9th Dress

[prissy_hooves]

[What bad timing. Rarity finally just came out of her self-imposed seclusion yesterday, only to be shoved into one of those gross-looking pods and replaced with a vindictive clone of herself. And pod!Rarity wastes no time at all in getting on the phones to screw with the rest of the town. Her voice is no less cheerful than usual, but it's just slightly haughtier than usual, like she's looking down on everyone else.]

Well, I'd say it's about time to get down to business again. Carousel Boutique is open for commissions! My schedule is completely clear, and it belongs to all of you! And not a moment too soon, if I do say so myself. After all, I've seen the dreadful excuse for fashion you've all been wearing around town recently. Honestly, I don't know how some of you can stand to look in the mirror in the morning, let alone set foot outside your house!

...Actually, I suppose I applaud your bravery in that regard; I could never even dream of being seen in public looking like that. But worry not, citizens of Mayfield! Your Rarity is here for you. I view it as my greatest challenge as a designer to make you all look presentable. You get stylish new clothing, and I don't have to cringe as I walk down the street anymore! See? Everypony wins. Isn't that generous of me?

Comments

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

[The squishy pod cracks open, oozing out whatever weird alien fluid these pod creatures incubate in and also spitting out the real Rarity. Her eyes flutter open briefly before she promptly begins screaming about all of the alien goo on her beautiful coat.]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee--!

[Grimsley or Liepard may want to shut her up before the other one hears all the commotion.]

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

Fake Out!

[Before Rarity can get more than four or five 'e's out, there is a leopard on her face. Almost literally. Liepard clamps Rarity's mouth shut as Grimsley leans in with a hiss.]

Shhhh! My dear Rarity, now is not an ideal time to play the damsel in distress. Are you harmed?

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

[The squeal sort of dies down to a dull whimper as she slowly shakes her head 'no.']

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

Good.

Now... As you've no doubt realized, you've been kidnapped for the last half-day or so. More pressing is the fact that, unless you have an identical twin named PassiveAggressiveObnoxiouslyUnbearity, you appear to have been duplicated.

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

[Assuming she's being allowed to talk again once she quiets down.]

The only sister I have is named Sweetie Bell, and as far as I know, she's still safe back home in Ponyville.

[Slowly standing up, she shakes back and forth a bit in an attempt to knock off some of the slime.]

Well, then, there's only one thing to do in a situation like this. Take a long bath, and then deal with the impostor.

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

...That's two things. But I'm afraid the bath may have to wait, unless you're willing to traipse back to my house.

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

Well then, lead the way, Mr. Grimsley. If I'm going to be facing down my evil twin, I refuse to do it looking like this. If she's anything like me at all, I will not give her the satisfaction of looking more elegant than I do.

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

...

Er. Yes. Of course.

[Was there a third Rarity around here somewhere with a little less vanity? Nonetheless, he'll cough into his fist and assist the pony out of the doghouse.]

Liepard. Keep an eye on the, ah... duplicate while we're gone. Come this way, Lady Rarity.

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

Lead the way, Mr. Grimsley.

[Rarity makes a 'hmph' sort of noise, still all huffy with righteous pony indignation at all of this, and follows along after Grimsley.]

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

[And, unless pod!Rarity glances out the window as they pass, they'll make it back to Grimsley's house without much difficulty. He'll unlock the door for her and bow her in.]

The shower is on the second floor. There are fresh linens in the closet opposite and a hairdryer in the righthand drawer if you need one.

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

Thank you again. I won't trouble you for long!

[Predictably, Rarity's shower and ensuing hair care ritual takes a good hour or two. But everyone saw that coming.]

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

[And Grimsley will be found half-conscious at the dining room table when she finally gets downstairs.]

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

[Finally, Rarity comes trotting into the kitchen looking like her usual self.]

Ah, there! Good as new! How do I look?

[She smiles and poses.]

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

[Grimsley half-snorts before he comes to with a start.]

Er.

Sublime.

...What was the question?

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

How do I look? Ready to go into battle?

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

...You look exactly the same as always, Rarity. Sublime.

Shall we go, then?

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

Yes, let's show that impostor who the real fashionista is in this town!

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

It's you, darling Rarity, it's you.

[Grimsley murmurs this is in a languid, sing-song sort of fashion as he yawns and leads the way back out the door.]

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

[Rarity smiles and fluffs her mane for a moment before confidently striding down the street back toward her own house.]

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

[When they make it back to Rarity's home, there is a purple leopard sleeping in a tree. Grimsley doesn't even bother to wake her up before he recalls Liepard to her Pokeball.]

Well? Ready for the big confrontation?

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

I really ought to be wearing a tiara for this sort of thing, but I suppose I shall have to make do.

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid you'll have to make do with a pat on the back and a good luck wish.

[Grimsley will stand to the side for Rarity to unlock the door.]

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

[Rarity's horn glows as she focuses her magic. There's a soft clicking sound, and then the door flies open sharply. She stops it before it bangs into anything, though, of course. Rarity might be upset, but she's very controlled at the moment.]

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

I must ask you about that sometime. Psychic powers?

[Says Grmsley as he follow her inside.]

[frilly-filly.livejournal.com]

Unicorn magic.

[Stated very matter-of-factly as she marches down the hallway toward her sewing room. She stops halfway to check herself in the mirror before opening this door in much the same fashion as the last.]

Halt, impostor! Cease this at once, and kindly remove your filthy hooves from my equipment!

[The other Rarity just smiles deviously.]

Oh my. And what will you do if I don't? I was actually thinking of... re-tooling some of these tired old designs of yours.

[Pod!Rarity's horn glows, and a few swatches of fabric and a pair of scissors float into the air. The real Rarity gasps.]

You wouldn't!

Oh... wouldn't I?

[Currently, it's a standoff.]