It had been a couple days since the prank on Fluttershy and the changeling queen stewed over that apparent failure the entire time. Even now, Queen Chrysalis was not in a good mood. As she saw it, any sort of victory claimed over the Element of Kindness just felt.... empty. The fact the meek pegasus was the ultimate doormat had everything to do with this.
“I don’t get it,” the Queen growled as she lounged about Princess's Luna’s private chambers, a privilege that angered more than a few guards.
Speaking to the other occupant in the room, the queen rambled on. “I mean I should at least feel some satisfaction, but I've got nothing here. She has to act so innocent about the whole thing, the little foal. Kinda like punching a sock to show your strength.”
She paused to flick a dark blue and red striped sock with a hoof to illustrate her point.
Stopping next to the four poster bed, the changeling held a hoof to the side of her head in mock despair. “I almost feel as if I’ve lost my touch. The poor dear was just too easy a target and yet I held back. I won't be making that mistake again!"
She stomped a holey black hoof on the bed to emphasize her point.
"Thats why I'm moving to move on to my next target tomorrow: The Element of Generosity, Miss Rarity!"
Chrysalis waited a moment for Princess Luna's reaction to her new choice of targets. Getting none, she moved on.
"My sources say she has very high standards, impeccable manners, and is trying her best to climb the social ladder. She should be a fun one. What do you think, Luna?...Luna?!"
A loud snore answered her followed by the sound of sheets shifting as the alicorn sleepily shuffled about for a more comfortable position.
Oblivious to the changeling's question, the princess reached a questing hoof reached out and grabbed a small stuffed pony that had fallen to the side of the bed. It was a plush version of her sister, something the Queen had found very odd until she checked the night before to see if Celestia had one of Luna. She did. (1)
Finally clued in by Luna’s snoring that the princess had fallen asleep during her explanation as to why she was in Luna’s room in the first place, the queen gave the sleeping pony a hard look. As her plans for that little priss Rarity crystallized in her mind, that look was quickly replaced by a sly grin that spread across Chrysalis’s face, exposing her fangs.
Acting on impulse, the changeling cocked an ear towards the unconscious pony. “What’s that, Luna? You want to help me with my next prank? You're such a dear for offering! Of course you can help!”
With a cackle, she grabbed the sleeping princess with her forehooves. “Come, Luna, we have work to do!”
Woken by the movement and the changeling’s voice, the alicorn struggled feebly in Chrysalis’s grasp, her front hooves reaching out pitifully towards her warm bed. “Nngrhl. Sleepy!”
With a flash of light, Chrysalis rendered the two of them invisible. No guards ever noticed the balcony door opening nor heard the droning of wings fading away.
***
It had been a rather boring morning for a certain white unicorn. Despite opening early this morning, Carousel Boutique had seen far less than its usual amount of customers.
Rarity, the Element of Generosity and up and coming fashion designer, was split on whether she should start working on a personal project when she might get interrupted while in “the zone” or stay or continue to wait for potential customers.
She never got the chance to decide however as somepony decided right then to start knocking.
“Co-ming!” She sang out as she trotted to the door. On the other side stood a large dapper looking unicorn stallion, who immediately tipped his hat to her.
“Might I have the honor of speaking with Lady Rarity?” He asked in a deep cultured voice.
“Of course, my dear” she answered demurely, offering a hoof. “How may I help you, sir?”
Kissing her hoof, the stallion looked up at her. “I'm finding myself in need of a new suit to attend a formal function in Canterlot tomorrow evening. I'll pay top bit for it to be ready by noon tomorrow!”
“And I'll tell everypony who designed it.” He added with a sly smile and a wink.
Rarity’s mind screeched to a halt. That was an awfully short deadline, but the chance to get in even better with the nobility of Canterlot was too tempting to resist.
“How could I say no to such a generous offer? I'll have it done by noon tomorrow!”
“Excellent!” the stallion beamed. “I'll be here on the dot tomorrow!”
After he left, the fashionista quickly got to work, levitating several rolls of dark cloth to stand next to one of her stallion shaped mannequins. She had barely begun to drape lengths of the cloth over the back to see which looked better when another knock came at the door.
“Oh my, another customer so soon?” She wondered aloud. Sure enough, another rather posh looking pony was standing on the doorstep. This one was an earth pony mare she had seen once or twice amongst Fancypants entourage.
“Ah, good evening, my dear! How my I help you?”
The mare shot her smile back. “Good day miss Rarity! I take it you've heard of this formal function in Canterlot? Well, I’ve been invited and I simply must have a new dress. Could you be a dear and design one for me?”
“Well, I-“
“Oh thank you, dear! I’ll be by tomorrow for it! Since you already have my measurements, I must be going! Taaaa!”
With that the mare left, oblivious to the shocked look on the fashionista’s face.
“Oh my!”
***
And so Rarity’s day went. At least two more ponies would enter her boutique; place their orders and then leave. Every single order was for the same high class function in Canterlot the next afternoon. With four orders due the very next day, sleep wasn’t an option.
The determined unicorn worked right through the night just so she could even come close to meeting her deadline. Morning long past with the Sun nearing it’s daytime peak, a final knock came at the door. One eye twitched slightly as Rarity called back. “Sorry, but I’m really busy right now. Please come back later!”
The knocking continued. It wasn’t the usual polite knock, but a deep insistent pounding that made it all but impossible to concentrate.
Her nerves already frayed from the lack of sleep and the constant work, Rarity’s usually immaculate demeanor slipped. "Yet another distraction!" she thought as she stormed towards the entrance. Positively seething, she ripped the door open with a ferocity that threatened to tear it from its hinges.
“WHAT?! WHAT IS IT WITH YOU PONIES?!” She bellowed in a distinctly un-lady like manner. Before she could say anything else, the unicorn found herself having a dodge a metal covered hoof.
“Watch it, you heavy-hooved oaf! What is so important that you foals must interrupt me while I’m…I'm”
The fashionista’s voice trailed off into a whimper as she realized she was face to face with Princess Luna. The alicorn raised a dubious eyebrow at the unicorn’s choice of words.
“P-Princess! I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize it was you! I…I..”
Words failed Rarity for the extent of her blunder. Rudeness to either Princess was heavily frowned upon no matter what social circles you were in. The fact that Princess Luna tended to be more strict about social boundaries than her sister had Rarity sweating under her coat. Her tongue seemed to have dried up as well because all she could say were garbled nonsense.
Finally the proud alicorn looming over her broke the silence, her expression warming up a bit.
“Think nothing of it, Miss Rarity.” Said the Princess, interrupting Rarity’s ongoing attempts to apologize despite her mutinying tongue. “I have simply come to ask a favor of you."
Princess Luna leaned in conspiratorially. "Also if you want any tips on shouting, I can give you some advice: Shout from your belly. Creates a nice loud and constant tone."
The Princess shifted back and gave her a wink.
Blushing at Luna's joke, Rarity pondered the royal's words. A favor for the Princess? She nodded for Luna to continue.
A blue glow emanated from the Princess's horn as she pulled the remains of what must have been a truly beautiful dress from her saddlebags. Rarity’s face fell as she pieced together where this was going.
“Could you please repair this dress for me? It was my favorite one ages past. Sadly my transformation to Nightmare Moon wasn’t very kind to it.”
There was no saying no. Rarity shot a smile to the Princess, but on the inside she was crying.
***
After Princess Luna left, Rarity bolted back inside to continue her work at an even greater pace. The Princess’s visit had cost her precious minutes. On top of that, the repair job needed to be ready by that evening as well. The one upside was that repairing Luna’s dress was considerably easier than making up a whole new dress.
It wasn't until well over an hour into the repair job that it finally hit Rarity: The stallion had missed the deadline! Not just him, but the other ponies as well! The exasperated pony didn’t know what to think. Perhaps they were simply late or did something happen?
Still, she continued working. A commission was a commission and she had never failed a customer. Besides the commissions were nearly complete. After Luna’s departure, the Princess’s dress had taken priority. While repairing was faster than making a new dress as she had reasoned earlier, it didn’t help Rarity one bit that Nightmare Moon’s enormous frame had pretty much shredded portions of the dress, forcing her to get creative.
***
Finally the Sun started to tip towards the horizon, filling the sky with orange tones. Despite the failing light, the bedraggled pony soldiered on, putting the final touches on all the the commissioned suits and dresses. Rarity had barely sat down to rest when suddenly the shadows filling the the boutique seemed to shiver and undulate before suddenly converging to form a whirling pool of darkness. Stepping majestically out of it, Princess Luna looked to see the effect of her entrance had on her one pony audience. Nothing. A look of complete and utter apathy adorned the exhausted pony’s face.
“I have your dress ready, your majesty.” Said Rarity in a tired, yet triumphant voice as she gestured to the masterpiece adorning one of her larger mannequins, ones she had bought in the hopes this day would come.
Princess Luna could only stare in awe at the unicorn's work. “It’s perfect, dear Rarity!”
“It’s nothing, your highness.”
"No!" The Princess’s voice took a firm tone, the boutique shaking as she stomped a hoof to emphasize her point. “It’s NOT nothing! You’ve done an excellent job in restoring my favorite dress, something that means a great deal to me. In fact I have a reward!”
“ A reward?” Rarity echoed in an empty tone. That sounded appealing. Maybe it was a nap. She would do just about anything for a nice long nap right now. That would be lovely.
“Yes! In fact I’m personally inviting you to the first Canterlot Four Season Ball! It’s tonight and you shall accompany me!”
The unicorn’s blood froze in her veins. Attend a Royal Ball?! Normally she’d be ecstatic, but on top of not being ready in general, being really tired, and her mane in dire need of attention, she didn’t even have a dress for herself. And she'd never caught dead at any high class function without one of her creations. She was sorry but she had to let the Princess down just this once.
“I’d love to but I simply cannot make it tonight, Princess.” She said, steeling her self for the Princess's dire disapproval. What she got was something she hadn't expected.
Luna simply gave her a look reminiscent of the sad puppy routine Sweetie Belle used on her whenever she wanted something. Naturally, Rarity had believed herself hardened against this type of tactic, but she’d never anticipated having to withstand this look from a Princess! Those sad pretty blue eyes! She had no choice and gave in to the inevitable.
“Alright! I’ll go, but I need something to wear!”
The sad looking alicorn immediately brightened up. “Somepony was generous enough to have something ready for you. It’s at the palace now.”
“Excellent!” Rarity beamed. “Now I simply have to take a bath as well as wash, condition, and finally brush my hair. I should be ready in about..”
*bamf*
The unicorn looked about. The two of them were no longer in her slightly messy shop. Now they were in a lavishly ornate room with a high vaulted ceiling. Ponies in expensive suits and dresses trotted sedately across the floor or danced with a partner to the orchestral music playing in the background. Rarity recognized one of the players. Octavia, the cellist, stood out. It was the Canterlot Orchestra.
Rarity didn't need an explanation for what had happened. Apparently Princess Luna was not a very patient pony.
Out of the corner of her eye, Rarity noted the Princess was now resplendent in her restored dress. The Princess in turn studied Rarity. In fact several other high class ponies were looking at her with puzzled looks on their faces. Finally Luna spoke.
"How odd. The dress I was told to give you seems to have shifted."
Looking down, Rarity immediately froze in horror as she saw what she was wearing. It was truly horrible! The plain design practically seared her eyes, the message was both alien and infuriating in both meaning and the fact it lacked proper grammar! Then there was that beastly face! And the smile! Rarity felt a shiver run down her spine at the mere thought of it's mocking, rage inducing smile. but the absolute worse thing was....it was a t-shirt!
The unicorn let out a terrified shriek before fainting away. Sadly the couch did not make it in time as it was held up at the door by the Royal Guards, their reason very clear. "Invitation only!"
Princess Luna could only watch as the Element of Generosity lay prone on the floor wearing nothing more than a plain black t-shirt with the phrase U MAD? underneath a grotesque face with an immense grin. Luna froze. She knew that symbol and only one pony over the ages used it. For it to be present on a shirt reeking of the Queen's magic meant that.....
Luna's eyes widened in fear.