//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Dresses and Desire // by One True Thrond //------------------------------// Rarity looked through the pile of sketches on her desk. Sometimes, when she had spare time, she would whip up designs for herself, or for her friends. Of course, she didn’t want to impose upon her friends to wear these dresses, so many of them were yet to come to fruition. Sometimes, she would have the opportunity to give them away as birthday presents, usually to Twilight, Fluttershy or Pinkie, who would most appreciate it. Twilight would be able to make use of them when visiting Canterlot, whereas Fluttershy enjoyed trying them on from time to time. Rarity was unsure if Pinkie ever actually wore them or if she was just enthusiastic about every gift she was given, but she preferred to think the former. Applejack and Rainbow Dash, however? Rarity perished the thought. Those two only reluctantly wore dresses on some very special occasions, like the Gala or the Royal Wedding. She knew them well enough to know that they’d only be disappointed by such a gift. At the same time, she occasionally allowed herself to imagine actually making these dresses; actually realizing these concepts. So many ideas she had, and yet she would never get a chance to actually make them. Rarity looked over to her side to see her cat Opal laying on the carpet. “Oh Opal, if only there was some way I could convince them to wear it,” Rarity said with a sigh, “They’d look so dazzling in them too, I’m sure of it.” The cat showed no sign that it was taking any interest in what Rarity was saying, though it did look at her for a moment. “But it’s not meant to happen. They wouldn’t even have any need for dresses, anyways. They’re always getting dirty and roughhousing. I swear they’re more like beasts than ponies sometimes.” Suddenly, an idea crossed Rarity’s mind. Perhaps she could utilize that competitive nature of theirs. If she goaded them, they just might inadvertently agree to wear one of those dresses, allowing her the opportunity to see her creations in action. Oh, she’d have to get to work right away! Rarity could hardly contain her excitement. She sat down at her sewing desk. “Opal, I have a plan.” The skies were clear. Not a cloud in sight. Applejack relished in such a day. It was perfect weather for selling apples, of course, and she could use some time in town after a long work week. “That’ll be 1 bit,” Applejack said. Her customer dropped down a golden coin on her desk, before leaving with her bag of apples. Applejack looked around for more customers. Instead, she spotted the pegasus likely responsible for the nice weather. “Howdy, Rainbow!” “Hi, Applejack! What’s up?” Rainbow Dash replied. “Oh, you know, just selling apples.” “Cool. It’s a nice day for that, isn’t it?” Rainbow said with a smug grin. Obviously, she was the one responsible for the day, being a weather pony and all. “Yes, it sure is, Rainbow,” Applejack responded. Rainbow was quite the arrogant one, that’s for sure. Suddenly, a third voice chimed in. “Oh, hi, Rainbow. Hi, Applejack,” Rarity said. “Selling apples, I see?” “Well, I am,” Applejack said, “want one?” “Don’t mind if I do,” Rarity replied. Applejack handed her an apple. “So, Rarity, how about yourself? What are you up to?” Rainbow asked. “Actually, I was hoping to ask a favour of you two.” “Oh? What kind of favour, sugarcube?” asked Applejack. “I was hoping that you might be able to try on some dresses for me,” Rarity asked. Rainbow immediately broke into laughter, and Applejack quickly followed. Rarity only smiled. Everything was going according to plan. “That is, if you’re not scared.” The effect was instantaneous. Both ponies stopped laughing, their mouths hanging open. They were shocked. Did Rarity just challenge them? Rainbow was the first to talk. “Scared? Yeah, right!” Rarity turned her head to Applejack. “I’m not scared of any dresses!” Applejack said. “Good, then we can get started,” Rarity said. “Fine! Let’s go!” Rainbow said. Applejack nodded in agreement. Rarity turned around, headed towards her boutique. Rainbow and Applejack looked at each other, just now realizing what they’d just agreed to, and reluctantly followed. The three mares stepped inside the Carousel Boutique. By this point, Rainbow and Applejack had their heads lowered in anticipation of the embarrassment to come. “Well, girls, here we are. The dresses should be right in the back rooms. Applejack, would you please follow me?” Rarity said. Applejack raised her head, shrugged, and followed Rarity to a back room. As Rainbow waited, her mind began to wander. How had she gotten into this? She didn’t like any of that girly dress-up stuff. Oh, right, Rarity had challenged her. She couldn’t back away from that. She wasn’t scared of anything, and of course Applejack wasn’t either. Besides, she’d worn dresses before, at the Gala and the wedding. Still, those were special situations. She didn’t exactly go around wearing dresses in her spare time. That wouldn’t be cool, would it? Would it? Rainbow’s thoughts were interrupted by Rarity calling her name. “Rainbow, dear, could you follow me?” Rainbow shrugged and walked towards her friend. Rarity led her towards a different back room, on the other side of the main room. Meanwhile, Applejack stood in the other room. Rarity had shown her the dress she’d be wearing, which she must admit looked pretty nice-not that she cared about such things. Rarity had also insisted on doing up her mane, which Applejack had initially resisted but eventually gave in to. She bet she looked ridiculous. Rainbow’d probably laugh at her. Applejack frowned. Really, she just wanted this to be over with so she could get back home with her profits. But she wasn’t scared. A little embarrassed, maybe, but not scared. “Alright, girls, you can come out now,” Rarity said. After she had gotten Rainbow into her dress and worked her magic on Rainbow’s hair, she had walked out of the room to call her two newest customers out. She had then prepared mirrors so the two could admire her handiwork. Applejack and Rainbow slowly made their way out of their respective rooms, almost at the same time. The first thing Rainbow saw as she re-entered the main room was her own reflection staring back at her. Rainbow grinned. She looked awesome. The dress she wore wasn’t entirely dissimilar to the other ones Rarity had made her, but the design was quite different. The cloak was dominated by a spiralling rainbow lightning bolt on a light blue background, seemingly inspired by Rainbow’s cutie mark. Like her previous dresses, it ended in clouds. It was held on around her neck by a collar resembling a golden wreath, ending in a pendant molded into the shape of her cutie mark. Her mane was brushed down, falling neatly over her neck. However, instead of falling over her face, Rarity had combed it to the side to fall more over her ear. Rainbow posed in the mirror. She had to admit, she looked really good. Applejack, on the other hand, had a dress not like her previous one. Whereas the previous design had a cowboy-ish design, with a saddle and all, she now had a more regular-seeming dress. If anything, the design reminded her of an apple tree. It was a bright green colour, ending with a stitch that resembled a line of leaves. At regular intervals on the dress were elaborate apple designs. The cloth itself was more basic, resembling Rainbow's. Also like Rainbow’s, it came together around her neck with a wreath-like collar and a pendant of her cutie mark. As for her mane, it was braided up around the back, while around the front it was combed not entirely unlike it was at the Gala, falling nicely over her the side of her face. Rarity really did know what she was doing, which helped Applejack relax somewhat. Besides, if Rainbow did laugh at her, she could always just laugh back. The two ponies hesitantly turned their heads towards each other. They held each other’s gaze for a while, before relaxing as neither laughed at the other. “Well, what do you think?” Rarity asked. “I think they looks gorgeous, Rarity,” Applejack said. “Yeah, I look awesome in this!” Rainbow added. Applejack raised an eyebrow at her. “Okay, WE look awesome in these.” Rarity positively beamed. “Oh, I’m so glad you love them. I worked so hard on them, and I’d hate to see them go to waste,” Rarity said. “Why DID you make dresses for us, Rarity? You know we’re not interested in all that fashion stuff,” Applejack queried, raising an eyebrow. “I was bored.” Applejack stared at Rarity for a few more moments with a befuddled expression. “Well, alrighty then,” she said. “This wasn’t so bad, was it, girls?” Rarity asked. “Well…” Rainbow began, but Applejack cut her off. “I suppose not.” “Well, then, perhaps you’d be courageous enough to try again?” Rarity asked. “Please, that was easy. It didn’t require any ‘courage’,” Rainbow replied. “Then you will have no problem coming again next week.” “Not at all!” “Applejack?” The cowpony had some idea of what she was getting herself into, but she wasn’t about to let herself look like she was afraid of some silly dresses. Especially not now that Rainbow had agreed to it. “Alright. This time next week.” “Deal!” Rarity exclaimed. Applejack looked over at Dash. “What’d we just get ourselves into?”