The inside of the Carousel boutique was dim, lit only by a few candles in the corners of the room. True, it made it harder to see what she was sewing, but even the remote possibility of the dress catching on fire was a gamble Rarity wasn’t willing to take. If she sewed something badly, she could always unsew it, after all, but there was no way to fix ashes.

She wiped her brow and loudly exhaled, listening to the first chirps of the birds outside as she took in the beauty of her work: the finest silk, imported from distant lands across the sea, the beautiful decorative ornaments she sewed onto it day after day, the avant-garde design, that allowed the dress to cover nearly all of the body, yet maintained the freedom of movement. The most important part of all, however, was magic.

Rarity walked forward and took the fabric in her hoof, taking in its smoothness once again and sending a little amount of magical energy into the ornaments. The dress and her hoof both immediately vanished, along with the mannequin wearing it. She couldn’t help but crack a smile; this had definitely been worth a few all-nighters.

Celestia be praised for Sweetie’s wild imagination – without it, Rarity would’ve never gotten the idea to include magic in the first place. True, she’d asked for an ‘Armour of Invincibility' that would protect her from any damage during her adventures, but Rarity left that train of thought the moment she realised that no matter how high-quality her needle and thread were, she still couldn’t sew metal plates together. Not to mention the spell required a potion made from the wooden heart of a timberwolf and the tail of a manticore, and she hated the smell of those two cooking together.

The invisibility spell was a different thing altogether – she just had to sew a few patterns onto it, quite stylish ones at that, and cast a medium-level spell. Had the sewing not been so complicated, she was certain Equestria would’ve been flooded by these dresses a long time ago.

Rarity took a step forward and fixed one of the ornaments that seemed to be a little off. She then circled around the dress for a while until every little detail was taken care of. Only afterwards she allowed herself yet another moment of silent admiration of her own creation.

It looks magnificent. When I present this, I won’t even have to cast the spell – it looks majestic enough on its own. Then again, using it is bound to make me the top subject of Canterlot’s gossip for at least two days, maybe even three!

Rarity caught herself yawning. While fatigue wasn’t an issue as long as she worked, it fell upon her like a boulder now, after having finished, and sent her eyes away from the dress and to the nearby divan.

Come on, Rarity. The bed is not that far. Surely you won’t sleep here just to save yourself a few steps – think of how achy you’ll be in the morning!

Rarity walked towards the divan and collapsed onto it, her eyelids being pressed together as if by an invisible force.

Why, of course I won’t sleep here. I’ll just take a little rest to gather my... strength for the... stairszhum...

Rarity awoke with a gasp and put her hoof on her sore rump. Her still half-closed eyes lifted towards the divan next to her, and she frowned.

Falling off the ‘bed’ like a little filly... At least the button-eyed fabric monster was just a dream. Bright green shirt buttons on blue satin – horrendous!

She got up on her legs and rubbed her eyes, looking out of the window. It was still rather early in the morning – seven o’clock, if she was to guess – which meant that she couldn’t have slept more than two or three hours. Despite that, however, she felt rather fresh. Her eyes found their way to the dress once more, and she couldn’t help but smile. It was still there in all its glory, acting like a balsam to soothe her mind after what she’d seen in her dreams. She walked closer to it and caressed it with her hooves once again.

I wonder...

She lifted it off the mannequin and started getting inside. After all, she had to make sure it was really as comfortable as it looked, no? She made the dress so that it didn’t cover her hooves and head – it would get dirty soon and would be a disaster to the wearer’s mane – yet maintained the spell’s effectiveness thanks to the genius pattern arrangements. Good thing Twilight had access to the restricted levels of the Canterlot Archives, or she would have never figured it out.

Rarity walked to a mirror and activated the spell. Her reflection vanished. Marvelous. But I should probably test it a little more, just to be certain.

She switched it on and off a few times, and then her eyes moved towards the stairs. Yes... why not? With a smile that would seem more appropriate on the face of a roguish colt than that of a lady, Rarity tiptoed towards it and, with her invisibility on, silently made her way up.

Sweetie’s room was at the end of the hallway, and Rarity, suppressing a giggle, crept nearer. The thick carpet muffled her steps, and she was just within the leg’s length of the door when her ears perked up. Something was off – what came from the room wasn’t the gentle snoring of a little filly, but rather... lapping? Squelching? Something like that.

Rarity peeked inside the room and saw Sweetie sitting on the ground with her back to her, doing something with her front hooves that Rarity couldn’t see.

Rarity slowly entered the room, putting one hoof on the floor at a time, and circled Sweetie until she stood in front of her. What she saw made her heart skip a beat.

She turned her invisibility off. “Sweetie!”

Sweetie let out a scream and fell on her back, both her front hooves dripping with liquid. “R-Rarity?”

“What in Equestria do you think you’re doing?”

“H-how did you...?”

“Not only is something like this most uncouth, you’re also making a mess! Just look at your coat – all sticky.”

Sweetie’s ears drooped. “Sorry.”

Rarity glanced over the floor and took a deep breath. “It’s fine. The carpet wasn’t damaged, fortunately. But tell me, why do this here, and why now? Also, why do it in such a messy way – you know I would’ve helped you.”

Sweetie swung herself back into a sit and bowed her head. “Miss Cherilee wanted us to make a collage, but I completely forgot about it until yesterday night. It was too late to work on it, and you seemed really busy, so I thought I’d just wake up earlier and do it.”

“Putting the glue there with your bare hooves? Don’t we have a brush somewhere around?”

“It’s a lot easier. I would’ve washed them when I was done.”

“Oh, really now?” Rarity smirked. “I assume you learned how to levitate yourself, or how else would you get to the bathroom without staining the carpet, when both your front hooves are dirty?”

“R-Right... I’d just... Umm...” Sweetie moved to support her chin with her hoof, stopping it only moments before she glued her head and leg together. “I guess I’d just walk there on my hind legs. Can’t be that hard; Spike does it all the time.”

Rarity moved towards the door, motioning Sweetie to go through it with a wry smile. “Well then. Show me. If you manage it, I’ll allow you to use the sewing machine for once. Under my supervision, of course.”

“And if I lose?”

“You’ll convince your friends to have the next sleepover someplace other than the boutique. I’m sure Twilight would be more than happy having you around earlier than usual.”

Sweetie narrowed her eyes. “Deal.”

She slowly lifted herself onto her hind legs, trembling, and made three wobbly steps forward before falling over. Rarity’s magic caught her only inches above the ground. “Just like I thought; let’s get you washed up. And remember – I’m skipping turns this week!”

After having her fur nearly scrubbed off – the glue had turned out to be one of the quality ones – Sweetie finally stood in the front door with her schoolbag, waving Rarity goodbye.

“Oh, and sis?” she asked. “How did you get in front of me without me noticing?”

Rarity giggled and turned the invisibility dress on and off again a few times. “Like this. Quite a spectacle, wouldn’t you say?”

Sweetie’s eyes grew the size of platters.

“I take that as a yes. Took me quite a lot of work too.”

“Imagine all the things one could do with this,” Sweetie whispered, her eyes glued to the dress like the pictures of Rarity on her collage.

“That’s exactly why I won’t make more of them. One is enough for a show, and I don’t want any... shifty characters sneaking into my boutique using my own merchandise.”

When Sweetie remained standing in the doorway, staring, Rarity gently pushed her out of the boutique and closed the door. Well, that’s one thing taken care of. She looked at the naked mannequin in her workroom and at the sewing supplies lying around it. Just more work to take care of. Lately, it felt almost like she was doing nothing but working, especially after all those sleepless nights she went through in order to to keep up with the regular commissions and finish this side-project at the same time.

‘Imagine all the things one could do with this...’ Hmm... She looked down at her dress and made herself disappear. Why yes, I can think of a few.

But Rarity! You need to tend to your boutique!

I’ve been tending to it too much already! Besides, the next order is due Monday, and nopony comes in on Fridays. Unless you mean those few... erm... individuals with socks that need fixing. I’m sure those can wait.

Rarity bit her lip and looked outside, then at her workstation, then back outside again. Doing such a thing wouldn’t be very ladylike. I should respect other ponies’ privacy.

She threw one last look at her boutique and, with an upbeat trot, walked out. But it’s so much fun!

Rarity stood in the middle of the town square, her magical dress hiding her from everypony’s gaze, and observed the ponies around her with a small smile. She could walk literally anywhere, discover the deepest secrets of anypony, and, consequently, have just about the greatest fun this week.

Where to first, however? The ponies outside were unlikely to suddenly start shouting out anything incriminating, and she didn’t feel like breaking into other ponies’ houses. Not to mention that she wasn’t Pinkie Pie – she didn’t really know every single pony in Ponyville, and if she wanted to hear about the secrets of strangers, she could just read Canterlot Weekly.

A familiar voice reached Rarity’s ears. “...and don’t forget to turn the stove off, should you bake anything.”

“I sure will, Mrs. Cake!” another familiar voice said. “But how did you know I was gonna bake? Are you a psychic?”

Rarity trotted closer to their source and arrived just in time to see Mrs. Cake roll her eyes. “Yes, Pinkie, I’m a psychic. Are you sure this donkey friend of yours will take good care of our children while we’re gone?”

“Sure!” Pinkie grinned. “Cranky owes me one, and I really need a day off.”

Pinkie needing a day off? Why, that’s unheard of – she’s never tired and loves her job. Rarity couldn’t help but rub her hooves together. The first secret of the day was staring her right in the face. She waited until the Cakes were finally off and snuck in, catching the door before it closed after Pinkie.

The bakery was unusually dim, the reason being, as Rarity immediately noticed, the drawn curtains over every single window in the store. Soon after Rarity slipped inside, Pinkie stuck her head out of the door, looking left and right, and put a ‘Closed’ sign on it. She then walked behind the counter and into the kitchen, Rarity following suit.

What in Equestria...?

The kitchen was no longer a kitchen. It was a battlefield. Lining the shelves on the left stood battalions of green coloured cupcakes, jelly, and candy under a marzipan flag with a green apple, facing their red counterparts occupying the top of cupboards to the right under the flag of a cherry. Pinkie stood in the centre of it, clearing her throat and moving towards a bag of sugar behind the green lines. “Marshal Cinnamon!” she said in a deep voice while shaking the sugar bag. “This is your last chance – lay down your arms before us, the great Sourheads, and bow to our supremacy over your bland flavour!”

“Never!” Pinkie trotted towards the cupboards and did the same with a bag of cinnamon, speaking in a high-pitch voice. “Us Cherrytops shall send you back to zat Appleloosan bumpkin town! Zis is our land – Great Pinkie Pie has always chosen us for ze Nightmare Night.”

“Is that so?” Pinkie moved back to the sugar bag with a sneer. “Haven’t you heard about how much she loved that sour bonbon she had last week? We are clearly the destined ones; we are the future!”

Pinkie jumped back to the red lines, scowling. “Blasphemy! Cherrytops, aim for General Sweetbag. They’ll be powerless without zeir leader!” She took several red cupcakes in her hooves and threw them against the shelves.

Rarity scrunched her muzzle. This is why she wanted a day off? Well, I’d be lying if I said I’m surprised.

“Take care of the casualties; return fire!” Pinkie shouted in Sweetbag’s voice, stuffing her mouth with any sweets that got knocked down in the barrage. Soon, a whole cloud of cupcakes and candy flew towards the red lines, several ending up on the ground.

Such a waste. One would think that Pinkie, of all ponies, would know not to be so carele– Rarity’s eyes widened. Pinkie, you’re not trying to... Gross!

Pinkie put the remains of the fallen sweets in her mouth and then licked the floor clean of any frosting. She then proceeded to throw a hoofful of sugar in the air, yelling “Gas attack!” and gobbling up about a dozen red cupcakes in a row. She repeated the same procedure with cinnamon, only this time she shouted something about an air strike.

“We’re losing,” ‘Marshal Cinnamon’ said. “We have to change tactics – everytreat to ze jellypads, prepare for close combat!” Pinkie took the remaining Cherrytops, bounced them off the red jelly, and carried them over to Sourheads. There, she mashed the pastry together, munching on it while sobbing. “So many dead.“ She chomped down a whole pyramid of jelly. “And for what?” Some of the cupcakes found their way under her and got squished, creating a sticky paste.

Rarity shook her head. This... This is a bit too much, even for Pinkie Pie. I mean I knew she likes food, but this...

Pinkie started loading her mouth with the contents of both General Sweetbag and Marshal Cinnamon, tears rolling down her face. “So many brave soldiers... all dead. And why?” The deep voice marked General Sweetbag. “To win the affection of a fickle god?”

“Oui. Both our armies got massacred, almost like ze Great Pinkie Pie wished so. And now we’re bleeding to death too. Is zat what she wanted? No... maybe we should have gotten along.”

This story can’t get any more clichéd. Then again, even a poor ‘play’ is more culture than I would’ve expected from her.

“Yes!” Pinkie said in a booming voice.

Never mind; I suppose it can after all.

“You two have learned your lesson, and I, Great Pinkie Pie, shall reward you. You both shall now forever be a part of me, living in harmony with each other.” She then finished the rest of the two bags.

Time to move on, before she eats me too. I mean really – how does it all even fit inside her?

“And now, to celebrate the end of the war, it’s time for creamworks!” She pulled out two cans of whipped cream and started spraying it into her mouth.

Disgusting.

The cream, unable to fit inside her mouth, started making its way out of Pinkie’s nose.

Eww!

Then, Pinkie sneezed.

Eww, eww, eww, eww, eww! It got onto me! Rarity stumbled backwards, trying to pull the defiled parts of the dress further away from her skin, and crashed into one of the cupboards.

“Huh?” Pinkie’s head snapped towards the sound, her eyes staring on the creamy smears that seemed to hover in air. “A-a-a ghost!” She dropped on her knees. “Is it you, General Sweetbag? I’m sorry! I know you wanted a military burial, but I didn’t get to it yet. I promise I will, though! I promise!”

Rarity managed to get back up on her hooves and galloped out of the bakery, ignoring Pinkie’s pleads for mercy. Eww, eww, eww!

Rarity softly landed her hoof on the last step of the stairs, having ascended them in absolute silence. She had to be careful – the library was as silent as only a library can be, any sound spreading across it like a wave in a pond.

She’d been following Twilight for quite a while now, ever since she saw her take that package at the post office while dressed in a trench coat and a fedora. It was practically screaming ‘I’m trying to act inconspicuously and have absolutely no idea how!’ Well, that and ‘I have the fashion taste of a depressed, caffeine-addicted private detective, somepony please direct me to the nearest boutique.’

Twilight then trotted home, pulling the fedora into her face and, consequently, revealing her unmistakable mane on the back of her neck. First thing she did upon arrival was send Spike grocery shopping, because ‘they were all out of salad.’ As Rarity made her way through the kitchen, however – she got inside through its window – she spotted a green salad leaf sticking out of the top cupboard, wedged between its doors. Lying to Spikey-Wikey like that, darling? Tsk, tsk. You should be ashamed.

It took her a while to get where she was now unnoticed – the stairs were, by far, the hardest part – but in the end, her effort was compensated by a clear view of Twilight sitting at her desk. She was looking at something on it, the package’s wrapping paper directly blocking Rarity’s gaze.

Rarity took a step forward and, with blood draining out of her face, heard the floor creak. Twilight’s head shot up. “Is anypony here?” Her eyes scanned the room and her ears swiveled towards the source.

She was looking right at her! For about the hundredth time after washing it, Rarity checked the spot of the dress that Pinkie Pie had defiled earlier, once again finding it perfectly invisible. Twilight furrowed her brow and stared a while longer, until she finally shrugged and looked back at her desk.

Rarity let out a breath of air she didn’t even realise she was holding. That was close. Now, tell me, darling, what are your secrets? Rarity leaned forward, stretching her neck. She could finally look past the paper and onto the table. With her heartbeat quickening, she saw that the mysterious contents were... A book? Rarity frowned. I spent half an hour scaling a few steps of stairs, just to find out that my librarian friend brought home – surprise, surprise – a book?

She squinted at the label on the wrapping paper. ‘One-oh-one spells of Eros?’ Oh, so it’s a spell book. Rarity’s frown deepened. My librarian friend, who also happens to be the bearer of the Element of Magic, brought home a spell book. Imagine the scandal if anypony had heard! She rolled her eyes. Who’s this Eros anyway? Somepony with magic Twilight isn’t yet ready for? Why make such a drama out of it – this is hardly the first time she got a bit further ahead than she ought to.

She sighed and started walking downstairs. Quietly, of course. What a letdown. You’re boring, Twilight. Rarity was just about to enter the kitchen again, when something she spotted in the corner of her eye made her stop. It wasn’t anything special – just a bookcase that had one side shuffled a bit further from the wall than the other: a detail only the keen eyes of a professional fashionista could spot. Seeing it in the house of a chronic perfectionist, however, raised a red flag in Rarity’s mind.

She shot a look upstairs and saw Twilight with her muzzle still buried in the book. Slowly, Rarity started approaching the suspicious bookcase, gently pushing it away from the wall with her magic. It took around ten minutes to do it quietly, but in the end, Rarity was rewarded with victory – she was staring at a large hole in the wall. A secret stash! Now we’re talking.

Rarity reached in with her hoof and pulled out a large paper box with a white sticker on it. ‘Spike the Dragon’s hoard. Do not touch!’ With a smile on her lips, she undid the lid and started rummaging through its contents. First, she found a photo of herself during a picnic, smiling at the photograph. I remember this; it was one of the first trips I and the girls had together. She blushed. It’s sweet of him to still have it. Next were some bits and trash – probably some memory tokens – none of it interesting. Then she found a few gems that warranted a larger degree of interest, but she left them as they were. She was no thief, after all.

On the very bottom of the box lay the two last items. First was a lock of her hair tied together with a rubber band. This is actually rather creepy. Where did he get these from? The second was a piece of paper with something written on it:

I can feel pain inside my heart,

ready to break and fall apart.

There’s just one thing holding it,

and that’s you and your sewing kit.

My dearest Rarity,

the embodiment of generosity.

You know that I love you more

than Twilight her test score.

You’re the mare holding the reins to my heart,

your curled mane being state of the art.

For generosity combats greed,

you’re all a dragon could need.

So please don’t turn your back,

for while I’d love to see your rack

(Not good at all. Crack? Give it a smack? To have a knack? One worse than the other!)

The door to the library opened. “Twilight, I’m h– Hey!” Spike dropped the grocery bags on the ground as he spotted his belongings strewn across the floor. “Twilight, it clearly said ‘do not touch!’ Can’t you re–” His gaze stopped on the paper with his rather cheesy poem, which was seemingly floating in mid-air.

“What is it, Spike?” Twilight asked, not even lifting her eyes from her book. “If you mean your secret ‘hoard,’ I found it months ago. And no, I didn’t touch it. If it’s not in that hole, you must have forgotten to put it back.”

Spike slowly raised his arm, pointing at Rarity. “A g-g-ghost!”

“Come on, Spike, You’re not a little baby anymore. You just forgot to put it back, no harm done. Just admit it and don’t blame it on things that don’t exist.”

Rarity slowly put the poem back in the box and started retreating towards the kitchen. Spike watched it wide-eyed, his jaw dropping down. Then, suddenly, his brow snapped together. “If you think you can just stroll outta here after what you’ve seen,” he whispered in a grumbling voice, “you’re sorely mistaken.” He bolted forward, right at where Rarity was standing.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Spike ran head-first right into her, tackling her to the ground. “Oof!”

“A female ghost then?” he asked, cocking his brow. “Well don’t expect me to go any easier on you; you had no business snooping around in my things!” He started breathing in air.

Is he trying to blow his fire at me? My dress! Her pupils shrank. My mane! With power she’d have never thought she had in her, she literally flipped Spike off her and started galloping towards the window.

Spike got back to his feet and ran after her. “You might be tough, but you won’t escape Spike the Dragon!”

Rarity was gritting her teeth. Leave. Now! She watched the little dragon circle around the barn for about the fifteenth time, once again looking at the tracks in the mud. You already checked. Eleven times! There’s nothing more for you to find – the inside is dry, and that’s it. No more tracks. Just give up already!

“H-hey! Ghost! Come out!”

Even the dumbest of ghosts wouldn’t do that! You already tried this too, just go away. Please!

Rarity squirmed a bit, trying to find a better position, but the only thing she achieved was more hay stinging her through the dress. A haystack. You chased me into a stupid haystack! Is that not enough for you? Spike was worse than a bloodhound. He kept pursuing her, pinpointing her position purely through the hoofprints she left in the mud and the sound she made. Soon, they ran all the way to Sweet Apple Acres, where she finally found a good hiding place and jumped into the hay there. She hated herself for it ever since. I could have just went to a corner and sat there, but nooo. I had to act like a filly!

Spike walked inside the barn and stopped, holding his breath. Oh dear, here we go again. Rarity held her breath as well and tensed up her muscles.

The seconds flew by as Spike stretched his ears and Rarity bit her lip.

After about a minute, Spike let the air out and sighed. “Guess she’s not here after all...” He turned around and walked out of the barn, slouching.

Finally! Right after Spike’s figure got far enough, Rarity jumped out of the hay and swept the straws off herself, stretching her muscles. It was about time he left. She'd been already seriously considering tearing out a few strands of her mane and throwing it to the other side of the barn. He’d probably have gone to pick it up once he found it, leaving her enough time to slip outside.

Her spine gave out a nice crack as she finished her stretching and swept of any hay from the dress. Now, where to? Her eyes fell on the nearby farm. An obvious choice.

She trotted nearer to the building, perking up her ears. She heard voices. Applejack and Apple Bloom. Are they arguing? The sounds came out of a ground floor window.

“No means no, Apple Bloom! I ain’t lettin’ it slide this time, you’re gettin’ worse.”

“But sis! Other ponies are makin’ fun of me. Ah don’t wanna–”

“See? This here’s the problem. Us Apples don’t say ‘Ah.’ We say ‘I,’ but pronounce it so it sounds like ‘Ah.’”

Are... are they arguing about the grammar side of their accent?

Rarity put her head inside the open window and saw Apple Bloom puffing her cheeks. “Ah don’t care! Half of mah friends are laughin’ at me, and the others don’t understand me.” She cleared her throat and spoke completely accent-free. “Why can’t I speak just as fluently as everypony else does?”

Applejack gasped. “I... I won’t hear this kinda talk from you, Apple Bloom.” She scowled. “Did you forget the tale of Applegrower the Juice Maker? He talked this way and look where it got him – his statue is standin’ in the Canterlot Palace even today. We honour his memory this way.”

“He only talked that way because he had a speech disorder! His statue is there because he invented apple juice and apple cider, not because he couldn’t speak like a normal pony.”

“A normal pony?” Applejack shook her head. “I can’t believe what you just said there, Apple Bloom. Are you sayin’ your family, us Apples, are not like ‘em normal folks?”

“‘Us Apples?’ Cousin Braeburn spoke just fine last time he visited!”

“Leave them Appleloosans and their ways out of this; they’re a special case! And start speakin’ our way again. Now!”

“No!”

Applejack tilted her hat in her brow. “Apple Bloom...!”

Apple Bloom met her gaze. “I. Said. No.”

“That’s it, you’re grounded!”

Apple Bloom pouted and turned her back to Applejack. “Fine!”

Poor little dear, all she wants is to fit in. I can’t let Applejack cripple her sister like this!

Rarity walked behind the corner, uncast the invisibility, and trotted back to the window. “Applejack!”

Applejack was already pressing the door handle. “Rarity? What in tarnation are you doin’ here?”

“That’s beside the point. I can’t let you do this to Apple Bloom!”

Applejack sighed. “Not this again. We just solved it.”

“Nuh-uh!” Apple Bloom said, turning back to Applejack with a scowl. “You just grounded me!”

“And that’s how I solved it. Next time you’ll think twice before spittin’ on our family’s traditions!”

Rarity’s brow shot up. “Are you saying you’ll cripple your sister for life just because of some obsolete nonsense?”

“Cripple her for life? Y’all were just fine with how she spoke up until now!”

“Only because I didn’t know she was willing to change that. Why, I’d be willing to teach her, if she asked.”

Applejack smirked. “You? You have an accent of your own to get rid of!”

“Nonsense!” Rarity frowned. “It’s no accent, just a refined way of speech.”

Apple Bloom raised her hoof. “I don’t really need a teacher.”

“‘Oh, listen to me and my marvellously exquisitely magnificent way of speech, darlings!’” Applejack said in a high-pitch voice. “Is that how you imagine normal folks speak like?”

“It’s a way of speech that is pleasant to the ear and shows that the speaker doesn’t have to look up the word ‘culture’ in a dictionary! If Apple Bloom wants to speak that way, I’d say it’s a noble endeavour.”

“Uh, Miss Rarity?” Apple Bloom raised her hoof again. “Thanks for sticking up for me and all, but I don’t really want to–”

“Pleasant to the ear? It’s annoying, that’s what it is! It sounds like you think how high and mighty you are, thinkin’ us lower or somethin’.”

“Well, as far as grammar and the way we express ourselves go, I’d say that’d be correct!”

Applejack’s jaw dropped. “How dare you? How dare you insult me under my own roof?”

Apple Bloom started moving towards the door. “Uhh... Guys? I mean, sis and Miss Rarity? You don’t have to argue over me, it’s–”

“I’m not insulting you, darling. I’m merely stating the obvious. Just imagine if, say, Princess Celestia spoke like you do. Why, she’d be a laughing stock!”

Applejack’s face burned crimson red. “Laughin’ stock? Laughin’ stock?” She took a deep breath.

Granny Smith’s voice carried itself over from the next room.“Lunchtime, young’uns!”

Applejack breathed out and grit her teeth, her eyebrows clashing together. “We might be a laughin’ stock, but at least we know how to treat our guests. Even if they came uninvited! So, do you want to stay over for lunch?”

“I am delighted to accept the invitation, darling.”

The air was heavy with the smell of freshly made radish soup and steamed carrots, the latter being served together with fresh apple slices. The Apple family plus Rarity sat around a long table laden with various farm products, the former two dishes being just the tip of the iceberg.

“Will there be more guests coming?” Rarity asked, looking at the pile of veggies in the middle.

“Nope.” Big McIntosh took about a plate-worth of it and stuffed it into his mouth all at once.

Don’t comment on it. Just don’t. You’re a guest. Don’t. Rarity scrunched her muzzle.

“Excuse Big Mac, sugarcube,” Applejack said, smirking. “You see, us farmer bumpkins have absolutely no manners at all. Would you show us how you higher-ups do it? Oh wait. That’s right. We don’t have the twenty different types of spoons you need to start eatin’.”

Rarity snorted and turned her head away from Applejack. “I’d only need that if I was dining with somepony important.” She quickly looked at Granny Smith and Big McIntosh, but neither seemed to mind. Applejack, on the other hoof, got back her reddish colour. “Would you mind passing the salt, darling?”

Applejack nearly threw it at her. “Here! Now, why don’t you tell us all just why your way of talkin’ is better than ours?”

“This again?” Apple Bloom sagged in her seat.

Old Granny Smith put her spoon into the bowl and clicked her tongue. “Now what’s goin’ on here, young’uns?”

“Apple Bloom doesn’t want to be speakin’ our way anymore, and Miss Rarity here encourages her!”

“I just don’t want to sound so weird! What’s wrong with speaking like everypony else?”

Granny Smith sighed and sat back down. “Is that why y’all cause such a ruckus? It’s nothing she wouldn’t grow up from.”

Applejack’s eyes grew wide. “Granny...!”

“She’s just rebellin’ a bit early. That’s all. You father did. I did. My father did. My grandfather did. The father of my grandfather did. The grandmother of my grandfather did. The father of grandmother of my grandfather didn’t – he ran off to them city folk and became a lingo-somethin’, but his mother did. And I don’t remember the rest.”

“But–”

“Even you did. Don’t you remember your stay in Manehattan at aunty and uncle Oranges’?”

Applejack frowned. “And I’ve regretted it ever since. I was starvin’!”

“That’s right!” Rarity grinned. “You went to Manehattan when you were young; you told us once. Don’t you think it’s only fair for Apple Bloom to get the same opportunity? To get a taste of the other side of the fence before tying her on this one?”

“I... I guess. It just sounds unnece–”

“You hear that, Apple Bloom? Your sister says you can speak however you like.”

“Now wait just one darn se–!”

“My boutique is open from Monday to Friday between eight o’ clock in the morning and four in the evening. You can come on weekends too, but I might be away. I’m looking forward to our lessons.”

Apple Bloom wrinkled her brow. “Lessons?”

“The lessons on the proper way of speech, of course. Give it a few months and you’ll get rid of this ghastly accent for good.” Rarity looked her in the eyes with a smile, ignoring Applejack’s scowl and teeth gritting.

“Well... I don’t know.”

“Sweetie will be happy to help you.”

Apple Blooms head shot up. “Can Scootaloo come too?”

“Scootaloo?” Rarity’s smile vanished. “You mean having you three there all at once? Well I... um...”

“But of course she can, sugarcube.” Applejack shot Rarity a grin. “Rarity here would be happy to have one more student. You know, to spread the culture and all. Ain’t that right?”

Rarity paled. “Spreading the culture. Of course. Only we... uhh... maybe we shouldn’t overdo it. Cultural shock, you understand.”

“Nonsense, sugarcube. As you’ve said, we wouldn’t want anypony be a laughin’ stock should they meet Princess Celestia, for example.”

Apple Bloom looked from one to another. “I... I don’t get it.”

“Then again, our society would be terribly boring without a bit of laughter here and there, wouldn’t it?” Rarity gave out a constricted laugh and her forehead began to sweat. “Also I don’t think I have the qualification for more than one student. I mean wouldn’t that be like teaching a class? Miss Cherilee might get offended. She’s got a degree that I don’t. I wouldn’t want to step over her hooves.”

Applejack nodded. “You’re right. I promise to arrange it with her. There won’t be any steppin’ over anypony’s hooves; you’ll teach these fillies how to speak, and you’ll do it with everypony’s blessin’.”

“Err... um... ha-ha...”

“Unless, of course, you have too much work at your shop. I guess then we couldn’t have Apple Bloom or Scootaloo keep you from it.”

“Yes! Yes, exactly! Too much work!” Rarity laughed and wiped the sweat away. “How could I’ve forgotten? I’m already behind, I wouldn’t manage. I’m sorry, Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom raised her brow. “Uhh... no problem?”

“Great! I... uh... I’ll be on my way then. So far behind... Goodbye and thank you for the lunch.” Rarity bowed her way out, leaning against the nearest wall and huffing right once she walked through the door. That was close. I think I’d manage two of them once in a while, but three Cutie Mark Crusaders? No... No, I don’t want to imagine it.

The next place for Rarity to visit was Fluttershy’s. Her cottage wasn’t far from Sweet Apple Acres, and Rarity was, frankly, quite curious. How could Fluttershy handle so many animals without a problem, and, more importantly, how did she get the Cutie Mark Crusaders to behave themselves? There was hardly a secret more important for Rarity than this one. Well, except her own like how she managed to get her mane into such a beautiful state every morning, or how she achieved its magnificent curl. But she already knew those, so they didn’t count.

Why does there have to be mud? Rarity lift her hoof from yet another puddle and shook some of the messy slush off. It’s not like anypony asked the pegasi to rain on the paths too. Can’t they just do it around them? Or can’t anypony pave these things?

Rarity threw her head up and groaned. At least the weather is nice, I suppose. The sun was just past its arch, lazily moving downwards, and there weren’t any clouds as far as the eye could see. Rarity breathed in the air smelling of slowly – a bit too slowly, for her tastes – drying mud and continued her trot.

Suddenly, a vague, colourful blur whizzed right past her, barely missing her horn, and dishevelled a few hairs on her head.

Who in Equestria...? Rarity scowled and looked after it. Rainbow Dash. Of course. Who else? She scoffed and started walking again. Wait, why was she flying towards the Everfree? Rarity turned her head to the forest and saw Rainbow landing not too far away from the edge. My secret-finding senses are tingling... Rarity grinned and, checking that she was still invisible, altered her course.

The forest didn’t even get the chance to properly thicken before the trees grew sparse again, revealing a small clearing with a pond. There, walking in circles, was Rainbow Dash, constantly turning her head left and right as if she was expecting somepony. Or as if she was afraid somepony could see her. Perhaps a meeting place of two lovebirds? Taking a swim in a hidden pond can be quite romantic, after all. Rarity crept closer, stopping only behind the tree nearest to Rainbow Dash. I bet it’s Thunderlane. Or maybe she managed to score that Wonderbolt Soarin?

After a few minutes, a nearby bush rustled, and Rainbow jumped several meters into the air. “What took you so long?” she exclaimed when she saw the newcomer.

He was a stallion of a rather poor build with buck teeth, a brown, unkept mane, and a yellowish-brown coat that seemed to blend with his sweaty shirt. His appearance was then topped off with a green, rugged hat and a brown bag he carried on his back.

Hayseed Turnip Truck? Ew... I mean... He’s friendly enough, I suppose, but... Rainbow and him? Rarity shuddered. Come on, darling, you know you can do better! Don’t you?

“I came as fast as I could,” he said in his braying voice. “Ma and Pa wouldn’t let me skip lunch. Why do we even have to go all the way over here?”

“You know I want to keep this a secret.”

Oh my... This is one secret I wish I hadn’t found out. Rainbow and Turnip... Rarity frowned. What got into her? Does she think that just because she doesn’t act like a proper lady, she’ll never attract a good looking stallion? Well, it’s true I told her something like that the last time we argued, but she couldn’t have actually taken that seriously. Or could she?

“Do you have the money?” he asked.

“Yeah, yeah. Sure.” She threw him a pouch of bits. “Here.”

She is paying him? Rarity’s jaw dropped. Not only is this so low I lack the words to describe it, it doesn’t even make sense! It’s like... like her confidence went into negative numbers!

“Good.” He threw the bag on the ground. “What’s inside anyway?”

Rainbow winced when the insides of it clinked. “Watch out, dumbass! I swear if you broke anything...” She opened the bag and peeked inside. “No, it’s all good. You’re lucky. And don’t stick your nose into what’s inside, okay? That’s why I pay you so much just for delivering stuff. Now shoo! Go away! You did what I what I hired you to do!”

“Whateva.” Turnip trotted away, rolling his eyes, while Rainbow rubbed her hooves together, taking the bag towards the pond.

Rarity silently slipped not ten feet behind her. So she’s not with him after all. A relief, I have to say. But what is she hiding then? She watched Raibow walk to the pond’s edge and open the bag, pulling something out.

Rarity’s eyes shined. That. Is. Spectacular! Of all the possible things she could have pulled out, this is definitely the very best one! She started treading closer and closer to Rainbow, barely holding her laughter. This! This kind of secrets is what I had in mind when I went out today!

She was right behind Rainbow Dash now, who was staring into the pond. Rarity put her head right next to Rainbow and turned off her invisibility while whispering: “You have to start at the base, darling.” Rainbow screamed, threw away the mascara she’d been applying, and flew up and away.

Rarity looked at the rainbow tail disappearing behind the tree tops for a while, then sat down to where her friend was sitting and started rummaging through the bag. Talcum powder, an eyeliner, three types of shampoos... I knew you had to keep your mane up somehow! She sat for a few more minutes, before the cyan pegasus peeked from behind a nearby tree. “I saw you, darling. There’s no reason to hide.”

“It’s not what it looks like,” Rainbow said, her cheeks redder than those of Twilight after eating hot peppers.

“It is not?” Rarity giggled. “Well, then I suppose you hired Turnip by accident and then accidentally started applying mascara.”

Rainbow was silent for a while. “If I told you that, would you believe it?”

“Of course not!” Rarity rolled her eyes while smiling at her. “But there’s no reason to be ashamed; there’s nothing weird on...” Rarity paused, looking back at the pond. “Well, alright, I suppose it is kind of weird to hire a middleman to bring you your make-up and to apply it in the Everfree, of all places. Why not just do it at home?”

“Scootaloo is staying over for the week and she can’t see any of this stuff in the bathroom.” Rainbow’s ears drooped. “It’s not like I like doing this kind of thing, but one can’t look radical with a dirty mane! Not even somepony like me – it looks all sticky and totally uncool after a few days.”

Rarity trotted closed to Rainbow Dash and put her hoof over her back. “There, there. No reason to feel down, darling, everypony does this. Why, if they didn’t, it’d be plain unhygienic. Although I admit, the eyeliner, talcum powder, and such surprised me.”

Rainbow’s eyes widened. “You found these too? I only use them when I’m tired and need to mask the bags under my eyes, I swear! Don't tell anypony, please!”

“But of course not! I completely understand – nopony would like to look like poor Scootaloo did during that camping trip. Who do you take me for, some telltale?”

Rainbow looked at her with a frown. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

“Hush! I promise I won’t tell anypony. Now, how abo–”

“Not just anypony! That would mean you can tell Spike!”

Rarity sighed and rolled her eyes again. “Fine. I promise I won’t tell any living being.”

“What about zombies, ghosts, or vamponies?”

Rarity’s eyes narrowed. “First, those aren’t real, second, I doubt they’d be interested.”

“Aren’t real? Daring Do fights them all the time!”

“Those are fiction novels!” Rarity scowled at her. “I promise I won’t tell, alright?”

Rainbow nodded and bit her lip.

“Now, darling, how about we finish what you’ve started?” Rarity motioned towards the bag. “I believe you were trying to apply some mascara?”

“I was just kinda experimenting. You were talking about how great all this stuff is a week back, so I thought I might at least check how it’d look like. I mean Twilight always talks about how we shouldn’t judge things before we know something about them, right? It’s not that I’d really want it! I was just curious. Make-up curious!”

“Of course, darling, of course.”

“You don’t believe me?” Rainbow shook Rarity’s hoof off herself and looked her in the eyes. “I swear this was the first time! I mean I was really just curious. Trying out new things is totally cool! Then you see how lame most of these things are, and you just don’t do them again. Trial and error, you know?”

Rarity shook her head and giggled. “Whatever you say, darling. Now, when you want to apply mascara, you have to start at the base and then...”

How rude! Rarity harrumphed as she made her way to Fluttershy again. I’m disappointed, Rainbow Dash. Very, very disappointed! Rarity kicked into a pinecone, nearly tripping over a root. How could she be so ungrateful? It took Rarity about a minute to apply the mascara on Rainbow’s face. It took her thirty more minutes to convince her to make use of the rest of the bag’s contents. I poured my soul into it! It was a masterpiece! When Rainbow saw the results of applying everything in the bag on her face in the pond’s reflection, she’d screamed, dived straight into the water, and then swore by Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, her parents, Commander Hurricane, and Daring Do that she’ll never ever in her life let Rarity so much as comb her mane again.

Well, I might have been a bit... overenthusiastic, but what other chance was I about to get? If she let me give her a make-over more often, it would’ve looked much better. Ergo it’s her fault.

Rarity finally stumbled her way back to the road, leaving the forest not too far from Fluttershy’s. At least here I’ll get my peace and quiet. No disgusting food spraying, no running through mud, no heinous grammar perversions, no ungrateful pegasi! Frankly, I don’t see what could go wrong. Rarity cast the invisibility spell and snuck towards the back.

The cottage’s backyard was full of coops, kennels, bird feeders, and other things necessary for keeping Fluttershy’s animal hordes content, and Rarity didn’t give them a second glance. Her attention was reserved for the owner herself, who was just pouring a generous amount of various seeds into one of the feeders. “Don’t eat too fast, it could clog up your throat,” she said to the onlooking birds. While they were eating, apparently ignoring everything she’d just said, she turned around and walked back into her home with Rarity right behind her.

The first thing Rarity noticed was the smell. The dozens upon dozens of animals that lived there were the obvious source – while Fluttershy claimed that she already taught them to do their business outside, the other assorted smells of having them all inside were still present. Rarity scrunched her muzzle and followed Fluttershy further in.

Angel Bunny was already sitting on the kitchen counter, stomping with his leg. “Don’t worry, Angel. I have everything prepared.” Fluttershy reached for the upper cupboard and pulled out a large bowl of vegetables, arranged like in a pricy restaurant. Angel took one look at it and swept it off the counter with an almost visible smirk, stomping again. “Oh... you don’t like it? I’m sorry, I must have added too much asparagus.”

What a little spoiled wretch! Rarity waited for Fluttershy to bend down and start picking up the broken pieces, and swept Angel off the counter with her magic. Serves him right. Now, I should pro– Something pulled at her leg. She looked down and saw a squirrel, prodding the invisible fabric with her front leg. “Hush!” Rarity whispered and pushed it aside.

“Angel? Where did you go?” Fluttershy stared at the empty counter, until he pulled her tail. “Oh, there you are! You wanted to help me picking it up, didn’t you? How nice.” Fluttershy put him back to where he was before, and he started stomping again.

Unbelievable! Fluttershy should just stick a carrot in his mouth and be done with it. Where does she have carrots anyway? Something pulled at her leg again. “I said hush!” She pushed off the two squirrels that bothered her and looked at the bag with ‘Carrot Top’ written on it. Brace yourself, ‘Angel,’ you’re in for a surprise.

Angel was staring at Flutteshy, who was just moving towards the carrot bag on the other side of the room, when a long, conic object flew straight into his mouth, forcing itself into his throat. Rarity watched with a wry smile as he fruitlessly tried spitting the vegetable out, tears springing into his little eyes when she increased the pressure. Soon, he was forced to bite.

Good. Now swallow it! Rarity withdrew the carrot, and Angel spat it out. You little...! She shoved it back into his mouth. Meanwhile, Fluttershy reached the bag and pulled out another carrot. “Oh, you got one yourself?” Fluttershy asked after turning around. Rarity stopped levitating the vegetable, and Angel threw it away. “Oh, I see. You must have found it fallen somewhere, and it wasn’t good anymore. Don’t worry; this carrot is as fresh as it can be.” She stretched her hoof towards him, motioning him to take his food.

When Angel moved his paw like he was about to swipe it away again, Rarity levitated three more carrots, dangling them in the air behind Fluttershy’s back. Angel slowly reached for the one Fluttershy was hoofing him, took a miniature bite, and swallowed it with a loud gulping sound.

Something pulled at Rarity’s leg. Oh great, more squi– what the...? At least a dozen squirrels and other small animals gathered around her hooves and started climbing up. What’s the matter with you? Go away! She started shaking with her hoof, but the vermin held on and advanced, until they reached a spot on her neck. That’s where Pinkie... I washed it! How can you still smell it? One of the rodents took a bite. “Eeek!” Rarity started stumbling through the room like a drunken tornado, shaking the overridden hoof in front of her and screaming. It didn’t really hurt her – the squirrels didn’t even reach the coat through the dress – but the fabric!

“Is... is everything okay?” Fluttershy asked, looking at the swirling mess of animals flying in the air, knocking over everything in their path. “If you would please just all calm down and tell me–“

The rest of her sentence was interrupted by Rarity tripping over a kennel and falling face-first into a bag of granules, spilling them onto the floor. The animals quickly jumped off of her and started stuffing themselves full of this new prey. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realise you were that hungry.”

Rarity lifted herself up and ran into the nearest door, locking it behind herself and wiping sweat from her brow. That was close. She opened her eyes and saw nothing but darkness, apart from the barely visible stairs down. The air was rather cold – definitely colder than in the previous room – and smelled much, much worse than before. When she said she taught them to go out, did she mean the basement? Why is every place I visit today so disgusting? Rarity levitated a hoofkerchief to her muzzle and started descending. She couldn’t really go back outside through the cottage after that little display, nor was she in the mood for yet another rodent attack.

“Hello?” Fluttershy’s voice was muffled by the door. “I know you ran down there, I saw the door. Would you please come out? If the other animals are giving you a hard time, I can put you in my room. Only Angel and I go there, and he’s as kind as a bunny can be.”

Rarity rolled her eyes and continued downwards, looking at the jagged, rocky surface around her. This can’t be a regular basement. Did she have this custom made, or was it already here when she built the cottage? She descended further, until her hoof clopped on the stone bottom. Above her stretched a large patch of darkness, and she couldn’t see more than five steps ahead. This is big. Can’t be custom-made, unless Fluttershy is much, much richer than she seems to be.

Rarity increased the luminance of her horn, looking around. A lot of boring rocks, some stalactites – definitely not custom-made – bats, a little underground strea– Rarity’s head shot up. Bats! There must have been dozens of them. Dark silhouettes hanging from the ceiling like black cocoons of a gigantic spider, their black eyes glistening in the horn’s glow and their bodies echoing with weird squeaky sounds.

Rarity couldn’t move. She wanted to run away, but her brain refused to listen, instead looking at the creatures lazily stretched their wings. It was fascinating in the morbid kind of way. I am doomed. Then they took off and Rarity suddenly realised that she indeed could move, and that she could do it quite fast.

She scaled the stairs by three, screaming so loud that one could easily mistake her for the mythical banshee, but the bats were faster. Their leathery wings filled the air all around Rarity, and several of them even got caught up in her mane’s curls. When Rarity finally, sobbing and screaming, reached the door, she blasted it to splinters with her magic and, ignoring the yellow pegasus cowering under the table, galloped outside.

Rarity looked at the fabric again and sighed. It lay neatly folded on her bed, the intricate patterns drawing her eyes time and time again. Don’t touch it, Rarity. You have to resist! She nodded and turned back to her vanity table.

Bats are such terrible, horrifying creatures. Only after running all the way to Ponyville, the dress more or less ruined from her numerous falls, she finally mustered enough courage to look back and see whether or not she was still being pursued. She was, but not by the bats anymore – after damaging the dress, the invisibility stopped working and at least a half of Ponyville went to take a look at just who was that screaming mare running through the streets and yelling something incomprehensible about bats. Her cheeks turned crimson even now, hours later, just from thinking about it. Now the whole town’s gossiping about me. This is so unfair!

She’d already fixed the dress – she still had to present it in Caterlot – but decided not to use it before the fashion show after the day’s experiences. At least the invisibility will still be a surprise. If the girls found out I spied on them... She shook her head.

“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle called from downstairs.

I swear if she asks for a dress of her own again, I’ll... “Yes, Sweetie?”

“There’s somepony in our hmpfh!” There was a thud.

“Sweetie!” Rarity ran down the stairs, looking left and right, but seeing nothing unusual. “Sweetie, what happened?” Her gaze fell upon Sweetie’s Cutie Mark Crusaders cape lying on the ground. “S-Sweetie?”

Rarity’s heart was thumping. She levitated the fabric towards her eyes, looking at it from every direction, until she found that the knot tying it around the wearer’s neck was torn. Sweetie...

There was a creak behind her. She spun around, taking quick breaths, but once again there was nothing. “Is... Is anypony here?” No answer. “Sweetie...?”

Another creak, this time closer to her back than the last one. She saw something. In front of her lay the thread she used to sew the magical dress. “D-do you want one? I’ll give you one if you give me back my sister. One’s just upstairs; take it!”
Something breathed on her neck from behind, and she could feel needles of cold piercing through her heart. She slowly – very slowly – turned around.

“Boo!”

Rarity lost consciousness.

“Gee, I didn’t think she’d take it this bad.”

“Yeah. I mean who would’ve guessed?”

“I told you the breathing part was too much, Rainbow!”

Rarity inhaled a whiff of smelling salt under her muzzle and opened her eyes. “Uuh...”

“She’s waking up!”

Rarity blinked and focused on the blurs in front of her. “Girls? Sweetie? What...?”

“We’re sorry, Rarity,” Twilight said, moving closer. “We figured we’d teach you a little lesson about using invisibility irresponsibly, and some of us” – she looked at Rainbow – “took it a bit too far.”

“A lesson? You mean...” Rarity’s eyes widened and she jumped back on her hooves. “I’m so, so sorry! The temptation was too much for me to handle.”

Twilight smiled. “Spike has already forgiven you and says that if you wanted to take a look at his ‘hoard,’ all you had to do was ask. I’m sure the girls will forgive you too, right, girls?”

“What? No way!” Rainbow flew closer to Rarity and jabbed her hoof into her chest. “You had no right to snoop on me like that!”

“Come on, Rainbow.” Twilight lay her hoof on Rainbow Dash’s back. “Whatever it was, it’s not worth holding a grudge; I’m sure.”

“Indeed, darling. As I said, before, there’s nothing shameful about–”

“No!” Rainbow stuck her hoof into Rarity’s mouth, causing her to spit it out and clean her tongue with a hoofkerchief. “The world must never know about this. You promised you’ll never tell anypony!”

“Yes, I get the message,” Rarity said while polishing her taste buds. “If I swear I won’t tell anypony again, will that make fix things between us?”

Rainbow shook her head. “No, an oath won’t do. I mean you already promised me once, and now you almost spilled the beans. It needs something more. Something as serious as... a Pinkie promise!”

“Right on!” Pinkie said, jumping towards them. “Rarity, you know the words. Come on, I’ll be your notary.”

“A notary?” Rarity sighed. “Alright. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She did the assorted hoof signs and smiled at Rainbow Dash. “Do you forgive me now, Rainbow?”

“For the time being. You know what’ll happen if you break a Pinkie promise, right?”

“Is there anypony in this town that doesn’t know yet?” Rarity laughed weakly. “Please don’t ever do this to me again. When I saw Sweetie’s cape... Where is she anyway?”

Fluttershy raised her hoof. “Um... I saw her going upstairs.”

“Upstairs? Why would she...?” Rarity’s brow clashed together as she started running up the stairs. “I hope you didn’t do what I think you did, young lady!” She barged into her room and sure enough, the dress was nowhere to be found. “Sweetie Belle!”