Green Is Your Color

Fluttershy relaxed in the warm mist of the spa’s sauna, feeling a wave of comforting normalcy. Cheering lessons with Rainbow, going back to Cloudsdale, standing up to the old bullies, and cheering Rainbow on as she saved Rarity from almost certain doom was more than enough excitement for the week. Maybe even a month or two.

“You will not believe what happened yesterday evening,” Rarity announced as she relaxed beside from Fluttershy.

“Something tells me it was something nice,” Fluttershy giggled.

“Nice? More like magical,” Rarity gushed, resting her head against a cushion with a dreamy smile. “I was just closing up shop as usual when a charming pegasus stallion walked through the front door. He introduced himself as Clear Skies and said I was on his mind after our visit to the weather factory. Then he asked me if I wanted to get dinner!”

“How wonderful,” Fluttershy remarked. “Although, I would believe it, because you’re very pretty and approachable. I knew you’d find the perfect stallion soon.”

“It’s a little early to say that,” Rarity chuckled. “Though I very much did enjoy the dinner date. But enough about me. What about you, darling? Anypony catch your attention lately? Or tried to catch your attention, hmm?” Rarity prodded, batting her eyelids at the thought.

“Oh, I don’t know. I guess there was this one time when I was modeling with a ballet dancer, and he asked me for a date right on stage.”

Rarity gasped. “How bold of him!”

“I didn’t really know what to say,” Fluttershy mumbled, her damp mane falling over her face. “I was already scared of all the ponies watching, so I kind of didn’t say anything… Eventually he apologized and walked away. I don’t think I even got his name.”

The two of them moved out of the sauna and settled into their mud baths. “The Grand Galloping Gala is coming soon,” Rarity brought up, “and I’m going to make you a brand new dress for you for the occasion!”

Fluttershy glanced over. “A new dress? For me?” She smiled, even though Rarity’s eyes were covered with cucumbers. “You don’t have to do that for me.”

“But I want to, darling! I came up with six brand new, unique, exquisite designs for all six of us that I just can’t let go! And once I’m done with them, we can have our very own fashion show!”

“F-fashion show…?” Fluttershy whispered, sinking deeper into her mud bath.

“It’ll be a huge boost for my career, and it’ll be so much fun!” Rarity exclaimed. Looking into the cucumbers, she imagined the stage with the six of them spinning around in their dresses for all to see and admire. The moment she stepped off the stage, ponies from far and wide would approach her and place hundreds of orders on the spot.

Fluttershy glanced at Rarity, taken aback by the big dreamy smile plastered across the fashionista’s face. “Um… what kind of fashion show?” Fluttershy quietly whimpered.

“I’m imagining the six of us walking down the runway onto a rotating platform. What do you think?” Rarity was met with silence. “Is it not glamorous enough?” she voiced. “You can tell me; you’re the one with all the experience,” Rarity chuckled. When she was met with more silence, even for a mare as quiet as Fluttershy sometimes was, Rarity considered the fact that while Fluttershy had experience as a model, the soft-spoken mare had hated her experience as a model. Rarity took off a cucumber and looked to her side; Fluttershy had sunk so deep into the mud bath that her muzzle was submerged.

“Oh dear, I really didn’t think this through, did I? How rude of me,” Rarity chastised herself. “I completely understand if you don’t want to be part of the fashion show. I know it makes you uncomfortable after that horrible ordeal. I’m still making that gala dress for you, though. I already had your design in mind for the longest time! It’ll be marvelous! I’m making that dress for you no matter what, so don’t feel any obligation to partake in the show.” Rarity put her cucumbers back on and relaxed.

Fluttershy eventually rose out of the mud, wiping her snout with her mane. “Actually, I don’t mind being part of your fashion show.”

“Are you sure?” Rarity asked. “I truly do not want to pressure you.”

“As long as you and the other girls will be on stage with me, I’ll be happy to do it.”

“It’ll be wonderful! We’ll walk out on that stage and everypony will admire us! And we’ll walk into the gala in style. Then I’ll find my prince!” Rarity swooned, raising a hoof to her head. “Ooh, maybe that stallion who asked you out while you were modeling will be at the gala and you can have a proper chance! Now I have to make your dress extra special!” Rarity declared, pumping her hoof to the ceiling in determination.

Fluttershy blushed at the thought. “I don’t know if that will happen.”

“Oh, but it will happen!” Rarity giggled. “And you can tell me all about it! Fluttershy, if you ever have any romantic escapades, any drama at all, promise me you’ll tell me all about it?”

Fluttershy couldn’t help but giggle too. “Alright, I promise.”

“That's it… Keep them closed…” Rarity instructed her blindfolded friends. “Don't look… Okay, you can look now!”

Fluttershy opened her eyes and gasped. There were five unique and stunning dresses that would capture the eyes of anypony. Fluttershy stared with her muzzle slightly agape at the dress meant for her; it was elegant and showy, a true eye-catcher. It was a dress fit for a model. A dress for judging eyes. Fluttershy blinked repeatedly as she thought of the flashing lights.

“It’s… nice,” Fluttershy sighed, looking down at her hooves, ears flopping.

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

“They’re very nice,” Twilight answered hesitatingly.

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

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

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

Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie all voiced their agreement. Meanwhile, Fluttershy scuffed her hoof against the ground, trying to come up with a way to explain why she wasn’t enthusiastic about the dress.

“That’s okay,” Rarity sighed. “Not a problem. They were only a first pass,” she said, waving a hoof. “You’re my friends! And I want you to be one hundred and ten percent satisfied,” she declared. “Not to worry. I’ll redo them!”

Fluttershy lifted her head up to face Rarity’s radiant smile. What was she thinking, trying to find a way to reject an absolutely stunning dress that Rarity spent so much time and attention working on just for her? “Oh Rarity, you don’t have to do that,” Fluttershy said. “They’re fine.”

“I want them to be better than just fine!” Rarity said enthusiastically, busying herself with beginning to take the dresses off the ponyquins. “I want you to think they’re absolutely perfect.”

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

Rarity chuckled, still facing away from them. “Oh, it’s no imposition. Really, I insist.” She gave a determined smile.

Fluttershy gulped. Rarity was such a good friend. How could Fluttershy explain what she really wanted? Or what she didn’t want?

“Well in that case… thank you again, Rarity,” Twilight voiced.

Fluttershy put on a smile and followed her other friends out the door. Maybe whatever Rarity came up with would be nice.

The next day, Fluttershy hesitantly walked up the stairs to Rarity’s bedroom. She felt awful with herself; why did she have to feel so apprehensive of seeing a beautiful dress made just for her? She stumbled through the door with her head low. “You wanted to see me, Rarity?”

“Fluttershy! Your new-new gown is ready!” Rarity exclaimed, galloping over. “I completely revised it, and I know you’re going to love it!”

Fluttershy dragged her hooves after Rarity, laying eyes on the new green dress. It was similar to the first dress, maybe a little less eye popping, but still fit for a beautiful, flawless model. Fluttershy kept quiet as Rarity helped her into the dress and made adjustments and rambled about the process she underwent all night to alter the dress from the first one. Fluttershy didn’t register any of Rarity’s comments; all she could think of was being backstage with ponies endlessly fussing over her. Before she knew it, she was in front of a mirror.

“What do you think?” Rarity asked eagerly.

Fluttershy looked in the mirror and saw the same meek mare that everypony loved to laugh at. Also in the mirror, Fluttershy could see an excited and proud Rarity. “I… love it,” Fluttershy said, trying desperately to avoid any tremors.

“Oh, you’re just saying that,” Rarity said, her smile deflating.

“No, no, I do… it’s… nice.”

“Nice,” Rarity repeated.

“Nice,” Fluttershy sighed.

“If you don’t like it, you should just tell me,” Rarity huffed, turning her nose the other way.

Fluttershy felt some resolve take hold of her. Rarity didn’t deserve to have her hard work rejected for stupid reasons a second time. “Oh, but I do like it,” Fluttershy asserted.

“Like it or love it?” Rarity demanded.

What little resolve Fluttershy had a moment ago emptied out. “Um… both?” Fluttershy weakly offered.

“Which is it?” Rarity snapped, taking a step forward.

Fluttershy shuffled backwards. “Please stop asking me this, I-”

“Well just tell me what you really think!” Rarity insisted.

I can’t wear any dresses that remind me of modeling anymore, but everything you make is so perfect and fit for modeling, so I can’t wear anything you make anymore, Fluttershy was thinking. “No, that’s okay…” Fluttershy said instead.

“Tell me…” Rarity began to growl.

“No… it’s fine…” Fluttershy whimpered. How long could she keep this up? Suddenly she found herself backed up against a wall.

“Tell me,” Rarity repeated curtly, getting right up in Fluttershy’s face.

Fluttershy started sweating. “Uh, I like it…” she squeaked. Was it time to tell the truth yet?

“Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me!” Rarity demanded while stomping daintily. Fluttershy peered up into Rarity’s eyes, and at this point, there was less irritation and more… betrayal.

I promise to never keep my feelings a secret again, Rarity had promised, and Fluttershy had promised too.

“All right! Since you really wanna know…” Fluttershy took a deep breath, letting her repressed memories loose. “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 prêt-à-porter and not true Prench haute couture.”

Rarity stood there slack jawed.

Fluttershy felt a wave of shame. “But, uh, you know, um, whatever you want to do is fine…”

“No no, it’s okay,” Rarity quickly responded. She briefly lifted a hoof to her forehead then removed it. “I’m just a little… surprised, is all. I wasn’t aware of those preferences of yours… but no matter.” She floated over a notepad and quill. “Now, what was that first point you mentioned?”

“Oh, I really don’t know,” Fluttershy admitted. “The truth is, the dress really is amazing, but it just reminds me too much of modeling. Your dress is comfortable, but all I can think of is all the uncomfortable dresses I had to wear for photo shoots. Seeing myself wearing it in the mirror just reminds me of all the complaints the clients had when I wore dresses for them. I’m sorry, Rarity, but I just don’t want to wear it. It reminds me of modeling too much.”

Rarity dropped the notepad and wrapped a hoof around Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Oh Fluttershy, I’m sorry I pushed you so hard.”

“It’s okay. I should’ve just told you when you first showed us the dresses,” Fluttershy said. “And, um, I was looking forward to helping you promote your business at the fashion show, but, um, I don’t think I can do it anymore. How about I help you make the other dresses? That would make me feel better. If that’s okay with you…”

“It’s fine, dear, but what will you wear to the gala?”

“I don’t know…” Fluttershy muttered.

“I want you to be comfortable at the gala,” Rarity said, putting a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Tell me what you want for your dress, and we can make it happen.”

“I can’t wear anything a model would wear,” Fluttershy stated.

Rarity frowned. “Well, I can’t say I’ve done that before. Very well, I shall take on this challenge in stride. But I’m going to need some specifics from you, dear.” Rarity led Fluttershy to her inspiration room. “Let’s start from the drawing board, together.”

Rarity stood down the row of her most demanding clients, who were also all her best friends. “Okay. I did exactly what each of you asked for. Now don’t hold back. Let me know what you really think.” She gestured to the new dresses.

Fluttershy marveled at her finished dress. The leafy shoes and petal necklaces looked so cozy. The dress’s calm light green fabric with pink flowers looked just like the first picnic quilt she ever knitted as a filly. The nest headpiece was the perfect place for birds to land on, and so were all the flower attachments for the bees.

“It’s exactly what I asked for!” Fluttershy exclaimed along with the others.

After Spike came in to announce that some big wig named Hoity Toity was going to be at the fashion show, the five of them tried on their dresses. “Oh Rarity, this dress is so wonderful,” Fluttershy praised. “For the first time since modeling, I feel like I belong in a dress. It really feels just right.”

Rarity put on the first genuine smile since starting to redesign the dresses. “I’m delighted to hear that, Fluttershy! It means a lot to me that you love it. I’ve always said I wanted the dresses I make to help ponies bring out their true selves.”

“I feel so confident, I’m going to walk in the fashion show after all!” Fluttershy declared. “Um, if that’s okay with you.”

“Of course, darling!” Rarity exclaimed. “Ooh, that makes my heart just soar!”

The music was playing, and Fluttershy followed Applejack onto the runway. Seeing the crowd of ponies all looking up at her, she slowed down for a brief moment, but quickly remembered that this time was different. This time was special, because all her friends were here with her. She smiled and kept walking, head held high and facing forward. Being able to walk confidently down the runway was really liberating, and it was all thanks to Rarity. All those other horrible fashion ponies kept making me wear what they wanted me to wear, but Rarity was happy letting me wear exactly what I wanted. She’s the best pony ever!

“These amateurish designs look like a piled-on mishmash of everything but the kitchen sink!” a refined voice spoke over the music. And just like that, the entire crowd started laughing.

Oh, right. This is still a fashion show, Fluttershy thought bitterly. They always went like this. She glanced at her friends and saw that their confidence had also wavered, but they still stood up strong with smiles on their faces. Fluttershy stood strong too. A fashion show was a lot more manageable with friends at her side.

“It’s a travesty is what it is. Those outfits are the ugliest things I’ve ever seen. Oh for shame!” Hoity Toity lambasted.

To her surprise, Fluttershy didn’t feel the usual embarrassment or impulse to mewl in distress like she usually did. She really loved her dress, and it didn’t matter how others felt about it.

“Who is responsible for subjecting our eyes to these horrors? Not to mention wasting my valuable time.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened as she saw Rarity stepping forward into the spotlight, head down low. Rarity’s usually impeccable mane was disheveled beyond belief. She wasn’t even wearing any dress. It was then that Fluttershy realized, all too late, that there indeed was one pony whose opinion of the dress mattered. Fluttershy was witnessing that pony’s dreams shatter right before her eyes, and it was all her fault.

“Rarity? You okay in there?” Pinkie Pie asked, knocking her hoof on Rarity’s bedroom door.

“I’m never coming out!” Rarity shrieked.

Fluttershy stared at her hooves. How had she managed to ruin Rarity’s career a second time? First she somehow had taken Photo Finish’s spotlight away from Rarity, and now she ruined Rarity’s fashion show. This time, it wasn’t awful ponies laughing at her because they were awful. Fluttershy was the awful one. She so selfishly demanded every last detail about her dress instead of trusting her best friend. She felt good about herself strutting down the walkway, but what about Rarity? Fluttershy could only imagine Rarity feeling the way Fluttershy usually felt on stage. As Fluttershy vaguely heard Rarity’s muffled voice wailing, she realized how much pain Rarity must have felt while they were wearing her dresses. Fluttershy was very familiar with the feeling.

“Now what do we do?” Twilight asked.

“Panic?” Fluttershy suggested.

“That’s your answer for everything!” Rainbow blurted out. Fluttershy ducked back into her mane.

When Fluttershy had told Rarity she wanted to go on stage after all, Rarity had let her. Rarity had to have known the dress was awful to her intended audience, but she had let Fluttershy go on anyway because Fluttershy had said the dress made her feel good. And what did Rarity say? She said it had made her heart soar! She was willing to risk her career so that Fluttershy could walk on stage again!

“I have an idea,” Twilight announced, emerging from the keyhole of Rarity’s door. “I saw Rarity’s dress for the gala in her room, and it’s only half finished. She paused making her own dress so that she could make ours,” Twilight sighed, slumping a little. “So, we’re going to finish making Rarity’s dress for her, then we’ll have a do-over fashion show with all the original dresses,” Twilight declared.

“Yeah!” Pinkie and Rainbow cheered.

“And how the hay are we gonna do that?” Applejack asked.

“I can finish her dress,” Fluttershy spoke up. Four sets of eyes turned to her, and she retreated into her mane just a little. “Um, while my voice was all deep, I was hiding from everypony by coming here,” Fluttershy explained. “She showed me all her latest techniques. I can try my best.”

“Perfect!” Twilight exclaimed, clopping her front hooves together. “Now we just need to convince everypony to come to another fashion show!”

“Fat chance of that,” Rainbow groaned.

“Yeah, how are we gonna get that Hoity Toity fellow back in Ponyville?” Applejack asked. “We kinda need him to change his mind in order to fix the damage we’ve gone and done to Rarity’s career.”

There was silence for a moment. “Um,” Fluttershy squeaked, followed by more silence.

“Yes, Fluttershy?” Twilight prodded.

“I worked with Hoity Toity when I was a model,” Fluttershy said in a smaller than her usual small voice. “I was in a lot of his ads. I could offer pictures of us in the dresses for him to use for free. Um, if that’s okay with all of you.”

“Sounds fine to me,” said Twilight. The others agreed.

“Are y’all okay with it, sugarcube?” Applejack asked. “I realize y’all had a rough time with that whole modeling mess.”

“I’ll do it for Rarity,” Fluttershy said firmly.

“Then what are we waiting for?” Rainbow exclaimed, swooping up and pumping a hoof. “Let’s fix Rarity’s career!”

“We’re waiting for Rarity to leave her room so we can snatch her half-finished dress,” Applejack deadpanned.

“But she said she’s never coming out!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“We’ll have to sneak Rarity’s dress out while she’s asleep,” Twilight declared.

“Which won’t be until tonight,” said Rainbow Dash. “Then let’s go to Canterlot and talk to that Hoity Toity fella now!”

“R-right now?” Fluttershy whimpered. “Do we have to go right now?”

“Well, we don’t have that much time until the gala,” Twilight brought up. “The sooner we can finish Rarity’s dress and have the fashion show, the better, and we don’t know what Hoity’s schedule is.”

They headed to the train station but found that the train to Canterlot had left ten minutes ago. “Well, I guess we’ll go tomorrow then- Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked as Rainbow grabbed her into the air by the barrel.

“No biggie, we’ll just fly there. Meet you all back here tonight to get Rarity’s dress!”

“Come on, Fluttershy, put some wing power into it!” Rainbow hollered. “I know I’m awesome, but I can’t pull you all the way to Canterlot!”

“Okay, but can we please slow down?”

Rainbow sighed and slowed down just a little, making sure her friend’s wings were flapping before letting go. After a second, she slumped and slowed down properly to something more of Fluttershy’s pace.

“Sorry,” Fluttershy mumbled.

“It’s cool,” said Rainbow. “Give me a few minutes and I can lead us again. If we keep up the pace, we can beat the train.”

“Why do we have to beat the train?”

“We don’t have to, I just want to,” Rainbow grinned. Ponyville wasn’t too far from Canterlot; the main challenge was going up the mountain. The train ride usually took around an hour and a half due to swirling around the mountain as it went up. The height wasn’t an issue for a pegasus. Rainbow was sure she could get to Canterlot in half the train’s time if Fluttershy wasn’t slowing her down.

But since Fluttershy was slowing her down, Rainbow found herself thinking. “How are we going to find Hoity Toity anyway? Have you been to his place?” she asked. Fluttershy shook her head. “Alright, then we need to fly around and find the most frou-frou street in the city. Got it.”

“Um, I know where Frou-Frou street is. I can take us there,” Fluttershy offered.

“Wait, that’s a real thing?”

“Yeah, it’s where all the… fashion boutiques are…” Fluttershy trailed off, her wings slowing by some margin.

“And if we go there, we’ll find somepony that knows Hoity Toity!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Awesome! We’ll get this done in no time!”

“I-if you say so…” Fluttershy huffed.

“Alright, double time! Put some more wing power into it!” Rainbow hollered.

“Eep! Y-yes ma’am!”

After a quick sweep over the city, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash landed in the middle of Frou-Frou street. Boutiques showcasing all kinds of high fashion lined both sides and ponies walking down the street wore their wardrobes on their sleeves.

One mare stopped to look at the two pegasi. Rainbow took the opportunity. “Excuse me! Do you know where we can find a fashion pony named Hoity Toity?”

However, the mare ignored Rainbow Dash, exclaiming, “It’s Fluttershy! Here in Canterlot! What an absolute delight!” Her eyes roved over the former model.

“Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked, hiding behind Rainbow Dash. This didn’t help, since there were ponies on the other side whose eyes were drawn to her too.

“Can anypony point us to Hoity Toity?” Rainbow Dash asked, flapping over the gathering crowd. “Uh, hello!” she shouted over their clamoring. Her voice fell on deaf ears as ponies peppered Fluttershy with questions or praises. The poor yellow pegasus was on her rump, trying to disappear into her mane while making higher and higher squeaks.

An irritated Rainbow Dash swooped down and pushed the pink mane away with a hoof. “Fluttershy, stop hiding!” she half encouraged, half hissed. “Those ponies only like it more when you retreat like that. You have to stand up to them! Just like you did with those bullies in Cloudsdale last week! You can do it!”

“Okay,” she mumbled, standing up straight. She faced the first pony immediately in front of them and began to open her mouth.

“Miss Fluttershy, I absolutely must have you on the front cover of my magazine! Come to my studio at once!”

“Oh, um…” Fluttershy demurred, starting to bring back the pink curtain.

“Hurry up so we can fix Rarity’s career!” Rainbow strained through gritted teeth.

Fluttershy’s soft eyes hardened. “Right,” she muttered. She faced the magazine pony. “I’m not a model anymore, and I don’t want to be in your magazine… if that’s okay with you.” To her side, she heard the distinctive sound of a hoof hitting its owner’s forehead.

“Oh, you’re even more alluring as a pony than they say! Come along now, dear, my studio is right behind me.”

“Now listen up, buster-” Rainbow started, then her eyes widened as multiple levitation spells shoved her out of the way. “Hey!”

“Finally that uncouth blue one is out of my view of the perfect model.”

“But now it’s blocking my view!” another pony complained, trying to shove Rainbow in a different direction.

“Hey!” an assertive voice shouted, cracking through the chatter. “Didn’t your mothers ever teach you not to push other ponies around? And don’t talk like Rainbow Dash is some object. You should be ashamed of yourselves!”

“I am reconsidering my offer now-” the closest stallion muttered, cowering beneath the not-so-very-demure pegasus that was staring him down.

Fluttershy swooped right up to his face. “I. Said. NO!” she hollered. “Now somepony tell us where Hoity Toity is, RIGHT. NOW!”

A few non-frozen members of the invasive crowd pointed their hooves or horns toward a particular boutique down the street. Rainbow immediately grabbed Fluttershy and zipped into the indicated building, leaving behind a rainbow contrail.

“That. Was. Awesome!” Rainbow squealed. “I knew you totally had it in you, ‘Shy!”

“Oh. Um, I wasn’t very nice,” Fluttershy sighed.

“Eh, those ponies totally had it coming.”

“For pushing you around, yes. But I should’ve asked nicely about where to go.”

“Don’t dwell on it, pal,” Rainbow assured. “Now, let’s find Hoity Toity so we can get out of this street.” She looked around the shop full of all kinds of expensive suits and dresses, eventually finding a worker. The two trotted over.

“How can I help you?” the mare asked.

“We’re looking for Hoity Toity,” said Rainbow. “This is his shop, right?”

“Yes, but he’s not here at the moment.”

“What?!” Rainbow exclaimed, flapping several feet in the air and nearly pulling several hairs out with both hooves.

Then the door rang, and Hoity Toity walked in. “Fluttershy, you wished to see me?” he flashed a bright grin.

Fluttershy barely held back a whimper. “Um, yes please, if you don’t mind…”

“Oh, you were in the crowd,” Rainbow said aloud. “That makes sense.” She spotted the horde of other ponies following Hoity Toity into the shop. “Can the three of us talk privately?”

Hoity Toity took them through a door in the back to his office. “You are an even better actor than anypony thought!” he praised. “You do those demure poses very well, but I daresay the assertive streak you displayed was perhaps even more impressive! What a range of emotions!”

Rainbow’s jaw hit the desk. “You’re joking, right?”

“That wasn’t acting,” Fluttershy said flatly. “I didn’t like them pushing my friend around.”

“The shy stuff isn’t acting, either!” Rainbow exclaimed. “All you ponies really hurt Fluttershy!”

Hoity Toity’s dazzling smile fell. He rubbed his chin with a hoof as he regarded the two. “I see. My apologies.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Anyway, we need you to come back to Ponyville for another fashion show,” she requested.

The fashion pony turned his nose up. “If it’s the same designer, I’m afraid not. Truthfully, I only attended to see you, Fluttershy, and even your pristine appearance could not make up for those garish nightmares.”

“That’s because we designed them, not Rarity,” said Rainbow Dash.

“Please come, Mr. Hoity,” Fluttershy pleaded. “I promise it will be worth it this time.”

“I am quite skeptical of that,” Hoity Toity stated.

“I’ll model for your magazine in the new dresses, free of charge,” Fluttershy offered. “Please give my friend another chance?”

“Hmm… the fans are definitely looking for more material… and if what you said out there was true, and you won’t be modeling anymore, then this last appearance will be worth a lot. Perhaps it is worth the risk. Very well, I am available on Wednesday.”

“Yes!” Rainbow Dash cheered, flying up to the ceiling.

Fluttershy heard some clamor coming from the main area of the boutique. The ponies from the street must’ve been there, and they were getting closer. “T-thank you, Mr. Hoity… we’ll see you next Wednesday in Ponyville.” She flew up to Rainbow Dash and wrapped her hooves around Rainbow’s barrel. “Um, Rainbow Dash? C-can you get us out of here? Fast?”

“You know the answer to that, ‘Shy,” Rainbow grinned, zipping over to the window. Fluttershy tightened her hold and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Rainbow Dash, um, you can slow down now!” Fluttershy hollered, the air whipping at her as she held on for dear life. They were descending the mountain very rapidly. The ground was approaching very rapidly.

“What was that?” Rainbow hollered back, laser focused with her wings beating.

“I said you can slow down now!” Fluttershy screamed.

“No way! Almost… there!” Rainbow gritted. A cone of air started forming around her front hooves.

Fluttershy’s eyes widened, but that made the wind sting even more, so she quickly snapped them shut. She braced herself for the moment that cone would turn into a trampoline and bounce them right back into Canterlot. They would land in the middle of a crowd of ponies ready to abduct her and shove her into uncomfortable dresses and she would never see her friends again.

The next moment, there was an explosion of color that compelled Fluttershy’s eyes open. A rainbow ring pulsed out from behind them, molding into a dome that enveloped Canterlot. A bright, persistent rainbow followed their path as they left Canterlot Mountain behind and streamed towards Ponyville.

“A sonic rainboom!” Fluttershy screamed at the top of her lungs. “You did it again!”

“Of course I did!” Rainbow grinned. “First one to save Rarity, second one to save you from those horrible fashion ponies! And save Rarity again, kinda. I mean, I’m kind of to blame for this incident. Even if it’s not my fault those ponies couldn’t appreciate my awesomeness!”

“Oh, it’s not your fault, Rainbow Dash. It’s mine,” Fluttershy said.

“What are you talking about? It was all of us.”

“But you heard Hoity Toity. He only came to Rarity’s fashion show to see me.”

“It’s still not your fault,” Rainbow asserted.

There was some silence as Fluttershy reflected and Rainbow Dash beat her wings to pick up some lost speed. They would be in Ponyville in no time. Once Rainbow was satisfied, she nodded to herself and set into a glide. She turned her head to regard her fellow pegasus on her back. “So… I kind of knew modeling was bad, but I didn’t realize it was that level of bad.”

“It was,” Fluttershy whimpered. “But It’s fine. I just won’t step foot in Canterlot again for the next few months.”

“Uh, but we’re going to the gala next week,” Rainbow pointed out.

“Oh, right. At least I’ll be hiding in the garden…”

“I can't believe those featherbrains thought you were acting the whole time! And they liked watching a pony scared out of their wits? Who does that?”

Fluttershy sighed.

“That was some weird crowd you got roped into.”

“They’re not weird to Rarity,” said Fluttershy. “Rarity likes high fashion. I'm sure she would make a perfect model.”

“Sure she would,” Rainbow remarked, thinking of the overblown getup Rarity put on in Cloudsdale and rolling her eyes. She caught wind of Fluttershy’s stern gaze. “Heh heh, I mean, sure she would!” Rainbow corrected herself.

“She was supposed to get famous from Photo Finish, not me. I stole the spotlight from her,” Fluttershy groaned.

“Don’t worry, Rarity can make her own spotlight anytime,” Rainbow chuckled. “You saw her at the Best Young Flier’s Competition.”

“If I hadn’t taken away her chance at modeling, she wouldn’t have gotten in your way,” Fluttershy realized. “I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Shy!” Rainbow Dash laughed. “Listen, I’m going to tell you something, but don’t tell anypony else I said it. If you do, I’m gonna deny it anyway.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. “I don’t think I can ever pull off the sonic rainboom on my own. I can only do it when one of my friends needs my help because… it’s like what the egghead says. Maybe friendship is the most powerful force in the universe.”

Fluttershy couldn’t help but giggle.

“But don’t tell anypony I said something so sappy,” Rainbow repeated. “So, yeah. Without Rarity trying to catch everypony’s attention, I wouldn’t have pulled off my routine. I never would’ve met the Wonderbolts! I don’t regret anything that happened that day, and neither should you.”

“Okay.”

“And stop thinking about the whole ‘stealing the spotlight’ thing! Just think about what we’re gonna next. We’ve got Hoity Toity, now we just need to finish Rarity’s dress!”

“And we’ll show off Rarity’s dresses,” Fluttershy said confidently.

“Yeah!”

“This time, I’ll help Rarity shine all across Equestria!”

“That’s the spirit!” Rainbow cheered. She spotted Ponyville amidst the sunset and flapped her wings harder. “Now hold on tighter!”

Rainbow Dash flew straight into the Golden Oaks Library through the balcony. Fluttershy let go and fluttered to the floor, grateful for the solid feeling of wood beneath her hooves. Rainbow Dash kept flying further into the treehouse.

“Twilight! We got-”

Twilight abruptly forced Rainbow’s loud mouth closed with a spell. “Shh. Spike’s asleep.”

“Hoity Toity agreed to come on Wednesday,” Fluttershy whispered.

“Wednesday?” Twilight repeated. “Wednesday, as in two days from today?”

“Yes.”

A strand of purple mane came loose. “Can you finish Rarity’s dress by then?”

“M-maybe? I think so.”

“Alright, then let’s go get it,” Twilight determined.

“Um, if you don’t mind… I’m kind of hungry,” Fluttershy said sheepishly. “It was a long flight, even though Rainbow did most of the flying.”

“Oh! Applejack left apple pies for you two,” said Twilight, floating them over.

Rainbow’s eyes shined at the pie, but she still couldn't open her mouth to eat it. She punched Twilight's shoulder and pointed a wing desperately at her closed muzzle.

“Oops,” Twilight chuckled, undoing the silence spell with a lavender flourish. Rainbow wasted no time digging in.

Once Fluttershy daintily finished her pie, the three of them made the short walk to Carousel Boutique under the moonlit sky while Twilight told the others her plan. Rainbow carried Twilight up to the second floor window. Twilight had spent the day practicing a levitation spell that could go through glass. She used it to open the inner curtains, confirming that Rarity was fast asleep. Then she unlatched the window from the inside and opened it.

In the bedroom, Opal stalked over to the disturbance with a hiss. Twilight sent Fluttershy in first; Opal recognized Fluttershy right away, purring softly against a yellow leg. Twilight grinned and motioned for Rainbow to let her down. She then went to gather Rarity’s dress, the design, and nearby materials in her magic.

While Fluttershy stroked Opal’s coat, she glanced over at Rarity. The poor unicorn was tossing and turning in bed, frowning and mumbling incoherently. Fluttershy felt an overwhelming urge to hold Rarity, brush her frazzled mane back into its signature coiffure, and promise that she wasn’t a laughing stock. She found herself putting one hoof forward, but then something poked her in the shoulder. Turning away from Rarity, she saw Rainbow gesturing that it was time to leave, all the dress materials floating outside in Twilight’s magic. Fluttershy nodded, gave Opal one last groom, and fluttered out the window.

Fluttershy said bye to her friends and started walking to her cottage; she had done an awful lot of flying today, and walking was always more calming to her. Half of Fluttershy wanted to go back to the boutique and comfort Rarity; she really looked like she could use a friend by her side right now. Fluttershy knew how unhealthy bottling things up could be, even if she seldom didn’t do anything about it.

In fact, Rarity was usually the one who opened up the cork for Fluttershy. She should be doing the same. On the other hoof, Twilight had already locked Rarity’s window back up. She could ask Opal to open it, but it was also pretty rude to barge into Rarity’s room uninvited. Which they already did... Oh no, what was Rarity going to do once she noticed her dress was missing? Fluttershy shook her head and hoped for the best. They would finish Rarity’s dress tomorrow, Hoity Toity would love it, and Rarity’s career would be saved!

It wasn’t going well.

The five of them had gathered at the library in the morning to finish Rarity’s dress, but it quickly became apparent that anything Applejack or Rainbow Dash touched would inexplicably turn disastrous. Pinkie wasn’t as destructive, but she couldn’t stick to Rarity’s design. Anything she touched started resembling balloons and streamers. Fluttershy eventually convinced them to go out and gather new materials. She couldn’t fault them for trying; they all felt responsible for the mishap, even though Fluttershy knew it was all her fault. Hoity Toity had only made the trek to Ponyville to see her.

Twilight was a more interesting case. Her contributions were sensible, and her techniques would work out well in a factory, but they weren’t Rarity. Fluttershy had to gently take over most of the core work, keeping Twilight as an assistant.

“Wow, Fluttershy, it looks amazing!” Twilight praised. “How do you do it? I read so many books about dressmaking yesterday, but, well, you saw how that turned out.”

“I work with Rarity a lot, so I have a feel for her style. It takes a lot of practice,” Fluttershy said.

“I have to write a book about your methods,” said Twilight, bringing over a scroll and quill.

“Um, I don’t think it can go in a book.”

“There’s a first time for everything! If we try hard enough, I’m sure we can capture it in a book.”

Fluttershy shook her head. “I’m just channeling Rarity. What would Rarity do? And it just comes naturally. I guess it’s because I’ve worked with her for a long time? I helped her open her boutique, you know.”

“I didn’t know,” said Twilight, looking fascinated. “Tell me more. In fact, how did you two meet? There could be a friendship lesson in there that I could send to the princess!” she said, pulling out a scroll and quill.

Fluttershy giggled. Of course, Twilight loved studying friendship. “Well, you know how I got my cutie mark after falling from the sky and meeting the animals. At some point, I had to find a way home, and the animals pointed me to Ponyville. I stood outside the town for a while, scared of going, but then Rarity trotted by carrying a bunch of gems on her back. We found somepony from the weather team who offered to fly me back to Cloudsdale after his daughter performed in a school play, the one where Rarity got her cutie mark! Then I went back to Cloudsdale. We wrote letters to each other afterwards.”

“Wait, so you got your special talent communicating with animals, then you had to go back to Cloudsdale where there were no animals?” Twilight asked.

“Yes. It was very lonely,” Fluttershy admitted. “Cloudsdale isn’t a very friendly place. It’s very competitive. Everypony wants to be the best worker at the weather factory or the best weather pony to bring the weather to the rest of Equestria. They push you very hard in flight school to learn how to fly fast and move clouds around. If you’re not good at those things, they laugh at you. I’m glad Rainbow Dash was around to protect me.”

Twilight paused her scribbling. “Whoa, I thought magic school entrance exams were tough, but flight school sounds way worse.”

“Even modeling wasn’t as bad as flight school,” Fluttershy said. “I hated flight school. I just wanted to stay home and knit with my mom. But after falling, I had a real reason to learn how to fly well - so that I could visit the ground. Animals don’t judge when you’re slow. They’re always happy to see you. Whenever Cloudsdale passed over Ponyville, I would fly down to see my animal friends. I was still a little scared of going into Ponyville, but I always wanted to visit Rarity. She helped me talk to others without getting too scared.”

“Aw, that’s so nice of her,” Twilight said, putting down her quill and putting a hoof to her chin. “Reminds me of when my brother taught me how to fly a kite.”

“It does?”

“My uncle gave me the kite and said he looked forward to seeing me fly it next time we met. I was very scared of making the performance perfect,” Twilight said sheepishly. “So what else did you and Rarity do as fillies?”

“We knitted and stitched together and had sleepovers,” said Fluttershy. “I tried to introduce her to some animals, but that didn’t go too well. Oh, one time when I was visiting, there was a bunny stampede through Ponyville and nopony knew what to do. Rarity encouraged me to calm the bunnies down. Once all the bunnies left, there was a baby bunny left behind. Rarity suggested I take him home as a pet so that I would at least have one animal with me all the time.”

Twilight gasped. “So that’s how you got Angel?”

Fluttershy beamed. “Mhm.”

“I always wondered how you could pick one animal as your special pet when you had so many animals at your cottage. But if you had Angel before all the animals and the cottage, then it all makes sense,” said Twilight. “But wait, how did Angel survive in Cloudsdale? He couldn’t walk on clouds, right?”

“He couldn’t on his own,” Fluttershy agreed. “Every time Cloudsdale passed over Canterlot, I went to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns where a professor would cast a cloudwalking spell for Angel.”

“Oh, wow! I was at the school the whole time!” Twilight exclaimed. “We might have seen each other without knowing it!”

“Well, I was very shy… I tried to avoid as many ponies as possible,” Fluttershy whispered.

“Eheh, well, same here,” Twilight said. “The likelihood we saw each other has to be pretty slim. So how long did the cloudwalking spell last on Angel?”

“The professor promised it would last over a moon, so that there would be enough time for Cloudsdale to float over Canterlot so I could visit again.”

“Wow, that's powerful!” Twilight exclaimed, writing on a separate scroll. “A whole moon… hmm… although Angel is a lot smaller than a pony…” she scribbled out a few calculations before moving the new scroll aside. “Wait, so you could only visit Canterlot when Cloudsdale passed over. Same for Ponyville?”

“Yes. My parents didn’t want me flying too far from home.”

“Did you fly down to the ground to meet animals in other places?”

“I did, but not very much. No place else felt as special as Ponyville,” Fluttershy smiled.

“But you could only visit for a day every moon. That’s like… if I had to go back to Canterlot after we saved Princess Luna from Nightmare Moon.” Twilight stared out the window at the distant mountain peak. She shook her head. “I don’t want to think about that.”

“I’m sure it wouldn’t be that bad,” Fluttershy assured, patting Twilight’s hoof. “We would visit.”

“That’s true,” Twilight smiled. “You and Rainbow just flew there and back yesterday.”

“And Rarity would love to visit Canterlot often,” Fluttershy added. “Back then, when I told her I always visited Canterlot to get the spell for Angel, she would ask me all the details.” Fluttershy smiled, thinking back. “I think we understood each other so well back then because we both had talents that didn’t fit what was expected of us. I was a pegasus who wanted to be on the ground. She was a pony from a small town who wanted to create for the ponies in the big city.”

“Huh. I never would’ve thought of that,” Twilight mumbled, taking notes.

Fluttershy quirked an eyebrow, wondering what Twilight needed to write down, then shrugged, continuing with her stitching. “We promised to help each other as much as we could,” Fluttershy continued. “After another stampede, that time being squirrels, Rarity convinced the mayor to offer me a job managing the local animals to avoid disasters. That’s when I left Cloudsdale for Ponyville.”

“So Rarity helped you achieve your dream!” Twilight summarized.

“Yep, and I helped her move into the boutique and make her first dresses. My mom was her first customer.” Fluttershy paused again to glance at Twilight’s copious notes, the scroll flowing from the table to the floor. “Um, Twilight? What is all that for?”

“Today’s Tuesday. I have to write a letter about friendship to the princess,” Twilight explained. “I was going to write about Rarity’s dresses, but we haven’t finished yet.” She pored over her notes. “I just need to figure out the right lesson from your story that would make a nice letter…”

“Oh. Well if you’re looking for a lesson, there was this one time…” Fluttershy paused. “A-actually, never mind.”

Twilight’s eyes twinkled. “You have a lesson in mind that I could write about to the princess?” she asked eagerly.

“Oh, alright,” Fluttershy whispered, putting her needle and thread aside. “Once I settled into my cottage, I may have taken on too many animals to care for,” she recalled. “They started competing with each other for my time, attention, and space. Angel got especially jealous since he used to have all my time and attention. He started getting more demanding. There was this one time where I didn’t have any cherries left but he really really wanted one. So I went to the cherry stand, but ponies kept cutting in front of me in line until they ran out of cherries.”

“Rarity and Pinkie Pie saw what was happening and told me to stand up for myself. Then this minotaur named Iron Will visited Ponyville…”

Twilight let out a sigh of relief as she watched Spike send off the letter to Princess Celestia; one less deadline to worry about. She turned to look at the pegasus who was hard at work on the velvet dress. It was hard to imagine Fluttershy having a real mean streak, but it did explain how she could stand up to a manticore, a cockatrice and a full-grown dragon. Twilight trotted back to the table and dutifully followed Fluttershy’s instructions. The two worked well past sundown.

“Fluttershy, you look exhausted,” Twilight eventually stated, putting her hoof down. “Why don’t you head home and you can put the finishing touches in the morning? We’ll still have plenty of time before Hoity Toity arrives.”

“Have to make it perfect for Rarity,” Fluttershy muttered. “She works late into the night all the time.”

“But you’re a morning pony, and you have animals to take care of,” Twilight insisted.

“But Rarity-”

“Will love the finished dress,” Twilight promised. “But it wouldn’t be good if you misplaced a stitch while half-asleep.”

“Oh, alright,” Fluttershy yawned, putting the dress down. She looked at Twilight then back at the dress. “Um, promise you won’t work on it without me?”

Twilight giggled. “I promise. You poured your heart into Rarity’s dress, and I wouldn’t dare to mess it up. See you in the morning.”

Fluttershy rubbed a hoof along a fetlock nervously, watching Rarity burst out of the boutique in pajamas.

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

“Well how else were we gonna get you out here to show you… this!” Rainbow exclaimed, gesturing towards the others. Fluttershy put on her best smile and backed away, revealing the finished dress.

Rarity looked gobsmacked. “What is it? Wha… Huh?!” she mumbled, wide eyed.

“We all finished your dress for you!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

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

Fluttershy blushed as Rarity regarded her in a new light. “Do you like it?” she asked.

“Like it,” Rarity stated, walking up to the ponyquin. “Like it,” she repeated, circling around to inspect the other side with a critical eye.

“Uh oh,” Fluttershy mumbled, lowering her head. “She doesn’t like it…” she turned her eyes to her hooves, which were starting to water. Despite all of her friends’ assurances, she hadn’t been good enough. She had let Rarity down.

“No, I don’t like it,” Rarity confirmed. “I love it!”

Everypony else cheered. Fluttershy felt the warmth return to her heart.

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

“You can thank Fluttershy for that,” Twilight chuckled. “She knew exactly what you wanted.”

“Oh, it was nothing, Rarity. I just followed your brilliant design,” said Fluttershy.

“Like we should've let you do for our outfits,” Twilight added. “Those first dresses you designed were perfect.”

“And we're going to show them off for you! Your dress isn’t the only surprise we have for you, Rares,” Rainbow Dash declared, pointing a hoof down the street leading towards the train station.

Right on cue, a heavily dressed up gray pony wearing sunglasses approached with his snout held high. “Alright, I haven’t got all day.”

Rarity gasped. “Hoity Toity? You’re here, in Ponyville? I am so sorry I subjected you to those… alternative dresses. And seeing me in this state. How unprofessional of me,” Rarity realized. “Oh please give me another chance! These new dresses will surely pique your interest.”

“So I’ve heard,” Hoity Toity said with a nod.

“Well, do come in and get comfortable- wa huh?!” Rarity gasped as she went inside and got a proper look at her showroom. She had rushed out so fast to save Opal that she hadn’t noticed the brand new stage.

“Yup, we set up the stage for ya too,” Applejack chuckled. “To be honest, the dress was pretty much just Fluttershy and Twilight. The rest of us were working down here.”

“I even made some special effects for the show!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Oh, thank you all so much,” Rarity said. “Shall we get dressed?”

“Are you alright, Rarity?” Fluttershy asked as Rarity helped her into her dress.

“I’m just so nervous,” Rarity admitted. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this second chance-”

“You made us these amazing dresses,” Fluttershy cut in. “And I refused to wear it.”

“Now, none of that, darling. I said I forgive you.”

“Well I haven’t forgiven myself yet. So Rainbow Dash and I flew to Canterlot two days ago to convince Hoity Toity to come back for a second chance.”

“You did?!” Rarity gasped. She gave Fluttershy a big hug, not too concerned for the dress. It was designed for her friends, which meant it was designed with hugs in mind. “But still, how did you convince him? We all know what he thought of those… other dresses.”

“Oh, well, I… When we landed on Frou-Frou street, the ponies there recognized me. They wanted me to model again. It was a little overwhelming.”

“Oh dear,” Rarity whispered.

“They wouldn’t take no for an answer, and they started pushing Rainbow around… so I yelled at them. I said I would never model again and that they should be ashamed of themselves for pushing Rainbow around. Then I demanded to know where Hoity Toity’s boutique was and Rainbow flew us in right away.”

“That’s wonderful, darling! You stood up for yourself. I’m proud of you.”

Fluttershy smiled. Rarity made her feel less bad about the whole thing. “Hoity Toity was in the crowd,” she continued. “Apparently he and all the other ponies thought it was all an act. That me being scared of being a model was all acting.”

“See? Nopony ever thought you were weird or were laughing at you,” Rarity assured as she added flowers to Fluttershy's mane.

“I guess not… Anyway, I told Hoity Toity I wasn’t acting and I really was never going to model again. But… if he wanted one last modeling job from me, he could come to Ponyville today to see our show.”

“My, aren’t you quite the shrewd businesspony?” Rarity chuckled. “I do so appreciate all that you went through for me. I’ll have to make it up to you.”

“You already did,” said Fluttershy, posing with the dress for Rarity to see.

“How is it, darling? Do I need to make any adjustments?”

“It’s perfect. Nothing’s too tight or uneven, everything goes well together, and it most definitely resembles true Prench haute couture.”

Rarity grinned. “So I take it you’re over your fear of dresses fit for models now?”

“Um, I know I’ll wear anything you make,” Fluttershy answered.

Rainbow poked her head into the backroom. “Fluttershy, your turn!”

Rarity grinned, nudging Fluttershy towards the door. “Now you go out there and show the world your true self!”

Fluttershy walked onto the makeshift stage, each step more sure than the last. Behind her, Pinkie’s party lights displayed a backdrop of vines, flowers and butterflies alongside appropriately themed music.

“Now this is a fashion show!” Hoity Toity exclaimed, snapping a picture.

Fluttershy beamed and struck some different poses, showing off every best angle of Rarity’s dress. Hoity Toity gave her encouraging words and instructions as he captured Rarity’s work of art in more pictures. In the warm comfort of Rarity’s gift, Fluttershy felt no hesitation or fear of the camera. She took to the air to give the effect of a breeze ruffling the pleats and to make the flowers in her mane dance. Maybe, just maybe the fashion pony behind the camera and his audience would see something other than a timid pegasus who couldn’t speak or fly. Maybe.

Hoity Toity spent over twice as long on Fluttershy than the other four ponies before her, but eventually asked Fluttershy to settle down off the stage. Fluttershy was still full of energy as she joined her friends.

“All of these dresses are absolutely amazing!” Hoity Toity exclaimed. “Who is responsible? Step forward, show yourself!”

Fluttershy gasped as Rarity strutted onto the stage amidst a flash of lights wearing the dress that Fluttershy had finished. Fluttershy couldn’t take her eyes away. Rarity was a model. A real model.

She looks amazing, Fluttershy thought. I really did do a good job on her dress. Then Rarity struck a pose, bouncing her coiffure and flitting her eyelashes. Fluttershy found herself leaning forward, eyes wide. She’s so beautiful, Fluttershy thought. She blinked her eyes and smiled. Of course she’s beautiful. She’s supposed to be beautiful wearing the dress I made, to catch the eyes of a prince at the gala!

Hoity Toity spent even more time on Rarity than he did on Fluttershy; in fact, Rarity kept coming up with new poses until Hoity Toity’s camera finally ran out of film. Rarity took a final bow and Pinkie turned off the lights and music. “Rarity, my congratulations to you on a most impressive fashion debut,” said Hoity Toity. “Would you do me the great honor of allowing me to feature your couture in my Best of the Best Boutique in Canterlot?”

Rarity gasped, jumping up and down in a most unlady-like manner. “Yes! Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Hoity Toity gave a dazzling smile. “Now, I’ll need you to make a dozen of each dress by next Tuesday.”

“What was that?” Rarity asked, ceasing her hops. “I’m sorry, I must have misheard. It almost sounded like you needed a dozen of each dress by next Tuesday.”

“That’s correct,” Hoity Toity nodded. “You must know that the Grand Galloping Gala will soon be upon Canterlot. It would be foolish not to have the dresses for sale before the big event.”

“Yes, yes of course,” Rarity said, shuffling her hooves. “But seventy-two dresses in six days…”

“Don’t worry, Rarity,” Fluttershy said, climbing onto the stage beside Rarity. “I’ll help you.”

“Oh, thank you, darling,” Rarity smiled, releasing her held breath. “Are you sure?”

“Of course,” Fluttershy answered, giving Rarity a nuzzle.

“We’ll all help you!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, throwing confetti in the air. Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Twilight nodded and voiced their agreement.

Fluttershy bit her lip. “Oh dear…”