This is the 25th chapter. I don't own the series of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
Suited for Success
A year has passed since Storm Hawk came to Equestria and taking in by Rainbow Dash, Comet and Storm Hawk were able to catch up with each other and they've been close as brothers from another mother. Rainbow Dash taught him the basics of flying between gliding, flapping his wings, and moving. Though, Storm Hawk was having quite a bit of trouble flying since he's still in a new form of a Pegasus, but he kept on trying. In his spare time, he usually practiced his flying, martial arts, spar with Comet, spending time with Rainbow Dash, and hang out with his new friends. Rainbow Dash even noticed of Storm Hawk struggled in his sleep when he first came here which he was having a nightmare, she even got him to calm down and tell him that everything is okay and promised she would be there for him.
Rainbow Dash for some reason, is starting to grow closer to the colt which she was starting to see him more than a friend. It got her to realize that she even Storm Hawk like a son to her. Like Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash knew in her heart that she's starting to see herself as a mother to Storm Hawk, but she doesn't want to admit it. However, Rainbow Dash will tell them sooner or later.
And now, it was a 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 was lounging snootily on one of Rarity's mannequins.
"Oh, Opalescence." Rarity said excitedly, studying 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. Rarity then pulled off a piece of cloth, which happened to 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.
"Why, yes! I did make it myself." Rarity said, taking Opal meowing as talking. "Thank you so much for asking."
Just 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." Rarity replied by sticking a sewing pin cushion inside of Opal's mouth.
Though, Opal 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 cat was now balancing on a single hind leg to keep her balance as Rarity continued to do her work.
"Careful now, don't move." Rarity said. "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.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahhhh
My Little Pony
I use to wonder what friendship could be
My Little Pony
Until you all share this magic with me
Big adventure,
Tons of fun,
A beautiful heart,
Faithful and strong,
Sharing kindness
It's an easy feat
And magic makes it all complete
You all have my little ponies
Do you know all you're my best friends?
Twilight, Comet, Applejack, Apple Shine, and Storm Hawk were on their way to the Carousel Boutique. Storm Hawk was able to get the hang of flying, but he's taking it slow and not too fast because of his motion sickness which it'll be an easy fix and time. However, Comet, Apple Shine, and Storm Hawk were still unsure about themselves wanting to wear a formal attire and go to the Grand Galloping Gala. As a human, they had watched how some fancy parties went on TV, and found them mostly boring and sometimes interesting. He, Apple Shine, and Storm Hawk were invited to after he give his friend an explanation about the Grand Galloping Gala, but he had a feeling that they're gonna be bored all night, or be laughed at by the other ponies.
"I'm not sure about this." Comet said, sticking close to his mother.
"Yeah, I'm getting an uneasy feeling about it too." Storm Hawk agrees.
Apple Shine even nods with an agreement.
"It'll be fine, you two." Twilight assures them. "I'm just going to ask Rarity to fix up the dress for the Gala. And hopefully, she can get you three fitted into something you would like."
"I'm...still not too sure about this." Comet said.
"Ah ain't too keen about fashion mahself, but it is for the Grand Galloping Gala." Applejack said. "We have ta get some dresses if we're gonna attend the Gala."
"Um, dancin' in hootenanny is one thing, but at the Gala is another." Apple Shine points out.
"Also, we usually dance up in the alley in our world. Mostly break-dancing." Storm Hawk adds.
"We can understand that, but like I said, we're gonna see if Rarity can get you three fitted into something for the Gala." Twilight suggests.
It got the three foals sighed and groaned at the same time as they came into the Carousel Boutique. They went in and went upstairs into Rarity's room, before Applejack knocked the door. But when there was no reply, the five of them just entered the room.
"Howdy, Rarity!" Applejack said loudly.
"Shh..." Twilight hushed quietly. "Can't you see Rarity is trying to concentrate?"
Applejack, Twilight, Comet, Apple Shine, and Storm Hawk noticed that Rarity was hard at work and in deep concentration. She also had a red-framed glasses on her eyes.
"Does she really need to have complete concentration on making dresses?" Comet asks curiously.
"Eeyup." Applejack nods to her godson. "It's what makes her one of the best fashion ponies here. She knows what makes a pony very fashionable. Not everypony has a huge state of fashion as Rarity."
"I bet Rarity would give any fashion designers a run for the money." Storm Hawk said with an impressed whistle. "Especially a fashion competition."
"You got that right, darlings." Rarity said, looking back at the two mares, and three foals. She then strokes the three foals manes before turned around. "Now, what brings you all here?"
"Oh, so very sorry to trouble you, Rarity, but I need a quick favor." Twilight said apologetically, pulled out a red dress and set it on a table. "Could you please fix a button for me? It's my dress for the Grand Galloping Gala."
Rarity gasped at the dress, almost like it was a terrifying monster.
"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'll be my pleasure!"
"Is she always like that?" Storm Hawk whispered Comet with a question.
"You have no idea." Comet whispered back.
"Oh, that's really sweet of you to offer, Rarity, but I can't let you do that." Twilight politely declines. "It would be so much work. This dress is fine."
"Twilight Sparkle, I insist on making you a new dress." Rarity said definitively.
"But..."
"Not another word!" Rarity interrupts. "I won't take no for an answer!"
"Well, in that case..." Twilight said slowly before conceding. "Thank you for generosity, Rarity. Knowing your handiwork, I'm sure it will be absolutely beautiful."
Then she realized something else.
"Oh, isn't Mario Star with you?" Rarity asked curiously.
"Nope." Apple Shine. "Uncle Mario is out practicin' martial arts with Zane and Wild Heart. He isn't much into the Gala."
"Yeah, he even told me about it." Applejack nods.
Rarity can understand, but she then turns to Applejack.
"Let me guess, Applejack, you don't want a new gown either." Rarity said, as if reading Applejack's mind.
"Gown? Shoot. Ah was just gonna wear mah old work duds." Applejack answered.
"You can't possibly be serious, Applejack!?" Rarity exclaimed in disbelief. "You absolutely must wear formal attire."
"Hmmm..." 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 yer offerin' and all, just don't make them too frou-frou-y."
"Deal." Rarity said, then turns to Apple Shine. "What about you, Apple Shine? Are you here for the dress?"
"Um...Ah'm not sure about it." Apple Shine said. "The thing Ah've got on me is mah hat."
"I can see that, but Apple Shine, I was talking about the dress for the Gala." Rarity points out with a giggle. "I shall make you look beautiful in that gown."
Apple Shine then bit her lower lip and Applejack walked up to her.
"It'll be fine, sugarcube." Applejack assures her daughter with a smile. "Ah promise Ah'll be right here with you at the Gala."
"Ah was gonna consider wearin' a western theme dress." Apple Shine said with a sigh.
"Oh, you mean something similar like Applejack?" Rarity asked, earned a nod from the Texan filly. "Well in that case, I'll be sure to make the one just like Applejack's. Also, I'll spruce up some new attire for Bright Mac and Buttercup."
"Alright, but just nothing too fancy." Apple Shine concedes.
Rarity nods, then turns to the two young colts.
"Are you two here for something as well?" Rarity asks.
"I...still don't like the idea." Comet said.
"Me neither." Storm Hawk adds.
"Don't worry, darlings." Rarity assures them. "I shall make you both look very handsome."
Both Comet and Storm Hawk still didn't like the idea of going to the Gran Galloping Gala because like Apple Shine, they're not use to go for the fancy events because growing up in the rough streets. Since Rarity is offering them a new attire for the Gala, Comet Stardust and Storm Hawk decided to give it a try.
"We were gonna consider wearing a suit for the gala." Storm Hawk suggests.
"A suit?!" Rarity asked, shocked but excited. "As in a tuxedo?! Why that's precisely what I had in mind!"
"I don't know, Rarity." Comet said nervously, then had head looked away from her. "Neither of us don't like anything too fancy."
"Don't worry." Rarity assures him, pulling Comet's head towards her so the two were looking at each other. "I will make you and Storm Hawk make you look adorable and very irresistibly handsome for the Gala, and then you two will never have to be nervous again."
Comet looked over at his mother, nervous about what Rarity was saying. Twilight shrugged her shoulders, telling her son that it was his choice.
"Alright." Comet conceded with a sighed. "But nothing too fancy, please."
"It's alright, sweetie." Twilight said, walked up to Comet. "You won't have to worry about being nervous right after the Gala. Plus, I'll be right beside you, okay?"
Comet nodded until he received a kiss from his mother.
"Look out below!" The voice of Rainbow Dash shouted.
CRASH!
Rainbow Dash suddenly crashed into the roof of the boutique, smacked onto the floor, and bounced backwards as she crashed into the mannequins.
"Sorry, new trick. Didn't quite work out." Rainbow Dash said sheepishly as she poked her head out of the pile of knocked out fabrics and mannequins with a bucket on her head. Comet used his magic to seal up the hole that Rainbow Dash made in the roof and soon enough, it looked good as new.
"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 the what now?" Rainbow Dash asked, puzzled and not knowing what was going on.
"She's talking about the outfit for the Gala." Storm Hawk told her.
"I'll make one for you and you and all of you." Rarity proposed. "Oh! And of course, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Winter, and Rose too. Oh, and when I'm done, we can hold our very own fashion show!"
"What a great idea!" Twilight said. "If you're sure you can handle it."
"Oh, it'll be a little work, but it will be a wonderful boost to my business. Plus fun!" Rarity said.
"Oh, I love fun things!" Rainbow Dash 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, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, plus mah parents and you, minus Mario, thirteen ponies?! And lickety split?!" Applejack asks in shock.
"Oh, Applejack, you make it sound as if it's going to be hard." Rarity chuckled.
It wasn't much longer before she got very busy choosing color fabrics, threads, and other things to complete each dress.
Rarity (Sings):
Thread by thread, stitching it together
Twilight's dress, cutting a 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
I'm stitching Twilight's dress
Opal was sleeping on the fabric when Rarity pulls each fabric which it got the poor cat woke up from her nap, being rolled over to the other fabric when Rarity pulled the other. Opal was now rolling in midair and left her fur puffy after Rarity pulled the other. Rarity pulled the last one of the fabrics from Opal's paw.
Rarity (Sings):
Yard by yard, fussing the details
Jewel neckline, don't you a stitch time saves nine?
After Rarity placed a neck collar with an apple jewel on the neck of the mannequin, Opal was playing the apple jewel which Rarity pulls it away as the cat chased after it.
Rarity (Sings):
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 Applejacks 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. She now moves on to the sketches when she colored Pinkie Pie's dress design with pink and adding a dress of Fluttershy's dress design with blue.
Rarity (Sings):
Dressmaking's easy, for Pinkie Pie something pink
Fluttershy something breezy
Blending color and form,
"Do you think this looks cheesy?" Rarity asked which Opal just gave a bored glare as her answer.
She now moves on to making Rainbow Dash's dress with a rainbow fabric, placing a golden laurel wreath on the mannequins head. Rarity then placed a rainbow fabric on the mannequin, straighten it.
Rarity (Sings):
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
I'm 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, both Bright Mac and Pear Butter were able to get their attire for the Gala, which the two have taking a liking and they thanked Rarity for the attire as they paid for it. Mario, Zane, Wild Heart, Comet, Storm Hawk, and Winter Breeze were practicing martial arts while practicing katas in different fighting styles. Comet Stardust is focusing on between two fighting styles with Mario and Wild Heart. Zane is teaching Storm Hawk and Winter Breeze Jujitsu kata which was basic takedowns and locks.
Once they're done, they went to take a shower to meet up with the girls in a little bit.
A little while later after Wild Heart returned home and Zane remained at the dojo, Mario, Winter Breeze, Comet, and Storm Hawk went out to the Carousel Boutique. Soon, they eventually met up with the seven girls outside of Rarity's home.
"Hey, ladies." Mario greeted the girls with a smile.
"Hi, Mario." The girls greeted them back.
"Hi, Mom/Mom/Rainbow." Comet, Winter Breeze, and Storm Hawk greets them.
"Hi Comet, Winter, Storm." Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash greets them back.
"Are we too late to see the dresses Rarity made for you at the Gala?" Mario asks.
"Nope." Applejack replied. "Yer just in time. She had rounded us up just in time when you came."
The doors of the boutique opened to reveal Rarity as she gasped in excitement to see them come.
"You're all here!" Rarity said, happily. "Come on in!"
Rarity was guiding five mares and five foals inside with her voice since they had their eyes closed as Mario followed them behind.
"That's it." Rarity said. "Keep 'em closed. Don't look..."
Once the girls and the foals were in positions.
"Okay, you can look now!"
The nine ponies opened their eyes and gasped all at once as they saw the dresses while Mario looked stunned at the dresses.
"Whoa!" Mario said softly.
"Wow, they're amazing." Rose Lotus said softly.
"No kidding." Storm Hawk agrees.
"Let's hope they're impressed because we don't want her work go to waste." Comet suggested which Rose, Storm Hawk, Winter Breeze, and Apple Shine agrees,
"These are your new outfits." Rarity said, 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 western style chap legs that had a brown tassels on the bottom. The front hooves had some stylish green boots with apple decals on them with lacing. Opal was happily playing them.
"And Twilight! I made this dress for you myself and I designed each outfit theme to perfectly reflect each pony's personality." Rarity said.
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 along with the star hairpin.
"Oh, it took me forever to get the colors right, Rainbow Dash, so I did it!" Rarity said. "Oh, and it turned out beautiful, don't you think?"
Rainbow Dash's dress had a golden laurel wreath with a chained necklace that a shape of a grape. The back had a long flowing rainbow-colored skirt that had some cotton lining along the edges to resemble clouds. On the front hooves were golden laced style shoes. Opal enjoyed nuzzling the material.
"And I know you are going to love yours, Fluttershy, it just sings spring!" Rarity said.
Fluttershy's dress had a leaf-like front line that featured a large butterfly on the front and a butterfly hair clip. The back has 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 forehooves also had a green shoes and the straps that resembled vines.
"And Pinkie Pie, look! Pink! Your favorite!" Rarity said. "Aren't they amazing?"
Pinkie Pie's dress featured a white and blue stripped top that had a V-neck 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 pink shoes that had blue and white stripped 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 for them, for she was very impressed with her work. She hoped her friends felt the same way. However, all she received was just a long dreadful silence as she just smiled, becoming uneasy as the others said nothing but just stared.
"Wow...They're..." Twilight began.
"Yeah, they're..." Rainbow Dash added slowly.
"They sure are...somethin'." Applejack replied.
"Yes! Something." Twilight agreed.
"I love something!" Pinkie Pie added in her cheerful tone. "Something is my favorite!"
"It's...nice." Fluttershy said plainly, but there was no real joy in her tone.
Mario and the five foals could tell this was not going anywhere so they decided to help stick up for Rarity as they walked next to her.
"But what's the matter?" Mario asked them curiously. "I think they look great. In fact, they're beautiful. Don't you like them?"
"Yeah, they look awesome in my book." Storm Hawk adds when Comet nods with an agreement. "You don't have to beat around a bush."
"Rarity did work hard on making dresses for you five." Rose Lotus said. "At least try them and see how it looks."
"They're very nice..." Twilight said slowly.
"And we're plumb grateful 'cause she worked so hard on them." Applejack added.
By now, even Rarity was feeling upset. No amount of sugar could hide what they were saying at this point.
"Mine's just not as cool as I was imagining." Rainbow Dash said, the first pony to finally be upfront about their feelings, yet she got death glares from Mario, Twilight, and Applejack. "She asked."
"What were tryin' to say?" Apple Shine asks.
"I guess what we're all saying is that they're just not what we had in mind." Twilight said after she and the others gave a collective 'yeah' with an agreement.
Mario turned to Rarity as she recomposed herself.
"That's okay, not a problem." Rarity said. "There's plenty more where that came from."
"If you say so, Rarity." Mario said with a worried look.
"I know so, darling." Rarity said softly. "Anyway, they were a first pass."
It got Comet and the four foals worried when Rarity started removing items from them.
"You're my friends and I want you to be 110% satisfied." Rarity said. "Not to worry, I'll redo them."
"Oh, Rarity." Fluttershy said. "You don't have to do that. They're fine."
"I want them to be better than just fine." Rarity said with determination. "I want you to think they're absolutely perfect."
"Are ya sure? I mean, we don't wanna impose." Applejack asks.
"Oh, it's no imposition." Rarity said. "Really, I insist."
"Well, in that case..." Twilight said. "Thank you again, Rarity."
Rarity just smiled as the five mares left the boutique. But then, something clicked on Rarity's mind.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Rarity said, turns to the foals. "I've also made an attire for the five of you."
Mario, Comet, Storm Hawk, Apple Shine, Rose Lotus, and Winter Breeze have forgotten that Rarity made those dresses for the five foals as she revealed them.
"Now Comet, I've made a tuxedo that looked just exactly like your mother's." Rarity said to her godson.
Comet's tuxedo was a night-themed dress robe styled just like Twilight's. The dress robe was mainly blue with white twinkling stars and dark trimmings on the cuffs. There was a white pleated tuxedo shirt with French cuffs and a silver vest underneath, and glittery bow tie. And the tail part of the robe were like the front of it. Blue with twinkling white stars and dark blue trimmings at the end.
"And Rose, your dress is rather tricky, but I was able to manage a Hindu-theme and made it traditional when I paid attention to the attire of your old homeland of India." Rarity explains to her.
Rose Lotus' dress was a Hindu traditional theme dress. Her dress was a long lavender sari and scarlet red angrkha and long scarlet red cotton kurtah with golden linings. The tail part of the dress was a scarlet red pa'ijamah. One the hooves were golden juttis.
"Apple Shine, like your mother, I've made the ones look just like her, except that I have to put a star-shaped jewel that represents your old home state." Rarity said.
Apple Shine's dress was a lot like Applejack's, except that it had a star-shaped jewel around the collar line, and some star decals on the lacing with boots.
"Winter, your dress was similar to Fluttershy's, but instead, it sings winter." Rarity said. "I was tad inspired when your mother showed me a book called 'Snow Queen'."
Winter Breeze's dress was similar to Fluttershy's dress, but it has an arctic ice blue transcended into white with a white snowflake on the front and a snowflake hair clip. The back had arctic ice blue sash that had a simple line of white snowflakes. The fore-hoofs had a laced arctic ice blue shoes.
"And Storm Hawk, I've made a tuxedo that looked just like your late foster father's when you told me of his previous time in the US Navy." Rarity said.
Strom Hawk's dress robe was like the US Navy military uniform. The dress robe was mainly black service with golden buttons and gold lining on the cuffs. There was a white pleated shirt underneath, and black tie. The bottom part was a black military trousers. On the top of its head was an officer hat. And on the hooves were black shoes.
"Now, what do you think? Aren't they amazing?" Rarity asks with a smile, hoping that the foals like them.
Comet Stardust, Apple Shine, Rose Lotus, Winter Breeze, and Storm Hawk were amazed of the attire which Mario can tell the five love them.
"The dress...was...amazing." Apple Shine said. "It looks just like a 'Lone Star State of Texas'."
"Mine was like from my old home in India." Rose Lotus adds. "How is it possible?"
"Well, it's not easy to follow the patterns because like I said, it's tricky. It took a lot of details, but I managed to pull it off." Rarity explains.
"This dress really does inspire by a Snow Queen book. I used to read that book." Winter Breeze said with a smile.
"They're incredible, Rarity." Comet said with a smile. "Thank you."
"You're quite welcome, darling." Rarity said. "Now, I would like for you all to try it on and I would like to see how it fits you."
Rarity then starts with Comet as she put the entire dress robe into the colt, making sure everything was in good shape. Rarity then had Comet's hooves go into and through the sleeves. Rarity then made some small adjustments to Comet's mane before she could do anything else. Rarity then does the same thing to the foals by making some adjustments and making sure everything was in good shape.
"Alright, go ahead and look into the mirror over there." Rarity said, motioning her hoof towards the mirror in the room.
Comet and the others nod, before they walked up to the mirror and looked at themselves in the mirror. They were astonished by how they looked as they gave a slight faint smile. Both Comet and Storm Hawk were thinking they looked...handsome. Apple Shine, Rose Lotus, and Winter Breeze were thinking they looked...beautiful.
"Well, what do you think?" Rarity asked which it got the five foals attention.
"They look incredible, Rarity." Mario said.
"I know, right?" Rarity agrees. "They're going to look so marvelous at the Grand Galloping Gala. And I was hoping that they're all going to look as marvelous in their own gowns. But..."
"But?" Apple Shine asks.
"But now, I'm gonna have to redo them." Rarity answered with a sigh.
"Rarity, are you sure you wouldn't want any help with this?" Mario asked. "I mean, I may not be interested in dresses or the event, but I could give it a try."
"Oh, that is so sweet of you, darling." Rarity said with a sad smile before she recomposes herself. "But I'm sure that I can manage alone for now."
"If you say so, again." Mario said before he left the boutique.
Comet then used his magic to undress himself and the others while placing them back into the mannequins.
"We'll leave there if they wanted to see us in those dresses." Storm Hawk suggests. "That way, it'll be a surprise."
"Oh, and I hope they'll love it when you five get back." Rarity said with a smile.
And with the five foals left the boutique, Rarity sighed as she turns to Opal.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Rarity asks, leaving Opal meowed with an answer.
A little while later, Rarity was working herself ragged with her mane getting rather frazzled when Fluttershy arrived back at the boutique. Rarity was currently working on her sewing machine.
"Hello? You wanted to see me, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked softly.
"Fluttershy! Your new-new gown's ready." Rarity said as she brought it over. "I completely revised it and I know you're going to love it."
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...love it." Fluttershy said plainly, but Rarity didn't believe her.
"Oh, you're just saying that." Rarity said.
"No, no." Fluttershy said quickly. "I do. It's...nice."
"'Nice'?" Rarity repeated.
"Nice." Fluttershy said again.
"If you don't like it, you should just tell me." Rarity said.
"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're really think!"
"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 and it left Rarity dumbfounded, wondering when did she became so knowledgeable of sewing.
"But...uh...you know...um, whatever you want to do is fine." Fluttershy said timidly.
Then, Rarity was busy modifying Twilight's dress to her standards as Mario was with her watching the whole thing from the side.
"Now, the stars on my belt need to be technically accurate." Twilight instructed while pacing. "Orion has three stars on his belt, not four."
"I really think this is just getting out of hoof for Rarity." Mario said to himself, watched quietly.
Rarity (Sings):
Stitch by stitch, stitching it together
Deadline looms, don't you know the clients always right?
Even if my 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 she was working on Pinkie Pie's dress, she was there with her own suggestions.
"Don't you think my gown would be more 'me' with some lollipops?"
"Lollipops?" Mario asks in confusion.
"Well, I think..." Rarity began.
"Balloons?" Pinkie Pie suggests.
"Huh?" Mario asks.
"Well..." Rarity said again.
"Do it!" Pinkie Pie shouted.
Rarity sighed before she began to sing again.
Rarity (Sings):
Hour by hour, one more change
I'm sewing them together, take great pains
Fluttershy, you're putting me 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 my vision
Twilight and Fluttershy continued to make their critiques.
"That constellation is Canis Major, not Minor." Twilight points out.
"French haute couture, please." Fluttershy added.
Rarity couldn't help but groaned with frustration.
"What if it rains?" Applejack said aloud. "Galoshes!"
"More balloons!" Pinkie Pie suggested. "On no, that's too much balloons!"
"Oh boy." Mario groaned.
"More candy, oh less candy." Pinkie Pie said instead. "Oh, wait I know, streamers!"
"Streamers?" Rarity repeated.
"Whose dress is this?" Pinkie Pie asked.
Mario just looked at Rarity wearily before she gave her a sigh.
"Streamers it is." Rarity conceded as Mario sighed with a head shake.
Then, she went to work on modifying Rainbow Dash's outfit. She had just finished the latest modifications when she turned to look at Rainbow Dash.
"What?" Rainbow Dash 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 Dash answered.
"Do you not like the color?" Rarity asked.
"The color's fine, just make it cooler." Rainbow Dash told her.
"Do you not like the shape?" Rarity asked.
Mario is feeling more worried about Rarity as he looked at the ground.
"I don't know much Rarity can take it." Mario whispered. "She's getting more and more unstable by the minute."
"The shapes fine, just make it the whole thing...you know, cooler." Rainbow Dash answered. "It needs to be 20% cooler."
Rarity just groaned.
Then, the song continued.
Pinkie Pie (Sings):
All we ever want is indecision
Rainbow Dash (Sings):
All we really like is what we know
Twilight Sparkle (Sings):
Gotta balance style with adherence
Fluttershy (Sings):
Making sure we make a good appearance
Applejack (Sings):
Even if you simply have to fudge it
Mane 5 (Sings):
Make sure that it stays within out budget
Rarity (Sings):
Got to overcome intimidation
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 sang the last note of her song before she collapsed onto the floor with an exhausted plop.
"Ugh, Opal, these are the ugliest dresses I've ever made." Rarity said, examined her work.
Mario had to agree as he felt a little uncomfortable with the situation Rarity was currently in right now.
"Okay, I did exactly what each of you asked for." Rarity told them when the five mares and the five foals arrived back at the shop. "Now don't hold back. Let me know what you really think."
Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash were amazed of her work. However, Opal and the five foals says otherwise, neither of them like the dresses which to them it's one of the ugliest dresses they've ever seen.
"You're agreeing with us too, don't you?" Comet asks which Opal simply let's out a meow at that to give a 'yes' answer.
"It's exactly what I asked for!" The Mane 5 said at once.
"Thank you, Rarity." Twilight said happily.
"Are you as happy with them as we are? Huh? Huh? Huh?" Pinkie Pie asked eagerly.
"Well, that depends on what Mario and your children thinks." Rarity said uneasily as she directed their attention to Mario and the foals.
Comet, Storm Hawk, Rose Lotus, Winter Breeze, and Apple Shine can only respond a nod with fake smiles, but they didn't want to tell them about the dresses.
"Umm, I think they look...perfect." Mario said with a fake smile.
"Well, I'm happy that all of you are happy." Rarity answered. "I'm just relieved to finally be done."
It was just then, Spike entered the front door.
"You are never gonna believe this! You heard of Hoity Toity?" Spike asked.
"The bigwig fashion hotshot in Canterlot?" Twilight guessed.
"Uh-huh." Spike nods. "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!" Applejack exclaims. "You could sell a ton 'o dresses to this guy. Yer business will be booming!"
Even the Mane 4 agreed to Applejack which it got Rarity not looking forward to this.
"Hoity Toity? He's coming here? To see these dresses?" Rarity exclaims.
"Oh no." Mario muttered as he placed a hoof to his face with a worried look.
Even the five foals were worried about it too.
"Yep!" Spike answered. "Get ready for all of your dreams to come true!"
But for Rarity, the look on her face gave the impression that was about to experience her worst nightmare.
"This is bad!" Storm Hawk said quietly. "If somepony like this 'Hoity Toity' character sees them in dresses like these, her career will be six feet down under."
"And everypony will be coming tonight." Rose Lotus adds. "I've gotta feeling this isn't going to end well for Rarity."
"What do we do?" Winter Breeze asks.
Comet thought of an idea as he motioned his friends to gather around and tell him about the plan. Mario turns and noticed they're planning something, hoping it'll stop the event.
"Ya sure about this?" Apple Shine asks. "Wouldn't they be angry?"
"I know it's risky and I know they'll be mad at us, but it's the only way." Comet answered.
Storm Hawk, Apple Shine, Rose Lotus, and Winter Breeze weren't sure about this, but they know that they need to save Rarity's career.
Later that night, several ponies from the town had gathered around a stage for a fashion show. Rarity was nervously awaiting with her head sticking out of the curtain. Mario was right beside her. While he was calm about this, he could still see Rarity overwhelmed more than ever.
"Oh!" Rarity exclaimed, making Mario jump in surprise. "There he is!"
Rarity began to breathe up and down frantically as Mario tried to calm her down. Hoity Toity snootily made his way towards the front of the runway. He then gestured for a pony to place a cushion so he could sit, but the pony holding a cushion got his face smashed by Hoity Toity took his seat. Rarity was still frazzled and Mario just held her close for support.
"How are you so calm about this?" Rarity asked. "You haven't helped me for a bit!"
Mario just sighed.
"Rarity, just calm down for a bit." Mario replied. "Look, I'm just gonna stay behind and watch you do your magic."
Mario then went off the stage and went into the crowd to watch. Comet and the others then noticed Hoity Toity next to the ponies.
"So, that's Hoity Toity?" Winter Breeze asks.
"That's him." Comet answered.
"Rarity isn't gettin' better when he's around." Apple Shine points out. "I just don't get it, why won't they like the other dresses?"
"No idea, I mean come on! Sure they like it, but I don't think he will!" Storm Hawk said.
"We should've said this to our mothers when we had the chance, but they look horrible." Rose Lotus said.
"Yeah, and we know that Rarity wanted to keep her friends happy, but they're the ones who were overcritical about the dresses she made for them previously." Comet adds with an agreement. "They should've been more appreciative of what she worked so hard on that led to this."
They nodded with an agreement when Rarity squealed when everything went dark.
"What's wrong with the lights?!" Rarity exclaimed frantically before realizing something. "Oh, yes. That means the show's starting. Good."
Then, Vinyl Scratch began to play some tunes.
"Since the beginning of time." Spike said 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!"
With that being announced, the curtains go to open and the spotlight heads to the five mares, but Comet and his friends had different plans.
"I hope we don't regret this." Comet whispered.
They then act fast as Storm Hawk and Winter Breeze knocked out the lights and Comet quickly used his magic to close the curtains so that the Mane 5 couldn't be seen in those awful dresses from coming out of the stage. The audience, especially Hoity Toity, was shocked and started to demand what is going on.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Hoity Toity demands.
While on backstage, the five girls were shocked by what just happened and then they quickly turned to the five foals and saw Comet's horn stopped glowing.
"Comet?! You and yer friends did this?!" Applejack demands.
"Yes, we did this." Comet nods firmly.
"What was that for?!" Rainbow Dash asks angrily. "Why did you do that?!"
The five mares along with Spike looked at the five foals angrily while Rarity looked at them surprisingly. Comet and his friends ignored their angry looks as they walked next to Mario when he took the microphone from Spike.
"Attention everypony!" Mario announced. "I am sorry to say that today's fashion show will be postponed to tomorrow due to some...inconveniences. Again, I apologize and I hope you all will attend the show once all matters have been resolved. Thank you."
This makes the audiences unhappy as one by one begin to leave the stage and Hoity Toity was definitely not amused.
"Hmph! Inconveniences?" Hoity Toity said. "Very well, I shall return back here tomorrow and there better be a proper show, otherwise I will not be amused."
And with that, Hoity Toity leaves along with the rest of the ponies that were attending and they let out a relieved sigh.
"I hope we made the right choice." Comet said.
"You did." Mario said with a smile.
They then felt somepony yanked them backstage as it was Applejack and the other four mares, who're not too happy with them.
"Comet! Why in all of Celestia did you and your friends just ruin the fashion show?!" Twilight asks angrily.
"Ya better have a good explanation for this too, young filly!" Applejack adds.
"Seriously, Storm Hawk?! I was looking forward to showing my awesome dress!" Rainbow Dash shouts angrily.
"Yeah, that wasn't very nice, Rose!" Pinkie Pie adds.
"Forgive me, Winter, but that was just rude!" Fluttershy said angrily.
Comet and his friends couldn't say anything, but they pointed at Rarity who was shocked which Twilight and her friends glared at their children and misjudge the situation.
"Oh, great! Now look what you've done, Rarity's so upset that she's speechless." Twilight said, now very angry at her son. "Comet Stardust Sparkle! You and your friends are grounded!"
"I'm not upset." Rarity said.
The Mane 5 were extremely shocked to hear that as Rarity walks up to the foals and hugs them which they returned.
"Thank you." Rarity thanked them.
"Rarity?! They just stopped the show!" Twilight shouts. "How can you be thanking them?!"
Rarity then breaks the hug and turns to the five mares with a guilty look on her face.
"It's because of the dresses you all are wearing." Mario cuts in.
"Our dresses?" Twilight repeats in confusion.
"We have no better to say this, but..." Comet said as he sigh. "Mom, you look like a distorted space."
"Yeah, and Rainbow, you look like a gladiator that came out of a coliseum." Storm Hawk agrees, turns to Rainbow Dash.
"Ma, ya look like a rodeo clown that came from a circus." Apple Shine told her mother.
"Mom, you like your dress that just threw up." Rose Lotus adds.
"And mom, your dress looked like it came from a jungle." Winter Breeze adds.
The girls were all dumbfounded at what they're just saying as Rarity walked next to the foals.
"I'm sorry girls, but I have to completely agree with them." Rarity told them. "I hate those dresses and I'm extremely ashamed that I ever made them. Please, don't be too harsh on your children."
The five girls all looked at each other with confused looks before looking at a mirror nearby and they looked closely for a second before they finally realized it...They did indeed look ridiculous in those outfits. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack removed the headpieces they wore while Twilight and Pinkie Pie took off their tail accessories. The five mares then had guilty looks on their faces.
"Now I see." Fluttershy said.
"Yeah, me too." Twilight agreed sadly. "We understand why you would be embarrassed to show these off."
"Please forgive me girls." Rarity pleads. "I was trying to satisfy you all with the dresses you wanted, but-"
"Nah Rarity, it's out fault." Applejack points out. "Ya wanted to make us nice dresses and we were just tryin' to be good friends and we're mite sorry."
"I may have been too judgmental in the designs." Fluttershy states.
"We were meanies to turn down the dresses you first made for us." Pinkie Pie adds.
"Look, we know you all didn't mean to be overcritical about Rarity's dresses, but still you took her generosity for granted and it made her feel like she didn't do good enough with the dresses at all." Mario points out.
"You're right, Mario." Twilight agrees. "We were horrible friends to something like that."
"We're sorry, Rarity." The Mane 5 apologizes.
The apology that her friends gave her made Rarity smile.
"It's alright, girls. I'm just glad you all understand." Rarity said.
"And we're sorry for being harsh with you five." Twilight apologizes to the foals. "We all understand the reason why you did this. And you made us realize why Rarity is like that."
"Yeah, now we totally understand why we look ridiculous." Rainbow Dash adds.
Comet and friends then smile as they hugged their mothers.
"You know, if you still have those original dresses Rarity, then maybe you girls would like some of our opinions." Mario suggested which it got the Mane 6 perked up.
"Why of course I still have them!" Rarity said. "And I can't wait to see you all in them."
"And since they postponed the fashion show to tomorrow, this will definitely be how we can show you our thanks and our apologies." Twilight declared.
"Then we'd better make sure we're ready." Rarity suggested.
Everypony nodded at that with determined look on their faces.
The next day at the Carousel Boutique, Hoity Toity was looking at a stage in front of him, ready to watch the new fashion show he didn't get to see the other night.
"Take two." Hoity Toity said firmly.
Spike then closes the curtains so the daylight wouldn't ruin the effects and Rarity began the show with a light intensifying from her horn before she released a nova-effect of blue and white stars that cleared to reveal Twilight posing in her original dress with an outer space background that shimmered with stars.
"Hello..." Hoity Toity said in shock which it got him interested as he moved his shades down a bit.
Then, a bright sun blinded him, and the night was gone. In its place is an apple orchard, a bright shiny red apple getting lassoed and whipped as Applejack twirled it away and she posed in her original dress with her tail and mane braided and her front legs crossed.
"Simply magnificent!" Hoity Toity said. "And I suddenly have a fierce craving for some Dutch apple pie, candy apples on a stick, apple turnovers, apple cobbler..."
A light purple and pink mist clouded up the stage and then actual clouds appeared and rained sweets, some of which alighted themselves onto Pinkie Pie who caught a gumdrop and happily ate it before smiling and posing in her dress.
"Brilliant!" Hoity Toity exclaimed.
Suddenly, he gasped at the sound of thunder and flashes of red, green, blue, and yellow, the same colors as the lightning bolt when a storm cloud appeared and colored rays of light pierced its thickness. An array of colors shined before revealing Rainbow Dash who posed in her dress.
"Oh, spectacular!" Hoity Toity said, applauding.
Opal and Mario smiled in agreement.
Then, Hoity Toity gasped to see vines rise up, flowers blooming and petals falling and from the flourescent shower appeared with Fluttershy looking meek, but hopeful as she was in her dress that had butterfly accessories on it.
"Now this is a fashion show!" Hoity Toity said, now enjoying himself. "All of these dresses are simply amazing! Who is responsible? Step forward, show yourself!"
He was then blinded for a moment as Rarity then appeared on the stage.
Rarity is wearing her own Gala dress which her friends worked on together to both thank and apologize to her. It was a ball gown that was pink, magneta, purple, and yellow with jewels sewn in just the right places and a radiant tiara rested upon her head.
"Brava! Brava! Magnifico! Encore!" Hoity Toity cheered.
"Oh, thank you. Thank you! Oh, thank you so much!" Rarity said happily.
She turned to Mario as he smiled at the six girls with a wink. They smiled back at him.
"Now, girls." Rarity called them. "I've got a little surprise for the five you. Comet, Rose, Apple Shine, Winter, Storm Hawk, you five can come out now."
And just like that, Comet, Apple Shine, Rose Lotus, Winter Breeze, and Storm Hawk revealed themselves in their own Gala dresses which it got the Mane 5, especially Hoity Toity, in shock.
"Wow." Twilight said. "Comet, you look...so majestic."
"Majestic is right the word to describe." Hoity Toity agreed. "And that dress robe looked exactly similar and amazing."
"Winter, you look like a snow princess." Fluttershy said to her daughter.
"Indeed, her dress is an inspiration of the season of winter." Hoity Toity adds. "Just like yours that inspired of the season of spring."
"Rosey, you look amazing." Pinkie Pie said with a smile. "I really love your traditional Hindu-theme."
"I really got to take a look at the Hindu design because it is quite a beautiful design that compliments the color." Hoity Toity said with a smile.
"Storm Hawk, you look sharp in that uniform." Rainbow Dash said. "Your late foster parents would've been proud of you."
"This uniform really compliments the military theme of the Wonderbolts, but this theme is rather different." Hoity Toity said. "After learning about the design from the distant world after Rarity told me, I'd salute you."
"Apple Shine, yah look mite amazin' in those duds." Applejack said with a smile. "And with that, it suits you."
"Indeed, the western theme attires was really amazing." Hoity Toity said.
Once the excitement settled down, everypony started complimenting and discussing each others attire while Twilight was giving a friendship report which Spike wrote down.
Dear Princess Celestia,
This week, my very talented friend Rarity, as well as your student Mario, including my son Comet and his friends, 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 generous given to you. In other words, you shouldn't look a gift horse in a mouth.
Twilight giggled at her little pun while Mario chuckled with an agreement as Spike tied up a scroll and sent it, heading towards Canterlot. Hoity Toity watched the scroll leave the Carousel 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." Hoity Toity said.
That got Rarity's eyes nearly popped out which she began to realize that being a well-known fashion designer would be easy.
That's it for the 25th chapter.