The first thing to wash over Photo’s senses was the noise. The chatter of ponies, the repetitive beat of the music, the gentle clink of glasses being set down, the occasional thumping of hooves on wood floor, and the low rumbling bubbles of the hot tub; it was loud, but not offensive, as all of the sounds added to one familiar chorus. The party was already in full swing.
As her eyes adjusted to the warm, artificial glow that filled Spitfire’s well maintained courtyard, Photo was immediately surprised to see how many ponies filled the space. The conversations slowed as ponies checked to see who had stepped through the door. Easily a dozen faces had turned to look at her, and to her surprise she recognized the majority of them.
She had barely had the time to identify more than a few when she was interrupted by an excited holler. Whipping her head around to see what was happening, she immediately recognized the source. Sapphire Shores, her longtime acquaintance and occasional business partner, had apparently abandoned her previous conversation on spotting Photo and was rushing over.
“Photo, sugar, how you been?” Sapphire asked with a quick hug, “I feel like I ain’t seen you in forever.”
Photo accepted the hug with a grin, “It’s only been a month, ve sat together at zhat runway show.”
“Exactly,” Sapphire explained, “it’s been an entire month since we’ve caught up. That’s just far too long.”
“Jou were on tour, ja?” Photo remembered, “Zhat vent vell?”
Sapphire Shores struck a pose and waved the question off, “You know it, sweetheart.”
As it finally struck her, Photo became intrigued, “Actually, I’m surprised to see jou here. Jou know Spitfire?”
“Oh yeah,” Sapphire quickly replied, “I met Spitfire through Rarity a while back. Oh, she’s just a treat. Always throws a good party.”
“Through Rarity, eh?” Photo repeated, interest more piqued than before, but instead she punctuated her sentence with an accepting, “Hmm.”
“Where is Spitfire, anyway?” Sapphire asked rhetorically, “I’m sure she’d want to know you’re here.”
Photo took the moment to scan the room again. The hot tub sat there, unoccupied and gurgling, currently more a centerpiece than anything else. Photo heard the sound of ice being shaken and turned to see a bar table on the edge of the courtyard, Rarity standing next to it waiting for her drink. Otherwise, the room was full of all the assorted ponies Photo had grown used to seeing at the less stuffy Canterlot events. The familiarity of it all was relaxing.
Suddenly, Spitfire came in for a landing at speed, descending from above the courtyard and touching down beside Rarity at the bar. Almost immediately, Rarity looked to be peppering Spitfire with questions about something, but Spitfire was trying to play it cool. Quickly excusing herself from her conversation, Photo moved to join them.
Before Photo could say anything, Spitfire had spotted her and turned to greet, “Hey, you made it. I’m guessing you showed up while I was off at the store?”
“Ja, not like I vould miss zis,” Photo replied.
“Wait, I didn’t inv-” Rarity started in confusion before something occurred to her. She gave Spitfire a knowing glance before turning back to Photo, “I mean, I didn’t know you were coming, Miss Finish. Always good to see you.”
“You need a drink?” Spitfire asked, something in her tone sounding like she wanted to change the subject.
“Jou have peach schnapps, ja?” Photo assumed, “I hate ze name of it, but I’ll take a fuzzy navel.”
The mare behind the bar nodded in acknowledgement as she set down Rarity’s martini.
“Well, I suppose I’ll leave you two be,” Rarity said with a cheeky smile, lifting her drink and walking off.
Spitfire groaned quietly at the implications before putting back on the face of a host, “You want to go sit somewhere? I’d like the chance to talk to you about something other than business.”
“Sure,” Photo replied with a smile, “Zhat vould be nice.”
The reality of the scene around them melted away as the moment hung in the air. Spitfire looked happy, yet tense, and Photo couldn’t help but feel the same. They just stood there, being next to each other, and waited for the drink to be made. Each clearly searching for words, Photo collected her drink and they made their way to a high table overlooking the courtyard.
“So,” Spitfire finally broke the silence, “I gotta say, you’ve always kinda fascinated me.”
Surprised, Photo turned to look at her, “Really?”
“I mean…” Spitfire stumbled for an explanation, “There’s something strong and commanding in your presence, and I kinda see the same in myself, but we’re so… well, different.”
Photo chuckled lightly into her drink, “Probably not so different as jou’d expect.”
Spitfire smiled, “Yeah, maybe not.”
After a pause to take a sip of her drink, Photo looked around the room and decided to just ask, “So how did jou meet all these ponies? I vas a bit surprised I know so many.”
Spitfire looked around and shrugged, “A bunch of them are Rarity’s acquaintances, so I met them through her. I guess since you two are in similar circles, it makes sense.”
“How did jou meet Rarity?” Photo pressed.
Spitfire’s ears flattened in embarrassment, but she faked a chuckle and answered, “Yeah, oof, that was quite a story. Maybe some other time.”
Shocked by the response, Photo quickly backed off, “Of course, no problem, I didn’t mean to pry.”
Rubbing the back of her head, Spitfire tried to move on, “How about my turn for a question?”
“Ja?”
“Why’d you decide to do the Wonderbolts shoot?” Spitfire asked plainly.
Oh, yeah, Photo was supposed to have come up with a reason for that. Damn. Quickly looking for an answer, Photo decided to just stick to something true, “Vell, it’s rather hard to grow up a pegasus foal and not be inspired by ze Vunderbolts.”
Quickly looking around to make sure they weren’t overheard, Spitfire put on a big smile, “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
“My turn, again?” Photo joked.
“What, we making a game of this?” Spitfire quipped back.
“Vhy did jou come to me with ze offer in ze first place?” Photo asked, leaning against the table to look at the mare beside her.
Spitfire looked like she’d been caught stealing cookies, “Well, I mean, I honestly didn’t think you’d agree to it. I kinda just wanted a chance to meet you.”
Photo’s thoughts stalled out with the shock, “Really?”
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Spitfire started into what looked like an admission, “Yeah. There’s just something about you that I-”
A glass of whiskey, held aloft with a blue glow, floated behind Spitfire’s head. Seeing Photo abruptly turn to watch it, Spitfire reeled around to figure out what was going on behind her. As the glass settled down on the table, both of them noticed Rarity a few steps behind it.
“I saw you didn’t have a drink, so I brought you the usual,” Rarity said, taking a sip from what must have been a second martini before walking proudly up beside Spitfire. After a pause, she blanched, “Oh my goodness, I interrupted. I’ll, um… be on my way.”
Wiping her face, Spitfire looked Rarity square in the eye, “Don’t worry about it.”
Rarity looked deeply apologetic, but there was something more. She looked worried.
Spitfire put a hoof on Rarity’s back, causing her breath to catch, and spoke in a reassuring whisper, “I said don’t worry about it.”
Rarity finally exhaled and forced a smile, “Of course.”
As Rarity walked away, Photo struggled to process what she’d just witnessed. She had come to terms with the two being secretly friends or something, but that moment felt… different. As Spitfire let out a deep sigh and took a large swig of her drink, Photo wasn’t really sure where to proceed. She took a drink as well.
Clearly struggling with the scene that just played out, Spitfire changed the subject, “I’ve always liked big private parties like these. It’s good to be surrounded by ponies you know.”
“Ah… Ja,” Photo mumbled, her thoughts still bouncing between what she just witnessed and what Spitfire had been interrupted while saying.
Her first attempt to break the ice had failed, but Spitfire didn’t plan to stop trying, “You mentioned you already know a few of them, right?”
Photo slid her goggles up onto her forehead, looking around the now teal-tinted room more clearly, “Vell, I ran into Sapphire vhen I got here, and she and I go back. Also, I swear I saw Hoity Toity in ze crowd at one point.”
Spitfire sighed in relief, happy to get Photo talking again, “Yeah, I swear those two have never missed one of these.”
“Really? I’ve worked with Hoit before, zis…” Photo gestured in the air, “doesn’t seem like his scene.”
Spitfire’s bemused grin slowly grew, “Did you just call him ‘Hoit?’”
Photo stifled a laugh as she realized Spitfire was right, “Oh. Ja. He doesn’t like to be called zat, but his name has too many syllables.”
“Well I mean, you’re right,” Spitfire agreed, “I think I’ll start calling him that, too.”
As much as Photo wanted answers, she could tell Spitfire just wanted a stress free night. The past few moments had been a stark reminder that she wasn’t the only one with complicated circumstances. Better to just drop it and enjoy the night.
“You know, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen your eyes before,” Spitfire observed in a half mumble, “that’s a really pretty color.”
Photo tried to force back the heat from her cheeks, breaking eye contact in embarrassment, “I… thank you.”
Spitfire confidently looked out over the courtyard, “This should be a good night.”
Photo followed her gaze, eyes fixing on the still unoccupied hot tub, “I’m surprised nopony is in zhere yet.”
“Do you wan-” Spitfire started. Remembering, she subtly nodded to the inconspicuous bulge of Photo’s wings under her dress, “Uh… how are you feeling about… that?”
Photo looked across the crowd, trying get a feel for the situation. She had the option; she expected her disguise to hold in the water. So many ponies would see, though. Photo hadn’t anticipated this many ponies at the party, let alone ones she knew so well. It could become a bit of a scene. Well, at least in the time it took to get in the water. Once she was in, her wings would be below the foamy surface, and things would settle down. This could work.
With a look that betrayed her apprehension, Photo spoke, “Vell, I suppose I’ll need somewhere to put my dress.”
“Don’t feel obligated,” Spitfire comforted.
“I don’t,” Photo replied with more resolve.
Spitfire looked hesitantly hopeful, “Any way I could help?”
“Somewhere to change,” Photo reiterated.
Spitfire gestured towards the hallway casually, “You can change in my room if you want. I’ve got hangars and stuff. End of the hall.”
Photo thanked her and finished her drink before standing. Nodding to a few ponies in passing, she made her way down the hall and to the bedroom door. Her heart fluttered for a moment at the memory of what she saw the last time she opened this door, but she stepped in without hesitation. Shutting the door and the sounds of the party behind her, Photo stood alone in a well-appointed bedroom and took the moment to wind down.
Lost in the feeling of the room’s unfamiliarity, Photo looked around for something to anchor herself with, something to make the space feel less foreign. Failing that, she stepped toward the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. Seeing her face in the reflection forced her to realize that this wasn’t all a dream, and that she was really alone in Spitfire’s bedroom.
Photo steadied her breathing as she came to accept the situation. It just felt weird to be invited into her room after they had been… Flirting? It was the first word that had jumped to mind, and Photo was startled by it. Had Spitfire seriously just been flirting with her? Seeing the blood rushing to her cheeks again, Photo covered her face with a hoof in a struggle to settle back down.
It honestly made sense, though. Everything she’d been saying right before Rarity- Photo’s train of thought derailed instantly. That scene with Rarity meant something, and it seemed important. She’d have to come up with some way to figure it out without seeming like she was prying, but it was pretty clear neither of them wanted to talk about it.
No. Drop it and enjoy the night. Photo had already promised herself that much, and breaking a promise you made to yourself is just dumb. Looking into her own determination filled eyes, Photo knew there was only one thing she cared about. She wanted to spend time with Spitfire.
First things first, Photo slid off her dress and tossed them out the door toward the bed. Seeing herself with wings, Photo felt so exposed. If she moved quickly and avoided attention, she could probably sneak into the hot tub without incident. Worst case, ponies would know she was a pegasus a few days early. A devilish grin creeped across her face as she realized the magazine cover was almost certainly being finalized as she thought about it.
Quickly double checking her disguise looked okay, Photo tried to remember what Twilight had warned her about. No strong magic around the disguise, and if it was starting to mess up it would overheat. Pressing the locket to her chest, she couldn’t feel any warmth, but she was a little worried she wouldn’t be able to feel it through her coat. Flipping the pendant up into her lips, she held it there for a second before deciding it was basically room temperature. Nervously adjusting her mane, Photo decided this would have to do.
Stepping across the bedroom to pluck her dress off of the bed, Photo made her way over to the closet to find the hangars that Spitfire mentioned. As she did, she heard the doorknob behind her rattle and she immediately whirled around to face the sound.
“Hey, everything alright? You’ve been in here a whi- Holy shit you look good,” Spitfire announced in surprise from the cracked doorway.
Photo unconsciously hid behind the dress held in her hooves, her face turning colors usually reserved for the fire brigade. Spitfire stood in the doorway, a hoof raised as if she had something else to say. Her expression jerked back and forth between looking like she had a good explanation and accepting that she honestly didn’t. In the end, Spitfire just shut her mouth and slowly closed the door. The only sign she was still out there was the muffled echo of her smacking her forehead against the wall repeatedly.
Quickly recovering her bearings, Photo forced a fake calm over herself and hung up her dress. She opened the door to leave just as Spitfire was about to headbutt the wall once more, but Photo managed to get a hoof in the way before impact.
Spitfire pulled back and looked down at her hooves, “I… can’t believe I said that out loud.”
Photo couldn’t help but laugh, “But you can believe you thought it?”
Spitfire’s mood immediately bounced back due to hearing Photo’s amusement, “Well, I mean, shouldn’t I?”
Photo blushed once more, but this time she was in better control of it. Yup, this was flirting.
Spitfire saw her opening to continue, “Like, I could tell you kept fit, but damn, you’re better built than most athletes I know. How could you possibly be embarrassed by how you look?”
Photo couldn’t help but bask in the compliments, but still felt the need to come up with an answer, “I just… it’s now how I vant the public to view me. I have zis whole image I try to keep, looking like a marathon flier kind of detracts from it.”
There was a flash of commiseration in Spitfire’s eyes as she nodded, “I get where you’re coming from. Having a public persona gets hard.”
Photo leaned around the corner to check her path to the hot tub. There was one bundle of ponies chatting about something, but they seemed distracted enough with their conversation. She felt comfortable that she’d get all the way without incident.
“You look like a little filly afraid to get on stage for the first time,” Spitfire teased.
“Oh, hush, jou,” Photo chided as she stepped back from the corner, “Shall we?”
Without any fanfare, Spitfire rounded the corner from the hallway to the courtyard, gesturing for Photo to follow, “No time like the present.”
As Photo stepped cautiously out from the hallway, she pressed her wings firmly to her sides, hoping they’d just blend in. As she slowly came to realize nopony but Spitfire was looking at her, she strode forward with purpose, trying to make it into the water before anyone tried to get her attent-
“Miss Finish,” came a weak voice from beside her.
Photo turned to see Rarity standing there with what she hoped was still her second drink, “Miss Rarity? Did jou need something?”
“I was…” Rarity looked deeply regretful, “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t think I interrupted on purpos- I’m sorry, wait, where’s your dress?”
Photo looked down at her forelegs and then back up to Rarity, “I took it off.”
“Ye- Obviously, but…” Rarity sputtered, looking Photo over once more, “wait, hold on, what?”
“Vhat, ‘Vhat?’’ Photo replied in equal confusion, “I think ze concept is rather straightforward.”
“N- Not that,” Rarity clarified, “It’s just that you have the exact same cutie mark as my friend.”
Photo stood stock still. She’d never checked her flanks. She had only thought to confirm that the disguise replaced her mane and tail. Nervously turning to look back at herself, Photo’s heart raced.
On her flank was a familiar shape, but honestly not the one she expected. She uttered a short, confused grunt as she saw a series of six pointed stars on her back side. She wasn’t entirely sure why she had Twilight’s cutie mark, but it was a massive relief to not see a lightning cloud. Still felt weird, though.
Looking back to Rarity, Photo just shrugged, “Zis… ist not unheard of.”
Spitfire trotted over to the conversation nervously, looking to serve as a distraction, “Hey, uh, hot tub.”
Both Photo and Rarity looked at her like she was from the moon, but Rarity was the one to vocalize it, “What?”
“Ach, scheiße,” Photo blurted as she understood, quickly making her way across the courtyard to hide in the tub’s waters. With an amused sigh, Spitfire sauntered over to join her.
Stepping over the low wall of the pool, Photo slipped into the warmth and current of the waters. Almost immediately she could feel her muscles slacken and ease, the heat flowing through her. On autopilot, she slowly sank into a corner, forehooves draped over the edges like a huge armchair. Worth it.
Spitfire dropped into the corner to Photo’s right, lounging sideways on the bench to face her, “Was everything okay over there?”
Photo looked up from the frothing water, dismissing the concern, “Ja, ja. It vas nothing.”
“Alright,” Spitfire accepted, “I still have no idea how I can help, but I’m willing.”
“Just sit here vith me,” Photo replied with a smile, “ze more you act like everything is fine, ze more it will be.”
Spitfire mirrored Photo’s smile, “Sure.”
Photo shuffled her back along the side of the hot tub until a water jet was pressed firmly against the constantly knotted muscles between her wings, “Zis is heaven.”
Spitfire settled back, just happy to see Photo relaxed, “Best investment I ever made.”
Photo closed her eyes and was finally able to clear her mind of all of her assorted stress, at least for the moment. Everything just felt so perfect for the first time in days. She wanted this to last forever. As she sat weightless in the water, a thought crossed her mind that both her inner optimist and pessimist could agree with.
The night was still young.
a) I KNEW Twilight was forgetting something!
b) Wonder how that's gonna be explained off? The strike of artistic inspiration? A horrifying, alter-ego inducing accident in a vat of rainbow juice? (Or some other inherently magical substance)
c) Yes, Photo/Rainbow (Phobow?) the night is still young, so there's a degree of inevitability attached to the next segment of the story.
Loved it, as usual.
Finally someone talks about the CM, nice update!
Oh gods the tension! It's killing me! AAAAHHHHH!!!!
I can barely wait to know how (not what, that's pretty much a given) things will happen! Why can't you update more, WHYYYY?!?!
God damn it, Twilight. You had ONE JOB!
Now... will she notice if the charm heats up with the heat of the Hot Tub possibly masking it...?
Actually, doesn't Photo have Twi's cutie mark normally anyway? More or less.
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While I'm sure that the Captain of the Wonderbolts got "hangars and stuff", it's probably not quite how you wanted to spell it.
Also, "Scheiße" as an exclamation has an 'e' at the end. The more you know. (It's also generally capitalized, though I suppose one can adhere to English grammar in these cases...)
I... I think I see it! Spitfire is actually Fluttershy's alternate persona. And Rarity is her confidant much like Twilight is Dash's . Or Spitfire is the birth name and Fluttershy is her alter ego. Wait, no... they were friends as fillies so I guess that theory doesn't fit. Drat and I was so sure fir a minute there. Still, I maintain spitfire is or has an alter ego and Rarity is still her one friend who knows.
7383928
Probably the reason why she has it in the story to, keeping it canon. Good catch though, I hadnt noticed until now.
Spitfire's got something else going on, that's for sure.
I'm banking on it being similar to Dash, but... There's just not enough to go on. Yet.
And the story of Rarity and Spitfire... Oh you tease!
Hopefully Twilight's cutie mark won't bring trouble buuuuuuuuut...
~Skeeter The Lurker
I hope the two can get in on the issue before something happens.
7383999
Hmm, I wonder if you might be right. Flutters does use tail/mane extensions in canon...maybe they're full on wigs here like Rainbow's original disguise?
7383928 Twi did say that the amulet/charm thing might not properly work.. so... eh..
If Spits IS Fluttershy, I hope we get a curveball. We're all expecting the amulet to wear off while Photo's in the tub. A good twist would be Spits' disguise being the one to come undone first.
7384099 damn.. Do you think the author was thinking of that though?
7384106 now, that was never specified. It IS working to disguise Rainbow...
Man I think I felt the same WSU when Phote heard she had the same CM as Rarity's friend then relaxed when k saw what it was.
Also loved Spitefire blurting out what snaplrd to her mind and subsequent aftermath of head banging.
7383999 What if it is like you say but the other way around?
Heheheheh, the damn cutie mark
I know own everyone is saying that Spitfire has a secret, but I don't think that makes too much sense, all things considered. I mean, we've seen Spitfire and Fluttershy at the same time like, three times as of now in the show. I really hope that isn't the big secret.
7383890 Everyone will think Photo Finish is secretly Twilight Sparkle!
lolol
7383999
Personally, I highly doubt it.
If Fluttershy is Spitfire, than she is way, way better at disguising herself than Rainbow is. We're talking a complete change of mane, coat and eye color, plus a different cutie mark. There is no way Rarity is topping Twilight in the field of magical disguises, and besides, Spitfire isn't wearing anything equivalent to Rainbow's amulet. Even Twilight was covering for both of them at the same time (which, ironically, would put her in the same position as in the Photo Finish episode) she wouldn't have had to lose sleep basically inventing a magical disguise for Rainbow if Fluttershy was already using something better.
As for Spitfire and Rarity, I'm just assuming they used to date in secret and don't want anypony to know for some reason.
7384985
That, too, is a good point.
It would be one hell of a twist, sure, but canon doesn't support it.
7383890
Have you considered- She'll know if the disguise is starting to wear off based on whether the pendent heats up?
and she is currently in a hot-tub?
Not a great plan, if you ask me. Besides, Chekhov's gun is like, right there. set up in the same chapter we see how it's gonna get fired.
I knew something was going to happen using Cutie Marks!
Ok here's what I've worked out. Evil bunny is the one sping on rainbow. Rarity and Spitfire have had a physical relationship if not a romatic one, probably brought together by a mutual interest in some form of art. Flutters is almost definitely in the dark about everything that's going on. Pinkie is going to drop a bomb about dash/fire at some point since she wasn't sworn to secrecy. I think Rarity will be the first to find out about dash. I can't quite figure out spitfire. She clearly has a thing for photo, but she didn't seem to turn down dash's advances too hard. Maybe her and rarity have an open relationship? Good stuff.
Yeah I been wondering about the cutie mark and how she would hide it for a while, guess she forgot it...
Nice chapter, good work.
Rainbow you IDIOT! Don't get into the hot tub if the thing that you're wearing will change the temperature in order to let you know that you're disguise is failing! I mean, come on! It's so simple, that even I, a person with NO common sense, can figure it out!
7383928
Yeah, if you discount the stars surrounding the big star of Twilight's cutie mark.
7385979
No...it's going to be implied that they get physical (giggity), and then, either at some point during the physical activities, or the morning after, the disguise is totally going to wear off. Of course, since those physical activities are going to make both of them warmer than what they normally are, than Photo Finish wouldn't notice it wearing off anyways (and that's assuming that she doesn't just ignore the fact that it's wearing off, seeing as how she's going to be kinda busy at the time and wouldn't be able to/wouldn't want to leave), or since she's going to be sleeping, she wouldn't notice it wearing off then. I kinda hope it wears off the morning after, as that would be a fun discussion.
Did not see the cutie mark coming. Can't wait for the next chapter
7385193 Yes. Also, rather likely Rainbow Dash would have spotted if Fluttershy had an athletic flyers build much like Spitfire just did with Rainbow/Photo.
7383890 Want to know what would be hilarious?
Nothing goes wrong.
Absolutely nothing.
Three days later, when Photo Finish is eating Ice Cream. Pinkie Pie shows up. Scares her.
Cue hilarious montage of Rube Goldberg liike events.
Photo Finish is revealed with a choir of fillies singing to be Rainbow Dash.
7396130 I'm hoping for that, but something's gonna happen, and I'll blame either Spitfire or Rarity for any near misses.
As a related aside, Every time I look over this story again, I can't help but think of the following:
7396150 I would love that
Well fuck, I'm all caught up now. This is a fantastic story, can't wait for the next installment.
And yeah I'll admit that it seems unlikely Spits and Fluttershy are the same person, but there have also been a lot of coincidences pointing in that direction. And don't forget, we've seen Rainbow and Photo Finish in the same shot in canon before, so that specific argument for Spitfire and Fluttershy doesn't really have much weight.
7383999 personally, I just think the two used to be an item. Not every secret has to be completely crazy and nonsensical.
7402859
7383999
Based on a part in Chapter 4 of this story, maybe? I mean, Rainbow Dash shouldn't be confusing Spitfire for Fluttershy, yet she did...
But I'm gonna be really sad if the secret isn't that Spitfire is a fillyfooler, and she has had her eye on Photo Finish and on Rainbow Dash. Especially if she already knows that Photo Finish is Rainbow Dash.
7385319
All right. So, either Spitfire knows that Photo Finish is Rainbow Dash, or...polyamory for the win!
ZE MAGICS!!!