Why Sassy Saddles

In a boutique clothing store in the high end of Canterlot things were not calm. A white unicorn pony with a deep curly purple mane ran around the floor of the shop yelling and sobbing. Tears streamed from her eyes as she galloped about, knocking over dress stands and creating an unholy mess. A larger lankier mare with a pale blue coat and an orange highlighted mane followed her around, trying to mitigate the damage where possible. She wore a black dress with gold embellishments, and a distinct gold saddle. She looked only marginally less stressed than the other mare.

“I’m ruined!” the white mare wailed.

“Now now Rarity, just calm down. I’m sure it’s not as bad as it seems,” the mare named Sassy Saddles said softly, trying desperately to diffuse her boss’s panicked antics.

“Calm down? Calm down! When has telling anypony to calm down ever made them calmer?”

Sassy swore she could see steam rising off Rarity’s forehead as she ranted

“Just tell me whatever’s the matter dear? It can’t be anything to do with Friday can it? I thought you finished the work for that ages ago?” Sassy questioned, fearing the answer.

“No, I haven’t, and now there’s no time,” Rarity said, taking deep breaths between every remark.

Sassy understood why Rarity was angry. She only ever got like this when a bad situation was her own fault.

“Darling, what have you done?” she cautiously begged the question

She opened her forelegs and pulled Rarity into a tight hug. Rarity Sobbed into Sassy’s chest floof, the time between sobs slowly getting longer, and the volume quieter. A good few minutes passed before Sassy broke the silence.

“Are you ready to tell me what’s wrong?”

Rarity looked at Sassy, her eyes still puffy

“Oh Sassy, what am I going to? I shouldn’t have left it to the last minute again. I still have over a day’s work. It can’t be done.”

Rarity said getting hysterical again.

“Wait?” Remarked Sassy. “Today is Wednesday, and the fashion show isn’t until Friday. That’s plenty of time is it not?”

“It should be,” Rarity said glumly. “But my sewing machine. It’s broken.”

“Is that a bother? I mean, there’s a shop down the street that sells them,” said Sassy.

“No, it has to be this one,” Rarity remarked as she got up and walked over to the machine sat on her desk.

“It’s the only one capable of doing the complex stitching I need for my dresses. And it’s broken!”

She punctuated the dramatic statement by opening the hatch on the top of the sewing machine. A waft of grey smoke escaped and a spring leapt up from the mechanism out into the room. Rarity, realising the spring was probably important, leapt for it and started chasing it as it bounced across the shop floor. It was caught just before disappearing under a cupboard, by the magic of Sassy Saddles.

She stood up and levitated the spring back to Rarity’s desk.

“Here’s an Idea. How about we go and get a drink and we’ll make a plan on how to solve this,” Sassy said.

Rarity really didn’t have a choice in the matter. Sassy was already on her way out of the boutique. The mares headed outside, Rarity pulling herself together just enough so ponies couldn’t tell she had been crying.

“Where shall we go then,” Sassy asked

“I think I need a stiff drink,” replied Rarity.

“I know just the place,” Sassy chirped as she steered Rarity off down a side street.

The place they were going to was called Lighthouse Bay. A strange sort of place, it was completely unmarked from the outside, but Sassy knew it served the best Irish coffee in Equestria. She got to the unassuming brown door and pushed on it. The door opened with a loud thud, and both Sassy and Rarity went inside.

As soon as they entered, the place stopped. Patrons halted their conversations to see who had entered, but upon seeing a familiar face they quickly went back to their idle chat.

“I must say Sassy; this isn’t what I was expecting,” commented Rarity

“What were you expecting?” Sassy questioned

“Just something a little more summery. I suppose it does have a rustic charm,” Rarity said as she sat down at an empty table for two.

Sassy went over to the bar to order something very alcoholic. At least Rarity hoped so. She put her head on her hooves and let out a quiet groan. If she had to pull out of the fashion show her reputation would be ruined.

Sassy Saddles then returned carrying two glasses of brown liquid, with a thick layer of fluffy cream on top of it.

“Just what the doctor ordered,” sang Sassy as she levitated one of the beverages over to Rarity.

Rarity looked at it for a second, before magicing it up to her face and taking a large gulp. The liquid was strong and fiery, not at all like the sweet drinks she normally ordered, but it had a certain soothing effect and was quickly undoing the knot in her stomach.

“So, what are we going to do?” Sassy questioned, breaking the silence.

“I have no idea. There’s not enough time to do anything!” Rarity blurted out.

This was quite unladylike and startled a good number of ponies nearby. Sassy had some ideas about how to solve this, but she was almost certain that Rarity would like none of them.

“Well, there are many dresses left over from last season that never got shown to the public. Enough to show now, and they’re beautiful, nopony will have to know.”

Rarity’s jaw dropped at the statement.

“Certainly not darling! There was a reason those dresses were never shown. Besides, that was an autumn collection, it wouldn’t do,” Rarity said dismissively.

Sassy thought some more. There had to be a solution to this that didn’t hurt Rarity’s huge ego.

“Ok. Your dresses don’t absolutely need overlaid self-tightening honeycomb stitching. Can’t we just go and get a normal sewing machine and use normal stitching?”

“No Sassy, that won’t do at all. The dresses are half done. The stitch can’t be changed. Plus, they are integral to the design. The honeycomb stich is for a bee themed outfit, and don’t get me started on the feather or leaf stiches. Its humour that the judges will get!” Rarity yelled

Sassy was getting frustrated by this point. She thought her solutions were more than adequate. Possibly the best ways they could get out of this mess.

“Come on Rarity. You have to do something! You’ve got dresses you need to finish, and the only machine you say you can do it on is broken!”

Sassy was getting angry. The stress was getting to her.

“Something has to give you know,” She said with more sympathy.

Rarity opened her mouth to say something, but the words never left her mouth.

“I couldn’t help overhearing you two ladies.”

Both mares jumped and turned around to see who was speaking. On the next table over sat a sky-blue stallion with a long grey sweptback mane.

“You’re having trouble with broken machinery, ehh?” he said in his thick Russian accent.

Both mares just nodded.

“And you need it done very quickly, but price is less important. Is that right?”

Rarity let out a weak ‘yes’. She was warming to the stallion, a small smile creeping onto her face. Sassy however, still looked startled, and slightly disapproved of having been eavesdropped on.

“I know somepony who might be able to help you.”

The stallion grinned.

“Well, somebody anyway.”