A Bad Day at the Spa

"Thank you for your business, have a lovely day," smiled Rarity, placing a film of plastic over the hanger to protect the coat she'd just sold. "Come back soon!"

She was in a good mood, and why shouldn't she be? She'd just finished a huge order for Sapphire Shores, the pony of pop herself! Eight outfits, each in a different colour, adorned with gems of different colours, but all the exact same size, shape and clarity. In all her life, she'd never worked quite so hard to fill an order.

And even better, Sapphire Shores had personally come to pick them up. She'd been so enraptured by the beauty of Rarity's work that she'd given her a pass to the most exclusive spa and massage parlour in all of Equestria! Normally, they were booked up, and it would cost thousands of bits to visit, but a special invitation from Sapphire Shores would see her through the door, no problem.

Speaking of doors, hers burst open as something collided with one of her dress racks.

"Rainbow Dash!" shouted Rarity. "You have to watch where you're going! What if I'd been standing the-- Oh."

The pony climbing out of the wreck was not Rainbow Dash, but in fact, some stallion she'd never seen before.

"Now see here!" grumbled Rarity. "I work very hard to keep my shop organized, and it won't do to have somepony crashing into things. Would you like it if I came into your shop an--"

"Urgent message from Sapphire Shores," he huffed, holding out an envelope.

"From Sapphire Shores?" Rarity took the letter and opened it up. "Don't you even think of going anywhere. I'm not finished telling you off, yet."

Rarity,

First off, let me reiterate how pleased I was with your performance. The things you can do with a needle and thread are sensational, and nopony would ever argue that point. You are a star of the highest degree, and you deserve every bit of this praise.

It is because of your ability to work miracles with fabric that I'm contacting you. I'm in need of a miracle, and you're the only pony I can call on. I know you won't let me down.

Attached are photographs of the damage. Rest assured that the pony who did this and their supervisor have been dealt with already, but firing them won't bring your dresses back.

I need them all here at the Aponno Theatre in Manehattan on the fourteenth, before eight in the morning. I will, of course, pay five times what I paid for the first set, as there's quite a rush.

Kisses,
Sapphire Shores

Rarity's jaw dropped. Five times the payout? That was huge! The original order was already a massive increase in profits, but this? She wouldn't have to work for the rest of the year!

She pulled out the photographs and her eyes narrowed. She was so very mortified that she couldn't help but shriek out in absolute anguish.

"NONONONONONOOOO!!!" she wailed as she flipped through the pictures "THEY'RE ALL RUINED!!"

Not only were the dresses completely destroyed, they were far beyond saving. One had a hole through it, three had been covered in splotches of mane and tail dye, two were torn to shreds, one was half-missing, and the one Sapphire had tried on and danced around in to check the fit and mobility looked like it'd been set on fire. There was no saving these. She had to make new ones.

Today was the twelfth, and it was already four in the afternoon. She had but one day to put all eight of them back together from scratch if she wanted to be able to catch the express train to Manehattan. Her hooves were shaking. She didn't know if it could all be done.

"Rarity?"

Rarity looked over to the door. "Not now, Applejack, I've just received some horrible news, I..." she wobbled a bit, glancing toward her fainting couch. No. There was no time to faint. "I'm sorry, but the shop is closed for right now. There's an emergency to which I must attend."

"Well, that's why Ah'm here," clarified Applejack, stepping inside and closing the door. "Ah heard yer shoutin', and Ah came ta see what's wrong."

Applejack pushed the photographs forward. "THIS is what's wrong!"

Applejack looked at the photos. "You sold these? Here, an' Ah thought ya had class."

Rarity bit her lip in frustration.

"Ah'm jus' yankin' yer chain," smiled Applejack. "Go on up to your studio. Ah'll be along when the tea's ready."

Rarity tossed her the key. "Lock up for me!" she shouted back as she rushed upstairs.

Applejack turned to the stallion in the evening gown. "Did'ja pay fer that?"

"She told me to wait here until she could finish ripping me a new arsehole," he answered.

"Take it off," she sighed. "Ah need ya ta take care a' somethin' fer me."

A few minutes later, Applejack came upstairs. Rarity was already hard at work, running the sewing machine at full blast. Applejack set down the tray on a small table off to the side and approached. "Now, Ah'm not really great at this whole dress-makin' thing you an' Fluttershy do, but Ah do know how ta take care a' y'all. Ah've started supper for ya, so don't y'all worry 'bout that. If'n ya need anythin', let me know."

"Thank you," answered Rarity, not looking up from her work. "I'll probably be up all through the night, so try to sleep while you can. And could you make some tea while you're at it? I need something to calm my nerves. And dinner, oh, I can't forget about that. I'll have to make some sandwiches or something. Something fast and easy. Oh, I need more time, more hooves."

"Supper's comin'," sighed Applejack, "and your tea's right here. Mulberry mint."

"WHAT!?" Rarity turned around and grabbed Applejack's shoulders where her collar would be if she were wearing one, her eyes wide. "Mulberry Mint isn't supposed to pick up her dress for another week! It's not finished!!"

Applejack held up the box of mulberry mint tea.

"Oh. Right. Sorry."

"Think nothin' of it," smiled Applejack. "Ah know ya weren't lis'nin'. Focus on that dress a' yers. Sounds like yer gonna need the whole night and more."

"Thank you," blushed Rarity. "Could you come up with something for dinner, please? I hate to impose, but--"

"It's already on the stove. You work, I'll keep ya goin'."