//------------------------------// // 6.) Of Clothing and Princesses // Story: Multiverse // by Patience //------------------------------// My hands were sweaty and shaky. My stance was locked, I was focused and completely sure I was doing everything right. That still didn't ease the leery feeling seated deep in my stomach. "Don't tense up, let it surprise you." I whispered under my breath. The Glock 19 bucked in my hand as I tentatively pulled the trigger. The explosion shook me and I almost dropped the gun. I gave a sigh of relief as I relaxed a wide grin beaming across my face. My first time shooting a gun went without a hitch. Here I was firing a gun. The last few weeks have been life changing for me. I had entered the hiring process and passed all the tests, checks and prerequisites. They said I had good moral character and my past was unblemished and told me I was to be sent to the academy. NYCPD. Ever since I was a kid I've dreamt of becoming a police detective. Now I was on my way. Others have tried to dissuade me. "It's a thankless job, most people hate cops." is a classic, I heard it often. Honestly I don't want to do it for people. Sure I do care about protecting and serving my community and people, but my real drive is thwarting criminals. No I don't meant all gung-ho, vigilante, guns blazing 'thwarting'. I've always loved the idea of piecing together the puzzle of what is into what happened. I like to put together all the little pieces of information, mistakes made, and signs. It's exciting to think that the stupidest mistakes and smallest bits of evidence can lead me to the solution of the most enigmatic crimes. Of course I have a lot of time to go before I will be that intuitive and capable, but it will be time well served. I will be honing my reflexes, my investigative technique, my rapport building. I spent a lot of time in school and working in stores. It is all tedious. If anything is to be the death of me it will be tedium. It rots me to the core. The same thing every day. Just no. Perhaps that is why I took to The Change so well. It was something different. Something new and exciting. So as I stared down the sights of my Glock I smiled. I lined up to my target and squeezed off another shot; each one struck my target. Each shot reminded me that I was there and on my way. The Carousel Boutique had a line forming at its entrance, leaving a bewildered Twilight, Spike, and Rainbow Dash at the end of it in absolute confusion. Certainly Rarity worked well under pressure but in less than 24 hours ago she was a quadrupedal with hoofed limbs. Now she is bipedal, a quite shocking change for everyone. Yet bipedal or not ponies lined up at her door and assuredly she was at work designing clothing to supply the customer's demands. Twilight approached the closest pony in line, a well of questions fathoms deep, and yet all she could mutter was- "Why clothes?" "Excuse me?" The interrupted mare turned to Twilight. "Oh, miss Sparkle. How are you today?" "Why are there so many ponies here?" Twilight indicated the line. "Well I, like most of them, feel an inexplicable need to buy some clothing. Quite strange really." She turned back to the friends she was conversing with, leaving Twilight with even more questions. She and her friends made their way towards the shop. Many ponies grumbled about line cutting, all she assured that she was no customer. They squeezed past the ponies near the door and made their way into the almost empty show room floor. Bits and bobs of materials and tools floated in the air, whizzing about the room. It seem the larger floor had become the central crafting area in order to meet the demand being made by the large amount of clientele. A frantic, but thoroughly ecstatic, Rarity made her way to and fro. She was clad in a simple white blouse and a black skirt. A stallion was standing, uncomfortably, in the center of the shop being mercilessly invaded by a measuring tape being wielded expertly by the fashionista's magic. Rarity jotted down the various measurements and began to ask the stallion what he wanted. She even went so far as to get his address, so she knew where to send his order. "What do you mean send it? I need this as soon as possible." He replied to her inquiry, disgruntled. "You and every pony in Ponyville. I simply cannot even fill a quarter of the orders I've received in one week. Items will be made as supply becomes available and the apparel will be sent as soon as the order is filled. If you don't like it you're going to have to deal with it." She shooed him off, but he was not satisfied. "Listen here miss-" He began. "No you listen here, sir, I have received over 100 orders in less than the 4 hours I've been open, and unfortunately I can't make that much clothing that quickly, nor do I have enough material for all of it, and finally-" She paused to take a breath. "My shop, apparently, is not nearly as full as the shops in Canterlot and Manehattan. They both are filled to capacity and they have been making requests to buy my materials, at three and even four times its value. Simply put you and every pony want clothing and I can only make so much. Next." The stallion, and Twilight, found them selves flabbergasted, staring open mouthed at Rarity. A mare came rushing in, and took her place on the platform, waiting to be measured. "Oh Twilight! How good to see you!" Rarity walked over to her friend. "Rarity? Did I really hear you correctly? Every pony?" "Oh yes dear." She said gravely, then brightening up. "It really is quite wonderful but I'm going to be at this for months at this rate. I am going to need help, and soon." "I can help!" Rainbow Dash said with a touch of enthusiasm. "Really dear? With dress making?" She said skeptically. Rainbow reflected on what she just volunteered for. "Well maybe not the making?" She said hesitantly, then with confidence "But I would never leave a friend hanging!" Rarity and Twilight smiled warmly at Rainbow Dash. "Thank you ever so much, dear," she levitated a strip of measuring tape towards Rainbow Dash with a delighted grin on her face. "I've been looking for a flexible Pegasus to model a few of my creations. Best to make sure everything is done right." She said as she layered on a chipper tone to her voice. Rainbow groaned and looked apprehensive but if she had any further objections she withheld them. Twilight smirked at her dismayed friend. "You walked into that one." She turned back to Rarity. "Why clothing?" Twilight asked again. The audience was different but the reply was very much the same. "Why not?" Rarity continued down the war path, smothering Rainbow in various clothing. Tees and Polos pulled themselves over Rainbow's head and pulled themselves off. Rarity's magic ensured her wings were accommodated for. Rainbow just stood there and took it. She would mumble tidbits about 'her image' but her loyalty kept her in place as the frantic fashionista 'ooh' and 'awed' over how well the various pieces worked with the Pegasus. Often times she would instruct Rainbow to move her limbs. Rainbow found herself in many, and some quite unusual, poses, all to ensure the clothes could handle the full range of motion of its owners. Twilight pressed her friend once again. "Rarity, please I really don't understand what's happening." "Twilight, dear, I really can't tell you. All I know is I woke up to pounding on my door. Of course I didn't answer it. I was too busy panicking, but after I calmed down the first thing I felt was the urge to make what I'm wearing now. After that I opened my shop and this is pretty much how it's been all day." She motioned to the line of eager faces, peering in through the door. Twilight began, once again, to try and get answers. Stuttering profusely as she looked for the right words to say. Rarity interrupted her. "Twilight, we can go on like this all day, or..." A pensive look crossed Rarity's face. "Or?" Twilight said eagerly. "Well all day you've probably been running about to and fro making sure everyone's ok, correct?" Twilight gave an affirmative nod. "So you haven't taken a moment to think about what you want, have you?" "What. I want? I want to help my friends." "No dear that is simultaneously a want and a need. I'm talking about a true indulgence." Twilight could not comprehend her friends meaning. "Ok, let's try this. Ok try and clear your mind." Rarity stepped behind Twilight. "Just don't think for a moment." Twilight obliged her friend. With her eyes closed she paced her breathing and tried to stop her racing thoughts for a moment. "Ok now." Rarity paused, and then frantically "Without stopping to think quickly say the first desire that comes to your mind!" "Clothes! Eep! Why did I say that!?" Twilight's hands found themselves over her mouth. "Why not?" Rarity said, and then a wry smile crossed her face. "Oh yes! Would you be a dear and stand still?" Rarity's measuring tape made it's way over to the purple unicorn and Rarity began to measure Twilight "Rarity... you don't ha-" "But I'm going to anyway." Twilight had left the Carousel Boutique with as many questions she had had when she arrived, but she also left in a sleeveless dress that ended a little past her waist, the material was cut diagonally at the right side from her navel to the bottom of the dress, where the material was missing you could see a short skirt. The dress was sapphire blue, like her mane. With the same rose and violet colors in her highlights as the dress's accents and the skirt. She also wore pants that were a tad darker than her coat. Her cutie mark was embroidered on the left side of the dress. She had made sure to inform Rarity about the 'meeting' to be held later in front of town hall after she put the dress on and took her leave in order to check in on Pinkie Pie. She made her way to her friend now. Spike had chosen to remain behind and assist Rarity. It wasn't long before she could see decorations strewn about. Tents and stalls were being set up. It was truly a small affair but the enthusiastic party machine was well oiled and in prime condition. Pinkie was a whirlwind of efficiency. She darted from point to point throwing up streamers or lights. Checking the food stuffs in various stands, Inflating balloons, setting up games and sound equipment. Twilight observed several guards running about, assisting Pinkie on her campaign. Twilight approached the ecstatic pink mare and cleared her throat to get her attention. "Twilight! Is this awesome or what?" Pinkie clasped her arm around Twilight's shoulder and panned the other hand out over the scene before them. "It looks like you have everything under control. Have you been spreading the word?" Twilight asked, appreciative of her friends efforts. "That was the easy part! All I had to do was say 'there's a party in town tonight' out in front of Rarity's shop and suddenly it was the talk of the town. And then Rarity brought me into her shop and made me some clothes. Boy I didn't realize how much I wanted them until I put them on, but aren't the wonderful?" She twirled on the spot, showcasing Rarity's work. She was wearing cotton candy blue striped tube top that went all the way down to her waist. A small raspberry colored skirt, embroidered with her cutie mark, with cotton candy blue colored leggings. "They're wonderful Pinkie." "What do you think Princesses?" Pinkie twirled again towards two figures who were standing nearby. Twilight paled and began stuttering. "P-princesses?" She quickly turned on the spot and found herself face to face with who was indeed Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Celestia stood before her student looking as radiant as the sun. She smiled a bright white smile and her hands were clasped in front of her. She had the most elegant dress Twilight had ever seen on. Surely Rarity would have an episode when she laid her eyes upon it. It had an open back and flowed all the way down to just an inch or two off the ground. It was as brilliant white as her coat, but it was accented with gold trim and her cutie mark was embroidered on the left side. Luna stood next to her sister contrasting Celestia's beauty with her own. She wore a similar dress but it was multi-layered and was as blue as her eyes. The trim was silver and her cutie mark was emblazoned on the right side. "Good afternoon my most faithful student." Celestia simply smiled at Twilight, anticipating the sure to come overreaction that ensued. Twilight found herself immensely confused on how she would pay respect to the Matriarchs. How does one bow in this body? Were it not for Celestia's intervention Twilight was prepared to throw herself to the ground. As she made towards the ground Celestia spoke. "Please, Twilight, there is no need to get frantic. If you must bow a simple flourish like will do." She demonstrated, bowing deeply to her student, further confusing and embarrassing her. She was supposed to be the one bowing. Of course a memory of Spike bowing in a similar fashion choose that moment to leap into her mind, to her irritation. Soon she was bowing repeatedly to each princess, and even bowed to Pinkie in her over eagerness. Pinkie giggled and called her silly and her face flushed. By the time she looked back up Celestia and Luna had already begun to make their way around the skeletal party grounds. "It seem to me thou are preparing a celebration." Luna noted to Pinkie. "Yeppers! It was my idea! I though food and fun might make it easier for everyone to get used to the new bodies." "It certainly will. It is quite unfortunate that we cannot stay." Celestia turned to her student, true regret in her eyes. "We must continue on our way, Twilight, we need to make an appearance in each town and city." "We must ensure our subjects that we have not abandoned them." Luna finished for her sister. "Of course princesses! But is it ok if I ask a question?" "You just did." Luna smiled, she took a turn at 'lets fluster Twilight', Celestia gave Luna a smirk. "Oh. But that wasn't what I wanted to ask." Celestia stared at her student expectantly. Twilight finally caught on. "Oh. Um, what's going on?" She asked. Celestia thought critically for a moment. "Nothing we can't handle. Do not worry yourself about this matter too much Twilight. What I can tell you is it is not harmful, and it is permanent." "P-Permanent?" "Yes. As for the exact details, even myself and Luna do not know. There is more to tell, but that will have to wait till later tonight." "Tonight?" Twilight retained her composure but she was quite overjoyed. Soon Celestia would be back and she would get a chance to spend time with her idol and perhaps get some real answers.