“Do you think Spike would like this one?” Rarity asked.
The dragon held a long flowing dress over her draconic body, its many frills and lacy accents highlighting her large muscles. The almost maid-like outfit looked a bit ridiculous on the form of the well-built dragon. Made even sillier by the fact that her arms likely wouldn't even fit into the narrow openings the dress provided.
“I’m not sure that one would work without… extensive alterations,” Coco Pommel politely exclaimed.
“Right, of course. Spike wouldn't want to look back at his wedding and see himself wearing something so girly anyway,” Rarity muttered.
She placed the dress back on the rack and reluctantly walked over to the tuxedos and began flipping through them. Coco Pommel couldn't ignore the frown that came to Rarity’s face, though the pony was too polite to say something. Instead, she simply began searching out for something a bit more feminine that may belay a bit of Rarity’s disappointment.
“Aha, this looks nice,” Coco Pommel offered, pulling out a black and white suit. “It has a bit more of a slim build to it, and the open-faced front is a bit more dresslike in appearance.”
Rarity hummed, hand on hip and head cocked to the side. “It's not bad. Just a bit, plain you know? Black and white is the standard, yes but add some accents or something.”
“Are you sure you want a tuxedo then? I don't know how many you are going to find that have the color you want,” Coco Pommel remarked.
“I…” Rarity sighed. “Let's keep looking. I know that there is something out there. Something that I’ll be happy wearing and Spike will be happy seeing on his body.”
The pair were distracted by the audible thump of two dozen dresses getting dropped on the floor next to them. The diminutive store clerk stood up, wiped his brow, and straightened his back.
“Here are all of the dresses you want to see, miss,” he offered.
“Oh, we’ve moved on from dresses. Now I’d like to see the most colorful tuxedos you have,” Rarity replied.
The male sighed. “Right away madam.”
“So, why isn't Rarity making your clothes?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Spike didn't pause his search through the rack of dresses while responding to his friend’s question. “It's simple. She would go insane. You remember how she got when it came to outfitting Celestia’s wedding right?”
Rainbow Dash blinked and glanced over at the unicorn. “You're telling me it would be even more pressure than making the dresses for the bloody princess?”
“Yes, actually,” Spike replied. “It's a different kind of pressure and one we’ve both realized would hamper her enjoyment of her big day. At least this way she doesn't have to think about it and can just let someone else handle it.”
“I mean I guess. Rarity’s quite the perfectionist though,” Rainbow Dash muttered.
“Oh she’ll probably end up altering them a bunch but I get to okay every change before she does them,” Spike explained. “Ooh, this one is perfect. I think Rarity will love it.”
Rainbow Dash looked down at the dress Spike had chosen and immediately frowned. “Are you sure? It's huge, like something out of an eighteenth-century costume ball.”
“It's perfect,” Spike exclaimed, levitating the dress in a lazy circle, allowing him to see it from all sides. “It's royal, it matches her fur and mane. It's got all the accents she likes, it's immaculate.”
“It's also got a corset, a tail bind, and enough straps to make it look like a damn straight jacket,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.
Spike rolled his eyes. “That hardly matters. It's what Rarity would want, thus it is what she will get.”
“Alright dude, but when this goes sideways I’m gonna say I told you so,” Rainbow Dash declared.
“Just help me with this bodice already,” Spike snapped.
“What do you think is taking them?” Coco Pommel asked.
Rarity released the hold she had on her nails and paused mid-pace to stare back at her assistant. For a moment the words didn't even register in her mind, then all at once, the dragon realized what had been said.
“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “Perhaps he is having second thoughts.”
“Maybe we should take this time to find something a bit more… you,” Coco Pommel offered.
Rarity blinked and looked down at the tuxedo she was currently wearing. Masculine to a fault, and fitted perfectly for a male of her size and stature, it was the absolute picture of the word standard. It wouldn't draw the eye of everyone present, but it was also nice enough that no one would remark negatively on its quality.
“What? Do you think this is something Spike wouldn't want to be seen in?” Rarity asked, turning this way and that. “I thought for sure I picked something that he would enjoy looking back on.”
“Well you did change your mind a few times,” Coco Pommel warned.
“I know I was a bit wishy-washy, but I had to do what Spike would have wanted. This is ultimately his body after all,” Rarity explained.
“Still. Maybe this whole seeing the dress thing early is a bad idea,” Coco Pommel offered.
“Nonesness,” Rarity dismissed. “I know it's bad luck, but given all, we’ve gone through it's best if we chose something together. As a couple.”
“Then why didn't you two do that?” Coco Pommel asked.
“But we are right now,” Rarity muttered, head cocked to the side.
Coco Pommel sighed. “Nevermind.”
“Oh look, I think they are coming,” Rarity remarked.
The pair looked over to the entrance to the small private fitting room at the back of the clothing store. The door to which opened and revealed a frowning, blue-faced unicorn trotting inside wearing the largest dress Rarity had ever seen. Puffing out at the hips it was so big in fact that it very nearly didn't make it through the doorway.
A grunt and a tug were enough to dislodge the thing, however, allowing Spike to enter the room fully. Which let Rarity see the full extravagance of the flowing multi-hued dress that her betrothed now wore. The topmost layer was a deep purple, while the one beneath was a very light gray, contrasting with Spike’s fur.
Voluminous, extravagant, and for lack of a better word, extra. It didn't look like something that had been made this century. Rainbow Dash appeared a second later, the pegasus carrying what extra cloth hung from the back of the ensemble. Once inside, the rainbow-maned mare threw the mess aside and kicked the door shut with an angry grunt.
“I sure hope Twilight gets over Trixie soon because I am not doing that again on your wedding night,” Rainbow Dash muttered resentfully.
“It's fine,” Spike wheezed. “I’m sure someone else can help.”
“Uh, are you alright?” Rarity gently inquired.
“I’m fine, how do I look?” Spike asked.
Rarity winced. “Like a princess.”
“Oh good I was-”
“You didn't let me finish,” Rarity interrupted.
“Uh, go ahead,” Spike offered.
“You look like a princess who is both incredibly uncomfortable, and who is about to pass out,” Rarity finished.
“I may have tightened it a bit too much,” Spike admitted.
Rarity walked over to her partner, and with a few swift tugs, loosened the tightly bound bodice. “Better?” she offered.
“Better,” Spike breathed.
“So. This is awkward,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“It uh, kind of is,” Coco Pommel agreed.
“I don't think either of us is happy with our choices,” Spike reasoned.
“No. I believe we were both thinking a bit too much about what the other wanted and not enough about what we want,” Rarity exclaimed.
Spike nodded. “I think so.”
“Oh, that was quick. I thought for sure this whole thing would take a lot longer and that you two would argue a bunch,” Rainbow Dash remarked.
“Nah,” Spike replied with a shrug. “I think we’re kind of past that whole thing.”
“Besides. Just seeing Spike wear that ridiculous outfit was enough to make me realize that we both had the wrong idea about this whole thing,” Rarity added.
“Oh what a relief,” Coco Pommel muttered.
“Yeah, we should probably just wear what we feel like wearing,” Spike offered, glancing expectantly at Rarity.
Who nodded. “I agree wholeheartedly darling. Seeing you uncomfortable makes me feel terrible, and I want you to feel as handsome as I know you to be.”
“And I want you to feel radiant. Something that stuffy old suit can't really do,” Spike replied.
“But aren't you both in the other person’s body? Isn't that a bit awkward?” Rainbow Dash muttered while scratching her head.
“A little,” Spike admitted. “But not nearly as awkward as knowing that neither of us are comfortable.”
“I’m so glad we figured this out quickly,” Rarity exclaimed. “I think I’m finally about ready for all this drama to be over with.”
“Ha, me too,” Spike added.
“Don't you think that's a bit like tempting fate?” Rainbow Dash asked, leaning against a nearby clothes rack. “I mean you two don't exactly have a good track record with that kind of thing.”
“Err right. Let's just finish up here and get on with things,” Rarity murmured.
“What's next again, the rehearsal?” Spike asked.
Rarity sighed and shuddered, arms wrapped around her torso like she was hugging herself. “Oh I can't believe our wedding is only a week away. It feels like just yesterday we were coming back from our little trip and agonizing over what we should do instead.”
“No kidding,” Spike muttered, tugging at the straps under his dress. “Time is really flying by.”
“And thank the stars for that. Hopefully, once this is over you two won't be so gosh darned mushy all the time,” Rainbow Dash complained.
“What, scared of a little public display of affection?” Spike teased.
“Please, I don't- ugh yuck,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, sticking out her tongue.
Spike had leaped up and locked lips with his soon-to-be wife. Who took him in her arms, and carried him as they continued to passionately make out in broad view of everyone.
“You know they wouldn't do this so often if it didn't bother you,” Coco Pommel whispered.
“It just makes me a little jealous, okay?” Rainbow Dash replied in a low tone.
“Come on. Let's go get some lunch. I don't think those two are even listening to us anymore,” Coco Pommel exclaimed.
Indeed the dragon and the unicorn didn't seem aware of anything, the pair continuing to make out as they giggled like school children.
Rainbow Dash stuck out her tongue. “I need a drink.”