“Ms. Finish?” A stallion in a dark suit and wearing shades trotted up towards a mare who was decked-out in vibrant pastels and contrasting dress patterns. “If you want my advice, you should keep your appearance short tonight. After all, we never figured out who was responsible for the break-in at your apartment last week. There could be somepony here who secretly wishes you harm...”
“Ach! Was für ein idiot!” With a flounce of white bangs, the mare in question spun about from where she stood inside the elevator. Her purple shades reflected the stallion's concerned face. “Vat do you sink I, Photo Finish, payen sie gaudily dressed shtallions for?”
“Uhm...” The stallion fidgeted. “Bodyguarding and protection?”
“Your job is to keep mich am leben! Ja! But not if it chokes I, Photo Finish, of fine art und ze social magiks!” She flung a dramatic hoof over her forehead, pretending to faint. Two of the stallions almost dashed towards her. “Ohhhhh! Mein gott! If only ze Paint Bucket Flat could rid me of zis accursed shpell!”
“What spell do you speak of, Ms. Finish?” one of the bodyguards inquired. “You haven't exactly been of the best health as of late.”
“Photo Finish knows zat! For ze is starvink for ze magiks! Ze art magiks, and they are too... too terribly lackink in ze dessert of meine life!” Her teeth grit as she shook her blue hooves in front of her. “Grrrrrnnngh... How many verdammte feiern must I, Photo Finish, attend before I find zie ponies who can understand vat she iz goink srough?” A sniffling sound. “Meine latest meisterwerk vaits for ze perfek moment to be unfeiled before ze pony eyes of Equestria!” She sighed. “But Photo Finish fearz zat nopony vill be beautiful enough to undershtand her hard vork...”
The elevator rocked to a stop. The stallions nodded to one another.
“We're here.” One turned towards the mare. “Ms. Finish, we'll keep a close eye on you, but—as you wish—we'll keep our distance.”
Another spoke up. “But the moment you feel ill or threatened, you let us know, and we'll get you out of here imm—”
“Verschwinde!” She spun towards them, snarling. “You are ill! And Photo Finish vill sreatened you vis a hundert portraits all cofered in kot if you don't given sie breath to find ze magiks! Bah! Now go!” The elevator doors opened, and she rubbed her forehead before limply trotting out into a thin hallway full of mingling poinies. “Nnnngh... Celeshtia sparen sie meine heart. If I do not find true inshpiration soon, Photo Finish will hafe no choice but to jump off a bridge...”
As she trotted with her guards towards the dazzling entrance to the Paint Bucket Flat, she was engulfed in a flood of reporters, photographers, and chatty socialites. With the stallions' help, she gradually wormed her way into the studio apartment full of noise, voices, and flashing lights.
Around that same time, another elevator door opened. A lone mare trotted out, a glittering spectacle of black, silver, and hidden color.
“Gaaaah!” Rainbow instantly tripped, fumbling so hard she nearly plowed into a wall. “Nnnnrghh! Dang it!” She stared down at her forelimbs and fiddled until the articles rested neatly against her hooves. “Somepony explain to me why anyone with fetlocks would feel the need to make themselves and others wear heels.”
After a deep breath, she stared down the hallway, her eyes twitching at the busy scene.
“Buck me, that's a crowded place.” She winced from ear to ear, hearing the rattle of her hairband. She reached a hoof up, but stopped herself. “No... Rarity told me not to fuss with it.” She sighed heavily. “Just... g-gotta have faith. I don't look like a zoo...” She trotted limply forward. “Even though I'm marching right into one...”
Almost instantly, ponies turned and gawked at the approaching stranger. For a brief span of time, the hallway fell into deep, stunned silence. Even the camera stopped flashing as photographers struggled to catch up with their befuddled synapses.
Gulping, Rainbow fumbled with the strap of her purse and gave a dainty wave. “Eheheheheh...” She whimpered under her breath. “Here's hoping Photo Finish is the first pony I bump into, or else I'm going to be eating all this silver...”
As Rainbow Dash threaded her way into the apartment, she was overcome by a flood of laser lights and strobes. She tilted her head up, marveling at a series of tiered platforms with thick glass floors. She could see through many of the indoor terraces, spotting levels where ponies mingled to chat with glasses of champagne. Meanwhile—on every floor of the spacious studio—various sculptures and paintings and statues stood on display. There was even “living art,” with mares lying limply in monochromatic outfits that merged with the impressionistic art swirls of the gallerias they were drowning in.
“This place is insane,” Rainbow whispered to herself. She squinted up at the distant ceiling, illuminated by broad windows looking out onto the glittery spectacle of Manehattan's skyline. “Are those... trapeze artists?”
She bumped into somepony.
“Gah!” She glanced over to see a half-naked unicorn covered in brown and green body paint with styrofoam “branches” sticking out of her. “Sorry! S-so sorry! I didn't mean to bump into you, lady! Please don't be mad!”
“I can't be mad,” the mare droned, eyes thin. “I'm a tree.”
Rainbow opened her mouth, blinked, and then slowly backed away. She spun about, trotting nervously through the thickening crowd of affluent socialites and celebrities.
Meanwhile, up on a center stage that hung amidst the tiered platforms and stairs, Vinyl Scratch sat, spinning discs with the greatest of ease. She spot a familiar figure through the corner of her glinting shades, and she smiled to herself. She whipped out another desk and slapped it onto the turntable. As the current track faded, she took over the mic and calmly spoke over the volume of the entire party: “This next one goes out to a very special friend of mine. She may think she's alone in a strange and wild place, but the truth is? I've got her back. Now... by popular demand, here's 'Out of Canter' by She Whinnies Revenge.”
A deep bass beat thrump'd through the place. A few ponies clapped and cheered, but all too swiftly returned to their conversations.
Rainbow Dash blinked, turning to glance up at the table. After a brief smirk, she took a deep breath and began climbing a flight of glass stairs. “Now...” She glanced all around. “If I was Photo Finish, where would I be hiding?” She looked straight up. A glass platform loomed overhead. She saw ponies standing straight above, including mares, mares in dresses, mares with flaring skirts—“Duaaaaaah—” Rainbow looked ahead, blushing furiously. Her wings twitched tightly at her side. “Shoulda brought some friggin' ice in this purse...”