The Supermodel Scandalby GrassBladeChaptersRarity gets a jobAftermathCroissantsTrial by fireHay friesA hop, skip, and a jumpRarity gets a job"Hmmm, hmm hmmmm..." The slender unicorn looked up from her magazine when she heard the humming. It was a tune she had heard before. She looked around for the source of the music, her eyes settling on a slightly shorter unicorn whose pearly white coat matched hers. Keeping the magazine drawn up close to her eyes, she noted the curled, violet waves of hair. Oh, she knew this pony. What was her name? Eclair? Clarity? She cleared her throat gently, hoping to get the white and purple pony's - and only that pony's - attention. To her relief, the unicorn turned, revealing a cutie mark resembling three diamonds for a second before they were hidden once more behind a large stack of luggage. Briefly, the mare wondered who would ever bring that much baggage to a public bus stop. "Oh, hello Fleur!" said Diamond Pony. "It's been a while. You remember me, of course? We met during one of my many visits to Canterlot before. Oh my, do you remember the wedding? Simply frightful!" She laughed delicately. Fleur nodded weakly. If she really had known this mare for that long, she couldn't risk asking her name. It wasn't socially acceptable, and Fleur made a big show of being just that. "Ah yes, the wedding. It was quite a shock, of course. Thankfully, my Fancy remained true. He is ever the gentlecolt," Fleur responded nervously. Diamond nodded her assent. "It surprises me that you're at such a, well, normal, bus stop. I'd offer you a ride, but as you can see I have momentary need of public transportation as well." Diamond paused for a moment, blinking her long, curled eyelashes as she awaited an explanation. When she got one, she frowned and pursed her lips. "Are you alright, darling?" she asked. "I daresay you seem the slightest bit nervous." Fleur nodded, choosing her words carefully. "My manager would like us to work together," she said. One slip up and Diamond would realize that Fleur didn't know her name, and then it would all be over for her. Fleur's train of thought was interrupted by a short squeal. "Eeeee! I can't believe it! I'm going to be working with the one and only supermodel, Fleur dis lee! I can picture the headlines now: Rural Town Ponyville's Fashionista Rarity Designs YOUR Clothes!" Rarity exclaimed with barely-contained glee. With that, she mock-fainted onto a large, plush, red couch. Fleur blinked. Where had that come from? With a mental shrug she allowed herself a smile. "Yes, many ponies have heard about your utterly magnificent fashion skills. Seeing as we have already met in the past, Rarity," Fleur said, relieved at finally knowing the mare's name, "it was a perfect deal. My manager would like to see you at nine AM sharp tomorrow." Fleur looked up. Rarity was once more standing in front of her. Fleur confusedly noted that the couch was now gone. She opened her mouth to ask about it when the bus came roaring. She coughed, albeit lightly. "Here, have my handkerchief. You can keep it," chirped Rarity as she boarded the bus. A young earth pony stallion behind her struggled to get her luggage into the bus. Fleur couldn't help but smile at the sight. Enveloping the dainty tissue in her pink magic, she politely coughed some more before stowing it away. What was she really doing here anyway? Fleur stood up from the bench, walking past the admiring stares of the ponies nearby. She'd discuss her schedule with her manager. He always knew what to do. Rarity put some of the finishing touches on Fleur's dress, a wispy, sky blue one with pink highlights that matched the supermodel's mane. Thank Celestia that the manager had been relatively eager to hire her! Ponyville would have to wait a little bit longer. The dress Rarity was working on had a low neckline, designed to be covered by a piece of elegant jewelry. Rarity had a box of necklaces and such for comparison later. There were blue sleeves that blended well at the torso into the pink corset, tied with black lace. A short blue skirt in the back detailed with just the right amount of violet and pink sequins lay on the mannequin's flanks, leaving room for Fleur's long tail. As a final afterthought, Rarity added fishnet stockings, as dark as obsidian, to all four legs. It not only matched the corset lace but would stand out splendidly against Fleur's white coat. Rarity took of her glasses and sighed in satisfaction. "What do you think, Opal?" she asked her cat. The feline in question glared back before curling up on the hotel bed. "My thoughts exactly, it may not be that comfortable." Rarity made some minor tweaks before cautiously lifting the dress off of the mannequin with her magic. Turning to face a mirror, she examined herself critically, extending a tendril of telekinesis to properly rearrange her mane. With a cheery wave, she bid her cat farewell, hailing a cab to take her down to the photo studio where Fleur, her manager - who was technically Rarity's as well, now - and the cameraman were waiting. With her new dress beside her and a friendly (thanks to the generous tip) cab driver ahead, the white and purple clothes designer closed her eyes for a moment. Today was going to be a good day. "Hello, I'm Lightning Streak, but you can just call me Streak. I'm Fleur's regular photographer. It's nice to finally meet you, Miss Rarity," said the dark gray pegasus. "'Finally meet me'? I'm afraid I don't understand," Rarity wondered aloud. "You didn't know? Many of your designs are becoming very popular," remarked Streak. Speaking of designs... He could see the design she had in mind for Fleur behind her. He admired the short skirt and- He gasped internally. Were those fishnet stockings? Oh, his Playcolt readers would eat this up. Streak smirked to himself. He liked this designer already. He'd never heard of her before now, but he already liked her style. "Oh, really? Well, I'm very happy to hear that." Rarity beamed at him. "Anyway, I had better go help Fleur with this outfit. We'll be back soon for the photo shoot!" The mare scampered off, leaving Lightning Streak alone with his highly inappropriate thoughts. Aftermath"Just a tad lower there, yes, now bend your forelegs, a little more, okay. Now, Fleur, straighten you back legs..." Streak got Fleur into the position he liked. Rotating his camera around so that he and the supermodel faced the same direction, he ordered her to raise her tail slightly, exposing a little more of her legs. Fleur looked over her shoulder at the the cameraman while Rarity looked on. "Um, Mr. Streak, as much as I admire your experience in this field, wouldn't you agree that this is slightly immodest?" asked Rarity. "Plus, I find that you cannot see very much of my design at all. The corset and sleeves are completely hidden behind the trail. Wouldn't it be more appropriate if you focused on the outfit instead of Fleur's tai-" "Nonsense, Miss Rarity, I know what I'm doing," replied Streak, tongue hanging out of his mouth. "This is, uh, purely experimental. It takes a while to find the perfect viewpoint, wouldn't you agree?" "I suppose so... I just want to see that my outfit is displayed in the best possible light." "Will do." Rarity walked out of the room to continue working, leaving the pegasus to his devices. A few days after the photo shoot, Rarity walked through the streets of Canterlot, humming. All around she saw modest and respectable pictures of Fleur wearing her dress. Ponies were gaping and sighing, and Rarity was bubbling with excitement. A block away she spotted Fleur waiting for her, and broke into a trot to greet her. As Rarity approached she began to notice stallions eyeing Fleur in a way that made her skin crawl. Fleur was looking uncomfortable and Fancy Pants was barking at a sheepish blue unicorn stallion. "What do you mean Playcolt? My Fleur would never model for something so.. scandalous!" yelled Fancy. "I assure you Mister..." "You perverted and sick minded-" Rarity pivoted on the spot to face Fleur. Both mares were lost for words as a third mare, a pegasus, approached Fleur furiously. "I have always looked up to you as a mare who stood up for the better things in life. You never lowered yourself to this level and.. and.." The mare looked just about ready to spit on Fleur. The model herself was on the verge of tears. "Please, miss, I don't understa-" Rarity interrupted, "Come on Fleur, let's go to the manager." Sniffling, Fleur complied. "He'll know what to do..." The two white unicorns pushed their way through the growing crowd. Fancy turned, spittle flying. When he saw the supermodel and the fashion designer struggling, he huffed, readjusted his monocle, and stalked off after them, glaring daggers at everypony he passed. After the events of the previous day, Fleur was given a day off. Rarity accompanied her new friend, having finished her dress early. At the moment they were sitting at an ice cream parlor, happily licking pistachio and strawberry ice cream cones. Suddenly, Streak walked in with a smaller camera about his neck. "Why, what a surprise to see you two ladies here!" He grinned. "Oh yes! Hello, Streak!" said Rarity. "Hello," said Fleur. Streak gave them a nod and turned to the parlor owner, laying down a few bits for a chocolate ice cream cone. He examined the area, looking for a seat. Despite being empty other than the three of them, he sat across from the unicorns, holding the cone in his wing. The two looked up, surprised. "Do you mind?" he said with a half smile, holding up the camera. "It should help me brainstorm a few better poses and ideas." "Oh, um, sure I suppose so," Fleur said, giving the cone a lick. FLASH! Streak examined the photo. He had gotten a good picture of Fleur mid-lick, and Rarity didn't look half bad either. With a little editing this will be great, he thought. Better get this to the boss. He gave them a wink and an empty 'thanks' before taking off into the sky, his chocolate cone forgotten. Rarity lay awake. Her excuse to herself was that she was considering dress ideas, but she couldn't help her mind drifting back to what had happened after her first time with Fleur. A familiar cold weight of guilt settled in her stomach. I've ruined her reputation... she pouted. And mine! Because of my stupid little- Rarity stopped. What exactly had gone wrong? The pictures had turned up in Playcolt, hadn't they? But who could've gotten a hold of those pictures? And what did they even look like? She hadn't seen them at all, she had been so swept up in the after effects of the... incident. She sat up. Rarity needed to get her hooves on a Playcolt - she blushed at the thought - in order to see who had taken and published the picture. And then... Rarity's eyes flit around madly. Perhaps she'd turn them into a ferret and swing them around until Opal interfered. Yes, that sounded good. Rarity chuckled to herself, sinking back beneath the covers into her pleasant slumber. CroissantsFleur wiped her eyes and got to her feet. Fancy was snoring, his mane splayed out crazily over the pillows. Smiling, Fleur walked into the bathroom and splashed some water onto her face, before applying all her lotions and cleansers and makeup that kept her in the modeling business. After a final layer of eyeshadow, she left the mansion and directed her chauffeur to the photo studio. As the limousine rolled smoothly along the cobbled streets of Canterlot, she rolled down her window to take in the ambiance. The smell of croissants and bagels drifted in, swirling through the vehicle and warming Fleur to the bone. White noise surrounded her as she looked out at the ponies in the markets. She saw a green pegasus shaking her head at a purple unicorn, and two earth ponies, one magenta, one yellow, trading bits. The sun was almost clear of the horizon, a medley of pinks, yellows, and blues all smudged together to form the rosy glow. Fleur exhaled at the sight. It helped her to forget all the hustle and bustle that usually surrounded her life. Rolling up the window as her mane became to flick and tangle in the breeze, she rested her hooves at her sides, running them up and down the seams of her seat. Her soft hooves rolled up and over the smooth fabric, feeling the precise stitches that held it all together. Absentmindedly she picked at the thread, even using her magic to tug at it. Right before it gave, she caught herself. With the familiar pinprick sensation that came with picking up tiny objects, she looped the thread back through. It was fixed, but Fleur could still see the frayed ends of the string, and the cloth was looser than it had been before. And, despite her best efforts, it would never be good as new. Rarity pored over her newest creation, a streamlined jumpsuit meant to be an athlete's (expensive) all-purpose gear. This particular one happened to be a darkish green, but Rarity had added some lime green zigzags around the collar and forelegs. In an effort to help Fleur regain her reputation, she had made sure that everything was completely and utterly covered. It was a fairly simple design, with minimal decoration. In Rarity's opinion, it would match perfectly with the simple-minded athletes the creation was intended for. Her friend Rainbow Dash attested to that. As boutique owner zipped around her brainchild, and loud knock burst from the door, followed by a bang as Streak let himself in. "Bonjour, Miss Rarity," he said as he bowed and planted a gentle kiss on her forehoof. "Oh, Mister Streak! I didn't know you spoke Prench!" "I devoted a few years of my life to learning the language of love, but alas have yet to put it to good use." Truly, the only words he knew were 'bonjour' and 'croissants', which meant 'hello' and, well, 'croissant', respectively. "Hmm, I see." Rarity pursed her lips, her eyebrows furrowed. "You know, I'd expect a stallion of your social status to know better than to barge into a lady's abode." "Ah, well, you must understand, there is a matter of utmost urgency." Rarity couldn't see how one could have a matter of utmost urgency and yet find the time to kiss the other's hoof and give them detailed and conversational analysis of their background. "Yes?" she said. "Uh, I just came to, um, remind you that you have be down at the photo studio in..." He glanced up at the clock. "Thirty minutes!" Rarity gazed blankly back at Streak. "Yes, I know." She rolled her eyes, turning around swiftly to resume her work. Her tail made an arc in the air as she looked back, about to dismiss the photographer. FLASH! She blinked and managed to catch a dark gray blur speeding out the door. "Hmph." At the end of the hallway, Streak snickered as he galloped away. Rarity looked on as Streak bustled about, placing plastic cubes for Fleur to place a hoof on. She did so, striking a valiant pose. Assured that all was as he wanted it, he switched the fan on and sprinted back to his camera. A series of flashes followed. "Perfect Fleur, oh, I like that smile! Keep it up, darling!" Rarity ran her tongue over her teeth. She supposed now was the best time to find a copy of Playcolt. Mumbling an excuse to no one in particular, she slipped out the door and raced down the stairs. She pulled her hood over her head, took a deep breath, and cantered out into the busy roads. It had rained not an hour earlier, and the ground was still damp with the precipitation. The clouds overhead still dripped water every now and then, and Rarity was grateful for her cloak. She hurried over to her destination, purchased a Playcolt and a Mare's Life, and tucked the former inside the latter. Now, to the casual observer, she was just skimming over the April edition of Mare's Life. As Rarity examined the cover of the hidden magazine she was shocked to see Fleur on the front page. "Oh dear..." Trial by fire"Streak, as a photographer, do you know anyone in your community who goes by 'Storm Front'?" questioned Rarity. That was the only information the magazine had offered. After finding the name she had dumped the Playcolt in the trash, but kept the Mare's Life. It really was quite intriguing. She really ought to try her hoof at the double-loop feather stitch- "Um, no. Nope, doesn't ring a bell at all. Sorry!" "How unfortunate. It seems that after the events that took place a week ago, he and Fleur have a score to settle," returned the mare with a flick of her mane. "Uh, actually you've been drawn into this as well, it seems." Streak did his best impression of embarrassment, hoofing her a newer copy of the Playcolt magazine. Rarity ignited her horn, smothering the magazine in a light blue aura. She unfurled it roughly before making a very undignified sound and galloping for the door. The patter of her hooves quickly faded away. Streak sneered to himself. Thank Celestia he had decided use a false name. He was going to get rich off these mares. "Rarity? What are you doing here?" "Ack! Oh, hello there Fleur. I didn't see you there." Rarity looked awkwardly up at the confused unicorn. Sitting on a bench at the Canterlot train station, she saw her train approaching in the background. Steam pumped out of its pipe as it chugged its way from Ponyville. She turned her attention back to Fleur. "I'm simply visiting my friends in Ponyville over the weekend. It's been ages since I have last seen them," she explained. A loud honking sound blared out from the train. Fleur winced. "It is really quite loud," said the model. "Yes, I suppose it is. In any event, I must go now. Sorry to disturb you, goodbye!" Rarity gushed her excuses and quickly boarded the train. "See you soon!" called Fleur. Rarity breathed a sigh of relief as the lowered herself onto the plump, cheap seat cushions. Surprisingly, she actually did plan on returning. Her job in Canterlot was very intriguing, and she would not give up this golden oppurtunity. Consequently, she did not see much of Ponyville nowadays. Now that the weekend had arrived, she was glad of the chance to see her friends again. After the recent events, she didn't think she could handle any more scathing looks from the ponies in Canterlot. She needed a break, and her friends would help her. They always did! Rarity thought it was a good argument, and apparently so did Fleur. After she waved goodbye to her friend and co-worker, she relaxed. She truly did need a break. Toward the end of the trip, she turned her attention to the complementary, albeit low-quality treats. Daintily selecting an oat bar and some water, she decided to whet her appetite before the inevitable "Welcome-home-Rarity-from-your-extra-super-special-job-in-Canterlot" party thrown by, of course, Pinkie Pie. "He-e-e-y-y!!!! It's Rarita-a-a-y-y-y!!!" Speak of the devil. Rarity couldn't help but giggle to herself. She peered out the window, ready to greet the girls with a wave of her hoof. "Hello every-" It was just Pinkie Pie. Rarity speedily withdrew her hoof, frowning in confusion. Perhaps the girls were just waiting for her at the boutique, or the library. Yes, that was it. That had to be it. A smile once more plastered on her face, she braced herself a the train stopped with a jolt. Thanking the friendly conductor with a few more bits than necessary, she went to meet Pinkie. The pink mare was jumping crazily. "Hiya there Rarity! It's been, like, waaaay too long, dontcha think? I mean since we last saw each other." "Hello, Pinkie, and yes, it had been quite a while," Rarity responded with barely contained mirth. "What's new in Ponyville?" "Twilight and Dashie and AJ warned me to stay away from you because they didn't know you were 'that kind of mare' and Fluttershy kinda just nodded in her corner. Isn't Fluttershy just the silliest! Teehee!" Pinkie bubbled innocently. "That's delight- wait, they said what?" spluttered the pearly white pony. "What?" Pinkie managed to ask, before she was barreled down by the sheer fury and embarrassment of Rarity as she charged past. "TWILIGHT!!" she roared, stampeding through the dirt roads. Mares and stallions alike gave her a combination of curious stares and malevolent glares. Dust rose up in billowy little clouds as her hooves clattered along. The dirt slowly gave way to cobble and Rarity stopped short, panting. Before her loomed the great oak tree that contained the town's collection of books and scrolls. A single fire spell would mutilate this building, Rarity thought darkly. Crashing through the door - it was a public library, after all - she looked furiously at the four mares. At the sound of her bursting through the door, Rainbow Dash had flinched, Twilight and Applejack had shuffled backwards, and Fluttershy was most likely on the ceiling somewhere. Recovering swiftly, Twilight took a cautious step forward, trying not to touch Rarity as she were some sort of contagious disease. "Please... Get out... Of... My... Library." Twilight spoke slowly, as if speaking to a foal. "What is wrong with you, you traitorous mule?" Rarity seethed. Applejack and Rainbow Dash scurried forward indignantly. Rainbow shouted, "Hey! Don't talk to Twilight like that! What's she ever done to you? Not coo-" "What has she done to me? She refuses to greet me like any pony of etiquette would. She pays me no heed and practically ignores my existence during my stay in Canterlot. She gossips about me behind my back!! And not only that, but she - and the rest of you - scorn me when I come back to visit. So, Rainbow, the correct question here is what have I ever done to you!?" Applejack narrowed her eyes. "Ah don't like tha way yer talkin to Twilight here, Rarity," she scolded. "Ya got a point there, truly, but it's hard ta see yer jutis- justic- justification after what ya did." Somewhere above the white fashion pony a small whimper wavered down from the ceiling. Slowly, Fluttershy lowered herself to the ground, standing between Rarity and the door. Her head was lowered, and hidden behind a strand of hair was a single, damp, turquoise eye. "Um, Rarity, I don't want to be mean, I mean, I really just want us all to be friends - if that's okay with you - but I am just the teensiest, tiniest bit curious about how long you've, uh, been doing this kind of thing... If you don't want to tell me, then, um, it's okay, I guess..." she whispered shakily. Rarity opened her mouth to respond when a great clattering arose from the kitchen, and she spotted a stray pot rolling noisily across the doorway. In an instant all five mares were running forward the source of the sound. In an effort to get there, Rarity accidentally brushed shoulders with Applejack, who automatically flinched and shied away from her. There was no time to dwell on it, however. They could already see inside the kitchen, and the poofy, curly, pink tail sticking straight up from inside a drawer. Finally, Pinkie withdrew herself from the cupboard, brandishing a frying pan with a big smile on her face. A soft thud behind Rarity told her that Fluttershy had fainted in relief, and beside her Rainbow sighed, releasing her pent-up energy and fear. "Uh, too bad it was just you, Pinkie. If you were a thief, I would, like, totally fight you. I would have beat you with my awesome kicks and totally punched you in the eyeballs with my awesomeness..." Rainbow trailed off nervously. "What are you doing here, Pinkie?" Twilight asked with one of her trademark goody-goody smiles. "Scratch that, darling," Rarity practically snarled at Twilight. She turned back to the cheerful pink mare. "How did you even get here? I just arrived, and I was running." It was more of a rhetorical question, of course. Nopony really understood Pinkie in general. "I was just getting ready for the Welcome-home-Rarity-from-your-extra-super-special-job-in-Canterlot party, and I figured that since you guys were all here it'd be a super great idea to just invite you all at once! But then I totally saw this package that Spike left open and they were carrot cupcakes and well you know how I love my carrot cupcakes and so I tried one and they were super, duper, oober, glooper, jooper, woober good! And so I just HAD to make more! Like, no doubt about it! So I grabbed some pots but they fell and made a crazy loud noise! And then you guys came in and started talking and then Rarity asked me how I got here and then I started explaining how I did. And when I got to the part about the carrot cupcakes I got kinda hungr-" "Thank you for that insightful analysis, Pinkie. But really, I'd just like Rarity to get out of the library. We'd lose all our guests if she stayed, and then the library would be forced to close down, and I know Scootaloo wants to check out the latest Daring Do book right after Rainbow Dash finishes it," Twilight said pleasantly. Rarity took an angry step toward the lavender mare. Immediately, Applejack and Rainbow Dash stepped up, preventing the fashionista from taking a single step closer. "What's wrong?" asked Pinkie. The poor party pony was bewildered, and a faint wheezing sound slid out from her mane, which had lost a couple centimeters of volume. Her eyes were round discs of cerulean, imploring the mares before her to tell her why her invitation was being ignored. "Rarity here has become one of them models for Playcolt," Applejack accused. Gasping, the mare of interest exclaimed, "Well, I never! For the Element of Honesty, you sure are spewing a lot of lies! Somepony has been sneaking pictures of me!" Fluttershy took a timid step forward, her head dipped as she inhaled. "Well, um, Rarity, if you're okay with it I would like to point out, um, I've never seen you in that kind of position in public..." Rarity practically screamed. "Perhaps they used something along the lines of photo editing!! Besides, I don't even own clothes like that!" Twilight cleared her throat, still smiling sweetly, although her eyes had a harsh glint in them. Pulling out a different magazine with her magic, she opened it to the page with Fleur wearing a very revealing outfit. "THOSE ARE SWIMSUITS!!" Fluttershy was taken aback at the sudden outburst, shriveled back into a little ball. Rarity shook herself and continued at a lower - but still loud - volume. "Twilight. This is so like you, to gather evidence and be all scholarly about everything. This is how you do everything!!" Rarity was back to yelling now. "Fine! Let's make this a Canterlot court case, just like you did at your school being the prissy adoptive daughter of Princess Celestia! You've stockpiled your evidence, gathered witnesses, and look!" she turned to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. "You even have your own personal bodyguards! How CUTE!!!" Twilight Sparkle frowned. "So, your honor," Rarity continued, voice dripping with malicious sarcasm, "what are my charges?" Twilight said, "You've been charged with intentional immodest appearances, degrading yourself, us, and the entirety of Ponyville with your scandalous modeling." Blinded by fury, the accused screamed, "I can't believe you're going through with this!" And with that she left, battering the roads with her hooves as she sprinted to the safety of high-class society. Hay fries"What!?" Rarity yelled over the din of the auditorium. "I said, is the circus treating you well?" repeated Streak. Barely two minutes ago, Rarity had been lounging on the bed, drinking chamomile tea as she pored over the latest fashion trends. Suddenly, the gray pegasus had appeared and whisked her away to some kind of circus. While amusing, it was not really the way she had planned on spending the night. "Very well, thank you," she replied, before discarding her hay fries with a look of contempt. They rattled at the bottom of the trash can. She wanted to leave, but knew that by social etiquette she must watch the remainder of the show. At the intermission - she was shocked that such a run-down hovel would consider itself classy enough to have one - she glanced around, looking for the photographer. A silver and light blue tail caught her attention, and she left her springy seat in search for its owner. Brushing aside the tarp with her hoof, she peered out into the dark roads. Streak was flying low over the streets, his hooves mere inches from the ground. Rainbow Dash had once told her it was a technique used to sneak around: not high enough to get noticed, not low enough to make noise if they walked. Then again, she thought angrily, Rainbow's opinions aren't exactly top notch, are they? She left the question unanswered as she continued to pursue Streak. Feeling the need for secrecy, she wrapped her hooves in her velvety magic, trying to keep the sparkle and glow level to a minimum. Slowly stalking, her hooves barely touched the ground through her pillow-like layer of magic. Her target continually turned corners and headed down dark alleyways, and Rarity felt her suspicion rise in her throat. Where was he going? He slowly picked up the pace, and the unicorn felt herself sweating as she struggled to both keep up and remain silent. Finally, they reached the end of the alleyway, bordered by rickety garbage cans and tattered buildings. The pegasus entered one such building, which had a sign that Rarity read: "Joe's Donuts". A bird had made its nest on the D, and the e was hanging down over the side, swinging slowly back and forth with a faint creaking. Shuddering to herself, Rarity peered in. Most likely, he was buying the two of them a treat for the show, although she guessed that the intermission was over by now. Streak walked up to a large yellow stallion, presumably Joe, and gave him a nod and a smirk. Frowning now, the mare looked on as the baker moved to the back of the establishment, with Streak right behind him. Tugging at some hidden lever, Joe gave a nod and the photographer descended below the counter until every last sky blue hair was out of sight. The fashionista licked her lips, devising a plan to get inside. She waited. When Joe was once more taking orders and recommending specials, as she assumed was normal, she walked in the door, making sure to scruff up her hair so she would fit in with the crowd. The effect was lost on them. "Miss Rarity? What are you doin' in a place like this?" stammered Joe, his little white hat falling to the side. Oh well. She might as well try putting her socialite power to a good use. Sidling up next to the owner, she leaned forward and whispered, "I demand you take me downstairs." She tried her best to sound confident, but couldn't help the tremor of hesitation in her voice. The yellow unicorn stallion relaxed. "Oh, o' course. Although, I thought the pictures were usually taken outside," he remarked as he led her behind the cash register. "Whatever. Don' listen to me, I'm just a regular pony doin' my part to earn a liddle extra dough." He chuckled at his own joke, before giving the mare a nod very much like the one he had given Streak. With a low rumbling sound, a hidden door slid open, revealing a dark stairway bathed in red light. Rarity gulped. She glanced at Donut Joe, who was patiently waiting. She couldn't keep him here long, unfortunately. She started down the stairs. Shouts from stallions came from all around. They hurt Rarity's ears at first, but then she adjusted to both the noise and the darkness. Some ponies were developing photos (hence the red lights) while others were cropping some on the computer. Yes, Equestria had truly diverse technological advancements. Ponies, mostly stallions, were everywhere, sifting through stacks of papers and running about relaying directions. At the computer area, the ponies began saving and printing, and the steady chug filled the room. She couldn't see what the photos were of at this distance, however. Glancing about, she spotted Streak talking to a purple and yellow unicorn stallion, who was holding up Streak's camera with a smile. As she snuck closer, she managed to catch bits of their conversation. "...remarkable that it has two lenses, one in front but the real one in back, to take unnoticed pictures..." said the purple/yellow unicorn. "Thank you, boss," responded Lightning Streak. The boss muttered something inaudible. In reply, Streak lifted up his wings, revealing his cutie mark: two screwdrivers crossed behind a roll of dark parchment. " ...you know I love to tinker, boss..." Rarity crawled closer, her suspicion flaring into anger. Was this what she thought it was...? "Anyway, I hope you have more pictures. We are running dry." The boss ran his tongue over his teeth. He had seen the radiant white glow from behind the photographer, and prepared his teleportation spell. "Yup, of course! She didn't even notice through the bright lights of the circus," replied Streak jubilantly, hoofing over a few pictures of Rarity. This was the last straw. "Eeeeyaaah!!" yelled the fashion designer, bursting out of the shadows. She hammered her magic and her hooves onto the fashion designer. The boss saw his chance. POP! He reappeared behind her, restraining her with a purple glow that matched Rarity's mane. She managed to land a kick on Streak's cheek, leaving him knocked out with a large red welt on his face. "Calm yourself, sweetheart, there's no reason to be upset," he murmured smoothly into her neck. She recoiled at the stench of rotten dandelions on his breath. "I haff efry refum da be ubfed!!" she yelled into the supernatural binding. "What was that, dear?" Blue sparks flew out of her horn as she struggled to clear a hole for herself. Though unrefined, his magic was stronger than hers. "I have every reason to be upset!" she repeated indignantly, before taking in a breath and being shoved back under the violet blanket. Her thoughts stormed around in her head as the stallion dragged her back to his desk, placing his hoof beside a mug of coffee. He whistled, and two ponies came and carried the cameraman's limp body away. The yellow/purple pony scowled to himself. Couldn't that photographer - what was his name? No matter - have at least done his job? Did he have to do everything himself? The editor-in-chief sighed internally. They would have trouble getting any more pictures from the mare, assuming he released her, and- Storm Front! That was his name. What was he thinking? Oh yes... Unconsciously, the boss's hold on Rarity lifted, and he was awakened from his stupor by a sharp, stinging pain on his snout. The fashionista slapped him again. Then, levitating the hot coffee with practiced ease, she proceeded the pour it down his chest, and all over his papers, specifically the ones with her on it. He barely had time to cry out before she was out the door, running to tell her own manager what had occurred. Rarity rounded another corner, her heart beating as fast as her hooves on the slick cobble. Up ahead, a taxi carriage parked by a building where numerous workers were flooding out the doors. Putting on an extra burst of speed, she hopped in the carriage before the majority of them even realized it, although one young mare yelled at her as she passed. Rarity ignored her. Hurriedly giving the driver the address, she glanced back anxiously for any pursues. None, except for that mare, who was shouting something at her as they drove away. Rarity settled back into the seat, finally given some time to think. It had all happened so fast. She cursed herself for not seeing Streak earlier. He must have been Storm Front all along, Rarity realized suddenly. The carriage flew over a speed bump, and the unicorn winced as she grabbed the sides of the vehicle. A strand of rainbow colored hair swung down from above her, and Rarity blinked. It quickly withdrew itself, along with a giggle. "Rainbow... Dash...?" All of a sudden, Rarity found herself face to face with a large, magenta orb. It winked. "Hiya there, Miss Fancy-shmancy!" Rainbow grinned from ear to ear. Miss Fancy-shmancy must have looked quite taken aback, because the cyan pegasus rolled her eyes and laughed again. She plopped down beside Rarity, and the carriage lurched with her extra weight. "Rainbow Dash! I can't say I'm particularly pleased to see you. And just dropping in like this is hardly becoming of a young mare like yourself." The unicorn paused, examining the ruffled, albeit colorful, mess before her, before both attacking and doing the mane of the pegasus. "Wha- OUCH!" "How DARE you? Oh dear, you have all sorts of split ends..." "Get off of me!! AUUGHHH!" "Darling, the purples are mixing in with the greens here! You traitorous fiend!" "Take that!" Rainbow Dash flapped her wings once, sending a bolt of electricity toward her attacker. The mare jumped up with a yelp, revealing slightly singed fur on her shoulders. She frowned at Dash, then turned to her saddlebags for a sweater. Extracting a pink, bubble gum-like one, she let it fall over her head and shook her mane out. Her curls bounced twice before stopping. "Thanks a lot," she muttered. "What?" said Dash. "You're not as loyal as Celestia thinks you are," said Rarity. "Hey! I just came here to-" "I don't want to hear it. You've probably got Pinkie or Twilight ready to throw some ink or spaghetti sauce onto my clothes and fur," Rarity interrupted. "Listen! I actually came to apologize. Twilight doesn't know I'm here. Neither does Applejack, or Pinkie, or anyone. So... I'm sorry. You're right. I'm not that loyal at all, or cool either. I thought I was when I sided with Twilight, but I didn't even give you the chance to explain yourself. We were totally not fair, Rarity. Maybe I was loyal to Twilight, but she wasn't loyal to you, and she's the leader. You'd think she... I dunno. Like I said. I- I'm sorry, Rarity. Will you forgive me?" Rarity melted. Of course. Here was the headstrong, cocky young female she knew. "Of course I forgive you, darling. You did what you thought was right, even though it wasn't. No one can ever blame you for that." She paused, mirth sneaking into her expression. "Although, next time I would recommend that you come prepared, hmm?" Rainbow blushed. Rarity smiled. Then she filled her friend in on everything that had just happened, going into detail about Streak's betrayal, and her need to tell Fleur and her manager everything that had happened. "... Awesome," came the pegasus's reply. As if on cue, their destination rolled into view, and the two mares hopped off their taxi and headed into the building. As Rainbow bashed down the door, Rarity trotted in on Fleur, who was talking to the manager. "I have very big news! I found out who has been putting pictures of us in Playcolt! It's Streak! He's been part of an underground community in Joe's Donuts who-" "I'm sorry Rarity, but what are you talking about?" stammered Fleur. "Look." Rarity reached and grabbed a copy of the Playcolt's newest issue in a strand of magic, pulling it towards her. She winced and flipped through until she found the right page. She was dimly aware of Rainbow crying with laughter at some of the mares at her side. Satisfied, she held it out in her magic, looking expectantly at Fleur. Fleur gulped, and hesitantly flared her own horn, smothering the magazine in a dark magenta glow. Rarity frowned. Wasn't Fleur's magic light pink? The supermodel quickly shoved the magazine back at Rarity, and the color in her horn died out. "Remember?" Rarity asked. Fleur smiled shakily. "Yup," she said. "Exactly. In any case, we..." Rarity then repeated to them what she had told Dash. The manager looked both impressed and furious, and Fleur had her eyes slitted quizzically. However, she didn't say anything. The manager said he would try to contact the authorities or see if he could get a few minutes in Princess Celestia's Day Court. The four mares nodded and went off in their separate directions to get some sleep. Rarity led Dash to her apartment, who was still clutching her sides, tears streaming down her face. As soon as Twilight got back on the train, she popped back into her regular form. Shape shifting wasn't a skill she used often, but she thanked Celestia that, well, Celestia had taught it to her. Maintaining the form of the unicorn, however, had taken its toll. Twilight levitated some water over and drank deeply, her brow furrowed. She set down the bottle, and looked up. Three worried faces stared back at her; one orange, one yellow, one pink. The lavender princess inhaled, settling her wings and steeling herself. "She's gone too," said Twilight. "Rainbow Dash has left us." A hop, skip, and a jump"Whoa whoa whoa, is that what this is all about?" asked Rainbow Dash. Twilight nodded. "Oh." Right after Rarity had left, Dash had immediately asked that question. Pinkie was still there watching, although she had a few pots scattered around her body. "Sugarcube, did you really side with Twilight this whole time without knowing what the argument was?" questioned Applejack. "Well, yeah..." Rainbow said. Pinkie giggled. "I still don't know what we're talking about! Hey, do you guys want to come to my new Rarity-fled-back-to-Canterlot-because-Twilight's-said-a-thing party?!" Applejack smiled. "Rarity is a bit of a drama queen, ain't she. But yeah, Ah'd love to come to yer party, Pinkie. "Me too." Rainbow nodded. "Me pi to the nearest whole number!" Twilight was met with confused stares. "It was a joke," she clarified. "Me three." Rainbow turned around, then said, "What about you, Fluttersh-" She was gone. Discord chuckled to himself as he magically shed his disguise, yellow feathers swirling in the air momentarily before they teleported out of existence. He was getting pretty good at acting! Though, he had to admit Fluttershy was pretty easy. Just jump at every sound, cringe at every action, and talk softly. Oh, what fun! The expression on Rarity's face was priceless. Chaos, chaos, how he loved chaos... With a snap of his fingers, Discord reappeared in Fluttershy's hut. There, he found the pegasus mare lovingly feeding her robins and squirrels. "Oh! Hello Discord! How was your stroll? You did take that walk like I recommended, didn't you?" she said. "Of course, darling Fluttershy! It was quite refreshing." "That's very nice to hear." Fluttershy beamed. "Would you mind giving me a hoof with these animals?" she asked cheerily. "Not at all!" With another snap, food pellets began to rain down from the rafters, covering the entire rug with foul-smelling chunks within seconds. "Discord!!" reprimanded Fluttershy, despite being buried alive under a tidal wave of rabbit food. "Oh, fine.." SNAP! "Okay, so let me see the magazine!" protested Rainbow Dash. She and Applejack were sitting together at a booth at Sugercube Corner, enjoying milkshakes as the RFBCBTST (Rarity-fled-back-to-Canterlot-because-Twilight-said-a-thing) party raged on around them. "For tha last time, sugarcube, Twilight said no, and that means no," Applejack responded. "Aw, come on! I just want a look! I don't even know what this is about, remember?" Rainbow insisted. "Shucks, RD. Ah really-" Suddenly a pink blur appeared next to them, holding a tray of drinks. "It's no big dealie, Applejack. I mean, my mom always told me that when you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, always choose the rock. And Maud told me that sedimentary tends to yield slightly better results than igneous. Hey, isn't that a funny word? Yeee-eld. Yield. Yeld. Yieldie yieldyield. Huh. Anyway, that's why you should never, ever try to eat two bananas at once," Pinkie finished seriously. "Wha..." While AJ was distracted, Dash quickly stole the magazine from her, skimming over the parts she didn't need until she found the one with Rarity. "Wow, Rarity really went wild on this! Ah well, she needed to loosen up anyway, and isn't this just the way to do it?" she commented, her back hooves propped up on the counter. "Rainbow! Give that back right now!" yelled Applejack. "Ah never said you could have that darned thing!" Soon enough the two were squabbling on the table, each trying in vain to rip the magazine from the other. Pinkie set her tray of drinks down and reached into her mane, pulling out two mugs of hard-pressed cider. "Cider, anypony?" Rarity huffed indignantly as she bickered with Streak about the waistline of her latest creation. She wanted to keep it comfortable; he wanted to make it thin. Even though she was a few weeks into her job, she found it difficult to make a tank top or sweater without jewels of some sort. When she did get the chance to use crystals, she noticed that she tended to stay away from purple. Besides this, as she persisted with a wider waistline for a hoodie, she could not tear her mind from the events at Ponyville. Streak won the argument. Once at the boutique, Rarity immediately got to work redoing the seams, ripping them out angrily with her glowing blue magic. After the last stitch was in place, she placed a hoof to her forehead, fluttering her eyelids as she collapsed dramatically onto a red velvet couch. "Oh, Sweetie Belle! This was simply the most stressful thing a mare could encounter," she wailed. Silence. Of course, she was staying with the Apples back in Ponyville. Rarity sighed and got back up. As the couch disappeared, she went back into the living room of her hotel apartment, her hooves sinking into the carpet. Longingly glancing at the bed, she gave another sigh before her horn glowed, and she reached out and picked up another spool of fabric. "Hello, did you enjoy this chapter?" Discord looks straight at you, smiling, yet simultaneously smirking as he waves his talon in the air. You stand, stunned, because to answer his question that was quite possibly the most confusing and generally the worst you have ever seen. The creature before you begins tapping its clawed foot, a thick eyebrow arched in expectation. "...Yeah...?" you offer, subconsciously stepping back. With a snap, crackle and a pop, you pivot to find Discord posing behind you. Your heart hammers in your chest and you can feel the blood rushing in your ears as you desperately search for a way out of your room. He's always looked so comical, but in the real life he is actually menacing, and the way he zips around is no comfort to you. You can only hope he's more of a trickster than an evil mastermind. "I suppose you have noticed the change in tense, and also the fact that we are seriously sidetracked from the plot," he carries on, oblivious to your shock. You cock your head. "Does it bother you? Here, try this on for size." Without warning he grabs a newly-brought-into-existence shirt and rams it down on your head. As the stuffy feeling of breathing underneath fabric surrounds you, you begin to feel a storm of words and phrases whipping past your ears. I look back up at Discord. I have never realized how attractive he would be in real life, the way- The human turned their attention to the fictional medley of creatures of all sorts. The creature, known as Discord, flicked- A stalemate was reached. Guns were set down. Turrets were momentarily deactivated. Neither said a single word to the- Suddenly, Pinkie hopped in. She bounced up and down, long slow jumps at first that rapidly increased in speed. Soon, she was vibrating on the spot. Laughing, the Chaos God blinked, and a single atom from the air went into disarray, colliding with the charged up Pinkie. In the resulting explosion- Bending down, Discord gave the yellowed and torn letter to the human. With a wink, he- I decided to take a disdainful glance at the ugly, furless thing before me. Its eyes were too small, its muzzle... nonexistent... its ears somehow removed and replaced on the sides of the thing's head. I came to the conclusion that I should put this strange- With a gasp, you find yourself back in the correct scenario, Discord hovering over you like a mother would do to her toddler. "What was that for?!" you yell, shaking your head to clear it of any remaining conversations. That one time when it was from Discord's point of view... You could really use a shower. "I just needed a bit of fun, that's all. Anyway, don't stay up too late!" You hear a poof from behind you. Discord has dressed himself in a frilly nightgown and a pink cap, as well as a pair of tiny, shriveled reading glasses. His head revolves around his shoulder until it reaches an angle you thought only owls could achieve. His stare bores into your mind, scanning your deepest thoughts and secrets, before Discord grins, wiggles his fingers, and exclaims, "Cheerio!"
Rarity gets a job"Hmmm, hmm hmmmm..." The slender unicorn looked up from her magazine when she heard the humming. It was a tune she had heard before. She looked around for the source of the music, her eyes settling on a slightly shorter unicorn whose pearly white coat matched hers. Keeping the magazine drawn up close to her eyes, she noted the curled, violet waves of hair. Oh, she knew this pony. What was her name? Eclair? Clarity? She cleared her throat gently, hoping to get the white and purple pony's - and only that pony's - attention. To her relief, the unicorn turned, revealing a cutie mark resembling three diamonds for a second before they were hidden once more behind a large stack of luggage. Briefly, the mare wondered who would ever bring that much baggage to a public bus stop. "Oh, hello Fleur!" said Diamond Pony. "It's been a while. You remember me, of course? We met during one of my many visits to Canterlot before. Oh my, do you remember the wedding? Simply frightful!" She laughed delicately. Fleur nodded weakly. If she really had known this mare for that long, she couldn't risk asking her name. It wasn't socially acceptable, and Fleur made a big show of being just that. "Ah yes, the wedding. It was quite a shock, of course. Thankfully, my Fancy remained true. He is ever the gentlecolt," Fleur responded nervously. Diamond nodded her assent. "It surprises me that you're at such a, well, normal, bus stop. I'd offer you a ride, but as you can see I have momentary need of public transportation as well." Diamond paused for a moment, blinking her long, curled eyelashes as she awaited an explanation. When she got one, she frowned and pursed her lips. "Are you alright, darling?" she asked. "I daresay you seem the slightest bit nervous." Fleur nodded, choosing her words carefully. "My manager would like us to work together," she said. One slip up and Diamond would realize that Fleur didn't know her name, and then it would all be over for her. Fleur's train of thought was interrupted by a short squeal. "Eeeee! I can't believe it! I'm going to be working with the one and only supermodel, Fleur dis lee! I can picture the headlines now: Rural Town Ponyville's Fashionista Rarity Designs YOUR Clothes!" Rarity exclaimed with barely-contained glee. With that, she mock-fainted onto a large, plush, red couch. Fleur blinked. Where had that come from? With a mental shrug she allowed herself a smile. "Yes, many ponies have heard about your utterly magnificent fashion skills. Seeing as we have already met in the past, Rarity," Fleur said, relieved at finally knowing the mare's name, "it was a perfect deal. My manager would like to see you at nine AM sharp tomorrow." Fleur looked up. Rarity was once more standing in front of her. Fleur confusedly noted that the couch was now gone. She opened her mouth to ask about it when the bus came roaring. She coughed, albeit lightly. "Here, have my handkerchief. You can keep it," chirped Rarity as she boarded the bus. A young earth pony stallion behind her struggled to get her luggage into the bus. Fleur couldn't help but smile at the sight. Enveloping the dainty tissue in her pink magic, she politely coughed some more before stowing it away. What was she really doing here anyway? Fleur stood up from the bench, walking past the admiring stares of the ponies nearby. She'd discuss her schedule with her manager. He always knew what to do. Rarity put some of the finishing touches on Fleur's dress, a wispy, sky blue one with pink highlights that matched the supermodel's mane. Thank Celestia that the manager had been relatively eager to hire her! Ponyville would have to wait a little bit longer. The dress Rarity was working on had a low neckline, designed to be covered by a piece of elegant jewelry. Rarity had a box of necklaces and such for comparison later. There were blue sleeves that blended well at the torso into the pink corset, tied with black lace. A short blue skirt in the back detailed with just the right amount of violet and pink sequins lay on the mannequin's flanks, leaving room for Fleur's long tail. As a final afterthought, Rarity added fishnet stockings, as dark as obsidian, to all four legs. It not only matched the corset lace but would stand out splendidly against Fleur's white coat. Rarity took of her glasses and sighed in satisfaction. "What do you think, Opal?" she asked her cat. The feline in question glared back before curling up on the hotel bed. "My thoughts exactly, it may not be that comfortable." Rarity made some minor tweaks before cautiously lifting the dress off of the mannequin with her magic. Turning to face a mirror, she examined herself critically, extending a tendril of telekinesis to properly rearrange her mane. With a cheery wave, she bid her cat farewell, hailing a cab to take her down to the photo studio where Fleur, her manager - who was technically Rarity's as well, now - and the cameraman were waiting. With her new dress beside her and a friendly (thanks to the generous tip) cab driver ahead, the white and purple clothes designer closed her eyes for a moment. Today was going to be a good day. "Hello, I'm Lightning Streak, but you can just call me Streak. I'm Fleur's regular photographer. It's nice to finally meet you, Miss Rarity," said the dark gray pegasus. "'Finally meet me'? I'm afraid I don't understand," Rarity wondered aloud. "You didn't know? Many of your designs are becoming very popular," remarked Streak. Speaking of designs... He could see the design she had in mind for Fleur behind her. He admired the short skirt and- He gasped internally. Were those fishnet stockings? Oh, his Playcolt readers would eat this up. Streak smirked to himself. He liked this designer already. He'd never heard of her before now, but he already liked her style. "Oh, really? Well, I'm very happy to hear that." Rarity beamed at him. "Anyway, I had better go help Fleur with this outfit. We'll be back soon for the photo shoot!" The mare scampered off, leaving Lightning Streak alone with his highly inappropriate thoughts.
Aftermath"Just a tad lower there, yes, now bend your forelegs, a little more, okay. Now, Fleur, straighten you back legs..." Streak got Fleur into the position he liked. Rotating his camera around so that he and the supermodel faced the same direction, he ordered her to raise her tail slightly, exposing a little more of her legs. Fleur looked over her shoulder at the the cameraman while Rarity looked on. "Um, Mr. Streak, as much as I admire your experience in this field, wouldn't you agree that this is slightly immodest?" asked Rarity. "Plus, I find that you cannot see very much of my design at all. The corset and sleeves are completely hidden behind the trail. Wouldn't it be more appropriate if you focused on the outfit instead of Fleur's tai-" "Nonsense, Miss Rarity, I know what I'm doing," replied Streak, tongue hanging out of his mouth. "This is, uh, purely experimental. It takes a while to find the perfect viewpoint, wouldn't you agree?" "I suppose so... I just want to see that my outfit is displayed in the best possible light." "Will do." Rarity walked out of the room to continue working, leaving the pegasus to his devices. A few days after the photo shoot, Rarity walked through the streets of Canterlot, humming. All around she saw modest and respectable pictures of Fleur wearing her dress. Ponies were gaping and sighing, and Rarity was bubbling with excitement. A block away she spotted Fleur waiting for her, and broke into a trot to greet her. As Rarity approached she began to notice stallions eyeing Fleur in a way that made her skin crawl. Fleur was looking uncomfortable and Fancy Pants was barking at a sheepish blue unicorn stallion. "What do you mean Playcolt? My Fleur would never model for something so.. scandalous!" yelled Fancy. "I assure you Mister..." "You perverted and sick minded-" Rarity pivoted on the spot to face Fleur. Both mares were lost for words as a third mare, a pegasus, approached Fleur furiously. "I have always looked up to you as a mare who stood up for the better things in life. You never lowered yourself to this level and.. and.." The mare looked just about ready to spit on Fleur. The model herself was on the verge of tears. "Please, miss, I don't understa-" Rarity interrupted, "Come on Fleur, let's go to the manager." Sniffling, Fleur complied. "He'll know what to do..." The two white unicorns pushed their way through the growing crowd. Fancy turned, spittle flying. When he saw the supermodel and the fashion designer struggling, he huffed, readjusted his monocle, and stalked off after them, glaring daggers at everypony he passed. After the events of the previous day, Fleur was given a day off. Rarity accompanied her new friend, having finished her dress early. At the moment they were sitting at an ice cream parlor, happily licking pistachio and strawberry ice cream cones. Suddenly, Streak walked in with a smaller camera about his neck. "Why, what a surprise to see you two ladies here!" He grinned. "Oh yes! Hello, Streak!" said Rarity. "Hello," said Fleur. Streak gave them a nod and turned to the parlor owner, laying down a few bits for a chocolate ice cream cone. He examined the area, looking for a seat. Despite being empty other than the three of them, he sat across from the unicorns, holding the cone in his wing. The two looked up, surprised. "Do you mind?" he said with a half smile, holding up the camera. "It should help me brainstorm a few better poses and ideas." "Oh, um, sure I suppose so," Fleur said, giving the cone a lick. FLASH! Streak examined the photo. He had gotten a good picture of Fleur mid-lick, and Rarity didn't look half bad either. With a little editing this will be great, he thought. Better get this to the boss. He gave them a wink and an empty 'thanks' before taking off into the sky, his chocolate cone forgotten. Rarity lay awake. Her excuse to herself was that she was considering dress ideas, but she couldn't help her mind drifting back to what had happened after her first time with Fleur. A familiar cold weight of guilt settled in her stomach. I've ruined her reputation... she pouted. And mine! Because of my stupid little- Rarity stopped. What exactly had gone wrong? The pictures had turned up in Playcolt, hadn't they? But who could've gotten a hold of those pictures? And what did they even look like? She hadn't seen them at all, she had been so swept up in the after effects of the... incident. She sat up. Rarity needed to get her hooves on a Playcolt - she blushed at the thought - in order to see who had taken and published the picture. And then... Rarity's eyes flit around madly. Perhaps she'd turn them into a ferret and swing them around until Opal interfered. Yes, that sounded good. Rarity chuckled to herself, sinking back beneath the covers into her pleasant slumber.
CroissantsFleur wiped her eyes and got to her feet. Fancy was snoring, his mane splayed out crazily over the pillows. Smiling, Fleur walked into the bathroom and splashed some water onto her face, before applying all her lotions and cleansers and makeup that kept her in the modeling business. After a final layer of eyeshadow, she left the mansion and directed her chauffeur to the photo studio. As the limousine rolled smoothly along the cobbled streets of Canterlot, she rolled down her window to take in the ambiance. The smell of croissants and bagels drifted in, swirling through the vehicle and warming Fleur to the bone. White noise surrounded her as she looked out at the ponies in the markets. She saw a green pegasus shaking her head at a purple unicorn, and two earth ponies, one magenta, one yellow, trading bits. The sun was almost clear of the horizon, a medley of pinks, yellows, and blues all smudged together to form the rosy glow. Fleur exhaled at the sight. It helped her to forget all the hustle and bustle that usually surrounded her life. Rolling up the window as her mane became to flick and tangle in the breeze, she rested her hooves at her sides, running them up and down the seams of her seat. Her soft hooves rolled up and over the smooth fabric, feeling the precise stitches that held it all together. Absentmindedly she picked at the thread, even using her magic to tug at it. Right before it gave, she caught herself. With the familiar pinprick sensation that came with picking up tiny objects, she looped the thread back through. It was fixed, but Fleur could still see the frayed ends of the string, and the cloth was looser than it had been before. And, despite her best efforts, it would never be good as new. Rarity pored over her newest creation, a streamlined jumpsuit meant to be an athlete's (expensive) all-purpose gear. This particular one happened to be a darkish green, but Rarity had added some lime green zigzags around the collar and forelegs. In an effort to help Fleur regain her reputation, she had made sure that everything was completely and utterly covered. It was a fairly simple design, with minimal decoration. In Rarity's opinion, it would match perfectly with the simple-minded athletes the creation was intended for. Her friend Rainbow Dash attested to that. As boutique owner zipped around her brainchild, and loud knock burst from the door, followed by a bang as Streak let himself in. "Bonjour, Miss Rarity," he said as he bowed and planted a gentle kiss on her forehoof. "Oh, Mister Streak! I didn't know you spoke Prench!" "I devoted a few years of my life to learning the language of love, but alas have yet to put it to good use." Truly, the only words he knew were 'bonjour' and 'croissants', which meant 'hello' and, well, 'croissant', respectively. "Hmm, I see." Rarity pursed her lips, her eyebrows furrowed. "You know, I'd expect a stallion of your social status to know better than to barge into a lady's abode." "Ah, well, you must understand, there is a matter of utmost urgency." Rarity couldn't see how one could have a matter of utmost urgency and yet find the time to kiss the other's hoof and give them detailed and conversational analysis of their background. "Yes?" she said. "Uh, I just came to, um, remind you that you have be down at the photo studio in..." He glanced up at the clock. "Thirty minutes!" Rarity gazed blankly back at Streak. "Yes, I know." She rolled her eyes, turning around swiftly to resume her work. Her tail made an arc in the air as she looked back, about to dismiss the photographer. FLASH! She blinked and managed to catch a dark gray blur speeding out the door. "Hmph." At the end of the hallway, Streak snickered as he galloped away. Rarity looked on as Streak bustled about, placing plastic cubes for Fleur to place a hoof on. She did so, striking a valiant pose. Assured that all was as he wanted it, he switched the fan on and sprinted back to his camera. A series of flashes followed. "Perfect Fleur, oh, I like that smile! Keep it up, darling!" Rarity ran her tongue over her teeth. She supposed now was the best time to find a copy of Playcolt. Mumbling an excuse to no one in particular, she slipped out the door and raced down the stairs. She pulled her hood over her head, took a deep breath, and cantered out into the busy roads. It had rained not an hour earlier, and the ground was still damp with the precipitation. The clouds overhead still dripped water every now and then, and Rarity was grateful for her cloak. She hurried over to her destination, purchased a Playcolt and a Mare's Life, and tucked the former inside the latter. Now, to the casual observer, she was just skimming over the April edition of Mare's Life. As Rarity examined the cover of the hidden magazine she was shocked to see Fleur on the front page. "Oh dear..."
Trial by fire"Streak, as a photographer, do you know anyone in your community who goes by 'Storm Front'?" questioned Rarity. That was the only information the magazine had offered. After finding the name she had dumped the Playcolt in the trash, but kept the Mare's Life. It really was quite intriguing. She really ought to try her hoof at the double-loop feather stitch- "Um, no. Nope, doesn't ring a bell at all. Sorry!" "How unfortunate. It seems that after the events that took place a week ago, he and Fleur have a score to settle," returned the mare with a flick of her mane. "Uh, actually you've been drawn into this as well, it seems." Streak did his best impression of embarrassment, hoofing her a newer copy of the Playcolt magazine. Rarity ignited her horn, smothering the magazine in a light blue aura. She unfurled it roughly before making a very undignified sound and galloping for the door. The patter of her hooves quickly faded away. Streak sneered to himself. Thank Celestia he had decided use a false name. He was going to get rich off these mares. "Rarity? What are you doing here?" "Ack! Oh, hello there Fleur. I didn't see you there." Rarity looked awkwardly up at the confused unicorn. Sitting on a bench at the Canterlot train station, she saw her train approaching in the background. Steam pumped out of its pipe as it chugged its way from Ponyville. She turned her attention back to Fleur. "I'm simply visiting my friends in Ponyville over the weekend. It's been ages since I have last seen them," she explained. A loud honking sound blared out from the train. Fleur winced. "It is really quite loud," said the model. "Yes, I suppose it is. In any event, I must go now. Sorry to disturb you, goodbye!" Rarity gushed her excuses and quickly boarded the train. "See you soon!" called Fleur. Rarity breathed a sigh of relief as the lowered herself onto the plump, cheap seat cushions. Surprisingly, she actually did plan on returning. Her job in Canterlot was very intriguing, and she would not give up this golden oppurtunity. Consequently, she did not see much of Ponyville nowadays. Now that the weekend had arrived, she was glad of the chance to see her friends again. After the recent events, she didn't think she could handle any more scathing looks from the ponies in Canterlot. She needed a break, and her friends would help her. They always did! Rarity thought it was a good argument, and apparently so did Fleur. After she waved goodbye to her friend and co-worker, she relaxed. She truly did need a break. Toward the end of the trip, she turned her attention to the complementary, albeit low-quality treats. Daintily selecting an oat bar and some water, she decided to whet her appetite before the inevitable "Welcome-home-Rarity-from-your-extra-super-special-job-in-Canterlot" party thrown by, of course, Pinkie Pie. "He-e-e-y-y!!!! It's Rarita-a-a-y-y-y!!!" Speak of the devil. Rarity couldn't help but giggle to herself. She peered out the window, ready to greet the girls with a wave of her hoof. "Hello every-" It was just Pinkie Pie. Rarity speedily withdrew her hoof, frowning in confusion. Perhaps the girls were just waiting for her at the boutique, or the library. Yes, that was it. That had to be it. A smile once more plastered on her face, she braced herself a the train stopped with a jolt. Thanking the friendly conductor with a few more bits than necessary, she went to meet Pinkie. The pink mare was jumping crazily. "Hiya there Rarity! It's been, like, waaaay too long, dontcha think? I mean since we last saw each other." "Hello, Pinkie, and yes, it had been quite a while," Rarity responded with barely contained mirth. "What's new in Ponyville?" "Twilight and Dashie and AJ warned me to stay away from you because they didn't know you were 'that kind of mare' and Fluttershy kinda just nodded in her corner. Isn't Fluttershy just the silliest! Teehee!" Pinkie bubbled innocently. "That's delight- wait, they said what?" spluttered the pearly white pony. "What?" Pinkie managed to ask, before she was barreled down by the sheer fury and embarrassment of Rarity as she charged past. "TWILIGHT!!" she roared, stampeding through the dirt roads. Mares and stallions alike gave her a combination of curious stares and malevolent glares. Dust rose up in billowy little clouds as her hooves clattered along. The dirt slowly gave way to cobble and Rarity stopped short, panting. Before her loomed the great oak tree that contained the town's collection of books and scrolls. A single fire spell would mutilate this building, Rarity thought darkly. Crashing through the door - it was a public library, after all - she looked furiously at the four mares. At the sound of her bursting through the door, Rainbow Dash had flinched, Twilight and Applejack had shuffled backwards, and Fluttershy was most likely on the ceiling somewhere. Recovering swiftly, Twilight took a cautious step forward, trying not to touch Rarity as she were some sort of contagious disease. "Please... Get out... Of... My... Library." Twilight spoke slowly, as if speaking to a foal. "What is wrong with you, you traitorous mule?" Rarity seethed. Applejack and Rainbow Dash scurried forward indignantly. Rainbow shouted, "Hey! Don't talk to Twilight like that! What's she ever done to you? Not coo-" "What has she done to me? She refuses to greet me like any pony of etiquette would. She pays me no heed and practically ignores my existence during my stay in Canterlot. She gossips about me behind my back!! And not only that, but she - and the rest of you - scorn me when I come back to visit. So, Rainbow, the correct question here is what have I ever done to you!?" Applejack narrowed her eyes. "Ah don't like tha way yer talkin to Twilight here, Rarity," she scolded. "Ya got a point there, truly, but it's hard ta see yer jutis- justic- justification after what ya did." Somewhere above the white fashion pony a small whimper wavered down from the ceiling. Slowly, Fluttershy lowered herself to the ground, standing between Rarity and the door. Her head was lowered, and hidden behind a strand of hair was a single, damp, turquoise eye. "Um, Rarity, I don't want to be mean, I mean, I really just want us all to be friends - if that's okay with you - but I am just the teensiest, tiniest bit curious about how long you've, uh, been doing this kind of thing... If you don't want to tell me, then, um, it's okay, I guess..." she whispered shakily. Rarity opened her mouth to respond when a great clattering arose from the kitchen, and she spotted a stray pot rolling noisily across the doorway. In an instant all five mares were running forward the source of the sound. In an effort to get there, Rarity accidentally brushed shoulders with Applejack, who automatically flinched and shied away from her. There was no time to dwell on it, however. They could already see inside the kitchen, and the poofy, curly, pink tail sticking straight up from inside a drawer. Finally, Pinkie withdrew herself from the cupboard, brandishing a frying pan with a big smile on her face. A soft thud behind Rarity told her that Fluttershy had fainted in relief, and beside her Rainbow sighed, releasing her pent-up energy and fear. "Uh, too bad it was just you, Pinkie. If you were a thief, I would, like, totally fight you. I would have beat you with my awesome kicks and totally punched you in the eyeballs with my awesomeness..." Rainbow trailed off nervously. "What are you doing here, Pinkie?" Twilight asked with one of her trademark goody-goody smiles. "Scratch that, darling," Rarity practically snarled at Twilight. She turned back to the cheerful pink mare. "How did you even get here? I just arrived, and I was running." It was more of a rhetorical question, of course. Nopony really understood Pinkie in general. "I was just getting ready for the Welcome-home-Rarity-from-your-extra-super-special-job-in-Canterlot party, and I figured that since you guys were all here it'd be a super great idea to just invite you all at once! But then I totally saw this package that Spike left open and they were carrot cupcakes and well you know how I love my carrot cupcakes and so I tried one and they were super, duper, oober, glooper, jooper, woober good! And so I just HAD to make more! Like, no doubt about it! So I grabbed some pots but they fell and made a crazy loud noise! And then you guys came in and started talking and then Rarity asked me how I got here and then I started explaining how I did. And when I got to the part about the carrot cupcakes I got kinda hungr-" "Thank you for that insightful analysis, Pinkie. But really, I'd just like Rarity to get out of the library. We'd lose all our guests if she stayed, and then the library would be forced to close down, and I know Scootaloo wants to check out the latest Daring Do book right after Rainbow Dash finishes it," Twilight said pleasantly. Rarity took an angry step toward the lavender mare. Immediately, Applejack and Rainbow Dash stepped up, preventing the fashionista from taking a single step closer. "What's wrong?" asked Pinkie. The poor party pony was bewildered, and a faint wheezing sound slid out from her mane, which had lost a couple centimeters of volume. Her eyes were round discs of cerulean, imploring the mares before her to tell her why her invitation was being ignored. "Rarity here has become one of them models for Playcolt," Applejack accused. Gasping, the mare of interest exclaimed, "Well, I never! For the Element of Honesty, you sure are spewing a lot of lies! Somepony has been sneaking pictures of me!" Fluttershy took a timid step forward, her head dipped as she inhaled. "Well, um, Rarity, if you're okay with it I would like to point out, um, I've never seen you in that kind of position in public..." Rarity practically screamed. "Perhaps they used something along the lines of photo editing!! Besides, I don't even own clothes like that!" Twilight cleared her throat, still smiling sweetly, although her eyes had a harsh glint in them. Pulling out a different magazine with her magic, she opened it to the page with Fleur wearing a very revealing outfit. "THOSE ARE SWIMSUITS!!" Fluttershy was taken aback at the sudden outburst, shriveled back into a little ball. Rarity shook herself and continued at a lower - but still loud - volume. "Twilight. This is so like you, to gather evidence and be all scholarly about everything. This is how you do everything!!" Rarity was back to yelling now. "Fine! Let's make this a Canterlot court case, just like you did at your school being the prissy adoptive daughter of Princess Celestia! You've stockpiled your evidence, gathered witnesses, and look!" she turned to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. "You even have your own personal bodyguards! How CUTE!!!" Twilight Sparkle frowned. "So, your honor," Rarity continued, voice dripping with malicious sarcasm, "what are my charges?" Twilight said, "You've been charged with intentional immodest appearances, degrading yourself, us, and the entirety of Ponyville with your scandalous modeling." Blinded by fury, the accused screamed, "I can't believe you're going through with this!" And with that she left, battering the roads with her hooves as she sprinted to the safety of high-class society.
Hay fries"What!?" Rarity yelled over the din of the auditorium. "I said, is the circus treating you well?" repeated Streak. Barely two minutes ago, Rarity had been lounging on the bed, drinking chamomile tea as she pored over the latest fashion trends. Suddenly, the gray pegasus had appeared and whisked her away to some kind of circus. While amusing, it was not really the way she had planned on spending the night. "Very well, thank you," she replied, before discarding her hay fries with a look of contempt. They rattled at the bottom of the trash can. She wanted to leave, but knew that by social etiquette she must watch the remainder of the show. At the intermission - she was shocked that such a run-down hovel would consider itself classy enough to have one - she glanced around, looking for the photographer. A silver and light blue tail caught her attention, and she left her springy seat in search for its owner. Brushing aside the tarp with her hoof, she peered out into the dark roads. Streak was flying low over the streets, his hooves mere inches from the ground. Rainbow Dash had once told her it was a technique used to sneak around: not high enough to get noticed, not low enough to make noise if they walked. Then again, she thought angrily, Rainbow's opinions aren't exactly top notch, are they? She left the question unanswered as she continued to pursue Streak. Feeling the need for secrecy, she wrapped her hooves in her velvety magic, trying to keep the sparkle and glow level to a minimum. Slowly stalking, her hooves barely touched the ground through her pillow-like layer of magic. Her target continually turned corners and headed down dark alleyways, and Rarity felt her suspicion rise in her throat. Where was he going? He slowly picked up the pace, and the unicorn felt herself sweating as she struggled to both keep up and remain silent. Finally, they reached the end of the alleyway, bordered by rickety garbage cans and tattered buildings. The pegasus entered one such building, which had a sign that Rarity read: "Joe's Donuts". A bird had made its nest on the D, and the e was hanging down over the side, swinging slowly back and forth with a faint creaking. Shuddering to herself, Rarity peered in. Most likely, he was buying the two of them a treat for the show, although she guessed that the intermission was over by now. Streak walked up to a large yellow stallion, presumably Joe, and gave him a nod and a smirk. Frowning now, the mare looked on as the baker moved to the back of the establishment, with Streak right behind him. Tugging at some hidden lever, Joe gave a nod and the photographer descended below the counter until every last sky blue hair was out of sight. The fashionista licked her lips, devising a plan to get inside. She waited. When Joe was once more taking orders and recommending specials, as she assumed was normal, she walked in the door, making sure to scruff up her hair so she would fit in with the crowd. The effect was lost on them. "Miss Rarity? What are you doin' in a place like this?" stammered Joe, his little white hat falling to the side. Oh well. She might as well try putting her socialite power to a good use. Sidling up next to the owner, she leaned forward and whispered, "I demand you take me downstairs." She tried her best to sound confident, but couldn't help the tremor of hesitation in her voice. The yellow unicorn stallion relaxed. "Oh, o' course. Although, I thought the pictures were usually taken outside," he remarked as he led her behind the cash register. "Whatever. Don' listen to me, I'm just a regular pony doin' my part to earn a liddle extra dough." He chuckled at his own joke, before giving the mare a nod very much like the one he had given Streak. With a low rumbling sound, a hidden door slid open, revealing a dark stairway bathed in red light. Rarity gulped. She glanced at Donut Joe, who was patiently waiting. She couldn't keep him here long, unfortunately. She started down the stairs. Shouts from stallions came from all around. They hurt Rarity's ears at first, but then she adjusted to both the noise and the darkness. Some ponies were developing photos (hence the red lights) while others were cropping some on the computer. Yes, Equestria had truly diverse technological advancements. Ponies, mostly stallions, were everywhere, sifting through stacks of papers and running about relaying directions. At the computer area, the ponies began saving and printing, and the steady chug filled the room. She couldn't see what the photos were of at this distance, however. Glancing about, she spotted Streak talking to a purple and yellow unicorn stallion, who was holding up Streak's camera with a smile. As she snuck closer, she managed to catch bits of their conversation. "...remarkable that it has two lenses, one in front but the real one in back, to take unnoticed pictures..." said the purple/yellow unicorn. "Thank you, boss," responded Lightning Streak. The boss muttered something inaudible. In reply, Streak lifted up his wings, revealing his cutie mark: two screwdrivers crossed behind a roll of dark parchment. " ...you know I love to tinker, boss..." Rarity crawled closer, her suspicion flaring into anger. Was this what she thought it was...? "Anyway, I hope you have more pictures. We are running dry." The boss ran his tongue over his teeth. He had seen the radiant white glow from behind the photographer, and prepared his teleportation spell. "Yup, of course! She didn't even notice through the bright lights of the circus," replied Streak jubilantly, hoofing over a few pictures of Rarity. This was the last straw. "Eeeeyaaah!!" yelled the fashion designer, bursting out of the shadows. She hammered her magic and her hooves onto the fashion designer. The boss saw his chance. POP! He reappeared behind her, restraining her with a purple glow that matched Rarity's mane. She managed to land a kick on Streak's cheek, leaving him knocked out with a large red welt on his face. "Calm yourself, sweetheart, there's no reason to be upset," he murmured smoothly into her neck. She recoiled at the stench of rotten dandelions on his breath. "I haff efry refum da be ubfed!!" she yelled into the supernatural binding. "What was that, dear?" Blue sparks flew out of her horn as she struggled to clear a hole for herself. Though unrefined, his magic was stronger than hers. "I have every reason to be upset!" she repeated indignantly, before taking in a breath and being shoved back under the violet blanket. Her thoughts stormed around in her head as the stallion dragged her back to his desk, placing his hoof beside a mug of coffee. He whistled, and two ponies came and carried the cameraman's limp body away. The yellow/purple pony scowled to himself. Couldn't that photographer - what was his name? No matter - have at least done his job? Did he have to do everything himself? The editor-in-chief sighed internally. They would have trouble getting any more pictures from the mare, assuming he released her, and- Storm Front! That was his name. What was he thinking? Oh yes... Unconsciously, the boss's hold on Rarity lifted, and he was awakened from his stupor by a sharp, stinging pain on his snout. The fashionista slapped him again. Then, levitating the hot coffee with practiced ease, she proceeded the pour it down his chest, and all over his papers, specifically the ones with her on it. He barely had time to cry out before she was out the door, running to tell her own manager what had occurred. Rarity rounded another corner, her heart beating as fast as her hooves on the slick cobble. Up ahead, a taxi carriage parked by a building where numerous workers were flooding out the doors. Putting on an extra burst of speed, she hopped in the carriage before the majority of them even realized it, although one young mare yelled at her as she passed. Rarity ignored her. Hurriedly giving the driver the address, she glanced back anxiously for any pursues. None, except for that mare, who was shouting something at her as they drove away. Rarity settled back into the seat, finally given some time to think. It had all happened so fast. She cursed herself for not seeing Streak earlier. He must have been Storm Front all along, Rarity realized suddenly. The carriage flew over a speed bump, and the unicorn winced as she grabbed the sides of the vehicle. A strand of rainbow colored hair swung down from above her, and Rarity blinked. It quickly withdrew itself, along with a giggle. "Rainbow... Dash...?" All of a sudden, Rarity found herself face to face with a large, magenta orb. It winked. "Hiya there, Miss Fancy-shmancy!" Rainbow grinned from ear to ear. Miss Fancy-shmancy must have looked quite taken aback, because the cyan pegasus rolled her eyes and laughed again. She plopped down beside Rarity, and the carriage lurched with her extra weight. "Rainbow Dash! I can't say I'm particularly pleased to see you. And just dropping in like this is hardly becoming of a young mare like yourself." The unicorn paused, examining the ruffled, albeit colorful, mess before her, before both attacking and doing the mane of the pegasus. "Wha- OUCH!" "How DARE you? Oh dear, you have all sorts of split ends..." "Get off of me!! AUUGHHH!" "Darling, the purples are mixing in with the greens here! You traitorous fiend!" "Take that!" Rainbow Dash flapped her wings once, sending a bolt of electricity toward her attacker. The mare jumped up with a yelp, revealing slightly singed fur on her shoulders. She frowned at Dash, then turned to her saddlebags for a sweater. Extracting a pink, bubble gum-like one, she let it fall over her head and shook her mane out. Her curls bounced twice before stopping. "Thanks a lot," she muttered. "What?" said Dash. "You're not as loyal as Celestia thinks you are," said Rarity. "Hey! I just came here to-" "I don't want to hear it. You've probably got Pinkie or Twilight ready to throw some ink or spaghetti sauce onto my clothes and fur," Rarity interrupted. "Listen! I actually came to apologize. Twilight doesn't know I'm here. Neither does Applejack, or Pinkie, or anyone. So... I'm sorry. You're right. I'm not that loyal at all, or cool either. I thought I was when I sided with Twilight, but I didn't even give you the chance to explain yourself. We were totally not fair, Rarity. Maybe I was loyal to Twilight, but she wasn't loyal to you, and she's the leader. You'd think she... I dunno. Like I said. I- I'm sorry, Rarity. Will you forgive me?" Rarity melted. Of course. Here was the headstrong, cocky young female she knew. "Of course I forgive you, darling. You did what you thought was right, even though it wasn't. No one can ever blame you for that." She paused, mirth sneaking into her expression. "Although, next time I would recommend that you come prepared, hmm?" Rainbow blushed. Rarity smiled. Then she filled her friend in on everything that had just happened, going into detail about Streak's betrayal, and her need to tell Fleur and her manager everything that had happened. "... Awesome," came the pegasus's reply. As if on cue, their destination rolled into view, and the two mares hopped off their taxi and headed into the building. As Rainbow bashed down the door, Rarity trotted in on Fleur, who was talking to the manager. "I have very big news! I found out who has been putting pictures of us in Playcolt! It's Streak! He's been part of an underground community in Joe's Donuts who-" "I'm sorry Rarity, but what are you talking about?" stammered Fleur. "Look." Rarity reached and grabbed a copy of the Playcolt's newest issue in a strand of magic, pulling it towards her. She winced and flipped through until she found the right page. She was dimly aware of Rainbow crying with laughter at some of the mares at her side. Satisfied, she held it out in her magic, looking expectantly at Fleur. Fleur gulped, and hesitantly flared her own horn, smothering the magazine in a dark magenta glow. Rarity frowned. Wasn't Fleur's magic light pink? The supermodel quickly shoved the magazine back at Rarity, and the color in her horn died out. "Remember?" Rarity asked. Fleur smiled shakily. "Yup," she said. "Exactly. In any case, we..." Rarity then repeated to them what she had told Dash. The manager looked both impressed and furious, and Fleur had her eyes slitted quizzically. However, she didn't say anything. The manager said he would try to contact the authorities or see if he could get a few minutes in Princess Celestia's Day Court. The four mares nodded and went off in their separate directions to get some sleep. Rarity led Dash to her apartment, who was still clutching her sides, tears streaming down her face. As soon as Twilight got back on the train, she popped back into her regular form. Shape shifting wasn't a skill she used often, but she thanked Celestia that, well, Celestia had taught it to her. Maintaining the form of the unicorn, however, had taken its toll. Twilight levitated some water over and drank deeply, her brow furrowed. She set down the bottle, and looked up. Three worried faces stared back at her; one orange, one yellow, one pink. The lavender princess inhaled, settling her wings and steeling herself. "She's gone too," said Twilight. "Rainbow Dash has left us."
A hop, skip, and a jump"Whoa whoa whoa, is that what this is all about?" asked Rainbow Dash. Twilight nodded. "Oh." Right after Rarity had left, Dash had immediately asked that question. Pinkie was still there watching, although she had a few pots scattered around her body. "Sugarcube, did you really side with Twilight this whole time without knowing what the argument was?" questioned Applejack. "Well, yeah..." Rainbow said. Pinkie giggled. "I still don't know what we're talking about! Hey, do you guys want to come to my new Rarity-fled-back-to-Canterlot-because-Twilight's-said-a-thing party?!" Applejack smiled. "Rarity is a bit of a drama queen, ain't she. But yeah, Ah'd love to come to yer party, Pinkie. "Me too." Rainbow nodded. "Me pi to the nearest whole number!" Twilight was met with confused stares. "It was a joke," she clarified. "Me three." Rainbow turned around, then said, "What about you, Fluttersh-" She was gone. Discord chuckled to himself as he magically shed his disguise, yellow feathers swirling in the air momentarily before they teleported out of existence. He was getting pretty good at acting! Though, he had to admit Fluttershy was pretty easy. Just jump at every sound, cringe at every action, and talk softly. Oh, what fun! The expression on Rarity's face was priceless. Chaos, chaos, how he loved chaos... With a snap of his fingers, Discord reappeared in Fluttershy's hut. There, he found the pegasus mare lovingly feeding her robins and squirrels. "Oh! Hello Discord! How was your stroll? You did take that walk like I recommended, didn't you?" she said. "Of course, darling Fluttershy! It was quite refreshing." "That's very nice to hear." Fluttershy beamed. "Would you mind giving me a hoof with these animals?" she asked cheerily. "Not at all!" With another snap, food pellets began to rain down from the rafters, covering the entire rug with foul-smelling chunks within seconds. "Discord!!" reprimanded Fluttershy, despite being buried alive under a tidal wave of rabbit food. "Oh, fine.." SNAP! "Okay, so let me see the magazine!" protested Rainbow Dash. She and Applejack were sitting together at a booth at Sugercube Corner, enjoying milkshakes as the RFBCBTST (Rarity-fled-back-to-Canterlot-because-Twilight-said-a-thing) party raged on around them. "For tha last time, sugarcube, Twilight said no, and that means no," Applejack responded. "Aw, come on! I just want a look! I don't even know what this is about, remember?" Rainbow insisted. "Shucks, RD. Ah really-" Suddenly a pink blur appeared next to them, holding a tray of drinks. "It's no big dealie, Applejack. I mean, my mom always told me that when you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, always choose the rock. And Maud told me that sedimentary tends to yield slightly better results than igneous. Hey, isn't that a funny word? Yeee-eld. Yield. Yeld. Yieldie yieldyield. Huh. Anyway, that's why you should never, ever try to eat two bananas at once," Pinkie finished seriously. "Wha..." While AJ was distracted, Dash quickly stole the magazine from her, skimming over the parts she didn't need until she found the one with Rarity. "Wow, Rarity really went wild on this! Ah well, she needed to loosen up anyway, and isn't this just the way to do it?" she commented, her back hooves propped up on the counter. "Rainbow! Give that back right now!" yelled Applejack. "Ah never said you could have that darned thing!" Soon enough the two were squabbling on the table, each trying in vain to rip the magazine from the other. Pinkie set her tray of drinks down and reached into her mane, pulling out two mugs of hard-pressed cider. "Cider, anypony?" Rarity huffed indignantly as she bickered with Streak about the waistline of her latest creation. She wanted to keep it comfortable; he wanted to make it thin. Even though she was a few weeks into her job, she found it difficult to make a tank top or sweater without jewels of some sort. When she did get the chance to use crystals, she noticed that she tended to stay away from purple. Besides this, as she persisted with a wider waistline for a hoodie, she could not tear her mind from the events at Ponyville. Streak won the argument. Once at the boutique, Rarity immediately got to work redoing the seams, ripping them out angrily with her glowing blue magic. After the last stitch was in place, she placed a hoof to her forehead, fluttering her eyelids as she collapsed dramatically onto a red velvet couch. "Oh, Sweetie Belle! This was simply the most stressful thing a mare could encounter," she wailed. Silence. Of course, she was staying with the Apples back in Ponyville. Rarity sighed and got back up. As the couch disappeared, she went back into the living room of her hotel apartment, her hooves sinking into the carpet. Longingly glancing at the bed, she gave another sigh before her horn glowed, and she reached out and picked up another spool of fabric. "Hello, did you enjoy this chapter?" Discord looks straight at you, smiling, yet simultaneously smirking as he waves his talon in the air. You stand, stunned, because to answer his question that was quite possibly the most confusing and generally the worst you have ever seen. The creature before you begins tapping its clawed foot, a thick eyebrow arched in expectation. "...Yeah...?" you offer, subconsciously stepping back. With a snap, crackle and a pop, you pivot to find Discord posing behind you. Your heart hammers in your chest and you can feel the blood rushing in your ears as you desperately search for a way out of your room. He's always looked so comical, but in the real life he is actually menacing, and the way he zips around is no comfort to you. You can only hope he's more of a trickster than an evil mastermind. "I suppose you have noticed the change in tense, and also the fact that we are seriously sidetracked from the plot," he carries on, oblivious to your shock. You cock your head. "Does it bother you? Here, try this on for size." Without warning he grabs a newly-brought-into-existence shirt and rams it down on your head. As the stuffy feeling of breathing underneath fabric surrounds you, you begin to feel a storm of words and phrases whipping past your ears. I look back up at Discord. I have never realized how attractive he would be in real life, the way- The human turned their attention to the fictional medley of creatures of all sorts. The creature, known as Discord, flicked- A stalemate was reached. Guns were set down. Turrets were momentarily deactivated. Neither said a single word to the- Suddenly, Pinkie hopped in. She bounced up and down, long slow jumps at first that rapidly increased in speed. Soon, she was vibrating on the spot. Laughing, the Chaos God blinked, and a single atom from the air went into disarray, colliding with the charged up Pinkie. In the resulting explosion- Bending down, Discord gave the yellowed and torn letter to the human. With a wink, he- I decided to take a disdainful glance at the ugly, furless thing before me. Its eyes were too small, its muzzle... nonexistent... its ears somehow removed and replaced on the sides of the thing's head. I came to the conclusion that I should put this strange- With a gasp, you find yourself back in the correct scenario, Discord hovering over you like a mother would do to her toddler. "What was that for?!" you yell, shaking your head to clear it of any remaining conversations. That one time when it was from Discord's point of view... You could really use a shower. "I just needed a bit of fun, that's all. Anyway, don't stay up too late!" You hear a poof from behind you. Discord has dressed himself in a frilly nightgown and a pink cap, as well as a pair of tiny, shriveled reading glasses. His head revolves around his shoulder until it reaches an angle you thought only owls could achieve. His stare bores into your mind, scanning your deepest thoughts and secrets, before Discord grins, wiggles his fingers, and exclaims, "Cheerio!"
