Jack whistled to himself as he walked towards Carousel Boutique. A few days ago, he received a letter from Luna containing his own ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala. Rarity had offered to make him something for the occasion, as she was already working on dresses for herself and her friends.
"Wonder how they'll turn out," he wondered aloud.
"Not sure," said Dot, Jack's newest Spirit, from the Hopping Switch, "but I bet they'll turn out incredible."
"Given her reputation, that sounds reasonable," Jack said as he opened the door. On the other side, he saw a very stressed out Rarity working on 5 hideous dresses.
"I'll be with you in just a second," Rarity said before turning around, "oh, good morning Jack. I assume you're here for your suit?"
"Yeah, how's it coming?"
"It's done," Rarity replied, taking a white suit out of a closet, "changing room's over there, go put it on so that you can tell me what's wrong with it." Before Jack could ask what she meant, Rarity turned back to her work, tuning him out completely. Jack just shrugged before entering the changing room. Upon exiting, he was garbed in a in a cream colored suit, with an orange tie and handkerchief in his breast pocket. Rarity's expression became a combination of professional pride and pained anticipation, "So... what's the problem."
"Nothing really," Jack said, stretching his arms, "A mite tight across the chest, but other than that it's perfect. Wonderful as usual Rarity, although I hope that those... other dresses are just the result of a bad day."
"Hardly," Rarity said as she slumped down as a combination of relief and exasperation, "those are a result of our friends' suggestions after they tried on, these." With a flourish, Rarity opened a curtain to reveal 5 other dresses that, while similar in theme to the 5 she was working on before, were as different in quality as Picasso and a preschooler. "Not to mention that I'm doing a fashion show with... these," she gestured towards the disasters, "tonight, and my own dress isn't ready."
Jack frowned, "When are they coming over?"
"2 hours."
"You go work on your dress, I'll take care of them when they arrive," Jack replied.
2 hours later
"So, where's Rarity," asked Rainbow as she and the others waited in the lobby of Carousel Boutique.
"She's working on her own dress," said Jack, "speaking of, we're going to play a little game."
"Oooh I love games, what're we playing?" Pinkie asked cheerfully.
"Just a little trivia game," Jack said as he pulled the covers off of 2 cloths racks that were beside him. One of them held Rarity's original designs, the other held the... results of her friends' suggestions. "Now then, I'm going to grab a dress from each of these racks, all you need to do is stand next to the rack that held the dress you like better. Now," Jack pulled out Twilight's two dresses, "which is better?"
Twilight stood next to the rack of her modified dress, as everyone else went to the other. "But this dress is much more accurate?"
"Maybe Twi, but that don't make it purdy," said Applejack.
"Don't go saying anything just yet," Jack said as he swaped Twilight's dresses for her's, "your turn."
As Jack moved from dress to dress, it became pretty apparent that the only ones who liked the modified versions are the ones they were made for.
"Now, two last questions," JAck said as he placed the last dresses, Pinkie Pie's, back on the rack, "raise your hoof if you're a professional dressmaker." To noones surprise, no one did. "Finally, who has a better understanding of what makes a good dress, a pro? Or an amateur?"
"A pro," they all said meekly.
"Good," Jack said, "let's just hope Rarity can salvage at least some of the material."
Just then a frazzled looking Rarity stepped out from her workshop.
"Um, Rarity, we just wanted to say," Twilight started, before Rarity interrupted her.
"I heard it all," said Rarity, "and I hope you'll keep this in mind the next time you have any, suggestions."
The girls chuckled meekly as Jack chuckled a bit more heartily, "Like I always say, trust the opinion of the guy doing it for a living, cause they know better."
"Quite," said Rarity, "as thanks for salvaging my reputation, I made this for you." Rarity's horn glowed as a bowler hat that matched the suit she made for him floated out of the workshop.
"Thanks," Jack said as he took it and put it on, "professional opinion, you think a cane would look good with this? Cause I think a stylish ornamental cane would work really well with this look."
Rarity tapped her chin, "Perhaps, a light colored wood like maple with a rounded handle I think."
"Glad you approve," said Jack.
"Now, chop chop, it's almost time for the fashion show," Rarity grinned, pleased that the show wouldn't be the disaster she originally feared.
Jack grinned as he watched from the sidelines, Rarity's work was being well received.
"Not too shabby," he heard Hoity Toity mutter to himself, "excellent concepts, but she clearly lacks the higher-end equipment and materials to bring out her full potential. Although those models are clearly amateurs."
Jack's grin grew, it looked like Rarity would have zero complaints when the reviews of her work came in the paper.
"And now, the mare behind the dresses," said Spike, who was acting as MC, "Rarity!"
Rarity stepped out, looking radiant in her dress. However, Jack was distracted, he was feeling the same sensation from when he first encountered Orion.
All of a sudden, Pinkie screamed, "Twitchy Tail!!!" Whether it caused it, or heralded it, as soon as the last syllable left her lips, a large light fixture parted from its supports and plunged straight towards Rarity. Jack yanked out his Driver and slapped it to his waist, although the 3 seconds it took for it to fully boot up would be long over before Rarity got crushed. Luckily, Twilight teleported to her side and then teleported the both of them away before he could flip one toggle.
"Another one?" he heard Hoity mutter, "this is the fifth designer who's been the victim of an accident at a fashion show I attended in a row. At least this time they escaped without injury."
"Are you okay Rarity?" asked Twilight.
Rarity nodded, but before she could speak, she suddenly started choking before rising into the air.
"So, you managed to avoid my little present," said a voice from thin air, "no matter, I suppose I can get my hooves dirty."
"Hang tight Rarity," said Jack as he flipped the switches.
3!
2!
1!
"Henshin! Uchuu Kita!!!!"
"And who the buck are you supposed to be? Some kind of mutant Diamond Dog with even less brain?"
"I'm Kamen Rider Fourze! Now put her down so we can settle this one on one."
"I suppose I might as well take the request of a client into client into consideration," the voice said before Rarity went flying into the stage, "although I don't see how you could possibly think you could beat something you can't even see."
"Maybe not with my eyes."
Radar On
Launcher On
"Of course," Twilight said as Jack started scanning, "even if he can't find this Zodiart with his eyes, the Radar Module can locate it."
Jack grinned as a wire graph version of the Zodiart appeared on the screen, "Found you, fire 1."
A salvo of missiles erupted from the Launcher Module to impact something that couldn't be seen. When the smoke cleared, it revealed a singed looking lizard themed Zodiart.
"Chameleon, figured as much," Jack said as he rubbed his head, "now why don't you just come quietly, you know you can't beat me without being able to hide, and that explosion had the added benefit of scaring away all your would-be hostages."
"I might not be able to beat you right now, but escaping on the other hand," Chameleon said before shooting out a tongue shaped whip which sent the remainder of the stage lights falling towards the crowd before vanishing, presumably to escape.
"You gotta be kidding me," Jack said as he pumped the lever and aimed the Radar Module towards the falling debris, "math the trajectories Decima."
"On it!"
Launcher, Radar, Limit Break!
"Rider Hunter Missile Storm!" Jack yelled as the Launcher Module expanded, revealing several more missile racks, before they all launched towards targets projected by the Radar Module. The missiles impacted the debris, causing it to either be deflected away from the crowd or disintegrate entirely.
Jack sighed in relief as he fell back first towards the ground. "Why'd it have to be a smart one?" he complained to nobody in particular before turning his head to Rarity, "sorry about the mess."
"Well I suppose I could let it slide since you save my life," Rarity chuckled, "but I do wonder what that was about."
"Not sure," Jack said as he levered himself into a sitting position and turned his head towards a very disheveled Hoity Toity, "but I have a hunch as to who might."