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// Weakness 
// Story: A Cavalcade of Cards 
// by QueenMoriarty 
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Miss Rococo 'Coco' Pommel didn't think of herself as a particularly strong mare. True, she had weathered Suri's abuse for several years, but she had never fought it. She had certainly prospered under Rarity's tutelage, but she had never struck out on her own. The only thing she had ever started herself had been borrowed from a dead mare, and even that needed the help of two national heroes just to salvage the operation. It was clear to her that she was a weak mare, and not even her new senior management position in Rarity for You could convince her otherwise.

Business was slow today, and the other salesponies were more than happy to shoulder the workload, so Coco had plenty of time to reflect on her fundamental uselessness as a pony. She was free to look around at the designs of her mentor, to lose herself in her savior's unadulterated mastery of the world. In the space of a few years, Rarity had gone from a no-name ingénue to one of the most dominating names in the fashion industry. She had woven every opportunity that came her way into a seamless tapestry of ever-escalating success, securing everything from exclusive contracts with the hottest stars of Equestria to snatching up prime real estate for long-overdue business expansions. Could there be any doubt of her inherent superiority?

"Pardon me, miss. I was wondering if I could have your opinion on something?"

Coco was roused from her reverie by a customer, and she slipped back into a professional attitude with practiced ease. She looked up and smiled at the stallion who had caught her attention, and her fake smile grew slightly more real as she took in the slightly ridiculous sight in front of her. He was wearing an elaborate costume of the sort that hadn't been fashionable for several hundred years, having more pins and filigree than any suit Coco had ever seen in polite company. And that was saying nothing of his enormous ruffled collar, a ridiculous thing that encircled his head like the most stuffy halo ever.

Then he smiled, and Coco hardly noticed the wardrobe anymore. His teeth sparkled like diamonds under the boutique's bright lights, and his eyes were a piercing blue that hit Coco like an ice-cold steel pole. His face was a simple earthy brown, but the mane was azure blue shot through with streaks of green that she instantly recognized as dye. It was an altogether eclectic picture, the grotesque and the beautiful combining in such unexpected ways that there could only be one explanation.

"Are you an actor?" Coco asked, putting just a touch of child-like nervousness into her voice. He smiled even wider, and she began to wish she had sunglasses. 

"I've been known to play my fair share of roles from time to time," he said, his words rolling off his tongue as though he had rehearsed them in front of a mirror for months. The sparkling smile wavered, and he cocked his head to the side as he stared at Coco. "Pardon my asking, but are you the acclaimed Rococo Pommel?"

Coco blushed instinctively and looked away. "We-well, I'd hardly say I was acclaimed, but I am Rococo Pommel, yes."

The actor literally beamed, and Coco had to fight the urge to squint. "Excellent! I'm sure you get this all the time, but you are exactly the pony I wanted to see." He reached into the breast pocket of his ridiculous suit, and pulled out a small black box. "I recently inherited a truly singular brooch, and I was told that there was no better pony than you to consult on how to put together a fitting ensemble to pair it with."

Coco took the box over to the counter so that she could open it better, and she couldn't stop herself from smiling as she saw the brooch. It was a brilliant red and gold Pegasopolis crest with wings flared triumphantly and eyes gleaming viciously. It was the Icon of Hurricane, the rallying symbol of countless generations of pegasus warriors. Hardly an uncommon bauble, but certainly one that an earth pony tailor rarely had the chance to work with.

"Well, I'm not sure about singular, but it certainly is beautiful. Considering the militaristic significance of the brooch, Madam Rarity would probably recommend a simple midnight-blue affair with a lot of harsh lines, but it really would depend on the occasion."

The actor pursed his lips, and shook his head. "No, no, all wrong. That is no simple icon of the great commander. It was hewn from a dragonfire ruby, and framed in griffon gold. In the right company, that brooch will part any crowd and command anyone's attention. No simple military suit will do." His cold eyes drilled into Coco's own, and she wilted under the glare. "Come now, Miss Pommel. I have heard your name spoken in the same breath as the greatest seamstresses of our time, with the very same reverence and even more besides."

"But this is Rarity's boutique..." Coco protested, unable to tear herself away from the piercing blue eyes.

"And the Royal Guard are Celestia's soldiers, but you would not expect them to behave just the same as the Princess." His eyes grew softer, and Coco could have sworn they turned green. "If I wanted Rarity to assemble an outfit, I would seek out Rarity. Instead, I have come to ask you what you think should be done. So tell me with your own words what looks best to your eyes."

Coco looked between the actor and the brooch, trying to keep her knees from shaking. "I guess... a blend of flowing cloth and hard metals, arranged like wings to evoke the image of a dragon, with shoes that are invocative of bird's talons?"

The actor mulled over her words for a moment, then smiled. The diamond shine of his teeth was gone, replaced with normal pearly whites. "That sounds wondrous, Miss Pommel. But tell me, why did you not suggest that in the first place?"

"Because I'm not as good as Rarity." The words slipped out faster than Coco could stop them, and she paled as she saw his expression change. But to her surprise, it was not an expression of mockery or disgust that he donned, but one of compassion.

"Nonsense. You're exactly as good as Rarity. You just need a confidence boost. And luckily for you, I know some folks who can help with that." The actor reached into his other pocket, and pulled out a business card. It had no address on it, only a picture of a seapony. "You need to take command of your life, Rococo Pommel. The Combine would be more than happy to help."