//------------------------------// // Chapter 5-3: Cuteness and Popularity // Story: Yo-Kai Watch: The mystery of Springdale // by Tythen //------------------------------// "Ah..." First sighed in relief as he, Nate, Eddie and Bear retreated to the changing room, "that was a good workout." "I told you!" Nate laughed as he wiped his face with a towel, "a catchy song followed by a simple workout!" "Ah..." Eddie sighed, "if only we get to listen or workout to music from Next Harmeowny." "Next Harmeowny? Surely you mean Next Harmony?" "They're a Neighponese-Equestrian girl band." Eddie explained, showing a picture of them: Five Neighponese Ponies wearing flashy idol clothing, as well as donning cat ears, paws and tails. "Har'meow'ny..." First realised the pun, "I understand." "Do you have any singers in Equestria?" Bear asked, "Not really..." First thought about it, "but if you want singing, there's the Pony Tones, and Pinkie Pie!" "Are they as attractive as Next Harmeowny?" "I'm not sure about looks. There's Rarity of course, but most of them are more talented and kind-hearted rather than look good. I can't say that I'm rather attracted to them." "Speaking of attractions, do you have a special somepony in your mind First?" Nate asked, "That question came out of nowhere," Bear gulped, "but now I'm curious too. Who do you have?" "Hmm..." First darted back to Cheerilee's school, easily remembering all the faces of the fillies. "Can't say I've got one right at the moment..." "That's okay!" Eddie laughed, "that's exactly what Nate says too!" "H-Hey!" Nate blushed, "w-well... Okay, I do have somepony in my mind..." "Oh really?" Bear teased, "I bet right after class, you're going to go and flirt with most of the fillies in School!" Eddie burst into laughter, and First couldn't help but release a chuckle. "What do you take me for!?!?" Nate lashed out, "I'm not a player!" "Come on everypony," a classmate known as Andy signalled to them, "Mr Johnson told us to hurry up, we've got assembly!" "Coming!" First called back, "let's go!" In the Gymnasium hall, the many school fillies of all grades began to assemble and sit on the chairs. "Over here!" Katie waved to the foals. Catching the signal, the foals trotted over to where she sat. Sarah, a pink unicorn with a short black mane with a cherry blossom patterned dress and a cherry blossom flower as a hair accessory and close friend of Katie, and Scootaloo sat next to her. "About time you foals got here!" Katie giggled, "They get it, they get it..." Scootaloo sighed, "Sorry if we're late," First replied, "But at least we were here before assembly started!" Nate added, The Principal of Springfield Elementary trotted up towards the stage and started announcing current news that the School wishes to address, most of which did not catch the interest of the foals and fillies. But all that was about to change when the Principal reminded them of an upcoming event tomorrow. "Tomorrow will be a special day, where everypony is allowed to dress-up in any fashion possible." "What!?" The fillies gasped, and multiple conversations echoed through the hall. "Quiet!" The Principal commanded, "that's right. Tomorrow, you can dress up in any sort of clothes you like. You can dress cool, smart, cute, tough or even... Fancy!!!" "..." Scootaloo stared in frozen silence, the word 'Fancy' echoing in her mind. As the day rolled into lunchtime, First and Scootaloo quickly finished their lunch to talk about the entire situation tomorrow. "Are you going to dress up?" Scootaloo asked First, "I don't think I have anything special to wear... You on the other hand." "No" Scootaloo protested "I have bad memories of it. Every time I hear the word fancy now, I hear Dazzabel's voice in it and that drives me to remember that time I stood in the middle of the class in that!!!" "Oh come on sis!" First replied, "It doesn't look bad on you, you look so modest, so proper, like a lady!" "I don't want to be a lady!!! Can't you see that in your older sister already?" "As does everypony in class! You're just as athletic as Katie and Alex. Heck, whenever we play hide and seek, you'd catch everypony in a minute!" "First..." "Okay okay! Why don't we ask our friends? What do they think?" "Alright, let's see what our friends have to say, but I'm still saying no to wearing that Classic Lolita!" "Hey Nate!" First dragged Scootaloo and found the average foal, "quick question?" "Sure! Ask away!" "What do you think of Scootaloo dressed up like that on the first day of school for Dress-up?" "Well..." Nate cringed, "that's when I remember that I was wearing mare clothes... But definitely a yes! You wear it very well Scoots!" "Ugh... Really?" "Definitely!" "..." Scootaloo lowered her head while First continued looking for Bear and Eddie. "Hey guys!" First asked, "Scootaloo, Classic Lolita, what do you think?" "10 out of 10!" Bear nodded, "I would definitely like to see that again! It would give Maya a run for her money!" Eddie added, "Oh come on!!!" Scootaloo moaned, "why does every foal want to see me in a dress so badly!?" "In that case, why don't we ask the fillies?" First suggested, "maybe they have a different opinion!" "Hmph, they'd better!" Scootaloo growled, "Ask Katie first." "Hmm..." The siblings trotted through the hallways, "I really can't find her. Where do you think she went?" "Hello? Scoots was it?" A voice called from behind them, the same Pink unicorn filly with the cherry blossom hair accessory. "Oh! You must be Sarah." Scootaloo remembered, "is there something you need?" "Katie's missing" "WHAT!?" "When the assembly was dismissed, I was waiting in the classroom for her at lunchtime. However, I never got to see her enter the room let alone receiving lunch." "That sounds rather serious. Have you told the teachers?" "Not yet, but if she's not appearing anytime sooner, I might." "Okay then, we'll try looking for her too. Promise." First promised, "By the way," Sarah looked at Scootaloo "now that I see you, I remember what you looked like when you were new to our class." "Please, don't remind me." "Don't worry! You left a good impression on everypony!" Sarah complimented, "you should have seen Maya's face!" "And why are you bringing this up?" "Every time we have Dress-up day, there is actually a contest for the pony best dressed. An award for a foal and a filly for each grade." "Do I really have to enter it?" "I can tell you're not fond of wearing frilly garments." Sarah replied, "but look at it in this way. You'll be very courageous in wearing it! At least to me, Katie and the others!" "Ergh... We'll find Katie, see you later!" Scoots hurriedly ended the conversation and galloped away, leaving Sarah and First in the dust, "Wow, is she that embarrassed of being a mare?" "She has a sporty role-model, but she doesn't share the same sentiment about clothes. It doesn't make her look... Cool. But don't worry, I'll explain. Thanks for letting us know Sarah!" "Hey Sis!" First caught up, "why are you galloping away! Is being asked by many ponies to wear the costume too much to handle?" "For the last time, I DON'T WANT TO WEAR IT!!!" "It's not bad! It looks really good on you! Heheheel didn't laugh, so it means you look pretty in it." "Ugh... How many times do I have to repeat it?" Scootaloo replied, "I don't want to look cute!" "Even the Cool must be courageous." "Seriously First, I'm in no mood for your philosophical morals." Scootaloo replied, "just fly with my decision okay?" "NO!" A loud voice yelled from one hallway, "why did you do that?" "Excuse me?" Scootaloo turned to her brother "why did you have to yell like that? If you're trying to--" "Not directed at you." First interrupted and pointed towards the hallway. All the ponies who were present to the sound turned their eyes on a bright pink filly and a foal picking himself up after slipping from what looks like a banana peel. "Is..." Scootaloo eyes widened, "Is that Katie? And did she...!?" As the foal stood back upright, he was ready to hear what the unicorn had to say. "I'm sorry!" Katie smiled with a very cute face, "please forgive me!" "Uh... Well..." The foal's temper calmed down as his face started blushing and smiling. "I-It's okay. It's just an accident!" "Aww..." Most of the other ponies around also blushed in embarrassment, foal and filly alike, then continued trotting away to complete their individual activities. "Did... Did Katie just trip up somepony on purpose... and got away with it by being cute???" Scootaloo analysed, "Well..." First continued looking at Katie, an evil snicker from behind the foal's back. Looking around, she decides to play another prank. This time, she approached a nearby water fountain and turned it on full blast, leaving a filly soaked and drenched in water. "Hey! What's the big idea!?" The filly student angrily turned at Katie. "I was just trying to get a drink, but the fountain's too strong. Sorry about that!" Katie apologised, giving another cute face, "Oh..." The filly blushed and smiled back, "In that case... I understand!" And trotted off like nothing has happened. "Heh heh heh..." Katie sniggered once more. "Wha! Katie!!!" Scootaloo couldn't believe what she was seeing, "why are you being such a jerk towards others!? And why are you acting so cute all of a sudden!?" "I've never seen Katie this mischievous..." First thought loudly, "if there's anything that can cause a change of heart or personality..." "... It's a Yo-Kai." Scootaloo finished, "let's see who the culprit is." And she pulled out the Yo-Kai lens. Pointing it at Katie, the lens uncovered to the siblings' eyes a small pink and white dog with a purple hat on top of a floating heart. "Huh?" The Yo-Kai turned around, revealing his face, "I thought I felt something strange..." "..." Scootaloo and First gasped at the Yo-Kai before them. "Those big black eyes..." Scootaloo described "The white paw tips and muzzle..." First continued the description "Heart shaped eyebrows..." "The purple hat and floating heart!" "It's a pink and white dog!" Scootaloo replied, "WHAAAA!!!?!?!?" The Yo-Kai heard their words and collapsed to the ground out of the absurd realisation from the siblings. "Is that what you really think about me first glance?" "Oh, so you can hear us after all." First noted. As he continued to be focused on the Yo-Kai inspiriting Katie, a group of fillies went by discussing about something that caught First's attention. "Hey, did you see how hard that foal was trying to flirt with us?" One filly spoke, "Interesting though... I know that foal through reputation. Something about being so average... But he looked so charming and dreamy!" The second one added, "Well, he's going to have to do a lot better than that!" The third filly laughed. Taking the conversation to mind, it couldn't take First a minute to know who the girls were talking about. As he peered into the hallway those fillies came from. The fright caused him to perspire before his eyes. There an Earth Pony wearing a red t-shirt was being a charmer to the numerous girls passing by him. "Scoots, can you come over here?" First called, "What is it? We've got Ka--What is Nate doing!?" Scootaloo's jaw dropped as she saw a friend being such a player and a flirter. "And just after he said he wouldn't do such a thing..." First hoofpalmed, "what is going on with him!?" "Maybe he has a Yo-Kai too!" Scootaloo suggested and pulled out the lens once more. Sure enough, a levitating Yo-kai was there. It was a Yo-Kai that had very tiny angel wings and a halo that was tied to his long pink swirly hair. Seeing his arms, a pink pistol seemed to have become his left hand, firing at any of the girls walking by. "Oh no, looks like he does have a Yo-Kai doing this." First sank even further, "Dang it! If only Whisper was here. He said he's a butler, that means being with us 24/7! Why is he sleeping in like before?" "It's pretty easy to tell that the Yo-Kai are causing these types of behaviours on our friends. That Heart-riding dog seems to make Katie mischevious and... Cute, and that Yo-Kai who looks like a cowstallion cupid is causing Nate to be flirtatious and attractive!" First de-constructed flawlessly. "In that case, we've got our plan. Who should we confront? First choice First!" "Actually..." First peered at the Yo-Kai Watch, and held it up to his sister, "I don't think we have time to take them both down. We've only got half-an hour left for lunch time!" "Ha ha ha!" Katie started trotting down the hallway, ready to plot her next prank and look cute. "If any of you mares like to see me, I'll be at the pitch." Nate winked as he started trotting away too. "They're going in separate directions too!" First noted, "we can't stop them at once! If they act like this in class, who knows what trouble they'll fall into!? Academically and Socially!?" "Then it looks like we have no choice." Scootaloo nodded with determination, "if they're going to split, then so must we! We'll have our own opponent to face! You cool with that?" "Divide and Conquer? Even without Yo-Kai, I'll accept the mission." "Okay then, I'll chase down Katie, you got Nate. Is that alright?" "Fine by me. Good luck big sis!" First nodded and chased after Nate. "You too little bro." Scootaloo galloped towards Katie. "Katie!" Scootaloo caught up with the inspirited filly, cornering her in the empty library. "Oh hello Scoots!" Katie smiled, "how can I help you?" "Yeah um, what's with your pranks?" Scootaloo pointed back to the hallway, "I'm not sure you would do such a cruel thing and get away with it." "Oh Scoots, whatever could you mean?" Katie asked in the most cutest posture and face possible. "Ergh!!!" Scootaloo cringed, "I... Can't... Take this!!! TOO CUTE!!!" "Nate!" First ran towards the School courtyard, where the inspirited Nate was continuing his flirting skills. "Well hey there First!" Nate pointed, "my main stallion! Want to help me pick up some fillies?" "How about you stop doing that?" First countered, "One, you're freaking me out, as well as any filly AND foal. Two, you just told me you aren't that sort of pony who would do such a thing!" "Really now?" Nate sighed, "how disappointing... Maybe I should show you what it's like!" The Yo-Kai shot out of Nate's body and aimed his revolver hand at First, "!!!" First started in fear at the revolver hand before the Yo-Kai released a heart from the barrel. "STOOOP!!!" Scootaloo focused hard on her mind, beating her self a little in order to resist the cuteness of her friend. "Whoever you are! Leave my friend alone! I'm talking to you Yo-Kai!" "Oh..." A different voice came out, one that sounded very cute, "so my ears weren't playing tricks on me... Looks like you can see me after all!" Out of his hiding place behind Katie, the cute dog Yo-Kai made his presence towards the flightless filly. "I'm Shmoopie! It's so nice to meet you! What's yours?" "Well, at least I can put a name to the face, my name's Scootaloo." Scootaloo greeted back, "So... You want me to stop being mischievous and cute for your friend?" "Yes," "No problems! Only one condition, a game of my choosing." "... Fine," Scootaloo reluctantly agreed, "name your game." "If you can find anypony who can resist my charms regardless of condition, you win! I'll stop inspiriting your friend, and I'll give you my medal too!" "Sounds very generous... And easy... Deal!" Scootaloo nodded, "Be careful! I'm a very tough Yo-Kai! I won't forgive you if this is not fun!" "Bring it on!" Scootaloo taunted, "your opponent is me!" "You???" Shmoopie laughed, "you've got courage, I'll give you that. But in your state, you're already so cute that this is going to be a walk in the park!" "Hey! I'm tough and cool! The last thing I'd like to be is cute. Do your worst!!!" "Heh heh heh... Here I go!!!" Shmoopie warned, releasing his yellow inspiring aura, covering the filly. "Aargh!!!" Scootaloo clutched her head, in the attempts to stop the cute Yo-Kai from getting in her mind. "..." First stood paralysed as the bullet-speeding heart whipped past his face, the wind kicking up his mane. "Of course, It does make things interesting around here..." The Yo-Kai spoke, "the name's Cupistol partner, may I know my challenger?" "First Base..." First spoke, his body still rendered immobile. "What's with the tense muscles?" Cupistol noted, "shake it off, my little revolver here won't bite! It will just make you... Popular! Like this young foal here!" "I..." First shook himself, regaining mobility and focus, "I want to you to stop this! At least not here!" "None can do First." Cupistol shook his head, "I plan to make whoever I want popular wherever I want." "You know I can't accept that," "Then that's too bad partner." Cupistol continued looking disappointed, "if you feel for your friend here, then you might as well console him when I'm done." "But the actions will be irreversible!" First negotiated, "I want you to stop right here, right now!" "Let me not repeat myse--" "I challenge you to a Duel!" First interrupted, "Oh???" "We stand at 20 trots apart, once the school bell chimes, we open fire." "But you don't have a weapon like mine." "Conditions are this... You have your... Hand-thing, and I have a baseball bat!" "Whatever are you trying to propose?" "You shoot me as ususal. Just what the cowfoals of old do. Me, I'm going to swing and hit your love bullet away. Is that possible!" "Sad to say yes. My charms can be deflected." "Fine then, a test to see who has the quickest draw. If I win, you stop inspiriting my friend. Understand? And if I lose then... I fall to the effect of your inspiritment right?" "Indeed..." "Are you fine with that?" "If you think of my contagious charm as an embarrassment, then I'm happy to push your image through the dirt!" "Okay then..." First nodded, "let me pick my equipment first, then we duel." "MUST... RESIST!!!" Scootaloo kept on reminding herself, "I cannot give in!" "Hee hee hee!" Shmoopie giggled, "nopony can resist my charms... Not at all!" "No... NO!!!" Scootaloo could feel herself being pushed back, the thick yellow aura beginning to consumer her entire body as she reached for her bag. "I can't... I CAN'T BECOME CUTE!!!" "Are you ready Partner?" Cupistol held his hand close to his head, "I'm ready." First held his baseball bat close. "We march!" Taking 20 trots away from each other, except for Cupistol as he floated, the two managed to float away to an equal difference. "Good luck First," Cupistol chuckled, "Nopony or Yo-Kai has ever beaten my draw speed. It was nice knowing your 'unpopular' side." "You think the duel is over before it begins?" First asked, "my older brother always told me, in the midst of a battle, anything can change!" He turned around and readied his bat. "So don't get cocky!" The two duellists were ready to draw, eagerly waiting for the bell to chime. "Ergh..." Scootaloo crouched, eager and hoping to prevent the mist from ever consuming her body and mind. "Not going to give up... I can't... I CAN'T!" "Are you done yet?" Shmoopie asked, "I must say though, I have never seen anypony resist this long! Regardless, the end result will be the same..." "I can't be cute..." Scootaloo etched her hoof away from her bag, a medal in her possession. "C-Come on out my f-friend..." "But of course, you did try to prepare yourself as you volunteered to be my challenge. Sure enough, at least you'll be remembered as the most mischievous and cutest!" "I... Won't!" Scootaloo continued speaking, the aura now stretching across her face, ready to consume her whole. "Calling... D-Duchoo...! Y-Yo-Kai medal..." "Bye bye!!!" Shmoopie waved goodbye as one more push of his mind accelerated the inspiriting aura. "DO... YOUR... THING!!!" Scootaloo managed to holler out from her mouth before the aura swallowed her up. A bright flash came from within the thick yellow. "Wh-What's going on?" Shmoopie looked at his victim with a fright when a bright Yellow Beam broke through the mist. A small quirky, spooky and comedic tune with vocals started playing out before ending with a crescendo. The word 'Duchoo' could be heard before the school bell initiated its chime. "Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong..." The bell echoed out it's music. First took the ability to swing at the first chime. "Draw!" Cupistol shouted as he fired on third chime, the heart flying straight towards First, seeking to pierce its target "Raaaaahhh!!!" First roared as he swung hard, his bat sweeping across the space around him... And striking the heart head on... And causing it to fly towards the sky where it disappeared from view. "ACHOO!" Scootaloo within the aura erupted a loud sneeze like before, blowing away some of the mist, revealing her red and sniffing face once again. "Wha--? Impossible!" Shmoopie floated back in horror, "Oh I'm not done yet, ACHOO!" Scootaloo replied, putting her bag into view, she grabbed the medal of Coughkoff and quickly inserted it into the Watch. "Calling Coughkoff! Yo-Kai Medal, do your thing!" "Summoning, Eerie!!!" A pillar of purple light, blares out from the Yo-Kai Watch, increasing in diameter as goes with every summoning light from the watch. Coughkoff bounced and floated around in the light to the beat of the Eerie song, and finishing with a pose. "Coughkoff!" Coughkoff yelled out, before breaking out in coughs. "Coughkoff!" Scootaloo gasped for breath, "I could use some dry coughs right now!" "Cough!" Coughkoff nodded as he emitted a purple aura to cover Scoots. Without any effort to let it in, Scootaloo began having coughing fits, starting to remove parts of Shmoopie's aura with every cough. The summoning wasn't over however, Scootaloo wasted no time on pulling two more Yo-Kai. "Calling Hurchin!" "Summoning, Eerie!" "Hurchin!" "Calling Snotsolong!" "Summoning, Mysterious!" "Boo-shiggy Boo-shiggy Boogie-woogie! Cling Clang delirious mysterious!" A group of stallion voices sang in a comedic way. "Snotsolong!" Snotsolong posed, "Ahh..." Scootaloo's nose turned rosy as red as the drop of snot grew in length and started hanging from her nose. "Ugh!" Shmoopie covered his eyes in disgust. Regardless, Scootaloo found it time to retract her resistance and let Shmoopie's Aura come over her. Being inspirited by the four symptom-inducing Yo-Kai, Scootaloo turned to face her enemy. "Hiiii..." Scootaloo showed the cute smile as Katie did. "Ahh!!!" Shmoopie cried in horror as the looked away once more. "Too ugly! I can't take it anymore! You win! You win alright!?" "Impossible..." Cupistol looked up to the skies, "such strength could even propel my power?' "Argh..." First clutched his muscle in pain, "that was certainly not comfortable!" "I... I lost..." Cupistol realised, and held his head in defeat. "Show's over... Partner." First sighed in victory before he sat down to rest. "Amazing!" Shmoopie complimented after he gave in, "I never knew you'd be able to turn the tables with other Yo-Kai!" "What can I say?" Scootaloo blushed, now free of her inspiritment "When I said I don't want to be cute, I make sure not to be one, that's when I can rely on my Yo-Kai friends!" "A deal's a deal then!" Shmoopie replied, "thanks for playing with me! It was really fun! It's amazing that you have Yo-Kai friends. Now that I'll release your friend. Can I ask you personally to be your friend as well?" He offered his Yo-Kai Medal! "Of course!" Scootaloo accepted, "I would love to uh... Play with you again sometime!" "Yay!!!" Shmoopie jumped with joy as he stood on two legs and surfed around the air using his floating heart as a surfboard. "Now that's cool AND cute!" Scootaloo replied, "Congratulations First." Cupistol shook First's hoof, "to think I'd be bested in my own game in a way... You are something..." "I try my best." First replied, "Your strength certainly is something, very inspiring." Cupsitol added, "Is it okay if I can become your friend? I can be a great asset to you if you want to befriend different Yo-Kai!" "Really? That's very interesting!" First exclaimed, "but I won't be a friend just so you can be an asset to me though... You are a tough Yo-Kai yourself. I'd like to be a genuine friend to you!" "Oh, your words do warm my heart. You must have some natural charm, perhaps you could win the heart of fillies too!" "Ha ha ha! I wish," First laughed, "but It's great to know that I do have some social charm! My older brother is chock full of devotion, mission, military, weaponry and loyalty to be social!" "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Katie endlessly apologised to the numerous ponies she had pranked on lunchtime. "W-What do you mean?" The foal who slipped on the banana peel asked, "It's okay! There's nothing wrong! All is forgiven alright?" "I'm sorry..." Nate was also apologising to the fillies he flirted with. "Aww..." Some of the fillies responded, "how cute..." "Hmm..." The second filly of the three filly group noted, "I kind of liked you when you were charming and dreamy... But at least you're back to normal! Sort of..." "Apology accepted," the third filly replied, "though... Flirting then apologising does make you rather... Cute. Better than you were at just flirting" "Ahh..." First watched from afar with relief. "All's well that end's well right? Nate and Katie are back to normal and..." He spun Cupistol's medal on his hoof "two new Yo-Kai friends!" "Ugh..." Scootaloo stared at Shmoopie's medal. "While I did enjoy Shmoopie's company, I swear that Yo-Kai are having a long term effect on me." "How so?" "You should have experienced how hard and painful it is to get inspirited by Shmoopie. My heart keeps on skipping beats, it hurts my breathing and composure whenever I try to resist." "How so?" "It's too cute! He's too cute! His influence is so cute that..." Scootaloo took a deep breath then blurted out, "It is nothing compared to wearing that costume!" "S-Sis?" First widened in delight, "does that mean?" "Like I said, Surviving the inspiriting of Yo-Kai has a long term effect on my thinking. I mean, if I'm that courageous and brave of confronting Shmoopie's cuteness and surviving, what can wearing a Classic Lolita for Dress-up day tomorrow do?" Scootaloo laughed, "yeah, I'm going to do it." The next day, everypony who wished so dressed in the most peculiar of dresses and costumes. Some dressed in a Neighponese style, most dressed like Equestrians. Nate, Katie, Eddie, Bear and First decided not to wear any fancy clothing and Scootaloo of course, donned the Classic Lolita once more and she didn't seem to mind or fall in embarrassment. The Principal gave some thanks to all who participated in the dress up contest and explained how the School Board has decided the results. With a slow but steady process, the Principal weaved through the ranks and awards of each grade and class, and everypony clapped when it came. "Wow!" Katie exclaimed "It's great to see you in those clothes again!" "For you to wear it once more," Sarah added, who was sitting next to Scootaloo, wearing a gloried version of her original dress. "You really are a courageous filly! How did you decide to wear it?" "It's a... Long story." Scootaloo replied, "I'd be happy to become friends with you. That way, we could hang out with Katie, Alex and maybe some other fillies too!" "Sure!" Scootaloo shook hooves, "I'd love to spend time without my brother following me all day!" "Harsh!" First overheard, "Anyway," Scootaloo ignored, "Maya was it? She seems to be wearing a costume with a rather familiar flair..." "Huh?" Sarah looked at Maya's direction, "oh yeah. She kept on telling everypony that she ordered this dress from a faraway store called Carousel Boutique." "No wonder why! That dress just screams Rarity!" "You know the designer?" "She's one of the Ladies of Ponyville, best friend to the Princess. I'm also best friends with Rarity's younger sister." "Interesting!!! It seems like you have connections to certain shops and franchises that is rather precious and interesting to us Neighponese!" "Oh stop it you!" Scootaloo laughed, "Now, for the winner of Class 5-2, it goes to Sarah." The Principal announced, "congratulations" multiple clapping echoed through the hall, "Well, it was worth a shot." Scootaloo sighed, "I'm not cute after all. Congrats Sarah." "Don't worry!" Sarah smiled as she stood up to head to the podium. "I'm sure you'll be in!" "Don't worry Sis," First comforted, "it's the experience that counts right?" "Definitely!" "And now, here are the winners for 5th grade overall." The Principal announced, "In third place..." "Oh wow, I never knew that there were more prizes!" First noted, "They announce the single winner for each class, then the 3rd, 2nd and 1st place in the overall grade." "Oh... Don't tell me..." Scootaloo gulped, "In second place, it is Classroom 5-2's Maya!" The Principal read, "What!?" The class gasped, realising that their fashionable and stylish classmate got knocked down, "Uh..." The filly known as Maya trotted up to the stage, wearing one of Rarity's dresses. "And in first place..." The Principle continued, "coming also from Classroom 5-2..." "You've got to be kidding me!" First looked at his older sister, who's jaw was wide open, as if she knew who took the crown for the year. "Scootaloo! Congratulations!" The Principal gestured. Once again, the usual clapping was there, with some added 'oohs' and 'woahs' as Scootaloo shakily trotted towards the podium without a sound. The large crowd stared straight at her clothes, with the most eye-opening looks ever, some even whistled. "Oh Celestia...!" Scootaloo cringed and mumbled to herself as she twirled the parasol and accepted her reward, "that's it! I take whatever I said about this outfit back!" "Smile sis!" First laughed as he aimed a camera at his older sister and snapped a picture, "another brave and courageous memory to add to the family line for 'Sentries'!" "I saw AND heard that!!!" Scootaloo yelled back.