A bunch of fillies were ganging up on another filly.

"Please, stop it!" Said the crying filly.

"You're so fat that when you sit on the couch, that you take up the whole couch!" Said the lead filly.

"My hamster is more skinny than you!" said another.

"I have a spare cheesecake you can eat it like the disgusting filthy pig you a..."

"That is enough!" said another filly.

The others looked to where the voice came from.

"Sassy, what are you doing defending this elepha..."

"Finish that sentence and I shove you in the toilet!" threatened the filly.

"Pssh. Come on girls. Let's leave tally mctallerson."

The fillies walked away while Sassy trotted over to the crying filly.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Th-thank you Sassy Saddles, but why would the prettiest filly in school help me?"

"Because, I don't want anypony to tell another, that they can never be beautiful, and I can just tell, that you have a hidden beauty that's waiting to awaken one day."

"I doubt it." spoke the filly covering her face.

"Trust me Nelly, you my friend, you are going to represent the beauty within. Even if we forget each other. This truth will be stored in my mind."

"You really think I can do it?"

Sassy then uncovered Nelly's face. "Yes, now buck up. Let's have a tea party at my house."

Nelly smiled as Sassy led the way to her home.

Years later...

"Let's do this Nelly." She said as she clutched a poster for a beauty pageant with the sign up sheet staring daggers at her.

Whoa Nelly had found out about this pageant and remembered Sassy's words. Now was the time to put them to good use.

After signing up, she smiled brightly and ran as fast as she could back to her home to prepare. But as she did, she started getting nervous. What if she screwed up? What if everypony laughed at her?

Whoa Nelly ran as fast as she could back to the sign up sheet to cross her name off, but it was too late! One of the 3 judges took the sign up sheet and teleported.

"Oh no! I'm doomed." she groaned to herself looking at the ground. She collapsed, sobbing like there was no tomorrow.

Later, we see her drowning her sorrow in diet soda.

"Big gulp and no hayburger wrappers around? I have a fat friend who feels that kind of sadness back at my home town." Said a mysterious voi...oh come on we all know it's Spike.

Nelly then looked up to see one handsome hunk of a dragon.

"OH MY GOSH! Y-you're Spike. Princess Twilight Sparkle's assistant."

"Thank you, it's nice to know a Twilight Sparkle fan recognizes me."

"Yeah, she's a really great princess."

"Yeah, but back to you...why are you sulking?"

"I'm just feeling down about the pageant in town."

"You signed up, but then tried to cross off your name."

"How'd you know?"

"Ha...I make mistakes when I'm off on my own adventures a lot. Trust me, I understand."

"It's just....I'm having second thoughts about it."

"Don't worry, Twilight and I will be here for 2 weeks, I'll coach you to gain self confidence and show those ponies your hidden potential."

"Really?" smiled Whoa Nelly.

"Yes, now come with me!" Spike said as he took Nelly's hoof.

"Nelly, you must focus in order to defeat Vader!" Said Spike.

"Vader? I thought you were gonna help me train for the pageant!"

"Heh, we'll get to that next. Sorry it's been a while since I last had a pony ride."

Now the real training begins as Spike gathers his Canterlot friends to help her get over her stage fright."

"First you gotta be calm in front of a crowd."

"Okay." She then entered stage left. She smiled, and made her speech. After her speech, Minuette and Moondancer cheered, while Lemon Hearts and Twinkle Shine clapped.

"Alright, great!" Spike commended.

"Phew! That wasn't so bad after a..."

"Now, for the swimsuit portion!"

"*Gulp*" This time she was much more nervous.

"Alright, now let's work on your boldness." Spike said as he put his claws on Nelly, putting her into some embarrassing positions.

"Sp-Spike! Stop!" Spike did not listen.

"If you can manage to go through this no problem, it's definitely gonna boost your confidence."

"And you sure this isn't a perverted thing?"

"Yes, now get out there and show you don't care that you're fat, show them that you're truly beatiful!"

Nelly then did poses for the audience.

"Yeah! Woo hoo!" Hooted Donut Joe.

Nelly smiled a little at hearing that and kept going. She loved how the audience cheered fir her, reminding her of Sassy's words. And after the gowns and talent practice. It was time for the pageant.

She walked there with Spike at her side. The ponies looked in awe as Spike and Nelly walked claw in hoof.

"Whoa, didn't think he'd be into those girls." Whispered a stallion.

"Lucky mare." Whispered a mare

"Hey, fat chicks need love too. At least that Quagmire sensei always told me." mumbled another stallion.

"Spiiiike, I think they're talking about us."

"Don't worry about them. Just keep your mind focused on what's about to happen."

"Okay, I won't lose my confidence here! We worked so hard for this to happen."

"That's the spirit! I might even have to kiss you after this."

Nelly then blushed.

Later...

"Welcome everypony to the Miss Canterlot beauty pageant!"

"We are your hosts the Flim Flam brothers."

"These lovelt mares shall be reviewed by our 3 judges! On the left...the fanciest of them all...Fancy Pants."

Then the audience clapped.

"Oh please, you're all too kind."

"On the right. The guy who cleans all the windows in Canterlot...Hayseed Turnip Truck!"

"Yeah! Let's see some hotness!"

"Finally, the manager of Canterlot Carousel...Sassy Saddles!"

"I'm excited to see some true beauty." smiled the unicorn.

She gasped at the sight of her old friend. Can she prove Sassy Saddles was right all those years ago?

"Now let the pageant begin!" called Flim.

"Right-o brother of mine, let us begin with the introductions, ladies if you'd be ever so kind to reveal yourselves." Called Flam.

All of the contestants entered stage right, all looking so beautiful.

"Now's your cue." spoke Spike with a smile.

"Oh, s-sorry." Nelly said as she entered the stage.

"And now that our beauties have revealed themselves, it's time for the competition!"

1st round, evening gowns!

Each mare wore a different dress. Even though they all wore very beautiful dresses by Canterlot Carousel, Nelly wore something that Spike had costume made for Nelly last minute, a dress that expresses her truth!

Her gown matched the color of her mane and on the font of it was her own cutie mark. She didn't need words, just movements to express how she's brave and honest to them all.

"I saw a lot of lovely dresses, on elegant mares, I like how they showed their own individual style. It was a spectacle to be sure for a 1st round." Said Fancy Pants.

"Hee hee, I thought they all looked purdy." Said Hayseed.

"My favorite was the last mare to enter the stage, she showed she doesn't need to be like the others to be elegant." Said Sassy Saddles. 'Nelly...is has the day finally come?' She thought.

"Alright, you're doing excellent." Spike complimented.

Nelly smiled at hearing that.

Round 2, Swimsuits!

The competition's bodies were so amazing that mermaids couldn't compare.

'Oh boy, this is going to suck! But I can't quit now! I have so much riding on me!'

Nelly shyly made her way on stage. Then, as she stood there frozen...

'Come-on Nelly, just like you trained girl, if you can't keep your cool, imagine everyone looking stupid!' So she did that, in her mind, the audience looked like complete idiots, well except for Hayseed Turnip Truck, he already looks like that.

She smiled and managed to pose like she knew what she was doing.

'She may be graceful like a manatee, but she's doing spectacularly.' Thought Sassy Saddles.

Round 3, Speeches!

"I think, the path to peace is for everyone to be friends and help each other, we should connect to other faraway lands, I mean Princess Twilight has established a longer friendship between us and Yakyakistan already..."

'We were close to starting a war, that we could've totally won with the magic, and air superiority.' Spike thought.

"But I think we can befriend the whole world, such as Los Angeles, Care-a-lot, Berry Bitty City, and even those weird looking ponies from even further kingdoms! One day, I believe we will all be friends even if we have never ever met." Whoa Nelly concluded.

"I am open to making friends with other lands." Said Fancy Pants

"I want peace, not war!" Said Hayseed Turnip Trucks.

"I think the speech was very kind thought. To make friends with those others of the, how does Twilight say...the Hasbruniverse? I'd like to have even more friends and maybe I know this is a bit greedy help my boss's franchise grow."

Nelly smiled as each judge gave her a good score.

And now, the final round...the talent competition.

Nelly watched as the other mares showed off their talents while she started to get cold hooves.

"Alright, final round, ready?" Asked a random colt.

"Uh...who are you?"

"Umm..." Then the colt ran away and Spike emerged from the darkness.

"Alright, final round, you ready for this?"

"I don't know, what if they laugh at me?"

"You're special talent is being yourself, they wont mind, trust me, they'll applaud you!" Spike assured them.

"HEY YOU GET BACK HERE!!!" Shouted a guard. "QUIT ASKING THE MARES IF THEY'RE READY FOR THE LAST ROUND!!! You're creeping them out!"

"Never!"

Both watched the previous colt run by them with a stallion guard chasing him.

"Well, that was weird, but now is your turn, show them the power of being yourself!"

Nelly nodded before walking onto the stage.

Spike, Sassy Saddles, and Nelly all had the same thought!
'
Come-on Nelly, do your 100% best!'

"Hello, everyone, for my talent, is myself, so that's why I had my coach Spike, film how somepony such as myself would spend my life."

Everypony was confused, but watched as the film started to play. The ponies liked how real she was, how she wasn't afraid to be herself.

"As you can see, I sometimes have trouble getting out of the door way, but don't worry, my doctor said my breed is actually the Shetland pony, so I'm perfectly healthy."

The audience laughed. And upon hearing their enjoyment, she talked more & more about her life. Nelly smiled brightly, and even the mare who bullied her when they were kids was enjoying this.

"What do you think judges?" asked Flam.

"Wonderful! Such a simple life, it reminds me of how simple Princess Twilight was back when she was a unicorn." Said Fancy Pants.

"I liked it, it was funny." Said Hayseed Turnip Truck.

"Well, this may be my nepotism talking, but I think that you Whoa Nelly, old friend, I thought it was simply marvelous." Said Sassy Saddles.

"Now that the speech portion is done, it's time to announce a winner!"

All of the mares gathered to the entrance, biting their lower lips...

"Aaaaand, the winner, of the Miss Canterlot Pageant is..." Flam then paused for dramatic effect.

The audience were grinding their teeth.

"What do you think Flim? Should I announce the winner?"

"Rock, paper, scissors?"

"Good idea."

Then the 2 used their magic to materialize an image!

"Ha ha! I get to announce the winner!" Said Flim.

"Drat!"

"And the winner, of the Miss Canterlot Pageant....will be announced after these messa..."

"JUST ANNOUNCE IT!!!" Everyone shouted.

"The winner, of the Miss Canterlot Pageant is...............Whoa Nelly!"

The other mares groaned in disappointment while Nelly herself covered her mouth in shock.

She ran out, to hear a roaring crowd, she was given the sash, bouquet, and trophy by Prince Blueblood himself. Then, after Flim & Flam sang the victory song, Spike, Nelly, and Sassy all went to Donut Joe's to celebrate!

"Congratulations Nelly." smiled Sassy.

"Yeah! You did awesome!" Spike complimented.

"Oh, thank you Sassy, I couldn't have done this without Spike here."

"Is that so?" asked the unicorn,

"Yeah, he coached me and gave me the confidence I needed to get out there and make your words from when we were kids, come true!" Then she looked at Spike. "Spike, I will be forever in your debt." Then she kissed his cheek.

He blushed while Sassy smiled at seeing her friend happy. 'All those efforts and I get a cheek kiss? Not happening!' Spike got up from his seat, pulled Nelly out from hers.

"Spike, what are you..." Then Spike pressed his lips onto Nelly's and after he broke it, Nelly fainted with a goofy smile.

"Now that's what I deserved. Here's some bits for the donuts."

"Thank you, and also thank you for giving my friend confidence in herself." Said Sassy Saddles.

"It was nothing, now I gotta go, I need to assist Twilight tomorrow. Are you able to take her home?"

"After seeing the movie, I think I know where she lives."

"Good night." Said Spike.

"Good night." Said Sassy.

As soon as Spike left the shop...

"Winner of a beauty pageant with the addition of getting kissed by a handsome young drake? Nelly, you lucky, lucky mare."

Next Chapter: spike and lightning dust Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 43 Minutes