Zompony Apocalypse

The news of the outbreak had not yet reached Ponyville...nopony saw it coming...

"Wow wow WOW!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly. "This is the best surprise ever!!" She was bouncing up and down with no intention of trying to contain her emotions. Twilight smiled nervously and was pondering whether or not to reconsider who she was taking to Canterlot with her. She loved Pinkie Pie but that pony was just so...energetic.

"I'm glad you're so excited Pinkie. Everypony else seems to be busy this weekend so none of them could come with me." She may be a big ball of exploding energy, but she's one of the best friends anypony could ask for. I'm sure this weekend will be fun!

Twilight levitated a scroll from her saddlebag and gave it to Pinkie Pie. "Here. This list contains everything that you will need for the ball in Canterlot. If you need help getting anything, just ask. " Pinkie was still bouncing up and down when Twilight gave her the list and didn't stop bouncing until her friend was long gone. She couldn't help it, she was just too excited!

"This weekend is going to be Super-Duper-Wonderful! The best part is that I get to spend it with one of my bestie best friends, Twilight Sparkle! Yipee!" She trotted through the kitchen of the bakery and plopped down on the floor to read the list that Twilight had given her.

--

Rarity was looking for fabric in the back room when Ginger Melody wandered into the Boutique. She had only been in town for a few hours and had already been befriended by the very...ecstatic Pinkie Pie and trampled by a Pegasus named Rainbow Dash who was practicing a new trick. Although she was a bit sore, Ginger definitely felt welcome in Ponyville.

"Helloooooo? Anyone here? I was interested in purchasing a dress?" She took a few more steps into the shop and something sparkly caught her eye. She trotted over to the manikin that was wearing the most magnificent dress she had ever seen. Wow...what a beautiful dress! Whoever made this dress is a pony with style and a perfect eye for fashion... As Ginger finished this thought, she was startled by somepony trotting up behind her.

"Oh! Hello! You must be that new pony in town that everyone is talking about. Twilight Sparkle told me about you earlier when she stopped by. And I must say, I absolutely love your mane! What a magnificent color, my dear." Rarity admired Ginger's silky red mane with awe. She had never seen a pony with such a lovely shade of red before and was almost jealous.

Ginger Melody blushed a little at this pony's compliment. To get a compliment from a pony with such a well-kept mane was something that made her heart feel warm and happy. "T-thank you very much! But if anypony's mane is beautiful, it is certainly yours. May I ask your name?"

Rarity was used to compliments on her beautiful mane, so her response to the kind pony may have sounded a bit arrogant. "Oh, isn't it? I simply love my mane! I take extra care to make sure that it is always absolutely gorgeous. My name is Rarity and this is my boutique. I make custom dresses for ponies all over Equestria." She smiled and trotted over to the dress that Ginger had been admiring. "Your name is Ginger...Ginger something or other, yes?"

"Umm, Yes. Ginger Melody. It's a pleasure to meet you. So..." Rarity cut her off before she could finish. "Oh yes. The pleasure is yours darling." She fluffed her mane and waited for Ginger to resume.

"Yes, well...anyway. I was looking to buy a dress for the party that Pinkie Pie is having next week. Haha. I hadn't even known her for 30 minutes when she invited me! She's such a nice pony."

Rarity, being a close friend of Pinkie Pie's, had been invited to this party as well and had been looking for a fashionable fabric for her party dress when Ginger Melody had entered the shop. "Well, you have certainly come to the right place for a dress, my dear. As I told you before, I make dresses and clothing for everypony around!" She smiled and fluffed her mane again. "I see you were admiring this one in particular? I made it last week with some gems I had leftover from my winter fashion show. These gems wouldn't work well with any of my spring designs, so I just made a simple dress with them."

Ginger was practically stunned. Leftover gems? Simple dress? This dress was fancier than anything you would find in her hometown, Checker County. Back home, a pony would have to make their own dresses or pay out their rear to have another pony make it. A dress this fancy would probably cost her life savings! She had come to Ponyville to be somepony...not to end up in a poor house...Her dream was smashed to pieces, so she apologized to Rarity. "It really is a beautiful dress...but I don't think I would be able to afford something with so many gems...I'm sorry to have wasted your time." She was turning around to leave when Rarity caught her hoof.

"Nonsense!! That is absolutely nonsense, my dear pony! For one, my dresses are much more fairly priced than any of those dreadful manufactured dresses that they sell in Canterlot. Not to mention, much more original. No two of my dresses are alike, unless requested, which makes each and every dress special." She led Ginger Melody around her boutique to prove her point. No two manikins were wearing the same dress. Each one had it's own individual flare. Ginger stared at each dress in awe. She had never seen so many gems in one place before! And each of the dresses were beautiful! She wondered how one pony could have so many wonderful ideas.

They ended up back in front of the same dress that she had been admiring earlier. "I would be hurt if a pony as kind and lovely as you was not wearing my fashion." Ginger blushed again at the compliment. She really wasn't used to it. "I insist that you have this dress! It would look stunning on you!"

"You are too kind Rarity but I...I still don't think I'll be able to afford something so nice. Thank you though..."

Rarity chuckled. "No, darling. I am giving you this dress and I won't let you walk out of here without it!" She took the dress off of the manikin, shoved Ginger into a dressing room, and tossed the dress over the door. "If it doesn't fit, don't worry, I can make alterations!" she sang happily as she went to fetch her sewing kit.

--

"Spike!" Twilight Sparkle had just returned from inviting Pinkie Pie to the Canterlot Ball this weekend. Her worries of the disastrous party-related crimes that Pinkie could commit had almost vanished while she was walking back to the library. That's funny...I wonder why Spike hasn't replied yet? "Spiiiiiiiike? Are you here?" There was a loud CRASH upstairs and then the pitter-patter of dragon's feet hurrying down the stairs. Spike was out of breath when he reached Twilight and collapsed at her hooves.

"Spike! What's wrong? Are you hurt? Do you..." He silenced her by raising one claw, signaling that he needed a moment to learn how to breathe again. Once he had composed himself he stood up.

"Sorry I didn't answer Twilight. I was drawing at my desk and I was really into it, so I didn't hear you the first time. The second time you called it scared my so much that I fell off of my stool" He chuckled and twiddled his claws.

"Oh...that's fine, I guess. I was just a little worried, is all. Any word from the Princess?" She tossed her saddlebags into the corner and levitated a few books from the shelf as she and Spike conversed.

"Not since Tuesday when she sent us the invitation. I'm sure there's no need to worry Twilight. She's probably just busy preparing for the ball."

"I guess you're right Spike...today is Friday, right? So it's only been 3 days. It's not like the Princess writes to me everyday anyhow."

"See? No need to worry! Everything is fine!"

Or so they thought...