//------------------------------// // 86 Chaotic Disposition, Part One // Story: Continuity Disrupted // by Doug Graves //------------------------------// Rarity groans at the constant pounding through the walls of the Carousel Boutique. She stops her sewing machine, setting down the half-finished robe she is working on, the gold silk cloth carefully folded to the side. After this one is complete she just needs to make sure she has the materials in her closet lined up to finish the last few, but that infernal thumping is far too much a distraction! She gets up in a huff, stomping downstairs. Rarity peeks her head into her storeroom, grimacing at the ongoing ‘performance’ by the three fillies. Scootaloo has nearly emptied the last of the crates, but that just means that she has more space to dance around as she bangs one semi-precious stone after another onto the wooden walls. Every once in a while she comes to a gem that makes a sound she likes, so she tosses it into an ever-growing pile of mismatched gems that seem to share nothing else in common. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle at least have done a halfway decent job of sorting the gems by color, but only Sweetie Belle’s side is also sorted by size. The tired look on her face and the fact that her hooves grab the gems suggests that she had been sorting by horn. She should commend her filly for the effort, but she can still use a lot of practice; she shouldn’t be getting tired that quickly, but no matter. Both fillies are darting back and forth, grabbing the wayward throws and bringing them to their piles. Fluttershy sits by the entrance, occasionally pulling out a smaller empty box and filling it with gems of similar size, color, and clarity. Rarity smiles at that, but she will need to double check to make sure everything is sorted correctly. Doubtful, as Fluttershy has spent a considerable amount of time in her shop. Hopefully they don’t shelve everything. Her smile fades almost as quickly as it comes as another loud wail emanates from Scootaloo. Rarity clears her throat, doing her best to suppress her glare. She thinks she succeeds until the three fillies immediately stop their cavorting to stare at her, slight whimpers from each of them. “Now, girls, I realize that you are having a lot of… fun, sorting through the gems. But I am trying to work, and unfortunately your… exuberance is quite the distraction. I don’t suppose you can find a different activity to hold your attention?” Rarity offers a small, conciliatory smile. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo glance at each other, broad smiles quickly growing that definitely fail to quell Rarity’s fears. “Okay!” They chorus, bounding towards Rarity and Fluttershy. Apple Bloom remarks, “Ah didn’t want a cutie mark in inventorying anyway.” “Me neither,” Sweetie Belle says as they leave the room, “We need to find something else around here where we can get our cutie mark! Like mosaic laying!” “Yeah!” exclaims Scootaloo, her high pitched voice echoing as the three race down the hall. “Or maybe we can get our cutie marks in speed mosaic laying!” Rarity sighs, a forlorn look to Fluttershy. “I’m afraid I’ve bitten off a bit more than I can chew with this order. Alas, the life of a mare willing to put in the time for an extra bit or two.” Rarity licks her lips, her mind drifting to her upcoming luxurious spa visit. Oh, the extra time she spends on this rush order will most certainly be worth it! “Oh, but you should see them, darling! I’m lining them in this special gold silk. It adds just the right touch!” Fluttershy grins as well, her voice dropping, “Mm. Well, if you don’t want any distractions, I’m sure I can keep Doug busy downstairs.” She winks at Rarity, the unicorn smirking in return. “I don’t think Doug will be the problem, darling.” Rarity sighs, her tail flicking to the side. “Well, maybe initially. It’s those three I’m worried about.” Sweetie Belle shouts from the top of the stairs, “Ah bet Rarity’s got lots of gems in her workroom, too!” This is quickly followed by the pounding of Scootaloo and Apple Bloom’s hooves against the ceiling. “Oh, dear,” Rarity says with an apologetic glance to Fluttershy. “I’m afraid there will be no rest for the weary tonight.” She dashes after the three fillies. “That’s okay,” Fluttershy meekly smiles as she sedately follows. She pauses as the side door opens, her grin widening. Doug is here! She prances back to the kitchen to meet her stallion, eagerly licking her lips, her long pink tail swishing back and forth. Rarity bursts into her combination workroom and bedroom, eyes tracing all around the room searching for the expected devastation. Instead, the trio is calmly sitting around one of her closets, pushing small shards of many-hued gems around. Rarity wipes a bit of the perspiration beading on her forehead. That could have been much worse! Sweetie Belle looks over with a smile, motioning to the half-formed crest. “Do you like it, Rarity? Do you?” Rarity takes a closer look; they have used a good number of her rubies to make a field of red, surrounded by sapphires in a very rough circle. Inside is a prancing, cape wearing pony made of topaz. At least, that’s what she hopes it is. “It looks lovely, darling.” She turns back to her sewing machine. Everything is still in place, thankfully, and she walks over to get back to work. “Rarity?” comes her filly’s hesitant voice. Rarity briefly closes her eyes; will she be able to concentrate with these here? “Yes, dear?” she replies, turning to smile at the three fillies now clustering around her sewing machine and looking up at her. “Can I help you?” “Actually, we were wondering if we could help you!” Sweetie Belle exclaims, smiling broadly. “We could get our cutie marks in clothes making!” Apple Bloom adds as she presses next to Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo pushes up between the two, “Or in designing awesome attire for performing-ces!” Rarity shudders at the thought, “Well, at the moment I don’t really need any help. Perhaps you might be best off playing downstairs?” The trio look downcast as they collectively sigh. “Okay,” they unhappily groan, opening the door, Scootaloo taking a step towards the stairs. Sweetie Belle turns back, “Are you sure you don’t want any help?” Rarity begins to shake her head, though a stifled moan from downstairs dispels any notion of sending the three downstairs just yet. She stammers briefly, looking around the room. “Actually, I suppose the three of you may stay here with me. Or, if you would prefer, quietly studying in your room.” Scootaloo rushes back into Rarity’s workroom, hastily shutting the door behind her. “I’ll stay in here, thanks.” “Ah think Spike locked himself in Sweetie’s room,” Apple Bloom says with a slight frown. Rarity mutters to herself, “I cannot imagine why,” as she turns back to her sewing machine. She barely is able to sew a line before a cough from just behind her interrupts her work. She takes a deep breath, forcing a smile as she looks back at the trio. “Um, we were wonderin’ if’n we could make a… um…” Apple Bloom hesitates, eyes screwing up as she looks at the ceiling.” “Costume?” Scootaloo offers. “Crest?” says Sweetie Belle. “Some sort of…” Apple Bloom trails off again as Rarity’s thoughts drift off. At least they aren’t as… persistent as Doug can be. Unless she tells him off, but she always feels bad afterwards; he’s just trying to show her how much he loves her, after all. And Fluttershy is taking care of that particular issue for her, and then Doug is much more willing to help out without distracting her. Too much. He might still pester her a little, but he should be able to help her finish these last few robes. If she makes that their game for the night, he’ll certainly win, but she’ll finish these designs much earlier. Certainly worth it. “Outfit!” Apple Bloom nods as she settles on the word. “We need some sort of uniform to let everypony know that we are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Sweetie Belle gives Rarity her best pleading gaze, eyes growing tearful as she smiles at her dam. “Pleeease, Rarity? Can we make a uniform for each of us?” Scootaloo beams up, not saying anything. Rarity looks sternly at each of them. “As long as you keep quiet, then I suppose you may.” The three fillies grin, spinning around and raising a hoof in celebration. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER UNIFORM MAKERS!!” Rarity clears her throat, a neutral glare at Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle hesitates, cowering down just a little as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo trade fearful glances. “Oh, um, may we make a uniform?” Rarity smiles, “Yes, you may.” Their grins return, scampering off to the closet Rarity keeps her spare materials in. Her horn lights, a blue aura bringing out a few bolts of red and blue cloth. Scootaloo grabs a pair of scissors, Apple Bloom a measuring tape, and Sweetie Belle a set of her marking pencils. “Now, would you three like a pattern to go by?” Rarity offers with a wide smile. “I feel like you’re asking us, but there’s only one right answer,” Sweetie Belle says. “Oh, darling,” Rarity chuckles, pulling out one of her filly-sized cloak patterns. “Of course you have a choice. Just like every customer.” “Oh. I can do it your way, or I can be wrong.” Sweetie Belle frowns. “Yup!” Rarity says with a cheery smile. “Now, I must get back to work, or I fear I won’t be able to finish this order by tonight!” “Okay!” the three say, eagerly grabbing at the pattern. Sweetie Belle explains how the three of them will make their emblems on a fairly simple cloak, holding out the red cloth, then marking the various spots they will sew. They each tie the square fabric around their necks, looking back at how it spills over their flanks and gets under their hooves. “A little long, don’cha think?” says Scootaloo, brandishing the scissors. Rarity’s ear flicks back, listening in much to her dismay. “And it’ll drag in the mud when we’re walking around the woods!” Apple Bloom demonstrates by stomping on the fabric, it straining against her side. “That’s okay!” Sweetie Belle exclaims, her pencils haphazardly marking up the cloth. “We’ll just cut it down to size!” “No!” Rarity exclaims, darting back from her sewing machine. She yanks the scissors from Scootaloo’s grasp, saving the cloth from being bisected. “Here, let me show you.” She carefully folds the fabric across Scootaloo’s back, now a neat cloak. “There, much better.” A few pins levitate over, keeping the fabric from unrolling. A quick stitch later and the fillies now have a template to follow along. “Whew!” Rarity says to herself as she grabs a few ribbons from the closet. A tiny bit of gold fabric spills out as she walks back to her sewing machine. Finally, a bit of peace and quiet for her to finish this robe! The four continue working hard, brief glances by Rarity to check that everything is going as planned. The trio get each of the larger pieces to the correct size, hoof stitching the hem. They then each cut out from some of her scrap fabric a small yellow pony, setting it on top of a two tone blue background. Rarity smiles as she finishes the hood. Just a few more to go! Rarity looks up as the door opens, a very chipper Fluttershy peeking in. “Everything going well?” Fluttershy asks, glancing towards the Crusaders. “Oh, everything is just fine,” Rarity assures her herdmate. “What made you check?” “Um, it was a little too quiet,” Fluttershy offers, her smile slightly shrinking. “We thought you might need some help.” “Oh, these sweet little angels?” Rarity smiles as the three scamper over to Fluttershy, each wearing their cloaks. “Fluttershy!” they each exclaim, scampering over each other in their haste to show her their new outfit. “Look at this!” “I like it!” Fluttershy says, running her hoof along the fabric. “Yes. it’s… nice.” “Nice?” Sweetie Belle says, a slight huff. “I wasn’t going for nice.” “Oh, um, it’s… very nice?” Fluttershy says with a slightly cringing smile. “But look!” Scootaloo says, motioning to the design. “It’s us! We’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders! We have a crest and everything!” “And look at this!” Apple Bloom says, pulling the red cloak away from her body. Inside is lined with a shiny gold fabric, cut down to fit inside without folding. “It took sooo long to make, but Ah think it adds just the right touch, don’t ya?” Rarity turns, her eyes widening at the scraps of her very expensive, very difficult to replace gold silk strewn on the floor. “What have you done?” she bellows, charging forward to paw through the scraps. “That was the last of my gold silk! I’ll have to stay up all night to make more!” She shakes her head, mourning the loss. “Ohh, I hope I can make more.” She glances to Fluttershy, “You know Doug is going to be unhappy about working all night on this.” “We can help!” the Crusaders chorus, Rarity looking to the ceiling in exasperation.