19th Dress

[prissy_hooves]

[Action; 7135 Brooks; outside]

[There's a bit of a belated package arriving today for Rarity.  Of course, never having gotten back anything terribly debilitating or depressing yet, she gently unwraps it right away to see what's inside.  A small photograph of her live-in dress shop in Ponyville, Carousel Boutique, floats up out of the package propelled by her magic before disappearing in a flash.  At the same time, behind Rarity, there is now a large circus tent top situated on top of the Kadoya household, forming a new top floor to the structure.  Surprised, she whirls around and silently regards the new addition to the house for a moment before breaking into a smile.]

My goodness, what a generous offering!  I wonder what I did to deserve something like this!

[Action; 7135 Brooks; inside]

[Housemates will notice Rarity busybodying around the house all day long, moving things from the small spare bedroom she's been afforded to sleep and work in up until now and floating them upstairs to the house's new third story.  There's much more space up there, after all, and it's much closer to the sort of lodgings she's used to.  She'll be in and out and back and forth all day, periodically leaving the house to come back with curtains and small pieces of furniture and all sorts of things.]

Oh, so much to do!  Busy busy busy!

Comments

[prissy_hooves]

[And here comes Rarity, trotting outside again.]

Applejack! So nice of you to drop by.

[downtoearthpony]

Howdy Rarity! Just thought Ah drop by and see how you were doing...

[She tilts her head at the new addition to the nearby house.]

And Ah see you got something new, huh? Ah didn't think you could get stuff like that from back home...

[prissy_hooves]

Neither did I until today! And I wasn't even involved in that ridiculous memory-altering nonsense, except for running from Gakupo as he persistently hurled lunchmeat at me. But if this is the reward for smelling like sausage for a few hours... well, I daresay it's almost worth it.

Almost.

[downtoearthpony]

Oh yeah...the town messing with our memories again...

Ah guess Ah lucked out, considering. Sorry to hear about the meat there though.

[prissy_hooves]

I went through so much shampoo just getting the smell alone out of my coat.

[downtoearthpony]

...That's pretty bad sounding. At least yah got your health.

So Ah guess this came at a good time, huh? You're business is really picking up after the prom, isn't it?

[prissy_hooves]

Oh yes, I'm busier than ever! In fact, Aurora and Kreutzer will both be helping me full time from now on!

[downtoearthpony]

Well that's sure nice of them!

Also keeps you busy, Ah bet. It's just Theo and me at mah house now, so it's a bit harder for me to move around the house as much as before. Maybe if Ah'm lucky, maybe Ah'll get a part of mah barn back and Ah could just stick to there most of the time...

[prissy_hooves]

After something like this, I suppose anything is possible.

[downtoearthpony]

You've got a point there...

[There's a pause as Applejack seems to think something over. Finally she speaks up.]

...So, um, how are things going with Sweetie Belle here?

[prissy_hooves]

Well enough, I suppose. I do worry about the poor thing. I really do not look forward to watching this town do to her what it eventually does to everypony, though.

[downtoearthpony]

Yeah... Me neither. Did she mention, or did you happen to see Apple Bloom's here now too?

Ah really wish there was something we could do to get them home...

[prissy_hooves]

Ah, yes, I did run into Apple Bloom. It's really a shame that those girls are being forced to endure this town's antics as well.

[downtoearthpony]

Ah feel pretty much the same. Ah'm hoping we can protect them from the worst of it as long as possible, but some of the things this town does seem hard to shield them from...

Also a little worried they might get homesick...

[prissy_hooves]

Everypony has to learn the ways of this town eventually. Unfortunately, we won't be able to protect them from everything, and certainly not forever.

[downtoearthpony]

Ah know, kinda like growing up and all... Still doesn't make me want to try and protect them less...

[Another pause here. Applejack doesn't have much of a poker face, you could say...]

...Um Rarity, if something happens to me, you'll keep an eye on Apple Bloom for me, right?

[prissy_hooves]

Well, of course not. It's our duty as older sisters.

[Rarity can be a little more candid about how she feels about Sweetie Belle when she's not standing in front of her.]

...and while I'd certainly prefer you didn't bring up such thoughts, Applejack, yes, you can count on me.

[downtoearthpony]

Ah'm sorry, it's not something Ah like to think of either, but Ah just feel a lot better knowing you'd do that for me, thank you...

[prissy_hooves]

Don't mention it.

[downtoearthpony]

At the least, Ah hope we can keep those girl's spirits up...

Maybe we could do something for them. You know, something that will make this place feel normal for at least a little bit.

[prissy_hooves]

A party, perhaps?

[downtoearthpony]

Maybe, Ah'd bet Pinkie would enjoy an excuse to throw one at the drop of a hat...

You know, around this time, is when we start planning for the Sisterhooves Social. What do you think?

[prissy_hooves]

The Sisterhooves Social? That competition at Sweet Apple Acres where everypony goes diving about in mud pits?

[downtoearthpony]

...Well usually you want to avoid or jump over the mud pit since it slows you down in the race. But why are you getting so uppity about mud when you spent so much time at the spa lounging in it?

[prissy_hooves]

That's completely different!