//------------------------------// // Chapter Three // Story: Tribulation is the Face of Fashion // by Hivemind //------------------------------// I got to work in a jiffy. With inspiration from that beautiful piece of clothing, nopony could say that I didn’t have a chance at winning. I had to handle it like fine art, though, but it was art worthy of all the showcases in Equestria. Only after business hours did I remove it from its protective bag, and only after pulling myself away from staring at it did I continue to work on sketching out my preliminary design. Guilty as charged, but this was my golden ticket through the shimmering gates of glamour and my immortalization in fashion. I liked to daydream every now and then. By the ten minute mark, I already had the torso and neck dimensions drawn out and a few notes written in the corners of my medium listing potential problematic goals in the fashion industry just begging to be reached out to. Integrating Frumpy’s universal fitting design, the stroke of genius that would make the dress available to mares of all sizes and the focal point for this project, would be difficult, but doable. I didn’t dare dismantle the dress stitch by stitch to see how it was formed. Cross Stitch would never forgive me for doing so. I had to resort to more scrutinous methods instead, and I planned to inspect the dress thread for thread, but when I finally found my magnifying glass and a measuring tape I heard the bell above the front door jingle in the other room. I wasn’t really concerned by its ringing this late at night. The door didn’t have a very sturdy built-in lock and the wind would sometimes blow it wide open. It was no surprise to me from day one that the price on the place was a steal, but I didn't mind. I walked into the store proper from my workshop in the back, not bothering to flick the nearest light switch as I made my way almost blindly to the front door. There wasn’t too much in my way anyway as the customer side of the sales floor was completely sparse. I wanted to make it more atmospheric like Rarity’s boutique, but my latest big influx of bits went into commissioning the store’s sign. Dress display mannequins were too costly to buy as well, so I either modeled the dress myself when I conversed with a client or let them do so themselves. Tapestries would have been nice, but the interior designer within me thought the place was a bit too...square to make it work. I found the door by approaching the glow from a streetlamp outside reflected by its glass paneling. The effort it took to get it closed again was always a pain in the rear as the tumblers in the lock were mostly broken. Jimmying the interior lock back and forth was pretty much the only way to contain the door, which I did with a disgruntled huff, almost slamming it shut out of pure frustration even if it would have knocked the bell off. Just then, the lights flashed on, and I let out a gasp as I whirled around yelling, “Who’s there?!” Standing behind the counter with their backs turned were two mares who, honestly, I didn’t get to see enough of after hours; my friends from college, Snazzy Chic and Lily Harmonium, standing there and staring at me wide-eyed over their shoulders with Snazzy’s hoof on the light switch. “H-Hey, Coco...” Lily squeaked, blushing cherry red through her bright green coat as she turned around and tossed a tuft of her blue mane out of the way of her eyes, giving me a small wave. “I told you we could have just knocked, Lily. Look at how scared she is!” said Snazzy, trotting to Lily with a face of enmity. “She wouldn’t have heard us all the way back there,” Lily replied, harrumphing. “And you were too eager to get going anyway.” “What’s going on, girls?” I asked boorishly after breathing a sigh of relief. I usually never found an understanding in the girls. It was my fault anyway. We rarely ever got to see each other during the year given how busy we all were. Well, at least two of us were busy; myself and Snazzy, she being a tan-coated pegasus with a yellow mane who specialized in making various garb for other pegasi. We were both a part of the fashion bandwagon, and Lily, a unicorn, dropped out of the university we attended to become a music therapist, whatever that was. “Party night!” Both girls cheered in unison, throwing their fore hooves up in the air. “Or at least that’s what we call every Friday night,” said Lily smoothly, giggling. “When we finally find the time anyway,” added Snazzy, rolling her eyes. “It’s not that much of a party to be honest.” “Party night?” I asked, though I had a feeling I knew what they were going to say next. “Yeah, party night! It’s where Lily and I hit up this wonderful piano bar in Manehatten Central. I just go there for the music and atmosphere, but it’s famous for offering a taste of some of the best the city has to offer. If you happen to meet with the right ponies, that is.” “And we thought you might want to tag along for the ride!” Lily chimed in, her ears perking up. “C’mon, we know you’re busy, but that’s in the daytime, right? Surely you can take a night off every now and then?” “I would love to join you, girls, but I’m working on a very important project for the store,” I explained while trying not to make it sound like a token excuse your average needle-nipper would use. They missed seeing me too, but I had to think of my growing business first, as much of a jerk as it made me out to be. “Like, super important, and probably one of the most important things I will ever do in my career. It’s due for submission by Wednesday, and I don’t have a lot of time to spare. In fact, I just started sketching out my ideas a few hours ago, and who knows when I’ll be finished?” “You’ll be done when you’re done, okay?” replied Lily after grabbing hold of one of my hooves and yanking me slightly towards the door. She was almost always enthusiastic, but could never quite control it. “Live a little. That’s what big cities are for. Fun and big biz, but mostly fun!” I was pretty torn here. Any memory of the last time I went out on my own or with anypony else had long since faded away ever since I began selling my work en mass. I needed to focus, but how could I if I was stressing over how to even begin making this dress? I accepted their offer with a nod and a smile; timid but inviting, with a touch of hope for our three-way soiree to be over in a reasonable amount of time. Next thing I knew we were crammed side by side in a single-seated cab racing through the streets. Snazzy and Lily kept pointing out all the sights I had been “missing out on” one by one and in detail. If only I wasn’t so busy trying to keep my lunch down I would have actually enjoyed the ride. Our cab driver looked like a newcomer to the streets anyway, and rarely did he regard passenger comfort over what potholes to avoid, but I didn’t take his ignorance to the extreme because we arrived at the bar in no time. At least he knew his way around the back roads, unlike most other cabs that deliberately took the longest believable route to charge their customers more. We tipped our driver well enough and went inside. What immediately caught my attention was a thick, and as I liked to refer it to, foul stench in the air of the bar; alcohol. Those who were innocent beyond Equestria’s borders could be easily forgiven for thinking we of the city weren’t anything but sunshines and rainbows. Manehatten had more than enough pleasantries to keep its populace in good spirits, but with a heavier emphasis on spirits. When the steam train replaced earth pony power, the inhabitants of the Frozen North and other parts of Equestria found shipping their giggle juice to be much easier. I remember that day when a long, exotic caravan marched into the city packed to the cloth roofs of their carts with the stuff. I didn’t drink it though, not even the soft stuff as I emphasized when I kept refusing Lily’s offer for some fizzy green beverage that I’m sure would have scorched the roof of my mouth. Ugh... “Meh, suit yourself,” said Lily having been denied for the third time over. She gulped it down in one swig and daringly slammed the tiny glassware onto the table we sat at. I was amazed that it didn’t shatter. It would have at least been entertaining, unlike the drab ambiance the pianist was keying in like numbers on a tax sheet. At least that’s how I heard it. I wasn’t into music much, let alone bars. What I heard about them made me feel so uncomfortable. The mere thought of seeing dirty floors, rank bathrooms, husky bartenders spit-cleaning the mugs, and generally caked vomit coating the most absurd of surfaces just...no. Please, no! “Why so nervous, Coco?” asked Snazzy, reminding me of how I wasn’t too good at keeping a straight face. “We know you’re used to working a lot, but think of this as being for your own good,” Lily added, downing another Zap Appletini and quivering with glee at its apparently tangy taste. “Mmm~ This could use something more. What do you think, Snaz?” “I wouldn’t know, Lily,” Snazzy politely replied. “I don't drink either.” “Jeez, the two of you are missing out!” Lily smarmed, giggling while she stepped down from her seat and floated her glass down with her. “One or two never hurt anypony.” “But the third or fourth, maybe even more that follow it, do,” Snazzy rebuttled, rolling her eyes with clear dejection towards one of alcohol's many consequences. “I’d figure you’d know that, working as a bartender part time and all that.” “Hey, music therapy doesn't pay for itself!” Lily looked away, grumbling. “Neither do my student loans.” Lily sighed and strolled away towards the bar. I could’ve asked for a glass of water to clear my drying throat, but was too apprehensive to even act. What I hoped would be a relaxing evening out turned into only a more stressful environment than my workshop. “I don’t think it was such a good idea for me to come out here tonight, Snazzy,” I spoke up with a groan. I noticed a bowl of de-shelled almonds in the middle of the table and scooped up a hoof full, not even knowing why I did it. I didn’t even like nuts that much, but I went with stuffing them in my mouth anyway and gulping them down like rocks. “Eww...” Snazzy clenched. “I don’t think so either. You don’t look too well.” “I’m just really worried is all, about that project I told you and Lily about. It’s bigger than you think, and it could completely improve my career. You see, it’s for a contest.” “For a...contest?” Snazzy appeared intrigued, leaning forward in her seat with a smile. “Go on.” “A very special kind of contest, actually. No room for mistakes here. So much as a missing thread or two and the judges give you the boot.” I shivered, and I just had to make it worse for myself, didn’t I? “Wait for it...” Snazzy started with a light squeal. “Is it...Sabot Petite’s fashion shindig?” “Oh, don’t tell me--” “I’m gunning for the prize too!” Snazzy exclaimed, clapping her hooves together with gleeful squeal. I was guilty for not acknowledging how expected this was of her. It was the talk of the town of the highest profile, and given how late I was ready to throw my hat into the ring, I felt I would have to snatch it right back out. Snazzy was a go-getter; always. Her best was never enough, and she would work for weeks at any task or project to bring out the best in her. What I had in store was very well in danger of being overwhelmed by a superior creative mind before the interviews even began. “Do you know what this means, Coco? We’re both competing to get our designs featured, and we’re friends! That means we can share tips and tricks, or even collaborate on what we make, then we’ll get to see both of our names in the shining lights of galas and runways all over Equestria. What do you think of that? Does it sound like something you’re up for?” “Just...ugh. L-Listen, Snazzy,” I started with a mild stutter, hoping to gently ease the importance of the contest onto her shoulders rather than have what I say go in one ear and come out the other. “I’ve been looking forward to a chance like this ever since I got serious about making my own dresses. I had a few of Suri’s less-bossy contacts I could turn to for help back when I worked for her, but they were worth giving up when I finally quit as her assistant. I’m not trying to sound like a jerk, but...” Feeling the weight of the past bearing down on me, I rested my head on one hoof on the table before looking to one of Sabot Petite’s posters taped to the wall near the entrance. Noticing it when we first walked in compounded my worry even more. “Don’t get me wrong. I want to win this contest as much as anypony, but I wanted to do something more with the big prize, you know? I don’t even know if I want the fame, or the slew of uptight paparazzi whose so-called entitlements involve poking fun at you all hours of the day.” “You made plans for if you were to win?” asked Snazzy. "Bold move." “Sure, but who wouldn’t? It would at least help me improve the standards of living I’m stuck with, but, meh, I’m not gonna daydream too hard about it in case I get too reliant on winning alone.” “You got a point there,” said Snazzy with a shrug, partaking of the almond bowl herself. “I try not to, but it’s healthy to imagine a better future for yourself. That way you can set goals and do what it takes to meet them and all that junk. Like, my current goal is to produce the most original piece I can think of, something that kinda brings back the old days of Manehatten where dresses looked less superfluous and like they’re made out of fancy toilet paper or something. I’ve been working at it for a full month because it’s what I’m using to enter into the contest!” “A full month?” “Oh, believe me Coco, getting an early start is an absolute must if anypony wants a shot at winning this thing. It’s the earliest start you can get, and the one that mostly everypony uses because Sabot Petite announces the winner and showcases their dress design in the newspapers the next day. It lets you gauge what you have to work with, and the catalog of ideas gets shorter and shorter every month, so you really, and I mean really need all the time you can get to plan ahead.” “Oh, merciful Celestia, come on!” I groaned with a whiny voice and pursed lips as I laid my chin down onto the table. “I know I have to race the clock, but now I’m questioning whether or not the fact that everypony else has a lead ahead of me is really worth the effort now. Is it? Please be honest.” “Calm down, Coco. Not everypony makes the first hurdle,” said Snazzy with a reassuring pat on the back. “A good...two weeks, I guess, at the least should be enough to make something decent. It’s still up to the judges to decide who wins anyway, so you never know.” “Just two weeks?” My ears fell flat against my skull while my pupils shrank, dropping like my weary thoughts pertaining to success. “I may as well count myself out right now. I have less than one week to come up with something for the contest.” Snazzy stared at me with an astonished deadpan, blinking twice before replying. “...you’re fooling me, right?” I guess I deserved it, looking like an amateur to an amateur. There went part of her faith in me. “If only, Snazzy. If only...” We were both suddenly pulled away from our conversation by the sound of two hooves slamming onto the table. I bolted upward and nearly out of my seat, only to find that it was Lily returning with two vibrantly-colored beverages. They had a tangy aroma to them, which thankfully revitalized my senses while I settled back in. “Drinks time~” Lily trilled, taking a seat on the floor rather than in her chair. “I know you girls will love these. They’re--” “We don’t drink, Lily. Remember?” Snazzy cut in, pushing away the one set in front of her. I did the same. There was hardly any liquid in the glass to begin with. It was just stuffed with bits and pieces of apples, grapes, and slices of lemon while what I assumed was the actual drink was left to fill in the hair-thin spaces in between the fruity mess. “Well, yeah, but these are non-alcoholic. Sangrias too, my favorite!” Lily giggled. “It’s pretty sweet stuff, more like fruit punch to be honest, so I thought you girls might want to give it a try." Snazzy and I looked to each other with blank expressions. We shrugged, not really having any mixed feelings about it coming from an honest friend like Lily. The cold drink was put to our lips and to our palates in moments, and neither of us could have foreseen the smack punch of exotic flavor that took to our taste buds like a pro. Wide grins replaced skeptical ones, and we licked our lips clean. “Whoa...” Snazzy awed at the glass in her hooves with wonder, giving herself a few moments peace to let her taste buds reach the nitty gritty of the fruity concoction and give it their seal of approval. “Whoa indeed,” spoke up the smooth, alluring, yet sudden voice of another mare nearby. All three of us jolted and looked in the direction where it was coming from, finding it to be a slender, shapely pegasus of white with a violet mane and tail, both of which radiated with an impeccable sheen. Her hooves shined as well, all four of them seemingly subject to a recent hooficure and spa treatment complete with a spritz of perfume. At first, I thought she had put too much on, but then I realized it was just the effect of those hundred-bit brands, which cleared my nose like a strong breath mint with just one whiff. Neither I nor Lily knew who this mystery mare was, but it looked like Snazzy sure did when she turned away bashfully and took another, nervous sip of her drink. “Do I know you, lady?” asked Lily, eyeing the mare closely. “You look familiar...like, freakishly familiar.” “Didn’t you work here at one time?” the mare asked with a sigh as if she wasn’t ready to deal with the common rabble, which she was anything but. “Bartender, often snuck bits from the tip jar when nopony was looking?” “Err...you might be thinking of somepony else.” Lily rubbed the back of her head, blushing a deep red. I wanted to laugh, but not in front of the stranger. She had an air of prosperity and meaning about her, or whatever the word was to describe somepony fancy but not of noble birth. They were as common as weeds growing in cracks on the sidewalk here in Manehatten. “Whistling nonchalantly isn’t the most original of diversions, just to advise you. Anyway,” the mare paused, turning her attention to Snazzy who was trying her best not to be noticed, but she couldn’t keep it up forever. “Snazzy, darling, I never knew you drank.” The mare’s lips pursed into a sly grin. “Hey, Madame...” Snazzy choked out, turning back around slowly and giving a short wave to the mare, her hooves shaking a little as she retracted her tail around her hind legs. “L-Long time no see, huh? And no, I don’t. It’s non-alcoholic.” “Oh? But it’s a Sangria from the looks of it. I assume your...friend here made it for you?” Madame gestured idly to Lily, the way she paused in her speech somewhat irking Lily. “But yes, it has been a while, well over a year if I remember correctly. Since the gala reveal last spring, yes?” “You know her, Snazzy?” asked Lily, shuffling a few feet further away from Madame with distaste. “Same,” I added, turning to her. “Who is she?” “It’s not that important, girls,” Snazzy murmured, shrinking into her seat. “She’s an acquaintance.” Madame giggled playfully, muffling it with one hoof. “Not that important, hmm? Such a card, Snazzy. Your name suits you better than I thought, but is that really the way to introduce an old business partner?” “Business partner?” said Lily and I in unison. “And mentor...” Snazzy grumbled before glaring at Madame with displeasure. “Right before she dropped one of our biggest contracts and left me with a bunch of unfinished dresses and nopony to model them with.” “Yes, yes, and then left you high and dry while I left for New Yoke City to tend to private matters. We’ve been over this before,” Madame replied with an uptight, but drab tone. “But why’d you do it? My business was going to be big if we just gave them what they wanted! Heck, more than big! It was that simple.” “Tsk tsk tsk, you were so quick to just throw away any reasoning behind what I was trying to teach you even outside the workshop?” questioned Madame. “You weren’t ready to ‘be big’, darling. Less than a year in business and already your head had ballooned with desires of glamour overnight after you observed every dress you’ve sewn. The mere chance of a miracle is a miracle in itself in the world of fashion, Snazzy, and not once on this earth is a single design ever going to win over the hearts and minds of those who have brought themselves to wear it, and not once should you ever expect it to. I can only hope I made myself clear to you now.” “Yes, ma’am.” Snazzy grumbled, looking away. I was a little worried. From what Madame said, it made out Snazzy to be pretty stuck up, but everypony has their moments, and so did I. We wanted nothing more than success coming out of university to actually kick off our careers; a smooth transition to the finer side of our passion. It wasn’t that being stuck up or pompous was entirely justified, which certainly didn’t favor Suri, but I guessed it was just another part of growing up. “What kinda friend, let alone business partner and mentor, would just leave the ponies they cared for with nopony close to them to fall back on?” asked Lily, squinting her eyes angrily at Madame. The whole time she and Snazzy talked I wanted to bring up the same thing. Call me rational, but the high-class did not have the most gleaming record when it came to honesty and integrity. Canterlot may have had the worst of it, but we outnumbered those stove pipe hat-wearing snobs ten to one when it came to quantity over quality. Snazzy took notice to Lily’s question and, surprisingly, was quick to defend Madame rather than persecute her for her crime against fashion. “Girls, let’s just not get too carried away. She had her reasons, alright? I know now.” “What reasons?” exclaimed Lily, raising her voice a little and giving Madame the evil eye. “Were you not fancy enough for her? Is there some sort of minimum...f-fanciness level everypony in this turned-up town has to meet? Something’s fishy here and I ain’t buying it.” “My my, you are rather hateful of those who succeed,” said Madame, looking to Lily with a disturbed expression. “Only the snobs who insult my friends!” “Lily, she didn’t insult me. I had it coming,” Snazzy spoke up quietly, rubbing her fore hooves together to ease away whatever shame still lingered. “It’s at least good to know why you left, Madame. I just wish it wasn’t so sudden. A sticky note on the sewing machine wasn’t the best way to say farewell.” “Blame that on absurd train departure times, Snazzy, and a career of my own to look after,” replied Madame, lifting a hoof and tossing a lock of her mane off to one side of her head. She then smiled, turning her attention towards me for the first time since she appeared on the scene. “But enough of that now. Tell me, who might your friends be?” “Well, you’ve already met Lily, and she met you pretty quickly, but this,” Snazzy paused, turning to me with a warm, welcoming smile and laying a hoof atop my shoulder. “--is Coco Pommel, a fashion designer just like me.” “Truly?” said Madame, daintily reaching a hoof out to me over the table. “A pleasure, Coco.” “A pleasure to meet you too, Madame,” I replied with a short smirk of my own, shaking her hoof and, for a moment, silently marveling at how pillow-soft it felt in my grip. “You and Snazzy were business partners once, you said? What did the two of you do together?” “She made the dresses, and I worked my magic in modeling them for her.” Madame sighed blissfully, utilizing her handy chin cushions on the table to support her head as she leaned against it. “It was a brand new surprise every day, and we kept it up for a good eight months.” “Where does the mentor part come in?” “I was a fashionista all the same when I was younger, and have been for well over a decade, so I knew my way around just about every thread in the industry. Before that, a ballet dancer. I’ve found it rather difficult to earn a body like this--” Madame swept a hoof from the top of her head down, showcasing every inch of her slim and respectful form. “--any other way. Snazzy was looking for a model in the papers, so I took some time off from my...other hobbies and helped her out, gave her some pointers, the usual brain juice before I was whisked away by circumstances beyond my control.” It was like there was a fashion designer on every street corner I came across. It goes without saying that the city had more of them than anywhere else in Equestria be they in nightclubs, among the wealthy elite, or maybe just in their living room, bored out of their mind and with fabric tools handy. “I may need to whisk you away back here again soon, Madame,” started Snazzy, a revitalized grin creeping onto her face. “I’m entering a design in a competition, and it’s being held by Sabot Petite!” “Ooo~ Sabot Petite?” Madame cooed, raising an eyebrow with stark interesting. “They are quite the organization, as I should know. Yes, I’ve seen the flyers all over town. It seems that everypony I know and their mothers are joining the fun.” “I’m entering in it too,” I said, raising my right hoof a little to gain her attention. “A distant friend of mine told me about it yesterday, so...you know. It’s going to be a long week for me.” “Then you may have to hightail it if you want to get something in by Wednesday. Every second counts.” “While you three talk about knitting or whatever it is grannies do, I’ll just be...over there,” said Lily, gesturing towards no area in particular before taking her leave, though Snazzy and I both knew the bar was always her go-to destination when she was bored. Maybe she would have more fun discussing mixes with a fellow bartender before proceeding to debate with them on how “wrong” they were doing something. “Speaking of hightailing it,” I started, slowly climbing down from my seat. “I need to get back home. I know it’s only been a short while, Snazzy, but thanks for the night out. This was fun, especially meeting your friend.” “Not a problem, Coco! It's good to know we could clear your head up a little,” Snazzy replied with a cheerful smile. I just gave an affirming nod, letting her believe me while I trembled on the inside. Then, she took a final sip of her drink before slipping down from her seat in turn and walked past me before stopping. “Honestly, I got to get going too, but hey, Madame. Want to come by my place and see what I got cookin’?” “Thank you, Snazzy, but no thanks,” Madame giggled. This time, she slipped down from her seat and walked past the two of us as if to make it to the exit first. “I too must depart, but I must admit, Coco. Your name rings a bell. Didn’t you used to work with one Suri Polomare? I think I’ve seen you with her before.” “Y...yeah,” I gulped, hating it whenever old memories were brought up like that, especially ones with Suri in them. “But that was a long time ago, thank goodness. Why do you ask, Madame?” “Oh, no reason,” she replied, flipping a lock of mane around to her front as she walked. “And, for the record just call me Curly.” “O...kay?” “Wait, Curly?” Snazzy spoke up with a jolt. “But I’ve known you for way longer and you’ve never told me that before!” “Happy hemming, everypony,” Madame, or rather Curly, called out behind her with a coo as she continued on her way and left the bar into the cool night air. “Ugh, she did have a tendency before to leave ponies in the dark like that,” said Snazzy, starting forward towards the exit to follow in Curly’s hoofsteps. “I’ll catch you later, Coco." Talk about a weird turn of the tables. I wanted to leave first to get some peace and quiet on the way home as I didn’t feel like suffering through another taxi ride, but Snazzy nearly upstaged me, then Madame, or Curly, if that was her real name, beat both of us to it. Now, here I was, standing alone awkwardly in the middle of a moderately-crowded piano bar. I began to take my leave, but I was suddenly stopped by the sound of Lily’s voice behind me. “Hey, Coco? Where did everypony go?” asked Lily, levitating a floating tray of shots she had with her onto our table before approaching me from the side. “They took off,” I replied softly, suddenly feeling not so ready to leave yet. All that talk about fashion, dressmaking, and especially the competition put me in a worse off mood than before I even left my store. I was fine with discussing a few details, but hearing the same statistics over and over again didn’t sit well in my stomach at all, and going back to the workshop wasn’t going to change that. Even worse, part of it was my fault, and I didn’t imagine recovering from it anytime soon. “Huh, I guess they did,” Lily concluded after doing a quick look-around. “How did it go? Are you and Madame friends yet or something?” “Just...get me a drink, please.”