The Art of Distress
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The Boutique Down The Road

The Art of Distress

The Boutique Down The Road.
By MixMassBasher

Edited by Neko Majin C

Rarity was in fine mood today. She was in the zone as she happily sewed yet another beautiful yellow gown for one of her many customers. It was a simple gown, at least by Rarity's standards. A pair of scissors was lifted up by a pulse of magic to trim out the excess pieces of fabric. Snip by snip, the cut off yellow fabric littered the boutique floor like confetti until Rarity was satisfied with her work. Using her magic, she levitated the gown towards her sewing machine beside her and began placing the final touches. Thread by thread, the needle of the machine stitched the fabrics together. Soon, her craftsmanship would pay off after hours upon hours of laboring to complete such a grand design.

As a business mare running her shop all by herself, she was constantly busy making, cutting, and sewing dresses together. Rarity did not mind as she enjoyed it. It was her passion. Her drive. Plus, the peace and quiet was all that she needed to continue working. While sewing, she sang a tune.

"The rules of Rarity, guaranteed quality.

This I can assure.

For each and every dress.

I vow to give finesse.

With time, love, and cout—"

*Ding!* *Ding!*

Rarity immediately stopped her singing upon the sound of the doorbell chiming. Her concentration, however, did not break as she continued her work.

"Could you get that, Sweetie Belle? I'm a little occupied at the moment," Rarity asked aloud.

"Sure!" Rarity’s sister shouted out as she ran past Rarity, bolting towards the door.

Rarity stopped her sewing machine upon hearing the sounds of the boutique door opening and closing, deciding to continue her work at a later time.

"Welcome to Carousel Boutique where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique." Rarity stated, saying her rehearsed boutique slogan while trotting towards her unexpected visitor.

"Ah! Fruity Tooty. What a splendid surprise." Rarity said, greeting the lime green unicorn mare in her Boutique.

"It's good to see you too, Rarity," Fruity Tooty greeted with a smile.

As they approached one another, the two mares blew kisses over each other's shoulder.

"What brings you here so early, Fruity? You weren't supposed to arrive for another hour," Rarity commented.

"I was getting a little impatient to see the dress! So, I just came here early," Fruity Tooty admitted.

"Well, darling, you're in luck! I finished it yesterday, so you can go and collect the dress right this instant."

"Wonderful. May I try it on first, though?" Fruity Tooty queried.

"I don't see why not? Sweetie, dear, could you help get Miss Fruity Tooty here her dress?" Rarity asked.

"Sure thing, Rarity!" Sweetie exclaimed as she dashed passed her sibling to the sewing room.

"Would you like some tea and biscuits in the meantime?" Rarity offered.

"I would love to, Rarity," Fruity Tooty replied.

"Right this way, darling," Rarity directed as she gestured with her hoof to the break room.

"I hope you like the dress, darling," Rarity said.

"Like it? I absolutely love it!! Your technique is magnificent!" Fruity Tooty elated, twirling around in her dark green dress.

It complimented the curves around her body perfectly. It had a tropical vibe to it; the dress displayed a pattern of larges leaves surrounding the end of the gown with a few pink flowers decorating the sides.

"Well, I'm glad that you adore it. Just look at how it matches your complexion," Rarity added on. Using her telekinetic magic, Rarity effortlessly levitate a mirror to Fruity Tooty.

"Indeed it does." Fruity Tooty laughed at her reflection. "I just can't wait to show off this new outfit. Ta-ta, Rarity."

"Farewell and come again, Fruity Tooty," Rarity quoted, using her rehearsed farewell greeting to her current customer.

As Fruity Tooty left, the boutique became empty once more, well, except for Rarity and her sister, of course.

"What a wonderful day. Another customer satisfied." Rarity thought with a smile as she went back to work.

Donning her red spectacles, she started hoofstitching, with a needle and red thread, extra details onto another dress. She would have continued this if her sister didn't suddenly appeared in front of her line of vision.

Rarity sighed, "Yes, what is it, Sweetie?"

"I was just wondering... why did you sew two dresses? I thought Fruity Tooty only ordered for one?" Sweetie Belle questioned.

It was at this moment that Rarity stopped her sewing. Her blood ran cold.

"Sweetie Belle... Did you take the first dress in front or the one behind it?"

"The one in front. Why do you ask?" Sweetie Belle answered back.

It was then that Sweetie Belle noticed her sister’s eye twitching slightly from behind her red rimmed glasses.

"Sweetie Belle! I told you before! You're supposed to take the dress behind the front copy! The dress in front is just a rough draft! It's not even—"

The sounds of a shrieking mare could suddenly be heard from outside the boutique.

"Properly sewn together..." Rarity finished, her voice trailing off.

"I'm ruined!! Absolutely ruined!!" Rarity cried out as she lay on her couch of despair.

The rest of the Mane Six were currently surrounding her, trying their best to console the distraught mare.

"Oh, come on, Rarity! It can't be that bad. You're just over-exaggerating it," Rainbow Dash grumbled as she flapped over Rarity, hooves crossed.

"Bad!? No! It's just plain HORRIBLE!"

"Landsakes, Rarity! It was just one customer! There are plenty a’ fish in the sea!" Applejack commented.

"You don't understand. That mare was from Canterlot. And part of the elite, no less," Rarity explained.

"I don't see what the big deal is," Rainbow replied with an eyebrow raised.

"The big deal is that she has connections! She'll tell the Canterlot elite about this incident and I'll be a laughing stock! It's no use!!! My dreams are doomed. Flushed down the toilet! Gone with the wind," Rarity lamented.

"Oh, dear..." Fluttershy interjected.

"Come on. Rarity. Turn that frown upside down," Pinkie Pie cheerfully proclaimed as she jumped beside Rarity.

Rarity proceeded to slam her face down on her pillow and cry some more. This caused Pinkie's mane to deflate a bit as she looked at the state her friend was in and decided to back away to give her some space.

"I'm guessing you won't be joining us for the Gala tomorrow?" Twilight asked.

Ever since the last Gala disaster they attended, the Mane Six had agreed to just treat the event as a fun get together. They'd even received tickets once more from Princess Celestia to attend the event.

"Unfortunately, no. Just leave me be to my utmost despair!" Rarity cried out as she flopped onto her cushion.

All her friends could only do right then and there was leave her be as they left the boutique.

"What are we going to do?" Fluttershy asked. "We can't just leave her like this."

"Fluttershy's right. She's our friend, there has got to be some way to help her," Twilight said in agreement.

"Yeah! She may be a pain, but as if I would leave somepony hanging like that," Rainbow proclaimed.

"That I can agree with, Rainbow," Applejack concurred.

"So... um... anypony has any suggestion?" Fluttershy asked.

"Beats me. I got nothing," Rainbow replied.

"Maybe there's a book back in my library that could help out." Twilight proposed.

Amidst all the commotion among the mares, the oddity in the group was that a certain pink mare stayed silent the whole time.

The main reason being that Pinkie suddenly felt the urge to tap her left front hoof. Her Pinkie Sense.

That could only mean one thing...

"I have an idea," Pinkie suddenly interjected as she flipped a hat out, from who knows where, onto her head.

The remaining Mane Six looked at one another, and then back at Pinkie, all having a look of worry on their faces.

This is not gonna end well...

The Grand Galloping Gala. One of the most prestigious events and the biggest party hosted in Canterlot. Nobility of all trots of life come here to lavish in their wealth in this prestigious event.

The ballroom where the gala was held was decorated straight out of a Victorian architecture. The dining tables contained food hailed from all over Equestria though most nobles there refrained from eating too much. The orchestra played in the background, setting the mood. The various noble mares and stallions of the Canterlot elite were scattered about, conversing in light chatter with one another. The Princesses were nowhere to be seen, most likely due to their royal duties making them work overtime. Even the Wonderbolts hadn't arrived. Possibly to look fashionably late. Nonetheless, the Gala still carried on without them.

At the gala, anything could happen. Nobles could forge deals with other financial businesses to gain the upper hoof in the economy. The younger nobles, or as the seasoned nobles would say; social climbers, tried to woo the wealthier elites in the crowd. Others just come here to save face; showing that they were still in good graces with the princesses although they clearly weren't, such is the case with Prince Blueblood. Then there is the small minority of the Canterlot elite that actually were using their title and wealth for good, like Fancy Pants, who was discussing a charity he was setting up next week with another noble benefactor.

As usual, the nobles were talking about news they had heard through the grapevine. Gossip was rampant in the air. The current topic among the nobles was about the rumor of a boutique that sold horrible rags of clothing to its customers. Where the news had started, no noble cared. What they cared about was the latest trend, which apparently meant that they should avoid such a horrible shop for selling such wears.

Suddenly, another musical beat filled the air and then the sounds of a saxophone being played interrupted the festivities.

"What what, what, what."

The nobles all around stopped to looked around in confusion at what the commotion could be.

"What what, what, what."

From the entrance, five mares and a dragon entered the scene.

"What what, what, what."

A noble mare gasped. They were the very same mares that ruined the Gala the last time. Most were hoping this Gala wasn't going to end in disaster so long as those mares didn't come. But alas, here they were.

"What what, what, what."

But something seemed different this time around...

"What what, what, what."
"Bada, bada, bada doo da."

The lavender unicorn trotted in slowly dressed in the most elegant outfit ever. It was a dark blue with starry pattern that complimented the star-like glimmer in the eyes of the unicorn. Eyes which seemed to hold a hundred and one questions in them.

"What what, what, what."
"Bada, bada, bada doo da."

A yellow pegasus followed behind the purple mare, most guests around remembered her as the party crasher of the last gala.

However, said mare was currently looking less demonic and more majestic; dressed in a lime-green dress that went well with her yellow coat. Her face was half covered by her pink mane like a majestic waterfall. Her mane itself was styled with tiny pink gem-like accessories which helped emphasized more on the lone visible bright blue eye on her face.

"What what, what, what."
"Bada, bada, bada doo da."

Next in line was an orange earth pony dressed in what one would describe as rustically unique. Like a stylish farmmare so to speak.

The coffee brown dress fitted the muscular tone of the mare's body. The earth pony’s golden mane had accessories in it that matched her apple cutie mark. To top it off, a red decorative stetson sat on mares head.

"Bada, bada, bada doo da."

The rainbow maned one wore a dress that had a very sleek design with streaks of rainbow colored lightning bolts as the main pattern of her gown.

It was dashing, to say the least. Although not aerodynamic, the pegasus who wore it was now the dynamite gal of the ball.

"Bada, bada, bada doo da."

The pink pony trotting in looked like some sort of street thug, yet her face held a huge smile, all perky and bubbly. Wearing a dark blue sweatshirt along with baggy black pants and a black hat sat on her a curly pink mane. She also had a gold necklace that look too heavy to be held by such a small neck.

"Bada, bada, bada doo da."

The young dragon amongst the five mares wore a sparkling blue tuxedo. The young drake turned out to be the source of the sounds of the saxophone. He waved to the nobles as he played his instrument with a toothy grin.

"Bada, bada, bada doo da."

The nobles looked to each other, wondering what in Equestria was going on.

"I'm gonna spend some bits

Only got enough to fill my wallet

I - I - I'm a spendin'

Lookin' for new clothes

To look bucking awesome!" Spike sang, somehow in a very deep voice, as he walked in.

"Yeah, trotin' in the Gala, like, "What up, we mares rock!" Pinkie sang as she greeted a noble stallion who looked back stunned at being greeted in such a way.

Pinkie shrugged and continued singing, "We're pimped out, got this dress from a neat shop."

"The design of it is so damn classy." Pinkie twirled around while the rest of her friends circled around her.

"The ponies say," Pinkie stated as she pointed to the side.

"Wow! That's a dress I would fancy!" A noblemare muttered in shock.

Pinkie, now somehow in a pink dress in a darker shade than her coat, smiled back. She then proceeded to trot to said mare.

"Sewed in, hella deep, hoof-stitched, not machine." Pinkie explained as she held the fabric of her dress towards the noblemare in front of her.

"Dressed in all pink, with my gator here, dressed in green." Pinkie sang as she suddenly brought out her pet, Gummy, clothed in a cute little green pajamas.

This caused the noble mare to now yelp in fear.

Pinkie herself paid little mind as she carried on singing, "Draped in a glorious tint, girls standin' next to me."

Pinkie pointed back to her friends now all dressed in various new outfits.

"Probably shouldn't say this, but our style has yours beat!" Pinkie stated with a smirk, her words echoing around the gala.

All the nobles merely just stared back, mouths agape, at her proclamation.

"Pfffffffffffft" Rainbow sounded out as she covered her muzzle with her hooves. Holding back her own laughter as she floated in mid air above everypony.

"And —shoot— it was a couple of bits!" Pinkie laughed.

Walking through the crowd of nobles, Pinkie continued singing, "Bought it! Tryin' it, showin' it, 'bout to hear plenty of compliments."

"Ponyin' up like goddesses, stallions stare as we're trotin' in," Pinkie bragged.

The noble stallions surrounding her stared back in awe while the rest of the noble mares sneered back at the trotting mares with their icy stares.

"Jealous and bitter? Suck it, mares!" Pinkie shouted to the sneering mares, causing them to look appalled by her insult.

"My posse's dancin,' and prancin,' and savin' our money in our super duper shopping spree," Pinkie boasted.

"Yay!" Fluttershy cheered.

All the eyes of the nobles were locked on Pinkie as she danced to the center of the gala. Most unsure of how to react to this pink menace.

"We'll always dress in style,"
"We'll always dress in style," Pinkie sang.

"No, for real. Ask around. Anypony wear this in town?" Pinkie questioned.

"Eenope!" Applejack piped in.

This caused the surrounding nobles to stop their staring and ponder her statement.

Just where did she get such fashionable wears?

Pinkie smirked at the nobles reactions as she continued her verse, "Allure draws you in, now here's a tipper."

"Where to find such garments other ponies are diggin'?" Pinkie queried.

Pinkie’s statement led to some nobles inching just a little bit closer for this pink pony to reveal her secrets.

"Get it at Ponyville. Yes, I said, ‘Ponyville,’" Pinkie exclaimed.

The nobles looked back to one another in shock at the answer.

How could such spectacular dresses come from such a backwater town?!

"Go to a boutique, then ask what's for sale," Pinkie Pie, undeterred, continued explaining.

She then approached a sceptical noble stallion near the punch table.

"Hello, hello, trust the mare there, my fellow," Pinkie hollered, knocking on the head of said stallion.

"Rarity is generous. She'll serve you well, bro," Pinkie relayed as she poked the guy with each word she sang.

This caused the noble to unceremoniously topple into the punch behind him, drenching him with the contents of it. Those unfortunate enough to be nearby were also sprayed with the fruit flavoured punch.

Pinkie Pie either didn't notice, or didn't care, as she carried on singing.

"She could dazzle your wings, make them cool, au naturel," Pinkie illustrated as she pointed to her friend, Rainbow, who was mid air, wings spread.

Rainbow was now dressed in a simple white dress while her wings became the star attraction of the show.

Ribbon-like fabric decorated her wings and tiny, shiny gems lined the sides of her wings in a rainbow pattern.

Yet, the emphasis of the entire design was less on the accessories but to display the wings even more.

"Wonderbolts would be like," Pinkie stated, now pointed to the side.

"Oh, she looks tight, though," Spitfire complimented in the sidelines.

"Wait, when did I get here?" Spitfire asked.

Spitfire's question was ignored as Applejack jumped in the scene. Now dressed in a black version of the cowpony outfit she wore earlier.

"I'm gonna spend some bits

Only got enough to fill my wallet

I - I - I'm a spendin'

Lookin' for new clothes

To look bucking awesome!" Applejack sang in a low voice, as she flipped her black stetson into the air only to land back on her head in perfect sync.

"I'm gonna spend some bits

Only got enough to fill my wallet

I - I - I'm a spendin'

Lookin' for new clothes

To look bucking awesome!" Applejack repeated.

Slowly but surely, the uptight nobles of Canterlot were tapping along with the groove of the song as the five mares and one dragon danced along. Even the normally stoic guard were getting into the groove.

Now that they had their undivided attention, Pinkie continued her song as she faced the crowd.

"What you know about wearin' best trends on your noggin?" Pinkie asked all the nobility.

This caused a few eyebrows to be raised at that question.

"What you knowin' are words from next of kin," Pinkie responded.

"You gossip, you gossip, you sayin' this is rubbish?" Pinkie mocked, pointing to her dress.

This caused a few of the surrounding nobles to feel terribly abashed at her jab.

"Call it trash? That's the next fashion comeback!" Pinkie scoffed.

Circling around, Pinkie continued her belittling of the gossipy nobles.

"Don't you dare say what we wearing is just plain rotten," Pinkie warned.

"The worst!?" Pinkie gasped sarcastically.

"’Cause, right now, you're all acting like jerks," Pinkie scolded, standing on her hind legs, front hooves crossed as she shook her head at them.

"I'll be in Ponyville, you can find me at that boutique," Pinkie stated as she used one hoof pointing in one random direction.

"I'm not, I'm not lost. I'm gettin' those chic outfits," Pinkie reassured with a bright smile.

Pinkie then pulled out a large picture of Rarity sewing some dresses to her captivated audience.

"She's stitching, she's snipping, she's sewing, she's threading," Pinkie explained as she pointed to the picture with a pointer.

"She'll make those designs for you, on-demand, that fashionable marshmallow," Pinkie clarified as she now sat on Rarity’s fainting couch, currently dressed in light blue pajamas.

Meanwhile...

"Woe is me! Even my fainting couch has abandoned me!!" Rarity despaired as she munched on some more ice cream on the floor of her boutique.

"She puts in gemstones and silk soft as marshmallows," Pinkie sang as she pulled a large fabric of silk somehow from above her and snuggled the material.

"Paid some bits, the rest I'll spend on some marshmallows," Pinkie rejoiced as she took out a bag full of said delicious treats from her mane and started munching on them.

Jumping off the couch in a fashionable manner, the pink pony trotted forward.

"Nobles be like: ‘Oh, that's snazzy. I gotta buy!’" Pinkie sang, gesturing to Prince Blueblood who now looked shocked at being the center of attention.

"I'm like: Hay, that's fifty bits for a dumb suit," Pinkie cautioned as she pointed both her hooves at herself.

"Latest Edition? Let's do some fancy mathematics," Pinkie mocked as she pulled out a calculator, only to toss it aside and grab Prince Blueblood by the shoulders.

"FIFTY BITS FOR A DUMB SUIT!! What, in Tartarus, is wrong with you?!" Pinkie shrieked as she shook Prince Blueblood abruptly until he was seeing circles.

"Jeez," Pinkie vocalized as she pushed the dizzy Blueblood aside

"I call that getting conned and tricked," Pinkie explained.

"Yeah!" cried out an overly muscular white pegasus.

"I say! What you say is none of your business!" Prince Blueblood interrupted as he got back his bearings.

"This shirt's worth the dough!" Prince Blueblood defended.

"And wearing the same one as six other stallions in this Gala is a hella no!" Pinkie retorted, pointing to the six stallions behind him, all wearing the same outfit as he.

All of which were now avoiding eye contact with each other out of embarrassment.

"How lame, come get some common sense, you dope," Pinkie teased as she ruffled Prince Blueblood's mane.

"Go get a suit from a brand that you should've known," Pinkie relayed as she trotted away from the stunned prince.

The prince didn't even noticed Pinkie Pie’s friends until they were right beside him.

"That you should have known!" The four other mares repeated to him before they trotted on after Pinkie Pie.

"Ponyville... Rarity’s Boutique... yeah..." Spike slowly sang as he followed after the singing mares.

The five singing mares and one dragon danced along, one by one, as they moved onto the stage of the Gala.

As they faced the audience in a neat row, Fluttershy stepped forward and sang the next verse, somehow in her Flutterguy voice.

"I'm gonna spend some bits

Only got enough to fill my wallet

I - I - I'm a spendin'

Lookin' for new clothes

To look bucking awesome!"

Despite her current masculine voice, Fluttershy smoothly sang the chorus, her voice catching the attention of all who listened like a moth to a flame.

"I wear these fancy clothes.

I look incredible.

I'm goin' to buy some more.

From that boutique down the road."

As Fluttershy took a step back now it was Twilight’s turn to sing.

"I wear these fancy clothes," Twilight sang.

"Darn right!" Pinkie piped in, bumping her head to the music.

"I look incredible," Rainbow now sang.

"Come on!" Pinkie proclaimed to the crowd.

"I'm goin' to buy some more," Applejack sang.

"Buy some more!" Pinkie repeated, jumping in the air.

"From that boutique down the road," Spike sang as he pointed in one random direction.

"That's right! Come on!" Pinkie gestured to the crowd.

"I'm gonna spend some bits

Only got enough to fill my wallet

I - I - I'm a spendin'

Lookin' for new clothes

To look bucking awesome!" Pinkie Pie cheerfully sang the final verse of the song.

"Hahaha." Pinkie chuckled, clapping to herself once it was all over.

Silence filled the ballroom as the final line was sung. That is, until one noble started clapping his hooves. Then another followed suit. And another. Soon, the Gala was erupted with cheers as the five mares and one dragon bowed to the crowd.

The Carousel Boutique: Chic, Unique and Magnifique!

After the stellar promotion caused by the element bearers last evening, Canterlot is in an uproar for the latest fashion wares from the simple, but unique, boutique located in the quiet town of Ponyville. The Canterlot Monthly has even declared Rarity “Fashion Forward Mare of the Month.”

Nobles are now ordering in abundance for the latest fashion buzz which is any clothing made by Rarity.

So, go on down to that boutique just down the road in Ponyville and get yourself something nice to wear.

Pinkie smiled as she read the article while eating her cupcake. It had been a week since the Gala, and the fruits of their labor was finally showing.

"Pinkie, darling!" A voice called out, causing Pinkie to turn to her side to see Rarity approaching her.

"I can never thank you enough for what you did for me. I must treat you to a spa session one of these days," Rarity said with a tired smile.

"No problemo, Rarity! Just helping a friend!" Pinkie replied back with a big smile.

"What help, indeed," Rarity chuckled back. "Well, I must be off, now. Lots of orders to do. I do wonder where they came from?" Rarity giggled.

"Later, Rarity!" Pinkie shouted as she waved goodbye to her friend. Downing her glass of chocolate milk, she sighed.

A job well done. Rarity's career was saved and they had a great time at the Gala.

It was at this moment that Pinkie heard the repeated sounds of a tap tap tapping. Pinkie looked to see that her front left hoof was the source of tapping.

Pinkie Pie smiled.

The Element Bearer of Laughter's work was never done as a another song was about to spring out from inside her once more...