Friendship is Magic: The Seventh Element

It was another lovely day in Ponyville, as Rarity was hard at work in her home. A home which was also where she ran her business, the Carousel Boutique. She had just finished sketching her latest design, admiring it proudly. Her cat, Opalescence, or ‘Opal’ for short, just lounged snootily on one of Rarity’s mannequins while her pony studied her completed sketch.

“Oh, Opalescence,” Rarity said excitedly. “Can’t you just picture it? Moi, stepping out in a stunning new gown at the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot!”

Opal said nothing, apart from a sleepy meow. Of course, Rarity took her meowing for talking.

“Why, yes! I did make it myself,” Rarity replied. “Thank you so much for asking.”

Rarity then pulled off a piece of cloth, which happened to be what Opal was sitting on and the cat was sent to the floor. Unlike other cats, Opal plopped on her stomach before getting back on her feet and walked away. As Rarity continued her work on her sewing machine, Opal just took a seat nearby, giving a low, annoyed growl.

“Oh Opal, of course you can help me,” Rarity replied. “Thank you!”

She stuck a sewing pin cushion inside Opal’s mouth. The white furred kitty just meowed again, only now it was muffled by the cushion.

“What’s that?” Rarity asked. “You want to help me more? Oh, aren’t you the sweetest thing?”

Rarity used her magic to hand Opal several different items to hold. The poor kitty was now balancing on a single hind leg to keep balance as Rarity continued her work.

“Careful now,” Rarity said. “Don’t move. This shouldn’t take long at all.”

Opal just rolled her eyes twice, giving a low growl, as she struggled to keep her balance. Once Rarity finished with the thread and just as she relieved Opal of her awkward predicament…

*KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!*

“Now who could that be?” Rarity asked.

The boutique certainly wasn’t open for business today. So it came as a surprise when she saw Storm Shield just outside with some… freight cars?

“Hey Rarity!” Storm greeted. “I remembered last night you said you were running short on some fabrics and other things. I took my train to Canterlot this morning for a little shopping. I wrote the names of what colors and materials were called on my checklist here, so…”

Rarity gasped at all the materials before her in excitement.

“Ooh Storm! You’re a lifesaver!” Rarity exclaimed. “This puts me ahead of schedule for my latest design! And plenty of materials for future projects! How can I ever thank you darling?”

“No need Rarity,” Storm said kindly. “I’m glad to offer you some generosity for a chance. Plus, I like a long train run to stretch the legs. Specially the hindquarters…”

Rarity just smiled when she suddenly got an idea.

“You know Storm, I must admit I’ve very impressed with your tastes in fine couture,” Rarity said. “Would you be… interested in a little… internship?”

“Me?!” Storm’s eyes widened. “Why… sure… I mean… I’ve never made a dress before but… I could offer my… point of view with the designs.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it, darling,” Rarity answered. “Let’s hear your input on my new gown. Oh, would you be a dear and bring the materials inside please? Thank you, dear.”

Storm nodded as he walked inside, bringing as many materials as he could carry, putting them away, and went to collect the rest. Once he finished, Rarity wasted no time asking Storm for his insight regarding materials and color for her latest dress. Storm found he had some talent choosing colors and fabrics. Plus, Rarity found his opinions rather useful and that working together was very easy. Strom wasn’t sure he could add ‘Fashion Designer’ to his list of talents just yet, but he was glad for a new opportunity to develop some new skills and grow his friendship with Rarity.

https://m.

Later that day, Applejack and Twilight Sparkle had just arrived at Rarity’s shop.

“Howdy, Rarity!” Applejack greeted loudly.

“Shh…” Twilight hushed quickly. “Can’t you see Rarity is trying to concentrate?”

Applejack and Twilight soon noticed that Rarity was hard at work and in deep concentration. She also had a pair of red-framed glasses on her face allowing her to focus on the small details.

“What do you think she’s makin’?” Applejack asked softly.

“Looks like a dress,” Twilight answered.

Of course, Rarity could hear the two ponies ‘literally’ talking behind her back and felt rather annoyed.

“Well, that makes sense,” Applejack answered. ‘Since this is a dressmaker’s shop and all.”

Applejack soon noticed that Storm Shield was on the other side of the dress, holding the fabric in place with his magic. He had put on a pair of frameless glasses on his face, seeming to look very focused as well.

“Storm?!” Applejack gasped in shock.

“What? Where?” Twilight asked.

She tried to look over Rarity’s shoulder until she spotted the colt in general.

“He’s… helping make the dress?!”

“I didn’t know Storm liked making dresses,” Applejack answered.

The country pony didn’t try to hide her snicker, as both Storm and Rarity felt rather irritated at this point.

“Guess Rarity is having him embrace his inner fashionista,” Twilight added.

As their snickering continued, Rarity could feel her patience slip away and Storm inwardly growled over all the teasing.

“Is there something I can help you with?” Rarity asked, cheerfully.

Her expression successfully hid any and all signs of irritation she had been feeling a few seconds ago.

“Why is Storm working on a dress?” Applejack asked, smirking.

Storm rolled his eyes and kept working.

“Storm happens to have great taste and ideas for my latest couture,” Rarity explained. “So… I’ve hired him as my personal intern.”

“Really?” Applejack replied, facing Storm. “Guess your list of talents now include sewing and seamstress now?”

Storm looked indignant as Applejack and Twilight chuckled to each other.

“There’s nothing wrong for a colt to fix his own torn buttons and holes in clothing,” Storm retorted mid-work. “Or being able to use a sewing machine, thank you.”

“Is there a reason you’re both her other than teasing my new intern?” Rarity asked again.

“Oh, so very sorry to trouble you, Rarity,” Twilight said apologetically. “But I need a quick favor.”

Twilight pulled out a red dress, setting it upon a nearby table. She showed Rarity a broken stitch with a button hanging off it.

“Can you please fix this button for me?” Twilight asked. “It’s my dress for the Grand Galloping Gala.”

Rarity gasped over the dress itself.

“Oh, no, no, no!” Rarity retorted. “You can’t wear this… old thing. You need a glamorous new outfit for the Gala, and I’ll make it for you. No problem at all. It will be my pleasure!”

“Oh, that’s really sweet of you to offer, Rarity,” Twilight said. “But I can’t let you do that. It would be so much work. This dress is fine.”

“Twilight Sparkle,” Rarity spoke definitively. “I insist on making you a new dress.”

“But…”

“Not another word!” Rarity interrupted the purple mare. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Well, in that case…” Twilight slowly conceded. “Thank you for your generosity, Rarity. Knowing your handiwork, I’m sure it will be absolutely beautiful.”

Rarity smiled as she looked over toward Applejack. One look of concentration was all it took, as if Rarity could read the orange pony’s mind.

“Let me guess, Applejack,” Rarity said. “You don’t want a new gown either.”

“Gown? Shoot, I was just gonna wear my old work duds,” Applejack answered.

“You can’t possibly be serious, Applejack!” Rarity exclaimed, in disbelief. “You absolutely must wear formal attire.”

“She’s right, you know,” Storm spoke up.

“Hmm…” Applejack pondered. “Nah!”

“What if I just spruce up your… ‘duds’ for you a little bit?” Rarity offered.

“Okay, sure. Why not?” Applejack conceded. “Since you’re up for it and all. Just don’t make them too frou-frou-y.”

“Deal!” Rarity said.

Storm poked his head from behind the dress he & Rarity were currently working on.

“What about a blend of heritage and chic?” Storm suggested. “Something that represents her country roots, yet retains that high class appeal?”

Rarity clapped her hooves excitedly, while Applejack clearly seemed impressed.

“I like the sound of that,” Applejack said.

“And that’s why I made him my intern,” Rarity spoke proudly, which made Storm blush.

“Look out below!”

*CRASH!!!*

Rainbow Dash suddenly crashed through the roof into the boutique, smacked onto the floor, and bounced backwards as she crashed into the mannequins. Storm rolled his eyes with a sigh.

“I can fix that,” Storm said, in annoyance.

While Storm dashed away to patch up the hole on Rarity’s roof, the cyan Pegasus poked her head amidst the piled mountain of knocked-over mannequins.

“Sorry, new trick,” Rainbow said sheepishly. “Didn’t quite work out.”

“Hmm…” Rarity pondered.

Suddenly, her face lit up like a lightbulb.

“Idea! I’ll make you an outfit for the Gala too, Rainbow Dash.”

“Outfit for what now?” Rainbow asked puzzled.

“I’ll make one for you and you and all of you,” Rarity proposed. “Oh! And of course Fluttershy and Pinkie too. Oh, and when I’m done, we can hold our very own fashion show!”

“What a great idea!” Twilight said. “If you’re sure you can handle it.”

“Oh, it’ll be a little bit of work, but it will be a wonderful boost to my business,” Rarity replied. “Plus fun!”

“Oh, I love fun things!” Rainbow added excitedly.

“And I’m sure my new intern is up to proving his own talents right?” Rarity proposed.

“Umm… s-s-sure!” Storm said bravely, from the roof.

It’s not too surprising he’d be thrust into such a difficult task so soon. Then again, he read a book called ‘The Devil Wears Horseshoes’, about an average pony becoming an assistant to a top fashion designer. He had a good idea what an internship with Rarity would require of him, as well as not to do to get ahead.

“Then it’s settled,” Rarity declared, with conviction. “We’ll have a fashion show starring us.”

Rarity then began to gather materials as Applejack approached her.

“So all you two have to do is make a different, stunning, original, amazing outfit for one, two, three, four, five, plus you and Storm, seven ponies? And lickety-split?”

“Oh Applejack!” Rarity chuckled. “You make it sound as if it’s going to be hard.”

“Ooh boy…” Storm muttered, as Rarity handed him a sketchbook. “What exactly am I doing?”

“I’ll need your help with the designs,” Rarity informed him. “Draw whatever comes to mind. In fact, reach into your very soul and find your inner fashionista.”

“Ooh… kay…” Storm said.

Just then, Rarity scooted closer to his ear.

“If that doesn’t motivate you, our first dress is Twilight’s,” Rarity whispered. “How romantic would it be if her own date designed it himself?”

Storm felt his cheeks blush before he smiled.

“Call me motivated!” Storm exclaimed, sketching away.

Soon the two ponies got to work, and music was hard as Storm showed Rarity his design. It wasn’t much longer before they were busily choosing color fabrics, threads, and other things to complete each dress.

https://m.

Rarity (Sings):
Thread by thread, stitching it together
Twilight's dress, cutting out the pattern snip by snip.
Making sure the fabric folds nicely
It's the perfect color and so hip
Always gotta keep in mind my pacing
Making sure the clothes' correctly facing
We're stitching Twilight's dress

“Ow!”

Rarity turned Storm’s way, as he shook off the stinging in his hoof.

“I’m good!” Storm smiled. “What’s next?”

Rarity (Sings):
Yard by yard, fussing on the details
Jewel neckline, don't you know a stitch in time saves nine?

“I do!” Storm said.

Rarity (Sings):
Make her something perfect to inspire
Even though she hates formal attire
Gotta mind those intimate details
Even though she's more concerned with sales
It's Applejack's new dress

By now, even the materials seemed to dance around Rarity while the two ponies continued their work. Poor Opal was even caught between the dancing materials not once but twice! Then Storm presented two blank sketches of some dresses, in which Rarity was deciding the colors.

Rarity (Sings):
Dressmaking's easy, for Pinkie Pie something pink
Fluttershy something breezy
Blend color and form,

“Do you think this looks cheesy?” Rarity asked.

Storm, meanwhile, pondered on the colors himself and turned toward Opal. The cat just gave a bored glare for an answer.

Rarity (Sings):
Something brash, perhaps quite fetching
Hook and eye, couldn't you simply die?
Making sure it fits forelock and crest
Don't forget some magic in the dress

“And a little fabulousness,” Storm added.

“Of course darling,” Rarity agreed.

Even though it rides high on the flank
Rainbow won't look like a tank
We're stitching Rainbow's dress
Piece by piece, snip by snip
Croup, dock, haunch, shoulders, hip
Thread by thread, primmed and pressed
Yard by yard, never stressed
And that's the art of the dress!

While they worked together on the designs from Pinkie’s to Applejack’s, Fluttershy’s to Rainbow’s dresses, Twilight’s dress was designed solely by Storm, with some editing by Rarity but it was very minimal.

<>

The next day…

Rarity had gone out to round up the rest of the girls. Storm just finished setting up the five dresses. At his request, he asked Rarity if he could keep his outfit for the Gala a surprise, to which she heartily agreed. As he waited, Storm could feel himself so nervous that he turned to Opal, who just appeared out of the blue.

“Do you think the girls will like the outfits?” Storm asked.

Opal just meowed with her bored look, sitting on the table near the sewing machine.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to bore you,” Storm replied. “Just needed someone to talk to.”

Opal was about to walk away when she tripped over a snag in some fabric and nearly tumbled to the floor but was surprised to see Storm using his magic to stop her fall and set her gently back on her feet. She walked over to him, nuzzling his fore-hoof, meowing a ‘thank you’ to him.

“Anytime,” Storm said.

Just then, the door opened, and Rarity guided the five girls inside with her voice, since they had their eyes closed.

“That’s it,” Rarity said. “Keep ‘em closed. Don’t look…”

And as soon as the girls were in position…

“Okay, you can look now!”

The give ponies opened their eyes and gasped all at once at the sight of the dresses.

“These are your new outfits,” Rarity declared.

The fashionista proceeded to showcase each dress as she talked about them.

“What do you think of your old work duds now, Applejack? Pretty swanky are they not?”

Applejack’s dress featured a stylish Stenson hat with a collar line that had an apple-shaped jewel and tie. The back of the dress had a brown western saddle with some green Velcro-like pant legs with brown tassels on the bottom (To which Opal was happily playing with them). The front hooves had some stylish green boots with apple decals on them with some lacing.

“And Twilight!” Rarity continued. “Storm made this dress for you himself and together, we designed each outfit theme to perfectly reflect each pony’s personality.”

Twilight’s dress had a celestial theme to it with a cape-like front and back covered in decorative stars literally ‘sparkled’ in the lighting. Let’s not forget a star hairpin to go with it.

“Oh, it took us forever to get the colors right on this one, Rainbow Dash, but we did it,” Rarity pointed out. “Oh, and it turned out beautiful, don’t you think?”

Rainbow’s dress had a golden Athenian style headdress with a chained necklace that had a collection of purple beads on it. The back had a long flowing rainbow colored skirt with cotton lining along the edges to resemble clouds (Opal enjoyed nuzzling the material). On the front hooves were gold laced ballerina style shoes.

“And I know you are going to love yours, Fluttershy,” Rarity said. “It just sings spring!”

Fluttershy’s dress had a leaf-like frontline that featured a large butterfly on the front and a butterfly hair clip. The back had a light blue sash with a long green, multi-layered skirt with a simple line of yellow and blue flowers along the bottom. The fore-hoofs also had some ballerina style shoes, but hers were green and the straps resembled vines.

“And Pinkie Pie, look! Pink!” Rarity exclaimed. “Your favorite! Aren’t they all amazing?”

Pinkie’s dress featured a white-and-blue striped top that had a V neck (Or something close to it), with a pink bow on the front with a long pink skirt divided by a white lace decorated with candy patterns on it. More candy patterns were found along a flowing blue lining along the bottom of the skirt. The front hooves featured some blue shows that had pink bows on them. And it also featured a mini blue and white hat that had a candy shaped bow on the side.

Rarity and Storm smiled widely for them, for they both were impressed with their work. They hoped their friends felt the same… however, all they received was just a long dreadful silence. As the two ponies just smiled, each became uneasy as the others said nothing… just stared.

“Wow… they’re…” Twilight began.

“Yeah, they’re…” Rainbow added slowly.

“They sure are… something’,” Applejack replied.

“Yes! Something,” Twilight agreed.

“I love something!” Pinkie Pie added cheerfully. “Something is my favorite!”

“It’s… nice,” Fluttershy said plainly.

But Storm knew right away there was no real joy in her tone. Which could only mean they weren’t huge fans of the dresses.

“But what’s the matter?” Rarity asked curiously. “Don’t you like them?”

“They’ve very nice…” Twilight said slowly.

“And we’re plumb grateful ‘cause you two worked so hard on them,” Applejack added.

By now, Rarity was feeling upset. No amount of sugarcoating could hide what they were reallysaying at this point.

“Mine’s just not as cool as I was imagining,” Rainbow said.

Of course the cyan Pegasus would be the first pony to finally be upfront about their feelings. Yet all she received were death glares from both Twilight and Applejack.

“She asked,” Rainbow defended.

“I guess what we’re all saying is that they’re just not what we had in mind,” Twilight said.

Storm said nothing but glanced as the others gave a collective ‘yeah’ in agreement. Rarity, on the other hoof, recomposed herself.

“That’s okay,” Rarity said. “Not a problem. There’s plenty more where that came from. Right Storm?”

Storm blinked a bit before finally recollecting himself.

“Of course, Rarity,” Storm said. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

Rarity starts to remove the dresses off the mannequins as she speaks.

“Anyway, they were a first pass. You’re our friends and I want you to be 110% satisfied. Not to worry, we’ll redo them.”

“Oh Rarity, Storm,” Fluttershy said. “You don’t have to do that. They’re fine.”

“I can work with fine,” Storm shrugged toward Rarity.

“We want them to be better than just fine,” Rarity said determined. “We want you to think they’re absolutely perfect. Right Storm?”

Storm merely nodded as he returned to the drawing board.

“Are you sure?” Applejack asked. “I mean, we wouldn’t wanna impose.”

“Oh, it’s no imposition,” Rarity said. “Really, I insist.”

“Well in that case…” Twilight spoke. “Thank you again Rarity.”

Rarity just smiled as the rest of the ponies left the boutique. Rarity just sighed as she sat down.

“What have I gotten myself into?” She asked herself.

Rarity used her magic to hand Storm back his sketch pad, as he proceeded to examine their current dresses to determine what could be done to either modify or improve them. Both worked themselves so ragged both their manes grew rather frazzled when Fluttershy arrived back at the boutique later that day. Rarity was currently at work on her sewing machine, while Storm examined the color fabrics for another dress.

“Hello?” Fluttershy greeted softly. “You wanted to see me, Rarity?”

“Fluttershy! Your new-new gown’s ready,” Rarity said, as Storm brought it over.

Once Fluttershy changed into the dress, they examined it together in the mirror. Rarity adjusted the layering of the back of the dress, replacing the butterfly hairpin with a floral one. The bottom of the skirt had been given a more arc-shaped pattern with some colored dots instead of flowers. The blue sash had also been extended to ride further down the skirt.

“We completely revised it and I know you’re going to love it,” Rarity continued.

“What do you think?” Storm asked hopefully.

“I… love it,” Fluttershy said plainly.

Suffice to say, neither Rarity nor Storm believed her.

“Oh, you’re just saying that…” Rarity said.

“No, no,” Fluttershy said quickly. “I do. It’s… nice.”

“Nice?” Rarity and Storm repeated in unison.

“Nice,” Fluttershy said again.

But Storm sighed to himself, he knew what she was thinking.

“If you don’t like it, you should tell me,” Rarity said.

“Lying isn’t making me feel any better about my designing skills,” Storm added.

“Oh, but I do like it,” Fluttershy insisted.

“Like it or love it?” Rarity demanded, forcing Fluttershy back.

“Um… both?” Fluttershy answered feebly.

“Which is it?”

“Please stop asking me this, I…”

“Well, just tell me what you really think! Storm and I want to know!”

“Whoa! Okay Rarity, take it easy…” Storm said cautiously. “You’re getting too into this now…”

“No, that’s okay…”

“Tell me.”

“No… it’s fine…”

“Tell me!”

“I… like it…”

“Tell me, tell me, tell-me-tell-me-tell-me!” Rarity pleaded firmly.

“All right! Since you really want to know…” Fluttershy snapped, taking a deep breath. “The armscye’s tight, the middy collar doesn’t go with the shawl lapel, the hems are clearly machine stitched, the pleats are uneven, the fabric looks like toile, you used a backstitch here when it clearly called for a topstitch or maybe a traditional blanket stitch, and the overdesign is reminiscent of pret-a-porter and not true French haute couture.”

Fluttershy paused to catch her breath, while Rarity and Storm stood dumbfounded. Since when was Fluttershy so knowledgeable about sewing? Learn something new every day…

“But… uh… you know… um, whatever you want to do is fine,” Fluttershy said timidly.

Storm dropped his sketch pad in defeat. There was no way he could improve Fluttershy’s dress now. That critique was beyond even his own understanding of sewing.

“I quit…” Storm said, walking away.

“Get back here!” Rarity shouted sternly, grabbing his tail.

“WAH!!!” Storm yelped, as Rarity drew him back.

<>

Once Storm admitted he just felt overwhelmed, that he wasn’t really quitting, he and Rarity busily modified Twilight’s dress to her standards.

“Now, the stars on my belt need to be technically accurate,” Twilight instructed, pacing about. “Orion has three stars on his belt, not four.”

Storm nodded, as he quickly tried finding a place to put the constellation on her dress. Rarity kept sewing, and eventually started singing again.

Rarity (Sings):
Stitch by Stitch, stitching it together
Deadline looms, don't you know the client's always right?
Even if our fabric choice was perfect
Gotta get them all done by tonight
Pinkie Pie, that color's too obtrusive
Wait until you see it in the light
I'm sewing them together!

As they worked on Pinkie’s dress, the pink pony herself was there with her own suggestions.

“Don’t you think my gown would be more ‘me’ with some lollipops?”

“Lollipops?!” Storm exclaimed.

“Well, I think…” Rarity began.

“Balloons?” Pinkie suggested.

“Wuh?!” Storm exclaimed, looking up from his book.

“Well…” Rarity said again.

“Do it!” Pinkie shouted.

Storm and Rarity sighed before the latter began to sing again.

Rarity (Sings):
Hour by hour, one more change
I'm sewing them together, take great pains
Fluttershy, you're putting us in a bind
Rainbow Dash, what is on your mind?
Oh my gosh, there's simply not much time
Don't forget, Applejack's duds must shine

Dressmaking's easy, every customer's call
Brings a whole new revision
Have to pick up the pace, still hold to my vision

Twilight and Fluttershy continued making their critiques.

“That constellation is Canis Major, not Minor,” Twilight pointed out.

“French haute couture, please,” Fluttershy added.

“Ugh…” Rarity and Storm groaned.

Storm rubbed harder and harder with his pencil, trying to make the modifications in his book. Other modifications were just as frustrating.

“What if it rains?” Applejack said aloud. “Galoshes!”

“More balloons!” Pinkie suggested. “Oh no, that’s ‘too much’ balloons.”

“Thank goodness,” Storm sighed with relief.

“More candy, oh less candy,” Pinkie said instead. “Oh, wait I know! Streamers!”

“Streamers?” Rarity and Storm said together.

“Whose dress is this?” Pinkie asked skeptically.

Storm just turned to Rarity wearily, before the latter gave her a sigh.

“Streamers it is,” Rarity conceded.

Storm sighed as he vigorously erased his design for Pinkie’s dress… again.

Then they went to work on modifying Rainbow’s outfit. They just finished the latest modifications when they turned toward Rainbow.

“What?” Rainbow asked puzzled.

“Aren’t you going to tell me to change something too?” Rarity asked.

“No, I just want my dress to be cool,” Rainbow answered.

“Do you like the color?” Rarity asked.

“I picked it myself,” Storm added, examining his sketch.

“The color’s fine, just make it look cooler,” Rainbow told them.

“Do you not like the shape?” Rarity asked.

“I’m really trying to get the ‘coolness’ here,” Storm said. “But we need to know what we’re missing here!”

“The shape’s fine,” Rainbow answered. “Just make the whole thing… you know ‘cooler’. It needs to be 20% cooler.”

Rarity just groaned, while Storm face planted in his sketchbook in frustration. And somehow, the song continued.

Pinkie Pie (Sings)
All we ever want is indecision

Rainbow Dash (Sings):
All we really like is what we know

Twilight Sparkle (Sings):
Gotta balance style with adherence

Fluttershy (Sings):
Making sure we make a good appearance

Applejack (Sings):
Even if you simply have to fudge it

All, but Rarity and Storm sing, as they stand around the sewing machine.

Group (Sings):
Make sure that it stays within our budget

Rarity (Sings):
Got to overcome intimidation
Remember, it's all in the presentation

Piece by piece, snip by snip
Croup, dock, haunch, shoulders, hip
Bolt by bolt, primmed and pressed
Yard by yard, always stressed
And that's the art of the dress!

Rarity barely sang the last note of her song before they both collapsed onto the floor with an exhausted *PLOP!*.

“Ugh, Opal,” Rarity sighed, examining her work. “These are the ugliest dresses we’ve ever made.”

“Not what I had in mind when I volunteered to help make dresses,” Storm sighed. “I feel no satisfaction with my work; I don’t even feel like I did a good job. I hate feeling like this.”

“We did our best with what we were asked for,” Rarity said. “Come on, let’s get the others.”

Storm just nodded without another word.

<>

Later…

The five girls arrived back at the shop with Rarity and Storm Shield standing before them.

“Okay, we did exactly what each of you asked for,” Rarity told them. “Now don’t hold back. Let us know what you really think.”

“Oh my!” Twilight exclaimed.

“It’s… perfect!” Fluttershy added happily.

“It’s cool!” Rainbow said.

“Why, they’re the best duds I ever did see,” Applejack declared.

“It’s exactly what I asked for!” The five said at once.

“Thank you, Rarity,” Twilight said happily. “You too Storm.”

“Guess you do have what it takes to be a fashion designer,” Applejack added.

“Um… thanks…” Storm said.

He wasn’t exactly feeling worthy of praise, nor did it make him feel any better about his work. Rarity just smiled sheepishly.

“Are you as happy with them as we are? Huh? Huh? Huh?” Pinkie asked eagerly.

“Well, I’m happy that all of you are happy,” Rarity answered. “We’re just relieved to finally be done.”

“I knew dress making wouldn’t be easy,” Storm sighed. “Next time I’ll skip the invitation.”

“You did just fine for your first commission, darling,” Rarity smiled lightly. “Under the circumstances, it’s the best either of us could do.”

The last lines she literally uttered under her breath, but Storm nodded.

“Well… anything that makes you girls happy is pleasing enough,” Storm reassured.

Suddenly, Spike entered through the front door.

“You are never gonna believe this!” Spike said. “You’ve heard of Hoity Toity.”

“The bigwig fashion hotshot in Canterlot?” Twilight answered.

“Uh-huh,” Spike nodded. “He heard about your fashion show. Well, maybe I happened to mention it to him… he’s coming here all the way from Canterlot to see your work, Rarity!”

“Whoa, Nelly!” Applejack said. “You could sell a ton o’ dresses to this guy. Your business will be booming! And Storm will really make himself a name among the fashion elite!”

“Wow!” Twilight gasped.

“That’s so cool!” Rainbow added.

“I don’t believe it!” Pinkie said excited.

Neither could Rarity nor Storm Shield. The ladder felt as if his heart literally stopped beating.

“Hoity Toity?” Rarity exclaimed. “He’s coming here… to see THESE dresses?”

“Yep!” Spike said. “Get ready for all of your dreams to come true!”

But for Rarity and Storm, the looks on their faces gave the impression they were about to experience their worst nightmare…

<>

Later that night…

Several ponies in town gathered around a stage for the fashion show. Rarity was nervously awaiting with her head sticking out from the curtain. Storm stood right beside her. While he looked calm, deep down his heart threatened to pound out of his chest.

“Oh!” Rarity gasped, making Storm jump. “There he is!”

Rarity began to breathe up-and-down frantically, as Storm tried calming her. Hoity Toity snootily made his way towards the front of the runway. He then gestured for a pony to place a cushion so he could sit, but the pony holding the cushion got his face smashed as Hoity Toity took his seat. Rarity was still frazzled while Storm held her closely for support.

“How are you so calm about all this?” Rarity asked Storm.

“Relax Rarity,” Storm advised. “Our friends like our outfits… so will he.”

Rarity squealed when everything went dark, even Storm jumped once more.

“What’s wrong with he lights?!” Rarity exclaimed frantically.

“Rarity… the show?” Storm pointed out.

“Oh yes. That means the show’s starting, good.”

Storm gulped lightly as the show began. The town’s personal D.J., Vinyl Scratch formerly known as D.J. Pon3, began to play some tunes. From the darkness came Spike’s silhouette.

“Since the beginning of time,” Spike began. “The elite of Equestria have longed for pony fashions that truly expressed the essence of their very souls. Patiently waiting decades—no, centuries—for the perfect pony gown. Today, at long last, Equestria, your wait is over! Let’s hear it for the breathtaking designs of Ponyville’s own Rarity!... and her new intern Storm Shield.”

That last part was spoken with little enthusiasm, most likely jealousy on Spike’s part. But Storm wished he’d been left out. Soon the spotlight set itself upon the five ponies and their new, modified dresses.

What a sight they were! First to walk the runway was Twilight Sparkle, whose dress looked more like a cloak with constellation patterns all over. A large bow was added to her tail along with multiple star boppers on her head and gold star earrings. Applejack’s new dress featured a red ten gallon hat, overalls-styled dress with a crochet quilt style mini skirt and yellow work boots. Fluttershy’s dress had a flower bud neckline with a long skirt that had pink and yellow polka dots, with a grassy like landscape along the bottom. She had some grass patch style shoes and a bird’s nest for a hat. Rainbow’s dress looked more liked a badly dressed comic book superhero, with matching superhero style boots and helmet to boot. Pinkie looked like a clown… literally. The dress was a dark green top with an oversized yellow bow and a large blue tutu mini-skirt. She had tied yellow ribbons along her hooves and wore a giant cupcake for a hat.

The five ponies walked down the runway proudly. But as they did, the other ponies began to murmur and make faces at their outfits. Once they reached the rotating platform at the end of the runway, Applejack was the first to notice that no pony looked pleased with their dresses.

“Why’s every pony lookin’ at us like that?” Applejack asked.

Even Twilight Sparkle could see the discontent faces from the crowd.

“Oh dear,” Twilight said.

“You think we overdid it?” Rainbow asked.

“Nah,” Applejack said.

But one momentary pause and a look toward her work boots later…

“Okay, maybe a little.”

Of all the ponies gathered around, Hoity Toity was most indignant.

“Oh, these amateurish designs look like a piled-on mesh of everything but the kitchen sink,” Hoity Toity remarked.

While that did earn a few laughs from the crowd, Rarity ‘ironically’ had Storm bring a kitchen sink. The colt quietly tried to hide it behind the curtain.

“Those outfits are the ugliest things I’ve ever seen,” Hoity Toity continued. “Oh for shame. Who is responsible for subjecting our eyes to these horrors? Not to mention wasting my valuable time.”

“Oh! Hide me!” Rarity said to Opal.

Rarity ducked behind her cat, as Storm looked as if he was about to have a panic attack.

“What will we do? What’ll we do? What are we going to do?!”

“Come on out and take a bow, Rarity! You too, Storm!” Spike announced. “You two worked really hard for this!”

Reluctantly, Rarity and Storm Shield quietly made their way out into the crowd, as Spike began to cheer… mostly for Rarity.

“Yes! All-right. Woo-hoo! Go, Rarity!”

Rarity just kept her head low while Storm, being the Element of Bravery, tried to stand tall. Their five friends tried to smile at them, but they soon turned to concern while the crowd murmured.

<>

Many days later…

No pony had seen Rarity or Storm Shield in public. Who can blame them? After such a humiliating fashion show, neither one wanted to be seen or spoken too. But that didn’t stop Twilight Sparkle & her friends, the girls opening the door to Carousel Boutique. Soon as they came in, they gasped upon finding Storm inside. The colt hard at work in front of the sewing machine, wearing his glasses and a measuring tape dangling from his neck.

“Storm!” They all shouted.

Storm turned off the machine and flashed a quick smile.

“Welcome to the Carousel…”

But Storm’s cheery tone faded instantly seeing who it was.

“Oh… hey guys…”

And just like that, Storm went back to work.

“Have you been here this whole time?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Pretty much,” Storm said simply. “With Rarity in seclusion, some pony needed to run the Boutique. Except… I’ve had no customers come in since the fashion show. I even tried setting up posters during the night to advertise an original design, but… no pony showed up.”

“What design?” Fluttershy curiously.

Storm pointed a hoof toward two lone dresses. They had the same style, just one dress had a pink top with a blue skirt and a white beaded necklace. The other was a yellow top with a pink skirt with a blue beaded necklace. There were also some matching shoes on the fore-hoofs and a mini bow just below the ears.

“Not too shabby,” Applejack said. “A bit basic for Rarity’s dresses, but definitely pretty.”

“I agree,” Twilight said. “I’d wear either of these dresses.”

“Good to know,” Storm said. “Too bad I didn’t think of going with my gut the first time around with your dresses… OW!”

Storm pricked himself again for, who knows what number at this point? He just shook his hoof and resumed his work.

“Storm, I hope you know how sorry we are for what happened,” Twilight said.

“Yeah, didn’t expect every pony to laugh you guys out of the building,” Rainbow added.

That remark earned her plenty of angry glares.

“What? That’s what happened.

Storm rolled his eyes over her lack of sympathy.

“I’ve done what I could to help Rarity, but she refuses to leave her bedroom,” Storm said. “I don’t blame her. Even after offering to pin the blame on me for what happened, she still said ‘no’.”

“For good reason,” Twilight assured. “You did only what Rarity told you to do. After all, you’re her student and she’s the teacher.”

“Maybe… but you can’t change what happened. The damage is done. I haven’t even been outside the shop, with the exception of setting up posters at night. Even wore a disguise when I left…”

The ponies noticed a trench coat, cat, and some dark glasses on a table.

“… As for Rarity, I’ve at least made sure she eats while she’s up there. Meanwhile, I run and manage the boutique as best as I can.”

“Wait a second,” Twilight interrupted. “If you’ve been here the past few days, where’d you sleep?”

Storm pointed to another corner, specifically toward a single pillow and blanket on the floor.

“You do know you could’ve just slept on the sofa, right?” Pinkie pointed out.

“The only one is Rarity’s chasse sofa,” Storm said. “We all know how that’s reserved for her… ‘emotional moments’.”

A mumbled ‘yeah’ was muttered amongst the five ponies.

“Well, I think it’s time we fix this,” Twilight said. “Come on Storm, we’ll need you help coaxing Rarity out.”

“We can try,” Storm shrugged. “But it won’t do any good.”

Storm shut off the sewing machine, removed both the glasses and measuring tape, and followed the girls upstairs to the door leading to Rarity’s bedroom. Pinkie was the first to approach the door.

“Rarity?” Pinkie called, from outside the door. “You okay in there? You haven’t come out for days.”

“I’m never coming out!” Rarity replied dramatically.

Sure enough, the marshmallow unicorn paced about her own bedroom in a pink bathrobe and slippers.

“I can’t show my face in Ponyville ever again!” Rarity sobbed loudly. “I used to be some pony; I used to be respected. I made dresses. Beautiful, beautiful dresses! But now every pony is laughing at me! I’m nothing but a laughingstock!”

“Rarity please!” Storm pleaded. “This is getting ridiculous!”

“I already told you! This is my fault and mine alone!” Rarity sobbed. “You did what I told you to do. I made the decision to present the dresses neither of us felt were worthy… and now I’m ruined!”

“You’re not the only laughingstock in town!” Storm answered. “Ponies are laughing at me too!”

“Neither of you are a laughingstock,” Twilight pointed out.

“They kind of are,” Rainbow answered bluntly.

“Shh!” Twilight shushed, while Storm lightly growled. “Come on out and talk to us.”

“Leave me alone!” Rarity sobbed louder. “I want to be alone! I want to wallow in… whatever it is that ponies are supposed to wallow in! Do ponies wallow in pity? Oh, listen to me, I don’t even know what I’m supposed to wallow in! I’m so pathetic! Oh Storm, if there’s one thing I do find you at fault for… it’s being loyal to the likes of MEEEEEEEEE!!!”

Rarity continued to sob, as Storm just sighed heavily.

“You see what I mean?” Storm groaned.

“Now what do we do?” Twilight asked.

“Uh… panic?” Fluttershy proposed.

“That’s your answer for everything,” Rainbow shot back.

“Better than your ideas, big mouth,” Storm retorted bitterly.

“Well, we can’t just leave Rarity like this,” Applejack pointed out, which Storm nodded in agreement.

“She’ll become a crazy cat lady!” Pinkie said worried.

“She only has ‘one’ cat,” Twilight remarked.

“Give her time,” Pinkie answered.

Storm Shield made an eyeroll over that when his face suddenly beamed.

“Idea!” Storm sing-sung.

To which earned some awkward stares from the group.

“Guess Rarity rubbed off on me a bit,” Storm defended. “Come on, I’ve got a plan.”

The others followed and Storm had Twilight peek inside of what was Rarity’s personal work room. There on a mannequin was her unfinished dress for the gala. It didn’t take long before the others figured out Storm’s idea, as he grabbed the key to unlock the room.

<>

A few hours later…

Rarity was still… wallowing in her pity, to answer her question from earlier, as she stood before her mirror.

“Exile,” Rarity decided. “I guess technically I’d have to move away to be in exile. Where would I go? And what would I pack? Oh, it’s going to take me forever to do all of the packing. What are you supposed to pack when you are in exile? Are you supposed to pack warm?”

Loud meowing interrupted Rarity of her thoughts.

“Huh? Opal?” Rarity called out.

She followed the meowing, which appeared to come from outside. Rarity gasped when she saw her poor cat clinging fearfully onto a tree branch.

“Opal, how did you get up there?” Rarity asked worriedly. “Hang on, you poor dear! Mama’s coming!”

Rarity raced out her room and out of the Boutique to the tree Opal was in. She came to a halt when she found Rainbow sitting on a branch beside Opal.

“Rainbow Dash?!” Rarity exclaimed. “How dare you strand my poor Opal in a tree!”

“Well, how else were we gonna get you to come out and show you this?” Rainbow answered.

She tilted her head towards the other girls and Storm, who had a special surprise for their friend.

“What is it?” Rarity asked, in shock. “It’s not… You…”

To Rarity’s surprise, as they backed away, before her eyes was her dress for the gala… only now it was finished.

“We all finished your dress for you,” Pinkie said.

“Thanks to Fluttershy’s freaky knowledge of sewing,” Applejack added.

“And Storm’s attention to detail so we could follow your design perfectly,” Twilight concluded.

Fluttershy and Storm blushed shyly in response.

“Do you like it?” Fluttershy asked Rarity.

Rarity said nothing, just walked around the dress studying it quietly.

“Uh oh…” Fluttershy sighed sadly. “She doesn’t like it.”

“I’m just ‘not’ cut out for this,” Storm sighed in defeat.

Fluttershy gave him a support pat on the shoulder while Rarity’s back was against them.

“No, I don’t like it,” Rarity said upfront.

“Aww…” The rest of the group groaned.

“I LOVE IT!!!” Rarity said, turning with sparkling eyes.

“YAY!” The girls all cheered.

“Thank Celestia…” Storm sighed with relief.

“You ponies did an amazing job,” Rarity continued. “It’s exactly the way I imagined it.”

“We just followed your brilliant design,” Fluttershy said. “It was easy with Storm guiding us.”

Storm’s smile to Fluttershy was his way of saying ‘Thank you’, as he took a stand next to Rarity.

“Like we should have let you and Storm for our outfits,” Twilight said. “Those dresses you two designed were perfect.”

“We’re so super sorry,” Pinkie said.

“You two worked really hard to make our dresses exactly the way we wanted them,” Rainbow pointed out. “We all saw how well that turned out.”

Rainbow hovered next to Rarity, with Opal on her back. Eventually the cat hopped from Rainbow’s back and onto Rarity’s.

“Oh, I forgive you,” Rarity said.

“Same here,” Storm stepped in. “We just wanted to make you all happy.”

“Well, that’s mighty big of you,” Applejack said.

“But my whole career is still ruined!” Rarity said in anguish.

“Oh, right,” Applejack remembered. “That…”

Then Rarity noticed the somber look on Storm’s face.

“Darling, how many times have I…”

But Rarity stopped when she remember what Storm said earlier.

“You’re hurting from all this too, aren’t you?”

“Yea…” Storm sighed slowly. “But I’ve been too busy trying to redeem your career to wallow in… well, whatever you’re supposed to wallow in… pity? Ugh! Even I don’t know that answer! Besides, as much as I want to walk away from designing, you need me Rarity. I never turn my back on my friends… especially my new mentor.”

Rarity gave Storm a watery smile, before embracing him.

“We still have a long way to go before we can redeem ourselves,” Rarity said.

“That’s okay, we’ll find a way eventually…” Storm assured. “This bad publicity will blow over, ponies will forget, and then we’ll recover.”

“Maybe not,” Twilight said.

She soon noticed a familiar Canterlot fashion elite walking nearby. It could be assumed he heard and seen everything.

“All right, I haven’t got all day,” Hoity Toity answered snootily.

Storm and Rarity smiled before they rushed inside to get ready. It was then Rarity remembered something else.

“Oh Storm, we’ve been so busy preparing everything else we forgot all about your outfit!” Rarity pointed out.

“Oh don’t worry!” Storm smiled, with a wink. “I got it covered.”

Rarity just smiled, as they quickly came up with some fresh choreography.

<>

Meanwhile, Hoity Toity waited impatiently for the fashion show to begin. Opal seemed to be entertained playing with the end of his side ponytail. The pony merely shoved the cat out of the way.

“Take two,” He said firmly.

Rarity and Storm smiled before making both their horns glow. Hoity Toity ‘oohed’ as a large collection of stars appeared before them all. Some of them flew into the back end of Twilight’s skirt as she posed in the original design Storm created for her.

“Hello…” Hoity Toity spoke, shocked. “Oh, this can’t be the same designers.”

The scene shifted toward a large orchard loaded with apples. Then a lasso from the distance appeared, pulling a long apple from the tree. The appeared disappeared and Applejack appeared in place, with her dress and striking a pose.

“Simply magnificent!” Hoity Toity said. “And I suddenly have a fierce craving for Dutch apple pie, candied apples on a stick, apple turnovers, apple cobbler…”

His thoughts were interrupted as rainclouds appeared. But rather than water, it rained various types of candy. Some landed on the side of Pinkie’s dress and one large one on her hat. Pinkie didn’t resist extending her tongue to collect a green gumdrop before striking a pose.

“Brilliant!” Hoity Toity exclaimed.

*BOOM!*

Two classes of lightning startled Hoity Toity before him. Then Rainbow came flying through the air, making a dynamic pose as she landed.

“Oh spectacular!” Hoity Toity applauded.

Opal smiled in agreement when they were both taken aback by some vines appearing before them. The vines produced some flowers, which their pedals dropped instantly as a few butterflies flew by. One landed on the side of Fluttersh’ys head, turning into her hair pin and some on the front of her dress, while she made a calm, yet confident pose.

“Now this is a fashion show!” Hoity Toity declared, enjoying himself. “All of these dresses are absolutely amazing! Who is responsible? Step forward, show yourself!”

It was then Rarity appeared, using her horn to make a disco ball lighting effect around her dress as the rest of the girls appeared behind the mare making her way to the front.

“Brava! Brava! Magnifico! Encore!” Hoity Toity cheered.

“Let’s not forget some pony else!” Rarity said.

She made her horn glow once more, but this time a black carriage appeared before a satin red carpet. Flashed surrounded the background ponies, as they cheered and squealed for Storm, who exited from the carriage like a celebrity. His outfit featured a black formal shirt with low key glitter, with a splatter-style grey vest and gold necktie. He also had some shiny black shoes on his hooves and a Fedora hat with a black band around it with a red rose tucked into it. Storm walked down the red carpet, posing twice before glancing at his side. Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Twilight were shown, pretending to be fan girls as they cheered for him.

Storm tossed his rose toward Twilight, who acted smitten as the colt held her by a forehoof and escorted her down the red carpet with him. After all, she was his date for the Gala.

“Stupendous! Encore! Encore!” Hoity Toity replied.

“Oh, thank you. Thank you! Oh, thank you so much!” Rarity said happily, as Storm stood on her right side.

“I’m glad you enjoyed the show and our work, sir,” Storm added. “There’s plenty more where that came…”

*WHACK!*

Storm was suddenly smacked in the back of the head by a red rose. He turned to see Pinkie Pie, as she ‘hmphed’, dropped the rose, and turned her head away with her nose in the air. All eyes were on Storm now.

“Heh… fashion models, am I right?” Storm replied sheepishly.

There was a brief silence… before they all laughed, even Hoity Toity. While the rest of their friends enjoyed themselves, Twilight instructed Spike to write a letter for the princess.

Dear Princess Celestia,
This week, my very talented friend Rarity, as well as your student Storm Shield, learned that if you try to please every pony, you often times end up pleasing no pony, especially yourself. And I learned this: When some pony offers to do you a favor, like making you a beautiful dress, you shouldn’t be overly critical of something generously given to you. In other words, you shouldn’t look a gift hose in the mouth.

Twilight giggled at her little pun, as Spike tied up the letter and sent it towards Canterlot. Hoity Toity watched the letter leave the Boutique before speaking with both Rarity and Storm Shield.

“Rarity, Storm, my congratulations to you both on your most impressive fashion debut,” Hoity Toity commended. “Would you do me the grand honor of allowing me to feature your couture in my Best of the Best Boutique in Canterlot?”

Rarity gasped excitedly, while Storm smiled… yet shook his head.

“That’s a mighty fine offer sir,” He said kindly. “But I think I’ll let the ‘real’ fashion designer, my good friend Rarity, handle couture from now on.”

This caused Rarity to face him with surprise.

“Are you quite sure Storm?” She asked. “I’d never have gotten this opportunity had it not been for you.”

Storm chuckled but nodded his head just the same.

“I’m pretty sure,” He said. “You’re an amazing designer; I know you’re going to be big one day. I just don’t think this for me.”

Rarity smiled at her friend, nodding her head in understanding. They both hugged one another in gratitude.

“Now, I’ll need you to make a dozen of each dress for me by next Tuesday,” Hoity Toity instructed. “Oh, and that will include a dozen of Storm’s ensemble as well.”

Rarity’s eyes nearly popped out, as they both chuckled and smiled sheepishly. No pony said the road to being a well-known fashion designer would be easy… on the other hoof…

“Actually… I may know some ‘friends’ who’d be glad to help,” Storm proposed.

Storm turned his head, stuck a hoof into his mouth, and gave a loud shrilling whistle. Suddenly, the ground began to rumble and the door to the boutique slammed open. Before the group’s eyes, an army of Storm Shield clones, each of them dressed like some big wig fashion figure, gathered before the group. Plenty of them wearing glasses, measuring tapes around their necks, a pincushion in a few of their mouths, and the most outlandish outfits imagined.

“So when do we start?” A clone asked, in a Brooklyn accent.