Part 1

The display on a large digital clock mounted on the wall read 7:57 AM.

A girl with smooth, perfect ivory skin sat at the makeup table in the large fitting room of Carousel Boutique, applying mascara to her long, beautiful eyelashes. Her long, lush purple hair was already expertly styled, her nails perfectly polished, her lipstick and eyeshadow artfully applied, and she was already dressed for another successful school day, wearing an outfit she had designed herself: a pale blue short-sleeved blouse that shimmered under the lights, a blue skirt patterned with glitter-trimmed diamonds, and knee-high royal purple boots with indigo trim. A triple-diamond hair clip held her gorgeous hair out of her face.

The television was tuned to one of the numerous news channels. In a flat tone which would put the freshly risen back to sleep, the business reporter droned on about the latest financial news.

//Crystal Enterprises' stock is expected to rise following the announcement that the company intends to build a new shopping mall. Questions have however arisen as to where the company intends to acquire land for the project. And now, we turn to entertainment news, and the latest on Sapphire Shores' arrest for possession of cocaine—//

The channel was abruptly changed to a cartoon about talking animals in a pet shop.

Rarity rolled her eyes. "MUST you, Sweetie Belle?"

Seated on the plush velvet divan across the room, Rarity's younger sister kicked her feet idly as she watched the cartoon. "This isn't as boring, and you're taking forever to get ready," Sweetie Belle complained. While not as elegant as her sister, and wearing no makeup whatsoever, Sweetie Belle was still quite pretty, with her naturally curly lavender-and-rose hair and the same flawless complexion as her sister. She was dressed far less stylishly than her sister, wearing a dusty-rose and lavender striped sweater and lavender shorts, as well as sparkly pink socks and cute pink-and-purple hi-top sneakers.

"Well, just keep it down," Rarity said. "I'll be done in a moment." She glanced back at her sister and frowned. "Why aren't you wearing your boots?"

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. "Seriously, what's with you and boots lately?"

"Oh, dear little sister, trendy boots are THE next big thing! I'm telling you, as my little sister, you need to be ahead of the curve, like me."

"I've already told you, I refuse to be a walking advertisement for your fashion line!" Sweetie Belle said.

"Well, it's your loss," Rarity sighed dramatically. "I'd hate to be you come fall, when everyone is wearing boots and you're a complete fashion outcast."

"Everyone, huh?" Sweetie Belle asked, eyeing the large display rack full of boots in over two dozen styles and colors. Rarity had been on this boot thing since the Blizzard Ball and hadn't sold a pair yet.

"Everyone," Rarity said. Finishing with her makeup, she put everything away, then stood and picked up her backpack. "Very well then, come along. We mustn't be late." She picked up the remote and turned off the television. "Did you lock up upstairs?"

"Yes," Sweetie Belle replied. "And I turned off all the lights, and I fed your stupid cat..."

The sisters left the boutique; Rarity locked up. Carousel Boutique was one of many small businesses in the Ponyville Shopping District where the owners lived upstairs from their shops. As they were leaving, Rarity observed a girl her age emerging from a neighboring building. This girl was very tall, with pale lavender skin, violet eyes, and messy greenish-black hair with bright emerald green highlights. She wore a short, long-sleeved purple dress with a high collar, black tights, and black slippers. Her backpack had a side pocket which Rarity knew to be full of tools. "Good morning, Zile," Rarity said.

"Ah, good morning, Rarity, Sweetie Belle," Zile replied in her lilting, musical Saddle Arabian accent. "How are the boots moving? Are they...walking off the shelf yet?"

Rarity groaned. "For the love of all that's decent, find a new pun, darling," she said. "And no, they're not really selling well...yet."

"Well, don't lose heart. I'm sure they'll be selling soon."

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "You haven't bought a pair yet, you know," she said.

"I don't really get a kick out of boots," Zile said evasively. "We had best hurry on." As they walked, she asked, "So, Sweetie Belle, how are your plans coming along for the talent show?"

Sweetie beamed. "It's going great! We're gonna put on a magic show!"

"I see," Zile said. "I look forward to it."

"You wouldn't if you'd seen their act," Rarity muttered, earning a kick in the leg from her sister.

Zile suddenly looked uncharacteristically serious. "Rarity, have any strange people visited you lately?"

"Her friends visit all the time, and they're pretty strange," Sweetie Belle said. Rarity kicked her.

"Strange how?" Rarity asked.

"These men in suits came by the shop yesterday," Zile said. "I didn't hear what they spoke to Papa about, because they were in his office with the door closed, but he's been in a bad mood ever since." She shook her head. "After dinner, I thought about it, and I realized I'd seen those same men speaking to Mr. Cake two days ago. That is why I ask."

"Hmm..." Rarity frowned. "Well, if anything happens, I'll be sure to let you know."

A few minutes later, they arrived at the gates of Canterlot High School. They noticed a small crowd gathered around the large horse statue at the entrance. "I wonder what that's all about?" Zile asked.

"Let's find out," Sweetie Belle said. With no decorum whatsoever, she began elbowing and shoving her way to the front of the crowd. Rarity sighed theatrically and rolled her eyes, then followed more gracefully.

As the older teens reached the front of the crowd, they discovered a flyer taped to the base of the statue:

"Oooh, is it time for the Spring Fling already?" Rarity asked, eyes alight. "Oh, I must start designing my dress immediately!"

"It's not for another three weeks," Sweetie Belle said, rolling her eyes.

"Who do you suppose will run for Princess?" Zile asked.

Rarity snorted. "What you really mean is 'who's stupid enough to run against Sunset Shimmer'," she said. "Really, after what happened at the Blizzard Ball, that trollop has made it quite plain she believes she rules this school."

"Well I'm not afraid of her," Zile said. "Maybe I should sign up."

"Good luck with that," Sweetie Belle muttered. She spotted a familiar hair ribbon at the edge of the crowd. "Ah, there's Apple Bloom! Later, sis! Later, Zile!"

* * * * *

A man sat behind a lavish obsidian desk in a large, richly-appointed office on the top floor of a skyscraper in the city. This man was tall and intimidating, with a dark complexion and short, stiff black hair, wearing an expensive, pitch-black suit, a blood-red necktie, and green-tinted glasses. He glanced at his steel-banded wristwatch and frowned.

The door opened, and three men in dark suits walked in. "You're late," the man behind the desk said in a soft, deep voice.

The men fidgeted. The one standing in the center cleared his throat. "S-sorry, sir."

"Well?" the man behind the desk prompted.

"We've spoken with twenty-three of the thirty business owners in the Ponyville District," the nervous man said. "Ten of them are willing to sell. The rest...need more convincing."

The man behind the desk frowned. "See to it at once," he said. "And speak to the other seven. I will have those properties!"

"Yes sir, Mr. Sombra." The three men left the office hurriedly.

Sombra, CEO of Crystal Enterprises, stood and walked over to a large scale model which occupied a third of his office. He stroked the large, gleaming spire in the center of the model fondly. "This will be my legacy...the crown jewel of my financial empire."

* * * * *

When Rarity and Sweetie Belle returned from school, they found a man in a black suit waiting outside the door. "Excuse me, can I help you?" Rarity asked.

The man frowned at her. "Do you happen to know what time this boutique opens?"

"Well, yes." Rarity said. "On weekdays, it opens a half hour after I get home."

"I meant a more specific time," the man said.

"That's as specific as it gets, I'm afraid," Rarity said. "Did you need something?"

"You wouldn't happen to know who owns this boutique, by any chance?" the man asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do," Rarity replied.

The man was silent for a moment. Rarity stood and watched him expectantly.

"Well? Who owns it?" the man asked.

Rarity frowned. "I just told you. I do."

The man chuckled. "Yeah, okay. So who owns it, really?"

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Sir, I am trying my best not to be rude, but the longer I stand out here wasting time with you, the longer it will be before I can put away my school things and open the shop for business." She dug her keys out of her purse as she talked. "Now, if you would be so kind as to step out of the way so I can unlock the door..."

The man blinked at her. "Wait...you mean you're serious?" He frowned.

Rarity unlocked the door, meeting his gaze frostily. "Dead serious," she replied. "Now, if you were looking to purchase something...?"

The man laughed. "Oh wait, I get it. You work here, right? Or your mom or dad own the store?"

Sweetie Belle scowled up at the man. "Are you stupid? She just told you it's HER store!"

"Now now, Sweetie Belle," Rarity chided. Frowning at the man in the suit, she said, "Sir, allow me to make it as clear as possible. I own this store and the apartment above it. The deed is in my name. I bought it with money I made from a very lucky find in a diamond mine when my parents took us to Hoofrica last summer. My parents travel, and my sister lives with me."

The man stared at her. "I...see." He coughed. "My apologies. In that case, I would like to have a word with you about a business opportunity..."

"Do not listen to this man!" a heavily accented voice said from behind Rarity. She spun to see Zile's father leaning out of his shop, waving a screwdriver angrily at the suited man. "His boss wants to drive us all from our shops, from our homes!"

The suited man frowned. "Sir, as I explained earlier, you will be generously recompensed—"

"BAH!" the repair shop owner said, spitting on the sidewalk. "You speak LIES!" He slammed his door hard enough to knock the 'OPEN' sign askew.

Rarity looked from the closed door back to the suited man, frowning. "What exactly is going on here?" she asked.

"If I might come inside?" the man asked.

"No, I believe we can speak here," Rarity said, ice in her voice.

"Very well." The man reached into his suit jacket and pulled out an envelope. "I represent Mr. Sombra of Crystal Enterprises. Our company has plans to build a mall in this district, but first we need to acquire a suitable amount of property to develop." He handed Rarity the envelope. "We are willing to purchase your property. You will find the suggested purchase amount, along with documents related to the transaction and my business card, in this envelope. I look forward to hearing from you."

Rarity frowned. "I doubt very much you shall be hearing from me, sir. I am not in this business for the money. I am in it for the love of fashion."

The man smirked. "Things change, miss." He turned and walked away.

Sweetie Belle made an angry noise. "That guy's a jerk!"

"Yes. Yes he is..."

* * * * *

The following morning, as Rarity was locking up, Zile walked over to the two sisters. "Rarity?" she asked. There was a troubled look in her eyes.

"Yes?" Rarity asked.

Zile handed her a flyer. "Um...Papa said he saw you arguing with a man from Crystal Enterprises yesterday." She didn't seem as cheerful as usual. "He told me everything. There's going to be a meeting of all the neighborhood small business owners after school today, at the Cakes' place."

"An association meeting?" Rarity asked, blinking. "Whatever for?"

"Well, a lot of the shop owners around here are...kinda scared," Zile said. "There are stories going around. This Sombra guy...he's not a nice man."

Rarity frowned. "Well, it's not as if there's anything he can do to us if we don't agree to sell our stores," she pointed out.

"Don't be too sure about that," Zile said. "Anyway, it'd be a good idea for you to come to the meeting."

"I'll be there," Rarity said, nodding.

* * * * *

After letting Sweetie Belle into the apartment and putting away her school things, Rarity headed over to the coffee shop. The 'CLOSED' sign was out, as well as a notice about a meeting, and that the store would reopen after.

Upon seeing her, Mrs. Cake opened the door. "Good afternoon, dear," she said as she let Rarity in. Along with the Cakes, she saw Zile's father, a few other business owners she recognized, and several others she didn't. A number of those were staring at her in disbelief.

"You're not letting a customer in now of all times?" one of them asked.

"She isn't a customer," Mr. Cake said. "She owns the boutique three doors down."

Rarity took a seat primly. Mrs. Cake was busy serving everyone a coffee beverage. "Well, that's everyone," Mr. Cake said. "Let's—"

There was a loud BANG on the door. Mr. Cake frowned, rising. He opened the door a crack. "I'm sorry, we're cl—"

The door flew open, nearly sending Mr. Cake to the floor. A huge, muscular man with dark blue-gray hair and beady eyes barged in. Behind him was a reedy man with thinning hair and a large, hooked nose. Both wore black suits.

"Good afternoon, Ponyville District business owners!" the large man said in an exuberant yet gravelly voice. "I'm Iron Will, this is my associate Ritz Bingo, and we work for Mr. Sombra!"

The mood in the room grew tense. "You have no business being here," Zile's father said.

"Oh, but we do!" Iron Will said. "After all, this meeting is about our company's offer to buy you all out, so I'd say we very much deserve a voice in this. Wouldn't you, Ritz?"

"Oh, yes sir, Mr. Will," Ritz said in a high, nasally voice. "We should be heard, yes."

"You see, Mr. Sombra's making quite a generous offer to each and every one of you," Iron Will said. "And frankly, your shops are barely getting by."

"Practically bankrupt, yes," Ritz said.

"Now, do you wanna get by, or do you wanna fly high?" Iron Will asked. "That's what you've gotta ask yourselves."

"I worked hard to build my business!" Zile's father said. "I am very proud of it!"

"What good's pride next to a free ride?" Iron Will asked. "If the check's in the mail, you folks gotta bail!"

"We must do NOTHING of the sort!" Rarity huffed. "We will not agree to sell our shops! Tell your boss to build his silly little mall someplace else. This town LOVES small businesses!"

"Oh yeah? That why your silly boots ain't sellin'?" Iron Will asked, staring hard at Rarity.

"Err...well...that's true. But they will!"

"And why are you even worried about it?" Iron Will asked. "You could always open your boutique in the new mall!"

"As a renter, not an owner," Rarity retorted.

"But it's a MALL! Teenagers LOVE malls!"

Rarity opened her mouth to retort, paused, and sighed. "Okay, I'll give you that one," she said. "But still, in THIS town, teenagers hang out at the local businesses!"

"But they wouldn't if they had a mall."

"This is ridiculous!" Mr. Cake huffed. "Bottom line is, we don't want to give up our shops that we've all worked so hard to build just so your boss can put up a mall with no...no...personality!"

The others raised their voices in agreement.

Iron Will snorted. "If that's how you all feel, then we'll MAKE you take the deal! Come on, Ritz. We've gotta meet with Mr. Sombra, pronto!"

"You'll all be sorry you didn't agree to sell!" Ritz taunted as he trailed behind Iron Will.

"What RUFFIANS!" Rarity huffed after them.

"Umm...what did he mean by 'make us take it'?" Mrs. Cake wondered nervously.

"He is posturing," Zile's father said dismissively. "There is nothing this Sombra can do to force us out of our neighborhood!"

"I wouldn't be so sure," Mr. Davenport, the owner of the office supply store, said. "I've heard some pretty nasty things about Crystal Enterprise's tactics..."

The meeting then degenerated into a discussion of the possible ways Sombra could make good on Iron Will's implied threats. After nearly half an hour of this, everyone returned to their shops. Many of the business owners were rattled, quite a few were angry; Rarity was simply quietly contemplative as she returned home.

* * * * *

Rarity and her sister sat in the shop, which Rarity didn't bother to open for the afternoon. The older girl sighed. "Zile was right. A lot of them are scared."

"This Sombra guy really sent goons to the meeting?"

"The gooniest," Rarity replied with a frown. "There must be something we can do to help. Some way we can encourage everyone not to sell their livelihoods. I mean, I know not every business in the neighborhood is doing well—"

"You're barely paying the bills as it is," Sweetie Belle pointed out.

Rarity ignored her. "What we need is a symbol of...solidarity. Something that'll bring more customers to the district."

"Too bad your crazy boots aren't drawing any attention," Sweetie Belle said.

"That's IT!" Rarity exclaimed, brightening. "The boots!"

Sweetie Belle gave her sister an odd look. "Umm...nobody's buying the boots."

Rarity grinned. "They will if the Princess of the Spring Fling is wearing them!"

Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow. "Sunset Shimmer?"

"No, dear sister..." a determined, almost evil look crossed Rarity's face. "ME."

* * * * *

Sombra frowned at the report from his top 'problem solvers'. "So that's how it is, is it?"

"They're stubborn as mules," Iron Will said. "We need to show 'em who rules!"

The CEO of Crystal Enterprises sighed. "This isn't the old days, when we could use thug tactics to drive out our competitors. Well...only as a last resort." He looked up at Iron Will. "Get your PR people working. We need a pressure campaign. Drum up support for the mall project and encourage people to stop supporting the Ponyville District."

"Let the people vote with their money," Iron Will said, nodding and grinning. "I like it."

"Very good plan, boss," Ritz said.

"Well? You're still here? Get on it. NOW!" Sombra barked.

As soon as they left, Sombra steepled his fingers, scowling. "I will not let a bunch of prideful nobodies stand between me and my new mall. I always have my way, in the end..."

* * * * *

Rarity approached Pinkie Pie at lunch. "Hello, Pinkie Pie," she said.

"Oh, hey Rarity! Love the boots!"

"Thanks. You should really stop by and buy some," Rarity said.

"Mmm, maybe."

"Anyway...I'd like to sign up for Princess of the Spring Fling."

Pinkie Pie blinked. "You're running against Sunset Shimmer?"

"Yes. Yes I am."

"Well...okie-dokie-lokie," Pinkie said, rummaging around in her hair for a clipboard and pen.

As Rarity signed her name to the clipboard, neither girl noticed a lanky younger boy slouching over his macaroni and cheese nearby suddenly slink under the table and ooze out of the cafeteria...

* * * * *

"Sunset Shimmer! Sunset Shimmer!"

The lanky boy panted as he skidded to a stop before a tall, lean girl with bright amber skin and long, voluminous fiery orange-and-red hair. The girl turned, cold green eyes fixed upon him above a hard sneer. "What IS it, Snails?"

"Trouble!" Snails wheezed. "Rarity's running against you for Princess of the Spring Fling!"

"Rarity?" Sunset Shimmer asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who exactly is Rarity?"

Snails pulled out his phone and thumbed through his photo collection, coming to a stop on a girl with immaculate purple hair and a bright, dazzling smile, wearing a pep sweater and a hairband with pony ears attached. "Her!"

Sunset Shimmer snorted. "Oh, that cheer girl? Feh. She's not even worth my time." Then, her brow furrowed. "Of course, I should probably size up the competition, just to be on the safe side..."

* * * * *

"And so, you see, it is important that every instrument be tuned properly, and every singer able to find and sustain the proper pitch..."

Sweetie Belle found it difficult to concentrate on Miss Heartstrings' lecture on the importance of harmony to music; there was simply too much gossip flying around.

"Hey...I heard Rarity's running against Sunset Shimmer for Princess of the Spring Fling."

"Whoa, really? She's got nerve."

"Hey, isn't Sweetie Belle her sister?"

"I think so. Psst. Hey, Sweetie Belle! Is Rarity your sister?"

"What's up? Why's she wanna take on Queen Meanie?"

At the head of the class, the mint-haired teacher cleared her throat and tapped her foot impatiently. "And THIS, class," she said acidly, "is precisely the sort of cacophony that comes from a lack of harmony. AND A LACK OF ATTENTION!"

Sweetie Belle ducked her head down as the class quieted; all around her she could hear the faint buzzes of phones vibrating as texts were fired back and forth. She sighed.

* * * * *

After school, Sunset Shimmer approached Rarity at her locker. "Rarity, is it?" she asked.

Rarity looked up. "Yes?"

Sunset Shimmer offered Rarity a smile like poisoned honey. "I heard about you signing up to run for Princess of the Spring Fling. I just thought I'd say good luck. I'm looking forward to some nice, friendly competition."

Rarity smiled. "Well then. Best of luck to you as well."

Rarity's sister came along then, and the two of them headed for the entrance.

Two younger boys appeared beside Sunset Shimmer. Her smile disappeared. "Everything you can get on her. Now."

At that precise moment, Sweetie Belle tripped over a shoelace she hadn't realized had come undone. With a cry of alarm, she fell forward, pinwheeling her arms. She collided with Rarity, who cried out in surprise as she too was pitched forward. As numerous students leapt out of their way, the two sisters rolled down the hall in an ungainly ball, weaving left and right, slamming into lockers, almost breaking the trophy case, before rolling right out the open doors. The stairs broke their wild tumble, and they splayed out on the pavement. The departing students gathered around them stopped and laughed.

Sunset Shimmer looked at her two stooges. "PLEASE tell me you got that," she said.

"Huhuh, ooooh yeah, I sure did," Snips said. There was an unsettling leer on his face as he replayed the video capture.

Shimmer grinned. "Excellent. Then let the games begin..."

Part 2

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When the sisters arrived at the boutique, they were surprised to find a small crowd waiting for them: four girls Rarity's age, and a younger girl the same age as Sweetie Belle. There was Applejack, the tall, lean, freckled blond farmgirl, with her careworn brown Stetson, workshirt tied off just above her midriff, jeans, and cowboy boots; her younger sister Apple Bloom, with her light red hair topped with a huge bow, wearing a light green T-shirt and denim skirt with knee socks and maryjanes; Rainbow Dash, the multicolor-haired number one athlete at Canterlot High, wearing a striped blue top under an indigo jacket with green trim, a striped skirt of clashing colors, and red cross-trainers; the timid vegetarian, Fluttershy, with her simple white shirt and green skirt and plain white flats, her long, thick light pink hair tied in a ponytail; and the boisterous, energetic Pinkie Pie, who for some reason was wearing a big green alligator costume with big bright amethyst eyes, her face and much of her poofy bubblegum-pink hair poking out of the mouth.

"Hey, Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom yelled, waving. "Wanna go t' my place an' study? We can talk about th' talent show while we're there! Scootaloo's already on th' way over!"

"Sure!" Sweetie Belle said. "I'll be home later, Rarity!"

"Not too late, Sweetie Belle," Rarity said. She then surveyed her friends. "How did you all beat me here?" she asked.

"Big Macintosh drove us over," Applejack said. "We wanted t' be here when you got home. Y'know, moral support."

Rarity blinked. "Well, that's thoughtful of you all, really. I'm certain this silly Princess thing isn't going to be that traumatic—"

"Not about that," Rainbow Dash said. "About...you know, the you're-about-to-lose-your-shop-and-your-home thing."

"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack hissed, forcing a smile.

Rarity blinked. "I assure you, I have no intention of selling out to Mr. Sombra."

"Yeah, the Cakes feel that way too," Pinkie Pie said. "But, well...Sombra's already playing nasty, the big not-nice-pants."

Rarity blinked at Pinkie. "Already? What—and, er, why are you wearing an alligator costume?"

"Oh, this is for something later, I just didn't want to have to get changed on the way there," Pinkie said.

"Yyyyeah, but...uh...that thing looks like it's eating you," Rainbow Dash said.

"Well of course it does, silly!" Pinkie replied. "This is Gummy, the toothless alligator that loves cotton candy, and I'm the cotton candy!"

"Oooooookay then," Applejack said. "Can we rope this conversation an' get it back on th' right trail? We gotta talk serious-like now."

"Okie-dokie-lokie!" Pinkie said cheerfully. "But I'm not taking off the alligator. It takes forever to get inside this thing!"

"Suit yourself," Rarity said with a dramatic sigh. She moved to unlock the door, and ushered her friends inside.

Once the five were behind closed and locked doors, Rarity turned to her friends. "Now, what's this about Mr. Sombra?"

Fluttershy rummaged through her bag and pulled out a newspaper. As she did so, Pinkie Pie brought out her laptop and began pulling up browser tabs.

"This was in the paper this morning," Fluttershy said quietly, pointing at a full-page advertisement on page five of the Daily Flugelhorn.

Rarity gasped, eyes wide. "That was in today's paper?!" she cried. "But HOW?!"

"Ah've heard tell him an' that publisher, B.C. Brushcomb, are golfin' buddies," Applejack said sourly.

"But...that doesn't explain the pictures," Rarity said.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. "I dunno what to tell ya, Rarity," she said. "Big companies have a lot of people that can just make stuff like this happen."

"Yes," Fluttershy added softly. "Anyone who came into your shop and took pictures could've sold them, or given them away, or put them on Facebook or Twitter or anywhere!"

Rarity sighed. "This...doesn't matter." She straightened up, eyes full of determination. "One silly little newspaper ad isn't going to convince everyone to jump on this mall bandwagon, nor is it going to convince me to sell my store!"

"Um, this might," Fluttershy said, looking over Pinkie Pie's shoulder. The girls gathered around and watched, in varying states of shock, disbelief, and grim faces as an entire playlist of videos extolling the virtues of the Crystal Mall project and deriding the existing Ponyville Shopping District played on EweTube, one right after the other.

After the tenth video, Applejack winced. "Ouch. He's sure gettin' th' noose ready, ain't he?"

Rarity just stared, slack-jawed, eye twitching. "HOW?! How could this Sombra manage all this in just. One. DAY?!"

"Money," Rainbow Dash said simply. "Money, and lots of it."

Rarity drifted over to the divan and collapsed on it, pressing a hand to her forehead. "What was I thinking? There's simply no chance of my winning a silly popularity contest at school having any real effect against...against this!"

"Oh, please, Rarity! Don't give up!" Fluttershy implored.

"Yeah! You gotta stay on this here bull, girl!" Applejack added.

"We've got your back!" Rainbow Dash cheered.

"The Cakes are pretty upset too, but they're not backing down and you shouldn't either!" Pinkie chimed in.

Rarity looked around at her friends and smiled. "You're right, girls. I must persevere! Regardless of what challenges face me, regardless of how desperate the odds...my dreams will not die!"

Rarity's friends cheered and yelled and gathered around her for a huge group hug. After they separated, they stood around, looking at one another awkwardly.

"So, uh..." Rainbow Dash said, rubbing one forearm with the opposite hand. "I guess...if we're gonna support you all the way, the first thing we gotta do is..."

"What we all shoulda done ages ago," Applejack said. "So, whuddya got in a good solid shitkicker?"

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Come along, girls, I've already got custom boots just for you in the back..."

* * * * *

Sweetie Belle and her friends sat in Apple Bloom's room, working on their homework. "Ugh, these essays are so stupid," Scootaloo complained.

Apple Bloom frowned, tapping a pencil against her lip. "How do you spell 'relief'?" she asked.

"F-A-R-T," Scootaloo replied.

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Scootaloo, you spell everything F-A-R-T," she said. "Are you even a girl?"

"Only in my pants," Scootaloo replied.

Sweetie Belle groaned. "And I thought Rarity's friends were weird," she muttered.

"HEY!" Apple Bloom cried. "Mah big sis ain't weird!"

"Speaking of Rarity," Scootaloo said, "I heard she's running against Sunset Shimmer for Princess of the Spring Fling."

"She sure is!" Sweetie Belle said.

Apple Bloom frowned. "Well, Rarity's sure as heck prettier'n ol' Shimmy, but Ah don't think she can play dirty enough t' win. They say stuff about that girl, y'know."

"Yeah. Until she finds out 'they' were talking about her. Then 'they' wind up hiding in their lockers every time she walks by," Scootaloo put in.

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. "Puh-lease. Sunset Shimmer is just a mean girl with a bad attitude. She's not some demon or some, like, wicked witch or something. She's just a bully who wears tacky clothes and has a loser boyfriend."

"And a gang," Scootaloo said.

Apple Bloom laughed. "Snips an' Snails? That ain't a gang, that's a comedy act!" She paused. "Oh, an' Flash Sentry ain't a loser."

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. "Whoa. You got a crush on Shimmy's boy-toy?"

Apple Bloom blushed. "No! Ah most certainly do not! It's just...he ain't mean like she is, an' Ah like when he plays guitar in th' lunchroom."

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. I guess he's not a bad musician. So anyway, why's Rarity so fired up to run against Shimmy? She's never run for any of the other dances, has she?"

Sweetie Belle sighed. "She's doing it to try to make those boots of hers popular."

"Oh," Scootaloo said. She snorted. "That's crazy."

"Well...I think so too," Sweetie Belle said. "But she has a good reason." She paused, then hesitantly added, "the shopping district is kind of in trouble."

The others blinked at her. "Huh?" Scootaloo asked.

"This big company wants to buy up all the shops and build a mall there," Sweetie Belle explained. "A lot of the shopowners are pretty scared. Rarity's trying to help the best she can. She figures if kids from school want to shop at her boutique, the whole shopping district will get more business."

Apple Bloom thought about that. "Ah...guess that makes sense," she said.

"So, Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo asked, "aren't you gonna help your big sis? Maybe actually wear those boots she wants you to wear?"

Sweetie Belle shrugged. "I will if you girls will." Shaking her head, she decided to change the subject. "But what we really need to worry about right now is our act for the talent show! It's THIS WEEKEND, you guys!"

With that, the girls abandoned their homework and began studying the books on magic they had borrowed from the school library.

* * * * *

The next day, Rarity's friends all wore boots designed by Rarity herself. While they received quite a few compliments, they also received patently false sympathy from their less friendly peers, who thought it was "just awful" that they had to buy anything from "THAT place." "Won't you just be like, SO relieved when that new mall is like, here? Then you can like, throw those aWAY and like, buy something cool to wear."

"Ignore them, Rarity," Rainbow Dash said on the way to lunch. "Just keep it together, stay focused."

Sunset Shimmer wasn't making things easier. Somehow, a rumor had spread that she bought her signature black and purple boots from Rarity. "I've been wearing these since I came to Canterlot High in the first place!" Sunset Shimmer seethed. "How DARE they associate me with that LOSER!"

"Uhhhh don't worry, Sunset Shimmer," Snails said. "We'll make it so nobody even knows who Rarity is once you win, eh?"

"And then that mall opens, and then she's gone, and then you can open your own store!" Snips said.

Sunset Shimmer snorted and tossed her hair. "Like I want people copying my style," she said. "So, what've you got for me?"

Snips and Snails showed Sunset Shimmer the photos and footage they'd collected of Rarity and her sister so far. Sunset Shimmer frowned. "Hmm. Good start, but...it's not enough yet. I don't just want to disgrace her, I want to break her. And her dippy sister, too."

"What about her friends?" Snails asked. "How you want we should deal with them, eh?"

Sunset Shimmer shook her head. "Just ignore them unless they do something that'll embarrass Rarity by association. Rainbow Dash is too popular and too important, humiliating her might accidentally give Rarity the jock vote. The others aren't even worth my time, and..." She paused, frowning. "If we do anything nasty to that hick Applejack, her brother might not be too happy about it."

Snips and Snails paled. "Uhhh, yeah, we don't wanna get beat up by Big Mac."

"Right, so. Go after Rarity, go after Sweetie Belle, the others are nothing. Get to work!" At her command, the younger boys dispersed. Sunset Shimmer flipped her hair and sighed theatrically. "Ruining people is such hard work. But so, so worth it."

* * * * *

Sweetie Belle and her friends had asked for permission to use the auditorium after school to practice for the talent show. They had a decent assortment of props: the classic vanishing cabinet, top hats, magic wands, handkerchiefs, coins, cards, and even a few animals reluctantly provided by Fluttershy, on the promise of severe being Fluttershyed at if they harmed the animals in any way, shape, or form.

However, the practice...was not going well.

"Why does this stupid CHICKEN keep ending up ON MY HEAD?!" Sweetie Belle complained. She brushed the offending hen off her head; the bird departed with an irate cluck.

Scootaloo snickered. "Um...you've got...something on your head..."

Sweetie's eyes widened. "Oh no. Is it...is it poo? EWWW, IT POOPED IN MY HAIR!"

Apple Bloom laughed. "Not exactly," she said, reaching up and snatching the egg off Sweetie Belle's head before the other girl accidentally knocked it off and smashed it.

"We should TOTALLY work that egg thing into the act!" Scootaloo cried, laughing so hard tears were streaming from her eyes.

"Ah doubt we could get that pullet t' lay on cue," Apple Bloom said. "Now, what we REALLY need is t' get th' vanishin' cabinet trick workin'..."

"I still say that's lame," Scootaloo said. "Now, sawing one of you in half, that'd be awesome."

"Uh, yeah...no," Apple Bloom said, shooting Scootaloo a half-lidded glare.

For the next hour, the girls continued to practice their magic act; nearly every trick they attempted ended in failure, if not an outright disaster. None of them were aware that they, in fact, had an audience; the stage lights directly in front of them made it impossible to see the camera flashes from the third row.

* * * * *

The following day was Friday. Rarity noticed a much more tense mood in the air. There was more talk than ever of the new mall, she was getting unpleasant looks from everyone around her except her friends...and among the boys, some of those looks were unpleasant in an extremely upsetting way.

"I don't think I can take much more of this," she said to Fluttershy at lunch. "Sombra's plastering propaganda everywhere he possibly can, I've caught those two little snotlings that trail after Sunset Shimmer following me twice today, more people are being nasty today than yesterday...it hasn't even been three days yet and it feels like I'm completely losing control of everything!"

There was suddenly a loud explosion of laughter from the group of tables where the younger students sat. Rarity's head whipped around; after a moment, she heard a familiar anguished cry and saw her sister bolt from the cafeteria. "Sweetie Belle?" she wondered. "Where could she be...?" Abandoning her half-eaten lunch, Rarity searched the school for her younger sister until the bell for afternoon classes, but couldn't find her. For the rest of the day, she was unable to concentrate, wondering what had happened to her sister...and she was terrified to find out.

* * * * *

Upon returning to the boutique, Rarity found Sweetie Belle upstairs, in her room, in tears. "Sweetie Belle? What's wrong?"

A trembling hand pointed at the younger girl's laptop.

Rarity walked over and crouched down, peering at the screen. A EweTube video was open. She clicked the replay button on the video.

//Rarity wants to be the Princess of the Spring Fling this year,// Sunset Shimmer's voice said over a picture of Rarity in her Wondercolts sweater and pony ears. //Most of you only know her through those ridiculous boots she's constantly trying to get everyone to wear, or those silly ears and tails she keeps trying to sell.//

A montage of pictures of Rarity waving Wondercolt spirit tails and ears around, and wearing several different pairs of trendy boots.

//But this failed fashionista with royal aspirations has an even more embarrassing secret, besides her utter lack of fashion sense.//

Now, the video showed Sweetie Belle's unfortunate shoelace-induced collision with Rarity in the main hall, ending with the two of them sprawled on the front steps. The video closed in on Sweetie Belle's face, freezeframing as the colors inverted to an ominous chord.

//Sweetie Belle, Rarity's ridiculous younger sister.//

A parade of clips followed: Sweetie Belle having various minor but embarrassing accidents, Sweetie Belle's skirt riding up, Sweetie Belle with a chicken on her head during practice for the girls' magic show, Sweetie Belle with a broken egg on her head, Sweetie Belle with chicken droppings on her head...it just went on and on.

//Do you really want a girl with no fashion sense and a little sister THIS embarrassing as Canterlot High School's Princess of the Spring Fling? Vote smart. Vote Sunset Shimmer.//

Rarity's eyelid twitched. Sweetie Belle cried harder. "It gets worse," Sweetie Belle moaned.

"Worse? How...how much worse could it possibly get?"

Sweetie choked back a sob and opened another page on the laptop. There, for the world to see, were dozens of upskirt photos of both Sweetie Belle and Rarity.

Rarity clenched her fists so hard she felt her nails bite into her palms.

"Sweetie Belle?" Rarity said quietly.

Sweetie sniffled. "Y-yes?"

"I'm going to DESTROY HER."

* * * * *

After that, Rarity had rallied the troops. For the most part, all the girls save Rarity, Fluttershy, and Apple Bloom were planning ways to counter Sunset Shimmer's despicable tactics. The latter three spent most of the night convincing Sweetie Belle to go ahead and participate in the talent show despite the humiliating video.

"If you let her force you out of the show, she wins," Rarity said gently. "Do you really want to give her the satisfaction?"

"I know it's scary, and you feel like you want to hide...I feel like that all the time," Fluttershy said. "Um, but...don't. You're braver than that."

"Yeah! Come on, we wouldn't be the CMC without you!" Apple Bloom said.

Rarity blinked. "CMC?"

"Canterlot Magical Cuties!"

"...right. Moving on," Rarity said, gently stroking her sister's hair. "Please, Sweetie Belle. Just go to the talent show. Maybe...maybe you'll surprise everyone, and they'll forget all about all that nasty stuff..."

Sweetie Belle sniffled. "I...I don't know..."

Meanwhile, downstairs...

"A flash mob?!" Rainbow Dash cried. "That's...that's just a ridiculous idea!"

"Aww, but flash mobs are FUN!" Pinkie Pie said.

"You should totally fight dirty," Scootaloo said. "Do to her what she did to Sweetie Belle."

"Now, Scootaloo," Applejack chided. "Two wrongs don't make a right."

"Yeah! If we're gonna show everybody how much better Rarity is, we've gotta do it in a way that makes people happy!" Pinkie Pie said brightly.

Unfortunately, by the time everyone had to go home, no decent, feasible plans had come up.

* * * * *

Sunset Shimmer found Flash Sentry in his basement, strumming one of the many new songs he was constantly working on. She'd long since wormed a key to his house out of him, and as she descended the stairs, he looked up. There was no smile on his face tonight; he turned back to his guitar, pensive.

Sunset Shimmer tilted her head. "What's wrong?"

Flash frowned. "What your little goons did to that girl...it wasn't very nice."

Sunset Shimmer shrugged. "The peasants need to be reminded of their place," she said.

Flash set his guitar aside and folded his arms. "I mean it, Sunset. You really went too far this time. Why do you do these things?"

"Because," Sunset Shimmer said, trailing a finger in circles along Flash's chest, "if people are afraid of you, they won't get in your way. Would your little band even be half as cool if you weren't dating me? Be honest now."

Flash looked away, scowling. "I've just been asking myself if staying with you is worth it. Worth all the guilt, worth standing by and do nothing while you hurt people for your own amusement. I just..."

"You just need some convincing," Sunset said breathily. She let her hand play down his shirt, toward his jeans. With a chuckle, she unzipped his fly, then lowered her head into his lap...

* * * * *

"Right, so here's the plan, guys," Flash said to his bandmates. "Rarity's sister and her friends probably won't have the guts to show up for the talent show. If they do, though, I want you guys to help Snips and Snails backstage and in the rafters. Don't let anyone see you. We can't be connected to whatever happens here today."

His drummer frowned. "Why are we helping your girlfriend humiliate some poor girl again?"

"Because...we just are," Flash said, face red. "Besides, it's best to stay on her good side, you all know that. Now move."

"And what'll you be doing?" the keyboardist asked, eyebrow raised.

"Warming up to rock the show after the disaster."

Most of the students and at least a third of the town filled the Canterlot High auditorium. Rarity and her friends had seats close to the front. "So, she decided to do the show after all?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yes, we just barely convinced her," Rarity said.

The lights dimmed. A spot lit the stage; Zile trotted out to stand in front of the lowered curtain. There was a hearty cheer from the boys; she was dressed in a purple Playboy Bunny outfit with fishnets and black pumps. "Al-RIGHT!" she cheered. "Welcome to the Canterlot High Talent Show! I'm Zile, and I'll be your emcee for today's festivities!"

Applejack blinked. "Now why th' heck is she wearin' that?"

Rarity shrugged. "She said something about wanting to show off her own talents today too. I have no idea what she meant."

"I think I do," Pinkie said with a snicker.

For the next hour, a parade of interesting, bizarre, and just plain indescribable "talents" were put on display by various Canterlot High students. As one would expect from an amateur talent pageant, there were acts which were well-received, acts which were jeered and booed off stage, and still more which met with a near-total lack of audience reaction. One of the most popular acts was Twist, a girl with curly red hair and large glasses who was notorious for her terrible lisp, doing an elaborate tap dance number dressed up as Whinny Wonka and twirling a large prop candy cane. Button Mash, a runty boy who always wore a propeller beanie, showed off his mad Tetris skills, which only the techies seemed to appreciate to any degree. One student tried his hand at insult comedy, and was booed off stage.

After a heavyset boy who thought it would be a good idea to juggle cats made a less-than-graceful exit, Zile walked onto the stage and clapped. "Okay! That was...interesting. Up next we have...the 'Canterlot Magical Cuties'...? Ah, right! It's Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo with their long-anticipated magic show!"

Laughs and cheers went up from the crowd, along with loud, obnoxious chants of "CHI-CKEN! CHI-CKEN! CHI-CKEN!" The curtain rose, and the three girls stood there. There were no magic props in sight, and the girls were dressed as they normally would, with the exception that all three now wore boots from Carousel Boutique. There was a microphone in front of Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo stood next to a karaoke machine that was hooked to two large amps.

Sweetie Belle coughed. "Um. We did plan to do a magic show, but...it really wasn't working out, and—"

"CHI-CKEN! CHI-CKEN! CHI-CKEN!"

"So we thought...well, I thought...it'd be better if we did something simple." Sweetie Belle paused. There were catcalls from the crowd, and more cries of "CHI-CKEN! CHI-CKEN!" Annoyed, she pressed on, "We're just going to do a little song and dance. I think everybody knows this song. So um, yeah, I'm singing, my friends are backing me up, and...if you're wearing boots, especially if you got them from my sister...come on up here and dance with us." She turned and nodded to Scootaloo, who hit a few buttons on the karaoke machine.

A very familiar sliding bass riff clued everybody in to what was coming, and the catcalls and chanting changed to laughter and applause as Sweetie Belle began belting out the pop classic. Rarity and her friends wasted no time in rushing the stage to dance with the younger girls. At the end of the song, everyone was clapping and cheering. Sweetie Belle and her friends bowed, and the curtain closed.

Zile rushed back out on stage. "Okay! That was a lot of fun, wasn't it? I sure thought so. I might actually have to buy a pair of boots after that! So, our last act should be getting ready to take the stage any minute now..."

Backstage, the five older girls and three younger girls gathered in a circle, jumping happily up and down. "You were so right, Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo said. "That was totally awesome!"

"Yeah, that was way better than that corny magic act!" Apple Bloom said. "Hey! Maybe we should start making our own music videos and putting them on EweTube!"

"Yeah, except I get to sing lead next time!" Scootaloo said.

"Oh, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity gushed. "That was magnificent!"

Sweetie Belle blushed, ducking her head. "Yeah, well...I know I haven't always been the best sister, but...we have to work together if we want to save everything we love. Not to mention our reputations!"

In the wings on the opposite end of the stage, a fuming Sunset Shimmer approached her two lackies and Flash's bandmates. "What. HAPPENED?" she hissed through clenched teeth. "You had specific instructions to RUIN that girl and her friends up on stage! What didn't you understand?"

"I-it wasn't our fault, honest!" Snips cried, cowering.

"Oh? So whose fault was it?" Sunset Shimmer snarled.

"Mine," a deep voice drawled from behind her. She turned and reflexively took a step backward.

Big Macintosh stood there, frowning. "Now y'all done made your point," he said. "It's high time y'all stopped doin' dirty deeds t' folks that ain't never done you a speck o' harm."

Sunset Shimmer blew upwards on her bangs and rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she said. As the farmer walked away, she gathered her cohorts. "Alright, we'll just need to plan another attack. This time, we don't go after Sweetie Belle. That's a lost cause now. Our next target is Rarity herself."

Snails frowned. "But...Sunset Shimmer, Big Macintosh is onto us now, and...I mean, how can we do anything to Rarity with that hick hanging around?"

Sunset Shimmer looked thoughtful. "It'll have to be fast, sudden, and brutal," she said. "And it'll have to be at the Spring Fling. That way nobody will have time to interfere, and Rarity and her friends can't find a way to undo the damage in time." She grinned maliciously. "That crown will be mine, and that's all that really matters."

Part 3

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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.