Veiled Violet

“I'm sorry, Silver Stomp but I'm not that sort of lady,” a very terse white unicorn mare explained to the almost as white stallion at her door.

“I... I understand but please, can you take my card? Just in case you reconsider?”

“If it will get you out of my boutique any faster, yes yes I will.”

With a frustrated stomp the fashionista closed the door of her magnificent establishment. Three hours without a single customer and her first walk-in had the nerve to assume that she...

The nerve of some ponies!

Discarding the card in the trash bin next to her cash register, Rarity settled down to working on casual wear scarves. Each stab of the needle she imagined inflicted upon that vile Mister Stomp.

A slow if slightly evil smile spread across her lips as she worked.

Her appearance was as always immaculate. Her mane, a curling wave of dark purple, shone pristine in the light cascading from the windows of her shop. Her eyes painted to perfection. Her hooves carefully filed to precision edges. Her cutiemark, a trio of diamonds that symbolized her talents and passion, shone brilliantly and alluringly from upon her carefully toned flank. Her pale white coat softened and delicate from extensive treatment.

She couldn't blame that sleazy stallion for hoping that she might prove pliable in such a way. Not really. Surely it was the only way he had the slightest of chances.

Her rack of impulse buy scarves was almost fully restocked when she was interrupted once more by an excited knock at her door.

A pale blue magical aura illuminated her horn that matched the aura that know surrounded her front door. Obeying her command the door unlatched and opened. The little bell over the door rang.

“Come in! Welcome the Carousel Boutique where everything is... Oh, Rainbow Dash what brings you by today?”

“Rarity!” the excited pegasus called as she hovered into the shop like an localized storm of destruction and chaos. “I have a date!”

“Excellent news, who is the lucky... pony?” she amended her statement. Between her friends tomboyish nature and her rainbow mane there was a considerable amount of conjecture.

“Oh, just some pegasus I know from Cloudsdale,” Rainbow, clearly feeling no need to clarify the issue of her sexual preference, replied.

“What... Has you so excited about going out on a date with this pony?” Rarity stumbled looking for her question.

“It's a date.”

Rarity blinked in the face of the storm.

Dash set down on the floor of the boutique. She looked away from her friend. Her right hoof lifted and rubbed her right leg. She blushed.

“O-of, course. Y-you have a date and now you need help. Help getting ready?” The clothes horse scrambled out of the trap she had inadvertently thrown herself into.

“Y-yeah sure. If you want. I don't need any help. I've been on lots of dates and stuff,” the blue pony began to lie horribly. “It's... He wanted me to wear something pretty. And I don't have anything like that really,” she finally admitted.

“I'm surprised you aren't planning to wear one of the pieces I've already made for you. I thought Fluttershy was holding onto them for you...”

“Ya, but they're...”

“I made them very much with you in mind. Very bold and dashing. To accentuate your existing qualities.”

“I know. But now I need something pretty.”

“Pretty? Pretty how exactly?”

“Pretty like you.”

Rarity blinked again.

This wasn't what she had been expecting. Not ever. Certainly not today. But this was an unusual opportunity. One that she couldn't pass up.

It had also been presented to her in a most flattering on manners. She certainly couldn't deny it.

“Come along, darling.” Rarity turned and trotted to her workroom. This was a prime opportunity.

The materials were raw. Exceedingly so. But they did sparkle oh so brightly.

The uncut sapphire followed her. Head still held low. Terrified and determined. For as long as Dash could stomach it Rarity would work to her utmost. She would transform her into a lady.

“Up here onto the stand,” the pale unicorn instructed, referring to a raised platform in the centre of the room surrounded by mirrors. She turned and addressed her stock pile of materials without ascertaining that she had been obeyed.

Raw fabrics unfurled from their rolls at her command. Ribbon and lace slid forth like serpents.

There was a startled yelp as the cloth in question descended upon their victim on the stand. Rows of pins darted into the typhoon of fashion like... well darts.

Rainbow Dash stood in shock, staring at one of the mirrors. A cascade of ruffles drifted down over her flank to the floor anchored upon her waste. Her colourful mane was bound up high into a severe looking bun. Around her neck was a clothe yoke of red lace that matched her eyes.

For a moment she was a lady. Lady Rainbow Dash of Ponyville. Class, sophistication and grace where hers to command.

“Oh, wow! Rares this is so totally awesome!” Dash easily rendering the brief facade into tatters.

“I'm glad you approve,” Rarity smiled. “When will you need this piece done?”

“Friday. I need it Friday night,” the blue pony excitedly barked as she hopped from hoof to hoof excitedly.

“Please, come by Friday afternoon. We'll have to get you ready for your big night,” Rarity winced imagining that she would likely have to tie the pegasus in place in order to apply any make-up. “I assume you can manage to arrive in a bathed state?”

The blue pegasus paused for a moment. The smell of exertion from her weather duties was already filling the small room with her own particular scent. Like ozone and hot horse.

Becoming aware of this fact and the fact that she had foolishly draped the weather pony in fabric that could stain, she withdrew the clothe.

“Sure, anything for you Rarity...”

“Before you go... do you have any over all suggestions for the dress?” the fashionista asked in mild dread.

“I don't know maybe about 20%...”

The fashion pony flinched back as though she where about to be struck.

“Shorter. Yeah, 20% shorter.”