Moondancer
“Are you sure I need a dress?”
“Yes Moondancer!” Lemon Hearts exclaimed as she waved a hoof at a weirdly shaped building in front of us. “Twilight does know this is a date, right?”
“Uhhhh,” I said as my eyes locked everywhere except the yellow unicorn.
“Okay,” Lemon Hearts slammed a hoof into her face. “Alright, you stay here. Sit down.”
“Uh why?”
“I’m getting Twilight. And you’re telling her.”
“Wait!” I called out and she froze, looking back at me with a raised eyebrow. “Twilight won’t be wearing a dress after all. Why do I need one?”
“Uh fair point,” Lemon Hearts admitted sheepishly. “Looking your best is important for a first date. Especially since this could make or break your potential relationship.”
I gulped nervously as Rarity approached out of the corner of my eye. Lemon did know more about this than I ever did or would.
“Hello darlings. Whatever can I help you with?” Rarity asked with a smile. I only knew her because Minuette had pointed her out a few days before while our fellow unicorn was heading into the spa.
“Hello Rarity!” Lemon Hearts smiled back and I internally sighed. The likelihood of getting out of this was slim to none. “This is my friend Moondancer. She has a date tonight and she needs a dress.” Rarity gasped and clapped her hooves excitedly.
“You’ve come to the right place then darlings! Tell me, who’s the lucky stallion?” Rarity asked eagerly as I looked down sheepishly.
“It’s a mare,” I whispered and Rarity nodded with the same smile.
“Well then, who’s the lucky mare?”
“Twilight,” I muttered as Rarity squealed and hugged me. I slightly felt uncomfortable but I didn’t want to be rude.
“Oh, finally. About time that mare got a date. I’ve been trying for years!” Rarity finally let me go and practically shoved the two of us into the boutique. “Now, I think I have something that might work. Please, wait here darlings.”
I nervously stood on an elevated platform as Lemon Hearts started examing some dresses on stands. I wasn’t entirely sure about fashion, I only really had my sweater.
“I don’t think this was a good idea,” I muttered as Lemon Hearts frowned slightly.
“It’ll be fine, don’t worry. Rarity is very professional and kind,” Lemon Hearts reassured me and placed a hoof on my back.
“I’m ugly though. I’m not worthy of Twilight,” I grumbled as Lemon Hearts glared at me.
“I disagree darling,” Rarity announced before Lemon Hearts could voice her anger. “You’re a gorgeous mare, just we brush your mane, get that sweater off and put you in a dress and voila! Perfection!”
I for one didn’t share her optimism.
“Now close your eyes darling. I’m going to brush your mane, style it and then prove to you that can indeed be beautiful. Lemon Hearts, if you could be so kind to get my mane brush, spray and supplies.”
“You got it Rarity!” Lemon Hearts chimed in happily as I closed my eyes. I felt my sweater being levitated off and I resisted the urge to fight back. “Here you go.”
“Thank you darling,” Rarity said as I winced slightly as I felt my hair being yanked by the hair brush. “Sorry. Your mane is quite matted in some spots, trying to be gentle.”
“It’s fine,” I mumbled as Rarity sprayed something in my mane and it was pulled again as I winced.
“Alright, let me put the dress on you and then we will tell you when to open. Lemon Hearts, if you would be so kind as to guide her hooves in for me please.”
I felt my hooves be taken in a magical aura and I failed to resist the urge to giggle as I felt a silky fabric on my coat. Magic always did feel ticklish to me.
“Alright, open them eyes up Moonie!” Lemon Hearts proclaimed happily. I opened my eyes and opened my mouth to give a snarky comment as my breath hitched in my throat.
My hair was done up in a bun while my sweater had been replaced by a red dress that matched my mane. I didn’t know anything really about fashion but even I could tell it was expertly made. But that wasn’t the first thing I had noticed. I looked beautiful.
“I look beautiful,” I whispered as Rarity wrapped a hoof around me and I felt her breath on my ear.
“Of course you are darling,” Rarity whispered and I shivered slightly. “Never forget that. Twilight is very lucky to have a mare like you interested in her.”
“She’s right,” Lemon Hearts chimed in from my left. “Don’t ever doubt yourself, Moondancer. You’re a very good pony after all.”
For once in my life, I didn’t try to find the words to argue with them. I stared in the mirror with a growing blush as I turned around slowly, looking back. The dress surprisingly gripped my flanks quite well.
“How did you just have this here?” I asked Rarity as the white unicorn chuckled quietly. “It’s beautiful.”
“I do appreciate the compliment, Moondancer. As for how, I had made this late one night after a few glasses of wine and had a stroke of inspiration. Never found any use for it. I might need to adjust some things here and there to fit your barrel and hooves but that’s all that I may need to do,” Rarity said and waved a hoof as she faintly blushed. “It’ll be ready about six. Is that okay?”
“Perfect,” Lemon Hearts said as she nodded. “That will give us more than enough time to get her in the dress and to the restaurant where we will hopefully beat Twilight. Hopefully.”
“Oh darling nopony beats Twilight at being on time,” Rarity laughed as she pressed a hoof to her mouth. “Trust me on this one.”
She started to levitate the dress off and I shook my head sheepishly as Rarity gave me a confused look.
“Can I uh take a few pictures in it?” I asked nervously as Rarity smiled at me.
“Of course darling. Take as long as you need.”
Rarity levitated a camera over to Lemon Hearts waiting hooves.
“How much do I owe you?” I asked worriedly as Rarity waved a hoof.
“Not a bit darling.”
“But I-”
“The only payment I will require is you give Twilight a good time and have fun yourself darling,” Rarity said firmly as she raised a hoof to cut me off.
I gave a faint nod as she smiled. Lemon Hearts gestured for me to look at her and I smiled widely. I blinked the flash out of my eyes as Lemon Hearts gave me a nod.
I know I said this before or multiple times by now, but I’m lucky to have my friends.