Chapter 3: Cat's In The Bridle

Capper was bored, and perhaps rightfully so as he sat there in Carousel Boutique, his chin resting on his paw. The bipedal cat suppressed a sigh as the tape measure wrapped itself gently around his waist for what felt like the thousandth time that day, levitating thanks to a certain tailor pony's magic.

"Oh, this is going to be just divine!" Rarity was saying, more to herself than her guest as she went about levitating sheets of fabric, sewing needles and paint buckets filled with brightly coloured dyes this way and that. Capper moved his arm to look at his watch before remembering that he didn't have one. Just how long had he been sitting here in this chair? Long enough so that his left foot was starting to fall asleep, he knew that much.

"Miss Rarity, are you sure you really want to make me a new suit for the holidays?" he asked, deciding to speak up at last. "I mean, I'd hate to trouble you… and we both know I have a knack for trouble," he concluded, flashing a knowing smirk in Rarity's direction. She didn't notice, however, for she had her back to him as she worked.

"Capper, darling, when Rarity promises to make a charming garment for a charming friend, she does not go back on her word. I know it can get a little mundane waiting around for perfection, but darling, you can't rush purr-fection."

"Was that a cat pun?"

Rarity giggled lightly. "Maybe."

"You know something, Miss Rarity? You're alright. You've got a good heart - something I wish I had the luxury of, what with all my debts and all."

"Well, anypony who would stand up for a bunch of strange ponies at the risk of getting blasted into next week by the Storm King's servants can't be all bad."

"Heh. Yeah, I guess I have my moments," Capper admitted, chuckling weakly.

"And tomorrow night you'll have your moment of well-earned flair at that party of Discord's when you walk into the palace wearing a brand new blazer as charming as yourself. Believe me, you'll look quite dapper… Capper."

Capper smirked at that, his smile fading slightly as the tape measure tugged gently at his arm, prompting him to stand up. He suppressed another sigh and obliged. "There's something 'bout a tape measure moving by itself that makes a guy's fur stand on end," he decided, his amber fur indeed bristling slightly underneath his usual red overcoat.

"Relax, darling. I'm almost done," Rarity assured him, switching off the sewing machine she was using and proceeding to levitate a needle, magically threading it. "A few precise stitches and you'll be looking in that mirror over there, seeing a handsome feline staring back at you."

Capper directed his gaze to the mirror in question. "I'd like to think there's already a handsome feline staring back at me," he declared, sharing a knowing chuckle with the mare hard at work on his new garment.

"It's ready!" Rarity then announced brightly, levitating the finished crimson blazer over to her friend.

Capper cast aside his current garb, grabbed the blazer out of the air and pulled it on, noting the shiny black opal buttons, the length and width of the sleeves, the coat pocket emblazoned with the first letter of his name in dainty cursive… It was a perfect fit and, as Rarity had predicted, it suited him quite well.

"Oh, my," was all Rarity could say, staring at her friend in awe. To her, Capper looked considerably more handsome in his new attire than she'd dared to hope.

"Call me crazy, but I think you've really outdone yourself, Miss Rarity," Capper declared as he examined himself in the mirror, looking quite pleased with his new ensemble.

"W-wait a moment!" Rarity said suddenly, her horn glowing with magic again. She levitated an emerald brooch off the nearby table and over to Capper, fastening it to his blazer opposite the coat pocket. He glanced from it to her, surprised. "I thought y-you'd like to have that. It really compliments your eyes. I mean, they're so green, so… so luminous!" the posh pony babbled, her cheeks reddening.

Capper stared at her, even more surprised. Then he smiled warmly.

"You're really something else, Miss Rarity, you know that?" he said, putting an arm around her as the two gazed into the mirror, standing side by side.

"Oh! Well… I try," Rarity responded with a nervous giggle, blushing even harder.

Capper looked thoughtful. "Say, Miss Rarity, you're heading to this little party yourself, right?"

"But of course! I daresay I wouldn't miss it."

"Well, if you wouldn't mind having a certain male consort tag along with you…"

Rarity was completely taken aback by that. After a moment, however, she beamed, her cheeks a deeper shade of red than ever.

"I would simply adore that, my dear Capper."

"RARITY AND CAPPER, SITTING IN A TREE, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

The pair whirled around at the all-too familiar sound of Rainbow Dash's voice, the brash Pegasus with the multicoloured mane at the window, grinning a mile wide with mischievous glee.

"Oh, wait 'til I tell the Wonderbolts about this!" she cried, laughing uproariously as she took off into the skies at mach speed.

"Well, it would seem that the cat's out of the bag," Capper summarised, folding his arms and smirking knowingly.

"Oh, you! I was going to say that!" Rarity exclaimed. She and Capper both laughed.


Tempest grunted and strained as she pushed the large and heavy wooden box across the palace floor with her head, occasionally throwing dirty looks in Discord's direction. The Draconequus was paying her no mind, however, as he stood there in the centre of the room, a pair of square-rimmed glasses in front of his eyes as he marked off parts of a checklist - thankfully nowhere near as long as any of Twilight's. He used not a quill, but rather his own taloned finger to write, his claw tipped with black ink. He smiled with satisfaction, pleased that the party's preparations were proceeding nicely, before looking up to see the unicorn with the cracked horn exerting herself.

"Oh, for goodness' sake, Tempest! Just use your magic to move the crate!"

"I can't!" Tempest snapped back. "My magic is too unstable to risk even the most basic of levitation spells!" She then sighed heavily, hanging her head. "I specialise in destructive magic, not conjuration or manipulation," she explained through gritted teeth. "That's why I trained with the Storm King's soldiers in combat exercises - to bolster my physical abilities to make up for my magical limitations. I've got a lot of raw magical power to be sure, but I can only safely focus it in certain ways."

"Then let me do it," Discord said, snapping his fingers and causing the bulky crate to instantly appear before him. Another snap of his fingers and the highly reflective disco ball contained within floated out and positioned itself above, hanging down from the ceiling. "Besides, I didn't rope you into this just to play around with crates. I have something special in mind for someone of your talents, especially after what Twilight told me about you."

"And what would that be, Discord? I'm not turning everypony to stone again just so you can have a cheap laugh."

"Not what I had in mind. Anyway, I think it's going to take more than just the two of us to get everything ready for tomorrow night."

"Can't you just snap your fingers and put everything in place instantly?"

"Oh, Tempest, anypony can throw a basic shindig together with magic. It takes real work to give a dance floor the perfect vibe… and to leave Fluttershy speechless and awed," he added in a quiet mutter to himself before continuing, "And speaking of vibes, I think I know just the pony to help us, odd a choice as she may seem. Sit tight, Bubble Wrap Cherry-Blast. I'll be back with the hired help soon enough."

"My name is Fizzlepop Berrytwist!"

"Oh, whatever!" Discord exclaimed, not feeling at all inclined to care. He snapped his fingers once more and vanished. Tempest rolled her eyes, shaking her head in exasperation. She had a feeling that Discord was going to drive her bonkers before the party even started.

Little did she know that the 'hired help' Discord was bringing back would drive everypony bonkers…