//------------------------------//
// Thunderstruck 
// Story: Apprentice 
// by macXtreble 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 3: Thunderstruck

"Hello?" The door to Carousel Boutique swung open, a small bell chiming above it. A young purple and green dragon emerged from the back, running and hugging Treble. "Hi, Spike." She giggled in surprise as Mac walked in tentatively. 
"Is that you, Treble?" Rarity's unmistakable voice chimed, stepping around the corner, a folded pile of fabric held aloft with her magic as the white, regal looking unicorn smiled. "Oh, and Macintosh too, what a surprise."
"Eeyup." The large red stallion said, nodding his head in greeting.
Rarity looked back and forth between the pair as if trying to figure out a puzzle. "How can I help you today? Wedding gowns, perhaps?"
The stallion blushed and mumbled something  incoherent as Treble stepped forward." Actually, I need five costumes for my show tonight.... Some designing kook decided to send us scuba clothes instead of actual costumes."
The unicorn seamstress looked close to fainting at the thought. "You poor thing!"She galloped back into her workroom. "Come on in, I might have something you'll much prefer."She called.
Treble and Mac tentatively trotted around the corner, followed by Spike and the soft clicking of his claws on the spotless tile. Rarity was surrounded by a few different ponnequines, each sporting a rough, rather punk look, offset to look more feminine mixed with pastels or glittering in some way.
Treble looked surprised, looking around at each design, picking the outfit she wanted to wear in her mind: a green top that laced like a corset with black fishnet socks, a green plaid, frilly skirt with the netting underneath poking out and inlaid with clear, sparkling white gems, and a matching plaid bow for her mane.
"These are great, Rarity..." She started, not wanting to offend her friend." I'll definitely use some of them... but do you have anything more like Sapphire? You know how she likes to shine and be bolder." 
Rarity nodded." I based this collection off of you, but I do have something more of her speed..."
Treble blushed deeply." You didn't have to go to such trouble."
The alabaster mare shook her head, violet curls bouncing. "Oh, no no, no trouble at all. In fact, a couple of the designs were Spike's"
The young, purple and green dragon stepped forward. "Yeah, I like your look."
Rarity pulled another ponnequin forward with her magic, a bright blue dress that faded to a lighter blue and white in the train, looking like waves in the ocean. Atop its head lay a sapphire studded tiara, the sapphires spelling out the word Queen across  the front. 
"Perfect." Treble agreed, looking it over.
"Excellent. Spike, add some more sapphires to the train, and... I think to make it blend better.... put a layer of the diamond tulle underneath." Rarity said. Spike took the dress and began working."Now, while I've got you here... I'll rent these to you for ten bits tonight, under one condition."
Treble gulped, wondering about the condition. "What's the catch?"
Rarity led them around to the all white dresses in her boutique." You're going to try on a wedding dress."
"We ain't ready to get married." Mac said in an uncertain, but protesting tone as Treble stepped forward, giving Rarity a determined look. The two, equally lovely in thier own rights mares locked eyes, grinning.
"It's only a dress." Rarity chimed innocently."And who knows, you might like her in it. Nopony said YOU had to try it on." She grinned. 
Mac shrunk away at the last words as he was left alone, the snow white unicorn following her tan friend with what looked like a pile of white, diamond and sequin encrusted fabric.
After a few moments, Treble stepped back out, the silky white sequined fabric bringing out all of her features as it hugged her waist, flaring out to a beautiful  diamond embedded train, and as she looked out from behind the thin white lace veil, her red mane brushed and put in a side braid and pinned with diamonds, Mac was breathless.
The small, tan mare blushed as he stared at her wordlessly, stepping closer on glassy horseshoes, the tile softly clicking with each step as she came up to him. She was even more beautiful up close, and he couldn't help but nuzzle the veil out of the way to look at her better."Wh-what do you think?"Treble whispered softly.
Mac wanted to tell her how beautiful she was, how seeing her like that made him want to ask her right then and there to marry him, but he couldn't offer such things without a hoof ring, nor more to offer than living on the farm with his family. So he quelled all of the feelings in his heart right then and gave her the weaker answer. "Eeyup." He paused as she looked a little... sad, disappointed that he hadn't more to say, and  kissed her muzzle softly. "You're pretty."
Treble looked around at the clock as Rarity stepped back in. "It's very late, I have to go to practice. Can you bring Sapphire's later, and I'll take the others now?"
Rarity nodded, magically lifting four boxes in front of her, looking at Mac." Put 'em on mah back." He said, a soft pang of regret still stabbing at his heart. She did so, and Treble teleported to her right, the dress and accessories landing in a neat, folded pile somehow. They went outside, walking towards the edge of town, Mac's large frame holding the boxes on his back effectively.
"You didn't like it." Treble said finally.
"Ah thought you were.... beautiful."He corrected her. "It just....makes me want thangs we can't have now."He said shyly.
Treble blushed, coming closer as her horn lit up, and her luminous green eyes misted with tears. With a blinding white flash, the two ponies reappeared in the hallway outside Sapphire Shores' dressing room. The mare lifted the boxes off of his back with her magic, pointing a hoof at the door across the hall." We'll talk about that later, okay? You can hang out in my dressing room, or come out and watch the practice." Her rather large ears tilted, listening as the song ended. "It's my song now, I gotta go." She turned and galloped off.
Mac followed her, thinking he'd rather hear her voice than stay alone.