Dreams that Bind

Shortly afterwards, my parents and I all left for work. When I arrived at my boutique, I began making the dress Opal had inspired yesterday. Given my skills and ability, I was able to finish it in two hours, a personal best.

"There, what do you think Opal?" I asked. The cat purred. They say a dog is ponies best friends, but you know you have a keeper when your cat follows you to work. "You know, it's funny how I haven't gotten any orders yet. You don't suppose that the Nightmare Rarity thing scared away costumers, do you?" Opal frowned. "Well, I guess if I want business to pick up again, I should advertise, shouldn't I?"

Opal meowed and walked way. I put on the dress and looked at myself in the mirror. Not bad, but my usual mane style didn't complement the dress. I got some hair supplies and restyled my mane accordingly. I look at the finished product.

"Fabulous!" I said pleased. But I didn't want to risk ruining it, and I couldn't show it off until I was in the right place, so  I put my black cloak on over my display and went out to find a go place to start advertising. As I walked around town, I approach the local cafe. Something that looked like an orange with blue-jay wings flew over my head, then something bumped into my face.When I got to my senses again, I saw it was Pinkie.

" Ooooh, Rarity, wanna see Twilight turn me into an orange? It's gonna be funna-fun-fuuun!" Pinkie said.

Is she for real?

"As fun as creating this haute couture ensemble that I just finished making? Delightful, no?" I asked, taking off the cloak to reveal my latest creation.

Pinkie gasped. "This is terrible!"

Ouch, my pride. And my ego. And my feelings, but mostly my pride.

"I admit it's perhaps not my finest work, but I–"

Pinkie pushed her muzzle against my own. "You had total-awesome-amazing fun and missed out on it?! Neh! Wait! What if there's more awesome amazing fun with friends happening somewhere in Ponyville right now that I'm missing out on!" Pinkie dashed away without another word.

I looked at Twilight and Spike.

"We weren't going to turn her into an orange! I swear!" Spike defended.

"I know you weren't." I smiled.

"So, how are Rarity?" Twilight asked.

"Fine Darling, I had a run in with you know who last night, but I realized something important that time."

"Oh good, seems your recovery is well under way then."

"Yes, it is."

"Hey, that's a beautiful dress Rarity, did you make it for yourself?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah, it's nice." Spike said dreamily. He's so cute when he's fawning over me.

"Thank you Darling, no it's not for me. Business has slowed down since, you know what, and I'm trying to drum up some more."

"So your wearing  that as an advertisement?" Twilight asked.

"Yes."

"You should try the train station. You can probably try your luck with visiting ponies from Canterlot. If you hurry, you can catch the train in five minutes."

"Thank you Twilight dear, I think I will. Bye Spike." I replied, and headed toward the train station.

When I arrived, the train was just pulling in. Just as ponies where getting of I realized I didn't have my cloak. I looked back to see if I had dropped it when a voice spoke to me.

"Excuse me?"

I turned to the source of  the voice.

"Fancy Pants!" I exclaimed.

"Oh, Miss Rarity. Nice to see you again." Fancy Pants replied.

"Likewise, good sir. To what does Ponyville owe the privilege of your visit?" I asked.

"I'm I need of a new suit, something "chic, unique, and magnifique". I ran into Sapphire Shores, who was wearing a magnificent gem studded suit the other day and she directed me here. She also told me she got quite the bargain."

"I see." I just hope he doesn't find out how she got that bargain.

"So, shall we go?" the stallion asked.

"Yes." I replied, and led him back to my boutique.

"You look lovely in that dress by the way." Fancy pointed out.

"Oh, thank you. I was just advertising for my shop by wearing this really." I blushed.

"Really? You've made a name for yourself in Canterlot after your last visit, I would think you wouldn't need it."

"Well yes, I usually don't need to advertise, but since the..."

"Oh, that, I wouldn't worry  about it if I were you."

"I shouldn't worry about how the public sees me after I became the second Nightmare Moon?"

"Princess Luna was sure to put the public's fear to rest when she returned to the castle." We arrived at my shop. "Ladies first." Fancy said, holding the door for me.

"Thank you, good sir." I entered the shop and headed for my room. "Please stand on that platform while I get out of this dress." I pointed to the platform. I took off the dress and restyled my mane to it's usual style. Then I got my sewing glasses and measuring tape. Fancy was already standing on the platform when I return, so I started measuring him.

"Is there anything in particular you want?" I asked.

"Something I could wear to this years Grand Galloping Gala. I going to trust you'll know what's best for me. I was told what happened when you last left it up to the customers to do the designing."

I laughed. "Of course." I finished the measurements and levitated my sketch book over to me. I wrote down the measurements and sketched a stallion body build.

"Forgive me if I'm prying, but what is it like?"

I looked up from my sketch book. "What was what like?"

"Living the fact that... you became a monster."

I put the sketch book down. "Well, you feel guilty, even afterwards. You wonder how or why you let yourself become such a thing. But most of all, it's constantly on your mind, holding you in a perpetual state sadness."

"If I may, I beg to differ."

"You may, elaborate please, anything to help me recover."

"It would seem YOU'RE holding on it our of fear of such an event to be repeated, and because you haven't let it go, it continues to haunt you." I had to give it to him, he had a point. "I think that you need to accept the fact that it happened, and take from it the lesson you learned. The sooner you do that, the sooner you can move on."

I nodded. That must be what's holding me back. "Thank You sir, I needed that."

"Not at all, anything to help a..."

Out of nowhere and herd of Pinkie Pies, wait what!? Having one Pinkie Pie is one thing, but a whole herd? Where did they even come from? Anyway, the Pinkies stormed into my shop and started playing with everything, chanting "FUN" the all the while.

"Get out, GET OUT, GET OUT!" I ordered. The Pinkies hopped out the front door, leaving my precious boutique in a mess. "Fancy Pants, I'm so sorry."

The stallion seemed no the worse. "You know, when I bought the ticket the pony behind the window asked me if I had a death wish. When I asked her to explain, she said all kinds of crazy things go on in this town. I can see she wasn't kidding."

"Well, this is actually a first for us, if anypony knows what's going on, it's Twilight Sparkle. Come with me, please."

We headed to the library, a crowd of angry ponies already there.

"Okay, everypony, please, calm down!" Twilight begged above the angry shouts.

As much I as I know she can't solve the problem with so much noise, "Calm down? I just had a Pinkie hurricane raging through my shop!" I said angrily.

"And they trashed our critter picnic!" Fluttershy put in sternly.

The crowd began to shout again. " Please, everypony, hang on while I try to figure something out! Come on, Spike." Twilight called before disappearing into the library. She return a moment later. "Does anypony here know how we can tell the real Pinkie Pie from all the rest of them?" Twilight asked.

She got me there, as well as everypony else in the crowd. After alot of "ums" and "I don't knows" one of the Pinkie Pies spoke up.

"Twilight! I have to talk to you, I need your help!"

" Excuse me, whoever you are, but I'm not talking to any of you Pinkies unless you're the real Pinkie." Twilight replied, the whole time another Pinkie rudely imitating her.

"Oh, but, but I am the real Pinkie!" the Pinkie exclaimed.

"No, you're not! I'm the real Pinkie!" another Pinkie said.

Soon there were Pinkies everywhere claiming to be the real Pinkie. Two even came out from underneath Fancy Pants's hat claiming so. Perhaps not surprising they stopped saying "I'm the real Pinkie" and began chanting "fun" again. By now, everypony I was fleeing the scene.

"You'd best return to Canterlot, it's not safe for you here Fancy Pants." I told the stallion.

"Yes, I suppose. You'll have..."

"Yes, don't worry about it, I'll have it done for you as soon as possible. I just hope this hasn't ruined your experience too badly."

"Not at all, Miss Rarity. I will say though, this is quite an interesting place to live if things like this happen all the time."

"Not all the time, but these occasional events do keep things interesting and...well, it take a certain kind of pony to live in this town."

"Like the mares who wield the elements of harmony?"

"Yes, and those willing to put up with our antics."

"I'm sure, very well, I'll see you later Miss Rarity." and with that, Fancy Pants raced off the the train station.

"Rarity!" Fluttershy called. I ran over to her. "I slipped out of the crowd when the Pinkies showed up. I got the woodland critters to take us in until Twilight figures out how to clear this mess up."

"Okay, where?"

"A hollowed out tree near the entrance to the Everfree Forest."

"I'll meet you there Darling."

"Okay" Fluttershy flew away and I ran back to the boutique. I collected Opal and headed for the tree.

We arrived to find Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash already there with other animals. shortly afterwards, we heard hoofsteps approaching. Rainbow Dash looked out.

"Hey, Twilight!" she called.

Twilight ran in. " I've been looking all over for you ponies. What are you all doing here?" she asked.

"Fluttershy spoke with the woodland critters, and they've agreed to take us into their home 'til the Pinkie storm dies down." Rainbow Dash replied.

"You guys, we're gonna fix this. And I know exactly how." Twilight said.

"Are we gonna lose our real Pinkie Pie?" Fluttershy asked.

"I don't think so. Now come along. I've already got Applejack and her family rounding up all the Pinkies." Twilight Sparkle replied.

Twilight explained the situation as she led us to town hall. She told us about the Mirror Pool and her plan to get the real Pinkie Pie back as well as sent the clones back to the pool. Just as we arrived, we could here all the Pinkie's shouting "Fun!" The doors where opened and they rushed in, followed by Applejack. Once they were in, Twilight got up on the stage she had prepared ahead of time.

"Welcome, Pinkies, welcome. Please have a seat and make yourselves comfortable. [pause] Okay, I suppose you can't be comfortable staying in one place, but have a seat anyway." No of the Pinkies were listening to her. "Sit down!" Twilight yelled. The Pinkies stopped shouting and sat down. "Better. Now, I suppose you're all wondering why I've gathered you all here today."

"For Fun?" a Pinkie asked.

"No, just the opposite actually."

Rainbow Dash flew in holding a sad looking Pinkie. "Wait up, I got one more! Found this one poking at the ground with her hoof, drawing frowny faces."

"Have her come sit with the others." Twilight replied. Rainbow Dash dropped the sad Pinkie near the back and Twilight continued. Now that I think about it, none of the other Pinkies looked sad, either that one was a dud or..."Pinkies, you've been brought here to take a test."

"Awww!" the clones all said on chorus.

Twilight continued. "Don't worry, it's a simple test, about as simple as they come, and whoever passes gets to stay." The clones spoke among themselves. "Curtain, please. The test... will be watching paint dry!" The Pinkies gasped.  "On your mark, get set, go!"" The Pinkies stared at the wall.

"Ooh, this is so exciting!" Spike cheered. But after a while, he changed his tune. "Okay, maybe not that exciting."

The Pinkie clones continued to stare at the wall until something distracted them, to which Twilight zapped them on the spot. This continued until it came down to the last two. The suspense was killing me. Finally, Rainbow had had enough.

"Ugh, I can't take it anymore! Somepony's making balloon animals!" Rainbow pointed out.

"What? Where?" one Pinkie asked.

Zap. We turned to the Pinkie at the back of the room still staring at the paint.

"Pinkie, you can look away now." Twilight told her.

Pinkie Pie blinked."I passed?"

"You passed. You're the only Pinkie who kept staring at the wall."

"I had to. I just had to. I couldn't leave my friends, I just couldn't. But I guess sometimes I will have to choose between them."

"I knew you'd be up to the challenge."

"I'm me! I'm me! I'm me! Or am I? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I am."

We all had to laugh.

"Well girls, I've a letter to write, see you later. C'om Spike." Pinkie Pie said, and walked out of Town Hall, Spike following her.

"Wait, is she walking?" I asked.

"After today, I wouldn't be surprised." Twilight replied.

We met Pinkie at Sugarcube Corner later that day.

"Hi, Pinkie Pie. We were thinking we should go out and celebrate." Twilight said.

"You up for some wheelbarrow races?" Applejack asked.

"Or I could take everypony on a cloud ride!" Rainbow Dash suggested.

"I could throw a party with punch and zesty cucumber sandwiches! Ooh!" I put in, cheering a bit at the end.

"You wanna know exactly what I feel like doing right now?" Pinkie asked. She backed slowly into the shop and fell asleep. Like Twilight said, after today, you wouldn't be surprised.

"That looks like fun." Fluttershy said.

We laughed.  "Oh, Pinkie." Applejack chucked and closed the door.

We decided to go our separate ways of the rest of the day. Sure Ponyville can be a he-cit place ti live, but with the help of good friends, almost any problem can be overcome. I smiled and returned to my shop and returned to Fancy Pants's suit.