed. But soon, I’d learn that they were laughing not at me, but with me. They were thanking me for helping them calm their nerves and relieve some of the tension. And, in turn, seeing all these friendly faces, all in the same boat as me, helped me relax a little as well.”

Finally, Rarity brought Sweetie Belle to the room. The newcomers, the young mares, would be waiting in here before they’d be walked to the Gala, where the proper members of the Gala would be waiting for them. They’d trot onto the stage and be free use for any Pony who wanted them.

“So, Sweetie Belle, what I’m trying to say here, is that no matter how nervous you feel, remember that everyone else is just a nervous.” Rarity gave her sister a wink, “and they could use a little help.”

Sweetie Belle nodded as the walked to the room. Before she reached out to open it with her magic, she quickly dashed to her sister and lightly nuzzled her neck.

“Thanks, Rarity.”

Rarity smiled as she nuzzled her little sister. “Think nothing of it, Sweetie. Now, go out there and dazzle them~”