Who you Work for
Ch.14
It took a few hours to get used to a mare moving Fang's limbs around for proper measurements and poses, but he got used to it. He was not aware of the time due to the fact that it was still dark out. Regardless of that, he remained still, his eyes fixated on the wall in front of him, holding his head high.
“Lower your head,” Coco spoke. Fang did what he was told and tilted his head downward. “Lower, like you are kneeling before the queen,” Coco said with a little more volume in her voice. Going above and beyond, the changeling closed his eyes and actually bowed down before his friend, lifting his right arm from off the ground and held it across his torso. Though he could not see her, Fang heard the pony giggle as she shuffled something through his hair. “You may stand upright. We are done.”
Lifting himself upward, Fang stood upright and opened his eyes, shifting his gaze from those who stood before him. Silky Maggot, Silver Liner, Knight Cap, and Stitch Snitch stood behind Coco Pommel, smiling in amazement.
“You know,” Silky said with a smile, “I think it is safe to say that I am now genuinely attracted to you, Fang.”
“W-what's that supposed to mean!?” Fang barked with heat in his eyes.
“I mean that you look like a suitable mate.”
“I am naturally a good mate!”
“Well, I think he looks very handsome either as a changeling, or when he has transformed into his crimson unicorn form,” Coco smiled.
“Why thank you, Coco,” Fang replied, grinning at Silky. He would have blushed at the genuinely nice compliment, but he knew she was standing up for him, so he was able to keep his emotions intact.
“Would you like to see yourself, Fang?” Coco asked.
“I would very much so.”
Without words or being told, Stitch brought the mirror that rested in the corner of the room and brought it to the dressed changeling. “Go on,” she said. “Step in front of it.”
Doing so, Fang went forward to see his appearance. Upon seeing his unicorn form, the changeling saw the stunning piece of clothing he was wearing.
Only half of him was dressed; Fang's flank and cutie mark were exposed. The outfit was mostly red. The fabric was a smooth and shiny silk. Three big black buttons ran down the chest of the shirt. At the collar was a black trim and within the collar was a rose painted in black. Two strips of black wrapped around the shoulder and under armpit. The same was applied to the wrists of the shirt as well. Fang's hair was done in a wild arraignment. It was spiked upward and a silver crown that looked to have grown from stalagmites with a red ruby centered at the base of it rested on top of the stallion's cranium.
“Amazing...” he said with his mouth wide open.
“Hehe, I really know how to make somepony look good, don't I?” Coco spoke with a happy smile. Everychangeling nodded in agreement. Letting out a sigh, the pony asked, “What time is it?”
Fang, moving carefully, walked toward the balcony and gazed upward to the stars. The moon was in view as it crawled through the sky. “Early morning,” he said.
“Really?! We worked on something so simple and it took us that long?!” Coco was shocked at how much time was put into such an easily put together shirt that took several hours. Am I losing my touch? Have I been working myself too hard?
Feeling a tap on her shoulder, the mare looked to see Knight Cap. “You did well. Some things take longer than others. After all, a dress for a stallion is a lot less detailed than a mare's. So, in this case, this is best you could have done.”
“Well, I couldn't have done it without the help of my friends.”
“That is true,” Silky said in high volume. “After all, it was my suggestion to use the red silk for the main body.”
“As if that was a good input,” Silver spoke aloud toward the boastful changeling. “I was the one who suggested to add black to give the outfit a good pop.” Soon, both Silver and Silky began to argue, flinging insults at each other. After letting out a good laugh, Coco, Knight Cap, and Stitch went over to Fang, still admiring his outfit.
“You do look very stunning,” Coco said as she and the others came up to him.
“Thank you, Coco,” he replied. “But rather, you are the one who knows how to make anypony and changeling look well, so I should be thanking you.”
“Hehe.”
Scratching her chin, Stitch asked, “So, shall I go inform the queen of your act, Coco?”
The question made the pony think for a while. Should I have her go and fetch the queen and show her this design I had just made? Or should I wait for her to show up and then show her? No... Maybe I should hide it and... No, that won't be good. Hmm...
“Just have the queen come here and take a look at what you have done,” Knight Cap spoke unexpectedly. Coco assumed that Knight Cap had read her thoughts.
“I suppose that would be a good idea,” Coco said with uncertainty. “But won't Queen Chrysalis be angry with me?”
“Nonsense!” Stitch Snitch exclaimed. “Why would she be angry with your choice? You wanted to think ahead and create something that might please the queen. Besides, you had a moment of inspiration. The best time for any artist to do anything is when they are inspired."
“True.” Giving it thought, Coco made up her mind. “If she is not busy, I wish to see my friend, Queen Chrysalis.”
***
Moving quickly through the halls, Queen Chrysalis made her way hastily as she followed Silky from behind. “This better be important. I know I have befriended the pony, but disturbing me at this hour is not reasonable.”
“Do not worry my queen, you will not be disappointed.”
“Disappointed? What are you getting at?”
“Oh! Umm... You will see my queen!”
Slowing down, the two of them reached Coco's dwelling. Without knocking, Silky Maggot opened the door, gesturing Chrysalis to enter. Going into the room, everychangeling and pony looked and bowed down before her.
Seeing her friend, the queen went up to the pony and asked, “You have something to show me?”
“Y-yes. Forgive me for bothering you so early.”
Letting out a sigh, Chrysalis said, “You are forgiven, my friend. Now, what do you have to show me?”
“Right, right. Fang, please show yourself!”
“Fang is here?” Hmph, no surprise that he is.
Moving into her view, the queen saw her guard dressed in his red outfit. “My my, Fang. You look rather stunning for a unicorn.”
“T-thank you my queen!” the changeling replied as he bowed his head to her.
“So,” Chrysalis spoke and turned toward Coco, “is this what you wanted to show me?”
“I... had a bit of inspiration and made this outfit for your gatherers.”
Thinking for a bit, Chrysalis remembered she was bringing other changelings to assist her with gathering love. “Right, my gatherers. But I only see one dress.”
“Well, of all of the dresses that I made, the second one was my favorite. So based on that design, I felt like that dress needed to complement your gatherers. So, I came up with Fang's outfit.”
Chrysalis thought and thought. Hmm... I know I need nineteen more outfits to be made for my gatherers and Coco has already made a design. Maybe... I don't need her to make anything else.
With an approving smile, Queen Chrysalis exclaimed, “Well done my friend! You have far exceeded my expectations! As such, I no longer need you to make dresses or outfits for me anymore!”