Rarity closed the door to the boutique as Tempest left. Twilight was still staring at where she was, cheeks still a bit flushed. She didn't even notice Rarity had trotted toward the stairs.
"Just a moment, please!" Rarity's voice broke Twilight's trance. Twilight looked to see Rarity already gone, her distant hoofsteps echoed from upstairs. Twilight sat in the waiting area, levitating the same magazine Tempest held moments earlier.
I'm so excited to see what Rarity did with this year's dress! Twilight pondered, Especially since I'll actually have a date this time! She smiled to herself as she imagined her dancing with Tempest.
I can't wait!
A few moments passed before Twilight heard Rarity walking down the stairs. She looked up to see Rarity holding a mannequin housing a deep purple dress with flowing sleeves and a train of what you would expect for a more elaborate Gala dress. A purple belt is fastened between the bodice and train, with lighter purple stars and galaxy-like swirls all over the train. A gold necklace jeweled with white, engraved stars and blue topaz hung around the bottom of the neckline, with Twilight's cutie mark engraved in the center. A newer version of Twilight's crown from the Friendship Festival adorned the mannequin's head, and golden shoes with points like a star were fitted to the hooves.
Twilight stared at the dress in awe.
"Oh wow, Rarity," Twilight exclaimed, "This dress looks amazing!"
Rarity trotted towards Twilight and set the mannequin down. "Thank you, darling." She took the dress in her aura and popped it off the mannequin. "Now, let's have you try it on!"
Rarity transferred the dress to Twilight's aura, who took it behind the curtain. Shortly after, she stepped out from behind the curtain.
"Rarity, you have outdone yourself." Twilight heard her mutter as she went up to the stand, smiling brightly at how beautiful the dress fit her.
"I love it!" Twilight nearly danced from the sight, "I can't wait to show it to Tempest!" Her heart skipped for a second. "You did keep the dress a secret, right?"
"Of course!" Rarity replied, lifting her sewing glasses to her muzzle, holding a pin cushion with pins and needles strewn about the top. She unwound some thread from a spool. "I kept it upstairs for a reason. Now hold still..."
Twilight heard her voice trail off as she felt the dress being slightly tugged from Rarity's magic. From what Twilight could see, the back of her dress was slightly too long so some of the excess fabric was being hemmed.
"I can't wait to see Tempest's face when she sees it..." Twilight felt her cheeks flushing again.
Rarity didn't notice as she was too focused on her work. "She's going to love it," She replied after a couple seconds of silence, "and you're going to love hers, too."
"I'm honestly surprised she's even wearing a dress."
"What do you mean?" Rarity looked at Twilight through the mirror in front of them for a moment before returning.
"I was thinking she was going to wear a suit." Twilight blushed a little more red at the thought.
Rarity stayed silent for a couple moments this time. "A suit would fit her personality and modesty tastes more...but she insisted on a dress. And when the customer has their mind set on something, I do my best to accommodate their needs."
Both ponies fall silent for a little while, Twilight standing up tall so Rarity can finish hemming the excess fabric. While staring at herself in the mirror, Twilight saw, for a split second, a shadow flit across the mirror, seemingly from behind them. As the figure became more clear, Twilight squealed, abruptly turning around and almost ruining Rarity's hem.
"What? What is it?" Rarity asked, while Twilight searched the boutique. No sign of any pony or creature was in sight.
"I... I don't know." Twilight stammered, "It looked.... Familiar."
"What did?" Rarity raised an eyebrow.
"That shadow behind us." Twilight explained, "You didn't see it?"
"I'm afraid not." Rarity replied, motioning for Twilight to turn back around. Twilight does so, looking at the stand.
Why did that look so familiar? She wondered, keeping her gaze away from the mirror as to not get startled again if she were to see anything else.
Unless...... no. It can't be..... Right?
Twilight's eyes widened.
"Are you done with the dress?" Twilight didn't mean for her voice to come out so shaky.
"Almost...."
Twilight felt the tugging on the dress stop as Rarity stepped back, checking to see if everything was evenly stitched.
"Okay, I'm all done-"
Twilight bolted from the stand, practically galloping to the curtain to change out of the dress.
"Are you all right?" Rarity's voice flowed through the curtain, hints of worry and confusion there.
"I need to research something in my library real quick." Twilight neatly teleports her dress into one of Rarity's dress bags and runs out from behind the curtain. She stops to wave goodbye to Rarity. "See you soon!"
Twilight runs out the boutique and slams the door behind her.
If this is who I think it is.....Twilight's thoughts raced, This is bad.
YOU ARE READING
Strings of Fate
Fanfiction(Formerly known as Tempest's Bride) Tempest Shadow is finally back from spreading the word about the Storm King's defeat. Her arrival in Ponyville has everyone frightened and angered, except for Twilight and her friends. After staying with Twilight...
