//------------------------------// // Stylist Wanted // Story: Light and Darkness – The Shadow of Midnight // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// After their encounter with Cragadile and failure to capture him, the Cutie Mark Crusaders got to know about Neverland from Purple Smoke. He had told them about how the realm was a place where ponies could have their dreams come true during their dreams and how it fell under the darkness, causing him to seal it off. The fact that someone was trying to break that seal really worried them, but they were hopeful that they would be able to prevent that from happening. A few weeks have passed without them to get any other dream vision of any other blooming talent what really let them uneasy. It didn’t take long for the winter break to arrive. The students were getting ready for their holidays and the same was happening with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. But before they could go, there was one thing they had to do. It was an idea from Sweetie Belle that Apple Bloom and Scootaloo weren’t too sure about it. “Sweetie, it’s too dangerous” Apple Bloom said, in Sweetie Belle’s room- “Apple Bloom is right” Scootaloo added. “If you get in trouble, we won’t be able to help.” “An’ what if that scaly crocodile gets ya?” “We need answers” Sweetie Belle said, while sitting on her bed. “And they need to be answers that Purple Smoke hasn’t told us yet. And the only way to do it is contacting Rara.” “If that’s so, then we all should go” Scootaloo said. “But there’s one problem…” Apple Bloom said, while taking a small vial where the pixie dust they had. “We don’t have enough dust fer us all. We may not have enough tah bring Sweetie Belle back from Neverland.” “We don’t have a choice” Sweetie Belle said. “It had already passed too much time ever since we fought Cragadile. We have to take advantage of this to gather as much information as possible and we can’t do that if we have to wait for another portal to open.” Despite not liking the idea, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom couldn’t help but agree with her. So, Sweetie Belle laid down on her bed and Apple Bloom opened the vial, pouring her unicorn friend with the pixie dust that was inside. Immediately after taking the dust, Sweetie Belle started to feel herself sleepy. Before she could fall asleep, Scootaloo asked: “How will we know when you’re in trouble?” “I’m sure… you’ll know…” Sweetie Belle replied, before falling asleep. When she opened her eyes again, she could see Neverland’s beach. She was there. “Sweetie Belle?!” a voice called her. She turned and saw Rara running towards her through the mist that covered the beach. “Sweetie Belle!” Rara called again. She tried to hug Sweetie Belle, but she couldn’t, as the latter was more of a ghost in Neverland. Noticing that she couldn’t reach her, Rara asked: “You’re not here?” “I’m just a dream, this time” she replied. “I want to go home” Rara cried. “We will come back and save you, Rara, but we need your help to figure out how to do it” Sweetie Belle said, while Rara wiped her eyes. “I’ve you seen a creature that looks like a big crocodile with rocky scales when you were kidnapped?” “No.” “What about a strange watch?” “Yes!” Rara replied. “In my apartment. I remember I was rehearsing a song when I heard a strange noise. A strange stallion wearing a hood was there, hiding. He escaped, but left behind a strange pocket watch.” Hearing that, Sweetie Belle remembered the stallion that she and the others had chased through Leafgreen weeks ago. Could that be the same stallion. However, she didn’t have much time to think about the subject, as the shadow creatures started to approach them. As they gained corporeal form, Sweetie Belle exclaimed to Rara: “Run, Rara! Run!” And so she did, running towards the dark forest. The shadow creatures prepared to attack Sweetie, but, back at the Enchanted Forest, Apple Bloom was trying to wake up the young unicorn, feeling she needed to be brought back. “Sweetie, wake up! Wake up!” And Sweetie opened her eyes and sat down, as Scootaloo said: “Fortunately, we had just enough dust to bring you back.” “I saw Rara” Sweetie Belle told. “What happen’d?” Apple Bloom asked. “She knows about the watch” Sweetie Belle said. “We need to go to her apartment as soon as possible.” At that moment, their tracking mirror started to glow. Scootaloo went to pick it up and then, looking at it, she said: “Looks like our crocodile friend is on the move.” Before Cragadile was able to get the watch and escape, Purple Smoke had placed a locating spell on it, so that the next time the creature got out of Neverland they would be able to track him down. “He must be searchin’ fer a new talent” Apple Bloom said. “Perhaps a foal tryin’ tah get their Cutie Mark or somepony ‘bout tah have their dream come true.” At that moment, they were invaded by a dream vision that showed them the big and busy city of Manehatten, more precisely to a big building at Bronclyn, surrounded by a big garden, where they had to found a young mare that had a light amberish gray coat with a feathered hat as a Cutie Mark, a pale, light grayish cyan and light opalish gray mane and light cyan eyes. “That pony is our next mission” Scootaloo said, looking to the mirror. “And it looks like the Cragadile is also heading to Manehatten.” “And I know the place we must go” Sweetie Belle said. “I’ve already gone there. It’s a fashion school that is run by Prim Hemline, a famous fashion critic. My sister normally pays a visit there to watch for new fashion talents and inspiration.” “That’s great, Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “That means ya can help us get there.” “Yeah!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “I don’t know…” Sweetie Belle said. “It’s almost fashion week at Manehatten. The students and the staff must be very busy at this time.” “But if our new talent is there, then she must be a promising fashion designer” Scootaloo said. “And if fashion week is startin’ and if this gal is ‘bout tah have her dream come true, dah most possible scenario is…” “Cragadile kidnap her, just like how it happened with Rara” Sweetie Belle concluded. “Very well, we can try.” “Yeah!” Scootaloo and Apple Bloom exclaimed. “Cutie Mark Crusaders are on a mission!” After packing their things, the Cutie Mark Crusaders went to Manehatten and, after letting their saddlebags at their hotel rooms, they went to the fashion academy the dream vision showed them. As they advanced towards the entrance, they didn’t realize that they were being observed by Cragadile that was hidden in some bushes. As they got in, they soon noticed they were really in a fashion school. There were many ponies, talking while showing dresses, accessories and suits that were in dress forms. There were also living models, practicing their modeling. “Wow, so this is a fashion school” Apple Bloom said. “This environment almost gives me the wish to become a fashion designer” Scootaloo said. “No offense, Scoots, but dah talent that ya have fer fashion designin’ is dah same one that Sweetie had back when we were kids an’ made that performance at Miss Cheerilee’s talent show.” “Hey!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, a little offended. “I’ve got better since then. Have you forgotten those capes I did for us and Babs Seed?” “Ah’m not sayin’ ya didn’t get better, ‘cause ya did” Apple Bloom replied. “Ah’m jest sayin’ ya weren’t that good back then, havin’ in count that ya made costumes with five legs.” Sweetie Belle tried to refute that argument, but she couldn’t do it. It was then that something caught her attention. A door nearby opened, while three female students came out, both bringing piles of paper at their backs, but the third was the one she was paying attention to. She was a beautiful earth mare with a very pale magenta coat with four five-pointed stars as Cutie Mark, a very pale arctic blue mane and pale, light grayish cyan eyes. The reason for her to call Sweetie’s attention was because she was carrying a very tall pile of paper, perhaps three times the size the other two were carrying. Seeing her walking with a lot of grace and confidence, without dropping one single paper, Sweetie Belle realized one thing: “That pony… She has a natural talent for modeling.” She placed the pile of paper at the reception and started to move away. Sweetie was to approach her, but then a voice called: “Sweetie Belle! What a surprise!” The Cutie Mark Crusaders turned and saw Rarity approaching. “Rarity?” Sweetie asked. “What are you doing here?” “Well, if you must know, Prim Hemline has requested me to help her evaluate her student’s work now. With fashion week starting, I decided to give a little of my time to help this young promising designers with their outstanding work. But a better question is what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the academy?” “It’s winter break, Rarity, remember?” Sweetie asked. “It starts today?!” Rarity asked. “Oh, I can’t believe it! With all the work I have right now, I completely forgot that this is the day Silver Wind comes back home for the holidays.” “Relax, sis, we all know that you tend to forget things went you have a lot of work” “But, really, girls, what caused the three of you to come here to this school in Manehatten” Rarity said. “Don’t tell me you’re on a mission to capture that talent thief?” Hearing her saying that, the Cutie Mark Crusaders reacted by making gestures for her to be quiet. “How dah hay do ya know that?” Apple Bloom asked. “Well, Mirror Coat and Purple Smoke told Twilight and she told me and the others” Rarity said. “She trusts in her for this information. It’s no surprise after everything we’ve been through. “Wait, so Applejack knows about that too?” Apple Bloom asked. “Uh… Ah’m surprise she didn’t start tah pester me around.” “And that’s the reason why Rainbow Dash didn’t get mad fer me tah have gone to the Three Great Fairies Preparatory Academy” Scootaloo said. “So, you just know about our mission?” Sweetie asked. “I hope you haven’t told anypony else.” “Of course not, don’t you worry” Rarity said. “So, tell me, who is your mission? Maybe I can help.” “Well, we’ll looking for a pony that studies here” Sweetie Belle said. “She has a feathered hat for a Cutie Mark.” Rarity thought for a moment and then she said: “I think I know who you’re talking about. Follow me.” And so Rarity led the girls to the same room where the other pony had got out from. Getting in, they found themselves in an atelier where the pony the talent they were looking for was. She was with the one that was Prim Hemline who was an earth mare that had an indigoish gray coat with scissors and spool of thread as a Cutie Mark, a pale, light grayish amaranth mane and pale, light grayish cerise eyes. “The pony you’re looking for is Coco Pommel” Rarity said. “She has some potential, but I think she doesn’t get very well under pressure.” Prim Hemline observed the dress Coco Pommel had made, with the latter being a little nervous. “It’s absolutely… adequate” Prim Hemline said, much to Coco Pommel’s relief. “However, I can’t help but notice that it can get better.” “You think?” Coco Pommel asked. “Oh, I wonder what else can I add to the dress.” “The design is good, my dear, but it lacks… personality” Prim Hemline. “Every designer needs to add his or her personal touch to their creations.” It was then that Prim Hemline noticed Rarity. “Rarity, darling, you’re here!” she exclaimed, going to Rarity to greet her. “It’s good to be here” Rarity said. “It’s an honor to be here helping these young designers to achieve greatness.” “And you’ll see that we have a lot of potential for this fashion week” Prim Hemline replied, noticing Sweetie Belle then. “Oh, could that be who I think it is? Sweetie Belle! I’m a fan of your work. Your voice is simply… divine.” “Thank you, Miss Hemline” Sweetie Belle said. “My sister and her friends, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, have decided to accompany me through the fashion week, now that they are on a break from their work” Rarity said. “I hope there’s no problem on that.” “Of course not” Prim Hemline replied. “Maybe that can inspire my students to do their best now that we have two great artist between us. Well, I’ll leave you be. I still have to oversee the work of the other students.” And, having said that, she left. After she did it, Sweetie Belle approached Coco Pommel and said, while observing her dress: “Your work is very good.” “Thank you, but it looks like it’s not enough to impress Miss Hemline” she replied. “What are ya talkin’ about?” Apple Bloom asked, while looking to other dresses that Coco Pommel had designed. “These look great!” “Yeah, but, just like Miss Hemline said, they don’t have personality” Coco Pommel said, a little distraught. “I’ll be the laugh of all the school at the fashion show.” “Fashion show?” the Cutie Mark Crusaders asked. “The fashion week of Manehatten is always opened by a fashion show and, this year, that will happen in here” Rarity explain. “Yes, I was planning in showing my creations in that fashion show, but… now that I now my dresses don’t have personality…” Coco Pommel said. “Miss Hemline can be a little harsh when it comes to words, but I can guarantee you that there’s nothing she wants more than you to succeed” Rarity said. “What she meant to say earlier is that you are not giving yourself to the dresses you make. You need to show ponies who you are, not what they want you to be.” “It’s easy for you to say that” Coco Pommel said. “You’re Rarity. Everypony love your designs.” “Yes, but even a great designer like me starts from the bottom” Rarity said. “And the bottom is finding your own style.” “Hey, why don’t you show us more of your work?” Scootaloo asked. “Perhaps that way you’ll be able to find your own style from there.” That caused Coco Pommel to frown and ask: “Why are you so interested in helping me?” “Well…” Apple Bloom started, while she and the others tried to find a reason for their interest in Coco Pommel. “Ya see, we are dah Cutie Mark Crusaders. We help foals getting’ their Cutie Marks an’ also help other ponies find dah meaning of their talents and realize their dreams.” “Yeah, we can see that you have a lot of potential” Sweetie Belle said. “And it’s not only us. Miss Hemline and my sister also seems to think the same.” “If you really want to help me, then perhaps I can accept it” Coco Pommel said. “Great!” the three Cutie Mark Crusaders exclaimed at the same time. They then started to look at Coco Pommel’s creations, trying to help her find her own style. During that, Rarity found a notebook and opened it. “Oh my…” she said. “These are… wonderful!” “What, those?” Coco Pommel asked. “They are some ideas that I had before coming to the school. At first, I thought I could make them real, but after seeing how the others had such creative ideas… I don’t know, I ended up…” “Putting aside what you really are and trying to fit in?” Sweetie Belle asked. Realizing what she meant, Coco Pommel said: “Yes… You think that the reason why I can’t make my own style was because I tried to be the type of designer that I’m not?” “Of course, darling” Rarity said. “A true designer must embrace who they are, or else they can’t make dresses that can really leave everypony speechless.” Coco Pommel looked at her creations at the notebook. She remembered when she made them and the joy and pride she had after finishing each one of them. “You’re right” she said. “I believe I’ve found… my own style. Now I just need to make them.” “An’ we’re going tah help ya” Apple Bloom said. “Right, gals?” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo nodded in agreement. “Well, I’ll let you be, then” Rarity said. “I have to oversee the other students’ work.” “Okay, Rarity, and… thank you sis” Sweetie Belle thanked. “You really gave us a helpful hoof here.” “Sweetie, you’re my sister” Rarity said. “I’ll always help you whenever you need. But not now. I have a lot of work to do. Bye!” And so she left, while the Cutie Mark Crusaders started to help Coco Pommel make her dresses for the fashion show. After a long hard work, they finally were able to create an all collection of dress. “We did it!” Coco Pommel exclaimed. “These are the dresses that I was dreaming about, the ones that had been in my mind.” “No, Coco, you did it” Sweetie Belle said. “You’re the one that created these dresses. We just gave you a hoof.” “But I wouldn’t be able to finish this collection in time if it wasn’t for you” Coco Pommel said. “I need to repay for your help.” She thought for a moment and then said: “I know! You can model my dresses! What do you think?” The Cutie Mark Crusaders were caught off guard by that suggestion. They would love to do that for Coco Pommel, but the problem was that, if they did that, they would leave her vulnerable to Cragadile. “Ya see, Coco Pommel…” Apple Bloom started. “They would love to model your dresses” Rarity’s voice said, as she entered the atelier. “But, Rarity…” Sweetie Belle started. Rarity took her sister aside and told her: “Don’t you worry. I’ll be with Coco Pommel while you’re modeling. I may not have a dreaming cloak like you, but it doesn’t mean I can defend myself.” “Even if it is against a giant crocodile with rocky scales?” Sweetie Belle asked. “I’ve already faced an army of changelings, ponies made of stone and even a monster half-snake, half-scorpion” Rarity replied. “I think I can handle a giant crocodile.” Sweetie sighed and said: “Okay… And that’s because we will act immediately if he appears.” The night fell and the gardens of the school was now prepared to host the fashion show, having a big tent for the models to get ready, with a catwalk that crossed a pool surrounded by chairs where the guesses would sit and watch the show. At a corner, there was tables with fancy food. There were reporters taking photos to all the guests. At the tent, Coco Pommel was now making the final adjustments to the dress that were being used by the Cutie Mark Crusaders, along with a few other models. Sweetie Belle looked at the tracking mirror and said: “Cragadile is at the vicinity.” “Yeah, but we won’t be able to protect Coco because we will be modeling” Scootaloo said, a little upset. “Don’t need tah worry that much” Apple Bloom said. “Rarity will be here ‘nd, if Cragadile attacks, she will hold him long ‘nough fer us tah react an’ come tah rescue Coco.” Unknown to them, Cragadile was under the catwalk, patiently waiting to attack. It was then that the fashion show started. Many students presented their work, with every dress being wonderful and unique. It was then that Coco Pommel’s turn arrived and the Cutie Mark Crusaders led the show, followed by the other models. Everypony got amazed by the dresses, with the reporters taking photos. It would appear Coco Pommel was a great success. Suddenly, as the models stood at the end of the catwalk, they sensed a tremble coming from behind. Despite the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ suspicion of Cragadile, they kept smile, while exhibiting the dresses they were wearing. But it was then that another trembled happened, making the pool sprinkles around them go haywire. The ponies that were watching thought that was part of the show, keeping cheering and applauding. “This was not planned” Scootaloo said. “Keep on high alert gals” Apple Bloom advertised. Seeing that, Coco Pommel said to Rarity: “I didn’t know there were special effects.” But Rarity had a feeling those were not special effects. “Stay close, Miss Pommel” she said to the young designer. The truth was Cragadile had traveled through the plumbing, causing all those troubles with the sprinkles, and immerging inside from the vent of the tent and approaching Coco Pommel. She gets paralyzed by the fear. Seeing her in danger, Rarity starts running towards her, while shouting: “No, Miss Pommel!” Rarity tries to do something against Cragadile, but he used his tail to swat Rarity away against a dress rack. With her out of the way, Cragadile grabbed Coco Pommel, ripped off the tent and started to run away. After being able to return to the tent, the Cutie Mark Crusaders got shocked to see the big hole and the tent and Rarity on the floor. The latter started to get up and said: “I’m sorry, girls, I couldn’t do anything.” “Don’t worry, Rarity, you did your best and that’s what matters” Sweetie Belle said to her sister. “But now it’s time to get Coco back.” She, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo summoned their dreaming cloaks, that replaced the dresses they were using, and then started to pursue Cragadile. “Good luck, girls” Rarity wished them. Using their jumping abilities, the Cutie Mark Crusaders started to pursue Cragadile at the rooftops. They noticed Cragadile that was transporting an unconscious Coco Pommel and so they went after him. He sensed them approaching quickly, so he continued his way, while hiding behind a chimney. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, using their jumps and regulating their fall (except for Scootaloo) did their best to look after Cragadile, but there was so many places where he could have hidden and gone. “There!” Scootaloo exclaimed, as Cragadile got out of his hiding place. “He’s over there!” Noticing he was discovered, Cragadile simply placed down Coco Pommel and prepared himself to face the Cutie Mark Crusaders, as they landed on the roof where he was. He started to advance towards Sweetie Belle. “I’m going to weaken him with my sonic powers” she said, while preparing to attack. “It will be easy to knock him down.” And so she did it, what slowed Cragadile’s movements. That allowed Scootaloo to cast a gale nature attack that hit him and through him to the floor. He tried to get up, but Sweetie Belle kept using her sonic attack, preventing him from moving. He tried to attack her, but Apple Bloom used the plants from pots placed nearby to hold him. Despite being able to secure him for a few moments, Cragadile used his strength go get free and continue his attack, but Apple Bloom only made more plants to secure him. He got free again and advanced. Scootaloo landed in front of him and said: “Now it’s time for you to taste my light nature.” Focusing, Scootaloo made her light nature manifest on her cloak, irradiating an immense light that blasted Cragadile off the building. The creature started to fall, but he took out the magical watch that he used to create a portal below and crossed it, with the portal closing as soon as he did it. Having seen that, Apple Bloom said: “He went back tah Neverland.” “At least he hasn’t taken Coco” Sweetie Belle told. The Cutie Mark Crusaders made their dreaming cloaks disappear (making the dresses they were using reappear) and went to check on Coco Pommel. She started to wake up and Apple Bloom asked: “Are ya alright?” “Where am I?” Coco Pommel asked. “What happened?” “Someone tried to kidnap you” Scootaloo said. “But don’t worry, we took care of it.” It was then that Sweetie Belle noticed something strange. They were in a place full of light and their shadows were casted upon the wall beside them, however, for some reason, she couldn’t see Coco Pommel’s. And that was not the only thing that looked strange. Her eyes seemed so different as well. The Coco Pommel they had met back at the fashion school had eyes that transmitted light and warm, along with kindness and gentility. But the Coco Pommel that was before them had such cold and empty eyes. Could she really be really okay? “We’ll take you back” she said to Coco Pommel, who nodded to them. Back to the school, Coco Pommel went to receive the applauds of the crowd, with Prim Hemline going to greet her and congratulate her for her work. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were with Rarity at the tent, watching everything. It was then that, out of nowhere, the Crusaders started to have a vision. It was not a dream vision, but something different. They could see Coco Pommel wandering the dark forest of Neverland, scared, while calling for her new friends. “Girls!” a distance voice called. “Girls!” The Cutie Mark Crusaders returned to reality, with Rarity having been the one to call them. “Are you all right?” she asked them. “It looked like you were on another world.” “In a way… I think that’s what happened” Sweetie Belle said. “What do you mean?” “We just had a vision from Neverland” Scootaloo said. “We just saw Coco there.” “But how can that be?” Rarity asked. “Miss Pommel is right there.” “Ah don’t know, but Ah don’t think we would have dis visions if they were not real” Apple Bloom said. “But, if Miss Pommel is in Neverland, then…” Rarity started, looking to the Coco Pommel that was receiving the applauses “…who is she?”