Chapter 1: Contest Announcement
It has been a while since Ponyville has gone through a few events like the Sisterhood Social, in which Big Mac cross-dressed like a filly to participate with Apple Bloom, the mysterious illness that got cured by Zecora and Spike, and when the Equestrian Eliminator destroyed any evidences of his existence.
And despite that, life goes in Equestria as the Council of Friendship is having another one of their usual meetings.
"Okay, first off, good work, AJ and Rarity, for helping out with Coco Pommel and her friendship problem last weeks." Twilight said to the two mares who went to Manehattan to assist with a friendship problem involving Coco Pommel and a stage performance.
"Shoot, just doing our work." Applejack remarks with a chuckle. "Ah done am amazed 'ta hear how Big Mac took over fer me."
"But dressed as a filly? Is he that desperate?" Rarity ask, arching an eyebrow in disbelief by that.
"Well, he does felt left out an' all."
"Also, a big thank to Spike for help and Zecora helping Ponyville out in a crisis." Twilight said, giving out a big grin to Spike who sat and blushes a bit.
"Awww, stop it...actually go ahead. Make me blush!" Spike chuckles a bit while waving a claw.
"Yeah, I'm glad, I hate being sick in bed all day." Rainbow remarks with a grunt.
"Knowing you, you're used to that." Rarity giggles. This causes Rainbow to give her an annoyed glare at her.
"All right, the Friendship Ship should be a few weeks in the other world." Twilight said, giving out a big announcement while glancing to the library where the mirror to the EQG world is at. "I still can't figure out. A future me came in and told me about it as the Friendship Games didn't happen yet."
"Did you figure out why?" Fluttershy ask Twilight quietly.
"Still trying to figure that out and..." A knock came at the door, interrupting Twilight. "Now could that be? Fred, Barney?"
The two guards answer the door. Derpy, outside, gave the mail to the guards as well as an announcement, saying, "Duh! Mail call."
"Mail call!" Fred calls out as he and Barney closes the door and came over to the princess, handing her the mail.
"Thank you." Twilight said as she takes the mail. As the guards left, the Princess of Friendship check through them carefully. "Let's see...letters from Shining and Cadance...from mom and dad...some pro...Spike!"
"On it!" Spike exclaims with a nod. As Twilight threw the proposal letters up, the Dragon burn them to a crisp quickly. "Geez, don't those ponies now you're taken?"
"Don't I know it; And...hello? What's this? "Miss Gala"?"
The Council of Friendship gathers around the princess. Rarity reads, "'To all mares of Equestria. A big contest is happening in Ponyville. Mares can now prove themselves wonderful and beautiful as they compete to be Miss Gala'....Ooh! A Miss Gala contest!"
"What is that? A beauty contest?" Twilight ask Rarity, arching an eyebrow.
"Indeed! They have those all over Equestria over the years. Beautiful mares would compete to look beautiful, answer questions, pose for the judges, look beautiful, show off their talents, look beautiful..."
"Yew said 'look beautiful' three times." Applejack remarks to Rarity with a smirk.
"Only because it's true." Rarity said as she bat her eyelashes. "Ooooh, I always wanted to compete and now, it's coming here to Ponyville."
"Shoot, ain't nothing but a popularity contest. Ah ain’t doing anything ‘dat ridiculous."
"Popularity contest? Hay yeah! I'm in it." Rainbow remarks, stretching out her muscles.
"Yew wanna compete?" Applejack ask in disbelief. She couldn't believe that her friendly rival would want to compete in something so frou-frou like.
"Yeah! Popularity is something awesome! Shame you ain't coming. I would've beaten you instantly."
"Oh?! Is 'dat a challenge?!"
"A fact, Miss Iron Pony." Rainbow chuckles as she uses her tail to swat at Applejack's face, much to her annoyance. "Wait, I did won that, did I?"
"By cheatin'! All right, maybe Ah could enter 'ta show ya Ah don't need beauty 'ta beat ya!" Applejack remarks with a scoff. If the farm pony has to go frou-frou just to show Rainbow up, then so be it!
"Now, now, no need to fight like barbarians, you two." Rarity said to the two, getting between them. Then she smirks, adding, "Of course, I am entering. I would beat you all."
"Hey! I wanna compete!" Pinkie exclaims as she bounces up and again. "Talent contest? Sounds like baking to me or something!"
"Uh...well...I was a model for one time..." Fluttershy said meekly. "And while I don't want to pose in front of them like a model...I could give it a bit of a chance..."
"Girls, let's not fight. Tell you what. Let's all compete." Twilight said to her friends, getting into the conversation before a fight would break out. "It could be fun!"
"Yeah, fun, fun, fun, fun!" Pinkie squeals as she bounces up and down. After noticing her friends' look, the pink pony landed quickly. "Ooooh, too much like the Pinkie clone incident?"
"Yes, very too much."
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"Greetings, every mare of Equestria!" Mayor Mare announces as the mares gather at the Ponyville stadium 2 days later. "It's my proud honor to announce these year's Miss Gala contest. Every mare from Equestria are gathered here to see which one is the best and beautiful."
The mares cheer on wildly. The stallions in the stands did so as well. Ben was sitting with Nyx and the Dragons watching onward.
"Wow, almost every mare is here." Nyx said, amazed to see a bunch of mares in one place.
"I love a good contest, especially the babes involved! Hooooowl!" Phobos exclaims, howling like a wolf.
"Phobos!"
"What?"
"Of course, only a few will advance to the preliminary rounds, 12 will make it to the pre-finals...with six making it to the finals." Mayor Mare said with a smile as she motions to the judges' table. "Our judges this year are talented ponies. First off, we got our ruler Princess Celestia."
"Greetings." Celestia said as she waves to the ponies who cheer for her. "I expect a nice clean contest."
"And of course, the Mag'ne herself Megan Williams Richards."
"Hi, ponies." Megan said, giggling as she sat down at the table. "Great to be judging this contest. I hope you ponies remember, this is all for fun."
"And of course, from the Mystic Realm, we are honored to have here, the Lord of Ma, Azure Phoenix!" The Mayor exclaims, motioning to the Lord of Ma Azure Phoenix.
"Remember, beauty is only within...so no fighting or cheating, understood?" Azure demands to the ponies who went a bit silent.
"Wow." Pinkie said to her friends quietly. "He knows how to quiet a room."
"He just want fairness, Pinkie." Fluttershy said to Pinkie with a nod, knowing Azure wishes to make things fair.
"Remember, girls, no matter what happens, we're still friends and we're doing this for fun." Twilight said to her friends who smile at her in agreement. As long as they be fair and have fun, this contest won't divide them.
"I'm gonna win." Rainbow whispers arrogantly to Applejack.
"Not if I win first." Rarity whispers quickly.
"Why are we still whispering?" Pinkie ask confused, making Twilight sigh a bit.
"We will begin in two hours so no pony go anywhere until then!" The Mayor exclaims with a smile, making everyone cheer.
Hopefully this contest will go off without any trouble...or will it?
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Meanwhile as the events for the Miss Gala are about to take off, the scene changes to a dark dreary forest spot within the Hayseed Swamp. Right now, there is nothing, but there are some black insect type creatures that were....pony size. And three of them were Fred, Ed & Seto as they approach the one sitting on a rooted tree that was like a throne to be none other than...Queen Chrysalis, the Changeling Queen.
"My queen, we bring news from having blended in as a part of the crowd of what it going on." Seto reported this out in what was currently happening at this time.
"Yeah, them ponies are gonna have a Miss Gala competition." Fred spoke off in stating what was the main theme that the ponies are doing.
"And the mare that wins is gonna be Miss Gala for the whole thing!" Ed finished off the last part in what will happen when a mare is crown Miss Gala.
"Ah, Miss Gala, I remember how that was...the joy on everyone's faces, the happiness that surrounded it, the love they all shared? How delicious it was to feast!" Queen Chrysalis recalls the day when she once was apart of the Miss Gala competition, but of course, she pretended to be someone else & steal all of the love in that area.
"There is more, the Mane Six seem to be competing for the title." Seto stated off in knowing about who else was partaking, their old foes.
"Really....hmm..." Queen Chrysalis rubbed her chin in being intrigue by this news. Perhaps, we can use the competition to cause a rift of good sportsmanship & ruin their friendship for the sole purpose of their can be only ONE Miss Gala!" She exclaimed in having thought up an idea that can be useful to cause a riot between the Mane Six.
"We can?" Fred replied off in having heard this.
"But how?" Ed asked off in not knowing how to do that.
"We do what we do best...we imitate & impersonate & make them figh for all that glorious love. Which will become our feast to enjoy." Queen Chrysalis exclaimed to say this as the easy answer, they will change into the Mane Six & cause a disturbance amongst themselves.
"Very well my queen, it shall be done." Seto smiled off in liking this sinister idea.
"I'm counting on it." Queen Chrysalis smiled off wickedly in hoping to do such a plot.
The other Changelings made hiss sounds in all sounding excited as they will enjoy the moment to cause trouble to the ponies & feast on all of the love they will bring to the Miss Gala competition.