Appledashery

by Just Essay

Fillies Just Wanna Have Fun

“Okay, you know what?” Rainbow Dash's entire body recoiled from the sight of a frilly lavender saddle dangling from a hanger in the middle of a clothing store. “This was probably a super bad idea.”

“Actually, color me intrigued,” Zecora said as she hoofed aside several gowns hanging along a wrack. “This place's wares have my curiosity piqued.”

“Yeah, but they're just... dresses.” Rainbow said with a wincing expression. She trotted past a shelf full of fancy hats and stood by Zecora's side. “I've seen—like—a gazillion of them at Rarity's Boutique.”

“Is that the case?” Zecora briefly glanced over her shoulder before once more examining the gowns. “I've never been to her place.”

“Heh...” Rainbow smirked. “You're better off. It's like a vampire carved a brothel out of a giant perfume bottle and shoved a bunch of ponyquins inside.” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “I mean, sure, Rarity's a real swell pony and an awesome friend, but she could stand to obsess a lot less over this... 'fashion' stuff.”

“I am baffled at your misgivings,” Zecora said with a smirk. “Is that not how she makes her living?”

“Well... y-yeah...” Rainbow squinted at the rows upon rows of pastels. “But it doesn't make the stuff any less... lame.”

Zecora chuckled.

“What?”

“You, Rainbow, are a pony of a unique kind. It's rare to find someone with both an open and a narrow mind.”

“Yeah, well, it can't be helped,” Rainbow muttered. “When I was a young filly, a marauding band of fashionistas raided Cloudsdale and burned my house down.”

“Really?”

“Pfffft. No.”

“Heheheh...”

“You sure you wouldn't wanna go across the street and shop at the sports store instead?” Rainbow grinned. “They've got this wicked discount on hockey sticks!”

“You do not say?” Zecora glanced at her. “And just how would such bludgeons brighten your day?”

“I dunno...” Rainbow shrugged. “We could fly around town and knock out hornets nests.”

“That sounds quite contradictory to a pegasus' natural duty.”

“Pfft. Seriously, who cares about hornets? You seen the sort of crap they do to bees?! Ha! No wonder there's so few of them around these days.” Rainbow Dash froze, blinking at a hat shelf. “'Global Whinnying' my flank...”

“Hmmmm...” Zecora gazed at a gown with trailing green fabric. “The vernal equinox is almost over. I wonder... do these colors clash with the themes of Equestrian summer?”

“Uhhh... sure, I guess?” Rainbow reached onto the shelf and grabbed a peculiar brown stetson. Gulping, she nervously placed the wide-brimmed hat over her petite skull. It sank a bit over her ears, so she pushed it up with a numb hoof while wandering towards a standing mirror along the wall. She gazed at the brown cow filly hat crowning her head, obscuring the prismatic threads dangling out the edges of it. Gradually, like a rising sun, a rosy blush ran through her facial features.

“Are you two finding everything okay?” An insanely pleasant voice chirped, attached to a sales associate with a golden smile.

“Daaaah!” Rainbow Dash flinched, immediately flinging the brown hat off her skull. “We were just... I mean I was just... I-I-I mean I wasn't—”

“Actually, I have a personal inquiry.” Zecora beckoned the mare over as she pointed at a deep burgundy gown. “Is there any way to scale if this outfit would fit on me?”

“Well, ma'am, we do have a dressing room.”

Zecora squinted. “A... dressing room?”

“Yes,” Rainbow muttered with a nod as she straightened the hats on the shelves. “I think they have those things here...”

“You mean I am allowed to give the outfit a try before I find out if I am inclined to buy?”

“Heehee!” The sales associate nodded. “Why, yes, of course, ma'am!”

Zecora blinked, her muzzle agape. She glanced aside at Rainbow Dash. “Something must be amiss. How come I never once knew about this?”

“What?” Rainbow glanced back. “They don't have 'clothing huts' in the desert?”

“I... I feel slightly numb,” Zecora exhaled. “As if poison joke became gaseous and I've just succumbed.”

“Heh... well, if it'll get it out of your system, why not try the silly thing on?”

Zecora stared at Rainbow with sparkling eyes.

Rainbow looked back. She blinked. “Wait... for real?”

---

Minutes later, the curtain swung open with a rattling sound.

The store's two sale associates were standing nearby, and they stood gawking.

Rainbow yawned and blinked sleepily from where she sat in a plush chair. She looked over, and her ears perked up... as did her wingtips.

Zecora stood—more like drifted—in a veritable cloud of blood-red silk. Velvety tendrils of finely woven reds and bergundies framed her figure, accentuating the dark stripes of her exposed neck and legs. A skirt with platinum and gold embroidery flounced everytime she trotted and turned, making the zebra resemble a living torch having been lit in some mystical darkness.

“Do...” One associate murmured in a dazed voice. “...do you have a frequent b-buyer's card, ma'am?”

The other associated swatted her companion briefly in the head, then cleared her voice. “It looks... erm...” She smiled. “Very very good on you, ma'am. How does it feel?”

“Almost as if I'm wearing a cloud,” Zecora said, lifting one hoof at another and feeling the weight of the gown. “I'm still surprised that such a demonstration is allowed.” She smiled at herself for a prolonged moment, then glanced across the shop. “Rainbow, my friend, you have a level head. Do you think that I am presentable in red?”

“Heh...” Rainbow slicked her mane back and smirked. “You kidding, girl? You're like a crazy-sexy punchline.”

“Hmmm?”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Forget I said anything.” She jumped off the chair and hovered over. “You look great. But... y'know... I doubt we're gonna have the Grand Galloping Gala in town anytime soon.”

“Oh, goodness, I must have lost all grasp of subtlety!” Zecora winced. “I did not realize this was meant for pageantry.”

“What, the price tag didn't tip you off?” Rainbow chuckled. “Ehhhhhhhhh... who am I to talk?” She glanced at the stupefied retail associates, then leaned in towards Zecora's ear. “You done playing dress-up yet, girl? I think you're liable to give these mares an incurable case of Everfree Fever...”

“Hmmm...” Zecora glanced down at her gown once more. “It depends...”

“On what?”

“I feel as though I could do better...” She turned and smiled at the pair. “Do you have this in lavender?”

“Eunnnngh...” Rainbow slapped a hoof over her face. “What have I unleashed...?”

Comments

[Tchernobog]

A monster, Dash. An absolute monster.

[Lilith Evanson]

Aww! The stetson! Buy the stetson!

[zaponator]

I'd be fine with ZecBow.
Just sayin'

[Lightning Bearer]

Everypony's gay for Zecora.

[Jay_Baker]

Lol this made me smile for once keep up the good work. :) :D

[PropMaster]

Gorramit. I'll be in my bunk.

[BabySkittleMonster]

Oh no... Sexy Zecora. Watch out, Fluttershy, Zecora is passing by. Okay, that failed. Rainbow's reaction to the whole thing was hysterical! Keep it up!

We need more of Dashie blushing anyway. It's too adorable for words.

[RoboRed]

*intermittent "squees" and "eees" heard in background*

[LucyHorseThing]

4543845

[Seraphimus]

Oh my god Stop it

You're making me straight for Zecora D:

[arancaytar]

She's an evil enchantress and she does evil dances
And if you look into her eyes she will put you in trances
Then what will she do, she'll mix up an evil brew
Then she'll steal Big Macintosh away from you.
So... watch out Fluttershy.

[Ttkitty441]

“When I was a young filly, a marauding band of fashionistas raided Cloudsdale and burned my house down.”

"When I was a little filly
A galloping herd overtook my city
Shipped me off to the orphanage
Said ditch those roots if you want to fit in"