The Fashion Designer and the Goth
Rarity loved her work as a fashion designer and seamstress; she could dream it and then she could make it. The entire process made her feel just the tiniest bit giddy, imagining a design, drawing it out, carefully cutting the cloth and sewing the pieces together, finally bringing her creation to life. She had seen a similar talent in young Apple Bloom, although it seemed she covered a larger range skills, from building and painting to designing and sewing. The white unicorn had offered to give her some lessons, but the impatience of youth always had the little apple farmer running off to the next Crusaders adventure before they could even start.
She didn’t mind of course, sewing was an art form that not everypony had the patience for and childhood was so short. The three fillies deserved to spend that fleeting amount of time to enjoy themselves; not being bored by something they took no pleasure in. Still, Rarity would be quite surprised if her friend’s little sister didn’t get a cutie mark in some sort of creative field.
This particular day, the young trio was lined up in her boutique for a quick fitting, summer was on its final legs and fall was coming soon. The girls were in need of some new jackets and sweaters for the coming chill and Rarity was more than happy to make them.
“Alright then girls, I should have everything finished in about two weeks,” she explained as she finished writing down Scootaloo’s measurements.
“Two weeks?” Sweetie Belle squeaked, “Why so long? You’re normally quick at something so simple.”
“Well you see dear, I received a letter from a new client, her family will be in the area on business for a few days and she commissioned a dress for her daughter. She’ll be arriving later today and she said she already had a design prepared for me. Until I see it, I won’t know how long it’ll take me to actually finish the dress,” Rarity explained as she set her clipboard down.
“You mean you haven’t seen the design?” Apple Bloom cocked her head as she asked her question.
“Well, no, she wanted to deliver it to me in person,” the fashion pony wasn’t entirely sure why this seemingly eccentric client insisted upon that one detail. It didn’t make much sense. However, she aimed to please and she would comply with the odd demand, even if she couldn’t wrap her mind around it.
“Well, we better get goin’,” Apple Bloom piped up, “We have homework to do.”
“Oh, what has Cheerilee assigned you today?” Rarity smiled, enjoying the fact that they were focusing on schoolwork and not some dangerous hijinks to get their cutie marks.
“We’re just doing a project on our personal heroes,” Sweetie Belle answered, bouncing on the spot in delight, “We have to write a short essay about why we look up to them and draw a picture of them.”
The older white mare chuckled warmly, stroking her little sister’s head. Scootaloo seemed just as, if not more excited, while Apple Bloom seemed calmer, but amused by her friends’ actions. Lead by Sweetie, the fillies galloped out the door, eager to get started on the project, leaving Rarity alone in her boutique, smiling like the sun.
“Have fun girls!” she called after them before looking around her store. The mystery client would be arriving in a few hours, so she had time to tidy up a little.
For the next two hours, she magically picks up little scraps of fabric, threw away old spools, set out her shiniest needles and her most vibrant thread. She aimed to please and impress, it led to customers who would come back again and again. She smiled in satisfaction as she looked around her store; it looked as pretty as a new penny in her opinion.
She barely had time to rethink what else might need work when she heard the bell above the door ringing. Her ears perked and she quickly turned around, ready to give her usual greeting to her customers, only to stop when she saw a young human girl duck under her window. Outside, Rarity could see two other humans in very pastel colored clothing; they looked around for a few seconds before running past her shop.
The fashion pony blinked in confusion as the girl got up from her hiding place and looked out the window, making sure her pursuers were gone. Unlike them, she was dressed almost entirely in black; her tights were purple and her skirt and a green plaid pattern.
“Ahem, excuse me,” Rarity chimed, finally catching the young human’s attention, “I am sorry but are you alright dear?”
The girl turn around fast, looking like she was ready to jump out of her boots. She had black hair that stopped just short of her shoulders and some of it was pulled up into a tiny ponytail. She seemed a little shocked somepony else was there.
“Oh, uh… sorry,’ the girl said, panting, “I didn’t know anyone was here, I was trying to get away from my parents.”
“Whatever for dear?” Rarity’s voice filled with concern as she took a few steps closer, worried as to why this young lady would need to escape her parents.
“They’re trying to take me to this store to get some horrific dress made and… ugh,” she shuddered violently, “I told them I didn’t want to but they refused to listen.”
A store to have a dress made? Carousel Boutique was the only place in town that came even close to fitting that description. Could it be…?
“Wait… is your mother Mrs. Manson?”
“Uh… yeah? How’d you know?”
“Well it just so happens I am the designer your mother commissioned to make your dress,” she realized a little too late she had used too much enthusiasm in her statement.
“Oh no…” the girl seemed to become miserable when she realized who’s presence she was in.
“Whatever is wrong Miss uh…?”
“Sam… My name is Sam Manson,” she answered with a small scowl.
“Well then Sam, what kind of design does your mother have in mind? And why did you run from them and it?”
That earned Rarity the biggest groan her marshmallow colored ears had ever heard.
“She has a horrible sense of style!” Sam began, “It belongs in the sixties, and even then it would be unsightly. Pink and frills and lace and hearts everywhere!”
She was clearly enraged and Rarity could understand why. She remembered the bright, overly cheery colors the shapes outside the window had been wearing. She then compared it to Sam’s dark clothing. Clearly there was a conflict of personal preferences here.
“Well, I was hired to make a dress for you to wear my dear, not your mother. If you’re unhappy with her design, then why not make one of your own?”
That seemed to surprise Sam, she watched as Rarity levitated some parchment and a quill into her hands. The girl blinked a few times before asking,
“Are you serious?”
“Oh I quite am darling,” Rarity placed her hoof to her chest, “I make outfits for those who will be wearing them, and I make sure they are perfect. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had parents yelling at me for creating something they don’t quite like… at least until they see how they look on their little ones.”
“…you’re really that good?” Sam asked suspiciously.
“Well, I do cater to Sapphire Shores and I design the ensembles for the Grand Galloping Gala every year!”
“Wait… the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot?” Sam’s eyes had widened a little.
“Why yes darling, this past year was my first time attending, my friends and I went together you see but… things got out of hoof,” she shuddered at the memories at how badly the “best night ever” had gone so wrong.
“I heard that it went off the rails but nobody really seems to agree on what happened,” Sam smirked.
“Oh, it was a number of things that went wrong, and I… ahem… well… I had been spending the evening with Prince Blueblood but he was just terrible. At one point a very large cake was knocked over and I got covered in it… after he used me for a shield that is,” Rarity couldn’t hide the dripping annoyance in her voice, “It was the last straw and I kind of… shook the cake off myself and onto him.”
There was a brief three seconds of silence, and Rarity worried what her young client had been thinking… only for the quiet to be shattered by laughter. Sam was holding her sides before wiping a few tears from her eyes.
“You seriously did that?” she half asked, half laughed.
“Well… it was the last straw, normally I’m far more ladylike but sometimes you just have to take a stand. Why I once saved myself from an unruly trio of diamond dogs and managed to wear them out to the point where they let me go. I even got them to give me their jewels on top of it all, and I never had to do anything more drastic than raising my voice a little.”
“Wow… you did that?” Sam seemed a little amazed.
“Oh yes, in fact, my friends were on their way to save me just as I was on my way out. The diamond dogs wanted me for this spell I can cast, it allows me to find gems while they’re still hidden in the ground. They wanted me to do all the work, find them, dig them out and such, but I outsmarted them in the end.”
“Wow, that’s really impressive, I’d have probably tried to fight my way out though,” Sam contemplated.
“Well I wouldn’t advise it, they were quite strong, I’m not sure just anypony- er or human, could easily escape from them on brute strength alone. Anyway dear, I’m sure you could use something to calm your nerves after that run from your parents. How about I put on some tea and we can talk about what kind of design you want.”
She didn’t give Sam a chance to respond, the stunning unicorn trotted into the kitchen a little faster than usual. She rather liked this young lady so far, and despite her sense of style being a little darker than her own, Rarity could see why some creatures might like it.
A few minutes later, Rarity returned to the common area of the store, levitating a tray with her finest teapot, two cups and some sugar. In her absence, Sam had taken to looking at some of the dresses on display.
“…did you make all of these?” she asked.
“Why yes, they’re my own creations,” Rarity answered as she set the tray down.
“…they’re not quite what I expected.”
“What were you expecting then?”
“I don’t know… lots of really light bright colors, lace, ribbons, super girly things, the kind of stuff my mom’s always trying to get me to wear but… well… it’s not.”
Sam seemed to be at an utter loss at what to think, Rarity just smiled.
“Well I try to have variety, not everypony’s tastes are going to be the same and I do like to please as many ponies as I can,” she said with a small but elegant smile, “Now then dear, the tea is ready, have some before it gets cold.”
Sam took one of the teacups after Rarity had filled them both. It appeared to be green tea, which she gladly drank. The elder female hoped it would help her relax a bit.
“Now then dear,” Rarity began, “What kind of dress would you like?”
Sam hesitated, as if trying to sew the pieces of a response together, it made the fashion pony smile in amusement.
“No need to think of one right away darling, take all the time you need.”
She seemed to relax a little as she took a long drink from her teacup. Rarity followed her lead and took her own dainty little sip, letting the warm brew soothe her. After a few minutes, Sam finally broke the silence.
“Are you serious about making a dress to my standards?”
“Why of course! It’s what I strive for,” the snow white mare insisted.
“I just have to be sure… my parents are always trying to get me to wear things they like, they refuse to listen to me when I tell them no,” she crossed her arms over her chest in irritated remembrance.
“Well as I told you before, you can design it yourself and if you’ll allow it, I’ll make a few stylistic changes. Nothing too major mind you, maybe a support string here, a bit of color there but only if you approve it.”
Soft violet eyes stared in confusion, and the deep sapphires that greeted them brimmed with honesty and sincerity.
“Well… alright…”
Sam hesitantly picked up the parchment Rarity had given her and began to draw. The fair unicorn had almost emptied her teacup by the time she had finished and showed her the design. She placed a hoof to her chin in as she squinted her eyes, as if she was trying to decide something.
“It’s certainly elegant… but what about the colors?” she mused.
“Uh… all black?” Sam shrugged.
“Hmm… Sam, how would you feel about a little bit of green?”
“Green?”
“Yes, green… like… maybe it has a theme? It being all black is nice and all but… a little bit of color could help breathe some life into it. Nothing bright, but something elegant that would got with something you like… like… like a dark garden theme!”
A dark garden… Rarity had no idea where that came from but as it rang in her head, she began to enjoy it more and more. When she looked at Sam, she had an expression of approval on her face. They both liked the ring of it, it sounded mysterious, dark, the elegance Rarity insisted upon…
“Oh! What if it has vines on it?!” Sam suggested, suddenly excited by the idea.
“Yes! Oh! And maybe flowers, something to compliment the green and black!” Rarity suggested, retrieving some colored pens.
The two sat side by side, excitedly debating where the vines would creep up from, where the flowers would bloom and what color they would be. Within half an hour, the simple design had sprung to life with flowers and vines, leaving both of them grinning.
“Oh, I just have to start on this!” Rarity squealed with delight as she magically hovered some measuring tape, “Sam, dear, can you please stand up so I can take your measurements?”
The girl eagerly stood up and the unicorn wasted absolutely no time. In only a matter of minutes, her glasses were on her muzzle and her magic levitated rolls of fabric in front of them. They were different shade of black and green, she watched as her young client picked pitch black she had and seaweed green, the color of the flowers would be decided when the vines were done.
Rarity could feel Sam’s lavender eyes on her as she worked, cutting the fabric with grace and ease. Humans were always amazed at the sight of unicorn magic, like it was some kind of miracle, when, to ponies, it was as common as breathing. She supposed to them, it was like some kind of spectacular show, that it was a rare privilege to see. Humans could use magic as well, it was a known fact, but it didn’t come as easy to most of them as it did to unicorns. True there were some humans who were talented at it, but as far as she knew, they couldn’t use it as easily as ponies, after all, unicorns could start using magic at a month old. Controlling it was another matter.
“And there!” she announced happily as the final vine had been stitched into place, earning an applause from her client, “Oh, thank you.”
Rarity bowed like she was on a grand stage and a whole theater was cheering and stomping their hooves, just for her. She let out a little laugh before backing away, allowing herself to get a good look at her creation. It had a cool but very alive aura about it, like a garden on a summer night. She could almost feel her fur fluff up as she imagined a chill in the air and the more she thought about it, the more romantic it became in her mind. Gardens were meant to be a private place, away from prying eye, a place where young lovers could meet in secret… and if they met at night, then they truly did not wish anyone to discover them… as if their love was forbidden.
She officially loved this dress.
“Now then Sam, we still have to decide on a color for the flowers,” she said in a perky way.
“Hmm… maybe something softer…” the young goth mused with her hand to her chin.
Rarity mirror with her hoof, she then looked at her client, trying to decide what colors look on her. She wore mostly black, some purple and green and… wait… her eyes!
“That’s perfect!”
Before Sam could even ask what she meant, Rarity ran out of the room, only to return, levitating a roll of lavender cloth. She held it against the incomplete dress and squealed with delight.
“It is perfect!”
Before either of them realized it, flowers loosely resembling tulips had blossomed all over the dress, some were large and open, others were still tightly closed buds, but they were all perfectly made. Rarity was panting when she finally stopped, she had let her excitement get ahead of her and the resulting adrenalin had fueled her magic. She may have only been sewing them for a few minutes at incredible speed but even stitch had been precise and perfectly placed.
Her latest masterpiece had been completed.
“What do you think Sam?” she chimed happily.
There was a moment of silence that, to Rarity, seemed much longer than it should have been.
“Wow Rarity… you really do know what your customers want,” was all the stunned girl could get out.
“Why thank you darling,” the seamstress would be lying if she hadn’t been nervous Sam had secretly not been happy with the flowers, “Why don’t you try it on?”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh dear, it’s your dress, I’m quite certain.”
Sam smiled before taking the dress off the mannequin and slipped into one of the changing rooms. Rarity had to resist the urge to bounce on her hooves as she imagined the young lady in her-no… their creation.
When Sam emerged from the changing room, Rarity let out a sound that shouldn’t have been possible for a pony. She looked perfect in the dress, it stopped at her ankles and the fabric hugged her body nicely. The skirt had had vines creeping upwards that twisted and curved, the torso was black with a sweetheart neckline, it look marvelous on the young girl.
“Oh! You know what would round it out?! A pair of long gloves!” Rarity squealed.
“Fingerless ones?” Sam suggested.
“Yes! And made of velvet!”
In twenty minutes, Rarity had finished the second glove-they were a deep peacock-they had little plastic rings that slipped over Sam’s middle fingers to keep them in place, and, for a bit of dramatic affect, she sewed some ocean-colored sheer fabric into them. They had both agreed in a heartbeat that it had to be torn a little, so that it looked like falling water or even the branches of a weeping willow tree.
“Oh man, this dark garden idea you had was great Rarity!” Sam loudly proclaimed as she looked at herself in the mirror.
“Well Sam, I couldn’t have made it possible without you,” was her sweet and happy reply, “Why, I must say this has inspired me to create a whole new line of dresses, just like this one! The Dark Garden collection, oh it’s so romantic sounding!”
“Really? You like it that much?”
“Of course! It sounds almost like a beautiful tragedy! Sam, if I might ask, would you like to be my partner in this endeavor?”
“Wait, what?!”
Rarity smiled in a big way up at her.
“I apologize for my boldness death but hear me out. You see Sam, I may be a fashion designer, but I know very little about dark things, I usually use brighter colors, but this… well… they say you have to step outside your comfort zone to improve. You however seem to have a clear understanding of dark things, so maybe we could work together? I’d be more than happy to split the profits fifty/fifty.”
If Sam had a response, she didn’t get to say it. Their discussion was interrupted by the jingle of the bell over the door. Rarity took a moment realize new customers had just stepped in, and she needed a few seconds to compose herself. Sam however let out a very distressed, “Oh no. Not them.”
“Sammy-kins?!” one of the customers, a female, screeched.
That was when Rarity realized who they were.
Sam’s parents.
“Samantha, this is where you’ve been all day?!” a blonde man, Sam’s father, asked in what sounded like disbelief.
“If it helps you sleep at night, I didn’t intend to hide in here in the first place,” Sam answered with her arms crossed over her chest.
“What in the world are you wearing?” her mother added, looking a little shocked at what she was in.
“Uh, my dress?” the smirk in Sam’s voice made Rarity feel rather proud of her for some reason.
“Your… goodness me, you can’t honestly expect us to let you wear that!”
“Now hold on just a moment!” Rarity couldn’t stop herself from interrupting, “Pardon my outburst but just what do you mean by that?”
“…a… are you the fashion designer I wrote to?” her red-haired woman asked, completely ignoring her question.
“Why yes I am,” there was a little more force in her voice, “And I demand to know why you are do disapproving of your daughter’s dress! She helped me design it and I think it is quite lovely!”
Mrs. Manson scowled and looked at her daughter.
“Did you tell her I would allow you to wear such a-”
“No Mom, I told her your design sucked-which it does-and she let her come up with one of my own,” Sam cut her off.
“My dress is perfectly fine for a young lady! What you’re wearing-“
“Is the first in a new line of dresses!” Rarity was the one to interrupt this time, “Sam helped me design it and if she will allow it, I would like her assistance in creating other dresses like it!”
The look on the two parents’ faces was of disbelief.
“And,” she continued, “She told me she was not fond of the dress you had designed for her. I was commissioned to make a dress for her to wear, but she made it clear your design was… was not something she could approve of!”
“And what is wrong with my design?”
Mrs. Manson reached into her purse and fumbled around before pulling out a piece of paper that had been folded up. Rarity surrounded it with her magic and levitated it closer, carefully unfolding it in the process.
She blinked.
Adjusted her glasses.
Squinted hard.
And placed a hoof to her mouth as a surge of bile burned the back of her throat.
Sam running from her parents seemed less of an act of youthful rebellion now, and more of a “this thing is so offensive to my sense of style that I can not even be near it.”
Her young client was laughing.
“That is the most horribly designed dress I have ever seen!” Rarity managed to yell once she was certain she wasn’t going to vomit, “How could you possibly think it was a good idea?!”
Mr. and Mrs. Manson both looked thoroughly offended at the outburst but the designer would be making no apologies, not for this horrific dress. It was just shy of those abominations her friends had her make for the Gala last year, at least it didn’t have a bird’s nest for a hat… or galoshes.
This dress however… it looked like it as supposed to have taken inspiration from several different decades and… had she colored it in with a ballpoint pen? For the most part, it looked like it was straight out of the late 1800’s, but… Rarity wasn’t sure that shade of pink could have been made during that era, and there were far too many hearts on the skirt.
“Mrs. Manson, I know you wanted to commission me to create this… garment, but I am afraid I simply cannot comply with your request. I’ve had a little bit of time to get to know Sam, and the dress is for her, is it not? Shouldn’t she have a say in the matter?”
“But Sammy’s wardrobe is already dark enough! She needs something bright and happy!” Mrs. Manson argued, a little stunned someone was standing up to her so firmly.
Rarity scrunched up her face before continuing her own argument.
“While I admit, I am not one who normally works in gothic apparel, but I personally find elegance in it. So what if Sam doesn’t like bright colors? It’s her life to live, and while I understand parents wanting the best for their children, trying to control their self expression… why… why that’s just selfish!”
That seemed to take both of the adults aback.
“Sam clearly knows who she is and what she likes, you trying to control that is just wrong… and personally, I find this dress quite stunning. You should be proud of her for creating such a design, and celebrating her individuality!”
As the snowy unicorn went on and on, Sam stared in stunned silence. She wasn’t used to someone coming to her defense, especially when it was her parents. Sure her friends were always there for her, but for someone who was almost a complete stranger to stand up for her… she was touched. When she had learned her mother had commissioned a dress for her, she had expected a snooty, full of it kind of personality that had the same mindset as her parents. This was a pleasant surprise.
By the time Rarity had finished her little rant, she was completely out of breath. She took a few deep breaths and for the cherry on top, she said,
“And if you’re so against her having the dress, then I’ll just give it to her, I don’t care if I’m paid or not. She deserves it, especially if you both continue trying to change her.”
At that, all three Manson jaws dropped.
What did she just say?
“I’m being serious!” Rarity stomped her hoof, “And if the two of you don’t like it, then I suggest you leave my shop!”
“We are not going anywhere!” Mr. Manson took a few steps forward, intending to tell her off. The young unicorn would not back down and her horn glowed as every sewing needle in Carousel Boutique levitated into the air and pointed straight at them.
“Now then… I believe you were just leaving.”
Sam’s eyes widened as her parents turned tail and ran as fast as they could out of the boutique. The needles flew behind them, and when they reached the closed door, they stopped in mid-air, waited and continued their chase once Rarity opened the door.
Both unicorn and teenager stood in the doorway as they watched Mr. and Mrs. Manson run back and forth, trying to escape the enchanted sewing needles. Rarity let out a slightly evil chuckle as she turned her head so she could continue watching.
“I may get in trouble for this, but right now, I couldn’t care less,” she confessed with a twinkle of mischief in her eye, “Sometimes you simply must put your hoof down.”
“…you know what Rarity…” Sam said, smiling in approval, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”