Rarity tapped her hoof as she stared with anticipation at the stage being built in Ponyville Square. The small rope separating her from the stage may have well been a sheer, see-through wall. She couldn’t help but marvel at how the town was going all out. Construction ponies set up the lights while roadie ponies worked on the sound system. The more posh unicorns hung up a banner which read: “First Annual Miss Ponyville.” Rarity bit her lip with excitement as they set up a table on stage with a small drop box.
She didn’t even notice Applejack trotting up behind her.
“Mornin’, Rarity,” she called.
Rarity’s ears when straight and her eyes went wide. Looking at back at her friend, she played with her curls while smiling, looking at no pony in particular.
“Oh, eh heh. Good morning, Applejack,” she said. “What brings you here today?”
Applejack answered with a nudge of her head toward the apple-cart she pulled.
“An’ I thought I was the early riser,” she laughed. “What brings you round these parts at this time o’ day?”
Rarity pulled her curl so tight it bounced back and bopped her in the face.
“Uh heh heh... well... it's called being fashionably....eh, early, Applejack.”
AJ crooked an eyebrow.
“....... Uh, early for what?”
Before Rarity could fabricate an answer, a local colt removed the rope which separated her from stairs to the stage. Rarity rushed up in her most lady-like manner to drop a slip of paper into the entry box.
“Thanks for your pre-entry,” said a nearby unicorn, fixing up the curtains. “Good luck.”
Rarity beamed as she headed off the stage to a grinning Applejack.
“First in line for a beauty show... color me surprised.”
Rarity threw her head back, looking away from the Earth pony. “Humph. Go ahead and yuk it up, Applejack,” she replied. “If you must know, this isn't just another vanity project.”
AJ responded with a deadpan grimace.
“Right.”
“Not,” Rarity gave a pause, finally meeting her eyes. “Entirely. I'd be remiss if I didn't at least try. If I compete in the first Miss Ponyville Pageant, it'll be a huge boon to my boutique. But,” she added, smiling towards AJ's hat, “I don't need to tell you that.”
“Why not?” asked Applejack.
“This,” crooned Rarity, as she pulled an entry slip from on top of AJ's hat with her magic. “Ha ha! Such a coincidence you being here so early. How very business savvy of you.”
“What the....?” sputtered Applejack, watching smirking Rarity wave the entry slip in her face. “That ain’t mine,” she yelled. “Y’all know I’m just here to open shop.”
“Too late, my dear,” said Rarity, her smile now a full grin. “Say, how about I treat you to breakfast? Say... a fillet of crow.”
“Now, you listen here.” started Applejack. “I-
“Oh, those poor crows,” said a voice from above.
Applejack and Rarity looked up to see Fluttershy, who quickly went from looking wide-eyed and trembling to quickly looking away and rubbing her hooves.
“Fluttershy?” said Rarity. The interruption gave her the chance to read the slip. “You’re entering?”
Gingerly bracing her legs for a soft landing, Fluttershy kept her eyes from meeting her friends'.
“Oh.. um... sort of... not really. Um... you can go back to fighting if you want.”
“We're not fighting. That's just good-natured ribbing, sweetie,” assured Rarity.
“Sure is,” smiled Applejack, nudging the unicorn. “You prissy early bird.”
“Fair enough,” said Rarity, conceding to AJ before returning her attention to Fluttershy. “I thought you didn't like the attention, dear.”
“Well,” cooed Fluttershy, regaining her composure. “Being Miss. Ponyville means you get to pick a big town project. And... well... I'd like to see more ponies help taking care of the woodland creatures. I think that would be wonderful.”
“That's so sweet,” said Rarity. “Well now, don't let us stop you.”
“Oh... okay.” Taking the slip in her mouth, Fluttershy headed to the stage.
Several moments passed....
Fluttershy hadn’t moved...
“What's wrong, sugarcube?” asked Applejack.
“Uh... well..... ”
“Yes?” pried Rarity.
“I just remembered I don't like the attention,” squeaked Fluttershy.
Rarity fought the urge to urge to smack her forehead. Applejack put one leg around the pegasus and gave her a gentle smirk.
“Hey now. No need for nerves,” she said. “Tell you what. How 'bout I enter with ya?”
A quick stern glance from AJ stifled the sudden giggle from Rarity.
“You'd do that for me?” asked Fluttershy, her eyes going wide.
“Sure as shootin'. If ol' Applejack can do it, then it's no sweat for you.”
“Sure,” smiled Fluttershy, feeling coming back to her legs. “No sweat.”
Fluttershy looked and felt much better as she dropped in her slip after Applejack, who quickly scribbled her name on a fresh slip right on stage. Both came back down and Rarity gave Fluttershy a big hug.
“Ohhh, good luck Fluttershy,” she said.
“You too, Rarity.”
Whatever giddiness the two were holding down couldn't be contained. Both Rarity and Fluttershy jumped around giggled like like they already had won, leaving Applejack feeling a little out-of-place before she got a crushing hug from Fluttershy.
“Thank you thank you thank you, Applejack,” she said.
“Ooof! Heh, no problem. Anything for a friend.”
“Pleeeeeese say you'll stop by Sugarcube Corner this afternoon, I owe you for today.”
“You got it. If''in you'll give me my legs back first.”
“Oh... sure.”
That afternoon at Sugarcube Corner, Applejack was into her second “Thank You” milkshake with the rest of the gals, while Fluttershy and Rarity went back and forth, recalling their eventful morning.
“After the drawing, the judges will send a special messenger to deliver the acceptance letters by this evening, how exciting,” tittered Rarity.
“I don't know if I should be excited or nervous, but I feel great,” whispered Fluttershy. “And I have Applejack to thank.”
“Well I for one think it's very commendable of you Applejack,” said Twilight with a smile. “I just wish some ponies could see that.”
At the end of the table, Twilight glared at Rainbow Dash, who hid her face with one hoof and banged the table with the other. Twilight tried to reassure herself that it was a step up from earlier with Rainbow guffawing for five minutes straight, but not by much.
“AJ in a beauty contest... I... I can't breathe,” snickered Rainbow. “This is too great.”
It also didn't help that Pinkie Pie, who was supposed to be serving them, was draped over Rainbow laughing along with her.
“Pinkie,” protested Twilight. “I get Rainbow, but you?
“I'm laughing cause she's laughing,” snorted Pinkie, as she and Dash finally calmed down to more tolerable giggles.
“Forget it, Twi,” said Applejack, giving a tight smile. “'Sides, this work horse ain't interested in that whole song and dance.”
“Too bad,” said Rarity. “Because singing and dancing are part of the contest.”
“And flower arranging, gymnastics, bird calling, kitty snuggling all sorts of things,” daydreamed Fluttershy, laying her chin on her hooves.
“With several types of costume contests, how grand,” added Rarity.
Rather than make a face, Applejack slurped the last of her milkshake.
“Well let me just say good luck to all of you,” said Twilight.
“Okay... okay..” gasped Rainbow. “For real, good luck everypony. Especially you..... ha ha... Applejack. Ahhhh ha ha ha haaaa.”
“Hee hee sorry, Applejack,” said Pinkie Pie between snickers. “Can't help it... hee hee.. but good luck. Ahhh ha ha ha.”
A ring from the bell on the door to Sugarcube diverted the attention from Pinkie and Dash to a fancy mail unicorn holding a small satchel and taking out a silver envelope with his magic.
“Excuse me,” began the messenger.
“Oh my stars and garters it's already here,” gasped Rarity, looking away. “How do I look? Is my mane alright? Oh do I have any chocolate on my face?”
Fluttershy gulped hard. Seeing the messenger shrank her two sizes down into her chair.
“Now hold on an apple buckin' minute,” yelled Applejack, banging the table to grab their attention. “Don't tell me after all that fussin' 'bout this thing, you two are gettin' cold feet?”
“You're... you're right Applejack,” said Rarity smoothing out her mane. “Come on, Fluttershy.”
She took a deep breath, “Right.”
As they approached the messenger they both saw the single letter floating in the air. Rarity suddenly put a hoof in front of Fluttershy to stop her.
“Rarity, what are you-”
“Could you give us a moment, please?” said Rarity in her most polite voice to the messenger.
The posh mail pony shrugged as the envelope continued to float about.
“Fluttershy,” Rarity began. “I want to promise something to you.”
“What? Why?”
“It's only one envelope sweetie, that means only one of us was chosen to compete.”
“Oh... I see.”
“And I just want to let you know that... if you win... I won't be jealous. In fact, I'll do everything I can to help you win. That is my promise.”
“Really?” smiled Fluttershy. “Well then I promise you the same thing. I'll do anything I can to help if they choose you.”
“Then it's settled,” said Rarity. “No jealously.”
“And one hundred percent support,” said Fluttershy.
“Deal.”
“Deal.”
“Deal,” butted in the messenger. “Now do you mind, I was told I'd find a contestant here and I have a schedule to keep...”
“Of course,” said Rarity, batting her eyes. “How rude of me. Yes, the both of us entered the Miss Ponyville Pageant.”
“Well okay then,” said the messenger looking at the envelope. “Let's see here.”
Both eager contestants drew in their breaths and held hooves, giving the other a “Good luck” nod.
“Okay... now... which one of you,” said the messenger, straining his eyes at the envelope. “... is Apple.... Jack?”