Spread

Chapter 2: The Reaction

Twilight, who was wearing a saddle pack, knocked politely on Rarity’s door. She started to tap her hoof impatiently as she waited for Rarity to come to her door. Soon enough, the bell tinkled as Rarity opened the door.

“Good morning, Twilight,” Rarity said. “What brings you here this morning?”

“Can I come inside?” Twilight asked.

“Certainly. Do come in.” Rarity stepped back to let Twilight inside. Once the door was closed Twilight pulled the issue of Playcolt out from the saddle pack using her magic. She showed Rarity the cover and gave her a stern look.

“Explain,” she said curtly.

Rarity giggled nervously trying to come up with a quick lie about why she’d had to do it. “Well, it’s like this, darling. Photo Finish sent me an offer to do a shoot for Playcolt, said something about my devilishly good looks and a high sense for fashion. So I said to myself, ‘Rarity, what’s the harm in trying this out just for fun? You’re not in the middle of any important orders, it’ll just take up a few days’ time, and you’ll be the talk of the town for a little while after it comes out.’ So I naturally accepted the offer and thoroughly enjoyed myself while I was away in Canterlot.”

“This is what you went to Canterlot for?” Twilight asked, shaking her head as she put the magazine on the table. “You told me it was to meet with a client!”

“Well, I think I get off on a technicality there. I did meet up with somepony I provided services for, thereby making them my clients.”

“That’s not the point!” Twilight yelled. She wasn’t sure why she was so incensed about this, but she suspected it had to do with the centerfold. Now that she was thinking about it, Twilight flipped the pages with her magic until the centerfold was in plain view. Rarity took a long look at it and blushed a deep crimson.

“I do regret taking that one a little, but all the other ones were in high taste, let me assure you.”

“That looks pretty genuine,” Twilight said, shutting the magazine to spare both of them some decency. “Were you actually masturbating for the camera?”

“What do you expect? It’s Playcolt! They’re not about to ask you to smile and say cheese.” Twilight turned as if to leave, but Rarity caught up to her and touched her shoulder. “Now, Twilight, I know you’re upset, but I’m a lady who can make my own choices. The opportunity came and I took advantage of it, that’s all. What would you have me do, turn down this once-in-a-lifetime chance?”

“Well, no,” Twilight said, “but it’s a little embarrassing.”

“Oh yes, I suppose I could be embarrassed by it but I mean really—”

“I meant embarrassing for me,” Twilight said, sucking the life out of the room with her frankness. “Can’t you just imagine it? Stallions asking me if I have your phone number so you can show them a good time. Mares turning their backs on me because I’m associated with you. What is the town going to think of me? And most importantly, what will they think of you? I’m not embarrassed of you as much as I’m embarrassed for you. Do you understand now how I’m feeling?”

Rarity looked crestfallen as she gazed into Twilight’s eyes. Twilight couldn’t bear to face her and looked toward the ground. She blushed quite hotly remembering the other embarrassing thing, namely the excitement she had felt seeing the photos. Always quick on the uptake, Twilight realized what this might mean, but there was no way she was telling Rarity about that here and now.

The awkward silence was broken when Rainbow Dash flew in the door. Dash nearly knocked Twilight over but didn’t even notice her because she was looking for Rarity. Once she found her, she swooped right in front of her and showed her the issue of Playcolt she had apparently just purchased.

“That is you, right?” Dash asked, waving the magazine in front of Rarity’s face. Rarity made to snatch the magazine from Dash’s hoof but Dash flew out of reach. She was laughing as she soared through the boutique.

“This is just priceless,” she sang in between her laughter. “Aw, man, wait’ll I show the other ponies. Oh, hi, Twilight,” Dash said, finally acknowledging her presence. “Wait, does that mean I missed your initial reaction? Dammit. Well, what did you think.”

“I was...pretty confused actually,” Twilight admitted.

“Damn, would have loved to see the look on your face. Let’s show Applejack!” Dash made a beeline for the exit but Twilight shut the door with her magic. Dash hit the wall and slid down it to the floor. It took her a minute to recover from the impact.

“Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said, “I think it would be best if you did not show our other friends.”

“Why?” Dash asked. “Are you ashamed of it?”

“Not in the slightest! I just want to spare them the shock and confusion that Twilight had, because that would most likely be their reaction instead of yours, that you find the whole thing hilarious. Now drop the magazine, leave the boutique, and don’t speak of this to our friends.”

“All right, all right, I’m leaving,” Dash said. She set the magazine down on the table and walked towards the door, which Twilight opened. Once the door was opened, Dash took off in a blur, snatching Twilight’s copy of the magazine and racing out the door in one swift motion.

“Psyche!” she called out, leaving Twilight and Rarity to chase after her in a desperate attempt to keep her from showing any of their other friends the photos. It didn’t take long for Rainbow Dash to leave them in the dust, but they persisted chasing her until they found her at Applejack’s stand in the market.

“Put that away!” Applejack cried. “Don’t be showin’ off crap like that in public.”

“So what do you think?” Dash asked, a mischievous smile on her face.

“Rainbow Dash!” Rarity called irately. “You need to stop what you’re doing right now if you know what’s good for you.”

“What’s the problem?” Dash asked, flying out of reach of Rarity, who was trying to swipe the magazine from Dash’s hooves. “I just want to show my friends the good news, that you’re famous!”

“I am not famous,” Rarity objected. “Not for that, at least.”

“If you’re so ashamed of it,” Dash asked, “why’d you do it in the first place?”

“Ah have half a mind to ask the same thing,” Applejack said, “and if ya ask me ah think what you did is despicable. Nice example to set for young fillies.”

“Oh, get off your high horse, Applejack,” Dash said. “What would you do if you had that kind of opportunity in your lap?”

“Well, ah wouldn’t let mah lap do anythin’ like this!”

“Girls, can we keep our voices down?” Twilight asked. “We’re starting to draw attention to ourselves.” Sure enough, the four friends looked around and saw ponies on the streets staring at them in bewilderment. They carried on their conversation in hushed whispers.

“Does anypony else in Ponyville know about this, Rarity?” Applejack asked.

“Not that I know of, or I’d be hearing about it.”

“Where’s Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie?” Dash wondered out loud. Twilight used her magic to pry the magazine from her hooves. “No fair!”

“Sorry, Dash, but Rarity deserves her privacy.”

“Yeah, right. She gave that up when she agreed to do this.”

“I’m afraid Rainbow has a point, darling,” Rarity said. “This might have been fun to do in private, but now that I’m seeing your reactions I dread what the public will think of me.”

“Oh, come on, Rarity,” Dash said, “everypony in town already thinks you’re a whore.”

“Excuse me?” Rarity asked, her horn glowing and eyes glowering.

“What? Somepony had to tell her,” Dash said, holding her hooves up feigning innocence.

“Yer so thickheaded, Dash,” Applejack said. “Nopony thinks that of you, Rarity, though after this spread ah’m not sure what they’re gonna think now...”

“Heya!” called a chirpy voice. The four ponies turned to see Pinkie Pie bouncing toward them, followed somewhat reluctantly by Fluttershy.

“Pinkie Pie,” Fluttershy said, “I don’t think they want to be disturbed right now. They look like they’re in a pretty private conversation.”

“Whatcha got there?” Pinkie shouted, looking at the magazine in Twilight’s magical grasp. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold the phone! Is that you Rarity? On the cover of Playcolt.”

“Pinkie Pie, for the love of Celestia, keep your voice down,” Rarity begged.

“Oh, sorry,” Pinkie said in a whisper. “So is that you on the cover?”

“She’s more than just on the cover,” Applejack grumbled. “She’s just about everywhere in the magazine, too.”

“Ooh! Can I see?” Pinkie asked. Twilight took a step back.

“I don’t think you want to be looking at this,” Rarity said.

“Aw! Why not?”

“Pinkie,” Fluttershy said meekly, “if Rarity wants to keep this secret, it’s wrong of us to intrude.”

“Like this is gonna stay secret now,” Dash said. “Pretty soon every stallion in town’s gonna know about it. And whatcha gonna do then, Rarity? Huh? Let Pinkie have a quick peek.”

“I absolutely forbid it!” Rarity pleaded.

“Oh, that’s okay, you guys. I can just get my own copy at the bookstore. Be right back!” Pinkie bounced away cheerily. Rarity made to go after her, but she quickly despaired.

“Oh, what’s the use?” she asked. “She’s going to find out sooner or later...”

“Um, sorry, I just got here, so I don’t understand what the problem is...” Fluttershy whispered.

Rarity let out a long sigh. “Twilight, show her,” she said. Twilight opened to the first pages featuring photos of Rarity, and Fluttershy stared at them in awe as Twilight flipped the pages. She was about to put the magazine away when Fluttershy noticed part of the centerfold peeking out.

“Can I see that one?” she asked.

“Fluttershy,” Twilight said, “it’s not really a good idea—”

Dash flipped the page and let the centerfold unfold itself. Fluttershy blushed hot crimson and turned away.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight scolded, but it was too late.

“Okay, okay, I get it,” Fluttershy said. “Just please don’t make me look at it anymore.”

“Sorry, Fluttershy,” Twilight said, shutting the magazine and hiding it away.

“I’m sorry, too, dear,” Rarity said. “I don’t know what I was thinking when I agreed to do it. It just sounded like a wonderful opportunity, but I didn’t think about the repercussions at the time.”

“It’s all right, Rarity,” Fluttershy said, giving her a hug. “We all make mistakes.”

“Wow!” Pinkie Pie said, bouncing back to the group. “I took a look at those pictures, and holey moley, Rarity, those are some hot shots! Especially the centerfold. You really went all out on that one.”

“Pinkie, dear, you’re shouting again,” Rarity said nervously.

“That was so cool, though!” she said, bouncing off the ground gleefully. “I wish I could have done it. Then everypony in town would think I was one hot potato! But I’m not as gorgeous as you, so I don’t think I could pull it off—”

“Pull what off?” called a stallion walking up to them. The group recognized him to be Time Turner.

“Good morning, Time Turner,” Twilight said. “How are you?”

“Fine,” he said in his chipper accent. “Pull what off, Pinkie Pie?”

“Oh, you mean you don’t know?” Pinkie asked.

“Pinkie, I’m warning you...” Rarity said sinisterly.

“What? What’s the problem?” Pinkie asked.

“I’d prefer to keep that a secret,” Rarity said bluntly.

Pinkie nodded and zipped her lip literally, with a zipper appearing on the side of her mouth.

“Well, looks like it’s in that magazine,” Time Turner said, indicating the periodical Twilight was trying to hide beneath her. “I guess I’ll just ask Paper Back about it. Sorry to bother you.”

“Time Turner, wait—” Rarity called, but he didn’t turn back. Pinkie unzipped her mouth and the zipper vanished.

“Whoops! Guess the cat’s out of the bag now. Sorry, Rarity. I didn’t mean to be such a bigmouth.”

“Don’t worry about it, darling,” Rarity said. “The truth was bound to come out sooner or later.”

“I can’t wait to see how Ponyville’s gonna react,” Dash said devilishly, rubbing her forehooves together.

“Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said in a low voice, “try not to sound so eager about it. We have to be supportive of Rarity.”

“I know, I know,” Dash said. “Really, I get it. But I mean, come on, Rarity shoulda known what she was getting into.”

“Can ah voice mah opinion?” Applejack said. “Since y’all have been ignorin’ me for the past ten minutes.”

Rarity sighed. “Go ahead, Applejack.”

“Ah just wanted to say ah’m shocked that you agreed to do somethin’ so disgustin’. If ah ever catch my brother cloppin’ to this magazine, ah’ll be so ashamed as a friend. Ah don’t know what got you to do this, but whatever it was, it wasn’t worth it. Promise me ya won’t do somethin’ stupid like this again.”

“Applejack, you have my word,” Rarity said, not knowing what the future was about to bring to her, unaware that she’d have to break her promise to Applejack very soon.