I decided to go ahead and draw and finish up Rarity. I really didn't want to deal with Rainbow's hair again. OTL
This AU Rarity is a gem-eyed pony from the Crystal Empire. Her parents own a mining company, and, looking to expand their business, her father took a trip to Ponyville. She was still just a little filly, but being daddy's little girl she convinced him to take her with him.
Rarity, even young, has a high affinity for gemstones. So while her father was busy, she put her horn to the ground and started wandering away. What she found wasn't what she expected though. Instead of ground and rock, something that hid their beautiful treasures deep inside, she saw a pile of glistening gemstones. She barely took a step toward the mesmerizing treasure before a vicious growl tore her attention away.
It only took a moment before her face burst with intense pain. The bundle of magic nerves in one of her crystal eyes exploded, sending searing pain through her body. The pain itself blinded her completely, and the growls from the animal that attacked her were drowned out by her own shrill screaming.
When her body hit the ground she rolled a few times before curling herself into a ball, bringing her hooves up to try and keep more attacks from happening.
No more came. The only other sound was a sharp thud and the shrill whine of a dog. Rarity managed to tilt her head enough to see the bleary orange image of her savior.
"And if'n I see ya varments around here again, that will be the last time!"
I haven't redesigned all of the mane 6 for my AU, only RD, Fluttershy, and now Rarity. They've all gone through a few different versions before I decided what I liked best. Rarity originally had a little unicorn beard, but I eventually decided against it. Then I remembered how much I used to love gem-eyed ponies so I thought I could incorporate that into her design instead. It was only when I was sketching this up that I decided to give her a veil. Then I thought...but why a veil?
Then I thought that a damaged gem eye would be interesting, and how I would make it work. Most gem-eyed ponies are born in the Crystal Empire, where love magic overflows. Ponies born influenced by the excess of magic often develop extra magic nerves in their eyes, the leaking magic crystallizes into gems. They function just like regular eyes, but if they're scratched or cracked, magic will slowly leak out. It takes just a few days of rest and the cracks will seal up and the eye will go back to normal. However, if the magic bundle just under the crystal is ruptured, there's a chance the magic will blow back and hurt the pony, as well as cause permanent sight loss in said eye.
If I could change one thing it would be making the line of her cutie mark going down her leg less straight and more zigzag.