Applejack strode into the bustling mall a good three steps ahead of her companions. “Let me say, girls, it’s a darn nice thing to see you getting along.”
A glance back showed her escorts beaming at her. Rarity raised a white wrist to her face, chucking. “Thank you, although you should not read too much into it.”
Their third – a curly-haired yellow siren – matched the gesture, smiling with closed eyes. “This is an alliance of convenience. While it may serve a basis for later friendship, today we simply share a mutual objective.”
“Hanging out at the mall, having a good time?” Applejack tried. Her own smile grew more nervous. It was always a bad sign when Rarity became haughtily amused – evidence she had some new project to obsess over. Seeing Adagio mimic her was something new, and it couldn’t be good.
“Darling, no!” Rarity scoffed, and Applejack did not like how the pair approached. They split up, then came together to flank her tightly on each end. “We ended up as partners during science class and got to chatting about how desperately in need of new clothes you are.”
Adagio nodded. While not a true fashionista like Rarity, she was certainly a fashion consumer. “Girlfriend, everything in your closet predates the internet. You have no heels, no leggings, no semi-formal dresses. Half your shirts have deodorant stains, all your white undershirts have turned light brown, and your underwear of choice is boxers.”
Rarity matched the nod, her smile becoming grim. “Grabbing the essentials will be easy. And utterly necessary because really, Applejack. While your work ethic is attractive, Adagio has assured me its effects on your undergarments are not.”
“Underwear. Easy.” Applejack kept pace. “And after that, maybe we hit the arcade?”
“If we have time,” Adagio said. “We don’t have the funds to completely fix your wardrobe, but Rarity and I agreed to get you one unquestionably high-fashion thing while we’re here. Swimsuit. Shoes. leggings. Something to put in your dresser to finally say, ‘yes, this belongs to a girl.’”
“Thanks, but no thanks. You guys know I’m not much for all that.” Applejack gave a light chuckle. She tried to raise a hand to scratch her face, but something arrested it.
The other two had stopped. Each with one arm locked around hers, effectively imprisoning her between them. Both with winning, beautiful smiles.
“Darling,” Rarity said again, and Adagio finished.
“We’re not giving you a choice.”
By sheer coincidence, of course, the first shop Adagio picked out was a swimsuit store. Also a subject of absolute chance was the particular style she had Applejack try on: a Toity-brand two-piece that may be the reason the esteemed fashion mogul was on his second marriage.
Applejack’s wary voice emerged from the dressing room, reaching her chaperons outside. “Where’s the rest of it? Girls, this is a little...”
“Ah-ah!” Rarity called over her. “Come on out, and let the professionals give judgment.”
Trapped, Applejack complied. Rarity’s smile weakened at the sight – yes, the swimsuit’s gold color was an excellent choice, blending seductively into Applejack’s skin. But the straps on its bottom hung far too low on her hips, necessitated by the tissue-sized covering between. She couldn’t see much of the swimsuit’s top, but the guarding position of Applejack’s arms meant it was hardly child-friendly.
“A bit… too revealing, yes,” Rarity acknowledged.
“It’s perfect.”
Adagio’s words brought Rarity’s gaze over to her. The yellow siren’s irises had swallowed their eyes, leaving magenta orbs fixed upon Applejack with a slack mouth beneath.
Rolling her eyes, Rarity reached over and bopped her with a rolled-up magazine. “Go change, Applejack.”
The next stop was at Sassy’s Saddles and Shoes. They were there for the shoes, and Applejack thanked her lucky stars she was able to steer Adagio to this store while Rarity took a call. Footwear would be no problem at all, or so she told herself. The poor fool.
The first attempted step with the black, fashionable shoes sent Applejack tumbling to the ground, taking an entire display stand on her way.
Rarity ran into the store, and upon seeing the situation, sent a scathing glare at Adagio. “Four-inch heels, for Applejack? Really?”
“Thank you,” The dizzy Applejack managed. “I saw some loafers back over–”
“If we’re doing this, we’re doing this right!” Rarity continued angrily. “We will not dress my friend in last year’s fashion. six-inch heels are all the rage now. Come along, darlings, I saw some in the other aisle.”
Prim Hemline’s Fashion Emporium. Three full levels of every overpriced scrap of cloth under the sun, so of course the first thing Rarity lead them to was the gosh darn corsets.
Rarity’s words emerged as a shrill breath, with her and Adagio tugging with all their might on the strings behind their victim. “Trust me, Applejack! This will *huff* all be worth it.”
“Corsets are the sexiest thing ever,” Adagio ground out as she strained against her end of the bindings.
“Asphyxiation ain’t sexy!” Applejack gave a piteous gasp, lacking the breathing space to do anything else as the strings forced her flat body into an hourglass. Or at least, made a violent attempt at it.
Rarity grunted her support, now with a foot up on Applejack’s back to help her pull. “They are ‘in!’”
“In what?” Applejack managed with ever-shrinking volume. “My lungs?”
“Perfect!” Rarity and Adagio shouted at once. They tied their lines together, spun, whooped and high-fived, and then Applejack fell to the ground.
On the way out, something happened. A flash of deep, denim blue caught Applejack’s eye through a rack of blouses. She sped over, followed by two fashion-conscious friends anxious for success after the day they had.
“This looks… yee-haw, I was right! Check out this beauty.” Applejack talked excitedly as she approached, then reached her mark. She whirled with a grin, presenting the other two with a pressed pair of
“Overalls.”
Rarity said the word with a horrified, wide-eyed gaze.
“In a Hemline store,” Adagio muttered. She glanced around. “I have to reappraise my opinion of this brand.”
“Me too,” Applejack managed around her grin as she felt the piece over. “This is good and thick denim, better than the usual. Makes it a lot easier to work around barbed wire and rusty tools. The chest part’s got pockets, which is real nice when I’m on the ladder and want nails or something without trying to get at my hips.”
Rarity gave a deadpan glare at the shapeless suspender-pants in Applejack’s arms. “Do tell.”
Applejack ran one of the suspenders over her shoulder and nodded, never breaking stride. “Little padding under the straps, too. Means they won’t chafe. And the color’s exactly what you want in a good pair of overalls. Dark blue, but a little mottled so grime and stains won’t show up. Heck, barring any disasters, I could wear this thing til I’m sixty.”
Adagio folded her arms. “Joy.”
Finally, the farmer turned her gaze to the others. “Whad’ya think? Reckon something that keeps good that long is fashionable enough for us. Let’s ring ‘er up, and head to the arcade.”
Both girls narrowed their eyes. Rarity raised her right finger while Adagio raised her left, mouths opening as they moved to redress their friend from her horrid mistake.
But then they looked.
Applejack’s wide, green eyes gazed at them with joy above their homely freckles. Her teeth gleamed, grinning in cheer which had deserted her until now. The simple, honest happiness of a girl who not only found what she wanted, but anticipated approval from the friends she cared so much for.
Slowly, Adagio and Rarity lowered their hands. They gave a quiet sigh, traded a defeated glance, and beamed at Applejack.
“It’s… perfect,” Adagio said, unable to hide the wince in her voice. But seeing Applejack’s smile grow made it all worthwhile. “It suits you, too.”
Rarity clapped her hands, her painted smile turning to a tired, but genuine one. “Quite so. Now for the arcade… actually, let’s stop at the food court first. I think we all deserve a little ice cream after that.”