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Chapter 1: The Shoot

A knock at the library door woke Twilight from a sound slumber. She wasn’t going to answer it, but she could hear Rarity’s voice calling for her from the open window. Twilight stumbled out of bed and down the stairs to answer the door.

“Rarity,” Twilight said groggily, opening the door. “It’s really early. What are you doing here?”

“Twilight,” Rarity said as Twilight opened the door to the library to let her in. “I have some news I’d like you to forward to our friends. I don’t have time to tell them all personally, I’m late enough for my train as it is.”

“Train?” Twilight asked, looking worried. “And what’s with all that luggage? You’re not moving, are you?”

“Oh, no no no, darling! Just going up to Canterlot for a few days.”

“Oh, that’s a relief,” Twilight said, wiping her brow. “But why so sudden?”

“I was asked by a client to come to him with some fabric samples for a new dress she wants to order. She’s terribly busy and can’t find the time to come down to Ponyville, so I’m going up to her instead. I can’t believe I forgot to tell you until now. I just get so busy that it’s hard to keep track of everything.”

“Okay,” Twilight said, still wary but not enough to ask her friend any more questions. “Well, I don’t want to be the reason you miss your train. Have fun in Canterlot, and I can’t wait till you get back.”

“I’ll tell you all about it, darling,” Rarity said, giving Twilight a light kiss on the cheek. “Take care of yourself, dear.”

“Bye, Rarity,” Twilight said. “Wait, are you sure you don’t need help with your luggage?”

“It’s fine, dear,” Rarity called out from outside the library as she carried all of her luggage in a magical aura. “I’m used to handling it on my own now, but thank you for the offer.”

“You’re welcome,” Twilight said. She hesitated a moment before closing the door. She brought her hoof to her cheek and rubbed the spot where Rarity kissed her. She quickly shrugged it off and went upstairs to go back to bed.

***

On the train ride to Canterlot, Rarity was buzzing with excitement over this new opportunity. She had made sure to pack as much makeup in her luggage as possible so she could look her best for the photo shoot. Though at first the idea repulsed her, the more she thought about it, the more she was excited to do it. Any publicity is good publicity, the words rang out in her mind.

What would everypony in Ponyville think of one of their own making it into such a lurid magazine, but also one of high caliber? Would they be happy for her? Jealous? Aroused? The possibilities were endless, and Rarity spent much of the train ride mulling them over in her head.

She’d had to arrive on the very first train to Canterlot, as the photo shoot was to begin at noon and the city was a good seven hours from Ponyville. That would put her there at about eleven o’clock, giving her just enough time to unpack and freshen up before she had to go.

But while she was excited for this opportunity, she had to admit she was also incredibly nervous. She imagined what Photo Finish would be asking her to do and the discomfort that was sure to follow. What would she ask her for? She had wanted to purchase a few issues of Playcolt from Ponyville’s own Paper Back Bookstore, but the ponies around town could be judgmental about a mare purchasing a magazine clearly intended for colts. Not that Rarity herself found anything wrong with that, but she didn’t want ponies to get the wrong impression about her.

Right, I’m worried about making a bad impression and I’m doing this... She tried to think about something else, but the train came out of the tunnel and revealed that they had arrived in Canterlot. The conductor made the announcement over the intercom, but everypony was already gathering their luggage, waiting to depart.

Rarity had to push through a huge crowd carrying her luggage with her magic haphazardly. She made her way directly for the station’s exit, but somepony walked straight in front of her, calling her name in a thick accent. It took Rarity a while to recognize Photo Finish, but when she did she was surprised to see her there.

“Photo Finish, darling, it’s so lovely to see you,” she said, setting her luggage down and shaking her hoof. The other ponies stepping off the platform grumbled as they tried to walk around Rarity’s luggage.

“Come, Miss Rarity, we haven’t much time! Zey want you as soon as possible!” Photo Finish beckoned Rarity to follow her as she cantered away. Rarity lifted her luggage and made her best attempt to follow behind her. Ponies had to dodge the heavy luggage being controlled by Rarity’s magic, and they were displeased about it.

“But Photo, dear, I expected to check into my hotel.”

“Already taken care of, darling. We checked you in this morning.”

“But my luggage—”

“We brought somepony to take that to the hotel for you.”

As Rarity and Photo stepped out into the street, they saw a hefty looking unicorn stallion waiting for them outside a carriage. He stepped forward to introduce himself.

“Heavy Weight, nice to meet you, miss,” he said, shaking Rarity’s hoof firmly. “I’ll be driving you over to the studio and then bringing your luggage to the hotel.

“O...kay,” Rarity stammered, taken aback by the sheer size of the pony. He was even more massive than Big Mac.

“Come, we haven’t much time!” Photo cried, pushing Rarity into the carriage before stepping in after her. After Heavy Weight loaded the luggage, he harnessed himself to the carriage with magic and pulled out into the street.

“How far is the studio?” Rarity asked Photo.

“Too far, if you ask me,” Photo said. “It’s already 11:10 and it’s way on the other side of town. We’re never going to make it!”

“You underestimate me, Photo Finish,” Heavy Weight called from outside the cart. “I’ll get you there in fifteen minutes, no sweat. Then you’ll be early, Rarity.”

“Thank you!” Rarity called out.

“Don’t mention it,” said Heavy Weight.

***

They arrived faster than Heavy Weight expected, in only twelve minutes. Still, Photo rushed Rarity out of the cart and into the studio.

Rarity had only just a moment to take in the bright spotlights and decor they were using as a set before she was whisked off to have her makeup done.

“Really, it’s all right,” Rarity tried to say. “I brought my own—”

“No time for that,” said one of the makeup artists. “We’ve got a lot of photographs to take.”

“It’ll only be for a few hours,” Photo said, “and then you’ll have the night to yourself. Maybe I should set you up on a date with Heavy Weight.”

“What?” Rarity asked, blushing, though it wasn’t noticeable under all the heavy makeup. Photo still recognized the effect.

“I’m just kidding, darling,” Photo said. “Okay, zat’s good enough! It’s time to dress her in ze first outfit.”

“Outfit?” Rarity asked, her eyes lighting up. “I didn’t know I was getting outfits.”

“It’s Playcolt, darling,” Photo said, as a clothing rack was carted out into the studio. “What did you expect?”

“Is it because you never see a pony wearing clothing?” Rarity asked.

“Precisely, darling. Now, just hold still while we get this ensemble on you.”

Rarity held tight as a few unicorns fit a dazzling purple dress on her. It matched her mane and tail perfectly and glimmered with diamonds sewn into the fabric. Rarity had never seen a prettier dress in her life.

“A quick look in the mirror, to see if you like,” Photo said, directing Rarity to a nearby mirror. She glanced at herself and was taken aback by how pretty she looked. She then noticed how short the dress was at the hem. Oh my... she thought.

“Come! To the set! It’s time to begin!” Photo barked.

***

Rarity was now posing in lacy lingerie lying prostrate on the couch. She had her hoof in her mouth while Photo was taking shots of her.

“Brilliant, darling,” Photo said. “Now, take off ze panties for a moment. We’re about to do the centerfold.”

“Centerfold?” Rarity asked.

“Yes, zis has to be the most sensuous photo of all! Now take zem off!”

“All right,” Rarity said, her stomach buzzing with nerves as she used her magic to take the bottoms off of her. She instinctively hid her more personal effects from the view of the camera, but Photo shook her head vehemently.

“No, no, no! We need to see it.”

“See what?” Rarity asked, playing dumb.

“Isn’t it obvious? Your pussy, darling! We need to see zat succulent young pair of lips!”

Rarity had been posing in all sorts of sultry ways all afternoon, but that was with clothing on. Now that she felt so much more exposed, she was starting to feel very nervous. She did as she was told, however, and spread her hind legs open.

“Good, good,” Photo said. “Now I need you to start playing with yourself.”

“Excuse me?” Rarity asked, closing her legs and sitting up. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Do you want to get paid or not?” Photo asked. “No playing with yourself, no paycheck. Zey made zat clear when they hired me to do this photo shoot.” Photo saw Rarity quivering and decided to change her tone.

“Look, I’m sorry to push you like zis, but you can’t blow this opportunity. You told me your shop was not doing so well, ja?”

“Well, yes, I did say that...” Rarity frowned, already realizing what she had to do.

“So, all we have to do is zis last shot, and we’ll be done, you’ll get paid, and we’ll never have to speak of this again. Is zat all right with you?”

Rarity didn’t need time to think about it any longer. “I’ll do it.” She spread herself wide open and brought her hoof down to her soft lips.

“Go on,” Photo said, “pretend you’re at home thinking about your lover...”

Rarity started to rub herself gently, which was fine for a warmup, but Photo needed more out of her.

“You just got home from your first date, you had your first kiss, and now you can’t stop thinking about him,” Photo said, encouraging her. “Yes, zat’s it...”

Rarity started to breathe more heavily as she became bold enough to start toying with her clit. She could feel herself getting slick as she continued to touch herself.

She needed no further encouragement. Rarity imagined Heavy Weight boring into her, and that turned light strokes into hard rubbing. Pretty soon she could feel herself coming close to orgasm, and just as that high hit, Photo started to take pictures. Rarity had completely immersed herself in her fantasy, and had forgotten she was being captured on film, but the renewed thought of that only made her hotter. The orgasm lasted as Photo took shot after shot, and she only stopped when Rarity came down from her high.

“Zat’s perfect! Exactly what I needed. Thank you so much, Miss Rarity.”

“That’s it? We’re done?” Rarity asked. After three different outfits and much posing, she was just starting to get used to the idea of being a model, but it was all over now.

“Yes. You’re free to go. Enjoy the city on your night off, and the check will be mailed to your boutique tomorrow.”

“Thank you so much, Photo Finish,” Rarity said, reaching out to shake her hoof.

“Wash your hooves first!” Photo cried, and it took Rarity a moment to understand her objection. Once she did, the two started laughing. What a way to end the day, Rarity thought. That was fabulous!

***

Twilight was down at the Paper Back Bookstore looking for a few novels to add to the collection at the library. They were running out of mystery novels, and she was looking for some of the Sherlock Hooves books.

“Oh, Twilight, just the mare I wanted to see!” called a stallion’s voice. Twilight turned and saw a pony wearing a tie. Twilight recognized him immediately and went over to shake his hoof.

“Nice to see you, Paper Back,” she said.

“Oh, Twilight, something just came in today that I’m sure you’ll find quite interesting,” Paper Back said.

“Is it a new book?” Twilight asked eagerly.

“It’s better if I show you,” said Paper Back. He led Twilight over to the magazines, which put Twilight off a bit. She considered magazines trashy and not worth her time. It only got worse when she realized Paper Back was taking her to the mature aisle of the magazine section.

“Look, if this is some kind of joke about my sex life, you can forget it. It’s not fun—” Twilight stopped talking when she saw the cover of Playcolt. On it was a pony she very much recognized wearing a purple dress with diamonds sewn in. The caption next to the photo said “Meet Rarity, Ponyville’s Most Fabulous Fashion Designer (and Pretty Hot to Boot).” Twilight was completely floored, to say the least.

“What’s inside it?” she demanded of Paper Back.

“I don’t know, I haven’t looked,” he said, “but I’m sure it’ll be worth your while to buy a copy and see for yourself.”

Twilight was about to strongly object when she realized that her curiosity had gotten the better of her.

“All right, fine,” she said, levitating the magazine and bringing it over to the counter. She paid the necessary bits and stepped outside carefully, but not before Paper Back called her back and gave her a discrete bag in which to hide the magazine. Twilight thanked him and trotted briskly back to the library.

Spike, gratefully, was not at the library, having some errands to run for her. She bolted up to her room and shut the door, locking it firmly. She then unsheathed the magazine from its plastic confines and opened the magazine. She found the relevant article about Rarity and flipped until she started seeing the pictures.

She had never seen Rarity degrade herself like this before. Picture after picture of her pouting for the camera and wearing slutty outfits lined the magazine pages. Twilight was disgusted at first, but the more she saw them, the more intriguing she found them to be. She finally flipped to the centerfold, and when she saw Rarity touching herself, she stared for a good thirty seconds until she finally came to her senses.

Realizing what she was doing, she blushed before closing the magazine and stashing it inside one of the books on the shelf. No way do I want Spike seeing that, she thought.

The pictures lingered in her head as she paced around the room, trying to think of how to respond to this shocking display of her friend’s. It took a good minute for her to realize that she needed to figure out why Rarity did it in the first place. With new resolve, she trotted briskly out of the library and toward Carousel Boutique.

Rarity, Twilight thought, we need to talk.