//------------------------------// // Picture Perfect Interview // Story: Playcolt: Behind the Scenes // by Majin Syeekoh //------------------------------// Rarity ushered the girls into her boutique, snickering with glee at the fashion miracle she pulled off. "So what's this about?" Rainbow Dash asked. "And what's behind that curtain?" Twilight queried. "Ooh, ooh, maybe there's a pony from another land who discovered our magic world of glorious color and built a machine to project his image to scare off two evil witches-" "I assure you, Pinkie," Rarity interjected, "nothing of the sort is behind the curtain," Rarity then sighed, "what is behind the curtain however, is what I like to call, 'Gala 2.0!'" she said as she drew the curtain away. "They're like our gala dresses, " Fluttershy noticed. "...except less." Applejack said. "Well, then, what are we waiting for? Let's put them on and get this show on the road!" ---- "Yeah, that's it! Work that tree!" Syko was in his element. He was commanding Applejack to model. She then started bucking the tree. Syko started snapping, "Yeah, filly, buck that tree!" He ordered Applejack, "Buck it! Buck it hard! Buck it RAW!" He then noticed that Applejack was standing there, looking miffed. "Seriously?" She asked. Syko grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, got carried away. Let's try your angry face." ---- Fluttershy was pacing around her cottage while Syko stared at her. "Come on, I don't have time for this!" Syko said, annoyed. "Hold on, let me find my good side," she said. She then found a corner and curled up in it. "Now what's this!?" "My good side" Syko shrugged his shoulders and began snapping. ---- "NO! They are NOT allowed in the picture!" "But Syko, Pound and Pumpkin Cake are so cute!" "Pinkie, not only does Playcolt have a no children policy, we would be violating SO MANY child labor laws! Put them away!" "Awwww..." ---- "So how's this!" "Nice pose, Rainbow, just keep it up..." Syko was taking pictures of Rainbow Dash flying in circles. "Keep it...up..." Rainbow Dash then slammed head-first into a tree. "Rainbow!" "I'm alright," and she took off, although her flying was decidedly more lopsided. ---- Rarity was in heaven. Here was a handsome stallion, taking pictures of her whizzing her implements around herself, striking various poses, basking in the glory of the flash. ---- "Now get on top of the bookcase, Twilight." "You sure, Syko?" she asked as she flew to the top and sat down. "Trust me. This shot screams philosopher princess!" "Ok," Twilight said. Syko took a few photos, when Spike came out. "Hey Twi, how you-" and belched fire as a flash blinded him and sent a few volumes of Encyclopedia Equestria straight to Celestia. Twilight then proceeded to topple off of the bookcase. "Sorry," Spike said while blushing. ---- "Alright," Syko said to the six mares collected around the table, "time for the interview," and Syko pulled a small device the size of a deck of cards and began channeling his magic into it. "What's that fer?" Applejack questioned. "This is a recording device so that I catch everything," Syko took a breath to collect himself, then asked, "When did you first become friends?" "I'll answer this," Twilight said, "It was the night of the Summer Sun celebration when Nightmare Moon returned. I was in from Canterlot checking on the preparations, and I was in no mood to make friends-" "Yeah, Twilight was a real fuddy-duddy!" Pinkie interjected. "-well, yeah. But then Nightmare Moon returned, and I set off to face her. But these five mares you see here followed me all the way to the castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, where I realized while facing down Nightmare Moon that these mares were my friends and proved it by fighting through thick and thin to back me up. That provided the spark that activated the Elements of Harmony and allowed us to vanquish Nightmare Moon!" "Interesting..." Syko mused. ---- "...and then I decided to mess with him, so when he called me weak and helpless I was like 'yes, Mr Discord I am weak and helpless!" Fluttershy regaled, "and then when he asked if it bothered me that my friends would point that out, I was like, 'Oh, no, Mr Discord, I appreciate that they would do that, they're only trying to help me out to be a better pony' and then he up and brainwashes me!" "At least it's not as bad as Tom was," Applejack joked. "I thought we agreed never to speak of that again," Rarity cut in. "Tom?" Syko asked. "A rock Rarity believed was a giant diamond," Twilight explained, "I helped her lug it around." Rarity shot daggers with her eyes at Twilight. "So we're getting off track..." Syko said. "Oh yeah!" Rainbow Dash interjected, "Fluttershy stared down a dragon!" "A dragon?" "Yeah, she just got all up in his face and told him off! She even got him to apologize to me!" "And Fluttershy out-stared a cockatrice!" Twilight said. "Fascinating..." Syko mused. ---- "And then we felt really bad about not believing Twilight that Cadence was really a bug-pony-monster that fed off of love and she stashed the real Cadence in the Canterlot Caves!" Pinkie blurted out. Twilight nodded at that. "But who woulda guessed such an outlandish situation could ever happen?" Applejack explained. "I forgive you girls," Twilight said, "You girls just didn't know Cadence as well as I do." ---- "And then our Cutie Marks were on the right ponies, Twilight finished the spell, and our Elements just zapped her!" Rarity explained, "and when she came back, she was the Alicorn Princess you see before you!" "About that," Syko said, "how is it with the wings, Twilight?" "Well, I don't really use them that much, so I don't really notice them," Twilight explained, "but my magic's gotten a really big boost." "Fascinating..." ---- "And then a certain mare whose name I need not mention stole my textiles!" Rarity exclaimed, "but the five ponies you see here worked through the night to help kickstart my 'Hotel Chic' line, which was received very well by Prim Hemline!" "So that's where it came from..." "Yeah, and then she almost didn't get the award because 'that mare' lied and said she lost! But her assistant made it all better by delivering the trophy!" Pinkie added. ---- "Alright, time for personal questions," Syko announced, "Do any of you have special someponies?" "No," they all answered in unison. "So I'm assuming you're all maidens, then," They all death-glared at Syko. "Come on, it's Playcolt, what did you expect? So come on, are you all maidens or not?" "Yes we are," all except Applejack and Rainbow Dash replied. All four girls stared at Applejack. "Well, um, ya see, ah was kinda foolin' 'round with Braeburn when we was foals, an' it jus' happened," Applejack looked around at the glares of shock directed at her, "Oh, come on, we was foals! We didn't know what we was doin' was wrong!" "Ooooh!" Pinkie exclaimed, "can we be kissing cousins, too?" she said as she puckered her lips towards Applejack, who smacked her face away. "'nuff 'bout me, why aren't ya gettin' on Dashie's case!?" Applejack shouted. "Now that you mention it, when did you lose your maidenhead, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity implored. Rainbow Dash was beet red. "Does it count if it was with a griffon?" ---- The six mares went with Syko to see him off. He hugged each of them in turn. "Thanks, girls. With these pictures and this interview, I'm sure to kill it at Playcolt!" He then waved as he got on the train to Canterlot. "Bye, Syko!" The girls said while waving. Rarity sighed, "Well, everyone will know in six months. Better enjoy your relative obscurity until then." Fluttershy shuddered. "Well, I'm used to the limelight by now," Twilight said, "I'm sure it won't be any different than what I've been exposed to," "Well, mah business is about ta spike right up!" Applejack exclaimed, "cider and zap apple jam sales are gonna go through tha roof!" "One step closer to glory!" Rainbow Dash chimed in. "Ooooh, I'm gonna make so many new friends, it's gonna be so exciting!" Pinkie shouted. "Well, whatever happens we'll still remain friends, right?" Fluttershy cut in. "Right!" they all shouted.