CHAPTER 4 - The Fashion Show
The next whole week was just the start of Rarity’s career as a model for Photo Finish Studios. Most of it was just the same as the first day: photo shoots in various dresses, but it was getting a lot more interesting. Rarity continued to bring her own dresses to use and Photo Finish even agreed to make advertisements in their magazine for Rarity’s boutique. During the afternoon when Rarity was working, she found more ponies coming in during sale hours and asking for more commissions. Business began to boom for her but it was nothing compared to the popularity Rarity was getting. Almost everypony who came in to the shop would notice her from the magazines and compliment her on her appearance in the magazines. Rarity felt so pleased to know more ponies in Ponyville recognized her for this and she was glad she could finally find a way to market her boutique through something so popular.
One afternoon, Twilight came in with Spike to congratulate Rarity for her success. Rarity was finishing up her latest commission which was a replica of one of her dresses she wore on the front cover of the magazine.
“Rarity!” Twilight exclaimed walking in after the bell rung from the opening of the door. Spike was holding the magazine up for her. “Spike and I saw you on the front cover of this magazine today! Congratulations!”
Rarity turned her head around a bit startled. “Ooooh…… Twilight, Spike… Yes, so I see! Those magazines just got released last night and Photo Finish said I deserved to be on the front cover already.”
“Well you look wonderful in it, Rarity! They used some good pictures of you!” Twilight said delightedly while Spike was flipping the pages of the magazine to get to a certain part.
“Yeah, especially this one!” he said holding it up showing an image of Rarity sitting on a little sofa sporting a beautiful red sparkly dress and a face that could send a full grown stallion (or dragon) into a lovesick daze. Rarity blushed and made a grin from ear to ear with her eyes darting around. “You look amazing in this picture Rarity!”
“Ehem!” said Twilight looking sternly down at him.
“What?” Spike asked looking up at Twilight trying to not act like he knew what she meant. Twilight then grabbed the magazine with her magic and put it in her pouch before Spike would embarrass himself.
“I guess what Spike means to say is we’ve never seen you looking so stunning before. And ponies on the street are talking about you more and more too!”
Rarity kept blushing and looking around bashfully. She was practically speechless from all of this positivity she was getting from her friends. “I’m happy to hear it Twilight. It sure does make me feel better about myself and it has helped my business out too.” Her face then went from shy to apologetic. “I’m just sorry I haven’t been able to spend some time you friends of mine lately.”
“It’s alright Rarity, we know you have a job to do and we know you love your new one. I’m sure we can still meet with you plenty of times.” Twilight gave a reassuring smile to tell Rarity that she understood like always.
Rarity lifted her head back up and started smiling again. “Thank you, Twilight. It really has been fun and I’m so happy to have friends who support me in this.”
“We’ll support you till the end, Rarity!” said Spike in a somewhat heroic tone. “And who knows? Someday you might be the most famous mare in all of Ponyville……no Equestria……no, the entire wor-“
“OH! That reminds me!” said Rarity cutting Spike off. “I almost forgot to let you know: I’m going to be in a fashion show this weekend at the auditorium in Photo Finish Studios and I have some tickets for the both of you and the rest of our friends!” She then used her magic to pick up some little tickets she got from the studio and gave them to Twilight and Spike.
“Oh wow Rarity, you’re in a fashion show already?!” Twilight said with eyes beaming.
“I know, can you believe it? Photo Finish said that even though it’s been just one week, I am already eligible to go on stage and model in my dresses for the community!”
“Can we go, Twilight? Pleeeease?!” said Spike putting his hands together and standing on his tip toes and giving the most adorable begging face a baby dragon could give.
Twilight giggled a bit and rolled her eyes. “Of course Spike, I know you wouldn’t miss it for all the gems in a crystal cave. And Rarity, we all should be able to make it, so I’d be glad to attend.”
“It would certainly honor me to have all my friends there.” Rarity told them. “The show starts at eight o’ clock PM this Saturday night but you should probably get in a bit early; front row seats do sell out fast.”
“Don’t you worry, Rarity. We’ll get there an hour early if we have to. I’d like for us to be up close to cheer you on!” Twilight assured her. “Alright, Spike, you ready to go home now?”
“Right behind you, Twilight. See ya, Rarity, and good luck with the modeling!” said Spike waving good-bye to Rarity while she waved back.
“Good-bye, you two, and thank you for stopping over! Oh, and don’t forget to tell the others I said hi and I can’t wait to see them this weekend at the fashion show!”
“I’ll tell em, Rarity. Farewell!”
Twilight and Spike walked back outside and started making conversation.
“Wow, Spike, Rarity really has it going! I’m so happy she got into a fashion show for the studio already!”
“I know, I’m glad she likes what she’s doing too! I’ll bet she feels more beautiful than ever before!”
“Yeah, I can tell she sure does! It’s always good to see her happy like this!”
There was a bit of a pause until Spike put his hand out as if asking for something.
“Um……... Twilight?”
“What is it, Spike?”
“Ehem?” he said making grasping motions with his little dragon claws.
Twilight rolled her eyes and then took the magazine out of her pouch and gave it back to Spike for him to look at.
“Thanks. Ooooh, look at his one, I haven’t seen it yet! Ooooooh, wow, she’s drop-dead gorgeous in that photo!” Spike said romantically while wolf-whistling.
Twilight shook her head back and forth and just gave Spike the usual sarcastic look whenever he was in one of his lovesick moments about Rarity.
“You’re really enjoying all this, aren’t you Lover-boy?”
“Oh you know it! I’m never throwing this magazine out at all!”
“Hehehe…oh Spike…”
A few days later, the doors of Photo Finish Studios were open and Twilight and all her friends entered the building early to get to see Rarity at the fashion show. They got there early enough to get some seats right in front of the tip of the walkway. Twilight even got permission from the security guards to go back and see Rarity real quick before she went out on stage to give her a little pep-talk.
Twilight walked back towards a door with one of the guards who opened it for her and she called in to the room full of models in front of mirrors preparing themselves.
“Um…Rarity?” Twilight called softly.
Rarity was actually closer to the door than she expected, Twilight just couldn’t recognize her due to the new style her hair was combed in and having more makeup on. Rarity turned her head around quickly and saw Twilight.
“Oh, Twilight! Hang on, I’ll be out there in just a few moments…” she replied turning real quick back to the mirror to put on a bit more makeup before getting out of her chair and rushing over to see her friend. They both walked outside the dressing room to meet.
“I’m so glad you made it! Did the others make it too?” Rarity asked frantically.
“They sure did! We all came together and we got front row seats!”
“Oh that’s marvelous, Darling! I’d hoped you would!”
“Well, are you ready to go out there and show everypony what you’re made of?”
“I suppose……I’m a bit nervous though. There will be a much bigger crowd than the last time for the boutique. Do you think I’ll do well?”
“I know you will, Rarity!” said Twilight while putting her hoof around Rarity’s back. “You’ve been doing very well so far, and you have a natural gift for this and that’s why Photo Finish was quick to hire you.”
“Oh thank you ever so much Twilight. You’re right, I’m going to do a magnificent job and everypony will leave this building satisfied tonight!” Rarity said looking up to the ceiling so resolutely.
“Alright, I’d better go back and get my seat pretty fast. We’ll all be cheering for you down there!”
“Thanks again Darling, and I’ll see you and the others on stage!”
The guard then brought Twilight out to the auditorium and she got back in her seat with the others.
“So how’s she doin, Twilight?!” said Pinkie excitedly.
“Is she nervous?” Spike asked.
“She’s doing great you guys. She’s a bit nervous but I gave her some encouragement and I really think she’s ready to do this.” Twilight responded with confidence.
“Ah wouldn’t have any doubt in mah mind Rarity’s gonna steal the crowd here tonight, everypony!” Applejack stated. “That girl’s got the looks and charm; she’s gonna rock their worlds! Right, Fluttershy?”
“Oh yes, I think Rarity’s going to do wonderful tonight.” Fluttershy responded. “With the support we’ve been giving her I’m sure she’ll do terrific! I just hope she doesn’t get any stage fright like I did……but I’m sure she won’t, she’s used to this.”
“Well Ah was kinda uneasy about comin to this here fashion show, but Ah’m sure this’ll be worth it once Rarity walks out!”
“Yeah, it better be.” said Rainbow Dash grumpily. “I still can’t believe I’m at a fashion show for the first time ever, but I only came because Rarity’s here and she’s my friend.”
“Don’t you worry your silly little head off, Dashie!” said Pinkie rubbing the top of Rainbow’s head with her hoof. “Rarity’s gonna blow everypony’s socks off tonight!”
“Pinkie, nopony’s wearing any socks right now.” Rainbow said trying to mat her hair back down. “Who wears socks during this time of the year anyway?”
“I know, but she’ll do so good that it’ll cause the ponies to put some socks on and THEN she’ll blow them off!”
Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes and sighed at Pinkie’s randomness. Suddenly the loudspeakers sounded and the announcer started speaking.
“Fillies and gentlecolts! Thank you very much for attending this evening’s fashion show hosted by Photo Finish Studios! In a moment here we’ll be introducing some of today’s hottest new lines of clothing displayed by our finest models!”
“Here she comes, guys!” said Spike nearly jumping out of his seat.
“First in line is Miss Starshine Twinkle…” said the announcer as a lovely blue unicorn walked out on stage in a dress.
“Ooooh, that one looks pretty nice!” said Pinkie.
“Yeah, but Rarity’s gonna look better.” said Spike confidently.
The crowd cheered for the unicorn as she stopped at the end and twirled around once and walked to the backstage for the next one to come out. While on her way back in, the next one came out: a younger-looking pink Pegasus.
“Come on, where’s Rarity already?” said Spike impatiently.
“Really, I’m starting to nod off!” Rainbow Dash added.
“Rainbow Dash!” said Applejack sternly.
“What?”
“Guys, she’ll be out here soon, just you wait and see…” Twilight said trying to calm them down. Then with just the right timing, the announcer said Rarity’s name.
“Next up is our newest model, Rarity the unicorn, who is wearing a dress made completely by her!”
Backstage, Rarity was standing right in the shadow of the curtain looking a bit nervous.
“Come on Rarity, Darling, you can do this! Just do exactly what you did last time, don’t be afraid! These ponies have come for a show, so you give them just that! Nothing can hurt you now!” she said to herself.
She then took a bold step forward with her right front hoof and walked right out from behind the curtain, into the spotlight, and down the walkway. The dress she was wearing was blue with some lighter blue highlights and some diamonds dotting the sleeves and the collar that were reflecting in the lights. She had made this dress but didn’t try it on herself so it was a whole new experience being in the dress, but she didn’t let it hold her back. She walked down the aisle a bit slower than the first few mares did to keep her balance and not get too cocky about it. She put on a nice smile and looked forward into space letting everypony observe her. She glanced down quickly to see how they were reacting and a lot of the ponies were staring in amazement and seemed to be rather pleased with what they were watching. Rarity then looked back in front of her and saw her friends in the front row. She mouthed “Hi” to them and smiled and then stopped right at the end of the walkway. With her head held high with confidence, she turned around slowly and the crowd cheered even louder than they did for the first few that came out. She then looked around smiling sweetly at everypony in her view and then started walking backstage while the next pony came out. As soon as she got out of the light and behind the curtains, she exhaled in relief and Photo Finish came right up to her.
“VUNDERBAL, RARITY, VUNDERBAL!!!” she exclaimed clopping her front hooves together. “Deed zhou hear ze crowd out zhere?! Zhou haf amazed zem beyond belief! How clever I vas to hire you to come vork here!”
“Thank you so much, Photo Finish! That felt even more wonderful than I was expecting!” Rarity told Photo Finish gratefully. “Now do we have enough time to get me back out in another dress?”
“Oh of course ve do! Zome of ze other girlz are going to go back out in another dress too, but ve vill zertainly get you back out zhere too! Zhou bezt go pick out a dress quickly!”
“Ok, I know the perfect dress for the next walk… I’ll be back real quick!” she said rushing back to the dressing room.
Meanwhile, Twilight and the others were discussing Rarity’s grand entrance.
“Wow, wasn’t she great you guys?!” Twilight said.
“That was amazing!” said Spike slouching in his seat with his eyes half closed looking rather love stricken.
“That actually wasn’t too bad!” said Rainbow Dash. “I guess it wasn’t that bad of an idea to come here after all! I like how they cheered for her more than the other ponies cuz she was, like, so much better than they were!”
“Is she gonna come back out?!” Pinkie asked bouncing in her seat.
“Rarity told me she might be able to come out in another dress if she can get dressed quickly enough.” Twilight explained. “I’m sure Photo Finish will let her anyway, she probably is really impressed with the crowd’s reaction.”
The announcer then said Rarity’s name again making all their eyes widen and look forward attentively.
“Up next we have Miss Rarity returning on stage and sporting another one of her fine dresses she’s made!”
Rarity walked out a bit faster this time with her eyes practically closed and smiling even bigger without a care in the world. She knew this wouldn’t be a problem with the way the crowd cheered last time. This time she was wearing the sparkly red dress that Spike showed in the magazine the other night. Before she even got to the end, some of the crowd already started cheering. All the ponies were clopping their hooves and whooping and whispering to each other and making comments like “I wish I had a dress like that!” or “Wow, this pony really knows her stuff!” or “I wish I looked like that!” Even some of the colts in the crowd gazed amorously at her as she walked down. She got to the end and the crowd went wild for her than ever before. She twirled once letting everypony see her from every angle in her dress. The seemed to like this dress a lot more than the last one and the light reflecting off the sparkles made her even more radiant on stage. She turned back around facing the front and looked around and smiled widely at them all. She had never experienced a thing as wonderful as this. The ponies in this auditorium absolutely loved her! For the first time ever, she felt important and loved by everyone and like nothing could stop her at this point. She nearly began crying from so much happiness but held back her tears and bowed her head to all three sides of the walkway.
“Well Rarity sure seems to be getting the crowd’s approval here!” said the announcer. “Looks like this won’t be the only fashion show she’ll be in, that’s for sure!”
She then gave them one last lovely glance and turned back around to go backstage as they cheered for her one last time. As soon as she got behind the curtains, she let her tears come out a little until Photo Finish rushed over throwing her arms around her.
“ZHOU ARE ZE GREATEZT, RARITY!!!” she shouted nearly matching the crowd’s volume. “ZEY LOVE YOU!! I TOLD ZHOU ZAT ZHOU VERE GOING TO BE A BIG STAR!!”
“You were so right, Photo Finish!” said Rarity wiping a small tear from her eye. “Oh tonight has been one of the best nights of my life! I cannot wait to do more modeling and shows for you!”
“I guarantee zhou zis vill not be ze last time, my darling! Ve haf so much in ztore vor zhou! Oh, von moment pleaze…”
Photo Finish then rushed on back to a door that lead to the halls where a bunch of reporters were waiting for her to answer some questions about the show. Rarity then heard the announcer say something.
“Thank you folks for your time tonight, and don’t forget that Rarity’s business at Carousel Boutique is open from noon till six on weekdays. Be sure to stop in and check out her products and give her some support!”
Rarity sighed gratefully and felt so good. It was by far her most successful night she had ever had and a huge landmark in her career. She had pleased so many ponies and had gained the popularity she had been longing for since she was a little filly. The rest would be so easy after this: she would continue modeling and would be adored by everyone in Ponyville and her lines of clothing would only grow more in demand and bring her to absolute success. She was finally at the peak of her life now!
Outside in the auditorium, the audience started filing out while some stayed behind talking about the show, mainly about Rarity.
“Well that went really well!” Twilight said joyfully.
“Ah knew all along she had it in her! She sure drove everypony nuts with her gorgeous looks!” Applejack commented.
“Yeah, she’s gonna get, like, so much attention after this!” Rainbow Dash said while hovering above them. “We’re gonna see her on every single fashion magazine whenever we go to the grocery store and on posters all over Ponyville just like the Wonderbolts! Man I’m jealous!” she said jokingly.
“I feel so happy for her! I could just shout! Yaaaay Rarity!” Fluttershy said softly trying to not cause a scene.
“Well everyone, we all had a great night! Now let’s go find Rarity and treat her for some ice cream at the parlor down the street! You ready to go Spike? Uh………Spike?” Twilight looked around for her little dragon friend but couldn’t find him.
“I got him for ya, Twilight!” Pinkie said putting her head down towards the ground to grab something.
She lifted Spike up by his tail off of the floor. He was as limp as a wet rag and his eyes had big hearts in them with little heart bubbles floating out of his head and popping in midair.
“Uh oh……doesn’t look like an extra large banana split with sapphires sprinkled on top will be able to wake him up!” Twilight joked as the others laughed out loud at the silly little baby dragon with a crush.
TO BE CONTINUED…