//------------------------------//
// S7 E9: An Honest Diamond (Honest Apple) (What If?) 
// Story: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic What If?: Volume 6 
// by SuperPinkBrony12 
//------------------------------//

Starlight was following Rarity around town, using her magic to help put up posters which read: "Rarity's Fabulous Fashion Contest".

"How many more of these are there?" Starlight asked with a groan, as she held an entire stack of posters in her magic.

"Just about a hundred or so to go, Starlight," Rarity declared. "These posters need to go up everywhere possible."

Starlight groaned. "You're kidding me, right?! One hundred?! Now I'm starting to wish I hadn't said yes when you asked me to help."

"Oh, don't worry, darling, I'll gladly help you out. You'll see, it'll go by in the blink of an eye," Rarity said with a smile, and then fondly sighed. "This fashion contest is going to be the best in town, it'll be all ponies talk about for weeks!"

As the two unicorns passed by Sugarcube Corner and hung up one of the posters, Pinkie observed from a nearby window. "Ooh! Whatcha advertising, Rarity? Music lessons? I already brought my guitar!" The pink party pony emerged a moment later, scattering some posters while she strummed a small guitar with her hooves.

"You play the guitar? Since when?" Starlight questioned. "And how come this is the first time I've seen you so interested in music?"

Pinkie just laughed. "Oh Starlight, there's more to yours truly than just planning and throwing parties. Music can have very magical properties in the right hooves," Then she added. "Besides, compared to some of the other musical instruments I play, learning the guitar's a piece of cake. I'm still working on a song to go with it though."

Rarity smiled, even as she shook her head. "To answer your question, Pinkie, these flyers aren't for music lessons or anything of the sort. They're to advertise a special fashion contest I've arranged to host right here in Ponyville," She proceeded to explain. "Ponies will create their own dresses and show them off to myself and the judges I've hired."

"Why aren't you gonna judge? If anypony knows about fashion, it's you." Starlight commented.

"I'm a professional, it'd be too easy to find fault in other ponies works even if they seemed well put together," Rarity explained. "Besides, I'm busy as it is just getting everything ready for the contest. The stage still needs some work, and there's another problem. One of my judges ended up backing up. I had planned to have Hoity Toity, Photo Finish, and Sapphire Shores as my judges. But Sapphire Shores declined, she's too busy touring."

"Why not just ask one of your co-workers at the other boutiques? You know, like Coco or Sassy?" Starlight suggested.

Rarity shook her head. "I tried, they're both far too busy to drop everything and come down to Ponyville to judge. Not to worry though, I've already got somepony in mind to be my third judge. It's a bit of an unconventional choice, but I think it'll work out just fine."

"Ooh, who did you have in mind?! Is it somepony I know?" Pinkie asked with a bright smile, eagerly prancing in place.

Rarity smiled and cleared her throat. "Oh yes, somepony I'm sure you're both very familiar with. It is none other than..." She paused for a moment, before she declared proudly. "Diamond Tiara!"

"Yeah... wait, what?!" Pinkie exclaimed in shock!



"Rarity, not that I mean to question your... judgement or anything but HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND OR WHAT?!" Starlight bellowed at the top of her lungs. "Diamond Tiara is but a filly. A rather talented filly, but still a filly mind you."

"I kind of have to agree with Starlight here," Pinkie chimed in. "Diamond Tiara's turned over a new leaf in recent years, but I don't see how she could be a judge for a professional fashion contest. You might as well be asking Applejack or Rainbow Dash to be a judge while you're at it."

The fashionista sighed, she had expected such a reaction to her announcement. "I know it seems like a stretch, asking someone so young to take on such a big responsibility. But Diamond is a very remarkable filly born into wealth, and that means she has prior experience with fashion."

"You mean her parents made her dress up in those fancy and stuffy outfits all the time?" Pinkie questioned. "'Cause I overheard her say how much she hated those boring dinner and garden parties her parents hosted. And that was before she ever thought about standing up to her mom."

Confronted with this counter-argument, Rarity opted to explain. "That is hardly her only experience with fashion. As of lately, she has taken an interest in learning how to sew. So I have been tutoring her on the side, with the blessings of her parents, and the lessons have been conducted at my boutique. I've seen first hoof that Tiara has a keen eye, and fine taste in simple but stylish clothing. I feel it's only natural that she take Sapphire Shores' place on such short notice."

"And you'll think she'll say yes? What about her parents? I know at least one pony who's going to have objections, and I think you know who I'm talking about." Starlight vaguely commented, but all involved in the discussion need not have guessed to who she was referring. The pony they had in mind had a reputation which spoke for itself.

Rarity chuckled at Starlight's question. "You really think Spoiled Rich would be so naive as to deny her daughter a chance to mingle with the uppercrusts of the fashion world? The likes of Hoity Toity and Photo Finish are splendid company to be around. And just think of the connections Diamond could forge in later life if she got a chance to work with them now. So long as that is the only part of the contest I mention to Spoiled, I have every right to believe she'll give her consent to allow her daughter to participate."





And indeed, Spoiled did. In fact, she all but fainted on the spot when Rarity broke the news to her. "My daughter, associating with such celebrities as Hoity Toity and Photo Finish?! Never in a million years would I dare say no to such an opportunity!" She fondly exclaimed. "Celestia knows my little Diamond is in need of some fashion sense, lest the influences of her new 'friends' cloud her mind and ruin her taste. Just because we do business with common ponies, doesn't mean we have to dress like them."

Rarity pretend not to hear that last statement. "I assume there'll be no harm in double checking with the intended judge herself, just to be sure?" She asked Spoiled.

"Go right ahead, I've no objections. And you make sure to lay out in broad detail how lucky Diamond is to have such an opportunity dropped into her lap," Spoiled instructed. "She should be upstairs in her bedroom, assuming she hasn't sneaked out again."

Satisfied with Spoiled's response, the fashionista trotted down the hall of the luxurious Rich family mansion, and turned and trotted up the carpeted stairway that led to the bedrooms. Diamond Tiara's bedroom was the first door to the right after the staircase ended.

The bedroom itself was actually a modest affair all things considered. The bed was quite big for a filly, large enough to fit an entire alicorn princess if one wanted to, and adorned with soft, un-detailed sheets. A small chest and nightstand rested off to the left hoof side, featuring three wooden drawers that housed unknown content, and sporting a mirror for its user to stare at her own reflection if she so wanted. There was a small walk-in closet, currently shut but no doubt filled with dresses of all sorts. And scattered across the floor were a series of stuffed animals, including a giant teddy bear that rested at the foot of the bed.

Diamond took the news of Rarity's decision quite well. "Me? A judge for a fashion contest?"

"Only if you want to," Rarity made sure to explain. "Your mother has already given her okay, largely on the basis that you'll be working not only with me but also with Hoity Toity and Photo Finish, who will also serve as judges. But the contestants will be local, up-and-coming fashion hopefuls, a far cry from the type of contestants that usually sign up for these sort of contests."

"Not that I'm not flattered, but why me of all ponies? Surely there were better choices." The pink coated filly inquired.

Rarity shook her head and explained. "I want someone with an outsider's perspective, someone who doesn't work with fashion for a living but knows a thing or two about it."

"And you think I could fill that role?" Tiara questioned, her cornflower blue eyes reflecting back a look of uncertainty.

"I've no doubt in my mind," The fashionista confirmed with a nod. "Besides, it would give you an excuse to get out of the house and away from your mother. I understand the two of you are still sorting out your..." She paused and coughed into a hoof. "'Differences'."

Tiara's happy mood faded upon being reminded of this. "Yeah, we are. I thought things would get better, but it seems like they've only gotten worse. I just wish I knew what my father sees in Mother."

"I can't answer that I'm afraid, but I take you will be serving as a judge?" Rarity spoke up. "I don't want to pressure you into anything, if you'd rather decline that's okay by me."

But Diamond shook her head, and the pink coated filly firmly declared. "If it gets me away from Mother, I'm all for it! Besides, I used to be Student Pony President and ran The Foal Free Press. Compared to those pursuits, being a judge for a simple fashion contest should be a walk in the park."

"Great!" Rarity happily exclaimed, eyes all a glow! "Now come along, we must introduce you to your fellow judges, and the contestants."

"Why? Isn't the contest not until tomorrow?" Diamond questioned.

Rarity eagerly explained. "Yes, but we're going to be doing a dry run. A rehearsal if you will. That way we can break the contestants and judges in, and everypony gets an idea of how things are going to work out. Plus, it gives those builders a chance to put the finishing touches on the stage."





Rarity led Diamond Tiara straight to Carousel Boutique, Hoity Toity and Photo Finish were already waiting when the two arrived. Both were adorned in their usual attire, and Photo Finish had even brought along some of her interns.

"Ah, Miss. Rarity, a pleasure to see you again," Hoity Toity greeted. "It has been quite a while."

Photo Finish happily exclaimed. "Ach, yes! I have not seen you zince your wonderful performance in Manehattan during Fashion Week! Iz it true what they zey, zat you have opened a boutique in ze heart of that bustling metropolis?"

Rarity nodded. "It was in all the papers. And not that I mean to brag, but I've also got a successful boutique in Canterlot, run by my wonderful business partner, Sassy Saddles."

"Oh my, you really went for her?" Hoity Toity exclaimed. "I hear Sassy can be quite difficult to work with."

Rarity chuckled and flipped her mane with a hoof. "Oh, Sassy was no trouble at all. She just needed a bit of a guiding hoof to set her on the right path. The next time you're in Canterlot, you should stop by Canterlot Carousel and see just how well she manages."

"Perhaps we zhall zomeday," Photo Finish declared. "But for now, where is ze third judge? Zapphire Shores haz quite ze nerve to make us all wait like zis!"

"Actually, Sapphire Shores had to back out. Apparently she's facing some unexpected competition from a pony calling herself Songbird Serenade and needed more time to rehearse," Rarity explained. "Not to worry though, I've taken the liberty of making other arrangements, and I found a willing volunteer right here in Ponyville. She's a bit on the young side, but I assure you she is well qualified to judge a contest on this scale."

"Ach, youth and in-experience do not always go in hoof in hoof," Photo Finish commented. "Whoever zis new judge iz, she need not worry. As long as she helps to judge da magics, she zhall do fine. Now where iz she?"

Diamond Tiara nervously stepped forward. "R-right here."

Hoity Toity had to remove his sunglasses and rub his eyes to be sure he wasn't seeing things. And as for Photo Finish she just exclaimed! "I faint!" Right before she did just that, and one of her interns desperately tried to revive her.

"Miss. Rarity, I know you are known for your out of the box thinking, but this is beyond insane!" Hoity Toity remarked. "Asking a filly to judge a professional contest?! Are you out of your mind?!"

"For the record, I am most indeed in my mind, thank you," Rarity retorted with a harsh glare. "I felt that since the contest would be taking place in Ponyville, and there weren't many qualified candidates available on short notice, Diamond Tiara was the best option."

Having just come to, Photo Finish trotted up to Diamond Tiara and removed her sunglasses (something she rarely did) revealing a pair of deep purple colored eyes that gave off an icy cold stare. "Why would Rarity ask you to be a judge? You are far too young for zuch a thing. Your mother, Ms. Zpoiled Rich, would have been a better choice. Zurely she waz available too, no?"

Rarity trotted forward, the white coated unicorn protecting her surprise third judge from the harsh, judgemental stares of the two older (and more experienced) judges. "Mrs. Rich does have some knowledge about fashion. But she also has quite an infamous reputation around these parts," She explained. "I personally don't put too much stock into gossip these days, but having interacted with Spoiled on a few occasions, I can safely say that her reputation precedes her and not in a good way," The fashionista then added. "I wouldn't have done this if my hooves weren't forced. Both Sassy and Coco were busy with the boutiques, and I myself couldn't possibly be a judge on top of everything else I have to do. This was the best I could do. And if you have a problem with that, I won't hesitate to dismiss you and cancel the contest all together."

Hoity and Photo both exchanged glances, neither bothering to say a word for several minutes. All the while, Diamond just stood there, her legs trembling. This was worse than any of the times she and her mother had come to blows, because at the least the filly could take comfort in the fact that whatever her mother did, her father would intervene before long. Here, however, only Rarity was willing to go out on a limb for her. And from what the tiara wearing pony understood, both Photo Finish and Hoity Toity held much more sway in the fashion world than Rarity did at the moment. They could easily walk away and that would be it.

But at last the silence was broken. Photo Finish was the first one to speak. "Ah, zeems I have no choice. Never have I backed out of zomething after giving my word to be zere."

"And I can't deny your dresses still sell quite nicely in my shops," Hoity Toity acknowledged to Rarity. "Very well. I suppose I can reluctantly play foalsitter to this young mare for the next day or so. At least this one won't be pulling on my tail every five seconds and slobbering all over me."

"For your information, I happen to be almost ten and a half years old!" Tiara snorted. "And I've been working with Rarity for the better half of a year now. She was kind enough to give me sewing lessons."

"Well why didn't you just say so in the first place?!" Hoity exclaimed. "Miss. Rarity has a keen eye for fashion apprentices!"

Photo nodded. "Indeed! Why, just last week I had ze great honor of attending Coco Pommel's debut az her own fashion designer! I even preserved a photo for Miss. Rarity's eyes!" She proceeded to hold up the picture, displaying a blueish-gray coated mare with a long and flowing mane of yellow and orange locks, and sporting blueish-green eyes. Her entire body seemed to be consumed by a huge, round dress.

Diamond threw back her head and laughed loudly! "That looks like a disco ball! Why in the world would anypony dress up like that? Even my friend Apple Bloom wouldn't be caught dead wearing that, and she lives on a farm!"

Photo shook her head and scowled. "Ach, you kids today have no zense of fashion! Zis is all ze range in Manehattan!"

"Really? I'll bet if somepony so much as moved in that thing, they'd topple it over!" Tiara laughed again. "How could it NOT be a disco ball?! The resemblance is totally there!"

Hoity seemed to agree, as he approached Photo Finish and declared. "You know, now that Miss. Tiara mentions it, it does look like a giant disco ball."

"I zuppose it does after all," Photo reluctantly conceded. "Not entirely zure I underztand Miss. Pommel's intent, but all I do iz zhoot, not ask questions."

"Well I'll say this much, if Coco is betting on disco to make a comeback, she's sorely mistaken," Hoity declared with a mornful sigh. "Disco stopped being popular long ago, and for the best I might add."

"Indeed, zuch a terrible mistake that everyone went along with." Photo acknowledged.

"If we can get back to the matter at hoof," Rarity declared, coughing into a hoof to be heard. "Perhaps it might be best to meet the contestants and see what they have planned, before they must go home for the day."

Hoity and Photo both blushed upon being reminded of this, while Diamond was just left wondering. "What was so wrong with disco? Are they talking about the crazy way everypony used to wear their mane? Is that why Miss. Cheerilee seemed so ashamed of that one photo of her?"





Rarity and the three judges made their way up to the room that usually served as Rarity's workshop. Three small desks adorned the room, and each had a ponyquin with a dress that rested on it. 

On the right side of the room, standing behind a desk was a unicorn mare with a coat not unlike the sun in the early morning, a pale yellow in color. She sported an extremely light lavender mane and tail in a free flowing style of curls, and had eyes a gentle light blue in color. Her light purple dress did not conceal her cutie mark, a heart attached to a ribbon.

In the center of the room stood an earth pony stallion with a tanish-brown coat, green eyes hidden behind a set of glasses with red lenses in the shape of upside down triangles, a curly mane (but a tail cut extremely short) in shades of pink and blue, and a white button jacket that did not conceal his cutie mark of a multi-plaid colored star in a violet-purple lightning bolt.

And on the left side of the room, was a rather tall but thin pegasus mare with an almost grayish-purple coat, a mane and tail in two shades of gray that hung limp and lifeless (with black bat bows in the mane), purple eyes, and a black coat with matching spider-web decorations that matched a cutie mark of a black rose with ink dripping out from the center.

Rarity greeted the three contestants warmly. "Designers, welcome! Today you will work on your designs, and the judges under my watch will offer guidance and advice as you prepare for tomorrow's big show."

The three designers all murmured excitedly, as Rarity and the judges approached the unicorn mare first. "Lilly Lace, we'll start with you," Rarity announced. "Tell us about your inspiration."

Lilly Lace smiled, proudly displaying a a dress made up entirely of yellow, complete with a yellow veil for the neck. "Oh, totally," She proudly declared. "This morning, on my way here, I heard a bird singing literally the most beautiful song I'd ever heard! And I wanted to capture not so much the bird's song exactly but more like how the wind carried the bird's song! That's why the dress flows out towards the back. Thoughts?"

Hoity Toity smiled and complimented. "Powerful yet at the same time fragile and delicate. Liking what I see so far."

"Ach, yes. A fine vision, one I look forward to zeeing in its completed state." Photo Finish nodded.

Diamond Tiara just silently nodded and said. "Uh... huh?"

The group then moved on to the earth pony stallion. "Next up, meet Starstreak," Rarity declared. "Care to explain the idea for your dress?"

"It's not finished, but it'll be spectacular!" Starstreak answered. "I'm not interested in what's already been done. Only what will exist... in the future!" He held up a drawing of what seemed to be a series of shapes hastily made to resemble a dress. "Go ahead, tell me what it still needs."

"Mmmm... Tomorrow's fashion belongs to those who hear it coming. Execution is where it all matters though, don't forget that." Hoity Toity advised.

Photo Finish added. "Keep a firm grip on zat vision, make it a reality! Zat is how you go places and make da magics happen!"

Diamond again opted to just nod. "Mm-hmm."

"And last up, we have the literal dark-horse, Inky Rose." Rarity announced, pointing to the pegasus mare.

"I am Inky Rose, and this is my dress." Inky Rose commented very briefly, motioning an entirely black dress complete with a black hood.

"You have a very focused vision! A ztrong zense of what you want! It's gut!" Photo Finish declared. "Zimple, but effective! You just might pull off ze upset."

Hoity Toity added with a smile. "It seems like there's room for improvement, but not much really needs to be done to make this any better than it already is."

Rarity turned to Diamond Tiara, asking the young judge. "Diamond, you've been rather quiet since the judging began. Care to share your thoughts?"

Diamond gulped. "Uh, do you really wanna know what I think? I'm not an expert like you, or Hoity Toity, or Photo Finish. I don't think my opinion will mean much."

"Nonsense, your opinion is the most crucial of all," Rarity encouraged. "After all, you go shopping for clothes, you know what trends are in and what trends are out. A consumer's perspective can be just as helpful as a designer's perspective."

Tiara sighed. "Well, if you really insist on knowing," She paused to clear her throat and then said to Inky Rose. "It's a lot of black. It's kinda... depressing. Not sure if that's what you're trying to go for."

"No problem, I can fix that," Inky Rose dryly commented, before she flew off and returned with a dark cloak to drape over the dress. "How's this?"

"Makes a world of difference! That's just what the dress needed!" Hoity declared as he raised a hoof.

"Yes, it compliments the hood zo very nicely." Photo agreed.

But Diamond protested. "Maybe to fashion experts like you. But to ponies like me, it's still black. I guess that's fine if you're into the whole dark and brooding thing though."

Hoity and Photo both gasped!

"And to be completely truthful, I don't entirely know if songbirds or the future are workable concepts," Tiara reluctantly added. "They're not bad for inspiration but you can't exactly wear them if you know what I'm saying."

"A fair point to be made. But these dresses are a work in progress, plenty of time for concepts to be refined." Hoity commented.

Photo nodded. "No dress iz perfect from ze start. Your opinions are not bad, Miss. Tiara, but zey lack usefulness," And the mare then added. "One cannot simply zay what they don't like and expect it to work. You must also know what does work."

Tiara sighed and hung her head. "Yeah, I kind of figured as much. I'm starting to think you two were right not to approve of Rarity recruiting me."

"Now hold on just a minute there, young filly," Hoity advised. "We're not saying you're a bad judge of fashion, or even a bad judge in general."

"You just need more time to get comfortable with ze role, more time to underztand what is expected of you. And zat is why we are here," Photo declared. "Learn from us, match your critiques to cover what we cannot. Our goal as judges iz not to tear zhese possible fashion stars apart, but to guide zem to a final product zat will create da magics."

Rarity nodded in agreement. "Fashion needs a healthy dose of practicality now and then. And that's where you come in. Just keep at it and you'll get better."

"Well, I guess this is better than just avoiding Mother all day long," The pink coated filly reluctantly commented. "Alright, I guess I can stick around and give this judging thing another go. I mean, I can only get better, right?"





Diamond Tiara followed Rarity and the other judges around, as they observed the contestants making some adjustments to their dresses. All the while, she tried to think about how she could refine her criticisms to be more effective, without bringing the ire of the more experienced fashion ponies down on her.

Suddenly, a chance for criticism presented itself, as the four ponies noticed Inky Rose using a hammer to drive nails into a pair of black socks and then drag them across the desk, intentionally making holes in them.

"Are you actually putting holes in the clothes?! On purpose?!" Tiara exclaimed to the pegasus.

Inky Rose flatly replied. "Yes. It's to create a distressed look, it matches the blackness of the hood."

"More like an old and tattered, worn-out look!" Diamond declared. "Not sure about you, but I know most ponies wouldn't wanna replace their old, hole filled clothes, with new clothes full of even more holes. It defeats the whole purpose of buying them!"

Rarity reluctantly acknowledged. "Okay, yes, not a very practical choice. Fashionable, but not practical. And a bit of waste of fabric."

"The holes are a bit extreme," Hoity Toity conceded. "The blackness alone conveys distress without needing to waste fabric. But I suppose small holes in socks might be acceptable in certain cases."

Next up was Lily Lace, whose dress flowed even more out the back and seemed to have extra layers sewn into it. "Simply shtunning!" Photo Finish proudly declared! "Mine eyes have never beheld zuch a marvelous sight before!"

"Sure, it looks pretty, I'll give you that," Tiara spoke up. "But that's a whole lot of fabric. With the way it drags behind, it'll be covered in dirt in no time. I should know, I've had quite a few dresses that got dirty, and Mother made me wash them out by hoof. Not an experience I care to repeat."

"Perhaps a layer or two can be subtracted, ze extra bulk is optional," Photo Finish agreed. "All ze same, looks are a vital part to any dress. Nopony buys zometing if they think it looks ugly."

"Okay, so maybe the dresses need a little more fine tuning," Rarity concluded, desperate to change the subject and put an end to the uncomfortable atmosphere that was slowly building up inside the boutique. "But of course, no look is complete without mane and makeup! Let's see how well Jet Streak is coming along on that department, seeing as he hasn't unveiled his dress quite yet."

Starstreak proudly displayed his model, a light purple coated earth pony mare with pinkish-purple eyes. Her mane was a darker purple, with hints of a lighter fuschia, and hung down at the sides almost to where the two parts connected into one.

"So, uh... when are you gonna do her mane? It looks like it's gonna need a lot of work." Diamond questioned.

But Starstreak groaned. "It's already been done! You have no idea how long it took to mold the mane into this shape! It's going to match the dress perfectly!"

"You mean the dress you haven't started on yet?" Tiara questioned with a raised eyebrow. "All I saw was a bunch of shapes. At least the other two contestants have some idea of where they wanna go. You, on the other hoof, seem to be going off of this 'vision'. I think Apple Bloom would call it: 'Losing the forest for the trees.'" She delivered that last line with a bit of malice, malice that the filly instantly recoiled in shock from once it had escaped her mouth.

Rarity and the other judges were speechless!

Sensing that things were quickly going badly, the pink coated hastily spoke up. "I... uh... think I'm gonna call it a day! See you all tomorrow, I think... maybe!" And she bolted from the boutique before anypony could say a word!

It took but a moment for the filly's absence to register through the boutique. The contestants breathed a small sigh of relief, but Hoity and Photo exchanged nervous whispers as Rarity declared. "I think we've given the designers more than enough guidance for today. So let's, uh, let them finish their work." And she departed the boutique without saying a word, she just chuckled nervously and sighed.





As Rarity was trotting past Sugarcube Corner a short time later, she was spotted by none other than her party planning friend Pinkie Pie. "Hey, Rarity! How'd the first day of the contest go?" Pinkie called out.

Rarity sighed and answered. "Well, it's going... okay I suppose. I mean, it's not turning out absolutely terrible but," She took a long pause, before she added. "Have you ever wished you could go back and talk some sense into your past self before she does something foolish?"

"You thinking of time travel?" Pinkie questioned. "Only Twilight and Starlight have pulled it off. But hey, if they can do it, then so can you."

The fashionista shook her head. "Oh no no no, nothing of the sort. It's just... forget it. I'm just thinking that maybe it was wrong to bring Diamond Tiara onboard for something so ambitious. She's more leadership oriented than fashion oriented, despite her preferred head wear."

"Where is Diamond Tiara anyway? Shouldn't she be with you?" Pinkie asked, noticing a lack of the pink coated filly.

"She was until just a short time ago. But now I don't know where she is," The fashionista admitted to her friend. "You wouldn't by any chance happen to have seen her, would you? I wouldn't want her parents to start worrying about her being out past whatever sort of curfew she has assigned."

The pink party pony shook her head and answered. "Sorry, haven't seen her. But I wouldn't worry, she'll probably turn up eventually. Worst case scenario, she's spending the night at a friend's, letting off steam. And she's not the only one," She proceeded to pull out her guitar. "You seem a little stressed," Offering up the musical instrument she added. "Wanna try? Music is very relaxing." To demonstrate, she strummed a few chords.

Rarity took up the guitar with her magic. "Sure," She flatly replied. "Hmm," Then all of a sudden she started to strum the guitar quite hard, unleashing a hard, rock solo! Her hooves moved vigorously back and forth, working off the stress at lightning speed! And she displayed a harsh glare the whole time! When she had finished, her composure returned to normal, but the guitar was smoking ever so slightly. "Much better." The unicorn declared with a sigh, offering the guitar back to Pinkie, whose mane and tail were all disorganized and standing on end, while she blew the smoke off her guitar.





The next day, Rarity was trying to give herself a mental pep talk and reassure herself after the previous day hadn't gone according to plan. "I can meet my goals. Today is a fresh start," She declared to herself, while breathing in and out very slowly. She then trotted up to her workshop and pushed the door open, greeting the contestants. "Good morning, everypony! Time for final adjustments before the show!"

"Ach, Miss. Rarity, zplendid to zee you zo bright and early." Photo Finish happily declared.

"Indeed, and I must say your show is coming along quite well," Hoity Toity added. "Already, we're seeing significant improvements in the dresses."

But Rarity wasn't focused on either of the fashion hot shots' comments, she was concerned about the absence of a certain filly. One she'd expected to have show up. "Where is Diamond Tiara? Shouldn't she be here with you two?"

Both Hoity and Photo shook their heads. "I'm afraid we haven't seen her since she stormed out of this place yesterday," Hoity declared. "Such a shame though, with a little bit more polish I think she could've come into her own as a judge."

Photo nodded. "She needs to phrase her words more delicately, but zere is no denying she brings a unique perspective to ze table."

"But, I need her to be the judge!" Rarity declared, frantically looking around. "There's nopony left I can turn to on such short notice! My contest won't work with only two judges!"

"Then I guess it's a good thing I'm 'fashionably late' if you'll excuse the pun." A familiar young voice called out. Everyone turned to look, and who should come trotting into the workshop but Diamond Tiara? Compared to yesterday, she seemed to have a more noticeable mark of self confidence, if the smile and the spring in her step were any indication.

Rarity nearly gasped in surprise! "Where have you been, Diamond Tiara? Have you any idea how worried I was that you might have backed out?"

Diamond just laughed and replied. "Sorry to make you worry, Miss. Rarity, I just needed some time to get into the mindset of a judge. But now I'm wide awake, and ready and raring to go!"

"You zeem quite confident in yourself today. What iz responsible for zis zudden change?" Photo Finish questioned the filly.

"I must agree, it's like you're an entirely different pony now." Hoity Toity commented.

With a smirk, Tiara explained. "A pep talk from Silver Spoon, as well as a trial run at her place, gave me all the experience I needed to understand what a fashion judge needs to be like. I just wish I'd thought to try it sooner," And then she confidently strolled past the other judges. "Now come on, let's check up on the contestants and let 'em know what they're doing right, and what they need to work on."

With the pink coated filly leading the way, the three judges (and Rarity) stopped in front of Inky Rose's cloak. "I decided the hood was not needed, now it's just a simple cloak." She informed the judges.

Hoity Toity examined the cloak very carefully, taking note of the many buttons all over the still black colored garment. "If buttons could convey sadness, you've done it."

"Ze loss of ze hood is unfortunate, but ze cloak alone speaks volumes." Photo Finish declared.

Diamond only shook her head. "Well to me, they convey waking up an hour early just to button 'em all. Surely, you could do more with less, couldn't you?"

Inky Rose looked at Tiara with bewilderment and skepticism, before she pulled all the buttons off her dress. "Is that better?" She asked with a hint of scorn contained within her tone of voice.

"Maybe, but no buttons at all means it's easy for the dress to slide off if you're not careful," Tiara commented. "I didn't mean take all the buttons off. Now that cloak is just like a poncho."

The judges then went over to Lily Lace, who presented a hat that was intended to match her dress. "Hope you like it," She declared. "I attached each feather individually! It took me forever to do!"

Removing his sunglasses, Hoity Toity looked at the hat, and exclaimed with great fondness! "Ohhhhh. You used hoof-cross-double-over stitches! They're perfect!"

"It definitely zuits ze bird theme!" Photo Finish declared. "Keep zis up and you will win for zure."

Diamond was not so convinced. "Sure, it's stitched perfectly, but feathers on your head is for the birds! It doesn't matter how well you stitch 'em together, one gust of wind and 'Whoosh!' they're gone! Next I suppose you'll tell me you wanna build a set of wings or something! My advice to you, keep your hooves firmly on the ground and get your head out of the clouds."

Lily Lace gasped, as did Rarity, Hoity Toity, and even Photo Finish!

"Sorry if that was a tad excessive," Diamond apologized. "I'm just trying to save you the embarrassment of having your hat fall apart the second the wind blows through. Maybe you should look for an easier source of inspiration next time, Lily Lace."

Lily just whimpered, as the judges (and Rarity) approached Starstreak. "My vision is finally ready for viewing eyes! Behold!" He proudly declared, showing off an avant grade dress of white, red, and yellow.

"A good start, but it needs more. Like zay, a belt!" Photo Finish declared. She trotted over to a nearby bucket and tossed aside several chain belts all the while shouting. "No. No. No. Yes!" At last, she held up one that was light gray and had a lightning bolt shape on it.

"I'd go with this one, personally!" Hoity Toity suggested, holding a belt that seemed to be identical to the one Photo Finish held in her hooves. The only difference seemed to be a slightly darker shade of gray.

"Nei, zis one!" Photo protested.

"They both look the same to me," Tiara interrupted. "I really don't see why you two are gonna argue over the same exact chain belt. Either one will do."

"To the untrained eye that would seem so," Hoity remarked. "But that one completely changes the look. And this one complements it. There's a difference."

"Could've fooled me," Diamond remarked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm beginning to wonder just how much you two actually know about fashion. Sure, you're highly respectable in your fields, but you seem to follow patterns instead of making them."

Rarity quickly stepped up in to break up the argument. "N-now now, that's quite enough of that, Diamond Tiara. Hoity Toity and Photo Finish both came down here at great personal expense. Without them we wouldn't have a fashion contest to begin with."

"And maybe that would be for the better," Tiara suggested. "The more I see of fashion, the less I understand about it. It all seems so needlessly complicated if I'm being honest."

Gulping, Rarity pleaded. "Then, perhaps you'd like to step outside and talk it over with me? You know, before we make a scene?"

The pink coated filly happened to look around as Rarity made that comment. And she saw for herself just how hostile the tensions in the room had become. Photo Finish and Hoity Toity were staring at her with their eyes casting daggers (or at least that's what it seemed, it was hard to tell when they always wore sunglasses), the contestants all seemed on the verge of tears as they hastily redid their outfits, and Rarity herself seemed to be barely holding together.

At that moment, guilt started to well up inside the filly. "What I am doing?! I'm making a mistake!" She thought, and ran off, trying to hold back the tears!

"Diamond, wait!" Rarity called in vain! It was no use, the tiara wearing filly had fled the scene.

"Well... that was unexpected." Hoity commented.





"So, does this mean that little twerp is done being a judge?" Lilly Lace questioned. "Because I'm starting to wonder why anypony ever thought she was qualified to be one in the first place."

"Well actually, she did have a very unique vision and sense of direction," Jet Streak commented. "Sure, she could be pushy about it and may have been taking things too far, but she was just trying to help make our outfits the best they could be."

"We probably should've taken her advice with a grain of salt, or at least not been so dismissive of it," Inky Rose added. "I think that poncho comment was intended as a way to suggest the hood again."

"I guess now that you mention it... the feathers thing wasn't entirely untrue," Lilly Lace considered. "Perhaps there's a better way to capture a bird's song as it's carried on the wind."

Photo Finish spoke up. "And zhe technically had a point on ze belts. There was not much a difference between zem, either one would've fit the dress nicely."

"And I never even considered how many buttons were on that cloak," Hoity Toity conceded. "I got so caught up in what they were conveying, I didn't even look at the obvious."

"Ztill, she lacks a filter. A sense of knowing how to frame what she zays in ze proper way," Photo Finish remarked with a shake of her head. "Zhe does not zeem to understand zat zhere is more to a judge than just judging."

Rarity sighed as she hung her head. "If anyone's to blame for all of this, it's me. I should've been more clear with that filly from the start, and told her just what she was expected to do. I also should've let her get some practice in before thrusting her into something she was woefully unprepared for," She then immediately decided. "I've got to go after her! I need her to know that nopony harbors hard feelings toward her for going overboard! And maybe I can still find a way to make this all work out!"

"But ze contest starts in mere hours!" Photo Finish protested. "And zhe could be anywhere in town by now!"

"Then you'll just have to go on without me, or Diamond Tiara!" Rarity firmly insisted, dashing out of the boutique! Leaving a bewildered Hoity Toity and Photo Finish to exchange looks of confusion.





The fashionista searched high and low throughout Ponyville for her young charge and "hopeful" third judge. But it seemed as if the filly had dropped off the face of the world, for over an hour and a half ticked by without even a trace of the filly's presence.

At last, just when Rarity was ready to give up and admit that Diamond had run away (thus resigning as a judge), she spotted something she had overlooked before. Namely, a series of hoofprints that were in the size of a filly. Could it be?

Hoping beyond hope that she was, the unicorn mare followed the prints as they led right to a bridge overlooking a small river. And there, slumped ever so slightly over the side, was none other than Diamond Tiara herself. The little earth pony staring down at her reflection, as she sobbed lightly and tears streamed down her face and into the pond below.

Clearing her throat, Rarity made her presence known, causing Tiara to jump back a bit in surprise! But her sorrow returned when she noticed who it was now standing next to her. "Oh, it's just you, Miss. Rarity."

"Darling, please, Rarity will do just fine," Rarity insisted. "And I want you to know you're not in any trouble. Not with the contestants, not with the other judges, and not with me."

"You don't have to lie to me to make me feel better. I know I messed up," Diamond sorrowfully confessed. She didn't even bother to turn to look at the mare to whom she owed her position. "I thought my opinions mattered, when in fact I knew less than anypony in the entire room about fashion."

"They were a tad... excessive," Rarity admitted, approaching her young charge. "But at the same time they were honest. Honesty isn't always a bad thing, sometimes the truth is what ponies need to hear, even if it hurts."

But Tiara only sighed, looking down at the water again. "And what if that's all it does, hurt others without actually making anything better? What good is it to be honest if everypony would be better off if I lied?"

"There's a time to be honest, but there can be times when the truth isn't what others want or need to hear. You're not likely going to know the difference the first time it stares you in the face," Rarity explained. "More importantly though, judges are expected to be honest and impartial, but that doesn't mean you can just rip somepony a new one. The goal of criticism isn't to make others feel bad or ashamed of what they've done, it's to offer suggestions for what they can improve or do better. Even if it's absolutely terrible, you can still put a positive spin on it by saying 'Now you know what not to do for next time.' Does all of that make sense?"

"Sort of," The filly acknowledged with a sigh. "But if it's all the same to you, I'd rather just stay here for the rest of the day and keep as far away from the contest as possible. What I did back there, is something I told myself I'd never ever do after my redemption! Heck, it's something I told myself I'd never ever do at any point in my life! That I'd sooner take off my tiara than let it come to that. I acted like my mother. All of those things I said, those are just the sort of 'criticisms' she'd dish out to others without a second's hesitation. After being on the receiving end of it for so many years, I swore to myself I would avoid giving them out no matter what. I know that doesn't seem like much considering all the other things I did before I saw the light, but it's true."

A long and rather uncomfortable silence hung over the bridge as the two ponies stood there, moments passing without a word from either of them.

At last, Rarity declared. "Well, it's your decision. But I just thought you should know that Hoity Toity and Photo Finish hold no ill will towards you for your spur of the moment comments. And you're more than welcome to come back and judge the contest if you so wish." And with that, she departed, leaving the pink coated filly alone with her thoughts.





Trotting back into town, the fashionista could've easily chosen to head back to her boutique to check up on her remaining judges and the contestants. But she didn't feel like it, there was nothing she could really do in there, she was not going to be a substitute judge. If Diamond Tiara wasn't going to come back, she'd just have to run her contest with two judges and hope for the best.

With that thought in mind, the unicorn decided to instead see how her stage was coming along. She hadn't checked on it since deciding to host the contest, and she suspected she might not get another chance. Best to see if it was to her specifications. And hopefully it would be just the thing to take her mind off the uncertainty of her third judge, or the (hopefully) slim possibility that there wouldn't be a contest at all.

The stage was marvelous and to the mare's exact specifications, even down to the search lights and the long walkway. The curtains were a splendid velvet red with gold trim for the rope holder. It looked absolutely stunning.

Now hopefully it would be put to use.

For several minutes, Rarity just sat there, thinking to herself. "Was it really a good idea to make Diamond Tiara a judge? Perhaps it would've been better to just make myself a judge, or ask Fluttershy to do it?"

The sun was beginning to set off to the west by the time Rarity decided the time had come to head back to the boutique, and see just what had transpired in her absence (and whether or not she would have a contest in the first place). It seemed like Diamond Tiara had backed out, and with such a short time frame before the content (to say nothing of the fact that Rarity couldn't even be sure it would go on) there was no time to scout out a replacement.

The trot back to Carousel Boutique took longer than it normally seemed to take for some reason, not that the fashionista unicorn was paying any thought to it. More pressing concerns lingered in her mind.

Upon entering her boutique and trotting up to her workshop, the pristine white coated mare let out a gasp at the sight that greeted her!

There stood Diamond Tiara, a satisfied and confident smile on her face, chatting with Hoity Toity and Photo Finish as if nothing had gone wrong. And all three contestants seemed satisfied with their overall outfits that they were to present, if the looks on their faces were any indication.

Rarity was speechless! This had to be a dream! And yet, it all seemed and felt so real.

"Ach, Miss. Rarity," Photo Finish called, attracting the dress maker's attention. "Zo glad you're here, ze contest is all but ready to begin."

"Indeed, and all that remains is one final look of approval for the contestants," Hoity Toity added. "We've finished our final critiques, and all the adjustments have been made. All thanks to Diamond Tiara here."

Diamond beamed happily. "I figured it would help to show them what they could do better, instead of just telling them. So I worked with them to sew and stitch any adjustments."

"It's true, she literally has the best sense of needlework I've seen in like, forever!" Lilly Lace proudly declared.

Starstreak smiled. "Without her help, this vision wouldn't be a reality. So sleek and futuristic!"

"And with her help, I was able to attach the hood back to the cloak," Inky Rose added. "And I decided to leave the buttons off, so it's less of a hassle to put on."

"I... I don't understand! How could you do all of this in such a short amount of time?!" Rarity gasped in amazement.

Tiara just winked. "Those sewing lessons you gave me really paid off! I busted my tail because I know how much this means to you," And then to Hoity and Photo she added. "And I'm sorry I said what I did earlier. I never should've questioned your expertise, I should've accepted that you knew stuff I didn't."

Hoity just chuckled and ruffled the filly's mane. "Oh it's quite alright, we did get a little swept up in our own self-confidence. No hard feelings."

"Indeed," Photo declared and then stomped her hoof down quite firmly. "We ztart now!"





Night fell as a crowd gathered around the stage outside Carousel Boutique, DJ-PON-3 started playing the techno music she was always known for. Bobbing her head up and down to the beat.

"Okay then, let's get this show on the road!" Rarity proudly declared. "First up, Lily Lace!"

Lily's clothes were worn by a greenish-yellow coated mare with soft blue eyes. They consisted of a long pink gown, the flowing greenish-yellow dress Lily had worked on the day before, and the feather hat with a matching green feather dress. The model posed as cameras clicked all around her.

"Next up, Starstreak!" Rarity announced.

Starstreak's outfits were modeled by the same mare he'd used earlier in the day. Her mane had been trimmed to have a neat set of bangs on both sides, matching the simple but sleek avant grade dress of yellow, green, red, and white. Then she modeled a simple white skirt with blue, purple, and bluish-green stripes, alongside a crystal hat. And finally, she wore a sea green dress with lighter green pants. The cameras continued to click.

"And finally, Inky Rose!" Rarity called out.

Inky Rose's model was a light-grayish coated stallion with dull red eyes, a spider cutie mark, and a midnight blue mane and tail that was mostly styled into a curl except for a patch on the mane that hung limp. He just stood there with a flat expression on his face, showing off the black cloak, the black hood, and a black jacket with a spiky collar. The cameras went into a frenzy!

"And now, judges, it's time for your votes!" Rarity informed, as she spun around to face the three judges. "We'll start with you, Hoity Toity."

Hoity Toity, with a smile on his face, commented. "Simplicity is the keynote of true elegance. That is why I vote for Inky Rose. She knows what she wants, and her designs are straightforward and to the point."

Inky Rose bowed and replied. "You've... made me so... happy?"

"Okay. Now, Photo Finish, your pick if you please." Rarity instructed.

Photo Finish shot up a hoof and declared. "Fashion is ze art! I, Photo Finish, vote for Starstreak! Looking towards ze future is always a path forward!"

"Wonderful to hear, darling. I knew you'd see my vision for what it is." Starstreak boasted.

"One vote each for two of the contestants. It all comes down to you, Diamond Tiara," Rarity spoke to her youngest judge. "Who do you feel has the best designs?"

"Well... gosh... I really don't know," Tiara pondered, putting a hoof to her chin. "All three of them have some really good ideas, and their outfits all looked nice. But... if I had to pick one... it would have to be Lily Lace. Starstreak has a nice vision, but it's a little too simple, and the future is always changing. What's in one second may be out the next. And Inky Rose, well maybe there are some who like all black clothing, but ponies usually prefer vibrant colors to make them stand out."

Lily Lace just smiled. "It means sooooo much to me! Oh, I can't believe it!"

"Ah, we have a tie," Rarity realized. "Well, I guess it's up to me to pick a winner. And I have just the option in mind," She clapped her hooves, and seconds later a black top hat was caught in her magical grasp. Taking out a quill, the unicorn scribbled something on three pieces of paper, before she stuffed them all in a hat. "Whoever's name I pull out of this hat, shall be the winner. No matter what though, I trust there'll be no hard feelings. You're all winners in my book, but alas there's only room for one at the moment."

A tense silence filled the air, as all eyes were drawn to the hat that Rarity shook quite thoroughly (but carefully). "And the winner is..." The fashionista declared, as she closed her eyes, reached into the hat, and pulled out one piece of paper. She unfolded it and opening her eyes she read aloud. "Lily Lace! Congratulations!"

The spotlight fell upon Lily Lace, as the crowd burst into deafening applause! The unicorn found herself at a loss for words!





"See, Diamond Tiara? Being a judge wasn't so bad after all." Rarity talked to the filly after the contest had ended.

"Maybe so," Tiara agreed. "But I think I'd rather stick to the sewing lessons with you, and leave the judging to more professional ponies in the near future."

"I see," The fashionista commented. "Well, if you ever change your mind, just let me know. But for now, why don't we focus on getting the boutique ready to showcase Lily Lace's works?"

"Now that is a good idea!" Diamond proudly declared.