//------------------------------// // On the Road to Fame // Story: Fame or Friendship // by AleximusPrime //------------------------------// CHAPTER 5 - On the Road to Fame After the fashion show, Rarity’s next whole week was as delightful as could be. She continued modeling all the same and gained a wider audience at her boutique. Ponies came to buy her dresses and pay for commissions and she got tons of compliments from everyone who came. Everywhere she walked in town, ponies would cheer for her, take her picture, and some even asked for her autograph a few times while she was out. Of course the atmosphere at the studio was no different either. Photo Finish treated her like her own daughter and all the other models and photographers became fast friends with her as well. The other models idolized her for her success but she would always give them some tips for perfect modeling and they learned quickly. Still, they all admitted they would never have the same kind of charm that she had. And of course Rarity could never have felt better at all. Each day would get more and more interesting and she kept bringing in her dresses. Rarity even started getting offers every now and then to come out of the studio to model for another company or walk on stage at another fashion show. The fashion magazines everywhere had her face on the front and tons of pictures of her inside (which Spike of course didn’t hesitate to collect). But it had been a while since Rarity had any chance to spend time with Twilight and the others. Times were busy and she didn’t get to see them quite as much, but she made the effort to visit them every now and then. One fine morning, she actually arranged to meet with them at the Ponyville café to chat before heading to the studio. They were all waiting for her there while Spike was looking through a magazine with Rarity in it. “Spike, are you going to eat your donut?” Twilight asked him as he gazed into the magazine. “Huh? What?” “Spike, come on, you’ve been looking at that magazine all day!” “Sorry Twilight, I can’t help it! She’s so beautiful! Look at this picture right here!” “I already saw it Spike, you showed me several times yesterday.” “Oh……well, did I show you this one?” Spike flipped to a page of Rarity standing gracefully and holding a new brand of shampoo that she was helping advertise for. “No Spike, but I…..oooh, that shampoo looks pretty good, I might have to get that!” Twilight said as she noticed the shampoo but then she shook her head back and forth from the distraction. “Nonono, snap out of it Twi! Spike, seriously, eat your food before Pinkie does!” Spike then looked next to him and saw Pinkie staring at his donut about ready to pounce on it. He immediately grabbed his donut and started eating it leaving her in disappointment. “I wonder what’s taking Rarity so long?” Fluttershy asked looking around town to find her. “I hope she didn’t forget about us and go to the studio for modeling today…” “Ladies!” shouted Rarity from behind. “Ah, Rarity, there ya are, we were startin ta get worried!” Applejack said in relief. “Well I almost forgot somehow. I actually started walking to the studio until I remembered our little get-together I promised this morning! Hehe, silly me, I know. Well, anyway…” she cleared her throat “…what do you girls think of this hat I made recently?” She then took out a bright lavender brimmed hat with a greenish feather in it and tiny little rubies dotting the middle belt holding the feather in place. “Oooooh, it’s pretty, Rarity!” Pinkie said. “Oh yes, very pretty! Are you going to model in that today?” Fluttershy asked. “I most certainly am!” Rarity said delightedly while sitting down to order her food as the waiter came by. “Along with several other new hats I’ve made and some dresses.” “It looks even better when you wear it Rarity!” Spike said gazing at her. “Oh thank you Spikey Wikey.” she replied blushing. The waiter then came by and Rarity ordered her food. After the waiter left, Rarity turned back to her friends to talk. It seemed like it had been a while since she saw them. The modeling sure seemed to have kept her busy. “So yes, the new job is really coming along. I’ve found myself making a lot more dresses lately to model in. It really does seem to help my business.” “So you’re not getting stressed out by all the work you have to do or anything?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I mean, really, being artistic and glamorous at the same time is like, a full time job!” “Well it is getting a bit busy, but I am able to manage. I think Photo Finish wants me to try to come to the studio more often than just the morning though so I do hope that doesn’t conflict with our get-togethers…” “Do what your heart tells you, Rarity. Whatever makes you happy!” Pinkie said with a smile. “Thank you darling.” Rarity then looked down at the plate the waiter brought in with coffee and a small chocolate glazed donut. She took a few minutes to enjoy her coffee but then her eyes then widened as she heard the clock tower make its hourly chime. “Oh goodness…I’m going to be late here!” I’m so sorry everyone, but I really must go now. Duty calls.” “You go get em, Rarity!” said Applejack giving her a light pat on the back while the others said bye. “Thank you Applejack. And I’ll see everypony soon, wish me luck!” she said picking up her bags and waving. She then trotted on towards the studio like every morning to start off her day. She walked in and saw Photo Finish on the foyer talking with a few of her assistants. Usually she was in her office at first, but it appeared something important was going on now. Rarity knew Photo Finish probably needed to see her so she walked over to see what they were talking about. “Ah, Rarity!” said Photo Finish while turning her head. “I haf some good newz: ve are going to haf you model in a bigger ztudio ztarting today.” “Oh, a bigger studio? Well now, this ought to be interesting!” said Rarity looking excited to be going to a new and more likely better place to model in. “Ve vigured zat ze old ztudio iz too zmall vor you and ve vill be needing more room vor ze couch you lent uz.” “Oh yes, my chaise longue you mean? That sounds better to me indeed!” “And vefore I vorget, zhere are some new photographerz coming in today az vell. Some of zhem are from Canterlot and are provessionals.” “C-C-Canterlot?! I’m going to be modeling for professional photographers from Canterlot!?” “Zhat iz correct! Zhey zaid zhat zhey expect pervection, but I know vor zertain zhat you vill give zhem juzt zhat!” “Oh, how wonderful of a day this has turned out to be!” Rarity said delightedly knowing she was starting to move up in this job now. Without thinking, she used her magic to take her donut out of the bag she kept it in and moved to eat it until Photo Finish stepped in. “AAAGGGHHH!!! VHAT IN EQUEZTRIA IZ DIZ?!?” said Photo Finish using both her hooves to grab the donut away from Rarity as she chomped down on thin air causing her teeth to clang. “Oh…um…just my donut?” Rarity said confused. “Doesn’t it look delicious?” “Rarity, zhou cannot haf diz! Diz paztry iz loaded vith zugar and vatz! It vorkz againzt de magicks!” “Um……just one donut? It’s alright, I only have one ever so often, not even once every week, just, you know, whenever I can. They are rather delicious and-” “Rarity, Dahling, I am zorry, but you muzt understand: a model cannot be bothered vith zuch atrociouz foodztuffz! Ezpecially not vefore ze photozhoot!” “Yeah, it’s one of the rules they have for models here: watch what you eat or you might gain some weight.” said Roxie backing up her boss. “Gain some weight?” Rarity said while looking at her sleek and flawless bodily shape. “Correct, Roxie! Here, zhou take ze donut now.” said Photo Finish shoving the donut in Roxie’s mouth causing some crumbs to spill everwhere. Rarity watched in horror as her precious little glazed donut went into another pony’s mouth and Roxie chomped away unwillingly with a disgruntled look on her face while Hairspray cleaned up the crumbs with a dust pan and broom. She wouldn’t always eat sweet pastries like Pinkie did, but she liked having one for the occasion and now she couldn’t. Would she never be able to have one with this job? “My……my donut…” she said while her pupils dilated and tears started to form. “Do not vorry my dear, zhou vill haf plenty of time to eat much better foodz zoon! I haf even made a little dietary plan vor you zo zhou vill not gain any veight during zhour time here!” Photo Finish said putting her arm around Rarity who looked surprised, confused, and scared all at once. She then handed her a little paper with some foods recommended on one side and foods to avoid on the other. The other side practically summed up Sugarcube Corner; Pinkie would have been appalled at this. “A dietary plan? Do I really need one of those?” she asked. “Vhy of courze! Zhou do not vant to look hideouz vor ze modeling, do zhou?!” “Um……well no, but-“ “Very vell zhen, zhou are ready to ztart ze modeling in ze new ztudio! Roxie, Hairzpray, zhou two take her to ze ztudio and zhen ve begin ze regular routine onze I come in. And now……I GO!” “Right away Photo. Let’s go Roxie.” Hairspray said to her friend who was still chewing the donut. “Come on Rarity, let’s get you into the new nest right over here. We’re heading to the right side of the building now.” “Thank you Hairspray. I am rather anxious to see it!” Rarity then thought heavily on what just happened. Would she really have to start eating fewer sweets in order to keep working here? Was it really going to be that demanding? She did recall that the job description did say something about keeping a healthy diet, but she didn’t think it would be this strict. She then remembered what she was getting into and that this was not going to be that easy of a job. She might have to sacrifice having a few sweets every now and then to stay here. They then came to the door to the new studio and walked in. The studio was almost three times bigger than the old one and there were more cameras and lights. It was probably big enough that a few more ponies could model in there. One model she had conversed with a lot was actually just finishing her shoot. She walked by Rarity to talk to her. “Oh, Starshine, how was the shoot?” Rarity asked the model. “Seems pretty good in here to me so far…” she replied. “Just be sure to make it count, these photographers are a lot tougher than the ones in the old studio!” “I’m sure I should have nothing to worry about.” Rarity said with confidence as Photo Finish started to introduce her to the new photographers. “Everyvon, lizten up! Zhiz iz our new model, Rarity. Zhe vill ve modeling in zhiz ztudio vrom now on. Ve begin her virzt shoot vith you today, and zhe is von of ze vinezt models I haf ever zeen, zo let’z be ready vor DE MAGICKS!!” Rarity then walked over to her fancy little couch that was in the center of the studio in front of a big black curtain hanging on the wall. The photographers asked her to model without her dresses first to get the hang of how she moved and the style in which she would pose. They had been told she was different from the other models in the studio that Photo Finish had hired. “Now Rarity, ve vill be doing longer shotz today and lezz ov zhem. Zhiz zhould let zhou get ze hang of being able to keep zhour poze for an extended amount of tiem, zo be prepared to sit vor a vew minutes, ze photographerz vill move zhere cameras around on zhiz vloor.” “I’m ready whenever the photographers are, Photo Finish…” Rarity lied down on the couch gracefully without a problem: stomach down, legs back, hooves under chin, and smiling warmly. She had gotten used to using this couch a lot and it was rather soft compared to the ones in the other studio so already she felt more comfortable. “Alright, everypony, let the shooting begin!” She then posed on the couch and looked forward at the camera in front waiting for them to start taking snapshots, but one of the photographers started whispering something to Photo Finish and then she signaled in one of her assistants to come do something. Perhaps there was an object in the background that was ruining the shot? Perhaps the couch needed to be turned? Whatever it was, it couldn’t have possibly been anything wrong with Rarity. Just then a pony with a horn filer rushed in on scene and started chiseling her horn a bit to make it look nicer. It felt just like one of the filers they would use at the spa, but why did Rarity need it for her horn now? Was it tarnished? The pony then zoomed off the stage and Rarity looked forward again but Photo Finish was stroking her chin and then motioned another pony to come in and fix something. This pony moved right in front of Rarity and looked carefully at her and then took one of her front hooves out from under her chin and let it lie down on the couch as if it looked too awkward being under her chin before. That pony then left for the next one to come in. The next pony brushed some of Rarity’s hair a bit to make it look better, and then another one came in and tilted her head a bit to the side and asked her to close her eyes a tad to imply a more “alluring” look. Rarity complied and then another one came in and took one of her rear legs off the couch to hang from it below and then another one came in with a little dusting broom and dusted off some of her flank to let her cutie mark show. They were so meticulous about the way she looked it was as if Rarity had just gotten back from a walk on a dust road during a “Running of the Leaves” race right after it had rained. It was clear now that the photographers just needed her to pose specifically how they wanted it. They were being a tad bit picky about it though, Rarity was more used to just moving her own way. The last pony, a unicorn, finally came in with a measuring tape and hovered it above her in several spots to make sure she was precisely the way she needed to be. Finally Photo Finish stroked her chin one last time and took off her glasses to look harder and then put them back on and gave the photographers the ok to start taking snapshots. Rarity then finally relaxed herself and smiled as the cameras snapped away. “Well……that was a bit unusual I must say…” she thought to herself. “One thing is for sure, these new photographers sure are detail-oriented and probably perfectionists……then again, as citizens of Canterlot I guess I should expect that, it’s not like I’m never a perfectionist when it comes to my own art. Ah well…tis the life of a wonderful model I suppose…” Later that afternoon, Rarity was called to Photo Finish’s office to talk with her about something. Rarity walked up to the top floor and entered only to find there was no one in there at the moment. She had seen this office before, but this time the shades were pulled back and Photo Finish wasn’t working on anything because she wasn’t there. She more likely was talking with another pony somewhere else and had forgotten about the meeting, but Rarity insisted she may have been around so she started looking anyway. “Um…Photo Finish? Hello? You wanted to see me…” she said with her eyes darting back and forth. Just then, Photo Finish’s office chair turned around. She was sitting in it all along waiting for Rarity to come in and start talking to her. She had her legs crossed and her front hooves pressed together as if she was very deep in thought. “Oh, there you are. So, what was it you wanted to see me about?” “Vell, to ztart off, zhou did a vunderbal job in ze new ztudio zhiz morning, Rarity.” “Oh, why thank you. I did enjoy the new studio.” “Haf zhou varmed up to ze new photographerz too?” “Oh of course, they’re such fine ponies to be working with! They sure do like detail, but it’s not a problem. Whatever it takes to make the picture perfect, right?” “Good Rarity, very good. Vecauze zhou’ll ve zpending a lot of time around zhem vrom now on…” “I will? What do you mean?” Photo Finish then took her glasses off and set them down on the table. It was usually difficult to read her face since she would constantly wear those shiny magenta glasses, but now Rarity could tell Photo Finish had a bit of a serious yet satisfied look on her face. “Avter vitnezzing zhour improvementz today, I realized zhat zhou need a vig change in zhour career here…” “I do?” “Mozt devinitely. Rarity, I zhink it iz time I move zhou up to much greater zhingz in zhiz ztudio. Zhou have vecome more zhan juzt a model now……very zoon, I zhink it vould be vize to make zhou a ZUPER MODEL!!” “A……a super model?!” Rarity couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Vhy of courze! Uzually it takez longer vor a model to imprezz me az much az zhou haf, but zhou are now ready to move on and vecome zhe ztar zhou deserve to ve! And vezidez, if zhou take zhiz offer, zhour zallery vill increase tenvold compared to vhat zhou are making now! Vhat zay zhou to zhiz, Dahling?!” “I……I don’t know what to say……You really think I am ready for this?!” “I don’t zhink…” Photo Finish got up closer to Rarity speaking deeply. “I KNOW ZHOU ARE!!” “Why……Photo Finish……I AM THRILLED!” Rarity said with a delightful squeak in her voice. “But that will require so much more than what I am doing now! Traveling to other places on tour……longer hours here? Is it possible?” “Zhou vill need to zet azide more hourz, yez. All I azk iz dat zhou try to ztay a vew more hourz, not juzt zo zhat ve can take more photoz, but zo zhat ve can get zhou back on ztage more often.” “Back on stage?! So I’ll be doing more fashion shows now?!” “Indeed zhou vill! In vact, ze next von is tomorrow night!” “Tomorrow night…” “Can zhou make zhiz zhow?” Rarity thought hard about this. Unfortunately she had already arranged to meet her friends at the buffet downtown, but how could she possibly miss this next fashion show if it meant she could be promoted to the position of super model in the studio? She didn’t want to disappoint her friends, but she also didn’t want to disappoint Photo Finish and the rest of the workers in the studio who were counting on her. But her friends would all understand of course. They had supported her on this through thick and through thin, she felt certain they wouldn’t be angry over this. Plus, this was an opportunity that may not come her way for a while, and if she turned it down, Photo Finish might think she is uninterested, and it also meant better pay. Rarity then finally made up her mind. “Yes. Yes, I most certainly can make it, Photo! I won’t let you down, this is an opportunity one simply cannot miss!” she said proudly putting her hoof up. “Zhat iz ze zpirit!” said Photo Finish putting her glasses back on. “I knew I could count on zhou, Rarity! Zhou are helping uz all out and I guarantee zhou zhat poniez everyvhere vill vorship zhou!” “Oh……well I don’t really plan on being worshipped much really. I am still just Rarity you know…” “Nonzenze! Zhey all love zhou and zhou are more zhan juzt a pony! Ve vill get zhou to ze plaze zhou haf alvayz deserved!” “Right. Oh I am so excited; I cannot believe I have already made it this far in just a few weeks!!” Once again she looked up imagining all the fame and fortune she would be having and how wonderful things would be. Of course she would have to spend less time at the boutique and with her friends and more time at the studio or at the shows, but it would all be worth it in the end. “Very well then, I shall see you tomorrow and I will not miss that fashion show, Photo Finish! Farewell, Darling!” she then walked out the office screaming happily down the hallway. Today was so unexpected and very challenging and it started off a bit too difficult, but the news at the end really lifted her spirits and she was as happy as could be. No matter what, this day could not get any better and things would only get better for Rarity! Meanwhile, Photo Finish turned around while listening to Rarity’s shouts of joy echo through the corridor. She had a smile of gratitude on her face. Rarity had done her such a huge favor in coming to the studio to model for her. She had saved the studio so much money that they were losing beforehand and Photo Finish finally decided that certain changes were soon to be made. She took her glasses off and walked over to her window where the curtains were parted and gazed up at the mountains where Canterlot City was. “Rarity iz juzt zhe zhing I need to get out ov zhiz plaze! Zhe haz proven herzelf and zhiz entire ztudio worthy of ze capital zity. Timez are changing now, ve do not velong here in Ponyville anymore, and neither doez zhe. Zooner or later, I vill have to tell her zhiz, but avter how zhe took today’z newz, I am zure zhe vill vind out zhe vill not be able to rezizt!! CANTERLOT, HERE VE COME!!!” TO BE CONTINUED…