//------------------------------// // Suited For Success // Story: Suited For Success // by Slippery Slope //------------------------------// “Well? What do you think?” H-huh? Fluttershy blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the drowsiness in her head. Immediately, she noticed her vision was a little blurry, and that there seemed to be a little bit of pressure surrounding her body. D-did I fall asleep? “Fluttershy?” Rarity’s concerned face moved into Fluttershy’s hazy field of view. “Are you quite alright?” Oh, that’s right. Rarity had invited her over to work on her Gala dress. She must’ve dozed off during the fitting. Fluttershy’s cheeks flushed—hopefully Rarity hadn’t minded (or noticed). She didn’t want Rarity to think she was bored or anything. As she opened her mouth to give an “oh I’m fine, thank you,” her breath caught. For whatever reason, her lips would not part, almost as if there was something keeping them sealed together. “Mmphm?” Rarity cocked her head. “I’m sorry, dear, did you say something?” Her eyes flickered back and forth. “I’d like to know what you think about the dress.” Oh… am I wearing it already? Fluttershy tried to speak again, but was met with the same odd resistance as before. “Mmhm hhm phrr?” It seemed like no matter how hard she tried, the words would not escape her. Furrowing her brow, she lifted a hoof to her muzzle, trying to feel for what was going on. When the hoof touched, her eyes widened. She wasn’t able to feel herself at all. Rather, it felt like both her hoof and muzzle were pressing against some soft, squishy material that seemed to… encase them. It only took a moment more for Fluttershy to realize this sensation was spread across her entire body. And when she moved, where was that squeaking sound coming from? “Mmphrhr hrrph!” (“Rarity, help!”) The sound was muted, barely audible. Fluttershy cursed herself for not being able to vocalize any louder. No, wait. She needed to calm down. The vision around the corners of her eyes was… pulsing, pulling her focus away. She felt the urge to scream, but the last thing she wanted was to cause worry by panicking in front of her trusted friend. Evidently, perhaps thankfully, Rarity had noticed nothing. “Why, Fluttershy,” she said, “you certainly are grinning ear to ear! I hope that means you do like it. But I need to hear it from you, dear. Tell me!” Anxiously, she waited a moment for a response that didn’t come. “Oh! Of course, silly me. You need to see how you look, too.” In a flash she was gone and ran back wheeling a standing mirror to place in front of Fluttershy. “There we are. Now, how does it look?” Fluttershy looked, and her eyes became the size of saucers. Oh dear. Um. Um um um um. In the mirror was her, but not her. Her body frame looked a little bigger than before, and instead of fur, she saw something smooth and polished that reflected the light. Her mouth was curved into a wide, unmoving grin. Two happy, unblinking eyes that definitely did not match her own beamed cheerfully back at her. Whenever she moved, she could hear the squeaking again and the tightness of something wrapping itself snugly against her body. And she was wearing the dress, too. It was mostly green, with some blue patterning and a single butterfly on the end of the middy collar. Fluttershy thought it was alright, though there were several changes she would’ve liked to make and several questions she would've liked to ask—namely, why it seemed to have the same shine and squeak her own mirror body had. She was panicking again. The pulsing around her eyes had evolved into little waves of color, and it was getting hard to think. That was no good. She didn’t want to upset Rarity, but she needed to ask what was going on. But how? “Oh, Rarity, it’s wonderful. I love the feeling of this rubber suit against my fur.” W-what? I didn’t say that. Rarity looked confused. “Fluttershy, what in Equestria are you talking about?” So hard to think. Yes, what was she talking about? It had been her voice, after all. The rubber suit… was that what she was wearing? Fluttershy felt her muscles relax and her breathing slow down, which was usually the opposite of what happened when she was panicking. Things weren’t making sense. Her voice again. “Oh, and this rubber dress you made to go along with it is so squeaky and pretty. Thank you so much, Rarity.” It couldn’t have been from her. Her mouth was still sealed shut and she didn’t mean to say that and when she tried to talk on her own all she could hear were quiet moans again. Did- was the suit- huh… She couldn’t remember what she was trying to deduce. The thought left her mind as quickly as it had entered. She jumped a little when she felt Rarity’s hoof touch against the suit to press against her shoulder. “Fluttershy,” said Rarity, “are you sure you’re alright? Is something the matter? Or… heh, oh, the smile.” She laughed nervously and scratched the back of her head. “Of course you must be joking, silly me. Please, you don’t have to be polite. If you don’t like the dress, you should just tell me.” At least there was that. Fluttershy felt brief relief Rarity hadn’t believed those things. She didn’t say it, and didn’t mean any of it. But it was my voice. But she hadn’t opened her mouth at all. But who else could’ve said it except you? And why is Rarity acting like she doesn’t notice the suit? “I’m not joking, Rarity. I was being serious.” Yes! Serious about the suit. Rarity needs to know about the suit. “This is the best thing you’ve ever made for me, Rarity.” No! Not like that. I need help. Help from Rarity. So so hard to think. Hard to complete thoughts. The waves of color had become full spirals, completely enveloping Fluttershy’s vision in overlapping waves. She needed to tell Rarity before she passed out. “I love how the suit feels so tight against my body.” The voice again. It wasn’t her. It was her. It wasn’t her. Need to tell Rarity. Tell Rarity more. “I love this big, bright smile I’m wearing with the suit.” Fluttershy suppressed a giggle. Maybe the spirals were making her loopy, but she was a little happy. And maybe the little tugs from the suit against her body did make her feel a little special. “I love that this rubber dress makes me feel so cute and shiny.” She felt the urge to give a little twirl, show herself off in the mirror. It felt only right given the comment. So she did. “I love how I squeak and creak as I move around.” The sounds sent shivers of pleasure up her spine as she spun. So so so hard to think. Better to relax and watch the spirals and listen to herself talk. Because it is me. All me saying these things. Could be nopony else. “I love my new rubber suit and dress so much.” Yes. I love my new rubber suit and dress so much. And Fluttershy looked over at Rarity to see if she understood, and her brows were raised and her eyes were relaxed and her lips were curled upward into an almost knowing smile. She must know. She must. But then, Rarity spoke again. “Fluttershy, don’t you think you’ve taken this joke a bit far?” Fluttershy felt her heart break. She had tried so hard to let Rarity know what a good job she’d done on the outfit and Rarity hadn’t even acknowledged her. Still, Fluttershy’s big suity grin remained. There was silence for a few moments. Then, the voice again. “You’re right, Rarity. I was just joking. I’m sorry.” How could she say such things? Rarity needed to know. She was so snug and happy and relaxed. No. Rarity didn’t understand. Couldn’t understand. My little secret. That was right. Rarity didn’t know how it felt. Felt so good. Rarity didn’t need to know. The beautiful spirals and the pleasure she experienced wearing the suit made it hard to to focus on anything else, but she managed to sit through the rest of Rarity’s questions anyway, politely nodding as she fidgeted where she stood, the rubber squeaking away all the while.