Open Your Eyes

Nearly three weeks at the Boutique, Baxter stood there in the front, waiting for me. He was holding a single rose in his mouth, no thorns on the stem whatsoever, asking me if I wanted to go get some coffee at this coffee shop he found near by. Cherry Blossom, Cinder, and Lilly Lake we already waiting for us.

I agreed and walked beside him. He said that he is trying to get me the night shift for sometime now and Rarity has been putting up a fight saying that she won't have me put on night shift. I couldn't blame him. He always had plans up his own sleeves that nopony could come up with.

"I could help, you know," Baxter stated as we neared the shop. "I know how hard it is to work with Rarity."

I nodded. "Honestly, I don't mind -"

"I do!" Baxter interrupted. "Your a pony of the night! You work best during the night rather than the day!"

"What are you two talking about?" Cherry had asked as we were close enough, taking our seats next to them. "I hope it isn't what I think it is."

As Baxter explained, Rarity and Twilight were walking past. As off just mentioning her name, Rarity slowed looking in our direction as if summoned. Cherry blossom what the problem was, and why couldn't Rarity just put me on night shift.

"I tried," Baxter said. "Rarity is a stubborn mare! I feel like she's using Steamy for profit and bits since there isn't any known Steampunk seamstress' other than Steamy."

"Calm down, Baxter!" Cherry held a hoof to Baxter's shoulder. Baxter moved her hoof away and glared at her.

"How can I?" Baxter demanded. "Steamy is a night pony and Rarity is slowly turning her into a normal, day pony! How many Bat Ponies do you see walking during the day, Cherry?"

By this point, I had fallen asleep. Baxter had gotten me a hazelnut brew, but the complaining didn't end. Baxter going off how I should be able to work at home, get paid as promised, how much different I was, and what she has told me to me face. "It's like she's using Steamy for free labor just to get her more attention and bits! She alters Steamy's dressed and outfits to make them 'her own design' when she hasn't made them at all! Talk about the Element of Generosity, more like the Element of Greedy."

Cinder woke me, her face full of worry. Cherry paid more attention to Baxter as Lilly was going back and forth between me and the arguing ponies. Yawning, I excused myself, noting that Rarity didn't like it when anypony is late, thanking Baxter for the drink and flew to the sidewalk and began my trip back.

***

As the day grew more longer than the last, I had made six more outfits only for them to be altered by Rarity. My creativity was altering to a lower level, and Rarity had arrived with Twilight soon after as I had just finished my seventh outfit.

"Rarity!" Twilight's call rang. "What do you think you're doing to her?"

"I'm not doing anything!" Rarity reassured her. "Steam Joy!"

When I heard my name, I went to see what was up. I wasn't sure what they were saying, I was too tired to even pay any attention. This was my last memory as far as that day. I had no idea what happened, but I woke up, I was in my own house. I was confused on how I got here or what had happened. I looked around the house and nothing looked to be out of the ordinary - though, I found a sleeping Baxter on my couch. I went to grab a blanket for him, but then I realized...Is this real or a dream?

"Steam Joy..." A soft mare's voice called out behind me. "Wake up..."

I took a look behind me, Cherry Blossom was standing right behind be but she looked...different. A lot different. She...almost resembled Luna. I wanted to speak to her, but I didn't seem to find my words and she ended up disappearing after a few moments. I woke up. this time, hopefully, for real. Cherry Blossom and Cinder were under me, yawning, to which I assumed was night.

"What are you two doing here?" I asked, feeling a little sick. "And, what happened?"

"We wanted to see how you were doing," Cherry replied tiredly.

"And as far as we know," Cinder started, pausing to yawn, "Baxter waited for you, only to be asked to leave by Rarity as she tried to take you home with Twilight. Baxter convinced them to let him take you home."

"Where is Baxter?" I asked, almost demandingly.

"Passed out on your couch," Cinder replied. "Don't worry, though, he's be fine."

"He also got you to work during the night as well," Cherry added. "You don't have to worry about going in during the morning!"

Seeing them both smile, it made me feel warm inside. They didn't stay long after, though, as I saw them out. I turned my attention to the sleeping Baxter. He seemed so peaceful.

***

So, roughly about a two weeks later, my creativity slowly came back and I felt more rested. I made more dresses that I ever made in one day alone. Baxter had gotten me more manikins to work with. I don't know what Baxter had done, though, since Rarity began to respect what I do and began selling my clothing.

Baxter had visited with Cherry and Lilly, helping me delivered the boxes of outfits that I had finished. Baxter, Cherry, Lilly, Cider and I tend to hang out once a week. Cinder gotten a new job and would be moving to Canterlot or Manehattan. Lilly found a job with animals, not sure where. Cinder promised to stay in Ponyville while the rest lived in Canterlot and Manehattan.

I felt really sad hearing that most of my friends will be moving, but knowing that they'll visit, even if it meant staying up all night. Baxter said he had a surprise for me, but the surprise wasn't ready for me. Cinder said that she wanted to be there as well to see what my reaction was. Cherry and Lilly told Cinder that they wanted a letter explaining how it all went, making me very much more curious about what this could be.

"I don't want to spoil what this surprise could be," Baxter stated.

"Right," Cherry agreed. She looked at me, smiling, and reached out for my hoof. "I hope that everything will go just as fine!"