Having been told by Celestia that she would be meeting a seamstress to have her measurements taken, the girl reported to a breezy chamber in the Northern bastion where a unicorn waited, her purple mane and diamond markings giving her a dazzling-yet-sophisticated air. The unicorn introduced herself as Rarity, and despite the almost arrogant ring to it the name seemed rather fitting.

"My! You really are unusual, aren't you? Not to worry my dear, I am a professional. Just let me get my tape and we can begin."

Using what the girl recognized as 'levitation magic' Rarity drew out a length of ribbon marked at consistent intervals from her bag and pulled it through the air.

"Now, if you wouldn't mind... I realize this is usually a bit more awkward for humans than ponies, but I need you to remove your clothes."

The girl stiffened. She had expected no different, but hearing the words made her nervous all the same. She slipped the straps of her dress over her shoulders and let it fall to the floor, then unclasped her bra and let that fall too, exhaling as her breasts settled, the slight relief overshadowed by that uncharacteristic embarrassment she seemed to get whenever others looked at her body.

Why am I like this?

"My goodness, you're so flustered it's making me blush!" said Rarity. Then there was a brief pause, after which the unicorn's voice fell to just above a whisper. "You really are quite lovely, you know."

Rarity had lowered her head, her mane hanging down over one eye in a manner that would have reminded her of Fluttershy had she seen it herself.

"I'm not usually the bashful type, but..." she smiled shyly, then took a deep breath and regained her composure. "Forgive me, that was rather un-professional. How about we move on, hmm?"

The girl's face was burning, her frozen expression conveying something between a nervous smile and a nervous breakdown.

She had found the pony's cute little display endearing and decided she liked her already, which only made it harder to be completely naked under her gaze.

The floating tape wrapped loosely around her bust, laid carefully and with uncomfortable attention over her rigid nipples. The tape slipped slightly to one side, striking her nerves as it was drawn across her nipples like a whetstone honing a blade.

Afterward, the tape slid down and tightened around her torso, just beneath her bust.

Rarity scribbled something in her notebook before moving it down to the girl's waist and tightening it again.

After that she measured the highest point of the girl's hips, and then the widest, wrapping the tape around the swell of her buttocks.

She also measured the girl's height, the length of her limbs and various other rather specific measurements.

"Let me see... How many hands is that?" muttered Rarity to herself.

Right, horses are measured in hands...

How that system came to be present in a land where decidedly few creatures actually had hands seemed a rather fitting mystery.

"Well, I think that about does it." said Rarity at last. "Now, the princess has requested that I make for you a few specialized outfits. One is a dress, of the kind you could wear to a gala. The Gala, I imagine, since that will be coming up fairly soon."

The girl had heard about the so-called 'Grand Galloping Gala,’ but not about what to expect. She wasn't even sure she knew what a gala was.

"Next, she wanted something that could be worn in the water. Not a common thing in Equestria, though each of the princesses has come to me requesting something of the sort. I have a few pieces for reference as well as a few magazines Princess Twilight managed to bring back from the human world."

Princess Twilight? She was Celestia's apprentice before me...

"As for the shoes, we ponies tend to rely upon a farrier." Rarity lifted her hoof to show a gleaming horseshoe on the bottom.

"However, I may be able to come up with something based on what you have with you." Rarity examined one of the girl’s sandals for a moment before making some quick sketches, which she kept to herself.

"Those same magazines have a few examples of human shoes, but I may need to have you try a few things between now and my next scheduled visit."

The girl nodded her head, silently wondering if she could put her clothes back on soon.

"Lastly, your undergarments won't be much of an issue. I've had the privilege of working on similar items in the past, all based on the same general idea which has made its way here from the human world. Fashion travels fast, and I make it my business to stay ahead of the trends."

The girl thought back on Luna's lingerie collection and figured that this pony, more likely than not, had something to do with it.

She wanted to ask Rarity about Princess Twilight's connection to the human world, but struggled with the idea of having a conversation with her until she was dressed again.

Ultimately, after discussing materials and preferences it wasn't until they were finished that Rarity realized how uncomfortable the girl must have been.

"Oh darling, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to leave you standing there like that. I get so wrapped up in the details of my work it's like everything else just falls away."

By then the girl was exhausted, but she was also happy. She bid the seamstress farewell and returned to her room, curious as to what the princess had in store for her. She was told she could expect the new outfits in a couple of weeks, when there would be a final fitting. She was actually quite excited to see what the unicorn would do, and though it made her nervous she was looking forward to seeing her again. Perhaps she would have the courage to ask her about Princess Twilight.

Author's Note

Another one done. Was originally going to have this chapter focus on three different things, but ended up just focusing on the interaction with Rarity. Probably for the best. I had actually wanted to write a story about making outfits, so this let me experiment a bit with that idea.