After reaching the Canterlot Mall, Rarity spent her time checking out stores in order to try and get any sort of idea for how to earn the money for Camp Everfree. Unfortunately, she wasn't having much luck with figuring anything out. "Oh, rats. Three hours and still no ideas for a lucrative last-minute fundraiser," Rarity said to herself. "Usually, window-shopping inspires me." As Rarity continued to walk through the mall, she soon heard an announcer's voice from a nearby television and investigated out of curiosity.
"Are you a musician? Do you and your friends love to dance?"
"Yes," Rarity replied to nobody in particular as she continued watching the TV.
"Are you unique, cool, stylish," the advertisement asked as three posing silhouettes appeared on the screen.
"Yes, yes, yes, and... obviously," Rarity answered and took pride in knowing she was fashionable.
"Do you want to win a cash prize," the television asked and Rarity's eyes widened immediately when she heard. Answering in excitement, she continued to watch the TV as the announcer explained more. "Then enter the Canterlot Mall Chance to Prance Competition! All you need is a music video of your own original song and dance. Then you could be prancing your way to first prize! Sign up now at the booth near the Aunt Orange smoothie kiosk."
After hearing the initial details of the contest, Rarity immediately headed off for the booth as fast as she could. But just as she passed by the next store window, she screeched to a halt and saw a red jewel-studded dress in the window display. Entranced by the glamorous outfit, Rarity's smiled widened as an idea started to pop into her head. "Oh, we're certain to win," she declared as inspiration for her music video struck her.
Bolting for the smoothie kiosk and the signup booth, Rarity almost ended up crashing into somebody and lost her balance. But before she could fall on her face, something hooked around her waist and kept her upright. "Watch your step, Miss. Don't want you to hurt yourself," a suave-sounding young man told Rarity as he helped her to her feet. When Rarity was standing up again, she saw that the male who helped her was wearing a blue hoodie and was twirling a hooked cane around idly.
"Oh. Thank you," Rarity said as she looked at the young man's black and gray hair, cane, and brown eyes.
"You know, I should be thanking you since I haven't seen a radiant gem such as yourself since I got into town," the man voiced as he began to flirt with Rarity.
Rarity herself was flattered by the young man's gentlemanly behavior and started to flirt back. "Why, aren't you the charmer?"
"Guilty as charged," the male admitted as he shrugged his shoulders.
"How rude of me to not introduce myself to the gentleman that helped me," Rarity said as she placed her hand on her collar. "My name is Rarity."
"What a delightful name for a beautiful girl such as yourself," the male complimented. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Rarity. You can call me Leblanc."
"You have a nice name as well," Rarity said to 'Leblanc'. "Now if you'll please excuse, I have a contest to enter myself and my friends in."
"Hmm... Good luck with that, my shining jewel," 'Leblanc' told Rarity as he took her hand and kissed it. "I have a feeling that we'll see each other soon." After saying that, he left Rarity's field of view. Rarity was charmed by 'Leblanc' and his behavior, but she had to focus on entering the 'Chance to Prance' contest and left for her destination.
On her way there, Rarity saw Sunset Blaze approaching her. "Hey, did you find anything yet," Blaze asked.
"In fact, I did," Rarity exclaimed. "The mall is having a 'Chance to Prance Competition' where the winner's music video gets a cash prize!"
Sunset Blaze was fascinated by the idea of a music video contest. "Huh. Cool. I'll need to check it out for myself and see if Fragment Hunter can enter."
As the two girls made their way to the signup booth, they filled out the forms they needed when they heard a familiar voice behind them. "Rarity! Sunset Shimmer! What a nice surprise," said Sour Sweet in a friendly tone before quietly muttering to herself. "Not."
"It's Sunset Blaze," the Huntress doppelganger of Sunset Shimmer corrected as she saw Sour Sweet, Sunny Flare, Sugarcoat, and Lemon Zest approach them.
Rarity gasped happily as she saw the Shadowbolts while Sunset Blaze stared at them with a blank expression. "Sour Sweet! Sunny Flare! Why, it's been ages," Rarity said as she hasn't seen the Shadowbolts since Twilight's transfer to CHS.
"It's only been a few months since the Friendship Games," Sugarcoat stated.
"Is that all? Wow," Rarity giggled. "How is everything over at Crystal Prep Academy?"
"Oh, things at CPA have never been better since Principal Cadance took over," Sunny Flare told the girls as she checked her nails.
"Principal? Looks like somebody finally gave that Cinch bitch the boot after she blackmailed Twilight," Blaze remarked.
"Yeah. Cadance said she's going to let us have the spring dance on a yacht," Sour Sweet said to Rarity. "If we raise the money."
"Ooh, sounds divine," Rarity commented.
Before the conversation continued, Sunset Blaze questioned the Shadowbolts about something she noticed. "Hey, where's that other girl? Indigo, was it?"
"She's on vacation with her family," Sugarcoat explained. "They're on a cruise."
After getting an answer about Indigo Zap, Blaze and Rarity turned to see Lemon Zest speaking to them. "Are you signing up for the "Chance to Prance" contest, too?"
"Indeed we are," Rarity said with a chuckle as she and Blaze placed their entry forms into the signup box. "Are you girls here to sign up for the competition?"
"We definitely aren't here because we like standing in lines," Sugarcoat replied in her monotone voice.
"Ask a stupid question," Blaze muttered as she placed a hand on her hip.
"I assume you already have a video concept figured out," Sour Sweet said to Rarity as she checked her nails. "The competition's going to be pret-ty fierce."
"Yes, it came to me as soon as I saw that gorgeous red ruffled ensemble on the way over here," Rarity said to everyone.
Hearing what Rarity said, Sour Sweet soon had a wicked idea. "Tell me more," she requested. When she did, Sunny Flare and Sugarcoat both gained the same sinister smile as Sour Sweet as they caught onto the plan. Blaze noticed the looks of the Shadowbolts and had a concerned expression as she looked at Rarity.
"Oh! Well, each member of the Rainbooms is going to dance in a different style," Rarity explained. "Like flamenco, hip-hop, or street ballet," she elaborated as she did poses for each style. "And we'll wear costumes to match each genre. Designed by yours truly, of course," she added with a giggle, proud of her idea.
"That sounds like a very good concept," Sugarcoat stated.
Sour Sweet considered the idea that Rarity had before giving Rarity her opinion on it. "Yeah, heh, I guess it's okay. If you're going for way too over-the-top."
"Thanks," Rarity said as she took the compliment. "So, what's your concept?"
Just after she asked that, Rarity heard Sunset Blaze in her head as she used her Semblance to speak to her telepathically. "Do you really think it's a good idea to tell your concept to the girls who helped pressure Twilight into unleashing world destroying magic she didn't understand just to win a game of Capture the Flag, which me and my friends would have totally won by the way?"
"Don't be so negative, Darling. I'm sure that they aren't the same girls who would do anything to win a contest," Rarity mentally told Blaze.
"Nothing. We don't have one yet," Sugarcoat bluntly stated to Rarity as she answered the question.
Sour Sweet and Sunny Flare gestured for Sugarcoat to stay quiet before the former spoke to Rarity again. "What she means is it's a surprise! But it's a-ma-zing. So original." Blaze could tell that Sour Sweet was lying without reading the girl's mind, but she soon sensed something else around where they were before Rarity spoke again.
"Oh, well, I can't wait to see it. Good luck," Rarity said as she and Blaze started to leave.
"You, too," Sour Sweet replied before smiling sinisterly. Blaze looked behind herself to see Sour Sweet's expression and glared at the girl before she headed off with Rarity.
Unknown to any of the girls, 'Leblanc' was also listening in on the conversation from the shadows. "Well... looks like I found my next targets," he said to himself as he moved his raccoon tail out from underneath his hoodie.
On their way back to the school, Sunset Blaze and Rarity talked about the contest some more. "Okay, it looks like second prize gets some money as well, but it's just under the amount you have to get for the deadline," Blaze said as she read some information that she grabbed just after she signed up Fragment Hunter. "Plus, only the winner gets their video broadcast over the mall's televisions."
"Why don't you and Fragment Hunter ask Bianca to help you out? I'm sure that a fabulous pop star from Remnant would be a big help for securing one of the top prizes," Rarity suggested.
"Well, we do need the money if we want to keep spending time here with you and the Rainbooms. It wouldn't hurt to have a little help from a professional," Blaze remarked before she adopted a sly smirk on her face. "Besides, there's no rule against it." As she chuckled to herself, she noticed something in Rarity's hair. "What's this," Blaze asked as she grabbed the item.
"Hm? What's what," Rarity asked as she looked to see what Sunset Blaze picked out of her purple hair. Seeing that it was a paper rose, Rarity was amazed by the details of how it was made. "Oh, how did that get there? Did that charmer Leblanc sneak it in when I wasn't looking?"
"Leblanc," Blaze questioned before she decided to search Rarity's recent memories. Seeing the man that Rarity met just after learning of the contest, Sunset's expression changed from curiosity to annoyance. "Of course. It was him," she said as she ended up burning the rose in her hands.
Rarity was startled by the sudden flames and let out a light shriek. "Darling? Why in the wide, wide world of Remnant would you do that," she asked Sunset Blaze.
Seeing the ashes in her hand, Sunset brushed them off and apologized. "Sorry. Bit of jealousy. I know who you're talking about and we have a little history," she explained.
"Ex-boyfriend," Rarity inquired.
Blaze looked away as her cheeks began to turn a light shade of pink. "You could say that... Come on. We should go tell the others what we have planned," she said before returning to the task at hand. As they left for CHS again, the ashes moved in the wind and flew past a wild raccoon that was resting in a tree.