"Hmmmmmmmmmm..." Rarity tapped her muzzle. The fashionista squinted in deep thought.
Twilight Sparkle craned her neck. "'Hmmmmmmmm?' Rarity, what does 'Hmmmmmm' mean?"
"Shhhhhh..." Rarity tilted her head to the left... then to the right. "Mmmmhmmmm... yes... yes... quite..."
She, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were closely surrounding a girlishly-adorned farm mare on all sides. Applejack squirmed, standing awkwardly in a red, green, and pink number with light pastel highlights across the bodice. The bustle was airy and translucent, giving the blonde pony a very "wispy" look.
"Uhhhhhh..." Applejack clenched her teeth. "Who's gonna be the first pony to admit it?"
"Admit what, Applejack?" Fluttershy asked, blinking.
Applejack sighed, shoulders slumping. "This is like a bull bein' unleashed in a china shop, ain't it?"
"Heehee!" Pinkie Pie grinned from ear to ear. "It's one sassy bull, then!"
"Uh uh—" Rarity forcibly tilted Applejack's chin—and the rest of her body—back up into a proper posture. "Just hold still, darlin'."
"For what?" Applejack raised an eyebrow. "This dressin' room got thicker than a bog! I feel like I'm waitin' for somepony to pluck an apple on my head and fire an arrow at me."
"Applejack..." Twilight beamed. "You're gorgeous!"
"Then what the hay's the problem? I only did this so I'd fit in with y'all."
"I'm ascertaining the issue at hoof, darling..." Rarity said.
"Well, could ya 'ascertain' faster?" Applejack nodded with her head. "Rainbow's slouchin' off lookin' mighty bored over there!"
"Oh. Nah." A voice wheezed from the distance. "I-I'm good."
Applejack turned to glance at her—
Rarity tilted her chin back. "Aaaaaaaaand hold."
"Uhhhhhh..." Applejack's brow furrowed. "What am I holdin' for?"
"Ah. At last." Rarity stood back with a smug little grin. "I understand now."
"What?" Pinkie's head whipped back and forth. "What is it, Rare-Rare?"
"It's her mane." Rarity pointed. "Its hanging far too heavily. It clashes with the weightlessness of the rest of the ensemble."
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Pinkie nodded. "...Really?"
"Oh wow, Rarity..." Fluttershy exhaled. "You're absolutely right! I was thinking the same thing, but... m-my mind didn't know how to process it into exact words!"
"Guess that's why she's Ponyville's most talented fashionista," Twilight said with a smile.
"Nothing wrong with the way you look, Applejack," Rarity said, eyelashes fluttering. "It's all in the presentation of your natural beauty, darling. Your mane could just stand a slight readjustment to match the gown—is all."
"Ahhhh great..." Applejack rolled her eyes. "Here I am lookin' like some spruced-up watermelon. Now yer tellin' me I gotta sport a curly vine too?"
Fluttershy giggled.
"I'll solve that super quick!" Pinkie's muzzle contorted grotesquely as she snorted, snorted again, then spat onto her hoof. "Hold super still, AJ!" She raised the saliva-coated hoof towards Applejack's exposed mane.
"Egads!" Rarity shrieked. "Twilight—!"
FLASH! A telekinetic spell of epic proportions lifted Pinkie clear off her feet and a good four meters away from her target.
"Whoah there, Pinkie!" Twilight grimaced beneath a glowing horn. "Soooooo not the time or place!"
"Awwwwwww!" Pinkie pouted. "But Twilight! I wasn't gonna wet-willy her or nothing!"
"Y'all are crazy..." Applejack face-hoofed. "I swear..."
"It's okay!" Rarity smiled, teeth showing. "It's quite fine! I know just the solution!" She hooked forelimbs with Applejack. "We'll just... sashay on down to the Canterlot Salon!"
"What?!"
"I've seen this fabulous in-fashion updo that's all the rage and—"
"Hold yer horses for a dag-blame'd second!" Applejack jerked away, frowning. Pinkie and Fluttershy were giggling as she protested: "I was only tryin' this thang on for kicks! No way I can afford buying me a fancy dress!"
"I-I'll split it with you!" Rarity pleaded.
"Rarity..."
"We can all chip in! Right girls?"
"Abso-posi-tootily-lootly!"
"It looks so wonderful on you, AJ..."
"Could be nice to wear for when Celestia visits—"
"Consarnit!" Applejack snarled, fussing with them. "Who's side are y'all on anyways?" She looked across the way. "Rainbow! Reason with them! Tell them to knock it off!"
A pair of ruby eyes stared blankly.
"Rainbow...?!"
"Huh? What?"
"What's the matter with you?"
"Nothing! Nothing's the batter! Er... I-I mean you're just fine! I mean I'm fine!"
Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Rainbow...?"
"Ahem." Rainbow hovered up from her chair. "Rarity, salons are stupid. You're stupid. Let Applejack go."
"That's more like it!"
"Ungh!" Rarity tossed her mane. "Sticks and stones, Rainbow Dash! I say we're going." She smiled. "We can get you a rainbow perm while we're at ittttt!"
"A prismatic perm!" Pinkie Pie insisted.
"That's it!" Rainbow Dash spun about and fled towards the department store's exist in a spectral blur. "I'm outta here!"
"Dang it, Rainbow!" Applejack stomped a hoof.
Twilight and Fluttershy laughed once again.