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Mina looked over her shoulder through the thoroughfare of Canterlot. Today was the Grand Galloping Gala, and she was in attendance as a guest of honor. She'd designed the dresses for both Princess Cadance and Princess Luna, cladding them in silk embroided, nay, encrusted with shed dragon scales. The effect was striking and had turned many heads.
In truth, she was here to spy for the Yakyakistan empire. The dresses were bugged, and had been transmitting every conversation happening around the Princesses back to her handlers. Her hands were busy with a length of thread tied in a cat's cradle when she heard hooves behind her. In the secluded corner of the party she'd taken up, the only person who'd approach her was someone so curious as to arouse her own suspicion.
The purple fur and pink-streaked mane of Princess Twilight Sparkle was enough to let her know something *might* be up. She needed to play it cool. A martini floated down in front of Mina, aloft on purple sparkly magic. She was wearing her latest fashion from Rarity's boutique. It made Mina sick to her stomach with how gaudy it was. She looked like she was dressing to feed Spike her dress later.
"So you're the designer who gave my sister that dress?" She asked. Mina balanced the shook gin in between her middle and ring finger like she was nursing a cigarette.
"I didn't think you'd be that close with her," Mina said. She worried that if she didn't keep up her usual snark she'd be outed faster. Whatever game Twilight was trying to play, she wasn't going to play into her hoof.
Twilight rolled her eyes. Her ears flattened against her head and she looked about another bite away from sighing in performative annoyance.
"Regardless, it was yours, right?" She asked. Her voice resumed it's usual chipper tone. Did being the princess of friendship mean that you had to talk in such a disarming tone all the time?
"Yes, I made it. Why?" Mina asked. She snaked the threads from around her fingers and wrapped it back up into her pocket.
"I wanted to tell you it looked nice," Twilight said," I wanted to say I'd like to be fitted for one."
The chance to wire yet another esteemed figure, especially this tonally repellent purple pony, it was just too much to pass up. But genuine inspiration quickly coated her thoughts as she further examined Twilight's look.
Perhaps the underhanded influence could be a little less subtle this time around. Instead of wires hidden in the seams, it's colors... yes, a sharp verdigris... could really shine. Mina was going to model this princess' dress after the Yakyakistan empire's most beautiful monument. One that reminded her so much of her home. The Statue of Liberty.
Mina felt Twilight's eyes on her face like tacky little pests. Thankfully, high society taught her enough about how to be a closed book.
Mina smiled. A weight was lightly stripped from Twilight's non-athletic horse shoulders.
"I suppose I could fit you in my schedule," Mina said. "How does... right now sound?"
"Right now!?" Twilight questions, "I-I mean, well, I wasn't really prepared, b-but--"
Mina snickered at the flustering, making sure her dress caught as much as possible. "Oh, come on! It'll only take a sec."
Twilight glanced around at the party, then back to Mina. "Um... alright! Let's go."
Mina's personal studio in Canterlot wasn't much of a walk. When the doors closed behind them, Mina's lips landed on Twilight's. In response, a purple hoof immediately separated them.
"Woah. I don't like you like that, Mina." Twlight said.
"I really read that wrong, huh?" Mina replied.
"Yeah." Twilight said, checking the 14 second mark. "Want some weed?"
"Sure."