At the second night of the Fashion Week, Prim Hemline was holding an exclusive party at the fashion school, a party where her best students and the elite were attending. Fortunately for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, because they were with Rarity and Sweetie Belle was a very famous singer and performer, they were able to attend the party, using the dresses they have used on Coco Pommel’s fashion show.
“Uh, I hate fancy parties” Scootaloo said, a little uncomfortable. “The food is so tiny, we have to endure these fancy ponies having boring talks…”
“Scootaloo, please, behave yourself” Rarity said. “Despite you’re a guest, it doesn’t mean they can’t put you out of the party.”
“Rarity is right” Apple Bloom said. “An’ we can’t get out. We’re here fer a reason.”
“We need to find the thing that is impersonating Coco” Sweetie Belle said.
“And all that while keeping our guard up” Scootaloo added.
“Well, girls, I wish you good luck” Rarity said. “I’ll be around if you need anything. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to go talk with some friends.”
And so Rarity moved away.
“Okay, gals, let’s do this” Apple Bloom said to the Crusaders who nodded.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders spread through the crowd. Because of the importance of that event and the fact Coco Pommel was the star of the opening fashion show of the Manehatten Fashion Week. They were linked by the telepathic spell.
“Are ya seein’ her?” Apple Bloom asked.
“No.. at least for now” Sweetie Belle replied.
“Yeah, I’m not having any luck neither…” Scootaloo said, before noticing something. “Wait! I think… Yes, I’m seeing her! She’s talking with Fancy Pants and some other elite ponies under the chandelier.”
“Okay, spread out an’ close in” Apple Bloom said.
They did so and Sweetie Belle approached Coco Pommel’s double, making everything to spy on her without making her realize she was being observed. However, after dodging her eyes in order to not be noticed, Sweetie Belle saw that the double was gone. The double, who have noticed the Cutie Mark Crusaders, started to find a way to dodge them. Sweetie Belle followed her and said to Apple Bloom:
“Apple Bloom, the target is coming towards you.”
Apple Bloom, receiving that message, started to look around. But the double noticed her first and was able to wait for the right opportunity to dodge her. Sweetie Belle met Scootaloo and told her:
“I lost her. I can’t see her from here anymore.”
“We need another perspective” Scootaloo said. “I can fly around and…”
“No, that way you’ll call too much attention” Sweetie Belle said, thinking of another way. “Maybe I can use my musical magic to locate her. It will be like echolocation.”
Sweetie Belle closed her eyes then called upon her power over Thirteenth Note, launching infrasonic waves around the room. It took a while, but she finally found her.
“I got her” Sweetie Belle said. “She’s passing by the appetizer section and going towards the fountain.”
Scootaloo, listening that, went in that direction and told to the others:
“I'll cut her off this way.”
The double continue to find a way to get rid of the Crusaders, but suddenly she saw Scootaloo coming in her direction until they came face to face. The double made an angry look that Scootaloo retrieved.
“I found her!” the pegasus mare told to her friends.
But at that moment, somepony came across them and the double took that opportunity to get away.
“Scrap!” Scootaloo said, after she had her view freed.
At that moment, the special event of the night started, with models walking down the center of the room and modeling various outfits from many known designers. Sweetie Belle walked down the way, while noticing the double.
“I can see Coco” she said, looking at her from the other side. “I need to cross over, but how…”
But then an idea came across her head. Using her magic to better arrange her mane in order to conceal her identity, Sweetie Belle infiltrated the runway and modeled in order to get closer to the double. Getting out of the runway, Sweetie Belle told Scootaloo:
“Scoots, she’s coming your way.”
Scootaloo saw Coco’s double climbing the stairs to the upper floor and told to the others:
“I can see her by the stairs. But what does she wants?”
“We don’t know, but you better be careful” Sweetie Belle said.
“Yeah, sugarcube, watch out when ya engage her” Apple Bloom said. “We don’t know what kind of imposter she is. She may be a changeling.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful” she replied.
Scootaloo climbed the stairs until reaching the top. At the deserted hall, she found Coco’s double at the place with her back turned to her. Preparing for any possible attack she could launch, Scootaloo positioned herself. The double turned to her and proclaimed:
“You won’t stop me from kidnapping the next talent.”
Having said that, the double started to change and, much to Scootaloo’s shock, she turned into a shadow creature. She extended her shadow tentacles, going to Scootaloo’s hooves and wings. That caused her to panic and fall from the balcony. Someponies that saw that started to point her out. Fortunately, Scootaloo was quick to extend and flap her wings to slow her fall and land safely.
“Scootaloo!” her friends called, going to her side.
“Are ya okay?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Yes, I am” she replied.
“But what happened?” Rarity asked, while approaching. “Scootaloo, I hope you haven’t get yourself hurt.”
“I’m fine, Rarity” Scootaloo replied. “This is not the first fall I have, you know?”
“What’s the meaning of this?” Prim Hemline asked. “Rarity, do you have any explanation?”
The bearer of the Element of Generosity quickly tried to find a way to explain what happened. Fortunately, Rarity was an expert on that and quickly found the perfect excuse.
“Miss Hemline, I’m terribly sorry for what just happened, but everything was nothing more than an unfortunate accident” Rarity said. “Scootaloo didn’t want to disrupt your event, but she wanted to have a better view of the fashion show, so went upstairs. I believe she tripped on the carpet. I think you should really see that in case another accident occurs and is not as lucky as this one.”
“Oh… Uh…” Prim Hemline said. “Yes, I think you’re right, Rarity. I’ll see that.”
She then turned to all the others and told:
“Okay, everything’s okay. It was just an accident. Nothing that can prevent this party from carrying on.”
And so the party continued.
At the next day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders gathered around at the boutique Rarity owned in Manehatten. Over the years, Rarity’s fame as a designer grew a lot in a way that she opened other boutiques than the one she had in Ponyville. Her second boutique was located Canterlot (the place where Rarity always to open one) called Canterlot Carousel, while her third boutique was located at Manehatten. It was called Rarity For You and was located at Saddle Row, an entire that, according to Rarity, was an entire street lined with the most fashionable boutiques in all of Equestria. Rarity took the Crusaders to a place where neither the clients nor the staff could hear them and then said:
“Okay, girls, if there’s one thing I’ve learned with Twilight and all the adventures I had is that is always good to recapitulate everything in order to think of a way to move forward.”
“Well, for starters, Coco was kidnap and we went to save her” Sweetie Belle started.
“We thought we have sav’d her, but it wasn’t her” Apple Bloom continued.
“I noticed that right away” Sweetie Belle replied. “She didn’t have a shadow. I overlooked that fact, what shouldn’t have done, now that we see this in retrospective.”
“And all this time she was trapped in Neverland” Scootaloo said.
“But then who’s the fake Miss Pommel?” Rarity asked.
“It’s a shadow creature” Scootaloo told. “It attacked me at the party. That’s why I fell.”
“So, if it took Coco’s appearance, that’s ‘cause dah next talent is at the fashion school too” Apple Bloom concluded.
“So what are we waiting for?” Scootaloo asked. “We can’t wait any longer.”
Back at the fashion school, the Cutie Mark Crusaders started to walk around the school again, looking for more possible talents. It was then that they saw the same pony from the other day that had transported that big pile of paper without even flitching or letting any piece of papel falling. Just like the other day, she was also transporting stacks of paper.
“I’ve seen that pony somewhere else…” Sweetie Belle said.
Remembering her, she approached and said:
“Hi, I’m Sweetie Belle. What’s your name?”
“Coral Shine” she replied.
“I saw you the other day here” Sweetie Belle said, while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo joined her. “And just like now you were holding stacks of paper.”
“Wait, I know you…” Coral Shine said. “You’re Sweetie Belle, the singer.”
“Well, yes, I am…” Sweetie Belle said.
“I still don’t know how she can pass unnoticed at the street without being recognized, being her a big star in this city” Scootaloo whispered to Apple Bloom, who gave a slight chuckle.”
“You know, Coral Shine, I and my friends are also talent scouts and we think you can be a great model” Sweetie Belle continued, ignoring her friends chuckles.
“Really?” she asked, a little unsure.
“Trust us, we have a lot of experience in the field of finding talent” Scootaloo said.
“We have dah absolute certain that ya have a natural talent fer modelin’” Apple Bloom told.
“Being a model would be like… having my dream come true” Coral Shine confessed.
At that moment, the Cutie Mark Crusaders got a dream vision that directed them to the fashion school and then to Coral Shine, confirming their suspicion Coral Shine was the next talent.
“I’ve never done it before” Coral Shine continued. “And I’ve never attended any fashion or modeling school.”
“But ya don’t know how good ya can be if ya don’t try” Apple Bloom told.
“And we can help you” Sweetie Belle said. “My sister Rarity can really help you in the modeling part. She’s a fashion designer and she knows this kind of things.”
“Well…” Coral Shine started, a little unsure.
In order to not let her have time to think and refuse their help to make her dream come true, Sweetie Belle took her hoof and said, while pulling her.
“Come on, let’s go.”
While Scootaloo and Apple Bloom remained at the school in order to look for Coco Pommel’s double, Sweetie Belle took her to Rarity For You and Sweetie Belle asked her sister:
“So, what do you think, Rarity?”
The fashion designer looked closely to Coral Shine and then said:
“I have to admit… you girls really have an eye to find raw talent like this one.”
“So… I can really become a model?” Coral Shine asked.
“Darling, when I’m done with you, you’ll look fabulous no matter what you wear” Rarity replied. “You can even use a chandelier that you’ll be amazing. That gives me an idea.”
She turned to her staff and told them:
“Okay, girls, now that we are in a quiet day, I want your help in one matter: help this filly become the best model she can be. Now, let’s get to work!”
“Are you sure about that, Rarity?” Sweetie Belle asked. “We just need you to give some tips to Coral Shine. You don’t have to hold the work at the boutique, mainly when your fashion show is tomorrow night.”
“You should already know, Sweetie, that I either do big or don’t do anything at all” Rarity said. “Don’t worry about the fashion show. I can get everything ready in no time.”
With the help from her helpers, Rarity was able to find the perfect dress for Coral Shine to try on, being one that looked like a chandelier. After she was ready, Coral Shine appeared with the dress, however with a little uncomfortable look. The Cutie Mark Crusaders gave her an incentive look. She started to model, however her movements looked a little stiff, as if she was worried about causing damage to the dress.
“Don’t worry about the dress, darling” Rarity said to her. “Remember, you’re the one wearing it, not the other way around. Just think of it as a part of you. Now, again.”
Coral Shine modeled again and, despite the quite improvement to her performance, she still wasn’t being natural. It looked like she was more concern about the technique.
“Stop thinking” Rarity told her. “Have fun! You can only show the beauty of a dress if you’re wearing it as if you’re enjoying it.”
That advice caused Coral Shine to make a smile and then she restart her performance. This time, her modeling was perfect. Her walking, her posture, her elegance, the smile that irradiated joy…
“Now that’s modeling!” Rarity exclaimed, while the Cutie Mark Crusaders and the staff of the store applauded Coral Shine. “You have a great future in front of you, darling.”
Little did they all know that the shadow creature that had taken Coco Pommel’s form was observing everything discreetly from the outside. An evil smile appeared on her face.
Back at the fashion school, Sweetie Belle reunited with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, where the latter said:
“We look everywhere for Coco, but we couldn’t find her.”
One of the security guards of the school approached Coral Shine and said to her:
“Coral Shine, Miss Pommel is looking for you. She has chosen you as a model for her next collection. She’ll be waiting for you at the terrace of the Crystaller Building”
“For real?!” Coral Shine asked, surprised, but glad. “That’s amazing!”
Noticing what was happening, the Crusaders approached with Apple Bloom saying:
“We’re comin’ with ya.”
But the security guard blocked their way and said:
“Sorry, it’s by invitation only.”
The security guard started to take Coral Shine, while she said to the Crusaders:
“Thank you so much for your help. Wish me luck.”
“Should we take him out?” Scootaloo asked, preparing herself to summon her dreaming cloak.
“We can’t, Scootaloo” Apple Bloom replied. “We would reveal our mission to everypony. Besides, we don’t know if he is a shadow creature.”
“Then let’s follow them” Sweetie Belle said.
The Crusaders followed them through the ceilings with the help of their dreaming cloaks. Arriving to the terrace of the Crystaller Building, they could see the security guard and Coco Pommel’s double around an unconscious Coral Shine.
“Leave her alone!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, as she and the others descended and landed at the terrace, as the villains were pouring Coral Shine with pixie dust, while the portal to Neverland opened.
Noticing the Crusaders’ presence, the portal closed.
“We’re not goin’ to let y’all take her like ya did tah tha real Coco” Apple Bloom said.
“You can’t stop us” Coco Pommel’s double said.
“We say otherwise” Scootaloo said, while making lightning passing through her cloak.
“We’ll get her and everypony else we want because we’re everywhere” Coco’s double replied back, stepping towards the Crusaders.
Noticing they were preparing to attack, Apple Bloom said:
“Get ready, gals.”
It was then that Coco Pommel’s double and the security guard turned into their real forms, adopting their corporeal form. They advanced to attack the Crusaders.
“I got this” Scootaloo said, launching her gail nature that hit the shadow creature that took Coco’s form, hitting her, but only making her retreat.
“We have to slow them down” Sweetie Belle said, while joining Scootaloo on her attacks to the shadow creatures with sonic blasts.
Apple Bloom summoned plants from the floor that started to involve the two shadow creatures, but they were able to slip through them. After that, the two shadow creatures combined, creating one only shadow creature that was bigger and more terrifying.
“Our magic is not workin’ on them” Apple Bloom said.
It was then that she noticed some spotlights nearby that were turned on.
“Ah’ve got an idea” she said. “Since they’re shadows, let’s see what happens when we hit them with light. Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! It’s up to y’all.”
They nodded and then they used their light nature to bend the light of the light spots towards the shadow creature. Once it was hit by the light, the creature started to groan in pain, while trying to protect itself.
“It’s time to build up our game” Scootaloo said, causing her cloak to also emanate a bright light.
The light was so bright that many ponies down the street started to point to the strange occurrence that was happening. The shadow creature contorted for a few moments under all that light, but, eventually, it was dispelled into nothing. After that happened and the lights disappeared, the Crusaders made their cloaks disappear and advanced towards Coral Shine.
“Coral Shine” Sweetie Belle called. “Wake up.”
She started to open her eyes and then asked:
“What happened? Where am I”
“There was going to be a photo-shoot” Sweetie Belle lied, in order to keep their plan covered.
“Did it get cancelled?” Coral Shine asked.
That caused the Crusaders to share a smile.
“You don’t need to worry about” Sweetie Belle said. “I think I have an opportunity for you.”
At the next night, they all were at Rarity For You where everything was ready for Rarity’s own fashion show. Many ponies of the elite were there, like Fancy Pants and Prim Hemline. The show started, with models modeling Rarity’s new creations that let everypony astounded. But the best moment was when the central dress of the collection appeared, being modeled by Coral Shine. When the guests saw her walking with grace and elegance while showing her beautiful smile that transmitted joy, their amazement was increased many times.
Seeing at the backstage the success her fashion show was having, Rarity turned to her sister and her friends and told them:
“I have to thank you, girls. You just gave my fashion show the touch it needed to be a complete success.”
“You don’t have to thank us, sis” Sweetie Belle said. “We just did our job: find and save a talent and then made her dream come, all while helping the best sister ever.”
Touched by Sweetie Belle’s words, Rarity got tears on her eyes and then hugged her, saying:
“I think that title has already been taken.”
And so they continued to watch the fashion show and the accomplishment of Coral Shine’s dream.