Awesome or Cute? Why Not Both?! (re-edited)
Rainbow Dash and Rarity were having tea together. Though not a high-class mare herself, Rainbow Dash was loyal to her friends (95% of the time).
More importantly, she owed Rarity a favour. Plus, she was a sucker for zap apple tea (shock of all shocks), so... yeah, there's that too.
"I truly appreciate your coming here, darling." Rariity said, pouring herself another cup, savouring the smell of it before daintily taking a sip.
"No problem, Rares." the multihued mare replied. "Let me just say: I'm sorry for leavin' ya with Pinks back then. And the... sewing machine cake thing. I seriously am."
"Consider it in the past, dear." Rarity said, waving it off. However, her left eye twitched momentarily. To anyone who had been looking closely enough, she was still a trifle sour about it all.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Hmm... I wonder who that could be?" Rarity queried. "Terribly sorry, darling. I'll not be but a moment."
"Take your time, Rares." Rainbow said, taking another large sip of her tea.
As it turns out, there was one of the local mailponies (as evidenced by the Cutie Mark of a postage stamp) with a letter held out in one hoof. "Telegram." he said flatly.
Rarity took the letter and opened it, reading the contents.
"Ahem." the mailpony said, cearly expecting a tip.
Swiftly, Rarity levitated a gem into his coat pocket. "Thanks." she said, before closing the door just as swiftly, getting back to reading the letter.
DEAR RARITY BELLE, STOP
YOU ARE HEREBY INVITED TO AN EXCLUSIVE PARTY STOP
HOSTED BY LORD FANCY PANTS TOMORROW NIGHT STOP
AT 7:00 STOP
ADULTS ONLY STOP
P.S.: BRING A FRIEND TWO PASSES ARE ENCLOSED STOP
The curious message puzzled Rarity. She was quite sure that that form of letter was terribly outdated. 'Still, some Ponies seem to prefer the old ways.' She sighed at that thought. 'Well, nothing for it. Our teatime shall have to wait for another day, unfortunately.'
Sighing again, she returned to her still-seated friend. "Bad news, darling." she said as she walked in the door. Putting the letter down in front of Rainbow Dash, she started to clean up, her magic levitating the various utensils to the sink.
Reading the letter, Rainbow felt a sudden urge to go along. "Bring a friend, huh. You know, Rarity, I could fill that spot."
If Rarity hadn't practiced with interruptions in the past, she would have dropped the tea set. As it was, she stopped what she was doing. "Seriously?"
"Well, yeah. I do still owe you one, and Fluttershy is out of town with Pinkie. The thing says 'adults only', so your sister is out..."
Raruty guffawed at the notion, causing her friend to wilt somewhat. "Oh, goodness, no!" she said at length. "This is a party hosted by one of the Canterlot elite, darling. You're simply too... -how shall I put this?- rough. Unrefined. Blunt. Unfit for the purpose."
Rainbow drooped a bit more at each of those descriptive words.
"Alas, our tea time will have to be put on hold. I have work to do."
Rainbow hid how hurt she was at that. "I-i-it's fine, Rarity. Until next time, then."
"Oh, take the ticket along. See if you can't find somepony who will want to come." Rarity said, depositing the ticket into her friend's saddlebags.
Exiting her friend's home, the prismatic Pony trotted off with her ears down involuntarily. For some reason she really wanted to go to the party that she otherwise wouldn't have given a second thought to. And what Rarity said had hurt more than she'd expected.
If only she could find a way to be -how would Rarity put it?- refined. Smooth. Fancy enough.
Now, again, she usually wouldn't have given this a second thought, but still... Rarity had issued a challenge, whether she knew it or not. And if there was one thing that Rainbow couldn't resist...
As she hovered along, she noticed Princess Cadence, currently without her husband. If anypony knew about refinement (aside from Rarity) it would be her! She seemed to be considerng something or other.
Taking the opportunity, the chromatic Pegasus zoomed over to the pink pony princess, who was presently puzzling prodigiously. "Princess! Princess Cadence! I need your help!"
Cadence looked over to the fairly frantic flier. "Oh! Rainbow Dash. What seems to be the problem?"
Rainbow blushed and suddenly found her forehooves very interesting. "Well... the thing is..."
One quick explanation later, Cadence was nodding slowly in thought. "Hmm... You were right to come to me." she gestured with one leg. "Follow me." she said, before taking off.
The blue Pegasus followed the former Pegasus along to what appeared to be a large cloud house. "This can be considered my studio." Cadence explained. "My own little high-rise. Very high." she chuckled at her little joke. Rainbow just rolled her eyes. "I needed to come here anyway, to refresh the sky magic on it." she added
Entering the fluffy building, Rainbow saw a motherlode of fashion that would make Rarity faint.
"Whoa." Rainbow commented numbly.
"I know, right?" Cadence chuckled. She was infusing the cloudy mass with some of her innate Pegasus magic. Being an Alicorn, she had this in spades. With some hearts for good measure. "Rarity isn't the only fashionista. In the fashion world, I'm known as Soft Touch. The Crystal Empire is nice and all, but it's often too... quiet. So I turned my eyes to the fashion industry. It provides me with the excitement I need. And with the hearthstone I have in back, I can come here any time!"
Shortly thereafter, the two walked over to a closet.
"This is my wardrobe. I keep all of my favourite works in here." Cadence said.
If Rainbow was surprised at the interior itself, what was in this room struck her dumb.
"I'm sure we can find something that will suit you in here." Cadence said, a bit smugly.
A long, drawn out fitting session followed. Dress after dress after dress. Nothing seemed to suit the multi-hued mare's prismatic palette. Until...
"BINGO! We have a winner here!" Cadence said, grinning at the find.
The airy dress was a multi toned blue, with cloudy portions of pearlescent rainbow colour mixed in. It was beautiful, but would allow freedom of movement. It was form-fitting without sacrificing space for her wings. (1)
"Beautiful!" Cadence commented, levitating the dress onto a nearby ponnequin. "Now for a beauty treatment."
"A... beauty treatment?" Rainbow queried, tilting her head sllghtly.
"Of course! Simply "fitting in" won't do. You'll want to knock their nonexistent socks off. When I'm done with you, they'll be head over hooves for you. You'll see."
First came the mane and tail. Grabbing a tin of mane gel in her magic, she slathered Rainbow's hair with the stuff, giving it a sheen like no other.
Then came the manestyle. Cadence figured that a nice ponytail would work the best. Then she smoothed the front down, eliminating any spikes. After that was done, she tried slipping some pink stockings and a similarly coloured bow onto her living ponnequin. "Hmm. You look kind of cute like that."
Rainbow pouted slightly, a blush coming to her cheeks. "Am not."
"Oh, but you are. Just look."
She brought a full body mirror over.
Rainbow's blush deepened.
"It's still not enough, though." Cadence continued. "Let's move on."
With that, the bow and stockings came off. Instead, she decided on some rainbow hoof polish. "It took me WEEKS to extract this from a rainbow fruit. Try that if you ever get the chance, by the way." Some similarly hued wing paint was applied to her primaries.
Some polishing of the smaller mare's hooves followed. Some white beads added on for extra effect. So too were these added to her wings, the paint having dried by then. "These will stay on until you decide to take them off. They're enchanted to not impede your freedom of movement, and in fact will sting something fierce should you need to defend yourself. The dress itself is enhanced to make you stronger and tougher, as well as more graceful."
Rainbow quirked one eyebrow. "What exactly do you think will be goin' on?"
Cadence waved that off. "Luck favours the prepared, as they say. Do you recall what happened at my wedding?"
Rainbow rolled her eyes, but otherwise didn't reply.
Some more beads were laid in Rainbow's mane. They sparkled when the light hit them just right.
"And what are those? Grenades?" Rainbow snarked.
"No, but they're big enough that they'll hurt a fair bit if you throw them."
A light blue bow and some dark blue eyeshadow (along with some false eyelashes) later, the transformation was complete. Then the dress was donned once more.
When Rainbow looked in the nearby mirror, her eyes widened. "Is that... me?!"
Cadence nodded, smiling. "You know, with your frame and your unique palette, you might make a good model. Maybe you'd consider working with me?"
Rainbow considered that for a moment. Despite not exactly being a mare of fashion, she couldn't deny the results. She was undoubtedly stunning. "I'll... think about that." she replied at length.
Cadence sweetened the deal a bit. "Maybe we can give Rarity some competition."
Rainbow grinned, a mischievous look in her eyes. "I'll ABSOLUTELY consider that."
"Now, your motivation. Close your eyes."
The rainbow mare complied.
Cadence's horn began to glow, a subtle hypnosis spell being cast. "You are Prisma Glow. You are a beauty that would grab any stallion's attention. Your presence verily demands attention; you exude confidence. You will be high class, graceful and confident in your own beauty, yet be strong, independent and smart without sacrificing your loyal core or your memory of who you are - er, were. You are a crouching tigress in love and war; Debonair. At once beautiful and ferocious. When I clap, you will awaken as all that I have described."
Cadence clacked her hooves together, ending the spell.
"Am I... complete?" Prisma queried in a Mid-Atlantic accent.(2) Briefly, she put a hoof to her throat, surprised at her own voice.
"Oh, yes. Now, I believe that you have an audience awaiting...."
Author's Note
1: Imagine this, but with small rainbow streaks to accentuate where there are white portions.
2: Think Katherine Hepburn.
The party was warming up, buzzing with excitement. Everywhere around the room there were elitist Ponies chatting about frivolous things. Rarity was chatting with the host of the party himself, Fancy Pants. They were discussing about their respective businesses, the rest of the party guests tuned out. Then suddenly...
The Pony at the entrance announced, "Lady Prisma Glow!"
Into the room strode a blue mare wearing a blue dress. She and it were covered with decorative pearlescent rainbows. She walked down the hall with her eyes shut, as if she owned the place. And judging by the reactions of the other high-class Ponies, it was working. She stopped to wink at a few gawking stallions, who promptly fainted.
"Who is THAT?!" Fancy Pants queried in awe.
Rarity shook her head. "I-I-I'm not sure. Whoever she is, she looks marvelous!"
The mare strutted over to the duo. "Good evening, darlings. Prisma Glow. Delighted to make your acquaintance." she said in a smooth Mid-Atlantic accent. "Your friend Rainbow Dash (turns out I'm a distant cousin) found me in Cloudsdale and gave me this." She brandished the pass in her right wing. "She so wanted to come, but said that you thought her too... how you say? Unrefined? Rough? Not fit for the part?" she continued, pretty much shoving Rarity's earlier words in her face.
She then moved past them to the table that was set out. Taking a glass of the available drink, she sipped at it gingerly. Then she said, "Hmm. Blueberry and currant. With a hint of mint as well. Aged... ten or twelve years, at least. Divine. Quite strong, too."
Fancy Pants said, "You're quite the connoisseusse, madam."
"Why, of course. It's something natural to Pegasi, considering our typically more diverse diet."
Rarity nodded. 'Say what you will about dear Rainbow, she can be an excellent judge of character.' Then she said, "Well, I'm Rarity, I work as a tailor in various locations. Miss Glow-"
"Prisma, if you please."
"Prisma," Rarity amended, "What do you do for a living?"
Not missing a beat, Prisma replied, "Why, I work as a model for madam Soft Touch. You may know of her."
Rarity's smile dropped by a fraction, but she otherwise gave no sign of being perturbed. "Indeed? Judging by that marvelous dress you're wearing, she's quite an artiste."
"Believe me, this is nothing compared to some of her works." Prisma said, nibbling daintily at a few of the foodstuffs that she'd gathered on a plate, balanced on an outstretched wing.
The three began chatting back and forth for a while, trying to learn more about this mysterious mare. Not once did she slip up. The mare was unflappable.
At length, the two nobles walked off to further enjoy the party, bidding the newcomer a civil adieu.
Prisma smiled. Cadence's work was fantastic. Her mind was made up about becoming a model. Of course, she'd have to balance it with her career as a Wonderbolt and her home life, but she was used to juggling personae. She could handle it.
Suddenly, a stallion stepped over to her. "G'dEvEnin' mA'am." he said, clearly having had a bit too much.
Prisma recoiled from the stench of alcohol on his breath. She fanned in front of her face with one wing to clear the air. "Phew! Darling, you clearly need to be cut off." she said.
"D'ya Wa- *hic!* Nna daNsh?" he continued.
"I think not. Why don't you take a short nap first?" Prisma said. Electricity crackled along one wing. When she touched it to the stallion's chest, his eyes widened for a moment, then he slumped to the floor, out cold.
"Oh, dear!" Prisma said, as if his sudden unconsciousness was no fault of hers. "Usher!" she called out.
A tall stallion with a cutie mark of a pair of boxing gloves stepped over.
"This poor stallion seems to have had a bit too much. Would you please?"
As the cold cocked stallion was escorted from the premises, Prisma took another sip of her own drink.
Suddenly, a group of gryphons (a couple dozen or so) burst through the door. "Alright! Hand over your bits and valuables and no Ponies get killed!"
Prisma rolled her eyes. Brigands. Just... of course.
"Really." she said, loud enough to be heard, "Can't a mare have a good time without having to worry about deplorable rapscallions? Just for one night?"
One of the gryphons said, glaring "What was that?!"
Prisma glared right back. "I said that your presences are not welcome, birdbrain. Hear me now?"
The clear leader of the flock pointed. "Oh, a smart-ass, eh? Men! Shut this pint-sized priss up!"
At once, the gryphons rushed forward, knocking away anypony who was in their path.
"I suppose we'll have to do this the hard way, then." Prisma sighed. "Code 6-1-5-9! Initiate combat mode!"
In an instant, Prisma's dress began to change. the back portion slimmed down, then adjusted to fit over her legs entirely. That done, the dress itself hardened into armour, losing any floofiness that it previously had, though still retaining its colour naturally. The enchantments on the dress activated fully, granting Prisma increased stats(1) and new abilities.
Transformation sequence done, Prisma said, "It's showtime!" Now THIS was the kind of modelling her previous self could get behind!
As the first assailant swiped at her, she ducked and countered with an uppercut, sending the gryphon flying into a nearby column. The next attempted a diving kick, but that was just as easily countered. The gryphon was slammed into the hard floor. The next two came from opposite sides. A simple jump caused a comical collision between them. Using her elevated ground, Prisma slammed into the next gryphon with her hind hooves, blocking two more and using her enhanced strength to slam them together in midair.
"She's just one Pony, you fools!"
Five more gryphons tried to surround her. A midair sideways cartwheel(2) left the five of them on the floor, groaning in pain.
"Give up, colts?" Prisma taunted, "Or are you hungry enough for another helping?"
From the sidelines, Rarity was watching in awe. Was her competition truly this good with her design?! Was she this badly outmatched?
A gryphon that was guarding the lot of the gathered nobles stepped up. "Hey! Get back in-"
Rarity slapped him aside into a nearby wall. "You're blocking my view!" she exclaimed as she did so.
Once all of his minions were given the smackdown, the leader faceclawed and muttered, "Yare yare daze." then more loudly, "FINE. I'll take matters into my own claws." He walked swiftly toward Prisma, who was ready for him.
The two clashed, matching each other move for move, only occasionally slipping up. As the fight went on, some banter started going.
"You're pretty good." the gryphon complimented.
"You aren't bad yourself." Prisma replied.
"Name's Greyclaw. So what's your skill level?"
"Name's Prisma Glow. 9th dan, Kung Fu." Prisma replied tersely. "You?"
"10th dan. Leaping Tiger." Greyclaw answered smugly
Prisma switched her stance. finally managing to get a clean hit on the avian assailant.
"I should also mention that I'm trained in Tai Chi, Karate, Judo, Kempone and Origami, just for kicks." Prisma boasted.
Greyclaw chuckled, wiping a bit of blood from his beak. "Not bad." he said, before rushing back into the fight.
The fight raged on for several minutes, the two combatants mixing up their combat styles over time, but eventually Prisma was victorious.
Greyclaw raised his claws in defeat. "I... yield. You... you win." he said, breathing heavily.
He was clocked in the face once more, sending him to the floor. "That was for putting so many tears in my dress." Prisma said gruffly. "Show's over. Code 3-9-1-6."
Her dress returned to normal, actually slowly repairing itself. "GUARDS!" Prisma called out.
The Canterlot Guard swiftly entered, gathered the beaten bird-boys and took off with them.
Prisma tsked. "The cavalry. Late as always."
With that, she went back to munching on her well-earned snack like nothing had happened at all.
Back at Cadence's cloud studio, Rainbow Dash was regaling Cadence with her tale of last night's proceedings.
"Ya should've seen it!" she exclaimed. "That Greyclaw guy was pretty good. Really good. But the armour mode really gave me the advantage. I wouldn't have been able to take him down without it."
Cadence smiled. "I'm glad. You're welcome."
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
When the door was opened, Rarity stepped through.
"RARITY?!" Rainbow exclaimed. "What are YOU doing here?!"
Rarity tut-tutted. "Darling, after that fracas, I thought about it and those moves were definitely yours. So today I tracked your direction and one cloud walking spell later, here I am. Oh. That reminds me."
She turned to Cadence. "Soft Touch, I presume?"
Cadence smiled and shrugged. "Guilty."
Rarity gave a smile of her own. "Would you, perchance, consider.... a merger? With my designs and your enchantments, why, we could create a new wave in the fashion industry! What say you?"
Cadence grinned. "You know? Sounds good to me."
Author's Note
1: Yes, I'm a D&D fan. Thanks for asking. 
2: A solid 25 hit combo
3:
I'm also an anime fan. Thanks for asking.
