FiMFriction

For all her complaining on a lovely sunny afternoon being ruined by a planned rainstorm, Rarity reserved a large gratitude for the extended periods of solitude she faced as a result of the extensive precipitation. That solitude took its shape in the form of strategically placed fabrics that curved and dangled over six individual ponyquins, each one with a different color scheme that complimented the natural pigmentation of the six mares they were to become dresses for. The aspiring fashionista sighed proudly, a lock of her violet mane swishing in the gust from her breath. She had truly outdone herself, but then again, didn’t she always? The art of the dress worked together to paint a larger image, to highlight and accentuate the pony herself that was to wear it, and these dresses, she felt, would be able to do just that. Rarity grinned wolfishly as she took a perverse pleasure in the fact that she had strayed from the usual themes her friends’ dresses tended to follow, steeling her nerves and striking out into unexplored territory to push her designs into bringing forth potential traits in her friends that they may not be yet aware of themselves. The unicorn’s smile faltered and she sighed. She did have her doubts about their satisfaction in the designs, and should she have said she was one hundred percent confident that they would go over at least a little better than her Grand Galloping Gala dresses originally had, she would have been lying to herself. In truth, she was more worried that her friends would hate them more than Hoity Toity had hated their commissioned dresses. There was no doubt that the designs were as fabulous and spectacular as they came- she had created them of course, but the most important question was, would her friends agree? Would Fluttershy feel comfortable being a bit flashy and standing out in the crowd? How could Pinkie Pie stand still long enough to look reserved and refined? Was Twilight Sparkle willing to wear attire that flared her spontaneous side? Could Rainbow Dash of all ponies become elegant enough to pull off a feminine gown? How would Applejack react to dressing so classy? Rarity’s eyelashes drooped, her expression becoming glazed as the cynical questions kept rearing around in the back of her mind, continually bringing up the doubts she had originally conquered when sketching the dresses in the first place.

Well, She thought, we shall only know once they see the dresses for themselves, and I must start somewhere. Her purple mane bounced playfully as she perked up and shook her previous agnosticisms from her head, a small smile gracing her snout.

Rarity’s horn ignited in a cerulean glow, her magical telekinesis levitating a large sheet of pale yellow silk into the air, the fabric dancing loosely as it hovered. The aura surrounding it intensified, forcing the refined material to straighten to its edges, giving it a rigid appearance. A pair of scissors joined the silk at its edge, a testimony to Rarity’s skill of multitasking as its steel blades began to cut the delicate fabric into the shapes she would need to begin Fluttershy’s dress.

“Oh Fluttershy,” Rarity spoke, as if her timid friend could hear her from afar. “Your gift at nature will be the star at the Gala once everypony sees-“

~Ding Ding Ding Dong Ding Ding Ding Dong~

The glamorous unicorn’s ears perked at the unmistakable chime of her abode’s melodic doorbell. She shook her head and continued with her work. She must have been mistaken. Surely nopony would be out in such brutal weather, let alone to purchase an outfit that would be ruined on the way out.

~Ding Ding Ding Dong Ding Ding Ding Dong~

Rarity sighed lightly, lowering the buttery shaded fabric gently back onto the ponyquin, the beginning of the dress’ shape completed. She had, without a doubt, heard the doorbell the second time and had conceded that her friends’ outfits would have to wait until she had dealt with her paying customers beforehand. As she trotted down the stairs, the thoughts of Fluttershy’s completed dress kept flittering around in her mind, the entire image a symbol for what she hoped to be the pegasus’ metamorphosis. She grew more confident in her work as she reached the bottom of the staircase and all the more loath to part with it for the time being simply because a client couldn’t wait until more pleasant weather to require her services. Still, she smiled at the indirect compliment. A customer that would traverse such an inconvenient and potentially dangerous obstacle must surely be determined to commission her art of the dress and hers alone. The thought clung to Rarity in the form of a large, welcoming smile as she opened the door to greet the pony behind it.

She couldn’t have been more surprised if she tried as she opened the polished wood to reveal Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Her surprise became Cadence’s as the unicorn struck the alicorn princess with a ray of cerulean magic. The blast sent Cadence hurdling back into the storm, the princess of love landing quite indignantly in the recesses of a large mud puddle. Rarity gasped with more horror than she could ever hope to dramatize, an umbrella grasped in her telekinetic grip as she rushed out to help the princess back on her feet. Cadence coughed lightly, a faint wheeze in her speech.

“What was that for?!”

“I am so sorry, my princess!” Rarity cried, coming to the winded princess’ side to assist her back on her feet. “It’s just so unusual for me to have customers in this kind of weather, so you could imagine my surprise to not only have one but to have you out of any pony in Equestria! With everything that’s been going on in recent times, I… I-“

“Thought I might have been a changeling?” Cadence finished her sentence, her tone changing from flustered to understanding. Rarity solemnly nodded her head in confirmation. Standing tall, the princess regained her noble composure with a small smile gracing her gentle face. “I have to admit- I wasn’t expecting an offensive magical spell to come out of Ponyville’s top fashion designer.”

Rarity blushed slightly at the sideways compliment. “Yes, well after the wedding, Twilight may have taught me a thing or two should such an emergency arise again. Two unicorns able to unmask a changeling are better than one, are they not?”

“Definitely,” Cadence nodded, her horn lighting up as it removed the muddy clumps from her pink fur. “I blame myself for coming unannounced, but I was hoping to lay low and not draw any attention. Now then, is it all right if I come in?”

“Absolutely!” Rarity beamed, relieved that the alicorn bore her no ill will. “I’ll put a kettle on the stove for some tea.”

Following the unicorn into the boutique, Cadence’s eyes went wide at the lavish interior the dress store had to offer. She was expecting the same gaudy fanciness that several dress stores perpetuated, but Carousel Boutique’s interior designing was truly classy. Rarity led her to a stylish red couch, the cushions a bit firm as the design had obviously been meant to look fashionable rather than feel practical. Cadence watched her trot off to the kitchen, a small spring in her step reflecting the genuine excitement she felt for hosting royalty in what would have become a dismal afternoon. Within a few minutes, she returned with two steaming cups of tea held firmly in her telekinetic grasp, the minty scent trailing in the air. She passed the cup to the princess, their magic auras only distinguishable by the slightest variance in shading for their hues of blue.

Cadence blew lightly on the surface of the hot liquid, the steam billowing around the teacup’s edges until it escaped into the air, fading away as it dissipated. She took a sip, relishing in the simple flavor, as well as her company. The décor of Carousel Boutique was… upscale and frilly to say the least, but it retained a homey trait through the practicality of several features the building had to offer. The silky drapes that showered over the window cast a soothing shade of rose in the room, a surprise the princess found quite pleasant after straining her vision to pinpoint the boutique through the violent downpour. Cadence was certainly used to upscale and frilly, but the honesty the building presented was an alien entity to her entirely. There were no guards around the corner, no trap doors to escape an invasion, and no booby traps to activate in a desperate attempt at escaping an assassination. Everything was out in the open and real, and the princess couldn’t help but feel safer than she ever had behind the strict protection royal life had offered her. She snorted quite indignantly for a princess. There were more dangers than those of physical harm, after all. Rarity may hold herself up to a proper noble lady’s standards, but her heart was in the right place and her genuine concern for the wellbeing of other ponies that didn’t help her social status was a scarcity among the royal courts. Cadence’s lavender eyes drifted over to the kitchen as her hostess left the room to join her company.

Rarity flashed a dainty smile. “So! What brings you to my boutique, my princess?”

Cadence took another sip of tea, pausing to focus on the steaming liquid, her present company waiting patiently for a response. “I wanted to apologize-“

A polished white hoof cut her off, gently covering her snout from expelling further lamentations.

“Uh-uh-uh!” Rarity scolded playfully. “I shall not hear any more apologies for your previous gambling. We discussed it as a group and unanimously decided you two were simply having some harmless fun.”

“Very well,” Cadence replied submissively. A glint of hope sparked in her eye. “At least allow me to commission a dress. I loved your work at my wedding and I will pay you three times your expected income for the time from now until the Gala.”

“You will pay the discounted price for friends and family and I will hear no other answer,” The fashion pony responded aggressively, much to her company’s surprise. “This work is my passion, Cadence, and to offer me a price greater than I deserve would simply be wrong and I will not allow you to throw bits away simply because you still feel bad.”

“B-but-“ She stuttered, the fierce glare the unicorn shot her silencing any more protests. She had learned from her aunt that Rarity was the embodiment for the Element of Generosity, though the unicorn’s behavior still puzzled her. Cadence felt foolish for not expecting Rarity’s forgiveness to be generous as well, but she certainly had not expected such fervent hospitality after wronging the unicorn the way she had. Would the other Elements be as forgiving? There was no doubt Applejack was honest when she had promised the royal couple’s gambling had not bothered her, and Fluttershy was simply too kind to hold a grudge. Pinkie Pie seemed happy enough and accepting about Shining Armor’s analysis of her, which brought the princess a little solace. That only left Twilight and Rainbow Dash, the two most visibly offended. Cadence knew she had nothing to fear from Twilight; they had too much of a history for the librarian to stay mad at her foalsitter for long. That left Rainbow Dash, and from what Princess Celestia had told her, the princess of love knew a bit about Dash’s ambitions to join Equestria’s elite flying squadron. Cadence’s eyes drifted to the ground. The Wonderbolts were holding a derby in a few days; perhaps she could use that to her advance. And yet, despite her desire to remain in the good graces of the Elements of Harmony, she really wanted to win that bet. What she wouldn’t give to spend the day with Shining Armor having-

“Is something troubling you, darling?” Rarity queried, an opal hoof touching the princess’ in genuine concern. “You’ve been staring at the ground, and while it is not my place to pry, I can’t help but know that something is on your mind. I may have a bit of a reputation as a gossip-lover, but I keep my friends’ secrets close to my heart so that they never touch unwanted ears.”

Cadence bit her lip, wondering if she should take the chance and just tell her. How would Rarity even react? Would she be mad, amused, or disappointed? She certainly seemed to be the most self-aware of the six Elements- her entire appearance and career were based off of outer beauty. That kind of beauty outside of impressing nobleponies, Cadence concluded, was advertisement mostly for members of the opposite sex. Feeling safe in her conclusion and deciding now was as good a time as any for another confession, she sighed, “Should I feel bad for not learning from my mistakes?”

Rarity’s eyelids widened by a margin. “You didn’t.”

Cadence’s cringing confirmed that she had, in fact, ‘did’, prompting further interrogation from the pearly pony. “Oh darling, didn’t you learn your lesson the last time? What in Equestria were the requirements for your victory this time around?”

“That at least half of you would have dates in time for the Hearts and Hooves Gala,” She confessed flatly.

“Another bet on our personal lives?” Rarity asked, sounding somewhat disappointed.

“I know- it’s terrible and I should feel even worse than I do,” Cadence whimpered. “I admit I have a problem, but the prize was just too good for me to say no!”

The fashionista raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Cadence dear, what could you possibly gain that would be worth betting on someponies like us?”

Despite their seclusion from any other company, the alicorn princess pressed her muzzle up to Rarity’s ear, whispering words inaudible past the flesh and cartilage. The alabaster unicorn’s jaw dropped, her eyes constricting towards the black of her pupils.

“You’re joking,” She gasped, receiving shake of Cadence’s head in return. Rarity’s expression quickly changed from a look of surprise to mischievous joy, a cruel grin stretching over her snout. She coughed, forcing a poker face. “Should I be unattended to in the romance department by the time of your Hearts and Hooves Gala, then I will accompany a member of your guard to the dance so that you may win your prize. I will not, however, condone this behavior by throwing myself out into the dating scene and looking like a desperate mare who waited too long to find her chance at true love. Does that sound fair?”

Rarity had very little time to brace for impact as the alicorn threw her hooves around her in a tight embrace.

“Thank you, Rarity! Oh thank you so much!” Cadence squealed. “You have no idea how much this means to me!”

“Oh but I do,” She replied, patting the end of her mane playfully. “Why, to have a stallion do that with me would be a dream come true. Just because I should not be so lucky does not mean that you should not as well. Now go along and return to your husband before he becomes suspicious of foul play and leave everything to yours truly.”

“You really think you can get everypony dates for the Gala?” The princess gaped.

“Oh! Not me, but I do know a certain pony who will be very enthused to do so. After all,” Rarity winked. “Only half of us need dates, and I am already covered as far as your bet is concerned. Finding dates for two out of five mares should be child’s play.”

“I… trust your judgment, Rarity,” Cadence said, getting up to make her way to the door. The clopping sounds of her hooves on the tile floor felt empty, almost as if she was forgetting something…

“Oh! Can you deliver a message for me, Rarity?”

The unicorn smiled. “I most certainly can and will, Cadence.”

The alicorn princess reached for the doorknob, looking back at her hostess. “Could you tell Rainbow Dash that I would be delighted if she would attend the Wonderbolt’s Derby with me in two days time? Tell her to think of it as my apology for our behavior at lunch.”

“It would be my pleasure,” Rarity said cheerfully, waving a forehoof to bid farewell to Princess Cadence as she made her way through the door. The door clicked shut, triggering the mare to slouch onto her rump with a sigh in quite an unlady-like fashion. She had never imagined such a short visit would take so much out of her, but being so generous had its costs and her mental fatigue would put off her work for the time being. Of course she was slightly offended by Cadence’s gambling problem initially, but given the context of her newest bet, Rarity could not fault the princess for her desperate measures. She looked at the tea set, flushing slightly for feeling so exhausted despite the minute amount of actual labor she had done in preparation for her unexpected guest’s comfort. Maybe it was the rainy day forcing a slothful mood on her, or maybe she was simply procrastinating on her outfits because she was afraid of rejection. Whatever the reason, the day had taken a turn from productive to lazy, and Rarity was completely fine with that. Perhaps she would take a page out of Rainbow Dash’s book and nap the afternoon away. Rarity was never one to lie around, but nopony was nearby to judge her, so-

~Ding Ding Ding Dong Ding Ding Ding Dong~

Rarity’s ears folded back in painful irritation. Surely this all had to be some elaborate reuse- one guest appearing on a rainy day was miraculous in itself, and Cadence being that particular guest qualified as an anomaly. But two guests in such weather? The mare shook her head dismissively. Princess Cadence must have forgotten something, though she brought no belongings and her measurements were already on record. Biting a hoof in anticipation, Rarity slowly creaked open the door, awaiting whatever cruel joke the universe had in store for her. That ‘cruel joke’ took its form in a light gold stallion, his wild waterlogged amber mane clinging to his face and neck, rainwater steadily dripping off him as his coat had evidently reached its carrying capacity for liquid. Rarity gawked at his condition, though the chipper stallion merely smiled a wide grin and removed his Stetson with a forehoof, his head following suit in a small, respectful bow.

“Howdy, Miss Rarity,” He said politely. “Nice ta’ see you again.”

“Braeburn, what in the wide world of Equestria are you doing in this weather?” Rarity asked directly, not bothering to reply to his formalities.

“Well Ah came to deliver my cousin’s dress measurements,” He chirped, the happiness and enthusiasm never leaving his tone despite the involuntary spasms his body delivered in response to the cold. He pulled a bagged envelope out of his vest, the paper interior remaining dry inside the plastic. Rarity took the measurements with her telekinesis and held a hoof to her mouth, having more sense to cover her gaping mouth and hide her horror.

“You should have waited until morning! Oh look at you, darling, you’re positively drenched from head to hooves. Now come along and get inside before you catch a cold,” She commanded sternly, a small pang of guilt overcoming her for the stallion’s troubles in delivering such trivial information to her. Braeburn shook his head, sending water droplets scattering, the small congregations of water splattering as they hit the ground, only to join larger puddles.

“Ah can’t,” He replied matter-of-factly, his muzzle pointed down at his hooves. Rarity’s eyes followed his line of vision, two pools of azure widening slightly at the appendages, now coated in mud from their long trek to the boutique from Sweet Apple Acres. “Why, it would just be down right rude of me to walk into a lady’s home with hooves this dirty.”

Rarity grabbed a muddied hoof with her own, the pearly white becoming stained with slushed earth. “My floors can be cleaned with a sponge, but I would never forgive myself if you were to fall ill simply because you offered to deliver your cousin’s dress measurements.”

“Ah’m afraid Ah can’t,” Braeburn said, pulling his hoof away and taking a step back, leaving the protective shelter above Carousel Boutique’s front door. Rainwater battered the western stallion, the mud melting off his hooves. Rarity took a step forward, her tone and expression completely serious.

“See, mud’s all gone. Braeburn, you will come into the boutique or so help me I will drag you in myself!”

“Ah can’t impose on a lady,” He repeated stubbornly, taking another step back. “Ah think Ah’ll head back on ta’ Sweet Apple Acres. It’s only a thirty minute trot, so Ah-“

Braeburn learned very quickly that day that a Unicorn’s magic gave them quite an advantage despite an Earth pony’s physical superiority. He also learned that Rarity was quite the multitasker, a barrage of towels scrubbing him dry as he was forcibly dragged into the dress shop. Placing him on the couch, the unicorn smirked with satisfaction at her small victory, humming a faint tune as she levitated the teapot from the kitchen, filling a spare cup for the stallion with the warm liquid. Braeburn took the cup gingerly from her magical embrace, visibly shaken up by her precise control over her natural skills.

“Thank ya… Rarity.”

“It was no trouble at all, Braeburn,” She lied, her sweet composure not betraying her internal frustration at the stallion’s stubborn behavior. “Now then, I shall fetch you a pillow and some blankets. You will spend the remainder of the storm here and you may as well be comfortable for your duration.”

“Rarity, Ah-“

Whatever he was about to say was cut off by an alabaster hoof, the keratin pressing firmly against his muzzle. Rarity offered a sweet smile, as well as a pillow and two blankets that levitated from another room, her mastery of multitasking once again showing through.

“Think nothing of it, Braeburn. Feel free to make yourself at home while I work upstairs on my friend’s dresses.” She paused, suddenly becoming very serious. “But if you leave before the storm is over, I will personally see to you myself, understand?”

“Ah’ll do what you think is best, Rarity.”

“Excellent,” She half sang, trotting back up the stairs. Looking down, Rarity noticed the stallion already asleep under the blankets, his shift in consciousness almost comical. She let a warm smile grace her lips, slowly making her way to the top, only to pause one more time to take a final look.

"Sleep tight, Braeburn."