Through Another's Eyes

“So then, DJ Pine Tree” Octavia joked as she watched her set up her DJ equipments “How does it feel, to know that you’ll be playing for a fashion show of all things?”

“You know how it’s said” replied Vinyl Scratch, obviously annoyed by her companion’s antics “Why don’t you go hang out with Spike? I’m sure Pinkie’s gonna be with him”

The mention of her sister’s name made Octavia’s heart skip a beat. Since arriving, she had not searched for her sister at all, seeing as their tour guide had disappeared when they met a white unicorn with a beautiful, albeit frizzled, purple mane. Octavia instantly knew that the mare must have been Rarity, seeing as she was muttering something about tonight’s fashion show and was looking like she had not slept in days.

Octavia reluctantly left the disk jockey and walked around, trying to locate the baby dragon. It didn’t take long, due to the fact that he was a purple dragon amongst hundreds of multicoloured ponies and he was following Rarity around like a magnet. With a giggle, she trotted over to the two, thinking that it was best to introduce herself to Rarity first.

“Greetings, Rarity” Octavia started “It is an honour to see you, seeing as-“

“THOSE AREN’T MY DRESSES!”

Octavia blinked, quite surprised at what had just happened. The mare’s screaming had startled her so much her hair was standing on end. Shaking her head frantically, she looked at Spike who seemed to not notice her sudden outburst.

“Oh, I am ever so sorry for scaring you” Rarity said after taking in a few breaths “It’s just that... oh, this fashion show’s going to be a disaster!”

“Spike told me you were great at designing, what makes you think it’s going to be a disaster?” Octavia said, choosing her words kindly to prevent another outburst.

“Ugh, it’s a long story” Rarity proclaimed as she tried fruitlessly to fix her messed up hairdo “Now then, what did you say your name was, dearie?”

“Oh, sorry. I haven’t introduced myself yet” Octavia replied “My name is Octavia”

“Octavia, very nice name you have there” replied Rarity before turning around, trotting over towards a random direction “Sorry, but I must be off, good bye!”

Rarity then ran off, knocking over several stallions in the process and surprising everypony else. Octavia blinked for a moment before turning to Spike.

“Isn’t she wonderful” Spike said in a dreamy matter

“Yes, charming” Octavia noted “Tell me, why does she keep panicking over her designs so much? You said they were always extravagant”

“Yeah, they’re awesome! Eeh, maybe she’s just scared Hoity Toity won’t like ‘em”

The sounds of cheering caught Spike’s attention, meaning that the show was about to start. After promising to talk after the fashion show, Spike ran up the stage with a microphone in hand, ready to announce the show.

Octavia sighed and walked back towards Vinyl Scratch who was already playing a few beats with her turntable. If she was going to surprise her sister (which was probably not going to happen, given the fact that Pinkie was the one that might surprise her) it may be best to see her performance first.

“... Let's hear it for the breathtaking designs of Ponyville's own Rarity!” Spike’s voice echoed throughout the area as hundreds of ponies clopped.

“Scratch, please stop laughing” Octavia muttered

In truth, she was trying her best to hold back her laughter as well. The dresses that Spike’s friends had put on were... unique. It was absolutely not what anypony had expected to see. Still, Rarity’s the designer. Who was she to try and question her designs?

“Come on, let’s go see Spike and see how he’s handling since his girlfriend’s just made a fool out of herself!” Vinyl Scratch joked as she ran off to look for the baby purple dragon.

“In front of Hoity Toity...” Octavia muttered, remembering what Rarity had cried about several minutes ago “Wait for me, Vinyl!”

The two friends had found Spike standing still, staring dreamy eyed towards a crying Rarity behind the stage. Octavia gently tapped the baby dragon on his shoulder, gaining minimal results. She tried to talk to him kindly but still had no luck. In the end, Vinyl took Spike and shook him wildly, still laughing madly. That got Spike's attention.

“Dude, thanks for inviting me here, it was the best laugh I’ve had since, well, ever!” Vinyl laughed as she put the dragon down

“Oh, no problem. It’s always-“ Spike started talking before catching what the unicorn had said “Wait, laugh?”

“Yes, the dresses were hilarious” said Octavia, not even trying to hide her amusement anymore “Honestly, I don’t know how she even thought about becoming a fashionista!”

“What? But her dresses are usually amazing!” Spike retaliated. No one made fun of Rarity while he was around.

“Sorry to say this, but have you even SEEN these dresses?” Vinyl asked, wiping a tear from her eye from laughing too much.

Now that she mentioned it, Spike had not seen the designs. He had seen the earlier ones but those were turned down by Twilight and friends. Well, if it’s Rarity’s, it must be good... right? Slowly, he looked past the curtains and had quite a heart attack.

The dresses, they were terrible. He didn’t understand, Rarity usually had an eye for fashion, not these pieces of destruction.

“But... Rarity’s clothes always looked nice” Spike muttered silently “This looks like a... like a...”

“Like a piled-on mishmash of everything...” Octavia said

“...but a kitchen sink” Vinyl finished off, laughing hysterically at the quote.

“I’m gonna make things right, you guys just wait!”

And with that said, Spike ran off. Octavia and Vinyl Scratch shared a final laugh together as they trotted away from the area. Their laughter was echoed by many others who had also come to see the fashion show.As they walked, they saw several other ponies whispering about the show they had just been to. It was not every day that you get to see such a hilarious event. The two mare finally settled down on a bench after they had finally stopped laughing.

“So, where to, Tavi?” Vinyl asked “It’s too late to go back to our apartment in Canterlot”

“Perhaps my sister’s place would be a good idea” Octavia said as she yawned. It had been quite a day and it was best if she could just retire for the day.

“Where does she live anyway?” replied the unicorn, making Octavia look up in shock

“I... don’t know” Octavia said, she had lost contact with her sister after she had left her hometown

“Then come on! Let’s go ask around town!”

The two musicians walked into a confectionery that could easily be confused as a gingerbread house. By now, the two friends had walked all around Ponyville and the kind ponies all pointed towards the same direction: Sugarcube Corner. Octavia sighed, of course Pinkamena would live here. Why didn’t she think of that earlier?

“Oh, welcome!” greeted a tall stallion with a brilliant amber yellow coat and an orange mane. He was sporting a hat, apron and ever a large red and white bowtie “Sorry, you two but were closing for the day”

“We are not here to eat, dear sir” Octavia said kindly as she walked closer towards the counter “We came to see if a certain pink pony by the name of Pinkamena Pie were to be here at this moment”

“Beg your pardon?” questioned the stallion

“Ugh, we wanna see Pinkie Pie, is she home?” Vinyl retorted, sounding crankier and crankier by the minute. She always did if she had not eaten for a while

“Oh, Pinkie!” said the stallion at last “Sorry, she went out for a few minutes, care to leave a message?”

“When is she coming back?” Octavia asked, wishing that her sister would return home quickly so she would not have to pay for a motel room for the night. She barely had enough bits to buy food for herself, what more a room for two mares.

“I dunno, she usually-“

The yellow stallion was cut off by the sound of the door creaking open and the sound of bouncing hooves.

“Mr. Carrot Cake, I’m back!” said a happy-go-lucky pink mare who was bouncing around. “I need some help with-“

Pinkie Pie stopped dead in her tracks as she watched the two mares in front of her. With a gasp of excitement, she jumped over to Octavia and hugged her tightly.

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Octavia, I can’t believe you’re actually here! Wow, you’ve gotten bigger. What’cha doin’? Did you see the fashion show? Oh, I hope not. That wasn’t really a good show, was it? Oh, why didn’t you tell me you were coming over? I could’ve made up my room for the day and all but hey, you’re already here and I was all like (gasp) and you were all like-”

“Pinkamena, breathe” Octavia said quickly, covering her sister’s mouth with a hoof “I’m doing fine, I was just hoping that we could stay with you for a few nights”

“Well of course you can! Come on, follow me!” Pinkie grinned as she bounced up the staircase "Oh yeah, you could just call me Pinkie, everypony does!"

“Wow... how is she your sister again?” Vinyl Scratch joked quietly as she walked up the staircase.

“I don’t know; just accept the fact that we have a place to stay for the night, okay?” Octavia muttered as she followed the two upstairs, thanking Mr. Cake in the process.