My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: A New Journey Together, Season 1

Chapter 15: Suited for success

It was another lovely day in Ponyville and Rarity was hard at work in her home. Her home was also where she ran her business, the Carousel Boutique. She had just finished sketching her design and was admiring it proudly. Her cat, Opalescence, or Opal for short, was just lounging snootily on one of Rarity's mannequins.

"Oh, Opalescence," said Rarity excitedly as she studied her completed sketch, "Can’t' you just picture it? Moi, stepping out in a stunning new gown at the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot!"

Opal said nothing but just gave a sleepy meow.

"Why, yes! I did make it myself," said Rarity, taking Opal meowing as talking, "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 in her stomach before getting quickly back on her feet and walked away. As Rarity was continuing to work at her sewing machine, Opal just took a seat nearby, giving a low, annoyed growl.

"Oh, Opal, of course you can help me. Thank you," said Rarity replied by sticking a sewing pin cushion inside of Opal's mouth.

The white furred kitty just meowed with the pin cushion inside of her mouth again.

"What's that?" Rarity asked, "You want to help me more? Oh, aren't you the sweetest thing?"

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

"Careful now," said Rarity, "Don't move. This shouldn't take long at all." Opal just rolled her eyes twice, giving a low growl, as she continued to struggle to keep her balance.

*Main theme*

A little later that day, Applejack and Twilight arrived at Rarity's shop.

"Howdy, Rarity!" said Applejack loudly.

"Shh..." Twilight hushed quickly, "Can't you see Rarity is trying to concentrate?" Applejack and Twilight noticed that Rarity was hard at work and in deep concentration. She also had a pair of red framed glasses on her face.

"What do you think she's makin'?" Applejack asked in a soft voice.

"Looks like a dress," Twilight answered. Rarity could hear the two ponies literally talking behind her back and felt a little annoyed.

"Well, that makes sense," Applejack answered, "Since this is a dressmaker's shop and all."

"Is there something I can help you with?" Rarity asked in a cheerful tone and successfully hiding all signs of the irritation she had been feeling a few seconds ago.

"Oh, so very sorry to trouble you, Rarity" said Twilight apologetically, "but I need a quick favor." Twilight than pulled out a red dress and set it on a nearby table.

"Can you please fix this button for me?" Twilight asked as she showed Rarity the broken stitch with a button hanging on it, "It's my dress for the Grand Galloping Gala."

Rarity gasped at the dress.

"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," said Twilight, "but I can't let you do that. It would be so much work. This dress is fine."

"Twilight Sparkle," said Rarity definitively, "I insist on making you a new dress."

"But..."

"Not another word!" Rarity interrupted the purple pony, "I won't take no for an answer."

"Well, in that case..." said Twilight slowly before conceding, "thank you for your generosity, Rarity. Knowing your handiwork, I'm sure it will be absolutely beautiful."

Then she realized something else.

"Oh, isn't Storm with you?" Rarity asked in curiosity.

"Oh no." Twilight replied back with a smile. "He's out practicing with his breathing style. We all know he isn't a big fan of the gala."

Applejack nodded. "Yeah, we all know he rather spend that time with his family."

Rarity smiled as she looked over to Applejack.

"Let me guess, Applejack," said Rarity as if reading the orange pony's mind, "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."

"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!" said Rarity.

"Look out below!" a familiar voice shouted.

CRASH

Rainbow suddenly crashed into the boutique from the roof, smacked onto the floor, and bounced backwards as she crashed into the mannequins.

"Sorry, new trick. Didn't quite work out," Rainbow said sheepishly as she poked her head out of the piled mountain of knocked over mannequins.

"Hmm..." Rarity pondered when her face lit up like a light bulb, "Idea! I'll make you an outfit for the Gala too, Rainbow Dash."

"Outfit for what now?" Rainbow asked puzzled, not knowing what was going on.

"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!" said Twilight, "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. Plus fun!" said Rarity.

"Oh, I love fun things!" Rainbow added excitedly.

"Then it's settled," Rarity said with conviction, "We'll have a fashion show starring us." Rarity then began to gather materials as Applejack approached her.

"So all you have to do is make a different, stunning, original, amazing outfit for one, two, three, four, five, plus you minus Storm, six ponies? and lickety split?"

"Oh Applejack," Rarity chuckled, "You make it sound as if it's going to be hard."

the shop door creaked open, and Storm entered, his breathing slightly elevated but steady. His mane was a little ruffled from practice.

"Hey, everypony," Storm greeted, glancing around the boutique. "Thought I’d swing by to see what you all were up to."

"Storm!" Rarity exclaimed, setting down a roll of fabric. "What a pleasant surprise! I was just about to start working on our Grand Galloping Gala outfits."

"Oh, right," Storm replied, his tone neutral. "The Gala. Sounds... exciting." His slight pause and raised eyebrow gave away his actual feelings.

Rarity gave him a knowing smile. "Yes, yes, I’m quite aware of your lack of enthusiasm for the event, darling. But surely you wouldn’t turn down the chance to look dashing in a custom suit?"

Storm chuckled, shaking his head. "Thanks, Rarity, but you know me—I’m more comfortable in my usual gear. Besides, I’m not even sure if I’ll be attending. The idea of standing around making small talk with Canterlot elites? Not exactly my idea of fun."

Twilight smirked, nudging him playfully. "Come on, Storm. You’ve been to plenty of formal events before. And don’t tell me you didn’t have fun at your last birthday celebration—fancy outfits and all."

Storm rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "That was different, Twilight. It was with all of you. At least there, I didn’t have to worry about impressing some snooty ponies who think they’re better than everyone else because their family names take up half the guest list."

Rarity sighed dramatically, placing a hoof on her chest. "Oh, Storm, you wound me. Not all ponies at the Gala are like that, I assure you."

"I know, Rarity," Storm said with a small smile. "I just prefer spending time with ponies who don’t care whether I’m wearing a bowtie or not."

"Fair enough," Twilight said with a chuckle. "But if you change your mind, I’m sure Rarity would be happy to whip something up for you."

"Of course, darling," Rarity chimed in. "You would look absolutely stunning in a tailored suit, if I do say so myself."

Storm smirked. "I’ll think about it, but no promises."

"Well, speaking of promises," Applejack interjected, "you’ll be proud to know I promised Rarity not to make my outfit too frou-frou-y. Just a spruced-up version of my work duds."

Storm raised an eyebrow. "Applejack, I’ve seen you wrangle timberwolves with a lasso. Somehow, I doubt even Rarity can make you frou-frou."

"Exactly!" Applejack replied with a triumphant grin.

Rainbow Dash, who was still dusting herself off from her crash, interjected. "Okay, but why are we doing this fashion show thing again? Aren’t we just gonna wear these outfits to the Gala and call it a day?"

"It’s not just about the outfits, Rainbow," Rarity explained. "It’s about showcasing creativity, flair, and individuality. Besides, it’ll be fun!"

Storm tilted his head, giving Rainbow a teasing smirk. "What’s the matter, Dash? Afraid you won’t be able to strut your stuff on a runway?"

Rainbow puffed out her chest. "Me? Afraid? Pfft! I can strut with the best of them. Just don’t expect me to get all... frou-frou either."

"Don’t worry," Storm said, laughing. "I think Rarity knows better than to mess with your 'cool' factor."

Rarity sighed dramatically. "Why does everypony think I’m trying to turn them into a ballroom chandelier? I can work within your boundaries, Rainbow."

As the group shared a laugh, Storm glanced at Twilight. "So, are you actually excited for this fashion show, or are you just going along with it to avoid hurting Rarity’s feelings?"

Twilight gave a sheepish smile. "A little bit of both, honestly. But I’m curious to see what Rarity comes up with."

"Well, don’t let her overwork herself," Storm said, turning back to Rarity with a raised eyebrow. "Six dresses, each unique, all in time for a fashion show and the Gala? You sure you’re not biting off more than you can chew?"

"Please Storm," Rarity said with a confident flick of her mane, "I thrive under pressure. This will be a challenge, yes, but one I am more than capable of conquering."

Storm shrugged, a faint grin on his face. "Alright, if you say so. Just remember, we’ve got your back if you need help."

As Rarity began gathering materials with renewed determination, Storm leaned toward Twilight. "This is either going to be amazing or an absolute circus," he whispered, earning a soft laugh from Twilight.

"Probably both," she whispered back.

It wasn't much longer before she got very busy choosing color fabrics, threads, and other things to complete each dress.

[Rarity]

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

[Rarity]

Yard by yard, fussing on the details

Jewel neckline, don't you a stitch in time saves nine?

[Rarity]

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 be dancing around Rarity as she continued their work. Poor Opal was even caught in the dancing materials once or twice.

[Rarity]

Dressmaking's easy, for Pinkie Pie something pink

Fluttershy something breezy

Blend color and form,

"Do you think this looks cheesy?" Rarity asked Opal. She just gave a bored glare as her answer.

[Rarity]

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

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!

The next day, in his home, Storm stood in front of his training dummy, his body moving with practiced precision. Each punch and kick was deliberate, his breathing steady as he channeled energy into every strike. His focus was sharp, his movements fluid, yet calculated.

"One more time," he muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes as he threw a swift combination of strikes. The flurry of blows was followed by a deep inhale as he centered himself. With a controlled exhale, Storm summoned the energy of his first form of Lightning Breathing, concentrating the power into his forehoof before delivering a decisive strike. The impact sent the dummy flying, crashing against the wall with a resounding thud.

Storm paused, surveying the scene before chuckling to himself. "Well, that was a bit excessive," he mused, shaking his head. "But hey, progress is progress."

Using his magic, he lifted the dummy, hanging it back onto its chain with practiced ease. Aegis, his loyal phoenix companion, watched him from a nearby perch. The bird’s golden eyes gleamed with pride as it let out a soft chirp of approval.

Storm approached Aegis, reaching out to stroke the phoenix’s vibrant feathers. The bird cooed in delight, nuzzling its beak affectionately against his hoof. "You always know how to make me feel like I’m doing something right, buddy," Storm said with a small smile. "But for now, time to get ready for the day."

With his morning training complete, Storm headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water washed away the exertion, leaving him refreshed and invigorated. He slipped on his saddlebag and gave Aegis one last affectionate nuzzle before stepping out the door.

As he trotted through Ponyville, the familiar sight of his friends gathered outside Rarity’s boutique caught his attention. Their animated chatter floated through the crisp morning air, and a smile tugged at Storm’s lips as he approached.

"Hey, ladies," he called out warmly.

The group turned toward him, their faces lighting up with smiles. "Hi, Storm!" they greeted in unison.

"Am I too late to see the dresses Rarity made for you all?" Storm asked, his tone curious but playful, a knowing smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I’d hate to miss seeing what the fashion queen of Ponyville has come up with this time."

"Nope, not too late at all," Applejack replied with a grin. "Rarity just rounded us up when you came trottin’ over."

"Although, if I’m being honest, I’m mostly here to see if Rarity finally found a way to make Applejack look fancy without making her squirm." Storm teased, his smirk widening.

Applejack shot him a playful glare. "Careful now, Storm. Don’t make me regret invitin’ you along."

The doors of the boutique opened to reveal Rarity as she gasped in excitement to see the six ponies come.

"You're all here!" Rarity said, happily. "Come on in!"

Rarity was guiding five girls inside with her voice since they had their eyes closed as Storm followed close behind.

"That's it," said Rarity, "keep em closed. Don't look..." Once the girls were in position... "Okay, you can look now!"

The five ponies opened their eyes and gasped all at once as they saw the dresses while Storm looked stunned at the dresses.

"Whoa." Storm said softly.

"These are your new outfits," said Rarity, showcasing 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 that had brown tassels on the bottom. (Opal was happily playing with them.) The front hooves had some stylish green boots with apple decals on them with some lacing.

"And Twilight! I made this dress for you myself and I designed each outfit theme to perfectly reflect each pony's personality," said Rarity.

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

"Oh, it took me 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 that some 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," said Rarity, "It just sings spring!"

Fluttershy's dress had a leaf-like front line 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 that had 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 feature a white and blue stripped top that had a V neck, or something close to it, with a pink bow on the front with a long pink skirt that was divided by a white lace that was 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 shoes 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 smiled widely at her friends, her chest swelling with pride at the sight of her creations. She had poured her heart and soul into these dresses, and now she eagerly awaited their praise. But instead of the enthusiastic reactions she had hoped for, there was only silence. A long, dreadful silence.

Her smile faltered as she glanced at her friends, who exchanged hesitant looks. The room felt heavy with unspoken words.

"Wow... They're..." Twilight began, her tone unsure.

"Yeah, they're..." Rainbow added hesitantly.

"They sure are... somethin'," Applejack finally said.

"Yes! Something," Twilight quickly agreed.

"I love something!" Pinkie Pie chimed in with her usual cheerful tone. "Something is my favorite!"

"It's... nice," Fluttershy said softly, though there was no real joy in her voice.

Storm, who had been quietly observing, could feel the tension in the air. He frowned, sensing that Rarity’s hard work wasn’t getting the appreciation it deserved. Stepping forward, he decided to step in before things went further south.

"Alright, hold on," Storm said, his voice cutting through the awkwardness as he walked to stand beside Rarity. "What's the matter? I think these dresses are incredible. Rarity clearly put her heart into this. Don’t you like them?"

"They're very nice..." Twilight said slowly.

"And we're plumb, grateful 'cause she worked so hard on them," Applejack added.

Rarity’s unease was growing by the second, her confidence slipping away. Even Storm’s supportive words couldn’t fully shield her from the underlying message in her friends’ hesitant responses.

"Mine's just not as cool as I was imagining," Rainbow said, the first pony to finally be upfront about their feelings, yet she got death glares from Storm, Twilight, and Applejack.

"She asked," Rainbow said in her defense.

"I guess what we're all saying is that they're just not what we had in mind," Twilight said after and their other gave a collective yeah in agreement.

Storm turned to Rarity as she recomposed herself.

"That's okay. Not a problem," said Rarity, "There's plenty more where that came from."

Storm frowned slightly, concerned by her forced composure. "Rarity, are you sure? You don’t have to push yourself just because—"

"I know so, darling," Rarity interrupted gently, offering him a small, reassuring smile. "After all, these were just a first pass. You're my friends, and I want you to be 110% satisfied."

She began removing the embellishments from the dresses, her movements precise yet a bit hurried. "Not to worry," she continued. "I'll redo them."

"Oh, Rarity." said Fluttershy, "You don't have to do that. They're fine."

"We want them to be better than just fine," said Rarity with determination, "I want you to think they're absolutely perfect."

"Are you sure? I mean, we wouldn't wanna impose," said Applejack.

"Oh, it's no imposition," said Rarity, "Really, I insist."

"Well in that case..." said Twilight, "thank you again Rarity."

Rarity just smiled as the rest of the group filtered out of the boutique, Storm lingered behind. He waited until the door closed behind them before turning to face Rarity, his expression soft but serious.

"Rarity," he began, his tone quieter now, "are you really sure you’re okay? Redoing all these dresses sounds like a lot, even for you."

Rarity gave him a tired smile. "That’s very sweet of you, Storm, but I’ll be fine. This is my passion, after all."

Storm tilted his head, clearly unconvinced. "Look, I get that you take pride in your work, but there’s no shame in asking for help. I may not be a fashion designer, but I could at least lend a hoof—"

"Oh, Storm," Rarity interrupted with a gentle laugh. "You’ve already done so much by standing up for me earlier. I promise, I can handle this."

Storm studied her face for a moment, noting the faint lines of exhaustion in her features. Still, he knew better than to push. "Alright, if you say so," he said finally, his voice carrying a hint of reluctance. "But if you change your mind, you know where to find me. Just don’t overwork yourself, okay?"

"I won’t, darling," Rarity assured him, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of doubt.

Storm nodded, giving her a small smile before heading for the door. Just as he stepped out, he paused and glanced back at her. "Seriously, Rarity. Don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything—even if it’s just someone to keep you company."

Rarity’s smile softened. "Thank you, Storm. I’ll keep that in mind."

As the door closed behind him, Rarity let out a deep sigh, her gaze falling to the unfinished dresses. "What have I gotten myself into?" she murmured, the weight of her self-imposed challenge settling heavily on her shoulders.

(Scene changes)

A little while later, she was working working herself ragged up with her mane getting rather frazzled when Fluttershy arrived back at the boutique. Rarity was currently working at her sewing machine.

"Hello? You wanted to see me, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked softly.

"Fluttershy! Your new-new gown's ready," said Rarity as she brought it over.

Once Fluttershy had changed into the dress, they examined it together in the mirror. Rarity had adjusted the layering of the back of the dress and replaced the butterfly hairpin with a flower one. The bottom of the skirt had been giving 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.

"I completely revised it and I know you're going to love it," Rarity continued.

"I...love it," said Fluttershy plainly.

Rarity didn't believe her.

"Oh, you're just saying that," said Rarity.

"No, no," said Fluttershy quickly, "I do. It's...nice."

" "Nice"?" Rarity repeated.

"Nice," Fluttershy said again.

"If you don't like it, you should just tell me," said Rarity.

"Oh, but I do like it," Fluttershy kept insisting.

"Like it or love it?" Rarity demanded as she make Fluttershy step back.

"Um...both?" Fluttershy answered feebly.

"Which is it?"

"Please stop asking me this, I..."

"Well, just tell me what you really think! I want to know!"

"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 before speaking again, "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.

Rarity was just dumbfounded. Since when was Fluttershy so knowledgeable about sewing? Guess you learn something new every day.

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

(Scene changes)

Then Rarity was busy modifying Twilight's dress to her standards as Storm was with her watching the whole thing from the side.

"Now, the stars on my belt need to be technically accurate," Twilight instructed as she paced about, "Orion has three stars on his belt, not four."

Storm just watched quietly as he said to himself. "Seriously Twi."

Rarity began to sign again.

[Rarity]

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 were working 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 asked, confused.

"Well, I think..." Rarity began.

"Balloons?" Pinkie suggested.

"Huh?" Storm asked.

"Well..." Rarity said again.

"Do it!" Pinkie shouted.

Rarity sighed before the latter began to sing again.

[Rarity]

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 to make their critiques.

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

"French haute couture, please," Fluttershy added.

"Ugh..." Rarity groaned.

Other modifications were just as frustrating.

"What if it rains?" Applejack said aloud, "Galoshes!"

"More balloons!" Pinkie suggested, "On no, that's too much balloons."

"Oh boy." Storm groaned.

"More candy, oh less candy," said Pinkie instead, "Oh, wait I know, streamers!"

"Streamers?" said Rarity.

"Whose dress is this?" Pinkie asked skeptically.

Storm just looked at Rarity wearily before Rarity gave her a sigh.

"Streamers it is," Rarity conceded as Storm sighed with a head shake.

Then she went to work on modifying Rainbow's outfit. She had just finished the latest modifications when she turned to look at 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.

"The color's fine, just make it cooler," Rainbow told her.

"Do you not like the shape?" Rarity asked.

Storm is feeling more worried about Rarity. "I don't know how much Rarity can take it. She's getting more and more unstable by the minute." He whispered to himself.

"The shape's fine," Rainbow answered, "Just make it the whole thing...you know cooler. It needs to be 20% cooler."

Rarity just groaned and put her head on the mannequin.

Then the song continued.

[Pinkie Pie]

All we ever want is indecision

[Rainbow]

All we really like is what we know

[Twilight]

Gotta balance style with adherence

[Fluttershy]

Making sure we make a good appearance

[Applejack]

Even if you simply have to fudge it

[All but Rarity and Storm as they stand around the sewing machine]

Make sure that it stays within our budget

[Storm]

You don't need to face this all alone.

[Rarity]

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 had barely sung the last note of her song before she collapsed onto the floor with an exhausted plop.

"Ugh, Opal," Rarity groaned as she examined her work, "These are the ugliest dresses I've ever made."

Storm stood off to the side, his eyes scanning the dresses with a mix of discomfort and concern. He wasn’t one to mince words, but seeing Rarity so drained, he hesitated. "Rarity," he said carefully, "you've done better work in your sleep than this… and that’s saying something."

The marshmallow unicorn let out a long, exasperated sigh. "Thank you for your honesty, Storm," she muttered, her tone laced with self-deprecation. "Not that I needed the confirmation."

"Okay, I did exactly what each of you asked for," Rarity told the five girls once they had arrived back at the shop, "Now don't hold back. Let me know what you really think."

"Oh my!" Twilight exclaimed.

"It's...perfect!" Fluttershy added happily.

"It's cool!" Rainbow said next.

"Why, they're the best duds I ever did see," said Applejack.

"It's exactly what I asked for!" the five girls said at once.

"Thank you, Rarity," said Twilight happily.

"Are you as happy with them as we are? Huh? Huh? Huh?" Pinkie asked Rarity eagerly.

Rarity, looking more frazzled by the second, managed a weak smile. "Well, that depends on what Storm thinks," she said, glancing nervously at the stallion.

All eyes turned to him, and Storm’s ears flicked uncomfortably. He let out a sigh, knowing he couldn’t just blurt out his true thoughts without completely crushing Rarity’s spirits. He forced a smile. "Umm, I think they look… perfect," he said, though the strain in his voice betrayed his true feelings.

Rarity’s unease deepened, but she pushed through. "Well, I'm happy that all of you are happy," she said with a shaky laugh. "I'm just relieved to finally be done."

It was just then Spike entered the front door.

"You are never gonna believe this!" said Spike, "You've heard of Hoity Toity."

"The bigwig fashion hotshot in Canterlot?" Twilight answered.

"Uh-huh," said Spike, "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!" said Applejack, "You could sell a ton o' dresses to this guy. Your business will be booming!"

"Wow!" said Twilight.

"That's so cool!" Rainbow added.

"I don't believe it!" Pinkie Pie said excitedly.

Rarity was not looking forward to this.

"Hoity Toity? He's coming here? To see THESE dresses?" Rarity exclaimed.

"Oh no." Storm muttered as he placed a hoof to his face with a worried look.

"Yep!" said Spike, "Get ready for all of your dreams to come true!"

But for Rarity, the look on her face gave the impression that she was about to experience her worst nightmare.

(Scene changes)

Later that night, the stage was set, and several ponies from the town had gathered around, eagerly awaiting the fashion show. The soft hum of excited chatter filled the air as lanterns lit the area with a warm glow. Behind the curtains, Rarity was peeking out nervously, her hooves trembling as she adjusted the curtain with her magic. Storm stood beside her, calm and collected, though he could clearly see her unraveling with each passing second.

"Oh!" Rarity exclaimed, making Storm jump in surprise. "There he is!"

"Rarity, you’re going to give me a heart attack before the show even starts," Storm muttered, shaking his head as he watched Hoity Toity strut toward the front of the runway. His every step exuded arrogance, and when he reached his spot, he gestured imperiously for his cushion. The poor pony carrying it ended up with his face squished as Hoity Toity plopped down, adjusting himself with a dismissive air.

Rarity was practically hyperventilating now, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. Storm stepped closer, gently placing a hoof on her shoulder to steady her. "Rarity," he said softly, "breathe. You’ve got this."

"How can you say that so calmly?!" Rarity hissed, her eyes darting toward the audience. "Storm, you haven’t done much to help me today! I’m completely overwhelmed, and I’m about to embarrass myself in front of him!"

Storm sighed deeply. "Rarity, you’re not going to embarrass yourself. You’ve worked hard for this, and you’ve got more talent in your hoof than most ponies have in their whole bodies. The rest of us just need to keep up." He gave her a small smile. "And as for me, I didn’t step in because I knew you needed to see this through your way. But I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere."

Rarity paused for a moment, her breathing slowing slightly as his words sank in. "You really think I can pull this off?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I know you can," Storm said firmly, looking her directly in the eyes. "But stressing yourself out isn’t going to help. Just trust in what you’ve created and let your work speak for itself. You’ve got magic in those hooves of yours, Rarity, and tonight’s the night to show it."

Rarity swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "Thank you, darling," she whispered. "I… I needed to hear that."

"Good," Storm replied, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Now, I’m heading into the crowd to watch. You don’t need me hovering back here—you’ve got this."

He stepped away, heading offstage to join the audience. As he passed her, he added with a playful smirk, "But just so you know, if anything goes wrong, I’ll be the loudest one cheering for you."

Rarity let out a small laugh despite her nerves, her confidence bolstered by his support. "Thank you, Storm. That means more than you know."

"Anytime," Storm said over his shoulder, giving her a quick wink before disappearing into the crowd.

Rarity took a deep breath, standing tall. "Relax, Rarity," she muttered to herself, straightening her posture. "You need to show Storm how cool and composed you are under pressure. Our friends liked these outfits, and so will he." She let out a small squeal as the lights suddenly dimmed, signaling the start of the show.

"What’s wrong with the lights?!" Rarity exclaimed in a panic, her voice rising again. Then it dawned on her. "Oh, yes, right. That means the show’s starting. Good… good!" She forced herself to smile, glancing toward the curtain one last time before stepping back to prepare for the big moment.

Meanwhile, in the crowd, Storm positioned himself near the center, where he had a clear view of the runway. His calm demeanor remained, though his eyes betrayed a glimmer of concern for Rarity. "You’ve got this, Rarity," he muttered under his breath. "Show them what makes you the best designer in Equestria."

The town's personal DJ, formally known as DJ-Pon3, began to play some tunes.

"Since the beginning of time," said Spike from a silhouette in the dark, "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!"

Storm knew this was going nowhere and he was really starting to feel worried for Rarity.

The spotlight was set on the five ponies and their new, modified dresses.

The crowd’s murmurs started almost immediately, and Storm’s stomach churned as he took in the sight.

And what a sight they were! First to walk the runway was Twilight, whose dress looked more like a cloak with constellations patterned all over it. A large bow was added to her tail and she had multiple star boppers on her head as well as gold star earrings. Applejack's new dress featured a red ten gallon hat, overalls style dress with a crochet quilt style mini skirt with 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 like a badly dressed comic book super hero, with matching superhero style boots and helmet to boot. Pinkie looked like a clown. Literally. The dress was dark green top with an oversized yellow bow and a large blue tutu mini-skirt. She had tied yellow ribbons on 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 noticed the murmuring.

"Why's everypony lookin' at us like that?" Applejack asked once she saw nopony looked too pleased at their dresses.

"Oh dear," said Twilight as she saw the discontent faces from the crowd.

"You think we overdid it?" Rainbow asked.

"Nah," said Applejack and then paused as she saw her work boots, "Okay, maybe a little." Hoity Toity was most indignant.

"Oh, these amateurish designs look like a piled-on mesh of everything but the kitchen sink," Hoity Toity remarked, earning a few laughs from the crowd.

"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 as she ducked behind her cat.

Storm winced at Hoity Toity’s scathing critique. His gaze shifted to the stage, where Rarity had ducked behind her cat, Opal, trembling with embarrassment. His heart sank as he saw her visibly shrink from the humiliation.

"Come on out and take a bow, Rarity! You worked really hard for this!" Spike announced as Rarity quietly made her way out into the crowd as Spike began to cheer for Rarity of course."Yes! All-right. Woo-hoo! Go, Rarity!"

Rarity just kept her head low as Storm just watched from the crowd feeling sorry for her. Their five friends just tried to smile at her, but their smiles soon turned to concern as the crowd murmured.

“Wait, Rarity, don’t run!” Storm called out, stepping forward from the crowd, his voice laced with urgency. His piercing gaze locked onto her as she began to retreat. "You don’t have to face this alone. Rarity, stop—please!"

But his plea fell on deaf ears. Rarity bolted off the stage, her shame consuming her as she disappeared into the boutique. Storm let out a frustrated sigh, his hooves stomping against the ground.

(Scene changes)

Days had gone by and no pony had seen Rarity in public. No one could blame her. After such a humiliating fashion show, she didn't want to be seen or spoken to. The mane 5 were more worried about Storm at the moment. They already knew where Rarity would be, but Storm was nowhere to be found.

“Did you check his house?” Rainbow Dash asked Twilight, hovering slightly above the group.

“We've looked all over Ponyville, and no pony has seen him,” Twilight replied, her brow furrowed in concern. “I even stopped by his house, but it looks like he hasn’t been home for days.”

“You don’t think he... ran away, do you?” Fluttershy asked, her voice barely above a whisper, worry etched on her face.

Twilight shook her head. “I don’t think so. If I had to guess, he probably went to his family’s place in Canterlot. With his breathing technique, it’s only a few minutes' trip. I’ll send a letter to Princess Celestia when we get back to the library to check if he’s there, but right now, we need to focus on Rarity.”

The others nodded in agreement as they made their way to Carousel Boutique. When they entered, they all froze in shock.

“Storm!” they shouted in unison.

Storm flinched, quickly setting aside the katana he’d been cleaning. He turned toward them with a tired but genuine smile. “Oh, hey, guys,” he greeted, his voice calm but worn. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Have you been here this whole time?” Twilight asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and disbelief.

“Yeah,” Storm replied, walking toward them. “I’ve been staying here, trying to get Rarity to come out of her room. She’s… she’s not doing great, and I can’t blame her. Ever since that disaster of a show, not a single customer has come by. I’ve tried putting up posters to advertise some new designs, but…” He sighed, shaking his head. “No pony showed up.”

“What designs?” Fluttershy asked softly.

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

"They're not too shabby," said Applejack, "A bit basic for Rarity dresses, but definitely pretty."

"I agree," Twilight said, "I would wear either one of these dresses."

Storm’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Thanks. They’re not quite her usual level of extravagance, but I thought they’d be enough to at least draw in some attention. Guess I underestimated how badly that show hurt her reputation.”

“Storm, if you’ve been here the whole time, where’ve you been sleeping?” Twilight asked, her brow furrowing again.

Storm pointed to a small corner where a pillow and a blanket were neatly laid out on the floor.

“You’ve been sleeping on the floor?” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief. “Why not use a couch?”

Storm raised an eyebrow. “Rarity’s only couch is her chaise lounge, Pinkie. You all know that’s strictly reserved for her more… dramatic episodes.”

A round of knowing nods and muttered agreements followed.

"Well, I think it's time we fix this," said Twilight, "Come on, Storm. We'll need your help getting Rarity to come out."

Storm hesitated for a moment, glancing at the closed door to Rarity’s room. He let out a quiet sigh but nodded. “I’ve tried talking to her so many times… but I’ll back you up. She needs all of us right now.”

With that, Storm followed the five mares up the stairs. They stopped outside Rarity’s bedroom door, where Pinkie Pie eagerly volunteered to make the first attempt.

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

"I’m never coming out!" Rarity replied dramatically as she paced about her bedroom in a pink bathrobe and slippers, "I can't show my face in Ponyville ever again! I used to be somepony. I used to be respected. I made dresses. Beautiful, beautiful dresses! But now everypony is laughing at me! I'm nothing but a laughing stock!" Rarity let out a loud sob.

"Rarity, please," Storm said, stepping closer to the door. Carrying a hint of the protective warmth he always reserved for his friends. "You’ve been in there for days. Hiding away won’t solve anything."

"I already told you!" Rarity cried, her voice breaking. "I made the decision to present those awful dresses, and now I’m ruined! RUINED!"

Storm rubbed his temple, trying to keep his frustration at bay. "Rarity, listen to me. You're not a laughing stock. Everypony has bad days, even the best of us. Just come out, and we can talk this through."

"She kind of is," Rainbow muttered under her breath.

Bad move.

"Shhh!" Twilight hissed, glaring at her. Before Rainbow could respond, Storm’s horn lit up, and he used a gentle but firm pressure-point technique to silence her. Rainbow let out a soft squeak of pain, her wings snapping to her sides.

"Do you ever think before you speak?" Storm asked, his tone sharp but quiet enough to avoid Rarity hearing.

Rainbow winced. "Okay, okay, my bad!" she whispered.

"Rarity, please," Twilight said, stepping forward. "We’re your friends. We’re here for you. Just 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 am supposed to wallow in! I'm so pathetic!"

Storm began to think of a way to fix everything.

"Now what do we do?" Twilight asked.

"Uh...panic?" Fluttershy proposed.

"That's your answer for everything," Rainbow shot back.

"Well, we can't just leave Rarity like this," Applejack pointed out.

"She'll become a crazy cat lady!" Pinkie said worried.

"She only has one cat," Twilight remarked.

"Give her time," Pinkie answered.

That's when Storm heard that word as he widened his eyes a bit.

"Wait. That's it!" Storm said as the others turned to him.

"What?" The five girls asked in unison.

"Come on. I've got an idea." Storm said as he went downstairs as the others followed him.

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.

(Scene changes)

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 had 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?" Rarity was interrupted when she heard some loud meowing.

"Huh? Opal?" Rarity called out as she found the meowing was coming outside. Rarity gasped when she saw the poor cat clinging fearfully onto a tree branch.

"Opal, how did you get up there?" Rarity asked worried, "Hang on, you poor dear! Mama's coming!" Rarity ran out of her room and out of the Boutique to the tree Opal was in. She came to stop when she found Rainbow sitting on a branch next to 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 as she tilted her head towards the other girls and Storm.

"What is it?" Rarity said in shock, "It's not...You..." Rarity gasped as they backed away to show that Rarity's dress for the gala was now finished.

"We all finished your dress for you," said Pinkie.

"Thanks to Fluttershy's freaky knowledge of sewing," said Applejack, as Fluttershy blushed shyly.

"And Storm's attention to detail so we could follow your design perfectly," Twilight added, making Storm blush in the same manner.

"Do you like it?" Fluttershy asked Rarity. Rarity said nothing but just walked around the dress quietly.

"Uh-oh. She doesn't like it," said Fluttershy sadly.

"No, I don't like it," said Rarity upfront with her back against them.

"Awwww..." The rest of the group all groaned.

"I love it!" Rarity said as she turned around with her eyes sparkling.

"Yay!" The girls all cheered as Storm sighed in relief to see his friend feeling better.

"You ponies did an amazing job," Rarity continued, "It's exactly the way I imagined it."

"We just followed your brilliant design," said Fluttershy, "And it was easy with Storm guiding us."

Storm just smiled at Fluttershy to say thank you as he went to stand next to Rarity.

"Like we should have let you for our outfits," said Twilight, "those dresses you two designed were perfect."

"We're so super sorry," said Pinkie.

"You two worked really hard to make our dresses exactly the way we wanted them," Rainbow pointed out as she hovered next to Rarity with Opal on her back, "We all saw how well that turned out."

"Oh, I forgive you," said Rarity as Opal hopped from Rainbow to Rarity's back.

"Well, that's mighty big of you," said Applejack.

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

"Oh, right," said Applejack, "that."

That's when Storm noticed Hoity Toity walking nearby. It could be assumed he had heard and seen everything.

"Maybe not. Um, excuse me, Hoity Toity. Do you think you could give Rarity another chance for this?" Storm asked him with a smile.

"All right, I haven't got all day," Hoity Toity answered in his snooty manner.

Storm and Rarity smiled.

(Scene changes)

Soon they were all back inside as Hoity Toity was just waiting impatiently for the fashion show to begin. Opal seemed to be entertained playing with the end of his side ponytail.

"Take two," he said firmly as he shoved the cat out of the way.

Rarity smiled before she made her horn glow. Hoity Toity oohed as a large collection of stars appeared before them all. Some of them flying into the back end of Twilight's skirt as she posed in the original design.

"Hello..." Hoity Toity said in shock, "Oh, this can't be the same designers."

The scene then shifted towards a large orchard that was loaded with apples. Then a lasso from the distance appeared and pulled in a lone apple from the tree. The apple disappeared once Applejack appeared in her dress and made a pose.

"Simply magnificent!" said Hoity Toity, "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 some rainclouds appeared, but rather than water, it began to rain various types of candy. Some began to land 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 making her pose.

"Brilliant!" Hoity Toity exclaimed but was then startled when two clashes of lighting appeared before him. Then Rainbow came flying through the air, and made a dynamic pose as she landed.

"Oh spectacular!" Hoity Toity said, now applauding.

Opal and Storm smiled in agreement when they were both taken back again as some vines appeared before them. The vines produced some flowers, which the pedals dropped from them instantly as a few butterflies flew by. One then landed on the side of Fluttershy's head, turning into her hairpin and front of her dress as she made a very calm and confident pose.

"Now this is a fashion show!" said Hoity Toity, now enjoying himself, "All of these dresses are absolutely amazing! Who is responsible? Step forward, show yourself!"

That was when Rarity appeared, using her horn to make a disco ball lighting effect surround her dress as the rest of the girls appeared behind her as she made her way to the front.

"Brava! Brava! Magnifico! Encore!" Hoity Toity cheered.

"Oh, thank you. Thank you! Oh, thank you so much!" said Rarity happily.

She turned to Storm as he smiled at the six girls with a wink. They smiled back at him.

(Scene changes)

"Dear Princess Celestia," Twilight told Spike as he wrote the letter and the rest of their friends were enjoying themselves while Storm stood next to her. "This week, my very talented friend Rarity, as well as your student Storm, learned that if you try to please everypony, you often times end up pleasing nopony, especially yourself. And I learned this: when somepony 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 horse in the mouth."

Twilight giggled at her little pun while Storm chuckled in agreement as Spike tied up the letter and sent it heading towards Canterlot. Hoity Toity watched the letter leave the Boutique before speaking to Rarity.

"Rarity, my congratulations to you on your most impressive fashion debut," Hoity Toity told her. "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.

"Now, I'll need you to make a dozen of each dress for me by next Tuesday," said Hoity Toity.

Rarity's eyes nearly popped out as she chuckled and smiled sheepishly.

No pony said the road to being a well-known fashion designer would be easy...