“I’m sorry, this just isn’t right.”
Princess Celestia always tried to be easy to tailor for. But today Ribbon just couldn’t seem to get it right. Was she getting too old?
“I’m sorry, you’re highness. But if you could just have a little more patience with me--”
“I’m sorry, Ribbon, but the gala is tomorrow. Just get me into something decent.”
“You’re highness doesn’t want to try and see if anything old fits, does she?
“No, it would break tradition.”
“Well, alright. I’ll try my best.”
When the gala did come around, Celestia had settled for something simple but elegant. Ribbon was a good tailor, but Celestia had made her choice.
She needed a new tailor. And she needed one soon. But she wanted some-pony who was young—experienced, yes, of course—but young.
Ribbon wouldn’t mind, Celestia could tell the strenuous work was getting to her. She would be happy to retire or go to work for someone with a lesser workload.
She called one of her aides and let her know that on the morrow she would go to the School of Royal Tailors and choose a new one from the ponies who had just graduated.
Surely someone there would be who she needed.
One year earlier…
Ruby was just sitting in her tree that day. Nothing unusual had happened, it was an ordinary, beautiful day and she was content to just sit in her tree and sew.
The town of Clopville was small, so no one really needed any tailoring done very often.
But when the occasion came up, they always called on Ruby.
Ruby Throne...a small pony for her age, dark, wine-red and a multicolored mane that was blue and lighter red. She was sweet, needed glasses, and was probably the best-dressed pony in Clopville.
But she didn’t ‘strut her stuff,’ so to speak, instead, she quietly offered to do any tailoring needed, and she didn’t parade herself around, making her fashion skills known.
But for her, she wanted a challenge.
Something to keep her busy. She had big dreams—always had.
So, a few weeks ago, she had decided, hey, why not just send in an application to the School of Royal Tailors? She didn’t have anything to lose.
So she had, but she had very big doubts. The School of Royal Tailors usually only accepted ponies from it’s hometown—Canterlot. And small-town ponies like her had hardly a chance.
But on that day, she found out she was wrong.
“Ruby! A letter!”
Ruby jumped down off the tree and ran into the front yard, where her sunshine-yellow sister held a fat envelope with her unicorn.
Ruby Throne’s entire family was unicorns. She rather liked that about them.
“For me?”
“Yes, for you, silly!” she thrust it toward her sister. “Open it!”
Ruby took it and did just that.
She read silently for a moment, then gasped and looked up at her sister. She pushed her glasses closer to her face and squinted at the page. She gasped again and looked again to her sister.
“What, what?” Lemongrass could hardly hold it in.
“I’ve...I’ve been accepted.”
“Accepted?” Lemongrass frowned. Then, realization filled her face. “Oh! Accepted! To the school? Really?”
Ruby just nodded.
“Are you kidding me?! Ruby, that is amazing! When do you leave?”
“Um, I am to leave tomorrow morning and start school on Monday.”
“Aren’t you excited?!”
Ruby looked at her sister and a huge smile broke forth. “I am, very much.”
“Oh, Ruby, you’re so modest, even in your exciting moments of glory. And don’t worry about Clopville. We can make our own clothes.” she grabbed her sister in a hug and together they celebrated.
The next day, after she said most of her goodbyes, Ruby approached her sister.
“I made this for you.” she blurted, and thrust a bundle of red cloth at her sister.
“For me? Oh, thank you.” Lemon shook out the cloth and gasped.
It was the most elegant gown she’d ever laid eyes on. Not even Ruby wore such finery as this.
She looked up in astonishment at her sister.
Ruby smiled. “For when you come to visit.”
“Oh...oh wow, oh, Ruby!” Lemon hugged her sister.
Ruby found a strange satisfaction in the fact that for once in her life, she’d stunned her sister to silence.
She said goodbye a few more times before leaving, and then went to the train station.
Her train was early, so she boarded first and waited for it to leave.
When it did slowly pull away from the station, she realized where she was going.
She was going to the biggest city in Equestria...the capital of Equestria. The ponies there would be more sophisticated.
Ruby was nervous. Would her country roots prevent her from impressing these stylish ponies? Would there be any friendly faces?
She dearly hoped she’d make a friend or two at the school. She’d always heard that the ponies of Canterlot were rather opinionated...and they would judge you from first sight.
Lemongrass had told her to just be herself. Smile at those ponies and not dwell on what they might be thinking.
Ruby sure hoped that Lemon was right.
She still wasn’t sure if she’d survive the first day.
When Ruby exited the train, she just had to stop in the middle of a crowd of bustling mares and stallions and just gaze at everything around her.
The city was absolutely amazing. Everywhere she looked she saw high-class mares in stunning dresses and tall stallions in equally amazing finery. For a moment, Ruby wondered if her skills would be enough for this place. They’d been almost too fine for Clopville, but what about here?
She shoved the thoughts out of her head. Lemongrass had told her not to think that way. And she wouldn’t.
She still stood there like a statue. Everything about the fashion and the streets of the city both excited and terrified her.
On a street corner stood a cream-colored mare in a long, purple dress. Her dark mane was put up in a fashionable up-do, and the stallion at her side wore tails and a monacle, which Ruby loved. She’d always loved monacles.
But, as I said before, Ruby was a small pony, and therefore other ponies on the station started jostling her, almost knocking her over.
“Move, little mare!”
“Out of the way!”
“Don’t stand right in the middle of the platform like that!”
Ruby gathered her bag and tried to find a way out but the crowd was so thick and she had no clue of how to navigate such crowds.
The ponies were getting more and more agitated, urging her to move.
A hoof touched hers and she looked up, fearing to find another disapproving face. Instead, she looked up into kind, dark eyes.
“Come with me.” the stallion said, and she obeyed.
He expertly led her through the tangled mass of ponies and when they finally reached the street, Ruby felt she could breathe easier.
“Thank you ever so much sir.” she said, looking back at the pony. It was just now she realized he was a soldier...or something like that. He wore armor.
“You’re welcome, miss. You in from the country?”
Ruby blushed and nodded. He smiled, putting her at ease. “Don’t worry, not all ponies here will size you up from the first minute of knowing you. Some of us are just plain polite.” he winked.
Ruby couldn’t stifle a giggle.
“What’s your name?”
“Ruby Throne, sir.”
“Enough of this sir stuff, Miss Throne. I am Glacier Fjord. You may call me either of those names but not both together. It sounds too cheesy that way.”
Ruby laughed again. “Okay. I like Fjord.”
“Then Fjord it will be!” he announced gallantly, and she grinned.
“Where are you headed, Miss Throne?”
Ruby was slowly gaining her confidence back. “If I call you Fjord, you call me Ruby.”
He nodded and she continued, “I’m headed to the School of Royal Tailors. Do you know which way it is?”
He grinned again. “I can do better than telling you. I’ll take you there.”
She blushed again, and looked down to hide it. “Thank you so much.”
He led her expertly through the crowd and soon they were on their way to the School of Royal Tailors. Ruby was glad to have a friend within minutes of arriving, even if she’d most likely never see him again.
Unless she became Princess Celestia’s new tailor one day far off in the future. But would he remember her by then?
Ruby pushed the thought away, deciding to enjoy the moment.
And enjoy the kindness of this handsome stranger.
Author's Note
I'm hoping everyone likes this so far! Please offer up any criticism! I take it gladly. But please, no language, thank you.
(You wouldn't curse in the presence of a royal tailor-to-be, would you?!)
Anyway, enjoy!
When Fjord dropped her off at the school, she almost wished he hadn't. This place was very big and imposing and she felt small. Whatever had possessed her to come here?
"I could have been happy as a small town tailor." she told herself.
Well, maybe, but she also knew she would be plagued with what-ifs the rest of her life if she didn't give it her best shot. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and she wanted to represent Clopville and every small-town tailor out there.
The building was painted white and had dark brown trim. There were curtains at every visible window and the door had a brass knocker, doorbell and silver doorknob. Everything about the place betrayed its prestige.
She took a breath and trotted up the steps. She rung the doorbell, hearing a faint ring inside the building. She tried not to pace while she waited for an answer. The mare who came to the door was a dark blue color and wore her hair up. She quickly looked Ruby up and down.
"New student?"
"Yes, my name is Ruby Throne."
The mare squinted. "Don't remember that name. But I'll take your word for it. We've had so many new students coming in this month I can't keep track."
She stepped aside. "Come in, and I'll show you to your room."
Ruby stepped inside, hearing her hooves click on marble.
The mare shut the door behind Ruby and turned to face her. "My name is Tourmaline. I'm the housekeeper of this establishment, I do not teach classes. But I make sure every pony is fed, their rooms kept clean and their supplies are filled. Part of all that will be your responsibility, but most of it is mine."
Ruby nodded. "Thank you. What do I call you?"
"Every pony calls me Miss Tourmaline, you may do the same."
Ruby thought it a little strange to call her that, especially since she usually associated the term 'miss' with a young mare, but she nodded anyway.
"I'll take you to your room," she repeated. "You live on the third floor."
Ruby followed the mare, almost breaking into a trot to keep up with her. She didn't complain, though, as she assumed Miss Tourmaline had many duties to complete that day.
Miss Tourmaline showed her room, gave her the key and bid her a good day, saying she probably wouldn't see her again that day. Ruby barely had time to reply in kind before the mare was gone.
She took the time to survey her room before unpacking her bag. It was a large room, with two beds. One had a thick, yellow and white blanket and lots of yellow, white and brown throw pillows. The other was stripped bare.
Apparently she had a roommate. The roommate had a desk filled with folders and notebooks, a tall bookshelf by her closet and a nightstand with a silver lamp. She also had a dresser with several different kinds of perfume and a jewelry box on top, and a chest at the foot of her bed.
The middle of the room and Ruby's side of the room were bare. The only other things she spotted were several posters on the other side of the room and a full-length mirror on the door.
She was anxious for her luggage to arrive from the train. She wanted to decorate her side of the room so it wouldn't look so drab. All she had was a bed, dresser, nightstand, desk and closet.
She unpacked the bag she had with her, glad to brighten the walls with her own pictures. Some were family, others were famous tailors she was inspired by. She set a framed photo of her and Lemongrass on her nightstand, and and the rest of the necessities in the bag she put in the top drawer of the dresser.
The only clothes she had to put in the closet was her coat and scarf, which she hung neatly, side by side.
A sharp knock sounded at the door, making her jump. She quickly went to open it.
She found two white stallions waiting for her. Behind them were her trunks.
"Are you Miss Ruby Throne?" one asked, glancing at his clipboard.
"Yes."
"We've brought your luggage."
"I see that. You brought it very promptly, so I thank you."
The stallion holding the clipboard grinned. "Want us to help you bring it in?"
"Please."
The two helped her haul in the heavy trunks and she made sure that she brought in the smallest one with her fragile items inside. She signed the clipboard, thanked them again and shut the door behind them.
Now she could really make this place look like home.
She didn't consider herself much of a interior designer, she'd much rather work on creating new outfits. But she made the place look as nice as possible.
On the bed she put her purple blanket and purple, white and blue throw pillows. On the dresser she set another framed photo and her own collection of jewelry and perfume. On the nightstand she set her rose-gold lamp and in the drawers she put extra notebooks and paper.
On the desk, she put another, smaller lamp, a pencil holder full of pencils and pens, and one of her sketchbooks. She put the rest of her notebooks and sketchbooks in the drawer.
She had saved the best for last. She put her clothes in the closet, arranging them by style and color, like she always had. She put smaller items in the dresser.
When she finished, she was glad to step back and relax, now that everything was in place.
Her nerves soon returned when the door opened and a green mare bustled in. When she saw Ruby, she grinned and dumped her things at the foot of her bed. "Hello! Are you my new roommate? Well, I'm assuming you are, since you decorated your side of the--wow, it looks so nice! I love the posters! Ooh, are you a follower of Peppermint Mill as well?"
Ruby blinked, startled at the rapid fire of words. "Well thank you, and yes, I love her work."
"Oh so do I. It's so good to finally meet you! I'm Evergreen Hyacinth--pardon my parent's love for vegatation."
"I think it's a lovely name."
"Well thank you. And you are Ruby Throne, right? I think that name is the coolest thing ever. You must be cut out for training as a Royal tailor...even your name goes with the theme!"
Ruby smiled. "Thank you."
Evergreen shed her coat and scarf, throwing them on the bed, and put her books on her desk. Her mane was up in a high ponytail, and its colors were bright blue and pale purple.
"So, did you just get here?"
"I did. I was very lucky to find it."
Evergreen laughed. "Yes, I think we all had that struggle when we first got here. Unless you lived nearby...but I lived on the other side of the city. How did you end up finding it? And where do you live?"
"A soldier brought me here. I'm from Clopville."
Evergreen frowned. "You're from out of town? That's unusual."
Ruby nodded. "I know, I'm not even sure why I was excepted, but I'm glad to be here."
"That's pretty neat. Must mean you got some skills on you!" Evergreen's smile returned. "And you say a soldier brought you here? Now that is cool. I've lived here all my life and never talked to a soldier until I came to this school."
"He was very nice, but I doubt I'll ever see him again. This is probably the only encounter I'll have with one."
"Well, you never know. In certain classes you can talk to soldiers once in a while."
"So, when does school start?"
"Well, you got here just in time. The new semester starts tomorrow. I was out at the library, brushing up on my history. I'm terrible with history, even fashion history."
"I love history. If you have questions, I wouldn't mind trying to answer them."
"Seriously? A history lover as my roommate? Someone must like me."
Ruby smiled. She liked this pony.
"Well, do you want the grand tour? Or would you rather relax until the craziness starts up tomorrow?"
"I think I'd love a tour," Ruby replied, taking her coat and scarf out of the closet. "May as well know my way around."
Yes, she might as well know her way around and prepare for the first day of what she'd always considered her biggest dream.
