ACT THREE
The rest of the friends had been in Canterlot for two days. When they had received word that Rarity would be a judge in the Fashion Show, they wanted to be there for her, but also to give Applejack support for the contest too.
When they all heard of how the judges had kicked her out without giving her much thought, they were all shocked, and appalled, especially with Rarity.
They all decided to a restaurant for dinner, without Rarity.
“She just kicked you out without giving you much of a chance?” asked Twilight.
“Eeyup.” Applejack sighed as she sulked miserably
“They won’t let you in the show just because you don’t have a degree in sewing?” asked Rainbow.
“…Nope.”
“Oh, Applejack.” said Fluttershy. “I’m so sorry.”
Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were both furious.
“It’s bad enough they kick most ponies out without even trying.” sneered Pinkie. “But they just make fun of them and send them off too. That’s… it’s just so…!”
She was so frustrated she gulped down her entire milkshake in one gulp, giving herself brain-freeze, and she slumped onto the table.
“Ooooh, I’d like to go over there and give those judges and little judgment of my own!” grumbled Rainbow, thinking violent thoughts, or at least a prank or two.”
Twilight, as upset as she was, refused to allow such acts. “Rainbow, we can’t do that to them. It’ll only make things worse.”
Applejack shook her head in total disbelief. “It’s not just that the judges chewed me out, but Rarity went along with them.”
Spike was, by far, the most shocked and appalled. “I can’t believe it, not Rarity. Back at home, she always was willing to give other ponies a chance to compete in shows.”
There was no denying it, all the friends agreed, Rarity was having one of her flawed episodes again-- only thinking about herself instead of her friendship.
Applejack still didn’t feel like eating right away.
“I just want to take a little walk. You know, clear my head.”
“Okay, Applejack, but we’re here for you if you need us.” said Twilight, and the others all agreed.
Applejack left the restaurant and walked out into the night.
No sooner had she turned the corner did she run into Rarity, whom had practically been waiting for her.
“Applejack… may I please speak with you?” she asked rather nervously, but as she expected, Applejack snuffed and walked past her.
Rarity bit her limb in guilty frustration, and then trotted up to catch up with her.
“Applejack, I realize you were just a touch too harshly.”
Still walking, and not stopping to look at her, Applejack gruffly said. “…I wasn’t even given a fair chance, and you know it. I’d say that’s a little more than “a touch.”
Rarity tried to keep herself calm and not turn this into a dramatic beg. “Applejack, the judges were merely doing what they felt was right. They were using common sense, feeling that certain ponies are just… well… you know… different from the rest.”
Applejack didn’t buy any of it in the least, and she finally stopped and glared angrily at her, sending shivers up Rarity’s spine.
“Common Sense…?
Common Sense…?!!
…That was a load of outright bigotry, and you know it too.”
Rarity looked more shameful and guiltier than ever. Tears were starting to fill in her eyes. “Applejack, please… I’m truly sorry.”
Too angry to forgive and forget so quickly, Applejack could only say “Rejected.” and she went off on her own leaving Rarity in tearful disgrace.
She collapsed on the ground sobbing ever so softly. “What have I done?!”
Much later, she was back at her store, having locked it up earlier.
She was now lying flat on her fainting couch, loads of crumpled up, used tissues around her, and chowing on ice cream in her usual way while softly sobbing.
Sassy decided to stay, even though she knew what Rarity had done and was most appalled, she at least found heart enough to stay to stay and try to comfort and reason with her.
“Oh, Sassy… I’ve made a terrible mistake.” Rarity sobbed, and then she gobbled down another spoonful of ice cream.
Sassy sighed.
“Rarity, I must say, I am very surprised at you. You know as well as I do that every-pony deserves a fair chance at anything.”
Rarity quivered as the guilt shot through her. She knew this very well, and yet she crossed the line very badly.
“Applejack’s dresses were rather ravishing, and the world deserves to see them.”
Sassy nodded. “As for those other judges; I haven’t a clue of how they ascertained their positions or their senses, but it seems to me they care more about amusing themselves at the expense of others rather than being fair.
…Claiming it is “common-sense” when clearly it isn’t.”
Rarity was still uncertain of what to do about it. A large part of her wanted to just quit the show and upright tell those judges off for their horrid ways, but she was afraid to do so, fearing what those judges would do.
They would probably write bad reports about her, and try to make her seem unfit as fashionista, and that would ruin her chances at good publicity and all those other fantasies she had.
Then there was the show itself. If she dropped out, and with no time to get a fourth judge, it would fold, and then she’d have even more fashion designers mad at her. They would probably even vandalize her store, or throw apples at her face whenever she was in public.
“Oh… What am I going to do-hoo-hoo-hoo?!” she wailed.
“You can start by doing the right thing.” said Twilight.
Rarity looked up and saw her and the other friends, without Applejack, standing in the store entrance.
While Rarity had been beating herself down, they knocked at the store door, and Sassy let them in, feeling they could help as well.
All of them, even Spike gave her the same look of disdain and disappointment, but they didn’t bother lecture her on Sassy’s advice.
Rarity wiped her eyes and blew her nostrils. “Where is Applejack?” she asked.
“She’s at the hotel.” replied Fluttershy. “I’ve never seen her so upset.”
“She’s not the only one.” said Rainbow. “I overheard a ton of other ponies who were rejected from the show too. They’re pretty steamed and crushed.”
Rarity pounded her hoofs on the couch and bolted upright. “No!!” she snapped. “No more of this! It’s time for me to fix the great fashion disaster!”
The others all winced at her sudden outburst. “What do you have in mind?” asked Pinkie.
“Spike!” snapped Rarity “Get me a big pile of paper, ink, and quills.”
“Um… okay…” Spike said, and he scuttled off.
“Rarity, what are you planning?” asked Twilight.
“…You’ll see, but I need you to do something for me as well, Twilight.” and she whispered into Twilight’s ear.
That night, while Applejack slept in her hotel sweet, all she could dream about were those mean and horrible judges insulting her even more.
“The only thing fashionable about you is that hat of yours.” spat Cowl. “You are so retarded; you make real retards look intelligent.”
“No degree… No way, you talentless hack!” sneered Wind Breaker.
“Get out of fashion and never return, you worthless wannabe.” taunted Glitter.
Rarity just glared at her, shaking her head, and rather than just tell her, she just tossed her slip, after slip, after slip, which all red “REJECTED!”
All those awful things kept coming at her…
…Until she snapped awake.
She groaned miserably. “Dag-nabbit! Who do those ponies think they are, especially Rarity?”
She fell back asleep again, and was unable to see someone sneaking into her room, like magic, and made their way towards the kiosk with all her dresses inside.