If nothing else, today was going to be a pretty good day for it. The skies were free of even the tiniest cloud, allowing both the bright blue above and the warm sun to greet all who walked below. As one would expect on such a sunny day, people seemed to be going about their business in a pretty cheery way, with smiles on their faces. Such was also the case for Sunset and her friends, who, at this very moment, were busying themselves with something they had done once or twice in the past; operating a makeshift car-wash for the sake of raising money. Their hands were already covered in the soapy water of several cars' worth of cleanings, and even now, they were hard at work, scrubbing off the last specks of dust from one particular car; that of the local Mayor. The older woman, of course, graciously thanked them for their efforts, handing them their money before giving them a smile, after which, she headed off, with Pinkie Pie especially giving her an enthusiastic wave.
"So, how much does that make it?"
Looking over at the locked box that was resting next to the wall they were working by, Sunset tapped her chin, thinking over the numbers, before turning back to her party-loving friend and returning the smile.
"I think that gets us about five hundred, at most."
Hearing that, Rainbow punched the air in triumph.
"Oh yeah! Rainbooms doin' good!"
Chuckling, Applejack took hold of her friend's arm and lowered it.
"Steady on there, Missy! We've still got all day ta do this..."
Her smile faded a little.
"An' in case y'all ain't noticed yet..."
She gestured to the surrounding streets.
"...it don' look like nobody else is comin' over anytime soon."
That sentiment seemed to be shared by the rest of the girls soon afterwards, with Fluttershy especially seeming rather down at the prospect of it.
"Oh dear. Maybe...maybe we could go someplace else? With more cars?"
Twilight turned to her, shaking her head.
"I don't think that will do us any good. Remember, we chose this spot well. A crossroads, right in the middle of town, with the movie theatre on one side, the park on the other, plus a whole bunch of other stuff nearby. And with this being a weekend, this is likely going to be as many cars as we're going to see."
Naturally, an assessment like that led to quite a few disappointed looks on everyone's faces. Rarity, for her part, tried to look composed and "okay" with this whole situation.
"Fear not, darlings. We just need to get people's attention a bit more. I think..."
She pondered for a moment, then looked down to her necklace, which shone brightly in the sunlight of the day. A smile came to her, and she glanced up to Sunset.
"...perhaps I could conjure up a little magic? Get a few shining diamonds floating around. It could attract quite a few admiring eyes our way."
But Sunset shook her head at that.
"I appreciate the idea, Rarity, but I don't think it'd work. First off..."
She started counting off her fingers.
"...we've already agreed not to use our powers for everyday things. We all remember what happened when that got out of hand, right?"
Suddenly, all eyes turned to Rainbow, and she, in turn, looked away, seeming rather embarrassed.
"I said I was sorry, alright!"
Sunset shook her head slightly, then carried on.
"Besides, even if our magic did bring people our way, what if they already have clean cars? Then we're stuck showing off magic and not earning anything from the wash."
Rarity thought on that.
"Hmmm...I suppose attracting extra people would be rather offset if they were...well...not actually in any need of a wash."
Fluttershy, who had been largely quiet for a lot of this, looked to all of her friends, then gained a small smile.
"Maybe we could appeal to their sense of charity? Make it known what we're doing this for? After spending time with Sour, I picked up a trick or two that might help."
Looking to her, Twilight smiled, albeit briefly.
"Thanks for the idea, Fluttershy, but I don't think that would help in this situation. You'd have to have people moving slow enough to get them to stop and have a talk with them, and when we're dealing with cars..."
As if to emphasise her point, a car suddenly arrived around the corner, then darted down the road they were all standing next to, going far faster than they were perhaps supposed to. Naturally, Rarity looked to that display with some distaste.
"Well, I see somebody doesn't know how to read speed signs!"
The mood was getting grim, that much was certain, but, as ever, there was one girl among them who seemed to not be anything but chipper, and that was Pinkie Pie. Giggling, she gained everyone else's attention, smiling widely to them.
"You know...there is one way we could catch people's eye here. And to be honest, I'm surprised none of you have suggested it."
Folding her arms, Sunset raised an eyebrow.
"Okay...what is your suggestion?"
Giggling again, Pinkie stopped, then looked around, making sure nobody else was listening in on them, before leaning forward and giving her answer.
"Well...I was hanging out with Sonata the other day..."
The moment she'd said that, Applejack's eyes widened, and she covered her face, as if mortified.
"Oh no! Tell me yer not!"
Ignoring her, Pinkie continued.
"And she had this really great idea!"
Lowering her hands, Applejack sighed.
"Trust me...ah see where this is goin'."
Suddenly worried at Applejack’s apparent concern over the situation, Sunset, taking a step forward, asked Pinkie the obvious question.
"So...what is your plan?"
Pinkie smirked slightly, then spoke it a tone that, from the sound of it, made it clear that she saw no issue whatsoever with her idea at all.
"Isn't it obvious? We do the car wash in our swimsuits!"
Immediately, all eyes turned to her, utterly shocked at that suggestion. All, that is, except for Applejack, who folded her arms, rolled her eyes and les out a long sigh.
"Yep...ah knew it."
Sunset, after blinking slowly a few times, soon broke the silence between them.
"Um...pardon?"
Pinkie shrugged her shoulders.
"What? It's simple. We get our suits on, show a little skin, catch some driver's eyes, and before you know it, we'll be packed with customers!"
Twilight, as one would expect, had something to say about that.
"I appreciate that you want to do all you can for raising money, Pinkie, but...well...isn't it a touch controversial for High-School girls to do that sort of thing?"
Pinkie snorted.
"It's not exploitation if we’re the ones running the wash, Twilight!"
Rainbow looked away, thinking on that.
"Huh...might need to ask a lawyer about that one."
Though she frowned slightly at that, Pinkie’s smile soon returned.
“Besides, if we’re willing to do that kind of thing for the orphanage, why should this be any different?”
Though they would have been loathe to actually admit it, it was clear from their faces that Pinkie had a point there. Rarity, for her part, merely swept aside some of her hair, looking as dignified as she could before replying to her friend's idea.
"Well, thankfully, none of us actually brought our bathing suits with us today, so at least we don't actually have to...PINKIE?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Sure enough, the party-lover had started to strip off her clothes, her shirt, her skirt, everything. But, before any of her friends could get too horrified by this, they found, to their very small relief, that Pinkie had already elected to wear her white-and-pink one-piece swimsuit under her clothes today. Seeing the looks on her friends' faces, Pinkie raised an eyebrow.
"What? You didn't think I was gonna get naked in public, did you?"
The girls briefly looked to one another, and though unsaid, it was clear that such a notion was, indeed, what they'd considered. But, for now, they remained silent, watching as Pinkie completed the image she was making for herself by slipping off both her white leggings and her shoes, choosing to go barefoot for this display of hers. After having discarded her outer clothes, she gave herself a stretch, letting out a sigh and looking rather pleased with herself right now. Then, she picked up a nearby cardboard sign, with the words “car wash” in big red letters, holding it high above her head.
"Alrighty then! Time to bring on the customers!"
Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Sunset soon shook her head to this.
"Pinkie...just because you're going risqué for this doesn't mean that..."
But, before she even had the chance to finish, she was halted when, all of a sudden, a bright blue car suddenly pulled up beside them. In it was a boy, whom they recognised as one of the students of Crystal Prep, though his exact name eluded them at the moment. Though the boy tried to hide it, it was clear from his occasional glances that Pinkie was the one getting his attention right now.
"You...er...you girls doing a car wash?"
Pinkie beamed.
"Yep! All for charity!"
The boy nodded.
"Well...if it's for charity!"
Sunset's mouth opened, but again, she said nothing, as she soon saw a few more cars start to pull up behind the first. With her shoulders slumping, she turned to Pinkie, who had a very distinct "I told you so" look about her. After frowning to that look, Sunset then turned to her other friends, then shrugged her shoulders.
"Well...when she's right, she's right."
