Rara had not been known as “the Countess” for some time. She had long moved beyond that distant persona and plunged herself into creating music that was more personal, and connected to ponies on a deeper level. It succeeded in this because =it came from deep within herself. After this change, she wanted to be known as Rara. Though some fans still preferred the era of the Countess Coloratura persona, Rara had come to enjoy her change. She did not have to worry about having her every move micromanaged, her appearance scrutinized, her voice changed, and her words overwritten. She still tried to keep a distance between herself and the fans, but she made time to spend with her actual friends, instead of treating them like members of her audience.
She hadn’t realized how much she missed having friends until she had fired her manager, Svengallop. When he was in charge, she pushed her friends away to keep up the persona. That was his reasoning. She hadn’t noticed just how far he had gone until it was too late. Applejack was the one that showed her the toxicity of her relationship with Svengallop. Now, Rara spent a lot less time touring. She even made more frequent visits to Ponyville to see AJ.
It was not long after that when they admitted their feelings. Rara couldn’t remember which of them had come forward first, it was so distant now, and they had both ended up realizing the feelings were mutual after all. They had been so close, knowing each other since fillyhood, and when they grew apart there was an ache of something missing. When they were together, things just seemed to click. Everything made a bit more sense. They rarely had to speak to understand or comfort one another. They weren’t the kind of couple that needed large declarations of love. Just being together was enough. Becoming marefriends was just a natural step, it seemed like.
While Rara enjoyed going to Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville — she could never say no to the Apple family’s cooking — that would have to wait. Rara’s tour had landed her in Canterlot. It seemed like whenever she managed to have time with her marefriend, there was always something else to do.
The popstar trotted at a brisk pace along the cobblestone path. Some of the Canterlot ponies recognized her, but she tried to ignore them. It was maybe a little rude to do so if they were just appreciatory fans, but she wanted to be done with her errands as soon as possible.
“Wait for me, sugarcube!” A voice came from behind her. Rara had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn’t realized her own marefriend was struggling to keep up.
“Oh, I’m sorry, AJ,” she said, her voice low and eyes unfocused, still looking far away.
“What’s the hurry, Rara? The Gala ain’t for another few days.”
“That’s the problem,” the popstar sighed. “I’ve been so busy preparing for my performance that I haven’t gotten an outfit yet! There are so many different stores to choose from here, I have no idea where to start!”
Applejack nuzzled against her, and Rara relaxed from the touch. The farmer pulled back and looked her marefriend directly in the eyes. “You’re always in a rush when you come by,” she said with a rueful smile.
Rara returned the look with a sad frown. “I know. It’s not fair to you.”
“It’s not your fault,” AJ put her hoof on Rara’s shoulder.
“It sure feels like it is.”
“It’s not, hon. I’ll keep remindin’ you if I have to.”
Rara chuckled. “You are the Element of Honesty. I knew that back when I started dating you. At least you keep me a bit more honest these days.”
“Glad to hear it, sugarcube. Now what’s really on your mind?”
There it was. Applejack had a way of seeing through all the small deceptions in most ponies’ words. She sighed before speaking, eyes staring down at the path under her hooves.
“You know I love you. I really do. But sometimes… it’s hard. The letters help. But I can’t be with you when I’m in Manehattan or Las Pegasus.”
AJ nodded. ‘You’re right, I can’t. I have Sweet Apple Acres to take care of. You have your music.”
Rara turned back to her marefriend and pressed her forehead against AJ’s.
“I’m not breaking up with you. I don’t want to.”
“I don’t want that either,” she said, and they both laughed. Rara tried to keep tears from flowing down her face. It would be annoying to reapply her makeup if it ran.
“I just don’t think I can only be with you, since we’re both so busy. Is… that bad?” Rara stepped back, apprehensive.
“You’re asking me if you can have other marefriends?”
“I know, I know. I’m being shallow and unloyal, and you probably want to break up with me if I do something like that—”
“No, no. I understand,” her smile was so small and genuine. “In fact, I was gonna talk with you about all this later. Long distance is hard. It just is. And there’s nothing we can do about it. If you find another pony that loves and understands you even half as much as I do, then I want you to be happy, Rara.”
“What if I meet several mares? Would you be jealous then?”
“Hoo boy! I’ll try not to be. Maybe you can bring them to Ponyville, and I can meet them too! Or, maybe I can get myself some other marefriends too,” she chuckled.
‘Rara pulled Applejack into a tight hug. “Thank you, AJ. I love you. And I want you to be happy too.”
“I know, sugarcube. Love you too,” the farmer pulled her into a kiss. There were a few murmurs from the ponies around them, but they both took little notice as they focused on each other. It wasn’t like Rara and AJ had kept their relationship secretive. There were plenty of tabloids that followed the pop singer’s career and the paparazzi had caught their romantic outings before. But still. Even with Applejack being a well-known Element of Harmony, she was still seen as just the farmer from Sweet Apple Acres.
“We better get moving,” Rara giggled, sheepish as she tried to ignore the crowd gathering.
“Yeah, I reckon so. Sorry if the magazines tomorrow got pictures of that on the front page,” AJ whispered as the two began to trot away from the crowd.
“Ah, let them talk. I try not to care about what they say. Ponies act so weird about celebrities. I wish I could just have a personal life to myself without any cameras or fans getting in my face. Really, it’s ridiculous.”
“Nah. You wouldn’t give up your music for the world. I know you love it, so don’t get in your pretty little head too much.”
“You’re right, as always.”
“Darn right!” AJ exclaimed, and the two laughed together, each close to the other all the way down the street. Eventually, they settled into a pace that allowed them to stay side-by-side. AJ sighed in the comfortable quiet before speaking.
“Now, what was that about needing an outfit for the Gala?” The farmer tilted her head, a playful smile on her lips. She started taking the lead and Rara followed close behind, intrigued.
“Oh, right. That. You got something in mind?” The popstar asked.
“I know a place around here that would be perfect.”
Canterlot Carousel. The boutique had popped up out of nowhere all those years ago. But now, it felt like a part of Canterlot as much as the princess’ castle. Fleur de Lis knew this city like a home. She had been living there ever since she could remember. The smell of the restaurants and their unusual, trendy foods. The street that she could walk mindlessly and never get lost, because her subconscious always knew every corner.
The unicorn remembered how she first felt when she was assigned the cover of being Fancy Pants’s marefriend. Everypony assumed she was after his money, and that she was a shallow bitdigger. But she tried not to let the gossip and rumors dissuade her. Protecting Fancy Pants gave her a sense of purpose. Being his bodyguard was something she got used to quickly, though acting as his marefriend took a little more getting used to. She wasn’t required to act when she was in the Royal Guard.
Being a bodyguard was the main purpose of a guardspony. When Fleur used to protect Princess Celestia, she got used to seeing threats around every corner. When she was given a more undercover assignment, she thought she wasn’t being trusted with serious matters anymore. She soon learned that being considered one of the citizens of the city allowed her to see the kinds of things that would evade most guardsponies. She became even more vigilant, and worked even harder at her job. It made her feel important, and invaluable to Equestria.
There were many things that being part of the Royal Guard hadn’t prepared her for. The time of year for the Grand Galloping Gala had rolled around again, and since Fancy always went, Fleur would have to go too. One would be surprised how much danger such an innocent-appearing social event could hold. Especially towards a pony as influential as Fancy.
Though she had originally found it hard to act the part of the lover for him, Fleur did find herself connecting with Fancy on a deeper level. She wasn’t sure if she would call herself his ‘marefriend,’ but it was certain she cared about him deeply. Perhaps it was how much time she spent keeping him safe. He was quite an oblivious stallion and Fleur often wondered how he had survived before she came along. She wished she could look forward to the Gala as just a way to spend time with him, but it being a social event, he would probably be too busy. And she’d be too busy watching out for him.
Today was a different kind of day. Fancy was at home, writing letters to guests attending the Gala and ‘hope-to-see-you-there’ cards of appreciation, so Fleur was able to go out in Canterlot on her own. She enjoyed the time to think, though she spent much time worrying about Fancy. He nearly had to push her out of the door because she kept finding excuses to stay.
“Go. Enjoy having some time to yourself, Fleur. You really could use some,” he said, with that ever-kind voice of his.
So, she planned to treat herself a bit. Inside the Canterlot Carousel, there was never a shortage of incredible designs. Fancy’s friend Rarity had quite the eye for fashion, something that Fleur envied. She had spent so long wearing her uniformed armor that she had no such affinity. Fortunately, Sassy Saddles — the manager of Rarity’s boutiques — was always enthusiastic to turn ponies toward outfits that highlighted their individual styles and natural beauty. And she certainly talked enough to fill a conversation all by herself. Fleur didn’t mind that at all, she was a quiet mare and enjoyed listening to others talk. Perhaps that was a hazard of the occupation, since she always had to watch and listen rather than be the one filling the silence. All she had to do was point a hoof at whatever design she liked and Sassy would be able to pick out a dozen others that Fleur would want to try on. With the Gala coming up, Fleur wanted something special. She wished she could wear what she had the previous year, but it would draw up some questioning glances from the other socialites. It wasn’t the sort of thing that was done in Canterlot. It wasn’t right. But she loved the colors and the patterns of the dresses around the boutique, and she never minded paying it — or Sassy — a visit.
Fleur eyed a golden dress with a hoop skirt. She knew those were preferable to tight-waisted dresses when it came to moving around, but it could limit her mobility if the skirt dragged on the floor. She was weighing these thoughts when she heard the doorbell ring.
Her head spun to see a crowd of ponies entering. She recognized them immediately by their uniforms. Blue with yellow streaks… they were Wonderbolts, no doubt about it. She tilted her head in curiosity. The Wonderbolts usually did not dress up for the Gala. They would attend in their uniforms since they were there to put on a performance later in the night. However, there were a few that stood out from the crowd. They only wore half a uniform, which was the dress for cadets in training. There were quite a few. Fleur wondered if these trainees would be performing in the show as well.
Though, the fact they were at the boutique made her realize that they probably weren’t. Part of having tickets to the Gala meant that you could bring a plus one, much like how Fleur was always Fancy’s plus-one. These cadets were tagging along to the Gala thanks to the other Wonderbolts. Since they wouldn’t have to perform, they would need formal dress wear. It made the unicorn grin, seeing how excited they all were, until she noticed something that made her smile fade.
Fleur’s training had made her very good at noticing little things, and though at a glance everything seemed fine — the pegasi were chatting with each other, starting to go through the racks of what the boutique had to offer — one of them was frozen on the spot. She could pass as a Canterlot pony, if she wasn’t in that Wonderbolt uniform. Her mane was a natural wave of gradient green-yellow, and her eyes were a soft sky-blue. She was so naturally graceful that Fleur could imagine the pegasus as a model on a runway, barely needing to be styled and makeup not needed for her light fur, almost as white as Fleur’s.
Then the unicorn noticed the movement happening underneath the trainee’s clothes. Since the Wonderbolt uniforms were so tight to be aerodynamic, it was easy to see that the mare was breathing quickly. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly compared to her compatriots. Her eyes were unfocused and glazed over, like she wasn’t focusing on anything in front of her.
Fleur knew what this was. The pegasus was having a panic attack. It had taken some prodding from Fancy, but when Fleur eventually started going to therapy, she was informed that she suffered from anxiety as well — mostly from her eventful and traumatic job experience. It explained why she was always so alert and paranoid about the smallest things. Though, she found it more like a strength than weakness. She knew what it felt like to be stuck in a state of hopeless panic inside your mind; the chance of escape, a futile maneuver. Fleur walked up to Sassy without thinking, and whispered in the other mare’s ear. Sassy nodded and went to the stairs, standing halfway up so everypony could see her.
“Oh! Just look at the lot of you! Since we have such special guests today, I’d like you all to come upstairs to see our special collection of Gala-ready outfits!All hand-tailored, if you will. Now, If you come up to the next floor you will see a variety of suits and dresses that will accentuate your athleticism. I could go on but don’t worry, we have plenty of options for pegasi…”
The manager’s voice trailed off, along with the clamor of Wonderbolts as they ventured upstairs. Fleur navigated around the crowd, making her way to the pegasus who was still frozen on the spot, eyes slowly registering the group’s disappearance. Fleur put her foreleg around the other mare’s, and that seemed to reel her into the moment.
“Oh… huh? What?” She muttered, clearly frazzled.
Fleur nodded to the exit, but the pegasus’s eyes barely moved, hooves rooted to the floor. So Fleur started walking and the other mare followed along where she was being led, without much thinking.
Once they had exited through the door, Fleur brought them to a bench. She noticed that the pegasus seemed more present. It was less noisy in the open air, and her eyes flickered about as she took in the sights of the street. After a moment, she faced Fleur, who smiled gently.
“You… how did you know that I needed to get out of there?”
Fleur was surprised by how light and quiet the mare’s voice was. It was a bit odd for a Wonderbolt, they were often quite bold and raucous, but it made sense for this pegasus. Her expressions hiding behind her long mane.
“I know what it’s like to feel trapped,” Fleur said quickly, her voice barely audible. Fortunately, the two were close on the bench, so it was easy to hear each other over the hustle and bustle of Canterlot outside of them.
The pegasus appeared surprised by Fleur’s voice. She was used to that kind of reaction. Ponies that didn’t know her often expected her to be loud and confident, since she was a model and Fancy’s marefriend. But she often preferred only to talk to those she was comfortable with. And after saving this mare from a potential breakdown in a public space, she felt very in her element. It reminded her a little of the first time she saved Fancy. Though, he was less shy.
“I’m Fleur de Lis,” she offered.
“Vapor Trail.”
Fluer’s grin widened. A name as beautiful as the mare it belonged to. She gave the pegasus a kiss on both cheeks, and when she pulled her head back, Vapor’s eyes had widened and she was visibly blushing under her pale fur.
“Oh! Uh, thanks,” her ears flattened and she gave a polite smile.
“Apologies. That’s how I greet everypony.”
Vapor stammered before clearing her throat and replying.
“It’s okay… I just wasn’t expecting it.”
Fleur put a hoof to her mouth to hide her laughter. “I must have surprised you.”
The two giggled together, quietly.
“I don’t feel ready to go back in,” Vapor whispered. “Too many ponies.”
Fleur nodded. She patted the Pegasus on the shoulder with her hoof.
”That’s okay, dear.” She felt Vapor lean into the touch, and started rubbing her shoulder.
”I know I’m not performing at the Gala this year, but the Wonderbolts expect us to watch and learn by going with them. I might have to fly next year, or the year after that. I don’t even know… they might make us do something out of the blue, as part of training or something!”
Fleur looked at Vapor as the pegasus rambled gradually getting louder and her words getting faster. When she could tell that the pegasus was getting closer to another panic attack, she pulled Vapor into a hug, the unicorn’s hooves trying not to get in the way of her stiffly-fluttering wings. Vapor gasped at first, but then she put her weight on the unicorn’s chest, wiping her eyes with her own hooves.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” she muttered, but Fleur shushed her gently.
She held the pegasus there for what might’ve been a minute. Maybe several. Vapor’s sobs were muffled as her face was pressed against the unicorn’s chest fur. The pair received a few odd looks from passersby, but Fleur held her head high. Let them look. Perhaps this would end up in the tabloids, but it didn’t matter. Whatever story they made up would just be food for the vultures of this city. She could explain it to Fancy and he would have enough influence to set the story straight. She held onto that hope, as she didn’t want Vapor to have to deal with the gossip of Canterlot on top of her other anxieties.
Finally, the pegasus pulled away, and Fleur let go. Vapor wiped her eyes one final time with a foreleg, then chuckled nervously.
“Sorry… I’m a mess. Look at you, I got my tears all over you.”
“It’s nothing a trip to the spa won’t fix. No worries, dear,” Fleur said dismissively.
Vapor couldn’t seem to make eye contact with her. “No Wonderbolt should be crying into a stranger’s fur like that.”
Fleur put her hoof under Vapor’s chin, and lifted it up so they were face to face. Looking into the pegasus’s eyes with a sincere smile on her face.
“Nopony is perfect. We are all a bit of a mess sometimes. Even me.”
“That’s hard to imagine. You’re so… um….” Vapor cleared her throat, cutting off her own sentence as she fidgeted with her mane.
“That is just what it takes in Canterlot. Do not be fooled by appearances. Most ponies here look nice, but deep down? They’re all rotten.”
“You’re not like that.”
“Is that so? Kind of you to say,” the unicorn felt herself getting a bit flustered at that comment. Usually Fancy was the only pony who complimented her on more than just her looks.
“So, you are going to the Gala?” Fleur asked, changing the subject.
“I think so. As long as Sky is going too,” Vapor seemed to lighten up, despite her original anxieties surrounding the Gala. The way she said the name of, who Fleur presumed was another pony, made her start smiling.
“Sky?” Fleur’s head took a curious tilt.
“He’s one of the other cadets. He’s my best friend. He doesn’t want to get all dressed up, so he’s not here today,” Vapor said, and Fleur wondered if that was why the pegasus was also panicked. The stallion was likely the only other pony who helped assuage her fears.
“Is he your date?” Fleur gave a kind smile, she could tell that Vapor had feelings for Sky based on how she talked about him.
“Not officially… but I hope so?” Vapor seemed to blush at the question.
“Well, he’d be very lucky to have you,” Fleur said.
“I think I would be lucky to have him,” Vapor said, her face deepening in a pink hue. She turned her head away, clearly embarrassed by how clear her crush was.
“I’m going to the Gala as well,” Fleur changed the topic once again, to keep Vapor from feeling overwhelmed by emotion once more.
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Vapor started turning back to face the unicorn, and her eyes seemed to light up to hear this. Perhaps she was looking forward to seeing the model there?
“It is. I go every year. It’s always beautiful,” Fleur’s smile faded a bit, as she knew the truth. It was supposed to be a wonderful night for anypony who attended, but for her, the Gala was extra stress on top of her daily troubles.
The unicorn started getting off the bench, then turned back to the pegasus, the bold words rolling off her tongue before she could stop them.
“If you need to get away again — and Sky is busy — just look for me. I tend to stand out in a crowd.”
Fleur winked at Vapor before walking away, her head tilted to the boutique as an invitation to come along with her. She could not believe how forward she was acting, but it just felt natural in the moment. Where she was usually quiet and kept to herself, now all she wanted to do was make the pegasus smile more. Luckily, Vapor followed behind her, hoofsteps light, and a smile marking her face where Fleur had first seen her frowning. The two went inside and Fleur pointed a hoof at the golden dress, the one that she was unsure about just a moment ago. That felt like hours ago now.
“What do you think of this one?” The unicorn whispered.
“It’s so beautiful… but it’s a bit short for you, I think,” Vapor said, the last words coming out much quieter as if she was afraid to critique the unicorn’s choice.
“Not for you,” Fleur said, looking down at Vapor, and she saw the pegasus’s beautiful eyes widen in realization, and that wonderful smile returned to her face.
“Me?”
Marble Pie was not the kind of pony that enjoyed cities. Despite how much she could appreciate the stone architecture of Canterlot’s buildings and pathways, she hated the sounds. She was used to hearing other ponies’ voices, and much more used to them than her own, however the way each sound bounced off the walls around them and overwhelmed her senses made her physically flinch with each new, unfamiliar noise. She didn’t want to say anything to make her sisters turn back, even though it was clear that she wasn’t the only one who was displeased at the moment.
Limestone Pie, her older sister, was complaining. Quite loudly, at that. Meanwhile Marble kept her head down and her mane in front of her face. The Canterlot ponies around them seemed to turn their attention to the oldest sister, if they weren’t already watching Pinkie Pie skip down the cobbled street.
She was the one leading the group. Her sisters followed close behind, each at their own pace. Marble dragged her hooves, Limestone stomped with each step, and Maud moved at a consistent rhythm.
It was very rare for the Pie sisters to see each other outside of the family’s rock farm. And unfortunately if they ever tried to visit Pinkie, it was a bit complicated to do so. The baker had planned to go to Canterlot that day to prepare for the Grand Galloping Gala. She could have gotten her outfit from Rarity, but the seamstress was quite busy preparing new designs in preparation for the Gala. It would have been unfair to add more onto her workload.
So Pinkie had decided to get Sassy’s help instead, since she was the one who was supposed to help customers with those sorts of problems anyway. Once the group of Pies arrived at Canterlot Carousel, Marble could tell exactly which pony was Sassy Saddles. The blue unicorn was especially tall and wore sparkling clothes that Marble assumed were the latest fashions. Her face was done up with makeup that accentuated her stunning orange eyes, and her mane was short and wavy, with a streak that matched her irises. Not to mention the fact that she was trotting up to the earth ponies with a brilliant smile.
Thanks to her twin sister Pinkie, Marble had become quite good at spotting different kinds of smiles. Even if she had trouble expressing things with her own face. She had firsthoof experience of making polite smiles to appease other ponies, so she could tell if other ponies were being genuine or not. She considered herself emotionally apt in that regard, if she was ever brave enough to make eye contact. When she saw Sassy beaming, she could tell that it was more than just a customer-service smile.
“Pinkie! What a pleasant surprise. You’ve caught me at just the perfect time, the boutique is usually quite busy around now, but I can squeeze in some time for you and your… guests?”
Pinkie giggled. “Thanks, Sassy! These party ponies are my sisters! This is Maud — you might have seen her, she’s been to Canterlot with me before — this is Limestone — she’s our big sister and isn’t afraid of anything — and this is Marble, my little sister! Well, I’m only a few minutes older but I like to think of her as my baby sis!”
The pink pony rapid-fire introduced each sibling, energetic and quick in her words. Marble always wondered how she could speak so much, so fast, without needing to breathe. Sassy seemed to follow along as best as she could, nodding and smiling at each of the Pie sisters.
“Oh, marvelous! I would never have guessed — well, that is to say, uh…” the unicorn stumbled over her words. Marble could tell what she was trying not to say. Most of the time, when ponies met Pinkie’s family, they weren’t expecting such plain-looking ponies to be related to the vibrant and puff-maned Element of Laughter. There had even been some times where ponies asked their parents — when they thought other ponies couldn’t hear their whispers — if Pinkie was adopted.
‘That they came with me to Canterlot? I know, I’m surprised too!” Pinkie interrupted, and Sassy seemed thankful for the interruption.
“Well, what are you ladies looking for in the Carousel? Even if you’re just here to visit, I insist you all get to try on an outfit of your choice!” Sassy recovered from her previous stammering and waved a hoof to the rest of the store. Pinkie was the only one of the group to have a strong reaction, gasping audibly and pressing her hooves to her face like she just walked into a surprise party. Marble mustered a smile, but her eyes still couldn’t meet Sassy’s.
The unicorn started trotting toward a mannequin, chuckling at Pinkie’s reaction. “If you need any help picking something out, just ask me! I know every item in this store. Pinkie, you’re going to the Gala, yes? I think this dress would go well with your eyes,” Sassy said to the baker as she gestured to the mannequin, which was wearing a baby blue, poofy dress. It seemed like the perfect style for Pinkie. It was simple, short, and fun. Pinkie seemed to agree with this assessment, as she rushed over to Sassy’s side and began taking in the dress.
“It’s nice, but… does it come with a hat? Or shiny shoes? Or a big bow? Or…” Pinkie kept adding details onto her ideal outfit, and Sassy’s eyes went wider with each new item on the list. By the time the pink pony was asking whether the dress could support balloon strings — in case of an emergency need for transport by balloons of course — Marble had found herself looking for a corner she could nestle into.
She didn’t mind that Pinkie was taking all of them along on an errand. It was interesting to see Canterlot. However, Marble had trouble with changes of pace. It wasn’t easy to step out of her comfort zone. As mind-numbing as working on the rock farm could be, it was familiar and safe. But of course, she couldn’t be the one to speak up and say she didn’t want to go to Canterlot. Her sisters would probably tell her that it was good for her to get out more.
Marble walked over to a rack that was secluded in the back of the store, and started mindlessly hoofing through the outfits on the rack. She noticed her sisters breaking apart from their group formation and doing the same, though she was sure Limestone would have something to say about wearing dresses and how she wouldn’t need such things on the rock farm, and Maud would probably not pick anything out, due to her preference for practical clothing.
Pinkie, on the other hoof, loved dressing up, even if it was impractical or only for a brief time. Marble wondered often how she was twins with the pink pony, considering how different they were. Pinkie lived in the moment, jumping into anything and everything headfirst. While Marble often chose to let others take the lead. As much as she wouldn’t admit it to anypony, she did agree with her sisters. She needed to get out more. She was too comfortable on the rock farm, and it was lonely. It was in the middle of nowhere, and most ponies didn’t even know it existed. Whenever she went to visit her sister in Ponyville, she realized hoe many friends Pinkie had, and was a bit jealous of it. She wished she could just walk up to ponies that easily and ask them to be friends. It sounded so easy in her head. In practice, it was terrifying.
As she was thinking these things, she was only snapped out of her spiraling anxiousness by a dress that caught her eye. It was so unlike anything she’d worn before. Whenever Marble wore clothes, she was always practical about it. That was just the Pie family way. So when she saw that dress, with its deep blues and violets, she knew she couldn’t have it. What would her parents think if she brought it home? What would she even do with such an ornate thing? Where would she wear it?
“That’s one of my favorites.”
The lilted voice coming behind her made Marble squeak in surprise and turn herself quickly, cowering on the floor and trying to hide behind her mane. Sassy Saddles was right there, with that confident grin and her eyes looking straight at the rock farmer, not wavering. Marble said nothing, and just waited for Sassy to go away. But she didn’t. She took the dress in her blue hoof and showed it to Marble as if the earth pony hadn’t seen it before.
“Unfortunately it wasn’t as popular as some of our other designs, I wish it had taken off though. It would look so fetching on the right ponies, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Mm-hm,” Marble mumbled. It was her go-to expression whenever she wasn’t sure what to say. Especially if she didn’t want to speak at all. It was just enough to get somepony off her back, but not enough to put any unnecessary energy into it.
She could say other things, despite what most ponies may have thought. She was just so used to her sisters being so full of things to say that she never felt the need to speak up. The only other pony she had ever met that understood her in that way was Big Mac. He was also a pony of few words, and they were able to bond without saying much of anything, even if they did want to say more than they let on.
Sassy, though, didn’t seem to know what to think. Her brows furrowed.
“Well,” the unicorn started again, pulling the dress off the rack with her magic and holding it up so it could be seen in full. “What do you think?”
“Mmm…” Marble stammered, not quite an ‘um’ or an ‘mm-hm.’ She wasn’t used to ponies asking her about her thoughts. Usually Pinkie or Limestone took over in moments like these. They were pretty good at guessing how Marble felt and talking on her behalf.
“It’s alright if you don’t like it… Marble, right?” Marble nodded at Sassy, and the unicorn continued, “I won’t be offended. Everypony has different tastes. Your sister, for example,” she nodded her head in Maud’s direction. The purple-maned Pie was showing her pet rock, Boulder, an arrangement of jewelry. Marble guessed that Maud was probably reassuring Boulder that he was just as valuable as any gem.
“I would never design something like what she’s wearing,” Sassy continued. Her words sounded like the kind that most ponies would use to set up an insult, but she didn’t sound judgemental at all. “But it seems to suit her just right. I suppose Canterlot fashions aren’t for everypony, despite what most around here would say.”
Marble tilted her head in interest. From the little she had experienced in Canterlot, the ponies had been quite snobbish and looked down upon the Pie sisters for one reason or another. She still wasn’t sure whether she wanted this conversation to continue, though. She peeked around Sassy, and noticed the mannequin that Pinkie had been bouncing around was now bare, and her twin was nowhere to be seen. Sassy followed Marble’s line of sight and nodded.
“Oh, you’re wondering what happened with Pinkie. Well, she liked that outfit so much that she decided to try it on. And test it. Outside. Whatever that entails.”
Marble found herself laughing along with the unicorn, though her chuckles were more subdued.
“I may risk sounding like a salespony for saying this — which I am, but that’s besides the point — I think if you do like this dress, you should have it. It goes so well with your eyes, I doubt it would match anypony better,” Sassy magicked the dress over to Marble, who took it in an outstretched hoof. She looked up at the tall pony with a stunned expression, unsure what to think.
“You can try it on and if you don’t like it, I’ll put it back on the rack. No worries. But something as fine as this is worth a try.”
Marble took the dress off of the hanger, and smoothed it out. The fabric was so thick and lush, she wondered what kind of material it was made from. She could tell the difference between metamorphic and igneous from only a glance, but this was a whole different world to her.
“It’s crêpe. One of my favorite materials to work with. Soft as silk but not too delicate.”
Marble tried to hold the dress out to Sassy, her head turned away.
“You don’t like it?” Sassy asked.
Marble bit her lip as she tried to push some words out of her throat, but nothing came, so she just hung her head.
“It’s okay, darling,” Sassy said while picking up the dress once again in her magic, and bringing it back to the wall, “I’ll stop bothering you about it—”
“No, wait!” Marble blurted out, then put a hoof over her mouth. She hadn’t expected to be so loud. Maud and Limestone stopped in their respective preoccupations and looked over to their sister in surprise. Even Sassy’s eyes had widened in shock.
Marble looked at the floor, pawing at it with her hoof as she spoke.
“I… I do like it. I really do. I just… I don't think I should have it. Sorry.”
Sassy took a second to process what the mare had said, then responded.
“What do you mean, darling? Everypony should get the chance to feel beautiful, especially if they like an outfit this much. Is it the price?”
Marble shook her head. “No, it’s that I wouldn’t be able to wear it anywhere. I work on a rock farm, you know. It’s not like Canterlot there.”
Sassy pursed her lips in thought, then a smile formed on her face as she seemed to come up with an idea. “I could think of somewhere you could wear it. The Grand Galloping Gala. I assume Pinkie has told you all about it?”
Marble scrunched her brow in confusion. The feeling only strengthened as Sassy plopped the dress once again into Marble’s grasp. The earth pony nearly dropped it as she staggered to put her hooves out to catch it.
“Um…” the earth pony struggled to comprehend what she was being asked. Sure, she had heard about the Gala in Canterlot, everypony knew about it. The Princess invited only the most well-known ponies to attend. Usually socialites that lived in Canterlot. The only reason the Princess knew about the Pie family at all was because she was acquainted with Pinkie. She doubted that, if the pink pony walked up to the princess and introduced her family of rock farmers, the princess wouldn’t be surprised between them and the Element of Laughter. She couldn’t remember her parents ever talking about an alicorn that recognized any rock farmers on the edge of nowhere. Most ponies just assumed rocks didn’t need growing, but earth ponies knew better. A princess probably had too many other political duties to consider that.
Sassy noticed Marble’s hesitation, and stepped in — quite literally, as she took a step forward to be closer to the earth pony — and spoke up.
“Well — what I’m getting at is — if you’d like to attend such an event, I would be more than happy to bring you as my plus-one.”
Marble’s eyes felt like they would bug out of her skull. She couldn’t remember the last time she had made such a surprised expression (at least, not without fear).
“Your eyes…” the unicorn said, leaning forward to make eye contact with Marble that felt quite a bit closer than she was usually comfortable with.
“Yes,” she continued, clearly having moved on from her Gala invitation and into another train of thought. “You would look so stunning in this dress, with those eyes! The blue compliments you so perfectly! I’ve never seen such a deep violet in a pony’s eyes before. Like amethyst!”
Marble couldn’t bring herself to return the eye contact for more than a second, before trying to hide behind her mane out of habit. Though she couldn’t stop herself from smiling at the compliment. Not even her family told her such things, and for it to be focused on gems, a subject that Marble knew quite well, it took her so off guard that she was blushing. Yet another reason to hide behind her long mane.
Sassy stepped back, a hoof to her mouth. She seemed to notice how uncomfortable Marble looked.
“Oh my,” she said, a bit quieter than her usual bombastic voice, “I’m sorry for being so forward, darling — I mean, Marble — I suppose I got a bit carried away. I know it’s no simple ask to invite somepony to the Grand Galloping Gala, and you probably think I’m just tricking you into buying a dress from here. I just love helping ponies feel beautiful and when I saw you, well… you didn’t need a dress for me to notice you. Pinkie won’t stop going on about how smart and sensitive you are, how much you make room for others. It’s something I need to work on, myself. Marble, I would be honored to have somepony like you in my company at the Gala.
“Oh, look at me, rambling on and on again. Do tell me to shut up if you please,” Sassy gave a chuckle and looked back to marble, tilting her head as if to insinuate that she was done speaking and ready to listen.
Marble’s head was swimming with a mix of emotions. Could such a pony really be interested in her this way? She knew that Pinkie was quite the wingmare, and tended to exaggerate the qualities of others. Whatever Sassy was told about Marble had a large chance of being untrue. Marble started to get to a more stable, upright position on her hooves and smiled at the unicorn.
“You don’t have to stop talking, I… I like listening to you,” she reassured Sassy. “It’s… nice that Pinkie told you about me. I’ve heard about you, too. You’re so decisive and confident, always getting things done. No wonder you run this whole place. To think that you’d even talk to me… I’m the one who’s honored,” she threw the dress over her back to free up her hooves for walking, and tilted her head toward the changing rooms.
“I’ll try this on… to see if it’s something I’d wear to a Gala.”
Sassy’s smile grew, and her bright eyes glimmered, reflecting more than the storelights.