After about a block or so Borodino’s stride slowed a bit in my Equestria dreamscape, which Applejack appreciated. She was getting more familiar with this bipedal form of locomotion, but it still was alien to her. Looking around randomly AJ spoke up.
“Sooo. Whats so dang important about shopping that yeah had ta drag me away from some mighty fine grub with his Majesty?”
Borodino stopped and spun around. “Applejack. There are many tools and weapons in a lady’s arsenal here in the Dream Realm. One of the most important is the clothes she wears. Now. Traggy is really a great fellow, but when you let him chose your wardrobe you rob yourself of one of your most potent weapons in your arsenal. It deprives you of much of your offensive capability and immediately puts you on the defensive!”
Applejack’s face scrunched up. “Sun and moon! Ya are starting ta sound like a friend of back where I come from. Sometimes it seems like all she takes about is clothes and making clothes! Heck she does it fer a living!”
Borodino resumed walking. “You have a good friend then. You’d be wise to heed her advice. Now it’s obvious you don’t have much practice in creating objects and maintaining objects here in the Dream Realm or in your dream fabric. What do you already have stored in your dream diamond?”
“What’s ah dream diamond doohickey?” AJ asked. Borodino came to a halt and pinched her brow and sighed.
“Let me guess. He hasn’t given you one or told you how to find or refine them?”
“That would be a yes sugar cube!”
Borodino looked back at the purse around AJ’s neck. “What do you have in your purse?”
“Ya know I don’t have a clue. Let me look!”
AJ opened it and stared into it for a moment. “Well I can tell ya what’s in it. Whole bunch of nothing!”
The grey mouse closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Great. He gave you the gun but no ammunition. Okay! One more thing to correct!”
AJ peered again in the purse. “Ah. I just looked again and there ain’t no gun in this here purse.”
Borodino resumed walking. “It was a metaphor Applejack!”
“Oh right.”
Their journey end at a ladies boutique. AJ might not have her hooves on the pulse of fashion, but she recognized a boutique when she saw one. The little bell above the door jingled pleasantly as they entered. A few seconds later a slim, middle age, caramel brown, female mouse came out from the backroom. Her face lit up when she saw Borodino.
“Boro baby!” Stepped forward and gave her a quick hug. “What a pleasure to see you! What brings you in today?”
The grey mouse pointed at AJ. “Her. Applejack this is Abigail Seams. She’s one of the finest fashion visualizers around. Abigail we’ve got a situation. Applejack is a totally rookie projector who has somehow stumbled out into the Dream Realm. She’s got no dream diamond and her boyfriend is King Trafalgar and he’s picking out her clothes for her!”
AJ watched as a look that would’ve made Rarity proud spread across Abigail’s face. “What! Oh no no! That’s totally unacceptable!” She looked AJ up and down. “Did he pick out that outfit you’re currently wearing darling?”
“Uh yeah.” AJ looked down at it, suddenly very self-conscious. Is there something wrong with it?”
Abigail was already starting to pull outfits from racks. “No dear. It’s actually quite tasteful and it flatters you very much. Sstttiillll.” She looked at Borodino over the rims of her wire frame glassess. “Did I hear you correctly, and this poor thing doesn’t have a single dream diamond to her name?”
Borodino was in the process of pulling outfits off a racks as well. “Yep. Abigail you wouldn’t have one you can spare? Doesn’t need to have a huge amount of capacity. Just enough to store a couple dozen outfits and still have some additional storage leftover.”
The boutique owner stepped behind the front counter and then ducked out of view for a moment. There was a series of clicks and brief flashes of multicolor lights. She reappeared with a strong box in her hands. Abigail closed her eyes and held out her right hand. Suddenly an ornate golden key appeared in her hand. She then unlocked the box. A soft glow emanated from the interior of the box. Reaching in she brought forth of small point of light about the size of an almond that shimmered in her hand.
“Would this do?”
“Perfect!” Borodino came over and deposited an armful of outfits on the counter. Picking it up with her thumb and index finger she held it up for AJ to see. “This Applejack is one of the most useful tools and currency for inhabitants and visitors to the Dream Realm. A dream diamond!”
AJ whistled. “Well it sure is purty and bright, but what the hay does it do?”
The grey mouse gestured with her other hand. “Come with me!” She led AJ over to a full length mirror with an exquisitely carved frame around it. On the top edge of the mirror there was a recess in it. Borodino placed the dream diamond, for a brief instant the frame of the mirror flashed and then return to normal.”
Borodino picked the first outfit. A blouse and pants combination which she hung on a swing arm hook that was attached to the mirror. She then waved for AJ to come over. “Applejack come stand right here in front of the mirror. Good. Now looking at yourself, then look at the outfit you’re wearing. Take a good long look. Look at it from all sides.”
As instructed AJ slowly turned and looked at herself from all sides. Borodino seemed to be happy with her progress. “Good, very good. Now stand in front of the mirror. Right. Now close your eyes and imagine that glowing gem and then the outfit in your mind.”
“Um, if ya say so sugar cube.” Applejack closed her eyes. At first nothing happened. Then suddenly the gem flashed for moment. Borodino clapped her hands. “Yes! One down.”
AJ opened her eyes. “What happened?” Borodino pointed at the dream diamond and smiled. “You just placed your first object in a dream diamond!”
“I did?” She looked down her outfit. “But I still got this here outfit on?”
Abigail spoke up. “You’re correct dear. The outfit is still on you, but you’ve carefully stored away it’s likeness in your dream diamond. In the future if you wish you’ll be able to retrieve the outfit you’re currently wearing by holding the dream diamond and visualizing it in your mind. Then it’ll appear either in front of you or on you.”
“But if all I have ta do is just think about things what do I need some fancy stone for?”
Borodino leaned against the frame of the mirror. “Applejack can you remember exactly what you ate for breakfast. Not just what it was but what every exact flavor you tasted. Can you describe precisely every smell. The texture of the ingredients. Can you remember every detail of the plate? Did it have a chip? What color exactly is the glaze on it. It’s difficult for individuals to constantly remember the details of objects they see around themselves. Dream Diamonds help you keep, remember, and retrieve things like that.”
Abigail took to the outfit hanging from the mirror and passed it to AJ. “Dear hold this up in front of you and looked into the mirror. Then imagine yourself wearing that outfit.”
Applejack took the outfit. “Well um, I can tell ya it looks tu small fer me.”
Abigail shook her head. “That’s unimportant dear. I don’t create specific sizes of garments. Just ones close enough for customers to visualize them on. They do the rest.”
AJ looked around the boutique and realized that Abigail seemed to be telling the truth. There was dozens, perhaps hundreds of outfits, hanging from the racks but there was usually just one example , and now looking around more AJ didn’t see the huge collection of bolts of fabrics, scissors, needles or even a sewing machine. instead she saw in the back of the boutique was a drawing table, a painting easels, art supplies, fabric swatches, and hundreds of books. Abigail smiled as she could see AJ connecting the dots.
“Yes dear. Unlike in your Material World I don’t create whole garments by cutting materials and stitching them together. Instead they spring from my drawings and my imagination into…” She gestured around the boutique. “Into this. Now I can see you have a mountain of questions and I am distracting you. So, once again imagine seeing the outfit on you.”
As instructed AJ stared at herself in the mirror. Still in her white sun dress and hat and holding the new outfit in her hands. Suddenly the mirror flashed and she saw instead a reflection of herself in the now outfit. AJ started to look down at herself but Borodino reached out and stopped her.
“No. Don’t look away! If you do you’ll break the connection. You’re doing great! Now. Don’t just imagine what the outfit would look like on you. Imagine yourself actually wearing it. What it feels on your body. Thinking about that and nothing else. Run your fingers over the fabric if it helps. It might take a minute or so, but keeping thinking about it!”
AJ did as she was told. What seemed like several minutes had passed when suddenly a glow enveloped Applejack. When it faded she was standing there wearing a version of the outfit. The original version of the garment remained on the hanger and the sun dress she’d been wearing was gone.
“Yes!” Borodino did a fist pump.

To be continued.