Rarity looked over the ground floor of her boutique with pride. She had set up a large fancy looking runway, a decorative refreshments table, and found five willing models to wear her latest designs all in the last three hours. Hoity Toity, Sapphire Shores, and Photo Finish were all on their way. This could really bring some attention to the Carousel Boutique.

She peeked behind the curtain to check on her models. “All ready?” she asked. The five mares nodded. “Wait… but… are you certain that’s the right scarf?” She indicated a green-and-purple scarf wrapped round a model’s neck.

“It’s the one you gave me, yes,” the model nodded. Rarity raised an eyebrow.

“I could have sworn that scarf used to be red,” she said, confused. The model stared at her.

“But it is red,” she said, turning around a full circle to show Rarity. Before Rarity’s eyes, the green and purple scarf faded away and vanished into thin air.

“What?!” Rarity screamed, panicking and looking around. “Where’d it go?”

“What do you mean? I’m still wearing it,” the model said, holding out a piece of seemingly imaginary cloth in her hooves. “See?”

“Is there something wrong, Rarity?” a different model asked. This one was clad in what seemed to be an entire polka dot version of Rarity’s best dress.

“I didn’t design that!” Rarity shouted, causing the model to backpedal in surprise. “I mean… I did, but… I wouldn’t…” The dress began to fade. “No, no wait! I mean I did design that! Stop disappearing!” All of the dresses began to fade until each model was entirely naked.

“I- But- What-?” Rarity sputtered. The models stared at each other uncertainly.

“Now now, Rarity, beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” Discord’s face appeared on a blank sewing dummy in the corner.

“I’m here,” Sapphire Shores said, entering the door of the boutique. “Impress me.”

“I… have arrived,” Hoity Toity said, coming in after her. “And I see cupcakes.”

The door stayed closed for a while, then slammed open as Photo Finish strutted in, followed by twelve dozen other ponies. “We have come to see… ze magicks!” she called, pulling out a camera. The room was packed.

Rarity looked around in panic. The models had already begun to head out. “Wait!” she called. They stopped and turned.

“Listen, Rarity, I don’t know what’s going on with you, but some of us are on kind of a tight schedule, and you said this was for just a little moment. Besides, I’d like to get in a photo shoot as soon as possible,” the once-scarved model said to her. “That’s Photo Finish out there. You really do have some connections!”

Rarity’s pupils shrank to the size of marbles as she watched each of her five models strut through the curtain naked, down the runway. A loud, collective gasp could be heard from the stage outside. “My life is ruined,” Rarity said in a small voice. “Ruined!” she shouted, then ducked around the curtain for a small peek.

Miraculously, the models appeared to be wearing the dresses she originally designed, correct colors and all. As she watched, the models began sniffing their dresses. “What are they doing?” she muttered. “They’re completely clean, I just… oh no.” The models bent down and began eating her dresses from the bottom up.

“What? No! STOP! Spit that out! Those aren’t food!” Rarity shouted, running out onto stage. Dozens of ponies spat out their cupcakes, staring at her in confusion and murmuring among themselves. The models turned to her with a look that suggested she had totally lost it.

“All a matter of perspective,” Discord grinned, standing invisible directly behind Rarity. In reality the dresses were fine, of course. He wouldn’t do something so evil… anymore. All eyes were on Rarity as she stood center stage with a disheveled mane, chest heaving.

“I must say, these are… the most astounding designs I have ever seen!” Hoity Toity said, breaking the silence. Photo Finish took shot after shot with her camera.

“I’ll have three hundred of that design, with the red scarf, by Monday,” Sapphire Shores said. “Now what was that about food?”

“I’m- Sorry, I mean. Go ahead and eat. I hope you’re enjoying the show. I just… don’t know what came over me,” Rarity said, laughing nervously and backing off behind the curtain. She thought she could see Hoity Toity eating one of her scarves out of the corner of her eye, but dismissed it. “I really need to get some rest,” Rarity muttered as Discord winked at her behind her back, fading into the background. Next Chapter: The Vengeful Spirits of Diamond Tiara Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 51 Minutes