Zero Room

The Doctor, Tegan, and Nyssa found that the new place they were in was certainly a strange world unlike anything they had seen. They were surrounded by what seemed like a village, a little but old fashioned, with simple wooden houses topped with hay. On each corner was some type of market or shop selling something. And of course, everywhere, ponies were walking about. Some were with wings like the grey mare the trio had encountered; some were unicorns, like Nyssa; and some were without either, like the Doctor and Tegan. It was even noted that some mules and goats were about, but they were a rare sight amongst the pony majority.

"Hm, most intriguing," the Doctor stated as the three were walking through the streets.

"What?" asked Tegan.

"None of the civilians here wear clothes at all," said the Doctor. "Seems they don't have the need, considering they, and we, are small horses covered in a coat of fur."

"You're not suggesting we don't wear clothes ourselves, Doctor!" Nyssa exclaimed.

"I might hate this outfit but not that much," Tegan added.

"All I'm saying is that clothing isn't necessary here. But it is an option. Some creatures are dressed," the Doctor pointed to a tan earth pony with floppy grey hair wearing a collar and a green silk puff tie. "Frankly, I'd agree to having some sense in style."

"And I'd like to be modest," said Tegan.

"Well, it is possible that there's a shop or something of the sort to satisfy both your vanities and essentials," stated Nyssa.

"But where are we going to find anything that sells clothes?" asked Tegan.

"All I see is shops selling flowers, supplies, and vegetables," said Nyssa, scanning the sides of the street.

"Well Doctor, at least you have something to wear," scoffed Tegan.

"Hey," the Doctor retorted. It was then when a pony accidentally bumped into Tegan.

"Ack!" squeaked the pony as she fell to the ground, being a much smaller size than a mare. She rubbed her curly lavender and pink mane before peeping an eye open upward.

"Oops...sorry about that," said Tegan, stopping to see if the filly was alright.

"It's fine," the tiny mare said as she stood back on her feet. "I wasn't looking where I was going." She then widened her eyes as soon as she opened them.

"Wow," the filly stated.

"What?" asked Nyssa. The filly stood there, dumbfounded, then as if a lightbulb snapped on, she started bouncing up and down, a huge grin on her face.

"Wow wow wow wow!" she said enthusiastically. The other three just looked at each other before the Doctor responded.

"What is it?"

"Um, oops, sorry," chuckled the filly. "It's just...you three are perfect!"

"Perfect for what?" asked the Doctor.

"Well, no offense, but I think you're clothes are just...too big for you." The trio exchanged glances.

"And what does that mean?" asked Tegan.

"Nothing," said the filly. "It's just that I've been helping my sister recently by asking ponies if they want an outfit or something. She's a fashion designer, and she told me that she just got done with a line and has no idea what to do." The filly leaned in closer to the others. "She's having an inspiration crisis. It's really bad. She won't let me in the house until I bring someone back, and she's been freaking out for like, three days."

"You've been locked out of your own house for three days?" asked Nyssa.

"I may have exaggerated..."

"This is actually perfect!" the Doctor said, having the instinct to clasp his hands together, only to remember that he had hooves. "We actually need a tailor at the moment, just someone to get these clothes adjusted. If you could point us in the direction of your sister that would be great." The filly smiled graciously.

"Of course!" she squeaked. "Just follow me!" The filly walked the trio down the street.

"I'm Sweetie Belle by the way," she said. "And it's so nice you can help out!"

"Help out with what?" asked Tegan. "We're just getting these clothes tailored, aren't we?" Sweetie Belle, unbeknownst to the other three, gave a sly grin as she narrowed her eyes.

"Right..." she replied.

* * *

Sweetie Belle, Tegan, and the Doctor sat outside of a shop known as the Carousel Boutique, the place where Sweetie Belle promised her sister would help them. Nyssa had gone inside five minutes prior, Sweetie Belle explaining that each of them had to go in one at a time to get measured for tailoring, and also said that Nyssa should go first.

"It helps my sister focus than if you were all inside at once," she said. "And it makes everything run more smoothly."

"I sure hope so," said the Doctor. "How long does it take for someone to be measured?"

"Oh...a while," Sweetie Belle hesitated.

* * *

Nyssa went into the Carousel Boutique individually as instructed, leaving the others outside to wait. She stood in the front room as the chime of the store bell faded away.

"Hello?" she called out in the inviting, yet empty, shop. Nyssa looked around.

"This tailor is certainly creative, if anything," she said to herself while looking at the decor. "Perhaps a new look for me might be an option..."

"Can I help you?" called a voice from behind the part of another room. Then just around the bend came a white unicorn with a perfectly curled plum mane. She suddenly stopped at the sight of Nyssa.

"Whaaa!" she shouted.

"Hello...there..." replied Nyssa. Then she looked down at her clothes. "Oh, sorry, I know...it is pretty bad. I was hoping you can tailor this for me." The pony just kept looking at Nyssa, but then came closer to inspect her. It did also seem like the pony was looking more at Nyssa's hair than her clothes, but she then looked Nyssa back in the face and nodded.

"Oh...yes yes! That's definitely it! It's the outfit!" said the pony a little too obviously. "Well, I will let you know that this is the best fashion stop in Ponyville that you will find, make no mistake about it!"

That must be what this place is referred to as, thought Nyssa.

"Just out of the slightest curiosity," continued the pony, "did you just happen to stumble upon this place, or were recommended, or-"

"Actually, a little unicorn named Sweetie Belle mentioned it to us," said Nyssa, careful to choose her words to make her look like a pony too. "She mentioned having a sister that knew a thing or two about clothes. I'm assuming you are she?" The pony nodded.

"Yes I am. I'm Rarity," said the pony. "And you are?"

"Nyssa," replied the mare.

"Well, Nyssa," said Rarity, beckoning her to walk further into the shop, "come this way and I'm sure I can lend you a hoof with that mess you've got there on your back." Nyssa looked at her over sized clothes.

"Indeed," she said. Soon the two ponies came to a part of the shop where there were mirrors, mannequins, and fabric everywhere. Rarity asked Nyssa politely to stay while she retrieved a pair of bright red glasses and a measuring tape.

"I've heard from your sister that you develop lines of clothes," said Nyssa, trying to encourage a conversation.

"Oh, did you?" asked Rarity, looking suspiciously nervous.

"She told me you were out of ideas for another line," Nyssa continued. "I don't suppose that's why she told us to visit your shop, is it?"

"What?" Rarity said, sweating a little. "Oh don't be ridiculous! Sweetie Belle is telling the truth, but I'm actually on an unscheduled hiatus and well...tailoring for ponies is a perfect filler for the break." Rarity came closer to inspect Nyssa and dropped the subject.

"Now, this color on you...there's no way that is flattering, darling," said Rarity, shaking her head. "Perhaps something more on the shimmery side."

"Oh," said Nyssa, not sure on what ponies wore, therefore kept a say out of it. "I suppose that would be-"

"OR!" said Rarity, getting a new inspiration. "Perhaps something with chevrons! Lightly, though, and in certain shades of orange and yellow!"

"I guess that's-"

"NO, WAIT!" said Rarity, looking Nyssa dead in the eye. "I've got the perfect ensemble for you dear! Wait right here!" And with that, Rarity ran out of the room. Nyssa stood dumbfounded and confused. Then again, she never encountered ponies before. This kind of behavior may have been normal to their kind. Nyssa waited until Rarity's head popped back into the room.

"Oh, and while I grab the necessities," she said, "would you mind changing out of...that?" Nyssa nodded politely.

"Excellent! I'll be back soon!" sang Rarity as she left once again. Nyssa was again alone in the room, standing awkwardly with her old outfit draped over her shoulders. Then, agreeing mentally to follow orders, she pulled the clothes off of her back. Surprisingly, she didn't feel too weird not wearing them anymore. Nyssa found that it was a relief that the Doctor was right in something about a new species.

It was then something caught Nyssa's eye. There, in one of the mirrors, she saw her reflection. Nyssa walked closer to the mirror, noticing the huge change she had gone through. Her hair was curly and the same, only maroon, and her coat was a light rose color. Her eyes were still pale blue, and there, on the top of her head, was the horn that made her like other ponies in the world, such as Rarity. Nyssa even had a tail, just like her hair! Only, near the tail...

"What is this?" Nyssa said to herself while looking at her flank. There, like it was printed onto her, was the symbol of the Keeper of Traken. What was it doing on her body? Did other ponies have something like it as well? She didn't remember seeing Sweetie Belle have a symbol like hers...and she didn't even notice the others. Nyssa decided to pay close attention to Rarity when she came back and look for the similarities. It wasn't long before the white unicorn returned.

"I'm back, darling!" she said happily. Nyssa looked right that the spot where she saw the symbol on her own flank. There, on Rarity, was a symbol like hers, only it was three cerulean diamonds. Nyssa pondered to herself. What did the symbols mean?

"The bad news is that I couldn't find the one thing that suited you," said Rarity. Nyssa looked at Rarity questionably. What happened to measuring her? Surely a tailor did that first.

"On the other hoof," said Rarity, "I found tons of items!" From out behind a curtain, mysteriously, came a rack full of sparkling outfits. Nyssa was stunned. She didn't know what was more bizarre: the outfits or the fact that the rack seemed to move by itself in a bluish glow.

"Fantastic, isn't it?" asked Rarity. "It's some of my latest work. You wouldn't mind being a dear and trying some of them on? I want to see how they look on a real mare, and who knows, maybe something will speak to you!" Nyssa stood, knees locked, and face in bewilderment. She didn't know where to start first...

The strange symbols on the ponies?

The self-moving rack?

The fact that she had been tricked into trying on an entire fashion line?