Plaid Stripes is loving her sort-of apprenticeship at Carousel Boutique. Sure, Rarity might not have the taste and vision to appreciate her cutting-edge ideas, but it's still giving her a great opportunity to learn how to run a business. Plus, she's discovered an amazing new friend in Gabby the griffon, who is also helping out at the boutique so that she can better advise a friend back home on working in the fashion industry. And seriously, Gabby is great. She's encouraging, supportive and always there to pick Plaid off the ground when an idea hasn't exactly worked out. Which isn't that often, regardless of what Rarity says.

The only thing that's a little... weird about Gabby is her recent habit of leaving strange presents outside Plaid's door at night. Plaid appreciates the ideas and input with her designs, but what is she supposed to do with a box of dead fish and Gabby's prized clarinet?

A story about crushes: In particular, strange griffon ones.

Cover art by el-yeguero. Thanks to All Art Is Quite Useless for pre-reading and feedback duties.