Look my best (Patreon)

While Phoenix, Quick Silver, and Bloodfeather are cooling their hooves for the next 4 days Down Time one pony is making big plans. 

         Applebloom arrived home from a day at school in my Equestria dreamscape. As she reached the front gate of the farmstead she noticed that nopony had picked up the mail. Grabbing it the bundle of letters in her mouth she trotted into the house and then deposited them on the billing desk in the living room. 

  In the past the filly would've just left them there and gone up to her room, but she was eagerly expecting a letter. I miss him! So she started sorting through it. She'd gotten about half way through the stack when a envelope with a familiar Baltimare address and writing style caught her attention. 

  
  Grabbing the envelope she tore upstairs and leaped onto her bed. Rolling onto her back she tore the envelope open with her teeth and pulled the letter out. After a couple seconds of unfolding it her eyes started tracking the colt's scratchy writing. 

  
  Hi Applebloom! I just got in this afternoon, but I wanted to write you right away and let you know I've arrived safe and sound. Traveling to see my relatives was nice, but I think the high point of the trip was getting to finally meet and your family. It's nice to be home again; however I can't wait for our next dream session. I know Princess Luna has got some important things to do, and hopefully she'll be free again so we can resume our sessions again! 

  The filly blushed a little. "I hope we get ta see each other soon as well." She resumed reading the letter.  

 
  I know I told you when I was there but you are very special filly to me and I am so happy to have met you. 

  
  Applebloom squealed and kicked her back legs in the air a couple of times before she continuing to read. 

 
  Of which two of my best friends Kicker and Blue Spark say hi as well! They dropped by to welcome me back. Imagine my annoyance though when they didn't believe me when I said you were pretty! They just couldn't believe it. Jerks! Friends or not that got me steamed under collar!!  Not Her 

  The buttercream yellow filly giggled and rolled on her side and finished the letter.

   
  Also I got a letter from Princess Luna thanking me for taking the time to visit you. Well I need to help my aunt with dinner. I look forward to hearing and seeing you in the future. 

 Hugs, Stone Mane. 

  The filly reread the letter couple more times before starting on her afternoon chores. About halfway through them an idea popped into head.   

        Most meals at Sweet Apple Acres were fairly quick events since there was always chores that needed to be done. The one exception was supper. Most of the work was then over and it was a chance for the family to get caught up on what had happened during the day. 

  
  Applejack scooped another slice of warm cornbread and started smothering it butter and honey. Then she looked at her little sister. "So little bloom did I hear correctly that ya got yerself a letter from Stone Mane?"    

        The filly finished scooping herself some more cheese and corn chowder before replying to her sister. "Yeah sis! He's safe n sound back in Baltimare, and he wanted ta thank us all fer letting him stay the night."

 
  AJ smiled. "Well that's might nice of him ta say that. He seems like a good colt. Even if he does take the initiative a bit too much." See you in my dreams! 

  
  Applebloom wasn't certain what her big sister meant by that last statement, so she pressed on with her idea. "I'd like ta do something fer him if ya don't mind." 

  "What's that?" The mare took a sip of her cider.  

 
  The filly smiled. "Wellllll." 

  Rarity stepped back and admired her latest masterpiece. "Oh Applebloom! If you haven't already caught that colt's eye and heart you will now!"

 
  Stepping aside Applebloom finally got a look at Rarity's efforts in the mirror. Applebloom had decided to have a photo of her taken so she could send it Stone Mane. Yeah the family had photos of her, but she wanted this to be special.

 
  "I want to look my best!" She'd told her big sister, and even more important she'd been saving some of the bits that Princess Luna had been giving her a stipend for being her student. So it wouldn't cost family anything to hire a photographer. 

  
  But she didn't want to just take a bath and brush her mane. She wanted something special, so she'd approached Ponyville's resident fashionista for her help. The only concern the filly had was not whether she could get Rarity onboard with the idea, but would she be able to keep the mare from going overboard. 

  
  For a couple of seconds Applebloom stared at the face in the mirror. Was that her? She'd never thought of herself as being ugly, but at the same time she had never considered herself to be very pretty either. 

  The face in the mirror was very pretty. The filly wasn't quite certain what Rarity had done, but she'd never seen herself like this before. Not even for the Service to the Crown Banquet. The filly whistled softly. 

  "Wow Rarity! Ya know yer stuff! Thanks!" She pointed at her face. "Is this hard ta learn ta do?" 

  The white unicorn shook her head. "Darling, it's not hard at all! If Rainbow Dash can learn to improve her looks then any filly or mare can do it!" The Big Date 

  The earth pony nodded her head. Rarity had a point there. She glanced over at the photographer who was patiently waiting for them to be done. "So um, anything else? Or should we call the photographer an them take the picture?" 

  Rarity shook her head. "Oh no no dear! Now we have the little matter of accessories and wardrobe!" 

  "Uh, what do ya have in mind Rarity?" Asked the filly. 

  "On nothing overly flashy or formal." Said the mare with a dismissive flip of a front hoof.  "After all this a gift for your coltfriend, So no need to go overboard on the ensemble." 

  The filly agreed with that idea. Although she wondered if her idea of overboard and Rarity's had anything in common. "Okay that sounds like a good idea.

"   
  "Excellent! Now! I just happen to have been developing a line of dresses for fillies about your age! Now Sweetie has been the model for them but I think there are a couple of them that will fit you!" 

  Applebloom blanched. "I'm not gonna have ta wear one of them corset thing am I? Cuz if yer thinking stuffing me in one of those I'm gonna say no ta it! " The filly still had fresh memories of that horrid garment.  Could ya help me ? 

  Rarity deflated a little at filly's statement but pressed on. "Oh no, no, no! I'm sure we can find something that will work for you needs!" 

  
  The unicorn's horn flared and from across the room a rolling rack full of clothing came clattering along on its caster wheels to stop at the fashionista's side. 

  
  "I think I have a couple of ideas that will work within that restriction you've imposed!"

 
  Applebloom sighed. This was going to take a while. Fortunately the photographer wasn't being paid by the hour.  

 
 To be continued.