EQD Writer's Training Ground
Rarity was smiling as she approached the library, a thick volume floating in her blue magical aura. The book on historical fashion was simply perfect! So many ideas, such beauty described; Rarity was sure when Twilight heard about how absolutely important having a few more days to study the book was, she would be a dear and lend the book again.
She stopped in front of the of the library door, ears homing on the noises coming from the other side. She could hear Twilight’s exasperated voice, punctuated by Spike exclaiming something repeatedly — Why, of course! Twilight must be going through another of her checklists. Smiling in amusement, Rarity knocked.
There was a final noise, sounding like a large number of soft objects falling — Books? — before Twilight’s voice could be heard. “Coming!”
The door opened, revealing a slightly frazzled Twilight floating a pile of books and a few quills behind her. Rarity tilted her head a little. “Oh, dear, did I catch you at a bad time?”
Twilight beamed. “Rarity! Come on in! I’m a bit busy preparing for my trip to canterlot, but —” she smacked her head. “I knew I was forgetting something. Spike, is there ‘invite my friends’ somewhere on the list?”
Spike’s voice came from somewhere in the back. “Sure. It’s just after ‘finish packing the books’.”
“An invitation?”
Twilight’s smile became even wider. “I’ve been invited to give the opening speech at the annual Canterlot Book Faire! Every year Princess Celestia gives the opening speech, but this year she asked me instead! I have to go early to prepare, but you are invited for the opening tomorrow evening, of course.”
Rarity’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, it’s just perfect! I’m going to Canterlot myself to purchase some fabric I’m running low on. You know what? I could make a new ensemble for your opening speech. You would be simply dazzling!”
“Thank you, but I can’t impose on you. I’m sure the dress I used for my coronation will be fine.”
“No, darling, I insist!”
Twilight raised one eyebrow. “You are not going to take a ‘no’ for an answer, are you?” Rarity just grinned, and Twilight sighed. “Well, in that case, thank you. I will be staying at the palace, and you are, of course, invited to stay there too.”
“Thank you. Now I will let you to your preparations, I have a dress to create. I can already see it in my mind, it will be divine!” Rarity started to turn to leave, stopping midway. “Oh, and I have one favor to ask. May I keep this book a little longer?”
Twilight nodded. “Sure.”
Rarity looked at the drawing in her pin board. “Oh, Opal. Do you think it’s too much?” The large white cat glanced at her owner and purred contently. “Yes, it will be fabulous!”
She looked around; no orders to worry about, her sister camping with the other crusaders. It was the perfect day to just concentrate on a dress for a friend.
Her eyebrows furrowed as her gaze passed over her fabric cabinet. Oh, dear, I hope there is enough fabric for the dress. She started pulling the few remaining bolts and measuring them. I didn’t think I was so low on fabric. If I use this shade for the dress and that other one for the accents… It won’t be as perfect as I would prefer, but alas, if I’m to keep my promise this will have to do.
She took a bolt of her test fabric, of which thankfully she had plenty, and started cutting the shapes and draping them over a mannequin, humming along the way. With years of practice to call upon, soon Rarity had the mannequin covered with a doppelganger of what would be the finished dress, only in the bright pink of the test fabric she had left.
Moving slowly and paying attention to every detail, Rarity circled the mock-up. This time there were no second chances; the dress would have to be perfect on the first try. Finally, after circling the mannequin over a dozen times, Rarity smiled.
She took the mock-up dress apart carefully, laying the pieces over the final fabric she was going to use, on top of her work table. She looked at the result, her face frowning in concern; not only she wouldn’t be able to change the design, she had so little fabric beyond what she needed for the dress that even as small an error as cutting a piece too small would mean having to wait until she could get more fabric, missing Twilight’s opening speech altogether.
Rarity stood there, looking at the laid out pieces for a full minute before she started to pace. “Oh, Opal, what if I cut a piece wrong? Twilight would be so disappointed…”
Opal narrowed her eyes.
“Right, I’ve done more challenging dresses many times without a single error. Let’s get on with it.”
A sudden breeze coming from the open window scattered the pieces across the room; Rarity rushed, eyes widening, to close the door and the window. How could I forget to pin the patterns?
As she was closing the window Rarity saw the overcast sky. She had completely forgotten about the afternoon rain planned for today — and so had the crusaders, which meant Sweetie Belle, perhaps with the other crusaders, would be back far earlier than planned. Well, I can deal with it.
After closing the window Rarity returned to the task at hoof, carefully collecting all the scattered pieces and pinning them to the final fabric. She took the scissors in her magic and carefully started to cut. She could swear she was sweating by the time all the pieces were cut.
“Why, Rarity, you did it! Cutting all the pieces of a whole dress without a single misplaced snip.”
Opal lifted her head, giving Rarity a quizzical look, and laid it back on her paws.
Now she only had to sew it carefully; she could do the final adjustments in Canterlot. She would even finish it early; perhaps she could take Sweetie Belle and her crusader friends for an ice cream, to commemorate the dress and cheer them up for having to cancel their camping.
Rarity started to carefully sew the dress together, happily imagining what Twilight would say about it — and how impressed the writers, editors, and readers would be with the dress. A chance to please a friend and extend her own clientele at the same time was nothing to scoff at, after all.
Distracted by the sewing, Rarity failed to notice Opal’s tail lifting and starting to shake it, until the cat bolted. Rarity looked at her, eyes narrowed. “Opal, dear, what are you doing?”
The cat dove behind Rarity’s bed, emerging at speed just behind a large green lizard.
Rarity’s eyes went wide, her pupils contracting. “Ew, ew, ew, ewwww!” The lizard was speeding through the floor, Opalescence bounding after it; Rarity was running across the room, trying to keep as much distance to the lizard as she could. Finally, when she saw the chance, she leaped atop her bed.
Opal was still chasing the lizard; Rarity watched in terror as the lizard dove under her sewing machine, Opal continuing…
With a cry, Rarity threw her magic towards the half-finished dress that was still in the sewing machine, picking it just as Opal crashed onto the machine, causing it to overturn. Time seemed to slow as Rarity watched her sewing machine fall; she winced as it finally hit the ground with a loud thud, the dress still held high in her magic.
Rarity looked around win a mixture of panic and irritation. Why had Opal not chased the lizard out yet? Her glance stopped at the door, closed after the gust of wind. Cursing her distraction, Rarity opened the door, Opal and the lizard soon vanishing through it.
Crisis averted, Rarity climbed down and went to look her sewing machine. There was a little spilt oil under it.
Concern in her eyes, Rarity tried to start the machine. It wouldn’t move, and she couldn’t get it to a repairpony until tomorrow at the earliest. “Of all the possible things that could go wrong…”
She stopped and took a deep breath. “Calm, Rarity.” She carefully examined the dress; it was still intact, and mostly finished. She could hoofstitch the rest and be done in no time.
It took more effort than she expected, but she finished sewing the dress just before the afternoon rain. The dress now on the ironing board, she just had to press it one more time and —
There was a loud noise from beyond the door. Rarity looked towards it, lifting one eyebrow. “What… No!”
Swinging her neck desperately, Rarity sent her magic towards the door. How could she forget the lizard?
The door slammed close, just behind the lizard. Rarity heard a crash and an angry meowth from the other side. Opening the door again, she said, “Sorry, Opal!”
As opal entered the room and resumed chasing the lizard, Rarity sniffed. Something was burning. “No!” Her nostrils flaring, Rarity ran towards the ironing board, grabbing the iron with her magic…
Just in time to see the lizard jump over the board. “Eeek!”
Rarity fell to the ground, the lizard scampering over her, while the out of control iron sailed through the air and out the closed window with a crash.
Sweetie Belle was frowning as she rode with Apple Bloom on Scootaloo’s red wagon, going back to the Carousel Boutique. How could they forget about the afternoon rain? She could already feel the first raindrops.
Suddenly she heard a loud crash. Looking up, Sweetie Belle saw an iron breaking her sister’s bedroom window and falling to the ground. “Scootaloo!”
“On it!” Scootaloo’s wings buzzed louder, propelling the trio even faster. In a few moments Sweetie Belle was jumping out of the wagon and unlocking the front door, and was promptly greeted by Opal chasing a large green lizard out of the boutique.
With the door open she could hear Rarity wailing. Exchanging a quick glance with the other two Crusaders, Sweetie Belle led them up the stairs. The wailing grew louder as they approached Rarity’s bedroom and workshop. “It’s ruined, ruined!”
Entering the room, Sweetie Belle wrinkled her muzzle; there was a burnt fabric smell.
She quickly scanned around. The ironing board was overturned, a beautiful blue dress besides it with a black triangle visible in its middle; it seemed to be the source of the smell. On the bed was Rarity, sobbing.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stood on the threshold while Sweetie Belle entered the room. “Rarity, what happened?”
“Of all the worst things that could happen, this is the worst possible thing! Oh, leave me alone, nopony can fix it.”
“But…”
“Just let me wallow in my misery!”
Sweetie Belle slowly walked back towards the door. Apple Bloom looked from Rarity to Sweetie Belle. “How are we supposed to talk to her? Should we call Applejack?”
Sweetie Belle stood still for a few seconds, eyes narrowed in concentration, before a smile appeared on her face. “I got this.” She cringed. “But you have to promise not to laugh.”
Rarity couldn’t believe how unlucky she was. The dress was ready, and that green… pest… had to distract her!
She turned to the side, her muzzle still picking the burning smell. But… the smell from the dress has already ended. Why...
Sweetie Belle’s singsong voice made Rarity jump out of the bed. “Boy, I bet Rarity will love the dinner I’m making!”
Rarity barely registered leaving her bedroom and going down the stairs. “Sweetie Belle…”
“Yes?”
Rarity looked around, slack jawed. The three fillies were at the bottom of the stairs, Sweetie Belle holding a skillet with something unidentifiable while Scootaloo used her wings to send the smoke up.
“What in the name of lemon and ginger is going on?”
Scootaloo snickered; Sweetie Belle shot her an annoyed glance and turned to look at Rarity. “Uh, we were worried about you. What happened? Can we help?”
Apple Bloom swiveled her ears. “Yeah, like fixing your window before your bedroom turns into a pond.”
Rarity turned around, noticing the sound of the rain. “Let me get a tarp.” She went down the stairs and came back with a folded tarp in her magic aura.
“I’m on it. Bring a hammer. And nails,” said Apple Bloom as she jumped at the tarp, catching it in the air and running up the stairs.
Sweetie Belle was already running. “I’ll get them.” She was soon running up the stairs with a toolbox, Scootaloo running after her.
Rarity shook her head. The window was ruined anyway; no harm in letting the kids help. She grabbed a mop and a pail and went up after them.
Arriving at her bedroom, Rarity was surprised to see the the window already covered, with Apple Bloom, dripping, standing in front of it. “How…”
The three fillies were beaming. Scootaloo said, “Cool, isn’t it? Apple Bloom is really good at fixing things.”
Sweetie Belle looked up at her sister, expectantly. “Can you tell what happened?”
“In a moment. First let’s get Apple Bloom dry.” She looked around. “And where is Opal? She usually refuses to leave my room when it rains like this.”
The three fillies looked at each other. “Uh, oh.”
Scootaloo raced down the stairs, while Sweetie Belle grimaced. “I think we kinda locked her outside.”
“You what? Never mind. Let me get some towels.”
Rarity cringed. “And when that icky thing jumped at me I let the iron go; I think it went through the window.”
Scootaloo nodded. “Yeah, we saw it.”
The three fillies lay on cushions around Rarity. Opalescence was nowhere to be seen, likely still angry at the unwanted bath.
Sweetie Belle looked at the ruined dress. “It was so beautiful.”
Rarity sighed. “Yes, it was.”
Sweetie Belle was floating a book out of her saddlebags and started turning its pages. “It looks like the princess’ dress from the book Twilight lent me.”
Rarity looked up, taking the book in her own magic. “Wait, I know this story. It’s the one about the filly that loves books and marries with a prince…” Her eyes went wide. “Idea! It’s simply perfect, a dress out of a book about a princess who loves books for our own librarian princess! And it is as you said, it already looks like the dress I made, so with a few modifications…” Her head dropped. “But I can’t do it. My sewing machine is broken and I don’t have enough fabric for the dress.”
Scootaloo looked from the sewing machine to the toolbox. “So, do you have the manual? Twilight is teaching me how to fix things, I can give it a try.”
“It is in the drawer in the machine itself. But I don’t think —” Rarity looked at the filly, who were already leafing through the manual, buzzing with excitement. “Never mind.”
Rarity looked around. Sweetie Belle was not in the room anymore. She must have left while I was distracted. “Apple Bloom, did you see where Sweetie Belle went?”
“Here.” Sweetie Belle slowly entered the room, a sad smile on her face. Two bolts of fabric, one royal blue and the other purple, trailed her, floating in her magic. “I purchased them to make a dress for you. It was supposed to be a surprise. Twilight was going to figure out which kind of dress we should make, and Fluttershy was going to help me with the sewing. But I guess you should have them now.”
Rarity looked at Sweetie Belle, eyebrows rising. “I thought you wanted to do things by yourself.”
“No way! It’s a gift for my sister, it has to be perfect.” Sweetie Belle looked down. “Or had.”
“How about this? After I come back from Canterlot we can make dresses for all of us, together.”
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom grinned. “Yay!”
“But I have to get started on Twilight’s dress right now. Without my sewing machine it will take far longer. Perhaps if I pull an all nighter…”
Scootaloo came bouncing. “Hey, Rarity. Can you fix this?” She lifted a gear in her hoof; it was broken in three pieces.
“But of course!” Rarity’s horn glowed, her magic engulfing the gear and making it whole. She raised one eyebrow. “Was that what was wrong with my sewing machine?”
“Well, I have to assemble it back to test, but I think so.”
Rarity was already floating the pink pieces of the mock-up dress back into the mannequin, scissors at the ready for making the adjustments. ”Please do, dear. I’ll start doing the modifications.”
Rarity was already done with the modifications to the mock-up when she heard her sewing machine starting, among the cheers of the Crusaders. She smiled, making a mental note to take them out for as much ice cream as they wanted at the next opportunity.