//------------------------------// // Chapter Three - The Runway // Story: Fleur On The Runway // by rosebug //------------------------------// Hoity Toity's clothes under the glare of those runway lights are unforgiving. The mare in the mirror reminded me. You had better hope that you are as perfect on the runway as you think you look in here. There was a flutter of activity as the seamstresses tried to make sure that the dress was runway ready. Tonight was the night that I would show that Fleur de Lis is still a name to be reckoned with in the fashion industry. If this went well, Hoity Toity would have to hire me as the face of his new line. “Fleur, that gown looks stunning on you,” Hoity Toity said. “Absolutely stunning!” I gazed into the mirror as well, a rush of pride flowed through me as I looked at myself in this gown. For a moment, the pride suppressed the voice of the mare in the mirror, but only for a moment. Yes, it is the most beautiful gown you have ever worn, but it is also the most important show you will ever walk. Don't ruin it. As soon as this show is over, I will never have to worry about another model taking my spotlight ever again. “Now, I expect you to stay absolutely in sync with me at all times. If you miss a cue I will make sure you regret it,” Hoity Toity reminded me as he circled the pedestal several times. Every once in a while he stopped to fix how the dress was hanging or a hem, but even though he wasn't looking at me, his words still had the same impact. “Of course,” I replied. “You don't have to worry about me.” “Glad to hear it.” He stopped and looked at me through the mirror, a small smile finding his way through his usually stoic face. “Now, what do you think of the dress?” “I love it,” I whispered. “Duh,” Hoity Toity replied smugly. “This dress is the culmination of my entire line. I want buyers will be chomping at the bit for it, so make it look good.” Right. It's all about the dress. Of course it is, why should anypony pay attention to you? The dress is on display, not you. You are just a glorified clothes hanger. Perhaps if you'd worked harder to better yourself, you would command more attention. He spent several more minutes with me to make sure that the dress was perfect before he disappeared back into the crowd of ponies buzzing around the tent to get ready for the show. I was left completely alone in my dressing area. I smiled at my reflection and she smiled back, and for a moment despite the pain I felt, I looked beautiful. “Wow, that's a really pretty dress.” In the corner of the mirror, I could see Fluttershy standing in the corner of my area already dressed in her first change of clothes. “Thanks, you look really nice in that outfit too!” “Thanks,” she squeaked out. Behind her I could see the crowds of ponies running around trying to get everything ready before the show started. Sometimes it was easy to forget just how many ponies it took to make sure this day went off without a hitch. How many ponies would I have let down if I didn't fit into this dress? “Are you excited for your first Fashion Week show?” I asked, shaking off the negative thoughts that had started to creep into my head. She looked up at me with a nervous smile and gave me a curt nod. “I suppose.” “You will love it. Once you get out there, you just feel... special and important. I know I do.” “I'm just not comfortable with being the center of attention, even if it is only for a few seconds...” Stage fright, it had plagued me as well when I was younger. That was an easy worry to remedy. I turned around to face her, but I stumbled as I turned, my vision blurred for a few moments as Fluttershy flew over to me and grabbed hold of me to help keep me balanced. For a few pregnant seconds, neither of us said anything as I slowly waited for my vision to return to normal. “Are you okay?” She asked. My headache returned, but I didn't want to tell her that. “Of course I am. I feel wonderful.” Mostly wonderful. “Oh okay.” “It's just this dress. It's beautiful, but very heavy. I must have turned to quickly.” I smiled. She didn't share my faux enthusiasm. “You look a little pale, how's your cold?” “Oh it's fine, hopefully the sniffles will subside until after I get off the runway.” “Well, if you need a good soup recipe, or anything at all really, I'm here.” “Thanks. I appreciate it.” I watched as she walked away from my dressing area. I felt a tad bit guilty about lying to Fluttershy especially since she has been the only pony who even ask about me, but it was necessary. Right? Why do you feel guilty? You haven't doing anything wrong, you are just trying to better yourself. It still felt wrong though. Don't be stupid, you know she won't understand. Nopony would understand. Nopony but me. Why don't you understand that I'm all you have? * * * “This is it, are you ready?” Hoity Toity asked me just as the last model walked back behind the curtain. The music swelled and I took a deep breath to steady myself, my headache had returned in full force from the loud music and harsh lights, but I was ready. This was my time to shine. Hoity Toity and I stepped onto the stage perfectly in sync and I could hear the crowd cheering at the sight of the dress. It was becoming harder to keep a blank expression on my face when really all I wanted to do was smile. How could I not? This was amazing experience and I was finally living my fillyhood dream. We stopped at the end of the runway, the roar of the audience was the only thing I could hear and the flashing of bulbs were the only thing I could see. They loved this dress, they loved Hoity Toity's show and maybe, just maybe they loved me too. We posed for the audience and gave them the chance to see the dress in all it's glory before Hoity Toity and I turned around in sync just like we practiced. It should have been fine. I practiced it hundreds of times yesterday, but this time I could feel the temperature increasing with every step I took. The heat just served to make the headache I had so desperately been trying to get rid of, come back in full force. The room began to sway and with one more step instead of seeing flashing cameras of the photographers along the runway, all I could see were the harsh stage lights swirling above my head as the ground disappeared from beneath me. And then it all went dark.