Author's Notes:

A Simple Slip By wayward_pony
Streaker(s) EQG Rarity

Weeks of planning had gone into this one event. Rarity was moments from putting on her play – she’d written it, directed it, made the costumes, and was a supporting actress in the production. Saying all that out loud sounded strangely familiar to her, as though she’d heard something like it in another life… no matter; she had all her friends there to help with the production.

Rainbow Dash was in charge of staging; Applejack the muscle behind making all the props and sets; Twilight -- with her glasses shining of so bright under the stage’s dim light -- the editor and stagehand; Fluttershy was sound effects. Since the play took place in the woods she was able to record some seldom-heard bird sounds. Pinkie Pie was, of course, special effects… particularly pyrotechnics. They all knew their roles inside and out, had two prefect dress rehearsals that only got better each time, and already enjoyed a pre-play party because of how well things were shaping up. They felt unstoppable, as friends with a goal like this commonly do. Rarity was so happy, for this one short hour and a half just about to start.

She was almost in position above the stage, wearing a beautiful fairy costume consisting of a silken long dress and a golden headband. It wasn’t real gold, of course, but it was the closest facsimile she could find. At a distance it shone all the same.

The plan for the scene was simple – Applejack would lower her by a cable to about ten feet above stage, as the sun rose behind her. There she would begin a soliloquy, setting the tone for her play, “The Faeries of Westwood”. Sweetie Belle, her sister, would lay below her, along with her friends, sleeping… lost by smoldering ashes of a fire from the night before. It would be Rarity’s job to guide them home, but how would an innocent fairy, who’d never seen anything outside of Westwood (let alone these oddly colored children) know anything of the way out? The children would teach her, of course, and she, in turn, would then teach them.

Applejack secured the harness as Rarity snapped up her dress and put on the head band.

“Yer all set,” she said, with a wink. “Good luck!”

“Applejack,” the almost twenty-something replied, shaking her finger. “Don’t you know it’s bad luck to wish good luck?”

“Oh, uh…” the farm girl thought. “Guess knock ‘em dead!”

Rarity rolled her eyes.

“I’m jokin’. Everything will be fine!” The musical cue started and as the stage went black.

“Oh, I’m on! Get ready to lower me.”

Applejack was already in position, both hands on the rope.

Rarity was hoisted up delicately. She was quite familiar with this harness and how it worked… she felt weightless. Over the stage she hung, just as the sun came up… a simple spotlight put on by her pink friend. She got into character, stretching her legs towards the ground and her arms up… she then began to make her descent, gracefully.

When she was lowered enough for it to be safe, the real sun came out, giving the stage an amber glow… a few torches above to give it that natural look, nothing dangerous, but the school required at least ten feet distance (and it took a lot of begging and permission slips from all their littlest members parent’s to allow such a stunt, to which Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna were still quite nervous)… but when the entire audience saw the effect, along with Rarity’s silhouette as she descended, all they could think was “so serene” … which was exactly what Rarity wanted.

Something felt odd as Rarity made her descent… in the harness. The last two times she felt secure and was able to read the lines just fine, but now… on the left she felt almost as though she might slip. She didn’t realize it, and she wouldn’t have even as she stepped inside the harness while getting dressed, one of the straps had failed… specifically the one that came up between her legs. She felt begin to slip.

“Applejack,” she whispered, waving her arms, looking up to see the farm girl was momentarily too busy looking out at the audience to notice her frantic motions for attention. Oh, of all the worst time to be on auto-pilot! She continued to make her descent, praying her harness would continue to hold... already beginning to sweat. She looked over to see Twilight making tracks towards her friend with the rope, pointing down towards her. Oh, thank heavens! She got the farmer’s attention quickly and Applejack sprung into action, pulling her up. What in the world does she think she’s doing? Does she want me to fall even farther?

Rarity felt a sharp click and none of that mattered anymore. Despite having both her hands by her tightly by her sides for safe measure, she slipped out of the harness like she was covered in butter.

Her descent now was too quick to even shriek, though she would have had she the time. She fell like a stone only about a good ten feet into some cardboard trees. They broke her fall, of course, crumbling like a stack of paper cups. Getting to her feet she was unscathed but hardly fine.

She felt much colder on her way down and there was a reason for that… a reason she couldn’t discern why it happened, but that didn’t matter. That it had happened was much more pressing right now. Her dress was above her, continuing to make its ascent much quicker without her added weight… up to the added sun effects where it promptly burst into flames, causing Applejack and Twilight to throw their arms up in panic and silently flail like something out of that ten year old computer game Sweetie’s friend with the beanie likes to occasionally play.

She stood silently for a moment, feeling light-headed… heat raining down on her.

The spotlight came one, originally focused on the three teens laying on the stage (not on Rarity) but now she was illuminated dead center for all to see.

Looking out as she stood before the big lights, Rarity was not only topless, she was also bottomless. She’d been offered a pair of compression shorts by Rainbow Dash (they wore the same size), among other options (including old fashion bloomers)… but she chose to go all natural to due to her commitment to feeling the role. That was a big mistake. Though nude she continued to feel heat raining down on her, sweating.

Rarity’s time on stage was no longer about putting on her play, it was about covering up. She froze, covering her top and bottom to the best of her ability… though all the audience could clearly see one of her bare nipples exposed and a bit more that they really shouldn’t have (they could tell she shaved). Worst of all was the dead silence… that and the one lone flash bulb going off. She was really sweating now. Her chest rose up and down as she breathed deeply… nervously. She chuckled.

Her sister and two friends opened their eyes and looked up, acting as though they were just roused, expecting to begin the play. Instead they saw Sweetie Belle’s buck naked sister and… it was heavily snowing on her? Scootaloo looked up to see smoke, something smoldering and the ashes falling down as Twilight put the remainder out with a fire extinguisher.

Another flash bulb went off and a few murmurs were heard, followed by some snickering and chuckles. Now, of course, it was Rarity’s time to scream, a delayed reaction to everything that had happened. She shrieked, running off the stage through the back… where she would be least visible. The last thing the audience saw was her petite, bare butt.

First she tried to push the door to the outside open. She could get to her car and put on the spare clothes in her trunk… that is what she thought, and it would’ve worked except for two important caveats: 1. The door was locked, as it was not the proper fire exit and 2. Being nude she didn’t have any car keys. There was another exit and she took it… into the school.

Naked Rarity was now silently running down the hall, thinking in quick, staccato-like images… where was the nearest place she could find to hold up until one of her friends found her? Fortunately, being after school the halls would be mostly bare, except for a few extra-circular activities… at least those who chose to stay in school after hours were likely less uncouth than the few groups of students she sometimes heard at lunch whispering their dirty thoughts about herself and friends.

The nearest restroom was just down the hall and to the right. Rarity sighed. She didn’t know what she would do once she got there, but was better than waiting out in the hall for someone to find her, nude as she was now. She ran quickly, making tiny barefoot steps along the way.

When she turned the corner she saw the bathroom door was open and there was a thick grey cord inside, attached to a wall outlet.

Drat! The Janitors!

They were there, both of them, and a mere twenty feet away, hiding against the wall… was Rarity.

She had a choice – run the other direction, past the opening to the auditorium and through the library, or run past the bathrooms towards the gymnasium, shop and art room. She picked the later.

It was just a matter of finding something to wear, or finding a place to hide where she knew she would be found. Had she come a few minutes earlier she would have hid in a bathroom stall and the janitors would have found her hiding and gotten her friends, but because they were in there (and she was too embarrassed to be seen by anybody, despite having just been seen by EVERYBODY) she just wanted to get away and hide.

She breezed right by the two janitors in the bathroom, and all they heard was the pitter-patter, pitter-patter of her bare feet. Like a horror movie heroine Rarity tripped for a moment, but regained her composure quickly. The husband and wife clean-up crew left the bathroom for a moment, at the worst possible time, to get a mop and screw driver (the toilet cover needed tightening) and that was at a time they might’ve seen Rarity’s side boob and naked butt running off… if they were paying any attention to their surroundings at all. Instead they found themselves looking at the floor, shaking their heads at the footprints.

Rarity made a beeline for the gymnasium. She didn’t need a key to get into the closet for spare gym clothes. From there she could return to her play… her scene might need some modification, but hopefully (after this slight hick-up) the play would be able to go on. She would just be a fairy in gym clothes… no, that wouldn’t work. She’d think of something. All she could think about where all the eyes that must’ve been on her… hundreds, silently looking over her nude body. It gave her a cold chill, but she’d been in equally bad places. Dates with varsity captains that at first loved her somewhat peppery personality… but, when they insisted on more than that they always hated getting her pepper spray, which she, in turn, hated to resort to. That was also icky, but this… this was a freak accident!

She made it to the double doors, just down the hall -- a simple push in the bar and she would be in the gym. Maybe the gym had a basketball league in it right now and maybe it didn’t. Maybe it was the freshmen racing with their mini C02 powered cars? Who could say for sure… all that matters is she was there.

She pushed on the door and nothing happened. It was locked.

Of all the times for the gym to be completely closed!

Normally she’d be banging on the door, but since she was in her birthday suit that wasn’t the best idea. This required her to be stealthy… discrete.

Again she ran, this time for the art room and shop. But before she disappeared around the corner Snips opened the gym room door, just long enough to see a bare butt turn the corner. He giggled, looking at the foot prints left. His mirth was not long lived:

“Snips, The Great and Powerful Trixie did not give you permission to leave! Get back here at once!”

“Yes, miss Trixie.”

The door closed, he and Snails going back to a special, private magic show in the gymnasium… just the three of them and no one else. Trixie was soon going to make something appear and disappear, much to their delight, but if the boys didn’t obey her every command to a tee it might very well be them. One trick at a time would have to suffice for now; after all Trixie possessed merely two hands and one mouth… to utter magic spells with, of course. Anything beyond that was much too vulgar and forbidden for her. Though Snips and Snails looked young, they’d failed a couple times… a couple of eighteen year old sophomores. Because of their limited intellect, however, they were easy to trick… and dominate. Both felt very lucky to have the attention of the Great and Powerful senior a year older than themselves. From them this was admiration, bordering on obsession. Trixie was just happy to have some putty in her hands, which would happen soon enough in a much less figurative sense. Entertaining Snips and Snails was nothing more than easy enjoyment for her -- they gave themselves to her, and believed in her, so she made things happen.

Rarity zipped down the hall and to the left now. She saw the two rooms side-by-side and ran up to see class was not in session in the shop class, where she could easily find some overalls to put on. She turned the knob and, of course, it didn’t budge.

Locked, of course. Why wouldn’t it be?

There was a second option -- the art room. Rarity didn’t know too much about the art students, only that they were elusive and at times a little reclusive (a few of them also not having the best manners, making them elusive, reclusive, and repulsive). This was Rarity’s last chance.

The window inside the room was blocked by pink towel. It was hung in a way Rarity could not see inside. The light didn’t appear to be on. Rarity didn’t have time to discern the meaning of why this was, only that she wanted to get in there. She turned the knob and opened the door.

The room was warm, the lights were on… just not bright. A sort of mellow, pink luminescence. Also, the room smelled of odd smoke, strong and like almost like patchouli. It was then that Rarity heard a droning sound she could place, but seemed odd to hear in school…

That can’t be sitar music?

But it was. Before Rarity in a circle sat Sandalwood. Photo Finish, Paisley, and Tree Hugger all stood next to him. Sandalwood was the only one who’s eyes weren’t immediately focused on Rarity, as he was focused on making music. Photo Finish and Paisley both had a camera and canvas respectively, while Tree Hugger wore a pink bathrobe. Derpy came from behind the other corner in a darker bathrobe and froze upon seeing Rarity. Sandalwood stopped playing and smiled as Tree Hugger spoke up:

“Woah, Rarity! I didn’t know you were going to be a model, too! Far out. Dig the style… very Cleopatra.”

Rarity, who again had frozen seeing all these people together looking at her naked body, took a deep breath and finally relaxed. Her agitation came back full force when a flash filled the room… Photo Finish had taken her picture.

She shook her head – focus, Rarity You can’t run off now. “I am not a model,” she said, plainly. “ I am having… an emergency!”

Photo Finish put down her camera and became a bit more sullen hearing that… her enthusiasm wilting.

“What can we do?” Derpy asked.

“Well, if you have a spare bathrobe I can use I’d be ever so grateful. I‘ve got to get back on stage and I can’t return in the nude!”

Tree Hugger chuckled.

“That totally make sense,” she said, calmly, untying the belt on her rope. “Here, you can have mine. I don’t mind at all.”

Tree Hugger disrobed right there in front of Rarity and the rest of the room, nonchalantly holding her robe out for the taking. The healthy size of her melons under better circumstances would’ve made Rarity quite jealous.

Rarity took it in hand and put it on right away, noticing as she was doing so it smelled like especially strong patchouli.

“Um, are you sure you want to give this up?”

“Oh, it’s no problem,” said the sleek, dreadlock-clad nearly twenty-something year old as she got to the center of the room and relaxed into Tree Pose. “I’m going to be here a good hour and a half like this, so no worries.”

“We all are,” said Sandalwood. Derpy belched loudly as she also disrobed, putting a hand to her mouth and blushing… but not saying excuse me. “Good one, Derps.”

Rarity again smelled the bathrobe, biting her lower lip.

Yes, it smells odd and I’m sure Derpy’s does not, but you’re best not looking a gift horse in the mouth if you know what’s good for you!

“Um, thank-you Tree Hugger. This has been most, uh… awesome of you.”

“Don’t mention it. Just give it back sometime later in the week, ‘kay? Then it’s all groovy.”

Rarity smiled, tying up the terry belt and letting out a sigh.

“At least now I’ve somewhat proper attire.”

Rarity’s smile faded yet again when another flash hit her body… again coming from Photo Finish’s camera. She scowled at the skinny photographer.

“What? Oh, I’m sorry, Miss Rarity! You look so much happier in zat robe I just had to snap your photo! Though I must admit you had a certain inner beauty when you were naked before us all dark and gray as you were, very vulnerable.”

Rarity shuttered.

“I’ll take that as a compliment!” She turned around, facing the door with new confidence. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I must get back to the auditorium. The show must go on!”

“Bye-bye,” she heard Derpy say as she stuck out her hand and waved to the group, but didn’t look back.

“Thanks again,” she said, exiting the room… Sandalwood’s sitar playing resumed as the door closed.

Rarity let out a sigh. Whew. They weren’t her type of people, but they were nice. She could also see why Fluttershy liked Tree Hugger so much… the girl was a little bizarre, but she had a heart. That’s what mattered.

Rarity made a slow walk back to the auditorium. Not much had changed -- the gymnasium’s doors were still locked, but the janitors were out in the hall cleaning, their machines on. Rarity waved nervously as she passed them and in return they scowled back.

What in the world has gotten into them? They’re normally so pleasant! … could it be the way that I’m dressed?

Rarity didn’t have time to think about it. This whole ordeal must’ve taken seven minutes at the most, but it felt like an eternity that she wanted to be over with.

As Rarity turned the corner she saw Applejack and Fluttershy out scouting the halls.

They must be looking for me.

Rarity made her presence known by waving.

“Hello!” she exclaimed, nonchalantly.

“There ya are!” exclaimed Applejack. “First Ah thought you were hurt, then I didn’t know what happened.”

“I took a little walk, followed by a detour.” Rarity and Applejack were now a few feet apart. “Here I am now. Is my play in shambles now or is there still hope?”

“Well…” Applejack put her hand to the back of her head. “Rainbow and Pinkie are in there keepin’ the crowd entertained. It’s been a bit difficult.”

“Why’s that? Are they bored without the nude Rarity to look at?”

Fluttershy spoke:

“Um, actually, a few rowdier members of the crowd are asking for the naked lady with the dark hair and snow to please come back.”

“Dark hair? My hair isn’t –that- dark.”

“Oh, Ah don’t think they knew that was you Rarity… have you even seen your hair?”

Rarity’s eye twitched.

“Applejack, what do you mean?”

Fluttershy pulled a compact from her jacket pocket and handed it to her friend.

“Um, take a look for yourself.”

Rarity did just that. She looked into the mirror and saw that not only was her hair almost black, but she had ash-marks on her forehead. Suddenly the crack Fluttershy said about snow made a lot more sense.

The whole situation caused Rarity’s lip to curl. She let out a chuckle, followed by a laugh. Fluttershy and Applejack looked at each other.

“What’s so funny, Rarity?”

“I’m covered in ash!” exclaimed the older teenager. “I’m been so focused on getting clothing I didn’t even notice I’m completely filthy!”

Fluttershy cracked a smile.

“It is kind of funny.”

Applejack leaned towards Rarity and sniffed the air, to get a feel for whether or not she really was filthy or just a bit dusty. She smelled something she really didn’t expect to.

“Oh, wow! Rarity, I didn’t know you did that stuff. Explains the laughter, though.”

“Applejack, whatever do you mean?”

The farm girl gave a sly smile.

“Oh, don’t you play innocent now,” she said, shaking her finger. “I’ve been around the block a few times.” Rarity scratched her head... immediately regretting her decision to do that as her fingers became covered in ash. “All the same, let’s get back in there… you’ve still got a play to put on!”

“You’re right, Applejack.” Rarity gave a determined smile. “Let’s go!”

A frowning Pinkie Pie sprayed down her torches with a Super Soaker as Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna spoke to Rarity just as she walked down the spiral stairs of the catwalk. Though it came from a higher place Rarity had given the order to douse the effects… there would be no radiant sun tonight, other than the one giving the orders. Wearing Fluttershy’s clothes, as she was the most earthy of all their friends, the teenager was just finishing up drying her hair and wrapping up her conversation with the two administrators.

“We can cancel the production,” said Principal Celestia. “Whatever you need us to do.”

“No, thank-you,” replied Rarity. “I’m quite alright with going on!”

“Perhaps we could move it to next week, due to technical issues,” suggested Vice Principal Luna.

“I am fine.” Rarity stepped off the stairs. “I appreciate your concern. The harness still works, a simple buckle was improperly fashioned. Take a look before I use it next time if you must, but the show must go on tonight!”

Principal Celestia put a hand to Vice Principal Luna’s shoulder as she stepped forth, climbing the catwalk as her sister prepared to return to her seats:

“You will not use it tonight,” she said, disappearing up the stairs. Her voice was still heard. “Perhaps not even tomorrow… we do not want you to fall again.”

Rarity nodded.

“We appreciate your diligence,” said Luna, turning around with the teen. “But we cannot control the crowd.”

“I know,” replied Rarity. “I’ll be okay.”

A door to the right swung open, getting both their attention.

Rainbow Dash came out from the dressing room wearing a hastily put together costume. Fluttershy stood behind her, giggling… Rainbow blushed as Rarity smiled upon seeing her friend all dressed up like something out of a fourth grade play.

“Oh I must really like you or something!” Rainbow Dash said, rolling her eyes. “I can’t believe I let you guys put me up to this.”

“I wish I could be the one in the tree costume!” Fluttershy exclaimed, giving Dash a hug.

“Thank you, Rainbow,” Rarity said, helping her friend past the catwalk stairs as Luna disappeared in front of the curtains. “You five really came through for me tonight. This was a very clever idea of Twilight’s.”

Rainbow grimaced, letting out a sigh:

“Yeah, come on… let’s just get this over with.”

Coda

Rather than being lowered by cable Rarity stood this time in front of Rainbow Dash, wearing the make-shift costume and holding her up high in strong arms every time she got to a line with a certain amount of whimsy, which amounted to any line in the script ending in an exclamation point… there were many. The tree trembled and shook on the longer passages (if it was Applejack that wouldn’t have happened, not that Rainbow would’ve admitted it) but Rarity… not being in costume anymore, was still able to perform her lines with perfect grace and civility.

The eyes of the three children on stage were filled with wonder as Rarity acted, lost in the older teen’s ability to get into character… or maybe it was the awkwardness of picturing Rarity’s nude body from thirty minutes before. Apple Bloom needed a slight nudge from Sweetie Belle to get her to speak her first lines, but that was necessary only once. Rarity began by acting to the three children, of course… then to the entire crowd as she became more comfortable with being on stage.

In the silence before Rarity first spoke, however, there was one member of the audience that might’ve recognized her from the earlier performance:

“Hey baby! Take it off!”

Sufficing to say Rarity responded by turning bright crimson, but quickly regained her composure with a simple, “a-hem.” Unfortunately neither Principal Celestia or Vice Principal Luna were able to point out who exactly had said those words… the crowd was big and the disapproving murmurs that followed drowned out their ability to trace the sound.

By far this wasn’t the best opening to a play, but it wouldn’t be the last time this production was put on. The second time it would draw a much larger crowd, for what had been seen in the beginning. The third time the crowd become a smaller, of course, but forth it would gain an audience for being what it was – a simple fairy tale about ferries guiding lost children through the woods. While a simple slip-up had made an ass out of Rarity and her entire crew, other than that one crude audience member… the play went on smoothly and would each night after that. Rarity would end up more famous than The Great and Powerful Trixie, but she’d have a much better following consisting more than just two students who… together made up the intelligence of one.

However there were two pictures taken of the nude, dark haired teenager that would be sweated over in the bathrooms for many years, though only one would get passed around. That one was taken by a male student and passed amongst his friends, who all looked like they should’ve been underground mining for jewels… the other would be appreciated in the private collection of Canterlot High’s most esteemed senior student photographer:

Oh, so close to zat beauty… she though, each and every time she felt lonely, pawing at the glass. The radiance ish magnetic!

Derpy, Tree Hugger, even Snips and Snails had posed for her numerous times, but none had quite captured exactly what the budding photographer was looking for -- they all put on some type of character, while Rarity had not. Photo Finish’s unhealthy obsession is for another story, however.