Miss Gala

Chapter 2: Misunderstandings Can Ruin Friendships

The show soon begins at the stadium. Ponies are practicing, dressing themselves, thinking on how to impress the judges in this contest. Speaking of which, the said judges sat in their seats, waiting patiently for this contest to begin.

"This is going to be interesting." Celestia said with a smile. "It's like the Battle of the Bands you and Twilight told me about, remember Megan?"

"Yes...only there is no hypnotized plot that involves taking over the world involved here." Megan admits with a giggle. "Azure? Have you gotten anything like this in the Land of Ma?"

"Normally yes, but usually with paint and fans." Azure said to Megan with a nod, recalling having similar contests back home.

"All right, time to begin this!" The Mayor exclaims happily into her microphone as she got onto the stage. "First off, the mares in..."

"Uh, Mayor, Mayor!" Celestia calls out, interrupting the Mayors. "No bikinis. There are foals watching this."

"Oh, I was actually going for robes here."

"Oh, that's better then."

The mares of Equestria got on stage, posing and waving to the audience. Even the Mane Six are there, giving out the same thing. The crowd cheers on, making noises.

"Yeah, that's my mare!" Ben exclaims, waving to Twilight excitedly.

"Oh yeah, whoooo! Rarity!" Spike exclaims as he applauds wildly for Rarity.

"Yeah, Rainbow, wooo!" Called the familiar voice of...Soarin'. The others saw him, surprised to see him here. The Wonderbolt, noticing that he's been saw, blushed a bit. "Well, I got to give out support to my fellow Wonderbolt, right?"

"Yeah, sure." Nyx and Phobos remarks in amusement as they roll their eyes.

"Yes, a bunch of beauties we got this year!" The Mayor exclaims as the mares continues posing to the crowd.

"Yes, very nice." Megan said as she and the judges wrote down their results. "And the robes are a nice touch."

"Yes...some are beautiful, some are..." Celestia cringes as Berry Punch fell, pushing right into Lyra and Bon-Bon, knocking them down. "...well, some are trying."

"Yes, of course, of course." Azure said as he wrote down the results. A concerned look came to his face as he continues speaking privately, "There's another reason why I came here. I've noticed that in the past Miss Gala contests that I've read about, ponies are often a bit dry as if energy has been sucked out of them."

"Yes, I couldn't help but notice too. This happened at every Miss Gala contest. Love is in the air as well as excitement...but when it's over, the contestants and audience members often felt a bit dry."

"So is this why you're having the contest here? Just to lure whatever is responsible out?" Megan ask Celestia and Azure, suspecting that they are holding the Miss Gala contest here just to find out what could be responsible for the past illnesses after the contests.

"Yes, I've gotten my men stationed at certain places. Whatever is responsible, we will find them. But for now, let us focus on the contest." Azure said, reminding the females to focus on the contest.

"All right, let's hear it for them." The Mayor said as the mares left to go back stage. "The results will come in a few minutes."

Unknown to everyone, a certain Changeling Queen and her minions are in hiding in the audience. Chrysalis chuckles quietly as she spoke, "You know what to do, right?"

The minions nodded as they and Changeling changes into the forms of the Mane Six. It's time for the plan to begin!

It was a few minutes later as the judges posted the results of which mares will make it to the preliminary rounds. The contestants check the results to see who advances. Some left in disappointment, some are excited. And most...

"Yes, we made it, girls!" Fluttershy exclaims with a smile.

"Squeeee!" Rarity exclaims, jumping up and down excitedly. "Ooooh, I made it, yes, I made it!"

"Yeah, it figures." Applejack said with a smile, shaking her head. "So what's 'de next part o' 'dis contest?"

"I think it's a talent contest." Twilight said, checking the list of events. "We just got to show off our talents to the judges and see if they approve."

"Talent? Yipee!" Pinkie exclaims, bouncing up and down.

"Okay, don't get excited, Pinkie. Remember, this is for fun."

"Right, and besides, move aside and let a real champion win it." Rainbow said, boasting while making a proud pose. This causes her friends to roll their eyes at this.

"Okay, time we hit the dressing rooms." Twilight said with a smile to her friends. "We will meet by the stage within a few minutes."

The Mane Six separate, looking for their dressing rooms. They cannot wait to show off their talents to the judges and see who will make it to the semifinals.

Twilight smiles as she put on her banner while leaving her dressing room. The Alicorn princess is about ready to head over to the side of the stage to meet her friends...when she spots them having a conversation around a corner.

Twilight was about to come over when Applejack spoke up with an evil grin, "Can yew believe it, Twilight thinks she's got 'dis in the bag?" The Alicorn stops and looks confused upon hearing that.

Rainbow smirks as if knowing Twilight is nearby, taunting, "What you expect, she's a princess; that gives her like an UNFAIR advantage to every mare here."

Pinkie giggles cruelly, "Just because she saved us all from Tirek's reign, doesn't mean she has to win by default!"

Rarity remarks with a sly wicked smirk, "She thinks she's all that, being Celestia's student, being Sister-In-Law with Princess Cadance, the only thing big about her....is her brain!"

Twilight looks shocked and hurt. How could her friends say that to her? And why didn't Fluttershy say anything...unless she’s against her too!

As Twilight leaves, the Rainbow lookalike changes into Twilight. These aren't Twilight's real friends but Chrysalis and her friends. The princess now thinks her friends are bad mouthing her!

"All right, now for the Wonderbolt." Chrysalis whispers to her minions who nods as they trot off to the direction of Rainbow's dressing room.

Rainbow smirks as she prepares to leave her dressing room. The Wonderbolt is going to win this thing! And even if she doesn't, the Pegasus pony can always support her friends...or them back if they don't make it.

Rainbow however turns a corner and saw what she thought was Twilight and her friends talking. The Pegasus pony was about to speak when "Fluttershy" spoke with a cruel smile, "Can you believe Rainbow Dash thinks being awesome would win a competition?"

Rainbow stops, looking confused. Did Fluttershy badmouth her?

"Rarity" scoffs wickedly, speaking loud enough for Rainbow to hear, "She wouldn't even get her hooves done at the Spa!"

"Pinkie" laughs madly, "She went so far as to collect the Gabby Gum news reports to save her reputation about her toughness being soft!"

"Twilight", giving a cruel smile, adds in amusement, "Like that girl will be Miss. Gala.....in her dreams!"

"Grrr, those jerks." Rainbow said with a mad snort. She can't believe it. Her friends went and are badmouthing her like that! They think that she can't be Miss Gala?! Oh, the Pegasus pony will show them!

Once Rainbow is gone, the Applejack lookalike changes into Rainbow as the Changelings move on to the next target.

Applejack was checking her apples, wondering what talents she would do in the contest that involves. As the farm pony have times to decide, she couldn't help but overhear a conversation.

"Can you believe that cow pony AJ thinks she can win this without having the fine female appeal?" "Rainbow" ask the "others" wickedly. Applejack looks shocked as she turns and saw the Pegasus speaking with the others.

"Twilight" nodded as she remarks, "She should be better as little Miss Farm Girl, then as Miss Gala!"

Applejack gasps, getting upset as "Rarity" added madly, "The only competition she'll even bag....is bagging for apples."

"If she doesn't sweat too much to gross out the judges." "Fluttershy" remarks with a cruel smirk, giving out a side glance.

"Why, those no good, back stabbing ponies." Applejack remarks with a snort, crushing an apple that she was holding. "Those dishonest...grrrrr!!!"

As Applejack continues yelling and tossing apples a bit, her "friends" laughs cruelly as they gallop off to the next victim.

The Changelings continues posing as the others, making sure one of them changes form to avoid suspicion. Pinkie was happening to be wearing the Groucho Marx glasses, having a Jack in the Box on her back, and blowing on a steamer as she bounces over...when she saw her friends talking.

"Pinkie Pie is nothing but a big fat joke out there." "Twilight" remarks smugly to the "others" much to Pinkie's confusion. What is the Alicorn even saying about her?

"Well she was never serious competition from the beginning." "Rarity" said in agreement to "Twilight", making Pinkie stunned upon hearing that.

"Applejack" couldn't help but give out a mean chuckle, " All she likes doing is being goofy & silly, she thinks she & everyone are having fun."

"The only fun they're having is laughing so hard that she'll never win Miss Gala." "Rainbow" remarks cruelly, much to Pinkie's shock and sadness as she drops all the items that she was holding.

"How...could you...?" Pinkie whispers as her mane and tail went flat. Her friends don't love her anymore! They like this contest more than her!

Rarity prances around in a beautiful dress, posing a bit in front of a mirror backstage. The unicorn grins as she gallops off. Oh, Rarity can't wait to show this to her friends.

However, Rarity stops as she overhears "Applejack" speaking to the "others', "'Dat Rarity, thinks she's got this stuff down." The unicorn looks confused as she peeks into another room, seeing her "friends" speaking.

Rarity looks shocked as "Fluttershy" nods in agreement, adding cruelly, "She may have been thinking she was raise as a noble, but her family sure isn't!"

"She even ditch her noble standings for Trenderhoof to be a country bumpkin." "Rainbow" taunts, making Rarity gasps in shock and hurt. How could she say that about her?! They are supposed to be friends!

"I think anyone that saw her makeup fall off would see that she's not as pretty to be Miss Gala." "Pinkie" remarks with a nasty smirk to the "others".

That was too much for Rarity to bear as she gallops off, making the fake Mane Five smirks wickedly as they saw her do so. One more pony left to fool!

Fluttershy decided to do some flying lessons. The mare felt like she could do this talent in the talent show, show how much flying that Pegasus pony has done.

Fluttershy saw her friends below, talking. She smiles and is about to fly down when the yellow pony overheard them talking.

"Poor Fluttershy, never had a shot at this." "Twilight" remarks, making Fluttershy stopped flying in confusion.

"She was once a lovely model, but look at her...she looks ready to drop like a hat!" "Rarity" remarks, causing Fluttershy to look shocked and hurt. She thought that this problem with Rarity has been resolved and now...she's badmouthing her about it?!

"She maybe kind, but kindness can't win a competition." "Applejack" remarks, causing Fluttershy to sob a bit.

But what "Rainbow" said really hurt her the most, "If she brought in her furry friends that went wild, they may as well call her....the Wild Miss Gala! She'll never get over being called that!"

"Rainbow...how could you?" Fluttershy whispers as she flew away, crying and feeling heartbroken.

Once she's gone, however, the fakes changes back to their real forms. Seto ask his ruler, "So?"

"We wait for the fireworks to begin." Chrysalis remarks with a cruel smile. The plan to turn the Mane Six against one another has worked indeed!

The Mane Six each looks upset. Their friends are badmouthing and begin cruel and wicked to them. This contest was all they all care about, never about them! They got upset to the point that when they arrived at the right place, well...

"HOW DARE YOU!" The Mane Six all yell at each other, then stop, looking confused.

But the angry Twilight was the first to speak, "No, how dare you! You all went and badmouth me?! Your princess?! I thought you were my friends!

"We were...until you all make fun of me!" Rainbow snorts as she glares at Applejack. "So! Still wanting to prove you're better than me, huh?"

"Oh, how funny coming fro' a hypocrite!" Applejack snorts angrily at Rainbow, making her scowl angrily.

"How dare you all make fun of a beautiful lady," Rarity remarks to her so-called friends furiously. "Oh wait, you would anyway! You love this contest more than our friendship!"

"What friendship? Y'all threw it away when yew badmouthed me!"

"LIAR!"

"You are all meanies...big meanies!" Pinkie exclaims as she took her party cannon out, threatening to use it. "Go on, make fun of me again, I dare ya!"

"Oh...oh. You are big stupid meanies!" Fluttershy exclaims as well, getting very upset.

Soon the mares begin yelling and insulting one another. This contest combined with the Changelings' deceit has got them all on edge!

"Well, one thing's for sure...I'm going to win this and show you all!" Twilight exclaims with a scoff. The Alicorn is going to win this contest to prove to her cruel friends how wrong they truly are!

"Sez you!" The other members of the Mane Five yells out angrily at the Princess of Friendship.

"Hey there girls, how's everyone go...." Ben spoke off in coming into the picture to see how the Mane Six are doing, but...

"STAY OUT OF THIS!" The Mane Six snapped back at Ben, Nyx, Spike & Phobos in showing some REALLY upset looks as if anyone interfering was gonna get an earful of them.

"Okay....I think someone's got the crazy competition fever! Just do what I do...smile, nod, & back away from the scary cat fight." Phobos spoke off in feeling that seeing this, they best leave the mares to their business without getting involved in a heated attention.

Hearing that, Ben's group moved away from the scene as the Mane Six seem to be glaring at each other; they are gonna rattle each other's throats. Cause now the competition for Miss Gala has just gone into overdrive in where only ONE of them, can be crown the title. The race to win first place....is ON!