As soon as word of the upcoming contest made its way to the ears of the student body, Canterlot High became awash with gossip, excitement and, as expected, some trepidation. Talks were had among classes, cliques and close friends. For a time, the lonely list hanging outside Celestia's office would simply be stared at for a good long while, all while the boys and girls of the school debated amongst themselves. Who would sign it? Who would be seen when the day came? But, slowly, names eventually did start to emerge on that list, a few more each day, though it was clear that those who did so did it with an equal sense of confidence and nervousness. Eventually, as these things do, the fated day arrived, and the students, in larger numbers than expected, began to make their way during the lunch hour to the gym where the contest was to be held.

In many ways, the place had been set up in a similar fashion to how it was back when the Battle of the Bands had been established some time ago, with one end having been converted into an all-out stage for the event. Students from every class were gathered here, sitting in the area set apart for the audience. In-between the audience and the stage, however, was a table, behind which were three chairs. It was, of course, where the three judges were to be seated, and sure enough, those very three now began to arrive at the gym. Adagio arrived first, walking with her usual confident swagger, a smirk plastered on her face, all while Flash and Sunset walked behind her. The latter two, obviously, seemed less than thrilled at their position here, but were here nonetheless, if only because they knew it was all for a good cause. After taking their respective seats, as well as glancing to the chatting crowds behind them, Flash let out a long sigh.

"Well...guess this is it."

Sunset offered him an affectionate smile.

"If it helps...just think of this as a band-aid moment."

Flash turned to her.

"What, just get it over with and carry on?”

She nodded in response.

"Yep, pretty much."

Flash let out a dry chuckle.

"Yeah...sounds about right."

The moment was, unfortunately, spoiled somewhat, as Adagio let out an annoyed groan.

"Ugh! I swear, sometimes you two are some of the most maudlin people I've ever met."

Sunset frowned to her.

"Don't think you don't have a part to play in that."

Adagio brushed aside some of her hair, smiling to herself.

"The orphans will be grateful. We've already raised enough money, or else we wouldn't be hosting this right now."

Flash sighed.

"Right...it was for them. So I guess...all that's left is to follow it through."

And it would appear that "following through” was exactly what was to happen, as the lights in the gym began to dim, causing a slight increase in the chatter of the audience, followed by an audible "hushing" as everyone tried to make everyone else quiet. The show was about to begin, and while Adagio kept on looking pleased with what she'd arranged here, Sunset and Flash tried to maintain more professional expressions about themselves. In time, a figure emerged from behind the curtain. It was Vice-Principal Luna, and after tapping on the end of a microphone, she began to address the gathered students.

"Welcome to the Canterlot High swimsuit contest. Now, I hope we can keep this event clean, so I don't want any howling or hooting at those participating here today."

Looking out to the darkened crowd, she narrowed her eyes.

"That means you two, Snips and Snails."

Sunset and Flash, along with everybody else, heard a mumbled "awww" in the room, making it clear how that particular sentiment had gone down. As for Luna, she shook her head, then once more spoke up.

"Let the contest begin."

At her word, a spotlight began to shine on the area where she had been standing, prompting her to move away. There was a complete silence in the room, and soon, that silence was broken when, to the surprise of many, some music began to play. Though few there would call themselves experts on this sort of thing, it sounded vaguely like what would be played at some kind of fashion show, when the models would walk down the stage to show off their outfits. Hearing it, Flash let out a brief chuckle, earning him Sunset's attention.

"Well...guess Applejack wasn't too far off the mark after all."

Naturally, Sunset had to stifle a laugh at the remark, giving Flash a quick playful punch on the arm as a result. Shortly afterwards though, the show began in earnest, and, to the surprise of perhaps only a few of the students, the first to step out onto the stage was none other than Trixie. The amateur magician walked out there, clad in a very simple two-piece suit, which, as one would expect of her, was blue, much like most of her usual attire. It was a fairly modest one too, much to the relief of those like Celestia, and about her waist was wrapped a purple sarong, which was almost see-through. She strutted out there, hands on hips, before striking a pose with one hand behind her head, winking to the audience.

In the darkness behind the judges, the distinct sound of somebody about to give a wolf-whistle was heard, prompting Flash to spin his head around and give a dark look. As one would expect, the would-be whistler soon silenced themselves, and instead, there was simply a polite series of claps, particularly towards the back of the audience, where there was genuine cheering towards the on-stage girl.

"Yeah, Trixie!"

"Show them how it's done!"

Through the gloom, Sunset could just about make out the shape of Trixie's most notable friends, the two girls who had played alongside her at the Battle of the Bands. Trixie, for her part, smirked at this before making her way back behind the curtain, leaving a great deal of murmuring amongst those in attendance, particularly the three judges.

"Well?" Sunset asked.

Flash shrugged his shoulders.

"Not a bad start. She was certainly having fun from the looks of it."

"Indeed. And she wears her suit well, if I do say so myself," Adagio added.

The judges began to write their notes down, and before long, the curtain moved a second time. However, when next a girl emerged, nobody was expecting it. For the one now stepping out was, to the shock of Flash in particular, Rainbow Dash. The young athlete walked out with confidence, albeit with less of a feminine swagger that Trixie had displayed. Her outfit, surprising absolutely nobody, was of a more sporty bent, consisting of pink shorts and a black shirt that had a single yellow lightning bolt image on the front. Once at her spot, she placed both hands on her hips, bearing a slight smirk as she walked up and down the stage. Though certainly taken aback, Sunset soon turned to look at Flash, whose mouth was gaping open right now. Meanwhile, Adagio looked to the boy with obvious amusement.

"Well then, guess you won't be looking at your sister the same way again, eh Flash?"

The boy simply sat there in silence, watching as his half-sister made her rounds before retreating back behind the curtain. At last, he shook himself out of that state, looking back to Sunset.

"Am...am I going to Hell?"

Sunset, smiling, patted him on the shoulder.

"No more than the rest of us."

Flash nodded.

"Well, that's...comforting...I guess."

As before, notes were written, and not too soon, for they once more had to behold another movement from the curtain. This time, it was two girls emerging, which seemed to take everyone by surprise. Lyra and Bon-Bon, walking out with one-pieces similar to Trixie's, though the former's was a light blue whole the other's was pink. Leaning over to Adagio, Flash whispered.

"I didn't know you could go out as a double-contestant?"

Adagio smirked again.

"We never said you couldn’t either. Besides...it's not the only one happening here."

Flash frowned at that veiled foreknowledge, then watched as the two walked together in unison, smiling both to the audience and to one another, before spinning around and heading back where they came from. The judges wrote more of their thoughts down, and after waiting a few moments, there seemed to be some unseen hesitation on whoever was up next. In fact, there even seemed to be some talk behind the curtain, like some kind of pep talk. Hearing it, Sunset sighed.

"I think I know who's next."

Sure enough, her instincts proved to be right. Fluttershy, as well as Twilight, nervously peeking their heads out of the curtain, soon entered the fray. Both girls bore yet further one-pieces, with Fluttershy seemed to have not quite got to grips with the whole “swimsuit contest” thing, as hers was more-or-less just a green, yellow and black wetsuit, like she was going deep-sea diving. Twilight, for her part, had dark blue as her colour, with lighter blue for the chest area. Although, besides the fact that hers actually was a swimsuit, there was little in the way of flair in her outfit. The two of them walked out, Fluttershy offering a jittery wave to the audience, many of whom clapped at her entrance in an admittedly tasteful manner, even in spite of her unexpected choice of suit. As for Twilight, she was a little bit more confident, her hands clasped in front of her as she joined her friend out there. She looked to Sunset, who offered her a reassuring smile as best she could, before starting to give a similar walk up and down the stage as Rainbow had done. As those who knew them would have expected, their time out there was less than the others, and they soon hurried themselves back behind the curtain, leading to Flash leaning closer to Sunset.

"If Fluttershy was okay with posing nude for a painting, why would this make her nervous?"

Sunset looked back to him.

"I think there's a big difference between posing for a friend and stepping out to an audience."

Flash considered that, nodding in agreement before looking back to the stage. Here, the curtain revealed yet another double-pair of contestants, and this one had many of the guys widening their eyes, and giving Adagio a reason to smirk once more. Aria and Sonata, walking out with typically seductive Siren-esque movements. The former was clad in a sporty-looking two-piece, dark green, while the latter bore a bright pink one-piece. They struck simultaneous poses, clearly trying to look as alluring as possible. And given the slack-jawed stares they were getting, they were clearly succeeding in that regard. So, after giving winks to their audience, they withdrew, leaving quite a few stunned onlookers.

"You're welcome," Adagio remarked.

Sunset shot her a frown, then got back to her own writing before the next contestant came out. As before, there was surprise to find that it was actually Applejack who now emerged. Eschewing the typical swimsuits that had come before, the farm girl was instead dressed in a simple bikini bottom, though her upper body was clad in something that, like Fluttershy’s, resembled a wetsuit, albeit just the upper section. Both items of clothing were largely blue, save for a few white stripes here and there. As usual, she bore her distinct hat, and walked out towards the audience before tipping said hat and giving a friendly wink. Like Fluttershy, however, her time was brief, and as she retreated back behind the curtain, Flash spoke quietly to Sunset.

"Huh...not bad."

Sunset smiled back to him.

"Agreed."

But, as surprising as a lot of this had been so far, what now took place was something that many had not expected to see at all. Because, as Flash himself had explained not so long ago, a male student had indeed taken part, and it was, of course, the one that all the girls of CHS had wanted to be here; Big Mac. The burly teen walked out, clad in simple blue swims short, and the sight of both him and his muscles caused quite a few swooning sounds from the girls in the audience, as well as a few guys, if Sunset's hearing was anything to go by. And while some of the girls were eventually giving him a few come hither stares, that was a practice soon ended when, in a surprise twist, Applejack's head poked out from behind the curtain to give a stern look to any who was looking at her brother that way. Of course, the message was sent, and Big Mac himself soon withdrew to the backstage, leaving the judges to discuss the matter.

"Well...I guess it gives us some variety at least," Flash admitted.

Adagio looked on hungrily at the spot Mac had been standing.

"Yes, yes it did."

Sunset rolled her eyes at that display from the Siren, instead watching as the curtains, to her slight confusion, now started to move about quite a bit, as if the one behind them was eager to get out more than anybody else. Predictably, it was Pinkie doing this, as she hopped out, seeming as giddy as a schoolgirl, which was appropriate, given that she was one. Her suit? It was another one-piece, though the mid-section appeared to be designed to resemble a corset, bright white, while the upper and lower sections were of a dark pink. At the top part, however, was a bright yellow bow, giving just that tiny bit of Pinkie-level cuteness. She skipped out onto the stage, smiling, waving and winking at the audience and just generally being her happy and bubbly Pinkie Pie self. It was an endearing display, and one that Sunset and the other judges couldn't help but smile at. Another giggle escaped the pink-haired girl soon afterwards, and before long, she once more headed to behind the curtains, thought it was clear that she would have wanted to stay out longer. Adagio, after watching her go, turned to her fellow judges.

"Guess just one of your friends is left."

The Siren's predication turned out to be true, as the last of their immediate circle, Rarity, now walked out, with the same kind of grace and poise that one would normally expect of a fashion model when walking down an official show. Her garb was yet another bikini, albeit a more stylish and elaborately-made one, whose colour was that of a dark-purple, similar to her own hair, with what appeared to be a diamond right in the centre of it. About her waist was wrapped a blue sarong, which obscured one of her legs as it trailed behind her. And atop her head was a wide black hat, much like what you'd wear on a hot summer day. She walked out, with all the movements and spinning expected of someone who had experience with this sort of thing, before striking a proper fashionista pose and heading back behind the curtain, leaving a clearly-impressed audience.

"We've had some good entries," Flash commented.

Sunset nodded to him.

"I'll say. How many are left?"

Flash looked down to the list before him, then let out a long sigh.

"Quite a few."

A chuckle to their left caused them to turn and face Adagio, who looked to them with her typical mischievousness.

"If you think that’s bad...just wait until you have to declare the winner."

Realising that, the young couple looked to each other with concern, as Flash uttered their shared sentiment.

"...Oh dear."