“Oh no, no, that color simply is not right. No, absolutely not. Hmm. Oh, Opal, do you think this dress needs something? No, no, I'm all wrong. This is all wrong. I need to try this again. Oh, where did I put the pin cushion? Never mind that, I have to open these seams and start again.”
The sound of pacing hooves filled the air. It was hot and stuffy, thick enough to choke a pony who was not prepared.
“Oh, I just don't know. Maybe I should play it safe with an analogous color scheme. It seems like complimentary just doesn't seem to fit the ticket here. Wait, should her dress be stylish or classy?”
The inspiration room of the boutique was cluttered again, with color palettes scattered about and fabric laid across furniture.
“I just don't know. Does this dress call for sequins? Or some sort of trim? Oh yes, of course, a trim, I'd be foolish not to include that. I must be careful, however. I can't let them look too similar to last year's. Opal, deary, can you move please?”
“Rarity?”
“Wa-a-ahh!”
Rarity was quick to whip around. Her mane was frazzled and her eyes bloodshot. When she turned to see the voice that called for her, she discovered Twilight standing at her door. Twilight, all seeming normal besides a bag slung across her back, stood there with an eyebrow raised.
“Rarity, I'm very concerned. You haven't left your home in two days.”
The white unicorn paused in her tracks, unable to pull together a fathomable response. She looked behind her, glazing her eyes over a calender briefly. She took a heaving breath and looked over to her friend.
“W-why yes, dear. It would seem that way, would it not?” She followed her sentence with a nervous chuckle. “Well, you see, with the Gala coming up as quickly as it is...”
“You took it upon yourself to make our dresses?” Twilight asked, giving a distressed exhale as she spoke. “Can't we just wear the same dresses as last year?”
“No! No, no, no, that would be just tacky.”
Twilight took the moment to examine the six mannequins that were standing. Shreds of fabric lay pulled across the backs, necks, and heads of the ponies, none of which seemed remotely close to being finished. The designs were sketched and taped to the wall next to their designated model. She invited herself to get closer, taking a peek at each design, and frankly, they were not pleasing.
“Are these your designs?”
“Oh, w-why, yes.”
“Well they're... um...”
“I know. It's terrible.” Rarity released a heavy sigh. “Oh, it's just dreadful, Twilight. I have lost my inspiration! My muse! It's all gone! I am so lost without it. You see, I tried to start this the moment I got home from the party but I... I...”
Twilight quickly accommodated her friend as she started to break into (arguably over-dramatic) tears. Rarity resisted the urge to wipe her face, lest she worsen her makeup, and looked up to her friend.
“I have no talent anymore!” Rarity's blue eyes looked up to Twilight, sparkling with the tears that lingered. “I haven't been able to sleep, haven't been able to do anything because it just won't leave my mind! I simply cannot think of dress designs!”
“Rarity, it's not that bad.” Twilight cooed softly. “You have a month until the Gala is here. You'll think of something.”
“That's just it, Twilight!” Pushing herself off of her friend, Rarity backed away. She approached a desk and pushed some clutter to the side. Picking up a book, she returned to Twilight's side. She flopped the book on the ground, the collision causing it to flop lifelessly open.
On the pages was sketch after sketch of nothing but lines and doodles, most likely design ideas. Some were colored and some were not, however, all of them looked awful. They were clearly attempts as dress designs for her five closest friends, but the sheer quantity of them was overwhelming. Using her horn, Twilight flipped a few pages, only to find countless more. It seemed endless.
“O-Oh my.”
“You see, Twilight? This is my problem! Usually inspiration simple pours over me! But in two days, this is all I've done. I'm going to be a laughing stock!”
“Aren't you over exaggerating a little bit? How are you going to be a laughing stock?”
“You're going to need dresses eventually, darling; how am I supposed to represent? They know me in Canterlot! I've had my name there before! If you all show up in badly made dresses, they'll know it was me who made them!” After a moment she paused, her hoof eventually rising up to her lower lip. Stuck in contemplation, her eyes lowered to the ground. “Oh my, that's it!”
“I don't follow.” Twilight said lowly. Rarity quickly approached her, grinning.
“Canterlot!” Rarity placed her hooves on Twilight's shoulders. “A change of scenery! Oh, this is a wonderful idea! Oh, I need to pack. I have to take my designing supplies too, of course.”
“A change of scenery?”
“It's such a grand idea. I shouldn't bother the princess to reserve a room for me this time, though, so I'll bring extra money for the housing, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Perhaps just an apartment or something of the sort. Regardless, I know I can make something that will stop them in their tracks if I change my scenery!”
“Wait, so let me figure this out...” Twilight thought aloud. “You are leaving. To Canterlot. For inspiration?”
“That's exactly it!” Rarity, now having had a total change in mood, stood tidying up one of her desks. “I must pick and choose what to bring now. This is so exciting.”
“Okay then.” Twilight murmured.
-----
As the sun set over Sweet Apple Acres, the small humble family found themselves all gathered in one room. On the bed was a very under slept stallion, his red fur stretched over swollen limbs. His concerned family whispered among themselves, some louder than others. Applejack began pulling her hat from the top of her head and holding it to her chest, her face twisted in thought. The youngest of the family, Applebloom, approached the injured stallion and looked as his leg carefully.
Big Mac's pain tolerance was admirable, having been walking Celestia-knows-where on a broken knee and fractured hip. However, it became clear that he needed more help than he was letting on when he could no longer walk.
“Ya need to stay in bed there, Big Mac.” Applejack mused aloud.
This aroused no response from the hindered pony, and he simply stared at a wall. The concern eventually overwhelmed his caring family, and Applebloom back-tracked around to his face, where she nuzzled him under the chin.
“We're not mad or anythin'.” She said sympathetically. “That isn't what ya think is it?”
“Nope.” He said, now lifting his head to look at his little sister. He lovingly returned the gesture and glanced over to Applejack, aware of what his absence on the farm could mean for her.
“Aw, shucks, I know what that look's for. Don't ya'll worry bout me.”
However, before she knew it, all eyes had fallen on Applejack.
“I'm mighty sorry Applejack. Applebloom and I aren't fit to work with the hardcore applebuckin'.” Granny Smith said ruefully. “Are you going to be okay? The farmer's market is only three days away and we need to buck down almost all our very best apples.”
“Nah, don't worry bout me now. I learned my lesson last time. I'll be askin' for help shortly from my friends.”
An accepting nod from her kin quickly signaled a redirection of attention back to Big Mac. The inevitable question on everypony's mind was obvious. Of course, is was clear that Big Mac's usual concern was known. He possibly did not want to leave Applejack alone to buck the apples. However, there was clearly more this time. If anybody could see that, it would be the concerned earth ponies that stood lovingly in front of him.
In the end it was an unspoken decision that was unanimously made that they were not going to ask. Something seemed to be nagging in Big Mac's mind.
-----
“Uh, no.”
“Aw, come on.”
That was the sixth stallion to turn Rainbow Dash down since she started. As he strutted away, the troubled pegasus twisted her lips into a broken pout. A heavy sigh brushed the weight down her back and she laid her back end to the ground. Her rainbow colored tail flowed across the ground, her colors blending as strands of hair overlapped, giving herself a new look.
There was an air of stress that seemed to surround the uncharacteristically melancholic pony. Her eyes were beginning to show the signs of bags sagging under them, and her pupils moved back and forth along the grassy earth, moving slowly from one blade to another with what seemed like no goal in reach.
“Rainbow Dash, darling, you look positively miserable!”
The voice belonged to none other than Rarity. She was being tailed by Twilight, carrying what seemed to be traveling cases. Confused, Dash cocked her head slightly as the unicorn pair approached her.
“What're you doing?” She asked, her voice cracking slightly.
“That is not important! What matters right now is why you look so glum!”
Her pair of magenta eyes darted between the two uncomfortably, leaving Rainbow Dash unsure of how to answer. “I- I don't know what you mean. I'm totally awesome!” As she lied, her back legs pushed down into the ground, bringing her into a stand. She met the duo half way and laughed, although false. “What are you doing? Trying to go into exile again?”
“Not quite,” Rarity responded with a bitter bite. With a roll of her eyes, she continued. “I have decided to surround myself in a new environment so that I may have the proper inspiration to make your dress!”
There was notable confusion in Rainbow Dashes eyes, and honestly, it made Rarity smile a little.
“Twilight, here, has kindly agreed to help me ready my things and will be writing the princess to arrange a ride into Canterlot. I need a change of scenery to make the dresses for the Gala.”
On a whim, Rainbow Dash lowly said quietly, “don't even bother making mine.” It almost went unnoticed, but Rarity heard the whisper in the base of her ear. She turned to her friend feeling concerned, but didn't ask.
Instead, the conversing ponies drew the talk to a close as they departed with the conversation ending as uncomfortably as it had started. With the sounds of hoof steps growing faint and distant, Rainbow Dash took flight again, sighing as the air rushed under her feathers.
As her hooves landed on the clouds that supported her home, she flopped down onto her stomach and chest, allowing her front hooves to dangle. She rested her chin in between them and sulked, annoyed with her imperfections.
“Dashie?”
A very clear bouncing sound caught Rainbow Dash's attention. It was Pinkie Pie hopping up and down under her.
“Oh, hey Pinkie.” Feeling comforted by her best friend's presence, her muscles relaxed.
“What's up? You seem all saddy-waddy lately, you know! I'm not the only pony noticing it either! Rarity is very concerned about you, too!”
“Wha- Rarity? How do you know?”
“I bumped into her on the way here! Well, not here, I was on my way back home from Pokey's but when she said that you were all mopey I changed my mind and started going to your house. Well, here. But you know what I mean.”
“Pokey's? Why were you at that weirdo's house?”
“Dashie! He is not a weirdo! He just has a pointy horn! That is not his fault!”
As the momentous amount of defense that was in her tone came clear, a sense of insecurity rushed over Rainbow Dash like a waterfall.
“Right,sorry.”
Next up was silence. Awkward, uncomfortable silence. The moon started to become visible on the horizon. Unfortunately, as she glanced towards the setting sun, she was forced to look near Canterlot in the distance.
“Dashie?”
This time Pinkie's voice sounded softer. As their eyes met, Dash breathed out heavily. “Yes?”
“I think you should go talk to Rarity.”
“Rarity? Why?”
“My Pinkie-sense!”
“You're so random.”
“I'm gonna go now. You should go to Twilight's. That's where Rarity is.”
“Bye.”
As Pinkie hopped away, Dash sighed. She glanced over at the excited pony hopping away from her home, and then directly at the ground below her. Was she unattractive? She never considered that a possibility. It was true she never spent a second caring or even noticing how she looked. She pegged herself with words like, “awesome,” and “radical,” but were those not enough? Maybe “ugly” was in the mix the whole time and she never noticed.
What do boys even like anyway? That girly stuff like nice clothes and hooficures?
She wasn't about to get a date.
She sure didn't want to be the only one attending the gala alone.
What if she just had someone tag along as a fake boyfriend? That wouldn't work. Then the word would get out that she had a spare ticket and wanted to take somepony, then there was no way she would find somepony who honestly wanted to be with her. She had to leave reasons in the dark. So are reasons not enough for love?
Love.
Now there was a concept that hadn't crossed Rainbow's mind. Maybe she just needs to find a boy that loves her. How would she manage that though? What does love even feel like?
With all these thoughts, she realized what Pinkie meant. Maybe talking to Rarity was a good idea. She probably is the only mare in the tightly-knit friendships that knew anything about romance.
With a sigh, Dash heaved herself from the cloud and proceeded into the sky, the stars beginning to twinkle. The wind hissing in her ear seemed louder with the negative energy she was feeling, and eventually she landed and began to trot instead of fly.
Within a few minutes, she had already arrived at Twilight's. She knocked on the door to see Spike answering.
“Oh hey Dash. What's up?”
“Is Rarity or Twilight still around?”
“Yeah. Twilight's gonna be throwing a sleepover tonight.”
A sleepover? Ick.
“Okay, thanks.”
As she entered the room, she swallowed her pride and prepared to pour herself out to her friends to the best of her ability.
A positively charming story, can't wait to see how it continues (although, not really a fan of Soarin'Dash, I guess, but we'll see how it goes.)
701496
It's all fan speculation, so, until that fact becomes canon, I just assume she's a pretty little gold digger. I choose to believe he is single and she is trying to get him to like her so she can get into the benefits. I do, on occasion, support them as a happy couple as well, but for this story I chose a different route.
543070
Ugh, yes. So much hate for Soarindash. Ship him with basically any other member of the mane six (especially Applejack) and I'm fine, just not Dash.
701548
Lol! It's all good. I understand xD
701553
LOL
well
idk
because
I like my shippings?
Regardless we all have our opinions so I for one feel lucky I managed to snag one of the pairings you like when I so clearly picked none of the others xDD
Like what you have written so far (never even read a Pokey Pie ship fic before for some reason), tracking and looking forward to more.
701704
I understand. I'm not the biggest fan either. I like it enough to obviously put it into my fanfic, but only because it's hard for me to picture anyone with fluttershy.
I love how Rainbow Dash is insecure about getting a date. It shows a side of her that we haven't seen much in the show.
ok then.
Rainbow Dash is going to a sleepover. This is important.
This story is now on my reading list.
No Dash, your not ugly. Your a pretty mare
Damn, now I feel really bad for Dashie. Plus it seems like no pony is getting along too well with this task. Lets hope it lays out better in the bar future
woo! Thumb #104! what's my prize?
just kiddin.
Well it would seem RD does get insecure! Well I could always see through her bravado anyways so no big surprise. I enjoy the story thus far! Can't wait to see another chapter! Also I have never even heard of Pokey so that is a new concept to me.
Cute. I like how you portrayed the insecure side of Rainbow Dash. Can't wait to find out how everything plays out!
Cuhyoooooot. This has been pretty fun so far. I'm looking forward to the next bit!
Only one thumb down. And for good reason! Keep up the awesome!
I like this. The idea is golden, the writing's well-done, and it's not an arduous read. That's a very welcome change compared to what I've been reading.
Should have brought Caboose or Gur in as ponies for Pinkie and not gave an explanation for why they are there with you hiving a "I'm the auther and can do whatever i want" sort of mentality with it. They are the only two i can think of to match Pinkie's personality
702763
Well fortunately for me Pokey has no personality so I can built it to be whatever I want it to be
702778 But other than him cuz you can mold him into anything you want could you think of any others from anywhere that would match Pinkie?
702796
Almost anyone could compliment her personality, plently I would never dare to ship. I couldn't name any off on the top of my head, no, so you can leave feeling satisfied that you were right. But I really don't find Pinkie's personality too unrealistic, so anypony that had the patience could easily find that quality of her happiness as an attractive part of her. It's all about the situations that she is put in with any specific pony. Of course, she is a hard one to place. But I personally had a harder time placing who I wanted to be with Fluttershy! Haha~!
702805 I ment through matching personalities. I know vertualy anyone can be with anyone when put in the right situation but what i was asking was a "is there anyone other than Caboose or Gur that would be their universe's incarnation of her?" sort of thing.
702924
Hmm, I dunno. I guess it's up to each person's specific speculation.
703686
He's a background pony.
I dunno why, but he's awesome. I imagine him to be perfect for 'Shy.
With all these thoughts, she realized what Pinkie meant. Maybe talking to Rarity was a good idea. She probably is the only mare in the tightly-nit friendships that knew anything about romance.
You mean tightly-knit.
Tightly-nit implies it's some kind of louse egg.
As for comments on the ships:
I fail to see why everyone hates Soarin'Dash. I mean, it isn't all that far-fetched, considering there is some evidence that her favorite might be Soarin'. Which leader of the Wonderbolts did she pick to go fly with in Sonic Rainboom? She could've picked Spitfire, but she didn't. She picked Soarin'.
She also catches him first out of all the knocked out Wonderbolts.
Caralight? Meh.
PokeyPie? ALL MY YES.
Fancity? Never got the appeal of this one, but, hey, I'm not complaining about it.
FlutterMac.
Flutter. Mac.
FLUTTERMAC.
dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_RageFace.png
WHY FOR THE LOVE OF ME IS NO ONE IN THIS FANDOM ORIGINAL WITH THEIR FLUTTERSHIPS?
It's always Fluttermac or her paired up with one of her friends. You know what would have been legitimately interesting to read instead of the same old Fluttermac dialogue again? Gustavershy.
That is one ship I have no idea how any conversations would go or anything. But with Fluttermac, I have read so much of it that I can name the Five Stages of Fluttermac.
1: Big McIntosh suffers from some kind of injury/Fluttershy comes to help heal him instead of him being put into the hospital for potential Tendermac. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Redheart_hmph.png
2. Both become bashful towards one another and it is nothing but uncontrolled stutters and blushes.
3. They admit their feeling and begin dating, usually somewhere quiet and during the night time, while everyone and the kitchen sink watches the date from their vantage point in the foliage.
4. They marry.
5. Fluttershy becomes the first of her friends to get pregnant and winds up having a pegasus foal that is inevitably called Windfall Apple. Never a unicorn or even LE GASP, an earth pony.
There is rarely any room for deviation. You know what I wanna see if I ever see another Fluttermac? Have Big Mac bring her out of her shell, or I dunno, have her encourage him to pursue a career in solving problems. Not problems like 'what is beauty?' because that would fall within the purviews of your conundrums of philosophy.
Seriously. If you're gonna show me Fluttermac, then show me something I've never seen before.
BLOW MY FUCKING MIND.
I'm with holding my thumbs until the end, so you might wanna try and take the path less traveled.
RAINBOW, Y U NO GET OVR URSLF???
703795
Ah, I was wondering what a mentally unstable alien from an anime would be doing with Fluttershy.
There are so few hetero stories around its ridiculous.I get some don't want to use OCs characters because they worry they'll feel like Gary stews in pairings or whatever but you'd think they'd at least attempt to use BG ponies.Nothing against the yuri lovers out there but its kinda sad almost the only times one of the main six is paired with a male who isn't in the show(yes I realize there are few of them) its a HIE(human in equestria)story.
That pointless little rant aside,this is a great story and I'm curious to see who Twilight will go with. So far from comments I've gathered its
Soarin/Rainbow dashAlways cute.
Fancy pants/Rarity:This pairing deserves far more love,bravo for including it.
Fluttershy/Big macintoshYay!
Twilight/?A secret I've got one idea on who but I'm willing to wait and see.
Pokey pierce/pinkie pieLike Fancy pants/rarity this pairing needs more love so again good job with including it.
Applejack/?I'm not sure if its caramel since he was mentioned but whether that was to just to bluff out the real guy I'll have to see.
704881
Yeah. Fluttermac honestly wasn't my first choice. I was very indecisive about Fluttershy's ship. And also, there is no Caralight, I promise ;D Nobody knows who I really have planned for her yet.
There is a bit of deviation from that concept for Fluttermac, but it's up to you if you truly find it to be too unique. There's a little more to the standard injured mac, helpful flutter than first glance.
To\ be perfectly frank, I like Cheerilee and Mac and resisted the concept of Fluttermac for a while but it eventually was the decision that worked best in the story.
I always liked MacinDash. Ever read At Home on The Range? It really sold me on that ship. Even with the cannon Mac, I think it could work. Dash DOES have a softer side, and maybe what she needs is somepony to listen to her and let her talk. Mac is perfect for that.
704080 Does FlutterScratch count as original? I've seen one of those and it was pretty good.
756081
I've seen that fic. Didn't really like it.
Wait...
If Twilight isn't taking Caramel...
SWEET JESUS.
Tom, you sly dog, you!
756109 Care to share with your enlightenment?
756803
>Clearly didn't read the bottom of my comment.
d'aww.. poor dashie!
love the story though!
SpikeDash. I'm totally calling it.
It's all about Fancy Pants. I bet that in the end Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight fight over him and then because he's such a good guy he goes with one of them and introduces the other two to his extremely handsome and refined but also kind friends.
Soarin' x Dash Soarin' x Dash Soarin' x Dash or Dash x Human OR ELSE!
701842 WHAT??? Everypony's heard of Pokey, he even has a song! (You do the Pony Pokey and go poppin' all around!)
"...how am I supposed to represent?"
Oh oh! I know! Find the Zebra equivalents of Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Beyonce, T.Payne, Lil' John, Snoop Doggie Dog, and, just for good measure, through in Vanilla Ice so that the others look better by comparrison!
Hehehe. Pun.
"That is not his fault."
Hrmmm...looks like someone needs to hear the contraction song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvjpoNKhnZA&playnext=1&list=PL6069ECD40E337819&feature=results_video
Mind = blown.
There's some pretty mature and interesting character work going on in this story! I like where it's going!
Very good so far, I only spotted very small errors such as this:
“Right,sorry.” (no space between comma and sorry) [in chapter 3]