Open Your Eyes

After a few weeks after I moved into Ponyville, I had to work somewhere and the only place that interested me was the Carousel Boutique, but I doubt that Rarity would hire me. I wasn't what anypony would think as a frilly pony like Rarity. In fact, I didn't like frilly dresses or ball gowns, but more for Steampunk. I managed to get everything ready for the morning, so I ended up making a few outfits to show her how good I was at sewing as she was. Baxter gotten me a few manikins, which two out of four of them had an outfit.

Baxter gave me a wagon outside, which I had already had some of my older works already packed on it. I just hope that Rarity takes me on, I thought. I would like to earn my own bits rather than work with Baxter in the Real Estate program. He was the first Earth Pony I meet before moving in Ponyville, but sadly he's in Canterlot.

Looking around, Hoping I didn't forget anything as I trotted to the cart. As I the papers in my mouth, got outside, got the cart attached and I trotted towards Rarity's. It was dusk, closer to the morning, so I doubted that Rarity would have been awake by the time I would arrive. I couldn't help the sighing and lowering my gaze and ears.

"Oh hey," Pinkie Pie's cheerful voice as she bounced over. "Whatcha doing?"

"Oh, hey Pinkie Pie," I greeted her back. "I was just heading to Rarity's."

I totally forgot that Pinkie was in front of me, talking, though I have heard was her talking about Sugercube Corner and Rarity. "Well, good luck!"

"Why you giving her luck for, Pinkie, dearie?" Rarity asked, looking cheerful.

"Oh, Steam Joy was just on her way to see you Rarity," Pinkie pie replied. "I think for a job or something?"

Feeling like I was just stabbed and my shyness started to kick in as Rarity looked at me. "Oh, I didn't know you were into fashion!" Rarity said. "I would like to see what you have! Are those it there?"

I gave her a nod, though she was already going through them. Rarity didn't seem to be impressed, saying that Steampunk wasn't in fashion anymore and that it won't sell.

"Ohh, that looks so cool," Lyra said as she and Bon Bon passed by, pausing. "Where can I get one?"

Rarity looked at me, her eyes shown. "Can you make more?" She asked.

I nodded. "I was hoping..."

"You're hired!" Rarity shushed me. "I'll expect you tomorrow morning with more of these...Outfits!"

I felt like I was going to be used just to make her money. Raising an eyebrow, she promised that I get paid if my style of choice would sell. She took what I had, even the cart with all my fabric in it, though I already knew what she's going to do with them.

"Oh, have you talked to Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy yet?" Pinkie pie asked, but before I could answer she took me by the hoof and dragged me to go find the two ponies.

***

"And what did you say your name was again?" The blue mare asked, tilting her head.

"Steam Joy," I said meekly, lowering myself to the ground.

"Right," Dash said. "I can tell that your'll get along with Fluttershy no problem."

Just as she finished, Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack arrived. Fluttershy seemed to be more shy than I was, only getting a soft 'helleo' out, and Applejack greeted me as well as Twilight.

"Where's Rarity?" Dash asked a few moments later. "Shouldn't she be here?"

"Pinkie and I already saw her," I said before Pinkie. "I was on my way to see her, and she ended up taking the outfits I already made with her, including all my fabric."

"I'm here," Rarity called, wearing on of my outfits. I went wide eyed to see what she had included. "What do you think of my new outfit?"

"That's the outfit I made," I said shocked. "You only sewed on the gems and a skirt that doesn't even match with the style!"

"Rarity," Twilight said annoyed. "How could you do this?"

"Well, it wouldn't sell other wise," Rarity told her.

"Its Steampunk," I said, cracking up with sadness. "It's not your everyday ball dresses!"

"Yeah, Rarity," Dash retorted. "Wait, what's Steampunk?"

I was already feeling broken inside, feeling betrayed by Rarity, then Pinkie replied to Dash what Steampunk was. She shocked the the whole group with what Steampunk was.

"You never fail to surprise us, Pinkie," Twilight said.

"How did you know about this, anyway?" Dash asked. "Have you been working with Rarity secretly?"

Pinkie giggled. "Just a hunch!"

***

After the past two weeks working with Rarity, I slowly started to become more tired each day. On the first day, she told me to take off the wings I had and take off the wig I had, and I wasn't wearing fake wings or wore a wig! I never had time to go see the stars anymore, taking naps during the nights so that I could stay up and watch the stars and moon. I began to get headaches during the day and Twilight and Applejack were worried on how tired I was becoming, working day and night. Even Baxter, who was told by Lilly Lake, Cherry Blossom and Cider were also worried.

The sound of the bell ringing made the first response from Rarity with her opening greeting. I didn't bother to see who it was, but the voice did make me want to see. I knew it was Baxter. It was heard to hear, since I was upstairs, but I knew that Baxter was trying to get me the night shift, though...There wasn't a night shift.

"Then let her work at home," the muffled voice of Baxter said. "She'll work much more if she had the choice of working during the night. She's a Bat Pony, not somepony you can use just to earn you more bits!"

Baxter...You're such a stubborn pony, I thought as I heard Rarity showing him out. I do hope you don't do anything stupid.