The Idea

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Rarity read the headlines of The Canterlot High Enquirer. After a minute of reading the short paragraphs that filled the pages, she folded it and placed it on the table.

"Do ya not like today's edition?" Applejack asked as she continued to eat her apple fritter.

Rarity shook her head. "No, I don't. In fact, I think the school newspaper is very dull!"

Rainbow Dash put her hands on the table. "Hey! The soccer news is interesting!"

"Well... for you," Rarity responded as Dash folded her arms. "There's just not enough... juicy gossip."

"Oh, I think there's just enough. Well, I don't like to read gossip anyway," Fluttershy said, eating her salad.

"Well... there are more headlines about the upcoming math competition than gossip. So Rarity does have a point!" Pinkie Pie added on, patting Rarity on the head.

"I agree with Pinkie Pie. There needs to be more gossip! I want to consult the head of the newspaper about this," Rarity said as Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"Seriously? You would have to do a lot of convincing for them to double their gossip work."

Sunset Shimmer nodded. "Yeah. Remember, the gossip that they do find isn't very interesting at all."

"Except for that one article about Big Mac and Cheerilee 'spending too much alone time together'! That one was great!" Rarity responded as she squealed.

Fluttershy nodded in agreement. "I'm always up for a little romance now and then. I have to admit, I was intrigued by that."

Rarity's face then lit up; just like it does when she gets a great idea for a dress.

"Rarity? What are ya thinkin' of?" Applejack asked as she stood up to place her tray on the counter. Rarity then flipped her hair back.

"Why, one of the greatest ideas ever!" Rarity responded, throwing her arms up in the air.

The school bell then rang, dismissing the students from lunch to their afternoon classes.

"Can you tell us at the end of the day? I gotta get to science," Rainbow Dash asked as she threw her paper plate away.

"Of course! Meet me at the statue at the front of the school when school's over, everybody!" Rarity responded as she got up and gracefully walked to her next class.

Pinkie waved to her friend before turning around to her other friends. "I wonder what her idea is!"

Sunset nodded her head in agreement. "Same with me. But whatever it is, she seems excited about it."

"Yeah. Now, let's get to class," Applejack responded as the girls walked out of the lunchroom.

Rarity was pacing in front of the horse statue, waiting for her friends to come. She would take frequent glances at the doors to see if they would come out, but they were nowhere to be found.

She sat down and leaned onto the statue. For a second, she thought she felt like she was falling into it. She then moved her back away from it and kept a lookout.

She soon saw them all walk out of the school building, waving at her.

"What took you guys so long?" Rarity asked as Sunset dropped her heavy backpack.

"The hallways were really crowded. You're lucky your locker is close to the doors," Sunset responded, sitting down on the ground.

"So... what's your idea Rarity?" Fluttershy asked as she sat down next to Sunset. Every girl then sat down, looking at Rarity.

"Well... you know how that section about Big Mac and Cheerilee was very interesting?"

"Nope!" Came a voice next to them. Rarity looked to see Big Mac standing there, trying his best to hide his face.

"Hehe... interesting to some of us..." Rarity exclaimed as Big Mac walked off.

"Yeah, it was enjoyable to read!" Pinkie Pie responded as she giggled at the memories of reading it.

"Yep! So, I got an idea to ask the classmates who run the school paper to add a shipping section in the paper!"

Rainbow looked at Rarity for a moment. "What?"

"A shipping section! Where everybody in school will be informed on relationship news!"

Fluttershy's eyes widened "Ooh! That's a great idea, Rarity!"

Applejack looked over at Fluttershy. "Ah didn't know you were a romantic."

Fluttershy slightly blushed and nodded her head. "Romance is my very favorite genre."

"Then you're in luck! This is going to be an absolute hit!" Rarity responded, standing up.

Sunset thought for a moment. "Rarity?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Don't you think it's a little... I don't know... rude telling the whole school about one of their classmate's love lives? I mean, people are entitled to some secrets, and I think this is one of them."

Rarity slightly giggled. "Sunset, dear, it will be okay. I'm going to ask the head of the newspaper team. If he approves, then the whole school will be overflowed with ships! Everyone will have fun!"

"Well... alright..." Sunset responded, still a little unsure.

"Hooray! This is going to be fun!" Pinkie Pie remarked as she started to jump up and down.

A Fleet of Ships

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Rarity walked into school one morning, exactly one week since she thought of her idea for the newspaper.

Now, almost everybody was reading the new column, The Shipping Section. The column was flooded with cute photos and sweet quotes. Whoever was featured would be swarmed all day, getting compliments about their relationship and how everybody was happy for them. Some people ate up that praise, while others shied away but still appreciated the effort people went to make them feel special.

Rarity took a breath and looked around. Everyone was enjoying was her idea, and it made her pleased with herself.

"Rarity?" Came a voice. Rarity turned to find the head of the school paper next to her.

"Why, hello? What do you need?"

"Do you want me to send some students to get more photographs and stories? The one we just published was a huge hit today," he asked as he showed Rarity the paper.

Rarity silently giggled. "Oh, this is great! Flash Sentry still wanting to be with Twilight Sparkle? This sounds interesting! Great job!"

"Thanks!"

"No problem! And to answer your question, yes! But try to find one that will... shock everyone! Something that nobody expected!" Rarity responded.

"That's a good idea! I hope you'll be pleased!" The head then walked off and approached a group of students, who were the ones who worked on the newspaper.

"This is going even better than I expected..." Rarity said to herself.

At lunch, many boys were giving Flash Sentry advice about long-distance relationships, which made him blush. Rarity laughed a little at the sight, and felt happy.

"Rarity, this was one of your best ideas yet! I actually am excited to read the paper now!" Sunset remarked as Rarity smiled.

"Thank you!"

"No problem!" She then remembered the article from a few days ago. "Remember the one about Lyra and Bon-Bon? Oh, that story is great! I'm happy they're getting together!"

Rarity nodded. "Same with me! The two girls were just made for each other!"

Rarity and Sunset continued to talk about shipping as Applejack and Rainbow Dash got into a conversation about video games. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie started talking about funny things they see on the way to school. Right then, everybody was finding some way to laugh. It was a very light-hearted time of day, and it made everyone happy.

Rarity walked into school the next morning to see everyone was reading the paper. She then heard gasps and saw looks of surprise. Whatever the press thought of, it was very shocking.

Rarity almost fell over as Pinkie appeared right next to her.

"RARITY! READ THIS!" Pinkie remarked, shoving the paper in Rarity's face.

"Alright..." Rarity responded. After a few seconds, she started to smile and giggle uncontrollably.

"What's so funny about that? It's cute, but I'm not so sure that she'll be happy-"

"No need to fear, Rainbow Dash is here!" Rainbow remarked. She seemed extra happy today; like nothing could bring her down. The whole foyer of the school was silent for a second as everybody started to whisper and giggle.

"Uh... did I miss something?" Rainbow asked as one of her classmates handed her the paper, trying his hardest not to laugh.

"WHAT?! WHO WROTE THIS?!" Rainbow burst as everybody pretended to be caught up in the sports section of the newspaper.

"Uh... I didn't do this! I told the head of the press to find something that would shock everybody. I didn't expect... well..." Rarity responded, nervously looking down to the ground.

"THAT YOU WOULD GIVE AWAY ME AND SOARIN'S SECRET RELATIONSHIP?!" Rainbow responded as a few gasps were heard. Rainbow turned to find her other friends standing in the main foyer.

"Rainbow..." Fluttershy started as Dash shot a small glare.

"Please, don't talk to me," Rainbow responded as she stomped over to her locker.

"Uh-oh..." Rarity remarked, looking back to her friends with a look of guilt in her eyes.

When lunch came around, Rainbow Dash told everybody approaching her to go away. When Rarity tried to come up to her, she just turned her head.

The five left Rainbow alone and sat at their own table.

"Oh, I feel horrible! I completely humiliated Rainbow Dash!" Rarity remarked as she buried her face in her hands.

Sunset nodded her head. "I wonder why she's taking this so hard. I've never known someone to get this mad over a situation like this."

"I have a feelin' Rainbow didn't want that secret to come out yet. She probably was upset about us knowin', let alone the whole school knowin' about this," Applejack responded as she saw Soarin take a seat next to Rainbow Dash.

"And that is why I feel horrible, Applejack!" Rarity exclaimed as she put her head down on the table.

"Well... how are we going to fix this?" Fluttershy asked as Rarity thought for a moment. She then lifted her head and got a stern look on her face.

"Take away The Shipping Section."

"What?!" The four chorused as Rarity sighed.

"I know, this has become a big hit. But if it hurts others, I think I should probably dispose of it. Don't you think that's the right thing to do?" Rarity responded as Sunset put a hand on her shoulder.

"Rarity, I agree with you. That is the best thing to do."

"Thanks, Sunset," Rarity responded. "Now, I'm going to make sure to destroy this fleet!"

The next day was very different compared to the past week. Nobody was talking about the newspaper headlines, and barely anybody was reading the papers.

Rarity smiled. Even though her idea only lasted a week, she did the right thing to help her friend. And now, Rainbow and Soarin were talking together. A lot. Maybe it was a good thing that their secret was spilled, so they wouldn't have to keep their affection hidden.

Rarity sighed as she walked to her locker, getting out her books for first bell.