Chapter 1 - A Fashion show
Chapter 1
*
The orange sun was slowly rising in the horizon as GoldenDime was pulling the curtains open.
“Rise and shine, it’s morning and a big day”. She said.
“Urgh... Mama I don’t want to get up, even the birds are still sleeping” HeartRoyali replied.
“But isn’t today the day you were going to audition in front of photo finish?” her mother said.
“Oh buck, I forgot all about that!” HeartRoyali rushed out of her bed galloping to the kitchen.’
“Isn’t here any breakfast? I don’t have time to cook!” she said, you could hear a slight hint of panic in her voice. Golden dime went in the kitchen and flew up to one of the cabinets. “Well if you don’t have time to cook you could always eat last, then I will cook for you while you get ready.” she said.
“THAT WON’T WORK AT ALL! I can’t do a photo shoot with a full stomach, I would just end up feeling sick” HeartRoyali replied. GoldenDime looked troubled and said: “fine… we can’t have that, I guess you just have to live with simple cereal and some apples.” HeartRoyali was just about to complain about how her mother didn’t think about preparing properly, but she held it in, she didn’t have time to argue, and she didn’t want to be even more troublesome. but next time her mother wouldn’t get off the hook that easily.
HeartRoyali quickly ate her food and left the plate, as she rushed into the bathroom. She pulled away the shower curtains and entered. She was about to turn on the water, but ended up just standing there for a minute or two.
what if I don’t make it, that would be the 3rd rejection this month… I might lose my job, and this is photo finish. The pony who have been a fashion photograph for more than 30 years, the pony who refused to stop working even though she passed the retirement age. Who am I to think I can possibly impress her.# Despite being so discouraged she started showering, being very focused that her hair was washed perfectly not so much the oils would flow out, but not as little as it would look too shiny. and she continued getting ready, picking and outfit, getting dressed, putting makeup on, drying and brushing her mane, and all the other things she needed done. When she was finally satisfied with her looks she walked to the front door, and just before exiting she looked into the hall mirror and whispered. “You can do this, you are beautiful the way you are, and you are going to amaze her with how cute you can be when you model!” She then opened the door and walked out.
It was a sunny day with lots of birds singing. And not a cloud in the sky. Her friends up in cloudsdale sure did a neat job that day. A truly great day for an outdoor photo-shoot. HeartRoyali trotted down the long roads in hoofington to reach the station, on her way she greeted many of her friends and familiars. Though it’s a very big city which has many train stations, she still knew many people in her neighborhood. You see she lived in the edge of hoofington the part nearest cloudsdale (her old home before her mother and herself moved there), so she had to take the train into the city center for this big outdoor audition for new model talents. Photo finish was a guest judge and 50 other fillies were competing alongside HeartRoyali. A lot of the other fillies and mares were considered high profession models. Some were even a bit famous. It wasn’t just an old little photo-shoot with a photographer they didn’t even know. And a setup as bad as using a basement like she was used to. No this was the real deal, and how her manager got her this audition she didn’t know. But over thinking wouldn’t do her any good. So she decided to not think about it at all. All she had to worry about was to do her best.
“This audition is a 3 part audition for all sorts of models between the age of 12 and 20” A loud voice sounded from a speaker nearby. And the Smalltalk and other noises stopped. #I wasn’t told this!# She thought to herself. “Both famous and newbie models are here. And all will be treated equally as we want the highest talent. Undiscovered or not.” As HeartRoyali looked around it became clear to her that it was very obvious who was the so called newbies. Such as herself. #Not very encouraging huh.# She thought to herself. “The first part is a normal photo-shoot with our personal designer’s clothes. Just as you have been told. The second part is and outfit of choice photo-shoot with the outfit you were asked to bring. And the last is a catwalk with a big crowd. You will all be wearing the same outfit! The audience will vote on their favorite. This will be based on both looks and attitude. The first photo-shoot begins in 50 minutes. Go to the nearest information board and find your station. That is all.
As soon as she had stopped talking everypony went wild. And HeartRoyali had to stuff her way through the crowd to be able to see the board and find her name. There it was. Number 34. All she had to do was to find her cart… Between the other… 57 carts... Not an easy task after all.
There were simply too many carts, in a million of colors and shapes. The air was already getting heavy too. But no time to waste spacing out. She quickly flew up to take advantage of the air and scouted for cart 34. There it was! Almost at the very back. She landed in front and threw her luggage on the ground. It was a big round purple-ish colored cart with gold decorations and a big moon on top. HeartRoyali trotted in with her suitcase and let out a loud “Hello” and looked for a light switch. A brown bony mare with a curly red mane stumbled out the door. “ChocoGum at your service!” she let out almost in panic. “Oh… Oh thank god. I was afraid id risk getting someone famous there for a second. Oh I almost trembled so much my horseshoes fell off from pure nervousity.” #Now what is that supposed to mean. I have been in a magazine or two# HeartRoyali thought to herself. “I am HeartRoyali. I am glad to hear you are calm now. But do remember you still have to do your best to make me look good. I have just as many expectations as a top model!” She said. “Oh yes mam. I mean… miss Royali umm..” ChocoGum replied.
Together they went on with discussing the dress she had been assigned to find the most fitting hair/Makeup. And soon the show would begin.
End of first chaper.
In the next chapter horrible sabotage and some unlucky siturations lead HeartRoyali to run off and end up in trouble she should have never gotten near.
Chapter 2 - The trouble begins.
Chapter 2
*
As time grew short HeartRoyali galloped at her top speed towards the meeting point. And just in time. But as suspected it didn’t really matter. As she was number 34 and it seemed like she would have to wait the entire day. Only 4 models were being on stage at the time. And laying in the grass trying to keep her makeup fresh for over half an hour wasn’t fun. All the other ponies were extremely talented. There were doubtfully any pad photos at all. But after so much boredom she were barely nervous anymore. But suddenly it was time. They called her number. “number 32 to 35 You’re up.” She didn’t really know the other ponies. None of them were too famous. Nothing to brag about. But as she stood there trying her best to make everything work with the other models one of the other mares stepped on her dress and made it rip. The sound was like her dreams. RRRIIP. The sound of the fabric being pulled apart was no louder than any other day. But it sounded like it was as loud as a police siren. It was over. They said she couldn’t model with a broken dress. She had to wait till the next round with no points from her photo-shoot.
She was ready to make sure not to give up. But when she came back near her cart she saw the worst. Hers and some other clothes were cut to pieces and laid on the ground in a circle. With a piece of paper stuck in the middle. “Newbies should know their place, we don’t have time to compete with losers like you” it said. #What the buck is this. Sabotage? I don’t need this kind of shit! I was nervous as It was. I knew I didn’t belong here. But this is too much!# “WHO IS THE BUCKING WHORES WHO DID THIS?” She screamed out, with tears slowly building up in her eyes. She flew towards the stage where the photo-shoot had continued without her. She landed just in front of the camera. “Somepony have shredded at least 10 dresses to pieces near the back carts! Including mine. This Is harassment and I demand you find the one responsible!” But everypony was just staring at her. Not a single pony out there moved. They all looked so judgmental. It was too much.
“This is not right…” She said and then flew off.
She flew across the sky for a while. Before she realized she was lost. And her wings were incredibly tired. She had to land and find out where she was.
As she landed she started walking looking for a sign. She only had to walk for around 20 minutes before she started seeing stuff she recognized. She was not too far from the train station. She was sure if she walked focused she would get there in no time. Or that is what she wished. After walking for nearly an hour she had to admit she was lost. Not just a bit. She was completely off track. And had no idea where she was. Lost in the middle of her home city. Wearing a flashy glittery dress and heavy makeup. What a pretty sight. She dragged herself on despite her sore hooves. But after so long the night had crawled up on the sky she had to give up. The last train departed long ago. And she had to find a place to sleep. So she went and looked for an inn instead or at least an open shop. But she realized that she had ended up in one of the more creepy neighborhoods. The road was filled with broken cars and carriages. And many windows were broken too. She could hear around 3 parties just near her. And she was pretty sure that stallion at the end of the road was puking on the wall.
She had no choice but to trot past the street. Just get by as soon as possible. That was her plan. No looking back. Just walking. But it wouldn’t last long till she heard a voice. “Going somewhere?” It sounded like a slightly drunk stallion around her age. She turned around to find a completely sober looking colt. Probably around 17 years she thought. “I missed my train and have nowhere to sleep” She said slightly insecure. “I see. Well if you help clean my shop then you can stay in our guest room” He said while staring at her. #Dude that is kidna creepy. It is in the middle of the night, and I don’t know you… but I do need somewhere to stay. And soon. He doesn’t look that old. It probably isn’t dangerous.# She thought to herself. She let out a sigh and said. “I guess I need to. So I’ll take you up on that offer.”
The stallion trotted towards the shop just down the street. And HeartRoyali followed just behind him as he locked them in. But as she entered she heard the door lock behind her. And she was surprised to see that his so called shop was much more of a mare-bar. Lightly dressed and naked mares were all over the shop. Crawling all over the stallions that were in there. Some of the mares looked at her briefly but then returned to their ‘Work’. Another stallion in a tuxedo went up to her and took a short glance at her. “Oy, oy, oy. No need to look so confused. You just need to do us a little favor. Then you can get the pay young Roller promised you… Not that I know what that was…” HeartRoyali was very much aware what was going on. And she did not plan on staying one second more.“Let me leave, I changed my mind.” She looked at him with furious eyes. “No, no, no, no. My little kitten. You can’t just leave now. We made a deal. And you better not think of escaping” He replied. She was about to say something back. But at that moment she noticed the worst. He had a gun. #Maybe I can just pretend and then hide till I can get away… I have to.#. “Okay… Fine… I’ll play your little game”. He lifted an eyebrow. “Like I don’t know what”. That comment just made her even more mad. But what could she do. She slowly walked into the room looking for a spot to stand unnoticeable. But as she was about to walk into one of the back rooms… “I’ll take the pink one over there. Full night.” An Older Stallion nodded his head towards her direction. She froze. “You gotta be crazy. Full night? Don’t make me laugh. Ya seriously got enough bits?” The stallion from before replied the older stallion. A big bag of bits landed on the counter. She knew it. It was over. She tried to move. But she was still frozen. Rock solid.
