Simple Ways

"Hey, Um... Anypony seen Rarity? I.. Um... Well, I'm supposed to help with the fashion show... and, um.... I... I don't know what to do..." Fluttershy spoke softly, her eyes looking around the crowded streets of ponyville as excited fillies and colts hurried from one location to the next, trying to decide what to wear, who to ask to the Ponyville gala, and take a peek at Pinkie Pie's decorations.

"Fluttershy! Fluttershy!" The voice of a young boy called out, and Fluttershy turned her head, her pink mane blown by the wind in front of her eyes, "You gotta come to Carousel Boutique, we're all waiting for you and Applejack!"

"O-Oh Spike, I'm sorry." The pegasus used her wings to lift herself a foot off of the ground, fluttering over to the small purple dragon, "Why are we going to the boutique?"

The little dragon hurried forward, occasionally glancing back at the yellow pony behind him to make sure she was following, "Rarity's decided to change the festival theme!" He was smiling, but the dragon's voice wasn't entirely joy-filled, as his mind trailed off to thoughts of Rarity he frowned, jealousy of this Trenderhoof stallion she was oh so obsessed with.

"She changed the theme? Oh my..." Fluttershy muttered quietly, glancing back at the busy townsfolk who were talking amongst themselves about the formal dresses they were going to fetch from boutiques in Canterlot and Manehatten, or about elegant clothing Rarity had spun up for them in the past that they would wear again to fir her elegant theme, "I'm sure Rarity has her reasons, and It'll, um, be a great festival, I just hope nopony feels sad about it..."

"Don't worry about them Fluttershy." Spike said blandly, reaching out his claws as the two approached the door of carousel boutique. He pushed it open and led the shy pony inside, where Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbowdash were all already waiting, "I got her!" Spike called, leaping onto Rarity's runway and ducking behind the curtain, heading backstage where Rarity was waiting.

The floor behind the curtain was covered in pieces of hay, mud, and dirt. The clucks of chickens and the oinks of smelly pigs filled the air. Spike used two of his claws to close his nostrils, looking up at Rarity, whose mane was snarled, and whose straw hat was falling apart.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Spike asked wearily, curling his tail around his legs, "I mean, you had a gorgeous dress all ironed out for the festival, and-"

"Spiiiiike, 'Ahm sure this is what I want to, I mean," She paused, clearing her throat, "Wan'tuh dew. Ponae'ville wuz founded bah' 'ard workin' Earth Ponies- ....Ponays, farmers like Applejack and Big Mac..."

"You're gonna need to work on your accent!" Spike said, laughing slightly.

"Oh! Be quiet Spike!" The two heard the loud hoofsteps of Applejack as she trotted through the door, and then the faint sound of Twilight's voice. After Applejack responded Rarity cued the lights to fade and began to speak;

"Firstly, 'ah just whan'na thank you all for comm'in and, second, I know ya'll will all adore my new festival theme!" She lowered her ears from where she stood behind the curtain and whispered quietly, "Spike! Get out there!"

Spike took a few steps out onto the runway, wearing a straw hat to match Rarity's and holding a makeshift ukulele, playing a few noted before the curtain parted, revealing Rarity in her overalls and straw hat, the bright yellow lights showing all the snarls she had put in her hair. She lifted a hoof and loudly shouted the name of her theme; "Simple Waaaays!" After a few moments of silence Rarity took a few steps down the runway, separating herself from the squeaks of the pigs and squaks of the chickens. "Well?" She asked, in her normal voice.

Immediately Applejack burst into laughter, bumping into Fluttershy.

"Whall, what's so funnay?"

The other ponies explained that Rarity's "get up" was a little on the silly side, even Fluttershy found the courage to tell her friend that she thought it was funny, because of course, all of the pretty pony's friendsknew that a fashionista such as Rarity wouldn't be caught dead in a messy outfit like that.

"Funnay?" Rarity repeated, which caused Twilight to giggle and ask if Rarity was serious.

The white unicorn leapt off of the stage, her voice serious, loosing it's false country accent, "Well of course I'm serious!" she cleared her throat and continued; "Whay wouldn't 'Ah be?"

Applejack explained that Rarity would never wear an outfit like that because she liked high society, saying she knew Rarity well enough to know that.

Rarity stormed out of her boutique, telling Applejack that maybe she didn't know her as well as she thought!