I woke up the next day and seeing that I had nothing else to do, I decided to check up on Rarity and find out if she got those dresses sold. But not only that, I think she has had a lot of bad luck moments as of late, but at least she's now safe again and I hope she doesn't have another bad luck moment.

Leaving my home, I went straight over to Rarity's home, I opened the door to find Rarity at work with Fluttershy who seemed to be in a pink and black dress with a lot of sparkling stuff, then I saw Spike, Twilight and Pinkie.

"Morning you three, what's going on?" I asked them.

"Rarity's making a dress and has asked Fluttershy to be the model for it." Twilight answered.

"But why and what for?"

"We have no idea, but she kept saying something about a pony called Photo Finish." Pinkie answered.

"Hmm, she's going to want to see attitude and pisaz!" Rarity stated.

"Attitude and pizzas?" I asked out of the blue, confusingly.

There was no reply, it seemed Rarity was trying not to lose focus.

"Attitude and pisaz" Fluttershy repeated, although a little slower.

"More light, it has to catch the sequins just so, a whole lot of it is a disaster."

Twilight then used her magic to bring more light in the room.

"Oh and hairdress needs more feathers. Pinkie Pie, more feathers."

Pinkie then trotted along with a basket of feathers, Rarity picked out a few and placed them on the matching hat

"Oh and sequins. More sequins!" she exclaimed.

Spike then walked along with a bag of sequins but he seemed to be in a different state of mind. Rarity the lifted the sequins and laid them all out on the dress.

"And more ribbon."

Spike placed a pair of ribbons by the ears.

"Oh no, less ribbon.

"No, more ribbon."

Rarity walked around to survey the back of the dress.

"Oh this hem is off, more pin cushion!" she yelled.

Spike ran off and came back with pins stuck on his scales when Rarity plucks out a few to hold down on the back of the dress...good thing they're not on his actual back or spine...mind you, there are politicians out there in the world who can use a spine. But once again, I'm going random and perhaps nearly insane thinking it over too much.

"Thank you all for helping me. I'm so sorry to be short with you, but I'm just so nervous." Rarity said, who finally noticed I was here. "Oh and hey Bond, didn't see you there."

We then noticed Spike still had a few pins on his back.

"Oh Spike, doesn't that hurt?" Twilight asked worryingly.

"Thick scales, can't feel a thing." Spike replied, "And even if I could, there is no pain that would keep from assisting...the most beautiful creature in the world."

"Creature, Spike? She's not a bug." I winked.

"Yeah very funny, buster." Spike remarked.

"Ugh!" Twilight said to herself, rolling her eyes at the disbelief.

Spike then turned around to look at us and said, "I'm gonna tell you three a secret, but you have to promise not to tell anyone."

"I promise." Twilight said.

"I promise too." I added.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Pinkie declared loudly whilst doing the actions.

He then motioned us to come closer to him so nopony else could hear.

"I have a crush on Rarity."

Twilight's mood dropped, Pinkie gave a shock expression, but I started giggling quietly.

"Bond, you promised!" Spike complained.

"Sorry Spike...I just hehe, find it so amusing." I chuckled.

"Why is that?"

"You'll find out someday...but seriously, I won't tell anypony else."

"We won't say a word." Pinkie assured.

"Oh gimme a break, everypony already knows how you-"

"Twilight!" Pinkie cut her off, "You promised Spike you wouldn't say anything. He trusts you and losing a friend's trust is the fastest way to lose a friend forever!"

"But-"

"Forever!"

"My lips are sealed, though I'm pretty sure Rarity's gonna pick up on your feelings."

"Like, she already does?" I asked, pointing to Spike who was now wearing a Rarity T-Shirt, to my surprise, "Hang on, where did you get that shirt from, you didn't have it on earlier, right?"

Just as Spike was about to answer, we heard a door open and looked to see three ponies enter.

"I...Photo Finish...have arrived!" she stated.

So this is Photo Finish? To me, she looks like the Lady Gaga of the pony world and if she was born in Germany....but I kept that to myself as I always do with other logical questions and facts.

"Let me just say, what an honour it is to-" Rarity was cut off when Photo Finish walked past her.

"We begin...now!" she said, transforming her briefcase into an old fashioned camera.

"Oh, I guess digital cameras haven't been invented yet?" I asked to nopony in particular.

"Attitude and pisaz." Rarity whispered to Fluttershy.

Photo began to take pictures and was easily impressed, "Yes, show Photo Finish something."

Fluttershy than tried to used the poses Rarity tought her, but it seems Photo didn't approve any of them. So going with her normal shy poses, Photo was back to being impressed and taking more photos.

"Enough!" she yelled, before turning her camera back into a briefcase and began walking out of the store with her management team.

"She hardly took any pictures." Twilight commented quietly.

"I'm sorry Rarity," Fluttershy apologized, "I tried my best."

"Well, the dress was too big for you and there was too much sparkle anyway." Rarity said. "I can't believe I ever thought I could impress her.

Now I could've been mean and said that maybe if Twilight wasn't here, things would've turned out differently, but I kept that one to myself too.

Suddenly, Photo Finish came zooming back. "It seems that I, Photo Finish, has found the next special star here in Ponyville."

"Really?" Rarity asked, hopefully.

"Yes really and I Photo Finish, am going to help her to shine all over Equestria."

Rarity smiled even more.

"Later in the afternoon, a photo shoot in ze park...I go!"

Photo and her team then zoomed out of the store again and left this time.

"Did you hear that? I'm going to shine all over Equestria." Rarity exclaimed.

"Oh Rarity, I was so worried that I had ruined everything." Fluttershy said.

"Oh never, I knew you'd be perfect."

Rarity then squealed and jumped up and down in excitement, not noticing that she was stepping on Spike's tail until Twilight dragged him away.

"We'll see you later, Rarity and Fluttershy," Twilight said as we waved and left the store.

"So, it's later in the afternoon?" I asked.

"Yeah, but I won't be able to see it, Spike and I need to go back to the Library." Twilight said.

"And I need to go back to Sugarcube corner." Pinkie said, "But remember Twilight...forever."

"Please stop saying that, Pinkie...you're not Beetlejuice!" I said.

"Oh you silly, there is no such thing as a juice made of beetles."

I facehoofed at Pinkie's blindness to movie references.

"Later, girls." was all I could say as I walked through town to the nearest cafe.

After my lunch, I decided to head to the park and I found Rarity and Fluttershy already there. They had a rack of dresses, probably as part of the photo session. They a huge blind stand too, so that there was a bit of privacy whilst changing outfits.

"Hey again, girls." I said to them, "I was the only one free to come along and see this."

"Oh it's alright, Bond. I'm glad you came." Rarity said.

Suddenly, a song came into my head hearing those four words, but I shook it out of my head.

"No...no...no...yes!" Rarity exclaimed as she pulled the blind stand to reveal Fluttershy in a bright outfit suit with countless blue gems. "That is the one, Photo Finish is going to love it."

"If she does, that is..." I muttered.

"Everypony is going to love it!" she added.

"Oh I'm so excited for you Rarity." Fluttershy replied, "Just don't forget us little ponies when you become the most famous designer in all of Equestria."

"Never." Rarity assured.

Then, Photo Finish turned up on a pillow and was being escorted by two stallions...she sure gets around in many ways.

"Put me down here." she said as they lowered down, she walked up to see Fluttershy and in her outfit.

"Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, the woman should be in something simple." she complained, "Something inspired by...the nature."

Did she just say woman...wait, what the buck...

"That's just what I was thinking." Rarity added as she bashed the dress rack away which went zooming off somewhere. "Give me a moment and I'll put a little something together."

"No, that will not be necessary." Photo replied.

"But...but, how are you going to help me shine across Equestria, if I don't design something new for these pictures?"

"I'm not going to help you shine over Equestria. I'm going to help HER shine, she is my star...you go!"

Looks like Rarity got pushed aside as if she was competition to Photo Finish, I felt bad for her as I thought that once again, she was going to have a bad luck moment. I walked up to her and placed a hoof around her, giving some comfort and support.

"Excuse me, Photo Finish, but Rarity here isn't going anywhere and has the right to be with Fluttershy helping with the dresses."

"And who might you be, mister stallion?"

I then flew out my wings and showed off my horn in an alicorn pose.

"Oh my!" Photo exclaimed. "Fine, Rarity can stay and help my new star to fame!"

After the first few photos were taken at the park, we then moved towards the park fountain outside the town.

Fluttershy was now dressed in a simple green dress with a few flowers which may have been more than basic, but for some reason, it seemed to match well with the fields. Fluttershy walked on over to Rarity who didn't seem happy anymore and I could only stand by and watch it all happen.

"I can't Rarity." Fluttershy said.

"Oh, but you must, Fluttershy" Rarity assured, "Photo Finish wants to make you a star, this is the opportunity of a lifetime."

"Yeah, but it's happening at your expense." I muttered.

"I know we were both hoping it would be my lifetime." Rarity added before perking up, "But nonetheless, you can't throw away this chance, you must do this for me. You...you must...we must!"

"Fluttershy!" Photo yelled, "It is time to work...the magics!"

Fluttershy walked towards by the fountain to have her photos taken, whilst Rarity walked off slowly.

"Let me come with you." I said to her.

"Alright...I could use a bit of comfort." she replied.

We waked back to her home and with me comforting her, she felt a little better. We then heard a door open, it was Twilight, Pinkie and Spike.

"How did it go? How did it go?" Pinkie asked, bouncing away.

"Umm...in a way, it didn't." I answered.

"Photo Finish wanted to work with Fluttershy, not me." Rarity added.

"Oh Rarity, I'm so sorry, is there anything we can do?" Twilight asked.

"I just want to be alone, right now."

"You heard her." Spike said "She wants to be left alone."

Spike then moved twilight and Pinkie out of the room. Before he turned around and began to skip towards Rarity, until Twilight grabbed him by the tail.

"What, I didn't think she meant alone alone..." he then raised his eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes, thinking that someday, his dreams of her will collide with reality. After they left, I noticed Rarity sewing on a black cloak and placing it around her.

"Uh, just a random question here. Why are you wearing that cloak?" I asked.

"I don't wish to be seen by any other pony right now."

"Including me?"

"I'm sorry Bond, I know you've been trying to cheer me up and I much appreciate it. It's just that I want a bit of time to myself, it's nothing too serious or threatening."

"Hmm, alright, but if you do start to feel overwhelmed by the disappointment. We'll be here for you and I'm sure Fluttershy will tell you as well."

Well, there was nothing else I could do except to leave her home and head back to mine. After taking a rest on my sofa sometime later, I heard my door opening and closing quick.

"Fluttershy?!" I said, noticing her already.

"Please, help me, Bond! I can't take it anymore!" she yelled.

"Don't worry, hold on to me and I'll get you to Rarity's as fast I can." I said. We left my home and I flew straight to her home, we opened the door and closed it quick, before we noticed that there were a few ponies with cameras.

"Phew, you're safe in here for now, Fluttershy." we noticed Rarity by the dress-rack, "Oh, sorry for us barging in here, but Fluttershy wanted to escape the paparazzi."

"Wow, look how popular you are." Rarity said sarcastically which I noticed straight away, "I'm so excited for you, you must be having the best time ever."

"Oh yes, best time ever." Fluttershy replied.

I then heard knocking and I noticed that it was Photo Finish outside...with my quick thinking, I used my magic to lock the door so that nopony could get in.

"Alright you two, no offence but you both are not very good at lying even though Applejack is THE worst at lying." I pointed out.

"We're not lying, we're-"

"Trying to not hurt each others feelings?" I asked, cutting Rarity off. "Come on Rarity, you had your dream almost ruined before, why are you putting that dream at risk again, even though the situation is different?"

"But that was a long time ago and we forgave each other after that issue." Fluttershy added.

"I know you did, but these small lies are just making it worse for the both of you. Wouldn't it be easy to just tell each other the truth?"

Rarity and Fluttershy looked at each other and exchanged sad expressions.

"Oh and don't you worry. The door's locked, nopony else can get in here." I assured them.

"Fluttershy dear, Bond Racer is right...alright, I'm jealous!" Rarity confessed, "I wanted all the attention and instead it was going to you, I even started hoping that you would do something silly so that your modelling career would be over." she paused for a second, "But then when it started happening, all I could think was how could I want you to fail at something you love so much?"

"Love? Oh Rarity, I hate being a model." Fluttershy admitted.

"You do? Then why did you keep doing it?"

"I was afraid that if I quit, you would be mad at me, for not wanting to shine all over Equestria."

"And I thought that if I told you how jealous I was at your success, you would think I was a terrible friend."

"Never..."

I had began to smile at this point and I was feeling proud of them for opening up on how they really felt about the issue.

"You see girls, isn't it better to just tell the truth?" I asked.

"You were right, Bond." Fluttershy answered.

"I promise never to keep my feelings a secret again."

"Me too."

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." they both said before laughing calmly and sharing a friendly hug.

Suddenly, the door began to bang louder...I guess it was time to find out if they can put it to rest. I unlocked the door with my magic and came Photo Finish like a shot.

"Fluttershy!" she exclaimed, "I had looked all over for you. I've already got six more photo shoots lined up for tomorrow alone."

"I'm sorry Photo Finish, but I don't think I'll be able to make any of them." Fluttershy said with confidence.

"What?" she asked in surprise.

"We go!" Rarity and Fluttershy said together, doing a brohoof...or is it sishoof?

"That has just happen?" she asked.

"No means no, I'm afraid, you'll have to find another pony to do photo shoots with...and no, I am not the type...I have my own standards." I added.

Photo Finish then left without saying another word and she and her team left town.

"She's gone girls, I think we all deserve a bit of R&R at the Spa." I suggested.

"Fabulous idea, let's get the others if we can find them." Rarity advised.

Soon, me, Rarity, Fluttershy, Twilight and Spike were at the spa.

"Now this is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon." Fluttershy commented.

"Quite rightly so." Rarity agreed.

"Dear Princess Celestia," Twilight began her letter while soaking in another smaller tub. "Being a good friend means being able to keep a secret. But you should never be afraid to share your true feelings with a good friend. Did you get all that Spike?"

"I would love to…" Spike replied. "But... I'm a little busy at the moment." Spike was fanning Rarity with a fan that had the same logo as the T-shirt he was wearing at the very beginning.

Twilight sighed happily and rolled her eyes.

After a while at the spa, we then left and saw Applejack coming towards us.

"Howdy ya'll." Applejack greeted us. "Just to let ya'll know that we'll be taking a train to Appleloosa later this evening, ah gotta escort a famous tree of mine and have it planted in the Appleloosa orchard."

"Why, is it really that important?" I asked.

"It sure is, sugarcube."

We thought for a moment, but then we all nodded in agreement that maybe some time away from Ponyville would do us a world of good.

"Sure Applejack, we'll help you." Twilight replied.

"Thank ya'll, now go get some food and rest, when ah'm ready, Rainbow Dash and ah will come on over to your houses and let you know that it'll be time to leave."

Soon, we then waved at each other, knowing that we would all be seeing each other later. I walked on home, watching another glorious sunset in the distance. I was able to sigh in relief as I got in and went straight to the kitchen for some food, before taking a rest on the sofa and not on the bed. I rested, thinking back about the issue which was now over and I was very pleased when the two mares told each other the truth. Which reminded me, I wonder when Spike will come round to admitting his feelings to Rarity when it comes to it. Next Chapter: Over A Barrel Estimated time remaining: 24 Hours, 54 Minutes