Photo Finish Will Help a Filly Shine All Over Equestria
Scootaloo came back completely drenched from the pond she and her friends were to test a new idea for their cutie mark. It was sure, their talent wasn't diving. I swallowed more water than I ever thought it possible. Nopony could propose me a drink today.
At least, nopony seemed to care about them today. Everypony on the contrary seemed to look at these new posters stuck in every street in Ponyville.
“Do you know what these posters are about?” Scootaloo noticed. “They're everywhere.”
“Don't know,” Applebloom answered. “Some celebrities comin' to Ponyville?”
“Maybe the Wonderbolts?” the orange pegasus exclaimed. “If it's the case, Rainbow Dash will surely want to go!”
“Why would they come in this small town?” Sweetie Belle wondered. “Aren't bigger towns more interesting?”
“We never know if we don't look,” the young farmer stated.
Scootaloo nodded at the proposition. The three fillies managed to thread their way through the crowd. The poster was blue and some yellow stars was scattered on it. There was a picture of Photo Finish pointing towards the viewer.
“Be the next star. Photo Finish wants a young filly to present her new line of dresses,” the young daredevil read.
“We can try this to earn our cutie mark!” Sweetie Belle proposed.
“Ah'm not sure about it,” Applebloom thought.
“No thanks. I prefer live as blank flank that have a fashion star cutie mark,” the orange pegasus retorted. “I don't see myself parading on a stage, wearing a frilly dress and posing for pictures.”
“But, we search after our cutie mark. We must explore everything,” the unicorn complained.
“I'm sure that is not my special talent, no need to test it.” Anyway, I'm sure that a lot of fillies would dream to win this contest and I don't want to prevent them from living her dream. Scootaloo noticed that was maybe the Sweetie's one when she saw her happiness becoming disappointment. She tried to say something to redeem herself but Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon arrived.
“Did you hear them? They don't want to participate,” she boasted. “It's because they know they can't win. They don't stand a chance against us.”
I hate Diamond Tiara, always belittling us. Furthermore her sidekick laughs at her jokes. Soon, they would begin to insult us as blank flanks and more.
“We can beat ya if we wanted!” Applebloom shouted out.
“I'd like to see that,” Diamond Tiara pointed her nose in the air.
“We only have to participate and see who will win?”
Do I just really say that? I know that we can say a lot of things on the heat of the moment, but that? Sweetie began to recover her smile. On the contrary, the two bullies had frowned.
“Silver Spoon, I think we should show them who's better. And we need preparation!”
On these words, they left, with a haughty look. Scootaloo sighed. At least, they didn't stay too long.
“Thanks, girls. I know that it isn't your kind of thing but you defended me all the same,” the young unicorn smiled.
“This can't be that bad,” Applebloom admitted.
“Yeah!” the young pegasus followed, without conviction. “Rainbow Dash said we need to be always loyal to our friends. What kind of fan would I be if I didn't follow her example?”
“So, we need to get ready for tonight too,” Sweetie Belle planned. “I suggest that we return to our home and prepare for it immediately.”
After accepting, each filly headed towards her house. Scootaloo couldn't help but smile at the thought to see her two friends telling their sister that they would intend a fashion contest. I'm sure that Applejack is going to have a heart attack when Applebloom will announce that! Sure, Rarity is going to be happy. But Sweetie Belle will spend the afternoon to try on dresses and getting make up. Her smile turned to a frown when she thought about herself. My parents won't say anything. Either I tell them or not, they won't notice it anyway.
--|--|--
A huge stage stood now in the center of Ponyville's place. Several ponies checked if everything was alright. Looking at it from afar, Photo Finish discussed with a light brown stallion.
“So, are the preparations over?”
“Soon, madam!” he replied. “Everything goes smoothly!”
“How many contestants we have?”
“Eight, madam!”
“Good, good.”
Behind the group, Scootaloo approached, not very confident about she was doing. She noticed her friends talking to each other happily. Go Scootaloo, you need to be loyal to your friends! They would never let you down in the same situation. She trotted to them, without looking elsewhere. She was too embarrassed. She focused her friends, forgetting completely her surroundings. So much that she bumped into Diamond Tiara.
“Watch where you're walking,” She took a little time to realize to who she was talking to. “blank flank!”
No time to deal with her. Scootaloo continued her path, trying to pay attention as little as possible to the brat. She at least arrived at the level of her two friends and saw that they weren't the only fillies to participate. Ruby Pinch, Dinky Doo and Twist were already there. The young orange pegasus heard Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon snickering behind her back, meters away from her.
“You've made it!” Applebloom exclaimed. “Ah never thought that you'd come.”
“You didn't have too much trouble asking your parents?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“They're the same as ever,” Scootaloo sighed. “How about you?”
“As soon as I said that I'd participate to this contest, Rarity spent the entire afternoon getting me ready,” Sweetie Belle complained. I knew it! “I at least convinced her that we didn't need dresses for this one.”
Applebloom didn't have the time to say how it went that a pretty old unicorn mare, levitating a parchment, indicated her arrival by light coughs.
“So, I want your attention, please! Is everypony here? I need eight fillies.” She began to count the fillies in her head before adding, “Perfect, my name is Starting Line and I'm one of the assistants of Photo Finish. Fillies, it's time to shine!”
Several shouts of joy were heard. Fillies ran towards the stage to climb on it. Diamond Tiara leaned close the Cutie Mark Crusaders and whispered, “Don't ever hope to win this time.” And then she moved away from them.
“We need that at least one of us win. We can't let Diamond Tiara win!” the white unicorn asserted.
No, you need to win, I'm just here to support you. I can't win. I'd be too embarrassed. Fillies lined up on the edge of the stage. Now a crowd filled the place to see the contest. Scootaloo began to scan the public like she wanted to forget what she was doing here. It wasn't easy with Photo Finish who had started to take photos every two seconds. These flashes are gonna make me blind!
Despite of this, a rainbow mane drew the young pegasus' attention. Rainbow Dash? What is she doing here? She looked at the mares next to her. A recognizable hat and a pristine purple mane stood out. Obviously she was coming with her friends. Another quick look confirmed that the rest of her friends were there too. Rainbow Dash was now waving at Scootaloo.
“Yes, show Photo Finish something!” the photographer exclaimed.
Every filly posed and looked, at best, ridiculous. For example, Applebloom made her best fake smile while Sweetie Belle pursed her lips. The worst was the attitude of Diamond Tiara who would pass Canterlot's nobles off as uncouth ponies. The only one who didn't pose was Scootaloo. She had lowered her head like it was going to hide her.
A frown appeared on Photo Finish's face. “The cream filly on the right, no! I won't do!” Twist was posing like one of the Canterlot Garden's statues when Starting Line came to make her climb down from the stage. She left head low with her.
“And the magenta one too, on the left,” the photographer continued. This was Ruby Pinch. She was leaning on a bar of the stage. The old mare sighed and announced to Berry Punch's sister her fate. “Yes! Wunderbar!” Scootaloo looked at the two fillies going back to their relatives, pretty sad.
The orange pony heard Diamond Tiara snicker. How could Diamond Tiara do that? That you feel relieved to not be eliminated, I'd understand. But I can't stand her laughing at ponies who had failed. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, you need to win against her. She noticed that her friends had seen the same thing and they were also pretty angry about it.
A new round of flashes began. Scootaloo blinked each time. How famous ponies can endure that? Finally Photo Finish stopped to take pictures and reappeared from behind the camera. She frowned looking at Scootaloo. At least I'm gonna leave the stage to explain to Rainbow Dash why I'm here. That I'm loyal to my friends and didn't want to do this silly thing. The photographer grinned at the sight of the orange pegasus smiling from hope.
She stared at all the remaining fillies. Her look stopped at Applebloom, glancing at her bow in her mane. “You! No no no no, I said that I didn't want additional accessories or dresses for the contest.” Starting Line poked the young farmer on the withers, gently showing her the exit of the stage. Applebloom is out. Sweetie Belle had a good idea convincing her sister she didn't need to wear a dress.
A shout was heard from the public. “Don't worry. This ain't yer kind o' contest, yer better at the farm nonetheless!” Scootaloo instantly recognized Applajack's voice. She now imagined the look on Rarity's face when the farmer yelled that out loud.
The young pegasus expected that the flashes from the camera started again but nothing happened. Photo Finish continued to stare at the fillies. One in particular was aimed, Silver Spoon. All this attention seemed to cause unease to the young gray pony.
“I think that isn't your usual spectacles,” the photographer finally exclaimed.
“I need my glasses to see,” Silver Spoon defended.
“I don't think you wander around town with these spectacles covering the half of your face,” she made a point.
Scootaloo hadn't noticed that. It was true that they weren't her regular glasses. It was the kind of glasses which on famous ponies wear and look ridiculous on normal ponies. They were big, red, and flashy. The young daredevil didn't care for thing like that; that was why she hadn't noticed.
Starting Line caught the gray filly that didn't want to move and made her leave the stage. Yeah, one all!
They were now four fillies remaining on the stage. Sweetie Belle was sweating heavily, due to the increasing stress. Dinky Doo was waving at her mother happily and Diamond Tiara was still so full of herself.
Scootaloo looked at the three of them when she realized something. Diamond Tiara always wears her stupid... Her thought was interrupted by the lack of headgear on her mane. Shoot, she thought about it!
Photo Finish resumed her work. The white unicorn sweat more and more. The photographer popped her head again from the camera. “No no no no!” she exclaimed, looking at Sweetie Belle. “If you sweat already like this outside, undressed by this fresh night, what will happened when you'll be inside, dressed and under the heat of the projectors?”
Starting Line poked the unicorn's withers, showing her the way to leave the stage. Sweetie Belle lowered her head and frowned. As she dragged her hooves to leave, she whispered to the young pegasus, “You need to win this one!” She got to her big sister who was already in drama queen mode. Scootaloo only saw Rainbow Dash rolling her eyes at the antics when she received a nudge from Diamond Tiara.
“I told you!” she boasted. “I'm the best for this. There's no way blank flank like you can win.”
The young daredevil had stopped to look at her hero and stared now at the brat standing in her left, puffing her chest. The flashes continued, only interrupted by compliments both in Equestrian and in a language that Scootaloo didn't understand.
Dinky Doo seemed to enjoy more and more the contest. She couldn't help but jump up and down. Diamond Tiara was, on the contrary, very calm. She acted like she had already won and that was normal. I cannot let her win! She'll never shut up if she does!
“Stop!” Photo Finish suddenly yelled. She walked around her camera and faced the young pegasus. She scrutinized every detail of her. Scootaloo saw at the corner of her eyes Diamond Tiara grin.
“I bet she noticed how bad you look when you frown,” she whispered, laughing at her. The daredevil made every effort to prevent hitting her in the face. If she did that, she would be surely eliminated.
Photo Finish suddenly decided to look at Dinky Doo instead. “She didn't look at me because I look bad, she looked at me because I look good,” Scootaloo whispered back.
“NO!” the photographer yelled, making jump the two bickering fillies in the process. “You're too excited for this kind of thing. You must stay calm and serious when you do this!” She made a sign to Starting Line. The old mare accompanied the young unicorn who her over-enjoyment changed to a big disappointment.
As she was climbing down, Derpy shouted from the public, “Don't worry! You'll stay my little muffin to me, star or not!” Dinky cheered up again and left the stage.
Photo Finish smiled at the two remaining fillies. “It's going to be difficult to decide between you two.” She placed herself again behind her camera.
“I never imagined that you'd be in final against me,” Diamond Tiara complained. “At least, my victory is insured with you as my opponent.”
Don't listen to her. It's just gonna be worst if you do. Scootaloo looked in every direction, except where the bully stood. She sighed. At the edge of the stage, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom looked at her expectantly.
“Yes, show Photo Finish... de magicks!” the photographer said, her eyes pointed to the stars and a hoof in the air. Scootaloo's friends showed her to smile insistently. The young pegasus obeyed and make her best smile. “No!” Photo Finish exclaimed. Scootaloo frowned, disappointed. “Yes...” she mellowed.
“This is a real smile,” Diamond Tiara showing how she made the smile which helped her avoiding punishments and looked good towards adults.
Photo Finish stopped immediately. She put away her camera and gave it to one of her assistants. She stared at the two fillies. The smile the pink young pony gave get wider. Scootaloo even wondered if her smile got wider her face would tear up. She didn't try to smile now, despite the desperate signs her friends sent to do so.
“I, Photo Finish, have found the next fashion filly star tonight!” she declared. “And this future star is...” The entire public hanged at her lips. “This cute orange pegasus here!”
Scootaloo's and Diamond Tiara's jaws hit the floor. “I won?” the daredevil asked in disbelief. “I won, I won, I won!” she then repeated, jumped up and down, at the great misfortune of the pink filly. And then she realized what it meant. “I... won?!”
--|--|--
A few weeks later...
The three Cutie Mark Crusaders wandered in the streets of Ponyville, Scootaloo wearing a hat nearly as large as her. She seemed pretty stressed and tired.
“How is it to be a fashion star?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“It's a nightmare. I don't have a minute for myself now and I can't go anywhere without getting annoyed by ponies,” the young pegasus complained.
“Maybe, if yer wearin' a different kind of hats, ya won't be recognized,” Applebloom proposed.
“No, it's better like that, I swear. You can ask to Fluttershy,” Scootaloo assured. “Besides, she's the one who gave me this hat.”
“It's true, I remember that she was also chosen by Photo Finish,” the young unicorn reminded.
“She sure has a knack for pegasi,” the yellow filly laughed.
“Don't remind me, please,” the daredevil complained. “I wouldn't dare approaching Rainbow Dash anymore now, with that.”
“Don't worry, I'm sure that everypony will forget about you soon,” Sweetie Belle assured.
Scootaloo sighed. I hope so. I'd prefer be recognized for something else that looking good on photos. Suddenly, a gust swept away the pegasus' hat. My hat! Everypony in the street turn around to see her run after her hat.
“Oh, look! It's Scootaloo!” Colgate exclaimed, pointing at her.
“Girls, I need to hide for a moment...” Scootaloo said, weary.
“We understand,” the two others responded.
And the three fillies ran, followed by a mob of ponies.
--|--|--
Proofread by CluelessFilly
