River Morganite was a go-getter from such a young age, and her Mother Rarity couldn’t be more proud of her. She might have given her the first nudge, but it was River who took the initiative to start creating. It was River who strove to make the fashion industry more inclusive. While Rarity helped her daughter with some of the business logistics, River was ultimately the mastermind behind it all.
 
It was she who deserved all the credit for what was all coming together in her very first fashion show.
 
Ponies of all kinds, shapes, and sizes packed in the crowd. (One who looked strangely similar to a certain draconequus in the back. He was there for moral support!)
 
They mumbled and grumbled amongst themselves with excitement for the show to begin. The headline had ponies talking up a storm! What exactly did an “inclusive” fashion line look like?
 
Rarity turned to the mare next to her. Beyond was one of the many ponies she had worked with to bring her fashion to life. By the looks of her expression she was hesitant, so she decided to make some light conversation.
 
“My darling River has been dying to show off her fashions! She is so innovative, I cannot wait for everypony to see what she’s come up with. Exciting, no?”
 
Beyond nodded, her face wrinkled to show that she was thinking hard about something.
 
“Innovative yes…new and original, makes a pony wonder why nopony ever thought of it before. If you get what I mean?”
 
She tilted her head gently, not wanting to dive too deep into things just yet and ruin Rarity’s excitement. She was very proud, she just saw that there was a lot of implications here.
 
“That is true,”
 
Rarity conceded, feeling a tad embarrassed because she knew exactly what Beyond meant. But this was River’s day so she put her shame aside.
 
“Thank the stars we have such an innovative young designer ready to change the world now!”
 
With that, the lights went low, signifying that the show was about to start. Music started playing from the loudspeakers—entirely of River’s choice—and a single spotlight shone down upon the runway.
 
Some ponies gasped. There on the runway were some of Rarity’s own fashions, but on models they never would have envisioned wearing them. The first to walk was a draconequus. Stockholm!
 
Rarity was so proud of her for being part of this. There was a cheer from the back expressing the same sentiment. But next to her, somepony scoffed.
 
“Just like I thought!”
 
Spoke a mare named Truffle Twist. She was a high-status customer that was known all around Canterlot for being a bit of a…well, a bitch to be frank. She was nitpicky and constantly sending things back, asking for discounts, the like.
 
She turned to Rarity and Beyond and continued.
 
“THIS is why it’s never been done before. Because it shouldn’t be done. Look. The gowns are absolutely ruined! Your beautiful designs, Rarity! Stretched and…deformed.”
 
Beyond gasped and snapped back at her.
 
“The gown is perfectly tailored to her form. How dare you! Remixing and creating something new with the old is a staple of fashion!”
 
“New with the old, not Trash from the Fash dear!”
 
Truffle scoffed as she instigated by extending a hoof.
 
Rarity gently pushed her hoof down. She would not tolerate this kind of behavior, especially at her own daughter’s fashion show, but she also didn’t want to be one of the instigators. So she tread lightly.
 
“I allowed River to do this, darling, and I helped her. I would never let my designs be ruined. These were altered professionally much like I would alter a piece to suit a pony’s size. Which I have done for you before, yes?”
 
Truffle let out an ugly chuckle, shaking her head as if this was the biggest nonsense she had ever heard.
 
“Plenty of times, but not matter how…matronly a mare may be, she’ll never look like THAT!”
 
She pointed at Stockholm as she made her turn, her tail snapping around and making the bottom of her dress flow around like there was a gorgeous spring breeze surrounding her.
 
To Truffle, though, she was like a sea serpent.
 
“A beast! Uncouth!”
 
“A beautiful young creature. Please Truffle, you’re so closed minded. Why can’t you just shut up and enjoy the show? Speaking of doing things before-”
 
She turned to Rarity.
 
“Have you NEVER been asked by a creature for a dress?”
 
“Would you say that about my dear daughter, Truffle? Do creatures not deserve to feel and look their best too? By Gaia, if this is what you expected did you merely come to complain?”
 
Rarity snapped, no longer willing to be the middle mare when Truffle was saying such horrid things. Then she turned to Beyond.
 
“And yes, once a young yak asked me for a makeover and I did it for her. Hair, makeup, a brand new dress, the works. But the vast majority of my clients have been ponies, so…”
 
She trailed off, the implications of what she just said quickly sinking in.
 
Truffle simply crossed her arms and turned away, gently grumbling to herself as she became content with simply watching the proceedings.
 
Beyond gently patted Rarity’s back as she spoke her final piece.
 
“Just give it some thought, Ms. Rarity.”