Back in the Saddle
Many weeks had passed since Gem was sentenced to time in a psychiatric hospital. The kindly Doctor Schmidt had taken it upon himself to see that Gem made a full recovery. He spent each day with her, training her to strengthen her mental defenses and to always think of a peaceful solution to a problem. Through it all, he was quick to reassure her that she was not, in his eyes, a criminal, nor was she a bad person.
When she wasn’t in training, Gem kept up with her schoolwork. The teachers sent a weekly packet she was expected to complete by that Friday, to be sent back to school each Saturday when her friends came to visit. Through these, she was able to restore her GPA and bring her grades up to where they’d been before the accident.
But by far her best days were the ones spent with her friends. Though she wasn’t allowed to leave the facility, Raven and the girls did the best they could to make sure she felt comfortable there, from small gifts to room decorations, and whatever snacks they could get their hands on. Raven and Aria even taught her how to physically defend herself in case of another attack.
In time, Doctor Schmidt decided that Gem had been restored to peak mental condition, and was ready to re-enter society. As Captain Armor came to collect her, he smiled. “Miss Shadow, you’re looking as fresh as a daisy,” he said.
“I feel like one!” Gem said happily, returning the smile. “I feel ready for anything!”
“That’s the last of that,” Doctor Schmidt said, handing Shining Armor the transfer papers. “You’re free to go, Miss Gemini.”
Gem nodded, and gave him a hug. “Thank you so much for your help,” she said. “How can I ever repay you?”
“By not needing to return, and remembering what I’ve taught you,” Doctor Schmidt replied. “You’re a remarkable young woman, and I have no doubt that what you’ve learned these last two months will stick. I wish you the best of luck.” He hugged her back, then stepped back. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another patient to see to… good afternoon.” He bowed his head to them and went down the hallway.
Shining Armor took Gem’s hand in her own. “Let’s get you home,” he said. “I have a feeling some friends of yours will be wanting to see you. Especially a certain little sister of mine!”
The ride back to Shadowfall was a long one, which gave Gem and Shining plenty of time to talk. As Gem watched the countryside give way to the concrete and glass jungle she knew and loved, Shining informed her of the town gossip. To her surprise, most of the town had rallied around her before, during, and after the trial. The Lulamoons had already been extremely unpopular, and were chased out of town by an angry mob the day of Gem's arrival at the clinic. Rumor had it they were hiding in Las Pegasus.
Finally, Shining Armor's police car pulled up to the front gates of Shadowfall, which opened automatically, and up the long driveway to the house. He whistled. "Some place you've got," he remarked. "And it's just you?"
Gem nodded. "Me, my assistant Steno, and any combination of the girls." She smiled. "Farewell, Captain Armor. And thank you."
Shining smiled. "Any friend of Twily's is a friend of mine. Stay safe, Gemini." With that, he opened the car door for her. Gem thanked him and walked up the steps to her front door, letting herself inside.
After passing through the entrance hall and entering the sitting room, she frowned. "Why in the world is it so dark in here?" Indeed, all the lights were off and the shades were drawn, making it hard to see anything.
Suddenly the light clicked on, and eight people (seven girls and one boy) all leapt out from various hiding places, shouting "SURPRISE! WELCOME HOME, GEM!" All eight had ponied up, or in Steno's case, bugponied-up.
Gem gasped, placing a hand on her chest. Before her was a banner reading "WELCOME BACK GEMINI" in large letters, with a buffet table filled with all her favorite treats. "All of this... all of this is for me?" she asked, awed.
Sonata bounced over and nodded, hugging Gem tight. "You bet it is! It was all my idea, too! I even made fruit punch, with just the right amount of grape juice this time!"
Tears began to well up in Gem's eyes. "I don't know what to say," she said, looking around at her friends.
"You don't have to say anything," Raven said, walking over and kissing Gem on the cheek. "We all love you, and we're glad to have you back with us."
"I'm glad to be back too," Gem said with a smile. "I missed you all so much!" She hugged them tight, then said, "Well, there's no time like the present! Let's get partying!"
Sonata pulled up Vinyl Scratch and Octavia from nowhere, and they began to play some joyful party music.
"I'm so glad you're home," Raven said with a smile, as the party got into full swing. "CHS just hasn't been the same without you."
"Indeed!" Octavia called, as she took a break from playing the cello. She crossed the room and got herself a glass of punch. "Almost the entire student body has been asking about your welfare. Except for a few individuals, of course."
"By which she means, those tools Trixie called friends," Vinyl added. She rolled her eyes from behind her sunglasses. "But no one cares about them. Word on the street is that they've been put into the alternative school."
"And here I thought they'd all think of me as a murderer," Gem said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Of course they don't think that!" Sunset said bracingly. "They've seen enough dark magic to know it when they see it, and believe me, you're fine."
The girls continued partying for a while, and as Gem went to refill her punch glass, Adagio approached her. “How about you and I spend some quality time together this weekend?” she said. “You look like you could do with some relaxing.”
Gem smiled. “I think that sounds like a splendid idea, Adagio.”
Adagio grinned. “Excellent. I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
Sure enough, the next morning Gem was sitting on the front steps outside Shadowfall, waiting for Adagio to pull up. This was her first outing since the calamitous events of the last few weeks, and right now she was ready for any form of relaxation. But she still felt somewhat anxious, jumping at every glance her way and flinching at every sudden exclamation.
Adagio, having borrowed Sunset's car for the day, pulled up in front of the manor and stepped out of the car. She walked over to Gem. “Hey girl,” she said, “thanks for agreeing to spend a day with me. I've got something special planned for us today.” She opens her purse and hands Gem a flyer. “New spa in town. I checked them out, they're totally trans friendly, and not overly expensive. So, it's gonna be you and me, being pampered as we truly deserve to be.”
Gem beams, giving Adagio a tight hug, “Oh Dagi, thank you! I’m going to need it, I can just tell!” She climbs into the passenger seat of the car, “So… how have you been?”
“I've been doing okay, I guess,” Adagio says, starting the car. “I still get funny looks at school now and then, but it's nothing I'm not already used to.” The pair drive in contented silence for a while until Adagio pulls up in front of a storefront in a small strip mall. Adagio turns to Gem and smiles. “Ready for some serious girl time?”
Gem nods happily, “I certainly am!”
Adagio smiles, and the two both exit the vehicle and walk inside.
“Welcome, ladies,” said the thick-accented lady at the reception counter. “I am Lotus, and I wish to welcome you to our little spa. Did you have any particular package in mind for today's visit?”
“I had made a reservation for today, actually,” Adagio said. “Dazzle, party of two, special accommodations.”
Lotus scanned the sheet in front of her. “Let's see … ah yes, here it is. Very well, you are all set. Please step back behind the curtain, my sister Aloe will show you to the dressing rooms. Enjoy your visit!”
Adagio smiled. “Thank you, I'm sure we will.” She and Gem walked past the desk and toward the curtain in the back.
Gem rubs her hands together gleefully, “Oooh, this’ll be such fun! I’ve never done this before!”
“Welcome,” said Aloe, in an accent as thick as her sister's. “You are the one I spoke to on the telephone, yes?”
Adagio nodded. “Yes, Miss Aloe. I am Adagio and this is Gem.”
Aloe smiled broadly. “It will be a pleasure to take care of you both today. The dressing room is right behind you. Please place your clothing in a locker and put these on,” she says, handing both of them a long, fluffy bathrobe and a plain, dark-colored bathing suit. “You may enter the hot tub once you have finished with that, and I will prepare the massage room.”
Adagio and Gem stepped into the locker room and began to change. Adagio put on her suit, adjusting it so as not to be pinchy. “Seems nice so far,” Adagio said, locking the locker and placing the lanyard with the key around her neck. She slipped the robe on. “As soon as you're ready, Gem.”
Gem slips out of her clothes and into the bathing suit, puts on the lanyard, and happily follows Adagio to the hot tub, slipping slowly into it. Immediately she emits a soft moan of pleasure as the water touches her skin, from the tips of her toes to her legs, torso, and chest. “Oooh, this feels lovely…” she says, closing her eyes and smiling gently.
Adagio turned a knob on the control panel next to her. Jets of water began to bubble the water in the tub. “Ooh, this is even better. It feels nice,” she said, closing her eyes and sighing happily.
“It really does,” Gem says with a nod, opening her eyes to look at Adagio, “Does it remind you a little of the sea?”
“A little bit,” Adagio said, “it's not as bubbly as this, and it's a bit colder, but it's close … and much more comfortable.” She slipped a little lower. “Ah, there we are … one of the jets is pulsing against my back. Oh, that's wonderful.”
“Ladies, if you would like to step into the massage room, we can begin as soon as you are ready,” Aloe said, stepping out from another curtained-off room.
“Certainly,” Gem says, climbing out after a few minutes and wrapping herself in the offered robe. “Mmm… and that was just the beginning!” As she and Adagio walk toward the massage room, a thought strikes her. “Dagi, I was wondering something… whatever became of that crush you had on me before?”
“it's still there, somewhat,” Adagio replied, following Gem to the massage room. “I've kept it suppressed since I've seen you and Raven together, and I see how happy you two are. I wouldn't want to mess that up.”
Aloe and Lotus are waiting for the two. “Please, hang your robes on the hooks and lay face-down on the table. Once you do that, all we ask is that you relax and let us do the work,” Lotus instructs. After Gem lays down on the table, Lotus sprinkles a few drops of plain oil on Gem's back and begins to work and knead the muscles. She then picks up a smaller bottle and sprinkles the contents onto Gem's back. The air is scented with a mixture of wintergreen, lemon, peppermint, and eucalyptus, along with a scent she cannot identify. “This is a special blend of essential oils,” Lotus explained. “It is called, 'Raven.'”
Gem can’t help but giggle at that as she smells the scent of the oils, “That’s my fiancé’s name,” she remarks to Lotus, before turning her attention back to Adagio. “You know, in a strange way I’m glad to hear that it’s still around… some things do, in fact, stand the test of time.”
“I admit, I had I pretty bad at one time,” Adagio confessed. “But, as our relationship progressed, I realized I felt more of a kinship than a romantic bond. Now, you're like a sister to me. Minus the flippers and scales, of course.” She chuckled. “But it doesn't change the fact that I deeply care about you.” She paused. “I bet you've been hearing that a lot lately, haven't you?”
“All the time,” Gem agrees. “And it’s something I’m only now beginning to understand.” She gives Adagio a smile, “I am glad to be your sister, Dagi. I mean… you didn’t make me an honorary Dazzling for nothing, you know.”
“That's not something I give out lightly. In fact, you're the only one I've bestowed that honor on, for better or for worse.” She sighed contentedly as a particularly tense spot was rubbed out. “Guess that would make Raven my honorary sister-in-law. Hope we don't have to argue all the time now, I really like her.”
Gem laughs. “Nah, you’ll get along great. You already do!” She sighs a bit herself as Lotus manages to help relieve so many of the tensions she’s built up in the last few months, “This is going to be quite a busy year for us… all of us, that is. I don’t imagine completely breaking up after graduation."
“You know what would be great? All of us taking a trip together. Just traveling around, seeing the world, or at least what we can see of it, having a good time.” Adagio closed her eyes. “I'm gonna give that some thought and see if it's doable. It does sound fun though, doesn't it?”
“An excellent idea,” Gem agrees, nodding. “I love it already… all of us in a bus, with Longhaul driving… a real magical mystery tour…”
“Yeah, that does sound nice,” Adagio agreed. “I hadn't considered a bus tour. You think Longhaul would do that for us?”
“Okay ladies, you may rest here for a few more minutes before you head for the sauna,” Aloe said cheerfully. “When you finish there, you may come in for your manicures and facial treatments.” Lotus and Aloe both leave the room.
“Without a doubt,” Gem says, nodding. At Aloe’s words, she oohs. “Wheee! Manicures and facial treatments!”
Several minutes later, Adagio and Gem are reclining on benches inside the sauna room. The air is steamy and very warm. Both girls have their hair wrapped in towels, and large towels cover their bodies.
“This is lovely. I can feel my pores opening,” Adagio practically purred. “I can't remember the last time I had a treatment like this.”
“I haven’t felt this relaxed in… well forever,” Gem agrees, nodding. “It’s like all of my stress and negativity has melted away!”
“Hopefully, this will help you sleep better tonight. I could also look into some herbal remedies that might help, if you want me to,” Adagio said. “I have a friend that's into that whole 'back to nature' thing. She's helped me with some herbal remedies, and they've worked pretty well.”
“Is her name Treehugger?” Gem wonders. “I think that would be useful… at this point, I’ll take nearly anything. What sorts of things has she done for you?"
“Yeah, that's her,” Adagio replied. “You've seen her around school, the kind-of-spacey girl with the dreads. Anyway, she's given me herbal remedies for colds and whatnot, plus some stuff to help me sleep. I wasn't sleeping all that great after we left Longhaul's place to go live with Sunset, but she hooked me up with some nice herbal teas that really calmed me. Let me ask her what she might recommend for you when I see her at school Monday.”
The girls finished their sauna and, a short time later, were being treated to manicures and mud masks. Adagio lay back with two slices of cucumber over her eyes. “I feel like the queen of everything. I've missed that,” she said wistfully.
Gem chuckles. “I’d be perfectly happy just raising a family,” she admits. “Noble or not. I could never be a queen. Politics drives me mad.” She grins wryly. “To hear my father talk, you’d think he was living a political drama or something.” She shakes her head, “No, I just want to be a mother… I think I’d be good at it.”
“I think you would be, too, dear girl.” Adagio smiled as much as the mud mask would allow. The rest of the session passed in silence, save for the occasional scratchings of emory boards over fingernails.
“Thank you so much for your business,” Lotus said, smiling. “We do hope you will visit us again very soon.”
“I plan to, believe me. This was an excellent day, thank you both so much,” Adagio said to Lotus and Aloe.
“I agree!” Gem says with a smile, “One of these days, we can bring the whole band here!” Then she gives Adagio another hug, “And I am glad I got to spend today with you, Dagi. We should do this more often!”
Adagio smiled, and waved to Aloe and Lotus as the two exited the spa.
As Adagio drove back to Gem's house, she asked, “So, do you feel better now that you've allowed yourself to be pampered for a day?”
“So much,” Gem says, smiling at her reflection in the mirror. “I feel like a whole new woman… and I’m going to hold on to that, because the road ahead is a rough one.” She places a soft peck on Dagi’s cheek, “But as long as I have my friends, I can weather the storm with the best of them.”
Adagio blushed a bit. “That's what friends are for,” she said, “and sisters too.” The car pulled into the driveway of Shadowfall Manor. “Okay, here we are. And I'm gonna say something else you're probably tired of hearing, but I'm saying it anyway. Don't be afraid to call me if you need anything, even an ear to listen to you talk in the middle of the night after a nightmare. I'm here to help if you let me.” She hugged Gem tight. “I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”
“See you, sis,” Gem says, hugging tightly back, before heading into the house, closing the door behind her.
The hot summer sun bore down upon the city of Canterlot, making everybody miserable. Gemini and her friends sat in the sitting room of Shadowfall with all the windows open and nursing as many cold drinks as they could get their hands on, but it was all for naught.
"What's the temperature?" asked Sunset Shimmer to the room at large.
Gem clicked on her phone, swiped her finger across the screen, and tapped it a few times. "86," she said. "Heat index of 97." Everyone moaned.
"It's just so hoooooot!" Sonata complained, tugging at the collar of her t-shirt.
"Really? I think it's just perfect," Adagio quipped, her expression deadpan.
Sonata looked at her in surprise. "For realsies? 'Cause I think this is the worst!"
"I think you're the worst, Sonata," grumbled Aria.
Sonata raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Well, I think-"
"Shut up, will ya?" Raven hissed. "Some of us are trying to keep cool in here!" Raven was currently topless, save for the dark purple bra she wore. She was holding a bucket of ice water in her hands, which she then proceeded to dump on her head. As ice cubes fell into her lap, she smiled. "Much better!"
"Anyone got any ideas on how we could keep cool?" Asked Emerald Wave, who was sitting with a fan by her chair.
"We could go to the cinema," Gem suggested, raising her hand.
Twilight shook her head, "Inadvisable. The current heat is only going to mean everyone else in town will have had the same idea, and the amount of body heat in an enclosed space will do nothing to solve our problem."
"How about the pool?" Sunset offered.
"Far too crowded," Adagio said, shaking her head. "They wouldn't let us in, anyway, not after Sonata's accident two summers ago."
"Don't remind me," Aria cringed. "Deluxe tacos plus her digestive system equaled a train wreck."
"What if we went to the beach?" Gem said.
"We'll have to go swimsuit shopping though," said Raven. "Gem doesn't have her first bikini yet, and everyone else's have shrunk."
"The mall will at least have air conditioning," agreed Adagio. "Let's do!"
An hour later, the group had traveled to a store called Elizabeth's Mystery, where they currently stood in the swimsuit section, looking over the possibilities. Gem's chin was being held by one hand as she looked thoughtful.
"Whatcha thinking about?" Raven asked her.
Gem pointed to the green and white striped two-piece before her. "Before I try this on, I need to ensure that it will do an adequate job hiding my..." She paused in mid sentence.
"Lady's sausage?" supplied Emerald with a knowing smirk.
Gem's cheeks flared red, but she nodded.
Emerald laughed and took her friend's hand, "Come along, fellow t-girl. I know just what you need!" And she led Gem to a separate area of the store, and gestured to a rack of swimsuits similar to what they had been looking at. “These,” she said, “are swimsuits designed for trans folk in mind, which means tucking will be a lot easier to do than with a standard one.” She paused for a moment. “You do tuck, don’t you?”
Gem nodded again. “Ever since I learned how…” She quickly grabbed a blue two-piece with white polka dots and disappeared into a changing room while Emerald waited outside. She came out a few minutes later, necessarily showing a lot more skin than she usually did. “How do I look?”
Emerald wolf-whistled and grinned, “Like a bombshell, babe. Seriously! The magical lady-pills have been very kind to you!”
Gem blushed again, “Then I guess we have a keeper,” she said at last, going back into the changing room. The pair shopped for Emerald’s suit next, she picked out a dark green two-piece that had fish drawings all over it. That done, they trooped off to rejoin the main group.
“So what did you get?” Raven asked Gem.
Gem beamed, “I’ll show you!” She took out her phone and showed off a few pictures she’d taken in the dressing room, and everyone whistled appreciatively.
“Smart and sexy,” Raven said, wrapping her fingers around Gem’s own and kissing her nose, “Just like you.”
The band drove toward the beach next, after a quick stop at Gem’s house to pick up snacks and other necessities, like towels, books, sunscreen, and other such things. After a half hour they parked and found their way into the nearest ladies’ bathroom, where they changed into their outfits. Sunset wore a red one-piece with a white stripe going across her belly, Twilight wore a purple bikini with a white bow and purple sandals, Adagio had a pink bikini and sunglasses with white and purple sandals, Sonata had a purple bikini, and Aria’s one-piece was the same teal as the streaks in her hair. Raven’s bikini was a bright purple and had a picture of a raven in flight with a trail of stars on one breast cup. With the addition of shorts and towels, they were ready.
Surprisingly, the beach was fairly quiet. It was already the middle of the afternoon, and Twilight hypothesized that most of the town was still at the pool. This didn’t bother the group any as they set up camp, with Adagio taking a spot on a towel beneath an umbrella beside Twilight, who was already reading.
Gem and Raven walked down the beach together, holding hands. “How do you feel?” Raven asked. “I’ve never seen you show this much skin before.”
“It does feel a little peculiar,” Gem agreed, “But pleasant… it helps that I now have the proper body for it.” She ran a hand down her belly and smiled. “Did you know I tried a bikini on once? When I was little?”
Raven’s mouth fell open. “No way. Spill!”
Gem laughed, “Oh yes… I was about 6 years old at the time, and I was going to the beach with Carrie… I had forgotten to bring my swim trunks with me, so I had to borrow one of her spare outfits.”
Raven snickered, “That’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever heard!”
“It gets better! When we got there, one of the other patrons said to us, ‘What adorable young ladies you two are!’ And neither of us bothered to ‘correct’ her!”
“Amazing how right she turned out to be, in the end," said Raven, giggling slightly.
Gem nodded, “Simply stunning…” She trailed off as she watched some of the others. Aria and Sonata were chasing each other, Adagio was looking very engrossed in her book, Emerald and Twilight were engaged in a passionate make-out session, and Sunset was off in the water, surfing. Gem stopped where she was and looked out at the ocean.
“You look pensive,” said Raven, standing beside her. “Something bugging you?”
Gem shook her head, “Not at all… I’m just amazed. How far we’ve come, the friends we’ve made, the memories we’ve shared and stand to create in the future… it’s beautiful.”
“It is,” Raven agreed. “I like our little group… it’s like a family. Or a wolf pack, as Emerald would say.”
Gem chuckles, “A family… outcasts bonded together by nothing more than love and friendship.” She turned to Raven, staring into her eyes. The sun was starting to slip downwards and the air was beginning to cool. “I’m proud of our family, Raven,” she said softly, kissing her.
Raven kissed her back. "Me too, Gemini."
It had been a couple of weeks since that afternoon at the beach. It was still fairly early into summer vacation, and Gem was beginning to get bored with hanging out in the house all day. She sat on the couch in the sitting room, a glass of lemonade by her side. Steno bustled around doing chores, as always.
“I just can’t think of anything to do,” Gem was saying. “It’s too hot to go out for any length of time, the girls are often busy doing goodness knows what… and you’re probably getting sick of listening to me blather on and on like this.”
Steno simply chuckled and suggested, “What if you went looking for a summer job? Then you could earn some money of your own, get out of the house, keep cool, and be occupied.”
Gem nodded, “That sounds like an excellent idea, Steno! It’s been a long time since I’ve had a job of any sort, outside of volunteer work at the library and the middle school.” Picking up her phone, she dialed Adagio’s number. “Dagi? It’s Gem. Are you busy?”
Adagio, who was sitting on the porch of Sunset’s house with a fan in her hand, shook her head. “Not even remotely, sis. What’s up?”
“I was thinking I needed a summer job, but I don’t know where to start. Can you help?” Gem replied, twirling a lock of her hair around a finger.
“I certainly can,” said Adagio happily. “This might seem a little sudden, but I saw an advertisement today calling for a bunch of models, and I felt like applying. Want to join in?”
Gem sounded hesitant. “Are you sure they’d let me? Given my background?”
Adagio chuckled. “Relax, you. Gender discrimination is illegal, and besides, you’ve been legally female for ages. You have nothing to worry about! In fact, I’d say your body is an asset. I saw you in that swimsuit a couple weeks ago, you’re very curvaceous. Trust me, modeling would be great for you.”
“If you say so,” Gem replied, still unsure. “When can we meet to talk this over?”
“I’ll come by tomorrow morning,” Adagio said, “and we can go to the modeling place together. Dress nicely, and emphasize those curves! They’ll make a good impression!”
“See you tomorrow then,” Gem said, and she hung up.
Adagio’s car pulled up in front of Gem’s house bright and early the next morning. She honked twice, and Gem came out through the front door, wearing an outfit that was specifically designed to emphasize the curves she’d developed over the last few months.
“Looking good, girl!” Adagio said happily, as Gem slid into the passenger seat and buckled up. She pointed to a couple of cold cups sitting in the cup holders between them, “Liquid refreshment, since we’ll be out all day. There’s coffee for me and tea for you.”
“Thanks!” Gem smiled and took her cup, sipping gently as Adagio put the car in drive and headed out through town, “Where was it you said we were going?”
“Razzmatazz Modeling,” Adagio replied. “Photo Finish’s parents own the place.”
Gem cupped her chin with her hand in thought, “Isn’t she that blue girl who takes pictures of people all the time?”
Adagio nodded, “She and Coco Pommel intern here during the summer months, apparently. It pays pretty well too.”
After several minutes, the car pulled into the parking lot of an ordinary, nondescript office building, upon which was a sign that read “RAZZMATAZZ MODELING” in large letters. A sign on the glass doors read “Now accepting applications for seasonal work. Apply within.”
Adagio led Gem into an equally nondescript looking waiting room, where a purple-skinned young woman in her early 20s was sitting behind a counter, chewing gum and reading a magazine. She had blonde hair and purple glasses with 3 gemstones embedded in the frames, and only looked up from her article when Adagio rang the little bell. “Whaddya want?” she asked.
Adagio smiled. “Excuse me ma’am, but my friend and I are here to apply for a seasonal modeling position.”
The woman sighed. “The auditions are happening down the main hall, fourth door on the left.”
Adagio nodded, “Thank you!” And she led Gem down the hall.
The audition room was dominated by a plain white backdrop hanging from one wall, with a small assortment of props in front and a wooden stool. On the other side of the room was the director, the camera man, and a fashion critic. Adagio pointed at the fashion critic, an imposing man with swooped grey hair, pale cobalt blue skin and large purple sunglasses. “That’s Photo’s dad, Hoity Toity. He’s the biggest fashion critic in town,” she said. “They say he makes or breaks the careers of any model brave enough to come before him.”
Hearing his name, Hoity pulled down his sunglasses by the handle and stared at the two newcomers. Gem shivered, those blue eyes of his looked like shards of ice. “You two,” he said, pointing a well-manicured finger at them, “Go in the back, if you please… the other models are already dressing.”
Nodding, Adagio took Gem’s hand once more and led her into a back room, where a group of six other girls all stood in various states of dress. Gem recognized a few of them: Octavia Melody, the grey-skinned cellist from the Battle, Coco Pommel, that pale-skinned girl who had helped herself, Raven, and Twilight after Sunset posted an inflammatory video about the three of them online, and Suri Polomare, a pink-skinned girl with curly purple hair who looked as though she was the leader of the group.
Suri grinned like a hungry predator at the two new arrivals. “Well well well, what do we have here,” she said, staring them both down. “Two of Canterlot High’s resident freaks: the boygirl and the singing soul-stealer. What exactly makes you think you’ll fit in here?” she asked.
Octavia frowned as she loosened her pink bowtie and began changing into the outfit provided for her, a black and purple gown. “That’s quite enough, Suri! Miss Gemini is as much of a girl as you or I, and Miss Adagio certainly has no interest in stealing your soul.”
"Oh, I'll just bet she doesn't," Suri said, smirking more. "I think I'm going to prove why you two outcasts don't have a snowball's chance at a successful modelling career." With that, she turned on her heel and stalked off toward the front room, her head held high.
Gem looked positively disgusted at the display. "What a witch... Dagi, I think it's time we proved her wrong, don't you think?"
Adagio's eyes widened, this was a whole new side of her friend and beloved soul sister. She smiled though, the expression not dissimilar to what she'd worn when she was still thirsting for power. "I certainly do, little sis. Let's do this!"
Over the next few hours, Gem and Adagio worked together to prepare scintillating new outfits, with Coco's advice and assistance. Octavia encouraged them as they worked, playing her half of a new duet she was writing with Vinyl Scratch. Meanwhile, the other girls in the group were each called up in turns to show the camera that they had, in Photo Finish's words, "da magics."
Finally, it was their turn. Adagio went first, dressed in a black ensemble with gold spikes near her shoulders. While she danced, twirled, and laid around for the cameras, Suri stayed behind to bother Gem some more.
"Just look at those hands of yours," she said, eyeing Gem's hands with disdain. "All big and blocky and masculine. My hands are petite, svelte, and feminine. No matter how many pills you'll take, you'll never have hands like mine."
"If I had hands like yours, Suri Polomare, I'd cut them off and have my cousin make me some artificial ones," Gem said sarcastically, flexing her fingers. "Surely you, of all people, should know that how one's body looks doesn't determine how masculine or feminine they can be. I'm quite happy with my body just the way it is, hands and all."
"Is that so?" Suri didn't let up, it seemed like she was only egging Gem on at this point. "And how about your nether-regions? You're the only "girl" in this room with parts like those."
"How dare you!" Octavia exclaimed, gasping in surprise and playing a bum note at the same time. "Has Gemini enquired as to the state of your genitalia? No, she has not! You should extend the same courtesy to her!"
"Only because what I have is what true ladies have," Suri said coolly. "And she'll never be one of us."
"I am TWICE the lady you will ever be!" Gem shouted, and she flung her arms wide. A shockwave of magic sent Suri flying into the wall, where she landed in a heap. Gem stood over her, breathing heavily. "I've spent far too long fighting against the likes of you," she hissed. "And I'm tired of it. I'm tired of being called a boy in a dress. I'm tired of being considered less because I wasn't fortunate enough to be born with a body like yours. But most of all, Suri Polomare, I am tired of spineless little cowards like you, thinking you stand above us all, when in fact, you're no better than an earthworm!"
The room went quiet. Then there came the sound of approaching footsteps, and Adagio appeared in the doorway, surveying the scene. "Gem," she asked, keeping her voice calm, "what did she say to you?"
When Adagio found out exactly what Suri had said, she fixed the pink girl with a very cold stare, one born of two millennia of life. The hairs on Suri's neck stood on end.
"Don't you dare say such things about my sister ever again," Adagio growled, her fingers curling into fists, "Or I really will eat your soul for lunch."
Suri didn't say anything, she just got up, dusted herself off, and vanished into the bathroom, trembling like a leaf in a windstorm.
Finally, Gem's name was called. Dressed in a red top with a black skirt and lace-up boots with dark pantyhose, she stepped out in front of the backdrop, walking with as much confidence as she could muster.
The director looked at her appraisingly, "Excellent skin tone, and those curves... If we choose her, she could be a cover girl in no time."
Hoity Toity frowned. "I don't like that top... Swap it out for something a little more green, it'll bring out her eyes."
"I can do it," Gem volunteered, pointing a finger at the shirt. It faded from red to green instantaneously.
Hoity Toity pulled his glasses down again, looking surprised. "Good heavens," he said, "how in the world did you do that, dear lady?"
"Magic," Gem said simply. "I've been able to use it for a while now, it's a bit of a long story."
Hoity Toity nodded, "Now that I think about it, I think I've seen you somewhere before... You, and the girl who was up here before you, with the curls... Where could I have..." Then he snapped his own fingers, "Yes, that's it! You're the two pony girls!" Then he beamed, as if struck by sudden inspiration. "Give me those ears of yours, we can use them!"
"I'll try," Gem said, closing her eyes briefly. She then rose into the air, spinning around in a circle as her hair lengthened and pony ears poked through the top of her head. The cameraman snapped pictures like mad, capturing every moment of the transformation.
As Gem opened her eyes, Hoity was looking at the screen of the camera. "Yes! This will work wonderfully!"
From there, Gem spent the next hour posing in front of the camera, holding some of the props and happily embracing her equine side.
At the end of that hour, the eight possible models were standing in the back room once more, being addressed by Hoity Toity.
"As you know, we can only choose two models to work with us this summer," he said, surveying them all from behind his sunglasses. "All of you have potential, and there is nothing stopping you from trying again next year. However, after much deliberation between myself and my colleagues, I can announce that our two summer models for this year are..." He withdrew a slip of paper, "Miss Adagio Dazzle and Miss Gemini Shadow."
Everyone applauded, except for Suri, who grumbled something that no one could discern.
The rest of that summer was quite an exciting one for the two. Word that both girls, Gem in particular, had gotten into modeling spread like wildfire throughout the town, culminating in both of them making the covers of Teen Trends magazine and the swimsuit issue of Athletics Illustrated respectively.
When school reconvened in late August, Gem blushed at finding herself, sporting a dark blue bikini top and lounging on the hood of a car, pasted to the lockers of several students on either end of the gender spectrum. At lunch that day, the eight friends sat together in the cafeteria, discussing things.
“Think you’ll keep it up, Gem?” Emerald asked as she bit into an apple.
Gem shook her head, “My contract expired last week, and… well, while the money was good, it’s hardly something I needed to do.”
“But you had fun doing it,” Adagio pointed out. “Remember how we spent hours pouring over outfits?”
Gem nodded, “I had fun because I was spending time with you,” she said, placing a hand on Adagio’s own. “You’re more important to me than any modeling career.”
There was a collective awww around the group as Adagio blushed and kissed Gem’s cheek. “My sweet little sis,” she said, smiling. “I love you, dear girl.”
“And I love you, Dagi,” Gem said, giving her a hug.