Night of the Gloomspinner

by Dark_Zurite

C1: A Customer with no taste

At the Carousel Boutique, Rarity was busy finishing an order for a dozen dresses. With the deadline approaching, she had asked Fluttershy to assist her by playing the part of a dressform. With her unicorn horn glowing light blue and making several sewing materials float about her head, she was putting pins into the dress.
“Ow,” Fluttershy chirped. At this time, the yellow pegasus was thinking that she was more of a pin cushion than a dressform.
“I'm so sorry, darling,” Rarity said, brushing her blue mane from her eyes. “It's just that I am nearly finished with this order and I am just so nervous about getting it done on time.”
“It's okay,” Fluttershy said, stretching her pegasus wings and flicking her pink mane to the side. “I'm happy to help.”
The bell hung over the door to the boutique rang to signal that somepony had entered the building. This also caused Rarity to stick another pin into Fluttershy.
“Ow,” she chirped.
“Oh, dear, I'm sorry.” Rarity is normally happy to have customers, but at this time she really didn't need to have any other distractions. She called out to the showroom of the boutique, “Just a minute.” Turning back to Fluttershy, she said, “I'm sorry, dear. I have a customer.”
Fluttershy smiled sweetly, “It's okay,” relived that she would have a few minutes of respite from the pins being stuck in her. She watched as Rarity left the curtained off area. Through a small opening in the curtain, she watched as Rarity spoke to the customer.
Rarity approached the customer, who had taken it upon herself to sit at a small table that was set up with magazines for her customers to read while they waited for her. The customer had picked up an old issue with Fluttershy on the cover, when she was a model for Photo Finish.
The white unicorn cleared her throat. “Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique.
The customer, a unicorn that Rarity had never seen before, peered up over the edge of the magazine, which was levitated by a red glow of her magic. Her violet eyes appeared even more bright when compared to her coat of dark gray. A wave of her black mane fell over to the side of her head to just below eye line and a ponytail hung from the back of her head over her shoulder and she had a short cropped tail, all with a midnight blue stripe parting the middle. The unicorn wore jewelry consisting of amethysts in black spider shaped settings, which hung from her ears, one hung from her horn on a ring, a clasp on the ponytail and a necklace of spiders. Even her watch, most likely custom made, from what Rarity could tell, was a series of spiders locked together and a large spider making the watch face.
The new unicorn lowered the magazine, having it float next to her, and said, “Good day to you. I had heard that you were the best dress maker in town.”
Rarity nodded. “Well, I wouldn't say the absolute best, but I am known for my skill.” She smiled. “I am Rarity.”
The new unicorn smiled in response. “A bit of modesty, that is good to hear. I am looking to have a dress made for me for the next Galloping Gala.”
Rarity's eyebrows rose. “They are passing out invitations for the Gala already?”
The new unicorn shook her head. “No, but I have been invited to them for the past five years in a row. A shame I had missed the last one. I had heard that a group of ponies had completely destroyed the party, first knocking down the statues in the center of the room as well as the pillars , then letting wild animals loose into the ballroom.”
“Oh,” Rarity paused. “Really.”
“It would have been funny to see,” she laughed softly. “I hope that they will be there this time to cause an even bigger disaster than last time.”
Rarity made a false laugh. “Ah, you don't say.”
“Oh yes. The Gala is such a dull dance that I only go to it every other year. Well, anyway, as far as my dress, I tend to give ponies a challenge in making my dress. From what I have seen and heard, you tend to work with very bright colors and multiple types of gems.”
“Yes. Bright and sparkling are my specialties,” Rarity pointed out.
“Which is why I said it would be a bit of a challenge,” the new unicorn smiled with a small hint of slyness to it. “I tend to dress in the darkest of hues, preferring black, dark blue and a deep violet in color. I also like spiders, as you might have noticed by the jewelry. If you can incorporate that in the dress a bit, I would be most appreciative.”
Rarity gasped as such a limited set of colors, before grinning, “I relish the challenge.”
“Great,” the new unicorn said. “I like giving the dress designer plenty of time for the dress to be revised if I don't like the first version, as well as to allow the dress maker to feel more at ease in designing it. Shall I come by for measurements tomorrow?”
Rarity nodded. “That will be most excellent. Early in the morning then?”
The new unicorn shook her head. “Oh no, I don't usually get up until about noon, so if we could make it for two, that will be best.”
Rarity nodded. “Tomorrow at two then.”
“Great, I'll see you then,” the new unicorn turned to leave.
“Oh wait. You didn't give me your name,” Rarity paused before adding, “so I can write it down in my appointment book.”
The new unicorn sighed. “Oh, my apologies, where are my manners. My name is Midnight Azure.”
Rarity thought for a moment, thinking that she had heard the name before, but not sure where. She put it out of her mind, remembering that she had the other order to complete. “Thank you. I look forward to working with you tomorrow, Ms. Midnight Azure.”
“Midnight is fine, Ms. Rarity.”
“Then Rarity will be fine,” the white unicorn replied. “Let's keep it friendly.”
“Agreed, Rarity, see you tomorrow.” Midnight tossed the magazine onto the table, it stayed open to a specific page.
Rarity had noticed that Midnight had a cutie mark of a paintbrush painting a stroke of colors. For a moment, she thought it odd for a pony to have such a bright cutie mark in comparison to the rest of her. Rarity walked up to the table to close the magazine again, noticing that it was opened to a page about the unicorn that just left.
She levitated the magazine to read the article about the gray unicorn as she returned to the area where Fluttershy was waiting. She continued to read the article while using her magic to start levitating sewing materials.
“I think I've seen her before,” Fluttershy said.
Rarity looked up from the magazine. “Really?”
“Oh yes,” she said. “Before I quit modeling, she was speaking to Photo Finish about something.”
Rarity closed the magazine and set it aside. “Did you hear what they were talking about?”
Fluttershy shook her head. “No, they were too far away, but they seemed rather friendly.” She looked at the magazine at a picture of herself when she was modeling. “What were you reading?”
Rarity was busy gathering her pins and was ready to get back to work. “I was reading an old article about her. It mentioned that she was going to use you as a model for one of her paintings.”
“So she is an artist?” Fluttershy asked.
Rarity nodded while she started working on the dress. “The article mentioned that she tends to favor dark art as well as paintings of the night sky and such. Also something about monsters.”
“Monsters!” Fluttershy gasped. “Oh, I hope she isn't angry with me for quitting before I could be her model.”
“Honestly, she seems to be rather friendly. I don't believe you would have anything to worry about.” Rarity continued to work on the dress. “She wanted me to make her a dress for the Grand Galloping Gala.”
“Really?” Fluttershy said, as Rarity had her turn so that she could work on the other side. “If you make her dress as pretty as the ones that you made for us, I am sure she will be very happy.”
“Yes and it may be a big boon for my business, since she seems to be pretty popular in Canterlot. After reading the article in the magazine, it reminded me where I heard her name before. Many of the ponies I was with in Canterlot were raving about her art work. Strangely, she never showed up at any of the parties that I went to. You think somepony whose work was so appreciated would attend every single one of them to boost her business.”
Fluttershy thought about that. “Maybe she's just shy?”
“Perhaps,” Rarity said. “She did give me a challenge with the making of the dress.”
“What kind of challenge?”
“I can only use black, dark blue and violet. She also prefers amethysts and likes spiders,” Rarity said.
“Wow, that is a challenge. It sounds like something more suited for Nightmare Night.”
“Or a funeral,” Rarity added bitterly. “Still, the customer is always right.”
“Well, except for our tastes,” Fluttershy pointed out the disasters that she and her other friends had requested Rarity to make for them.
Rarity let out a soft laugh. “I hope it won't be a repeat of that. However, she was hoping to see the six ponies that caused the disaster at the last dance so that they can destroy it again.”
“See us there to cause another mess?” Fluttershy gasped. “I don't think Princess Celestia will allow us to go back ever again after the last time.”
“Well, she wasn't angry about us causing a mess the first time. However, even with Twilight being her prized student, we shouldn't press our luck.” Rarity finished one last pin, stepping back to make sure the hem was right.
“That's true,” Fluttershy giggled softly, happy to not be stuck with any more pins.

Outside the Carousel Boutique, a pink pony was wearing a sombrero with an arrow stuck through the rim, blocking her vision. Every few moments, she would blow on the arrow, causing it to swing back and forth until it rested in front of her again, still partially blocking her vision. She was directing the movements of a rainbow maned blue pegasus flying in the air, gathering storm clouds together. So far, the pegasus was bringing in the tenth one.
“Okay, Rainbow Dash, just move that a little bit to the left.” The pink pony was trying to get the clouds lined up in a row.
“How's this Pinkie Pie?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Hmm,” Pinkie Pie thought for a moment, measuring with her hooves, blowing on the arrow, causing it to flop about in her vision. “A smidgen to the left.” She waited for the pegasus to move it to the left. “No, I mean my left.”
Rainbow Dash groaned. “They are the same left, Pinkie.”
“Are you sure?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Because I am sure that my left is more leftish than your left could be rightish.”
Rainbow Dash facehooved. “Just tell me where to put it.”
“Okay, Dashie, a little bit more to MY left.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and complied.
“Now a little bit downish,” Pinkie Pie said. “No, my down.”
Rainbow Dash groaned. “Pinkie, both of our downs are the same.”
“I'm sure that my downish is more down than your downish is.....ish,” Pinkie Pie argued.
“Pinkie Pie!” Rainbow Dash yelled.
“Right,” Pinkie Pie said. “That's good.” She giggled. “I have so many cool pranks to play today.”
“Well, I just can't wait.” Rainbow Dash pointed to the clouds. “Especially the one where the clouds will be used.”
“Oh, I wasn't going to use those in a prank.” Pinkie Pie said.
“You weren't?”
“No,” Pinkie Pie started to giggle. “I just wanted to see how long it would take for you to stop
and ask me that question.” She snorted a laugh. “You stopped at ten. I was expecting you to stop at twenty.” In a fit of laughter, she fell on her back, sending her sombrero flying.
“So you weren't going to use these for anything else?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Snort laughed, coming up for breath. “Nope,” then she went back to laughing.
Rainbow Dash hovered in the air for a few moments, realizing that she had been pranked, and smiled wickedly, “I know one thing that they can be used for.” She kicked the first cloud, starting a chain reaction as the clouds each boomed with thunder one after the other. “Awesome.”
Pinkie Pie jumped at the sound, started giggling and hiccuping. She continued to giggle and hiccup, even after a piece of paper fell on her face and she heard somepony else hiccuping behind her. Midnight had dropped the paper when the hiccups had started. She rolled her eyes, remaining silent for a few moments.
Rainbow Dash flew down and landed next to the two ponies. “Uh, sorry, I didn't see you there. You okay?”
Midnight continued to stay silent, looking back and forth between the pony and the pegasus.
Rainbow Dash looked at Midnight, waiving a hoof, “Hello.”
Pinkie Pie jumped to her feet, the paper still against her face. “We didn't hurt you, did we?”
Midnight remained silent for another long moment, then swallowed hard. “Sorry, was holding my breath to get rid of the hiccups.”
“Oh,” Pinkie Pie rolled her eyes. Then hiccuped.
“So you're okay?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Sure,” Midnight chortled a bit. “It was kind of funny.”
“Oh good,” Rainbow Dash said. She looked at Pinkie Pie and they both fell on their backs, laughing, with Pinkie Pie hiccuping between belts of laughter.
Midnight used her magic to lift the paper from Pinkie Pie and placed the sombrero over her face, making sure that the arrow didn't stick her. “Was trying to do that to you.”
Pinkie Pie continued to laugh, hiccuping a bit. Rainbow Dash paused before returning to laughing. Midnight couldn't help but let out another little laugh and attempted to walk past them.
Pinkie Pie, seeing that Midnight was trying to walk past her, hopped to her hooves and zipped in front of her, forcing the gray unicorn to take an involuntary step back as she pressed really close to her. “Oh, I asked you your name.” She started bouncing in place with a huge smile.
“No you didn't,” Midnight countered, then hiccuped. “Shoot.”
Pinkie Pie hiccuped. “Yes I did.”
“Nope, I'm sure of it.”
“Of course I did.”
Midnight hiccuped. “No you didn't.”
“Yes,” Pinkie Pie hiccuped.
“No,” Midnight countered.
“No I didn't,” Pinkie Pie hiccuped again.
“Yes you,” she paused, “you're right,” Midnight hiccuped. “You didn't.”
“That's right,” Pinkie Pie said. “I didn't.” After a moment, she paused in mid bounce, hiccuped and gasped. “Wait a minute.”
Rainbow Dash grabbed her stomach and fell to the ground, laughing, “She beat you at your own trickery.”
Pinkie Pie hovered in mid air for a long time in absolute shock. When she landed, she took off her sombrero and scratched her head. “Have I lost my touch?” She hiccuped and decided to try and hold her breath like Midnight did.
Midnight chortled softly. “Don't worry about it. I know a pony that tries to use that trick on me all the time. My name is Midnight Azure. Midnight to my friends.”
“Neat name,” Rainbow Dash got to her hooves and stood next to Pinkie Pie.
“Really?” Midnight said with a bit of surprise, “Most ponies think it is kind of creepy.”
“Yeah, well, it's still cool. I'm Rainbow Dash and this is my friend Pinkie Pie.” She looked at the pink pony, who was turning blue from holding her breath.
Rainbow Dash nudged Pinkie Pie, who let out in one big breath, “Hi!” Then hiccuped again.
“It is nice to meet the two of you.”
“Feelings mutual,” Rainbow Dash said.
“You're new here, right?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Because I know everypony in Ponyville and since I don't know you that would mean that you are new here and are wondering where everything is and we can tell you and perhaps show you around and...”
“Actually,” Midnight cut her off, realizing that it would be the only way to get a word in. “I have been here for a few days now. Just getting my art studio ready and...”
“What are studio?” Rainbow Dash asked, ready to take off.
“Just down the street from Sugar Cube Corner.” Rainbow Dash took off as Midnight watched and finished her sentence, “perhaps a couple of blocks away from it?”
“Really?” Pinkie Pie asked as if not noticing Rainbow Dash take off. She put the sombrero back on her head. “I never noticed it and I work at and live over Sugar Cube Corner.” She blew the arrow away from her face, causing it to flop around. “What kind of art do you sell?”
“Paintings,” Rainbow Dash landed where she had taken off. “Couldn't see too well with the drapes closed, but I saw some of them through the gap between them and they looked pretty cool.”
“Great. I'm sure you'll get lots of business here,” Pinkie Pie said.
Midnight sighed. “I sure hope so.”
“We'll make sure everypony knows about it,” Rainbow Dash added.
“Thank you, you two.” Midnight looked at the paper. “I'm sorry, I really must be going.”
“Did you need help?” Pinkie Pie asked. “With the list, I mean.”
Midnight shook her head. “No, I'll be fine. Wait...” she looked at Pinkie Pie. “How?”
“I read it when it landed on my face,” Pinkie Pie said.
“I see.” Midnight checked her watch. “I'm sorry, I really must be going. Nice meeting you two. We should do lunch sometime.”
“Sure,” Rainbow Dash said, waiving with a fake smile. Pinkie Pie mimicked her, waving until Midnight was out of earshot. Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie Pie, “Party time?”
Pinkie Pie adjusted the sombrero to ensure that the arrow was hanging right in front of her face, blowing on the arrow to make it start swaying back and forth. She hoof-bumped Rainbow Dash. “Party time.” They whispered plans and took off in different directions.