//------------------------------// // You Are Cordially Invited... // Story: Collars and Cuffs Tailoring // by Melancholy //------------------------------// Chapter 8 It was a bright and sunny day in Ponyville and the park was full of ponies enjoying the beautiful sunshine; fillies frolicking and picnickers playing. Twilight Sparkle and her friends were laughing under a tree as Pinkie Pie recounted a story about the Cake’s foals that morning. “And then he just hung from the curtains like nothing was wrong, right as the Cakes walked in!” she was saying, “That’s why I was so late, it takes aaaaagggeeesss to bake iced tea!” “Well this is becoming a familiar story.” Rarity giggled, while taking a sip of her tea, “I must confess to not knowing how you...bake iced tea though...” Pinkie was about to launch into one of her long explanations when a yelp came from the the other side of the park. “Twi.....light....” Spike was gasping as he headed full speed into their midst. “I’ve got.....I have....a...letter.......BLURP..I need...to stop..to stop doing those while I’m out of breath...” This sent the little group of mares giggling again, “Oh Spike, give that here.” Twilight picked the letter up with her magic and started to read through it. After a couple of passes she decided to read it aloud for all her friends to hear. “Princesses Celestia and Luna cordially invite Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Applejack to a party in the Canterlot Castle Gardens. Enclosed are your tickets. While not required your attendance is assumed, respond if your circumstances change.” While all her friends broke out in collective whooping, Twilight produced the tickets from the bottom of the letter, “Hold on everypony, there’s more. ‘P.S. Luna suggested that since that day is also your birthday that we all spend some time together before the Garden Party. Feel free to come up to the castle the day before and stay with us until the day after the party.’ Yes yes yes YES! I get to spend time with Celestia! Best birthday present ever!” All six were dancing around until Rainbow suddenly remembered something, “Wait a sec, wasn’t that the party where you had all those stuck up high class ponies who spent the whole time looking down on us and being snobby?” “Oh don’t worry darling,” Rarity was already sketching on the ground, “After the last time I was assured by Fancy Pants himself that you’re all welcome any time. Besides, this time you’ll be properly prepared. It’s not as long or as large as the Gala and there’s quite the range of professionals there as well. For instance last time Melon Seed the head of the Seed Plantation Group was there.” “Really?” This had Applejack interested, “He always seemed too down to earth fur these silly events.” “Well he is, which is why the Garden Party is usually more relaxed than other events. I don’t know how it’ll be with both Princesses there this year though.” Rarity stood up, remembering something. “Sorry girls, I’ve just remembered that I have an order for the Garden Party to finish.” This elicited some worried looks from her friends. They all knew what happened when Rarity overworked herself. “Oh don’t worry yourselves. I’ve not got any other orders to do at the moment, so I have no intention of overdoing it. I’ll catch you girls later.” Just as the white unicorn was turning however, Spike suddenly burped up two more scrolls, surprising everypony. “Huh? What’s this?” Twilight was turning them around in front of her with her magic. They seemed like normal letters from the Princess, except these did not have a royal seal. Neither were they for her. One had a label with ‘Rarity’ clearly stamped on it. “Humm, seems this one’s for you Rarity....odd that whoever it was would send it this way, dragon fire isn’t exactly common...” “That’s alright Twilight dear, I’ll read it on the way.” Rarity took the letter with her own magic and headed back to the boutique. “Huh, I need to deliver the dress for Sunbeam to the Castle. Convenient, I guess.” Once Rarity had walked off the other five ponies (plus one dragon) were all craning to see who the other letter was addressed to. “Cuff Links? Isn’t that the new pony who moved in next to the Joke Shop?” the lavender unicorn spoke up, after finding the simple white label. “Yeup, that’d be him.” Applejack confirmed. Pinkie was scratching her chin, “Why would he be getting a dragon fire letter though?” Fluttershy wasn’t paying much attention to the letter, she was more concerned with why Rainbow Dash suddenly looked several shades paler. “Um, Rainbow....are you..um..ok?” she pipped up, unsure how to approach her normally confident friend. “Did...did she say....Cuff Links?” Dash whispered, a tense look on her normally haughty brow. “Y..yes, she did. He’s that new tailor....weren't you there at Pinkie’s welcome party?” “Fluttershy...Can I...can I talk to you? Alone?” Fluttershy was getting a little scared. She’d never seen her oldest friend so disturbed for a very long time. “Of course Rainbow, any time. Shall we...why don’t we go back to my cottage for a bit? Rainbow nodded, a grateful smile tugging at her lips. “Sure, let’s go.” “Should we...tell the others where we’re going?” Fluttershy looked back at the other three as they debated where the letters had come from. “No, let’s just...go. Please?” Rainbow looked dejected, like she'd lost all her dash. Fluttershy and Rainbow turned away and headed back to the cottage, leaving Pinkie, Twilight and Applejack to come to a conclusion. “Why don’t we just take it over?” Pinkie said at length. Twilight was about to object, when she realised that was a perfectly sensible suggestion. She’d been expecting one along the lines of her last one, ‘Attach it to a kite and fly it though his window’. “Sure, let's head on over every...pony? Where’s Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash?” Pinkie looked up from the cupcake she’d been eating. “Oh they left a little while ago.” This caused a raised eyebrow or two. “Now why would they leave without sayin’ goodbye? That there’s mighty odd." Applejack shrugged "Never mind anyways, let’s just deliver this ‘ere letter.” ------ Over at the Collars and Cuffs, Links was working furiously on the outfit for Moonshine. It was the most ambitious thing he’d ever made. It was a midnight blue dress made of multiple layers. It was actually going to turn out more like multiple skirts, with lace edging and a ring of dark pearls at the collar. It was going to be beautiful. At least he hoped so. *Tinkle* Pause. *Tinkle Tinkle Tinkle Tinkle Tinkle* Ah. The Pink. *Tinkle Tinkle Tink-* “Pinkie Pie!” Ah-ha! Pinkie and Applejack. Maybe he would be safe after all. Just in case, Links decided to put his top hat on. With any luck if something was already on his head there wouldn’t be any room for anything else. “Excuse me, is a Mr Links home?” That was a new voice. Putting the final flourish on the skirts in front of him Links turned to find himself face to face with a lavender unicorn. “Ah hello, you must be the owner of this fine establishment.” He nodded carefully, another bold one with personal space issues. “Ah, excellent. I have here a letter that was delivered to me via dragon’s breath this morning.” The mare hoofed it over as Links moved into the front of the shop. While Pinkie and this unicorn clearly didn’t mind coming around the back uninvited he thought it best to come around for Applejack’s benefit. Reading through the letter, that chill he’d had that morning came back with a vengeance. The letter contained details for a stay at Canterlot Castle the day before the Garden Party. Arrive by train, ticket paid for, and deliver the dress to a particular room at a particular hour. Great. This order was getting stranger and stranger. “Oh oh oh! I’ve just had a fantastic idea!” Pinkie was having a moment. “Links, why don’t you make us dresses for the garden party!” Say what now? “That’s a great idea Sugarcube.” Applejack joined in, “Rarity’s busy with her own client so we don’t wanna burden her.” “I guess we could, if that’s ok Mr Links?” Twilight turned from admiring some of the display pieces. Well, he had just finished Moonshine’s order, so he would have time to do three more if he didn’t go overboard as much. “That’s perfect! I can’t wait.” Pinkie Pie was bouncing around the shop again. “It’ll be so much fun!” Fun, right.