Chapter Forty: Choose Your Next Witticism Carefully
The rest of the night went by uneventful - though it DID cause an interesting scene when Fluttershy woke up to find Smokey’s arms wrapped around her and Chenoa. She hadn’t stopped blushing until after she had nearly reached Carousel Boutique.
As she rose her hoof to knock on the door, she jumped as it flew open.
“Oh, THERE you are!” Pinkie Pie smiled, still clad in the dragon costume. “We’ve been waiting for you! Come in, come in, come in!”
Before Fluttershy could even say anything, Pinkie Pie grasped her hooves with her own and hauled her inside.
“Hello, Fluttershy! How are you this morning?” Rarity greeted, her dark blue eyes twinkling. She clearly was excited for the pegasus and was eager to fit her into her new dress.
“I’m… doing… fine…” the pegasus replied, staring at the costume-wearing pony. “Um, Pinkie, why are--”
“I’m here to help Rarity fit you into your dress! And to discuss what you and Smokey are doing on your date!”
“Oh!” The buttercream mare blushed. “It’s not a - and I didn’t - I mean… Why are you still in a costume?”
“What costume?” the curly-maned pony chirped, unaware of the fact she was still dressed up like a dragon resembling Smokey.
“The one you’re wearing, darling,” Rarity reminded the pink pony before hooking a foreleg around Fluttershy’s to drag her over to her mirror, nearly stepping on Opal’s tail in the process. “Oh, Fluttershy! You must be so excited about your date! I made sure every detail on your dress was absolutely perfect!”
Letting her go, the alabaster mare whirled into the direction of one of her ponyquinns. Igniting her horn, she levitated a stunning dress off of it. The silky fabric on the body was a vibrant blue-green that matched Fluttershy’s eyes. The skirt itself was divided into layers, each a shade lighter than the one on top of it. Around the waist was a ring of deep blue sapphires cut into the shapes of flowers.
“Isn’t it gorgeous?”
Fluttershy took a breath, examining it over. To say the dress was beautiful would have been an insult. This was far from beautiful - this… this was a masterpiece! The work of a true artisan!
“It’s… very lovely,” she said, really unable to express just how incredible it was. “But… Rarity, this is just a get-together. We’re not going to the Grand Galloping Gala.”
“Well, duuuh!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Of course you’re not, silly filly! You’re going to the Mareiot Plaza Restaurant!”
“That’s right. I made reservations for the two of you - and Chenoa - this Saturday. Surprise!” the white unicorn squealed, unable to contain her exuberance.
Indeed Fluttershy was surprised - her eyes springing wide open.
“… You made reservations for us at the Mareiot?! Isn’t that… one of the most expensive places in all of Equestria? And I thought they were only in Canterlot and Applewood, for very rich tourists?”
“Naw, you’re thinking of the hotel,” Pinkie Pie informed.
“Fluttershy, I would never book you some place you couldn’t afford. Sure, it’s a bit pricey, but it’s the perfect setup for a romantic evening.”
Rarity slipped the dress over her friend’s head and draped it over her back, fitting it on and smoothing out any unwanted folds.
“Yeah! And you two might not just have dinner! They got music playing all the time! You might even dance, or watch the night sky, or kiss!”
The rosy-maned pegasus’ blushed returned, in a darker shade. She had been hoping the subject of her and Smokey kissing would not be brought up again.
“Oh, no, that’s… that’s… taking things… a little too fast…”
“Smokey is a sweetheart. I cannot imagine a better man for you!”
Horn glowing a second time, Rarity magicked her pin cushion over and set it down next to her. Readjusting her glasses, she got to work measuring the fabric.
“Yes… but… a kiss?” Fluttershy bit her bottom lip, glancing off and looking very unsure of herself. “We haven’t… I don’t… Aren’t you not supposed to kiss on the first date?”
“AHA! So it IS a date!” Pinkie Pie accused, narrowing her eyes with a smirk playing on her lips.
“What? No!” The winged pony whipped her eyes back to the pink equine, shaking her head in denial.
“But you just said it was!”
Rarity grinned, internally applauding Pinkie Pie’s wordplay.
“You can… if you want to, deary. There’s no shame in kissing on the first date if you two fall in love.”
“But, but, but…” Fluttershy sputtered. She gave a bitter sigh, knowing she wasn’t going to get anywhere with them.
“Oooh! This is going to be great! I should throw you two a party afterwards! A congratulations on falling in love party!”
If it were possible, Fluttershy blushed even deeper.
“Pinkie…”
Rarity was about to point out that Pinkie Pie had thrown a congratulations on getting a date party for Fluttershy as soon as she found out about the outing - despite Cup Cake’s efforts to prevent her from doing so - , but she had to remember this was Pinkie Pie. Whenever she saw an opportunity to throw a party, she snagged it.
“Best to wait on that until they actually do fall in love.”
The pink-pelted mare paused, blinking, then shrugged.
The pegasus sighed again, turning her head to gaze back at the pony behind her.
“… Rarity, I… I have to thank you for this, but, really, you… didn’t have to go through all this trouble.”
“Well, of course she did!” Pinkie Pie piped up again. “This is Rarity you’re talking to. How could she have not?”
“Precisely! I will not allow you to go on your first date without something fabulous to wear.”
Drawing a couple more pins from the pin cushion, she stuck them into the fabric, taking care not to accidentally poke her friend.
“Yeah!” Pinkie Pie bounced in place, the fake tail of her costume flapping up and down to smack against the floor. “Nether will I!
“Buuuut… I don’t really have any idea what somepony wears on a date.”
“One wears nice clothing when going out on a date, just like any other important gathering,” the unicorn clarified, sticking in another pin.
Fluttershy rustled a bit, but tried remaining still to avoid being pricked.
“Oooh! Kinda like that one over there?”
Pinkie Pie pointed with over Fluttershy’s shoulder. The pegasus, slightly intrigued, turned her head to follow her hoof - and her eyes bulged out when she realized she was pointing at a bridal gown.
“Uhh… Pinkie, I… think… maybe not THAT fancy.”
“That’s a bridal gown, Pinkie. Fluttershy’s not going to be needing anything like that,” Rarity said with a smirk as she rechecked her measurements.
“OH! Like what Princess Cadance was wearing at her wedding! Silly me!” She bounced off to Fluttershy’s side, next to Rarity. “I can’t believe I forgot!”
“Well, it… has been some time since the wedding…”
The purple-maned equine nodded once, checking the inseams and found she didn’t need to adjust anything there.
“Mhm. Pinkie, how do you think we should do her hair? I was thinking of pulling it back into a bun and curling the forelock.”
“I like that idea! Or… Hmmm… I dunno! Maybe we could go for curls, or - ooh, maybe a braided ponytail!”
“Um… why don’t we leave it as it is?” Fluttershy peeped.
“But, Fluttershy! This is your very own super special big date! You GOTTA look nice and stylish or you’ll be hiding behind your--” The mare cut herself off to gasp as an idea sprung into mind. “I know! I know! Why don’t we cut it short?! You’d totally rock the bob cut!”
“CUT Fluttershy’s beautiful mane?!” Rarity exasperated in an overly dramatic fashion, pupils shrinking and jaw dropping in an expression of pure horror. “Do you know how many ponies would die to have such a lavishing mane and tail like this?!”
For emphasis, she reached out to smooth a hoof over the mentioned mare’s mane.
“Well, yeah! Really, Fluttershy! You’ve got a pretty face! You shouldn’t be hiding it behind your mane all the time!”
Fluttershy gulped, huddling closer to Rarity.
“Pinkie’s right… about one thing. You do have a pretty face. Instead of hiding it, I propose we actually pull back your mane so you can show Smokey how beautiful it is,” the fashionista offered.
“Well… Um… Rarity?” The yellow-furred mare addressed the unicorn, feeling the need to thank her again for everything she had done. “… Thank you. Really.”
“It’s not a problem at all! I was more than happy to make your dress,” Rarity assured, lifting the said dress back over to the ponyquinn via magic.
Fluttershy smiled, drawing a hoof over her other.
“I’m curious. Just… how is Smokey’s outfit coming along? When do you want me to bring him by for his fitting?”
“I should be ready for him in a couple of days. I’m still making the fabric,” she answered. “And I need to design his tuxedo.”
“A tuxedo?” Fluttershy arched her eyebrow. “On top of the costume?”
“A costume?” Pinkie Pie perked at this. “What’s going on with a costume? Is there a costume party over at the Mareiot? I thought it was dinner!”
“Um… no. Rarity’s making Smokey a costume to help blend in to avoid scaring anypony.”
“Of course Smokey’s wearing a tuxedo over his costume. Fluttershy’s wearing a dress. Why shouldn’t he wear something nice?” Rarity reasoned as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“If he’s wearing the tuxedo over the costume… what if he would want to wear the tuxedo again later? And… um… wouldn’t that be a bit too much clothing to wear at once?”
“Why would he want to wear the tuxedo a second time?” Pinkie Pie questioned. “Most are one-wear-only events anyway! Unless he’s some sort of super spy like Con Mane!”
“Pinkie…” the unicorn deadpanned, choosing to ignore Fluttershy’s attempt to rationalize with her. “Con Mane doesn’t exist. You made him up, remember?”
The pink party pony blinked.
“I did? But he’s got all those movies and books and video games and--”
“I think you’re confusing him for Ian Flemane’s Dane Fond,” Fluttershy said. “Besides, Con Mane sounds more like a villain.”
There was a moment of silence before Pinkie Pie’s eyes lit up in realization.
“Oh, yeah! I remember now! I did! I even remember the scene I acted out!”
She suddenly stood on her hind legs, smirking as she directed her attention to the floor.
“Choose your next witticism carefully, Mr. Fond, it may be your last.”
She then immediately flopped over flat on her back, her legs spread eagle.
“You expect me to talk?” she snarled up at where she had been standing.
“No, Mr. Fond!” The mare was back on her hind hooves, bending over and smirking deviously at the now empty spot on the floor. “I expect you to die!”
“Pinkie?” Fluttershy pried.
Dropping the act, the curly-haired equine smiled at her friend expectantly.
“Yeah?”
“Are you feeling all right? You’ve been rather… forgetful today. It… worries me.”
“She’s… Pinkie,” Rarity prompted, arching her brow into the earth pony’s direction and shook her head. After all, Pinkie Pie could be thinking about one thing one moment, latch onto something else the next, and completely forget the subject matter she had previously been focused on.
“Yes, I know,” Fluttershy relented as she turned back to Pinkie Pie who - true to her form - went right back to her roleplay. “But she’s been acting really odd lately. Like… more so than usual.”
The unicorn pursed her lips, returning her gaze to the hyperactive pony as she struck several action poses.
“She is just being… super-extra-Pinkie Pie,” she resolved.
The pegasus just stood there, watching as Pinkie Pie struck pose after pose, including a few she wasn’t sure should be physically be possible to perform.
“I think we’re done here,” said Rarity, uncertain how to react to this current behavior.
“Yes, I agree.” Fluttershy nodded then approached Pinkie Pie’s side. “Pinkie? Pinkie, I think it’s time we went home.”
The pink equine, who was in the middle of what appeared to be a very elaborate dance, paused and spun around to face her friend.
“Okie dokie loki!” she burbled, bouncing off towards the door as if nothing had happened.
With a sigh and another shake of her head, Rarity swiveled her attention back to the feathered mare with a smile.
“I’ll see you later, Fluttershy. Remember to send Smokey over in two days.”
“Okay, Rarity. I certainly will.”
Exiting the building, she began heading to the cottage, with Pinkie Pie hopping ahead of her and acting out her actions and poses from earlier. Observing for a moment, she mumbled to her that she was going home, though the pony in front of her didn’t respond. With that, the pegasus broke off from her.