by G. M. Berrow
“No, just the opposite!” Applejack shook her head. “She was having a great time bucking apples, but the youngin’ refused to do it anymore once she found out that Rarity ain’t a fan. Said somethin’ about gettin’ too dirty and ran for the hills.”
Rarity gasped. “See?”
“And she wouldn’t join in our cannonball contest!” Rainbow Dash added. “Even though she totally wanted to.”
“You know…” Pinkie Pie put on her detective hat and took out her bubble pipe. She was in full detective mode, pacing back and forth. “Charity actually came by the bakery the other day and requested Bluedazzle berry tarts! Mmmmhmmm, yep, I knew it.”
“What does that tell us, Pinkie?” Twilight asked. “She likes sweets? So do I.…”
“Bluedazzle berry tarts are my favorite; she doesn’t even like them!” Rarity exclaimed. “I know because I made a tart, and she barely ate any—oh wait, I told her to pick some of those up.” Rarity laughed guiltily. “Whoopsies.”
“I see.…” Pinkie Pie raised an eyebrow and scribbled something down on a notepad.
“You’ve been awfully quiet,” Rarity said, pointing to Fluttershy. Everypony looked at her expectantly. “Have you noticed anything… suspicious about my apprentice?” She trotted over and tried to do the “Fluttershy stare” to extract information out of her.
“Well…” Fluttershy said softly. She shrank back, retreating under her light pink mane like a turtle going into its shell. “Charity did stop by and ask me if I had any little white kittens she could adopt. She wanted one who looked just like Opal.”
“See, Rarity?” Twilight sighed. “This is what I was trying to tell you at the picnic. Charity has it all backward! She thinks that if she copies you, she’ll become the type of pony she looks up to.”
“This is the worst possible thing!” Rarity moaned. First, Charity had stolen her saying, then she’d dyed her mane and tail to look exactly like her, and now she was adopting an identical cat? How would Charity like it if somepony copied her? Suddenly, Rarity had an idea. She took off for the castle exit. “Bye, girls!”
“Wait! Where are you going?” Rainbow Dash shouted after her.
Rarity stopped and looked over her shoulder. “How can I be a ‘Rarity’ if there’s two of me? By very definition, that means I have to be unique! I’ve been so blind. I must set things straight again. I’m just going to have to show Charity how great it is to be herself.” Then she cantered out the door.
“Hey, Rainbow,” Pinkie Pie said. “I think you owe me eleven bits!”
CHAPTER 14
Purple and Green
After looking all over Ponyville, Rarity finally found the Unicorn and the dragon out searching for gems. She watched from afar as Charity bent down to pat Spike on the head. “My adorable little Spikey-Wikey! You’re such a big help with these gems.”
Rarity felt a sudden pang of jealousy. That was her Spikey-Wikey! But then, she remembered her plan. She adjusted her mint-colored wig and smoothed down the light green dress she’d found in Charity’s suitcase. She was ready.
“Anything for you, Charity!” Spike said, hearts still in his eyes. “I know my way around a gem cart. I’ve had a lot of practice with Rarity. She’s the best at finding gems.” The cart Spike was dragging only had a few shimmering stones inside—an emerald and a few aquamarines. Apparently, Charity didn’t have as much of a knack for locating sapphires and rubies as Rarity did. There were some talents a pony couldn’t fake.
“I know!” Charity nodded. “That’s why I have to practice if I’m going to be as good as her someday. Tell me, what else does Rarity do?” They walked along casually and Rarity followed, unnoticed. She was going to interrupt them, but she loved listening to conversations about herself, especially when they were complimentary.
“Let’s see…” said Spike, scratching his claw on his scaly chin. “Well, for starters, she always looks pretty.”
“Check!” Charity said, fluffing her purple mane. “What else?”
“And she always puts her friends first! Rarity is the most generous pony in all of Equestria.” Spike reached for the emerald from the cart. “Can I have this?”
“Yes, you may!” Charity replied with a satisfied smile. “See? Generous! Did you know that ‘Charity’ means generosity? That’s got to count for something, right?”
“Definitely!” Spike nodded, crunching into the emerald and swallowing it in one big gulp. “So can I have another one?” He grabbed one of the aquamarines and popped it into his mouth. “Oh, and she always tries to show her unique style. Rarity is her own pony.”
It was the perfect cue. “Yes, she is!” Rarity called out, trotting over to them with a grand flourish. She did a spin to model the light green dress. The gauzy organza billowed and floated in the breeze. The beadwork on the seams caught the sunlight in just the right way.
“Wow, Rarity!” Spike said. “You look amazing!”
“That’s my dress!” Charity cried, touching the fabric. “Why are you wearing that? I worked so hard on it!” Then she noticed Rarity’s mint-colored mane and tail wigs. “And your mane! You dyed it?” Charity touched her own purple hair. “But I thought that purple was in?”
“I thought I’d try something new,” Rarity posed. “What? You don’t think it’s fabulous?” She flipped the green mane over her shoulder.
“Well, I do, but it’s just that… that you are…” Charity stammered. “It’s like you’re trying to look exactly like me!” Charity frowned and touched her mane. “Or how I used to look…” Charity slumped down. “Before I started trying to be you.”
“Don’t worry.” Rarity smiled. She was glad that Charity was starting to see her point. “I can hardly blame you for coveting my style. But, Charity, darling,” said Rarity as she took off the wigs and let her purple locks tumble out, “I would never dye my mane.”
“Oh, Rarity, I’m so totally sorry!” Charity exclaimed. She put her hoof to her head. “I’ve been, like, the worst apprentice in all of Equestria.”
“I haven’t been the best teacher, either,” Rarity admitted. She put her hoof on Charity’s shoulder. “I should have been helping you with your project instead of using you for my own personal career gain. I’ve set such a poor example. I did tell you to do as I did. I only realize now what a big mistake that was!” Rarity let out a massive sigh. “Frankly, I don’t deserve to be a H.O.O.F. mentor.”
“Are you kidding?” Charity smiled. “This whole experience has been so incredible. To watch you working in your element! It’s totally everything I ever hoped for.” She stepped close to Rarity. “You’re the greatest fashion designer of all time, Rarity.”
“That’s so sweet.” Rarity was so touched that she was starting to get a little choked up. “You’re well on your way, too. This gown is simply stunning.” She motioned to her outfit. “It’s different from anything I have ever seen. If you keep at it, you’re going to be a smashing success.”
“Thank you!” Charity said, embracing Rarity in a hug. When they pulled apart, Charity said, “Can we start over?”
“Absolutely!” Rarity giggled. She stuck out her hoof. “It’s nice to meet you; I’m Rarity.”
“And I’m Charity Sweetmint. But you can call me ‘Charity.’ ” Charity laughed, head held high. “Want to go to the spa with me? I think I might need to have my mane redone.…”
“Only if we work on your fashion line for the H.O.O.F. competition after!” Rarity said. “Just tell me what to do and I’ll help. You’re the boss!”
“Deal!” Charity nodded. “I even think I have an idea for it! It was inspired by something I saw in one of Twilight Sparkle’s books.”
“Sounds lovely!”
As the two ponies walked to the Ponyville Day Spa together, Charity had a smile plastered on her face. It was so much better to be herself than to try to be somepony else. Charity couldn’t believe her mentor thought she had talent! She was already beginning to feel more comfortable in her own coa
t.
“Hey!” Charity turned to Spike and whispered, “Rarity thinks I have potential, Spikey-Wikey!”
“Ahem.” Rarity cleared her throat. “Darling?”
Charity stopped. “Yes?”
“Let’s get one thing straight. That’s my Spikey-Wikey. Capiche?”
CHAPTER 15
A Sparkling Sensation
Charity adjusted the aqua-colored gown again and furrowed her brow. “Does it look better now, Rarity? It has to be, like, perfect.” She brushed her minty mane away from her face and inspected her work.
“Up a little higher on the left,” Rarity said from across the tiny window space. “You must make sure the customers can see the adorable shells you added to the sweetheart neckline.” Rarity was busy re-arranging another one of Charity’s designs from her “Sparkling Sea” line, inspired by the mysterious and magical world of seaponies.
Charity adjusted the dress and stepped back to look at the whole collection. The fabrics were all deep ocean blues and purples fading into swirly seaweed greens. The panels and pleats on the dresses looked almost like scaly fins—sparkly and fluid like the reflection of sunlight in water. It was a truly beautiful sight to behold.
“I still can’t believe we’re here at Sacks! With a fashion line that I designed!” Charity took a deep breath. The feeling was electric. It was almost too exciting to take. “Sorry, I meant that we designed.” She giggled. She waved to Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, who were outside the window modeling some of her shell jewelry. They had offered to help draw some of the hoof traffic in to look at the window display. Applejack, Rainbow, and Twilight were inside the store doing the same. “As a team.”
“No, darling, this one was all you,” Rarity said with a smile, walking up next to her protégé. “I was just there to guide you.” Rarity cocked her head to the side with a sneaky grin on her face. “Personally, I think the extra boost of inspiration you got was from all those Bluedazzle berry tarts I made you eat while you worked.”
Charity winced at the memory. “Rarity, I have a confession.…” she said hesitantly. “I absolutely detest Bluedazzle berries!”
“I know, darling,” Rarity replied with a wink and a smile. “I know.”
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by G. M. Berrow
Pinkie Pie and the Rockin’ Ponypalooza Party!
Twilight Sparkle and The Crystal Heart Spell
Equestria Girls: Through the Mirror
Rainbow Dash and The Daring Do Double Dare
Rarity and The Curious Case of Charity
Coming soon!
Applejack and The Honest-to-Goodness Switcheroo
CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Welcome
Dedication
CHAPTER 1
A Pony of Prominence
CHAPTER 2
Good News from Manehattan
CHAPTER 3
Welcome to Ponyville
CHAPTER 4
City Pony
CHAPTER 5
Tea for Two
CHAPTER 6
The Perfect Accessory
CHAPTER 7
Just Like Twins
CHAPTER 8
A Big Splash
CHAPTER 9
Designer’s Block
CHAPTER 10
Dyeing to Please
CHAPTER 11
The Sweet Sounds of Success
CHAPTER 12
The Ugly Truth
CHAPTER 13
The Similarity of Charity
CHAPTER 14
Purple and Green
CHAPTER 15
A Sparkling Sensation
Copyright
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
HASBRO and its logo, MY LITTLE PONY and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission.
© 2014 Hasbro. All rights reserved.
Cover design by Steve Scott
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First ebook edition: April 2014
ISBN 978-0-316-32091-7
E3