“Oww,” Sweetie Belle yelped as Rarity’s sewing needle pricked her flank.

“Hold still, dear,” Rarity said, trying again to attach the bodice to the train on her little sister’s brand new gala dress.

“I’m trying,” Sweetie said. Her rump twitched again and almost got another needle prick as a result.

“Keep your tail tucked in and let me finish here. I don’t want a crooked seam in the most important part of the dress.”

Sweetie stamped her hoof. “Ugh, I don’t understand, Rarity. Why’s it got to be perfect? It’s just a dress.”

“Just a dress? Well… That’s an understatement if I ever heard one. This is your first Gala gown, dear. It needs to be perfect!”

“But, Rarity, I don’t want a gown! I want a cool skirt like I always wear to parties!” Sweetie hunched her shoulders and turned her gaze back to the floor.

“Not on your life! This is the Grand Galloping Gala, and no sister of mine will be caught dead presenting tail like some kind of foal or flouncy mare!”

“But… But don’t I have a beautiful tail?” Sweetie said, glancing back at her hindquarters, tail poking out just above where Rarity’s hem had reached.

“Yes, of course you do. It’s just that a true lady never exposes herself like that in a formal setting. You need to be presentable in mixed company. I don’t expect you to understand, but trust me, it’s for the best.”

"Can't we just make a hole for the tail to poke through?"

"Such a silly filly you are," Rarity said, chucking to herself. "That would defeat the whole point of allure and mystique that the gown is meant to effuse. You wouldn't want a gentlecolt to see you naked at the Gala—it's a special occasion, not like every other day of the year."

“Why even wear a dress, then? It’s not like I’m bringing a date or anything. I’m not trying to impress anypony.”

“Now, now, even as a young filly, you can’t get in the mindset that your appearance doesn’t matter. It’s of utmost importance that a lady take care to mask all her flaws and present the most refined look to potential suitors. You wouldn’t dare catch me wearing some short-cut hussy skirt to a royal event, and I wouldn’t dream of letting you wear one either. The tail goes under, end of discussion!”

Rarity dove back into her stitching, carrying the attached train up and over Sweetie’s back. The little filly just sulked in the notion that her beautiful tail would be hidden under ten pounds of material trailing all the way to the floor.

“Sis, can I ask a question?” Sweetie Belle asked while Rarity put the finishing touches on her latest masterpiece.

“I believe you just did, dear, but go ahead and ask another.” Rarity smiled given her little bout of sarcasm.

Sweetie huffed and shuffled her hooves. “It’s so uncomfortable to have it covered. Why don’t stallions have to hide their tails? Shouldn’t they get to shove them in their pants?”

“Blasphemy!” Rarity cried, carrying on with the air of sarcasm. “I’ll have you know that pants are an abhorrence. A stallion wearing anything more than a bow tie and a short jacket is an affront to nature itself. How else would we be able to inspect the goods before we decide to dance with them? I don't carry full suits in my shop for that very reason.”

“Oh, I get it,” Sweetie said, finally cluing in on the whole process. “This is all part of some elaborate plan to find a new coltfriend at the gala, isn’t it?”

“Of course it is, dear. What better way to catch the eye of the right stallion than a cute little filly in a matching dress to mine? You’ll help screen out the ones that aren’t family friendly.”

“But what about my friends?”

“Oh, don’t you worry about them. If all goes as planned, Applejack and Rainbow Dash will have plenty of attention during the Gala as well.”

Sweetie Belle just rolled her eyes and flipped up the back of her new dress with her covered tail. “Thanks a lot, sis. Good to know you’re looking out for us.”

"Of course, darling. What else are big sisters for?"