//------------------------------// // Part 3 // Story: Spring Fling // by MythrilMoth //------------------------------// The next few weeks went by in a rush. Although Sunset Shimmer had seemingly backed off and was no longer harassing either Rarity or her sister, the increasing pressure from Sombra's publicity campaign was weighing heavily on Rarity and the other shop owners. Even Zile, eternally upbeat, wasn't quite herself by the week of the Spring Fling. There was, however, one silver lining: after the talent show, sales of Rarity's boots and other fashions had increased sharply, and there was a marked increase in business in some of the more teen-friendly shops. Still, most of the shopowners felt it wasn't anywhere near enough, and that pressure to sell and let Sombra build his mall would soon force everyone out. Finally, the big night came. Rarity and her friends arrived, wearing stunning gowns (and boots) designed by Rarity herself. They were greeted with applause; it seemed that Sunset Shimmer's efforts to disgrace Rarity had been in vain. "Nervous, sugarcube?" Applejack asked Rarity a half hour into the dance. "A...a bit, yes," Rarity said weakly. "I mean, I suppose it doesn't matter anymore if I win, since I already did what I set out to do, but..." She smiled. "It'll be nice if I win, and maybe it'll mean even more new business!" "Love the dress, Rarity!" a girl called. "Hey Rarity, good luck," a boy said. Rainbow Dash grinned. "I bet you win in a landslide," she said. A half hour later, the music faded, and Principal Celestia strode onto the bandstand, envelope in hand. "Your attention please!" she called into the microphone. "It is now time to crown the Prince and Princess of the Spring Fling!" Applause broke out. "First, I will announce the winner for Prince," Celestia said. She opened the envelope and pulled out a card. "And your Spring Fling Prince is...Thunderlane!" Students clapped and cheered as a well-built boy with gray hair in a stiff flat-top that was frosted silver-blue on top jogged up to the bandstand, joining the principal. Vice-Principal Luna placed a crown upon his head, and he stepped back, waving and grinning. "And now, your Spring Fling Princess..." The gym lights went out. Everyone gasped. A single floodlight fell upon Rarity, who stared around in shock, then up at the rafters. "What—?" The floodlight died, casting the gym into pitch blackness again. There was a soft whisper of sound close to Rarity, a brush of something against her skin... And then a very loud squelching, splattering sound, followed by a warm, foul wetness. The lights came back on. Rarity stood in the middle of a huge circle of splattered mud, and was drenched from head to toe. Slimy muck dripped from her dress and oozed from her mane. She screamed. Everyone gasped. Then, there was a quiet ripping sound that seemed magnified a million fold, and Rarity's dress fell apart, leaving her standing in the middle of the packed gym wearing nothing but lacy purple underwear, boots, and a coating of mud. Perversely, her semi-nude body was free of the mud, giving everyone a rather spectacular view of the gorgeous fashion designer's...personal assets. Rarity gave a choked sob and fled the gym, nearly tripping on the remains of her dress. Her friends quickly chased after her. On the bandstand, Sunset Shimmer walked up to a speechless Luna, took the Princess crown, and placed it atop her head. Luna looked to her sister, who returned a helpless shrug. * * * * * "How...how could she?" Rarity cried. Pinkie Pie had helpfully found a tarp that she draped around Rarity, and the group of friends quickly escorted her home. Sweetie Belle had joined them a few minutes later, carrying Rarity's purse and the keys to the boutique. "Ah never thought she'd stoop this low," Applejack muttered darkly. "And they actually crowned her Princess," Sweetie Belle said sourly. Rarity, still caked in mud, collapsed to the floor and sobbed. Her friends simply sat in silence with her. After twenty minutes, Fluttershy gently coaxed her upstairs to get showered and changed, while the others cleaned up the shop. An hour later, there was a knock on the door. Rainbow Dash answered it, and frowned at who she saw. "Well, if it isn't Princess Sunset Bitch's boyfriend," she said. "What the hell do you want?" "I...I wanted to apologize to Rarity," he said. "I had no idea Sunset Shimmer would go this far, and...it was just really wrong." He bowed his head, sighing. "Also, there's something I need to tell her, in person." Rainbow Dash looked to the others, who shrugged. Rainbow Dash let Flash in, while Sweetie Belle went upstairs to fetch her sister. Rarity came down, dressed in a terrycloth housecoat and fuzzy slippers and looking miserable, with puffy eyes and her hair lank and limp. She looked at Flash and scowled, sniffing angrily. "What do you want?" she asked. "I..." Flash said, fidgeting. "I just wanted to say that what Sunset Shimmer and those twerps did to you was the lowest, most disgusting thing I've ever seen," he said. "And...I'm going to make absolutely sure no pictures of you...like that...ever get online. And if they do, whoever posts them is gonna pay for it." Rarity sniffled, but smiled weakly. "Thank you. I...I suppose you truly are a gentleman, after all." She tilted her head. "Why are you with that...that..." "I'm hoping I can maybe change her," Flash said. Then, with a blush, he added, "And, well...she has...ways of convincing me not to break up with her." "What do you mean?" Pinkie Pie asked. Flash looked away, face flaming. "Oh, GROSS," Rainbow Dash said. "Waaaay too much info, pardner," Applejack added, turning green. "Yeah. Well, I gotta run," Flash said. "Oh, but before I go..." He paused. "This whole thing going on with Crystal Enterprises..." "Yes? What about it?" Rarity asked. "Well...my dad's a lawyer, and I don't know everything about law, but I pick up a few things from him now and then," Flash said. "Um...I was just wondering...have you guys tried filing an injunction?" Rarity blinked. "Whoa. That's...actually a pretty good idea," Applejack said. "Why didn't Ah think'a that?" "Um, thank you for the suggestion," Rarity said, smiling more genuinely now. "I truly, sincerely thank you." Flash smiled. "I hope things work out for you." He waved. * * * * * "I only wanted her HUMILIATED, not...not...THAT!" Sunset Shimmer towered over Snips, her fury a palpable force. The shorter boy cowered, quaking in terror. "You went too far, Snips. Cutting up her dress? So everybody would see her in her underwear? Was way over the line. And don't deny it, I know it was you." "But—but—" "You're lucky I need you, or I'd hand you over to Principal Celestia for your little stunt." Sunset turned her back on Snips, arms folded. "But if you ever screw up again..." She glanced back at him over her shoulder, eyes blazing. "I'll make you wish you were in Hell." Snails ran up, waving his phone. "Sunset Shimmer! Sunset Shimmer!" "Oh, what NOW?!" Sunset Shimmer snarled, snatching the phone away from him. She stared at the picture. Her boyfriend, standing in Rarity's shop, with Rarity and all her friends gathered around. "Flash Sentry just went over to make all nice-nice with those girls!" Snails reported. "He did, did he?" Sunset Shimmer growled, hands trembling. "Well, I'll deal with him later. As for those girls..." She frowned. "I don't know why, but...I feel like those girls are dangerous somehow." She rubbed her chin, brow furrowed. "I may have to think of a way to split them up, just to be on the safe side..." * * * * * Some time later... Sombra stood beside his limousine, which was parked on the side of the highway that ran between the suburban Canterlot community and the city. His arms were folded, and a satisfied smirk graced his dark face. Between Canterlot and the city, there was a three hundred acre forest preserve, colloquially known as "the Everfree". Up until yesterday, it had been government-owned land. Fortunately for Sombra, he had connections with the right county commissioners, judges, and state tax officials, plus a few congressmen in his back pocket. Today, along the entire stretch of road fronting the forest, large signs had been erected: FUTURE SITE OF CRYSTAL MALL Crews of men in orange hardhats and large, lime-green construction vehicles were busy clearing the forest and levelling the land. Soon, nobody would remember it had ever been there. Sombra idly reflected on the injunction the Ponyville Shopping District Small Business Association had filed against him. He had been surprised when they had displayed the collective balls to even attempt it, and even more surprised when the hearing had been before a judge he couldn't buy off. In the end, he'd been forced to accept defeat, withdraw his ads, publically apologize for harassing the business owners, and scuttle his plans to build his mall in Canterlot. Who knew it would turn out to be the best possible thing that could have happened? Sombra always got his way, in the end.