Tempest Shadow stepped into Carousel Boutique, glancing around at the dresses on display while she waited for the client speaking with Rarity to finish their business. She felt a dull rumbling through the floor, and turned to see a young yak approaching her with a bright smile.
“Welcome to Carousel Boutique! May Yona help pony?” The yak asked.
“I need to speak with Rarity about a custom dress,” Tempest explained. “Something for the Gala, but I have some very... specific requirements.”
“Okay,” Yona nodded. “May Yona take pony’s measurements while Miss Rarity is busy?”
<“Yes, thank you for your assistance,”> Tempest replied in Yakkish, following Yona to the workstation in the shop
.
<”You speak yak?”> Yona asked, turning to look over her shoulder, her tail positively wagging in excitement.
<”A little. I have travelled for many long nights,”> Tempest explained with a smile. <”Not much though.”>
<”More than most ponies! Even> Professor Pinkie <hasn’t learned that much,”> Yona pointed out.. She took a tape measure into her cloven hooves and waited for Tempest to take a comfortable position. <”Thank you>, but Yona speaks Ponish fine, and yak words for some of this hard for ponies. Please hold up your leg, let Yona know if too tight.”
Tempest submitted herself to Yona’s work, letting the yak measure her limbs, barrel, checking her tail length.
“Unicorn built like earth pony,” Yona observed. “Must be very strong!”
“You don’t wander the Wastes without putting on some muscle,” Tempest chuckled. “I’m surprised you’re working here, to be honest. Hadn’t expected to see any of the Princess’ foreign students staying in Equestria, let alone Ponyville.”
“Yona has her reasons” the yak giggled. “And Miss Rarity is very good employer!”
“Well, I’m certainly glad to hear that,” Rarity tittered as she approached the two of them. “It’s a pleasant surprise to see you here, Miss Shadow! I presume this is a business visit?”
“It is,” Tempest confirmed, extending a hoof for Yona to check the circumference. “Princess Twilight is hosting her first Gala in two weeks, and I’ve been ‘invited.’ In reality, I’ve been assigned as the Princess’ personal bodyguard, in case any of the Celestines try to use the Gala as an opportunity to make some sort of statement. And it was made explicitly clear to me that I am to wear a gown, rather than a uniform, and to bring a ‘plus one.’ Friendship lesson,” Tempest said dryly.
“Ah,” Rarity frowned. “Yes, Twilight does have a penchant for disregarding personal threats. And so you require a gown fitted appropriately for you to move freely, in case of a fight?”
“And, preferably, that won’t ignite if I have to use magic,” Tempest confirmed. “Do you think that’s something you could manage in time?”
“Well, normally I’m sure I could, but as it is I’m afraid that I’m quite swamped with orders already,” Rarity frowned. “And something of this sort requires more in the way of actual experience fighting, so I don’t really have any assistants I could enlist instead. Fighting like I’ve learned to do, Yona,” she added, smiling at the yak before she could pipe up. “Yak techniques are rather different than what I’ve seen Miss Shadow do in the past, and would involve more in the way of a helmet than a properly fitted gown.”
“That why yaks fight best,” Yona shrugged, writing down the last measurement. “Can fight in parka, shawl, or nothing at all! Here are fighting pony’s measurements, Miss Rarity.”
“Thank you, Yona.” Rarity took the paper with Tempest’s measurements and read through it briefly.
“But yes,” she continued, looking back to Tempest. “I’m afraid that I can’t produce something from scratch. I do have some gowns that I could adjust though,” she mused. “They wouldn’t be perfect, but it would be better than something off the rack, or from a designer who doesn’t have the exper- whahaha!” She suddenly laughed, rearing up and rushing back over to her workstation, starting to rifle through business cards with her magic.
“I have just the solution, darling!” The fashionista explained. “A colleague of mine has just the experience you need, and could use the publicity of providing a gala gown! Plus, I believe they’ve finally gotten the train service established there….”
Tempest Shadow listened closely as Rarity rambled on about her contact, and prepared herself for a trip out to Hope Hollow.