It was a normal day in Canterlot High School as everyone gathered together for a charity car wash with Pinkie Pie coordinating everybody, and where she did it in a little song.
"Okay, girls, if I help, do you promise not to go all mushy?" Atticus asked as he came over, though wore a jacket before he would take it off to help them wash the car.
"We promise." The girls smiled.
"Okay," Atticus said as he then took off his jacket to show a tank top. "Alright, let's do this."
Mo and Cherry soon came over to also help. Mo stopped once she saw Atticus and she turned as red as her bandanna when she could see his muscles. Patch soon came to help as well. Pinkie made up a song as everyone else washed the car, and where they did a great job at it. Cherry panted as she looked a little out of breath due to running around and actually getting exercise for a change. The driver of the car who was Applejack's brother handed Rainbow Dash money for washing his car for him.
"That was exhausting." Cherry panted.
"Get some water." Atticus soothed her.
Cherry took out her water bottle and drank from it.
"Sweet!" Rainbow Dash grinned. "More cash to add to the stash!"
"We must have made enough money now." Mo said.
"I think we need a little break," Rarity smiled. "All of this sunshine and suds are doing a number on my hair."
"Agreed." Patch said.
Everyone else agreed to taking a break. They soon came to the cooler and opened it up to drink some drinks and take a break from their car wash in the hot blazing sun.
"Sure is a hot day." Patch panted.
"Your panting doesn't help." Cherry complained.
"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm a dog, I don't have sweat glands!" Patch defended.
"Not sure whether to be grossed out or jealous." Cherry replied.
"I'm sure that car wash helped us raise enough money now." Mo said.
"I sure hope so," Cherry replied. "Atticus, is there a cool shady spot? I need to rest."
"There's one over by that tree." Atticus said.
Cherry walked off into the cool shade since being out in the sun too long wasn't good for her.
"Hey, anybody seen Twilight lately?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Last I saw her, she was with Timber with the money, counting it over." Mo said.
"Oh, here she comes now." Atticus said.
"I'm here," Sci-Twi appeared while adjusting her glasses. "I was just going over the numbers again."
"Did we raise enough money to save Camp Everfree?" Mo smiled.
"We've only raised half," Sci-Twi frowned apologetically. "Timber and I counted the money four times just to be sure."
This made everybody groan that they didn't reach their goal.
"It's all right, we can just wash more cars," Applejack smiled. "There's gotta be some we missed."
"Nope," Atticus said. "We washed every last one."
"I think we're gonna have to come up with a new plan." Sunset suggested.
"Yeah, and fast." Atticus said.
"Yeah, isn't the deadline next week?" Cherry added as she sat in the shade.
"Pinkie Pie and Cherry have already hosted a bake sale, Twilight, Mo, and Fluttershy had that Doggy Day Care, and Sunset Shimmer and I planned this car wash." Rainbow Dash listed of what could be left to do.
"Not to worry, darlings," Rarity smiled. "It's my turn to devise a plan, and I already have something amazing in mind. It will be the most profitable of all of our fundraising events! The pièce de résistance!"
"But isn't it both your and Atticus's turn?" Mo asked.
"Oh, don't worry, this'll work out." Rarity smiled.
"But Rarity, we-" Atticus was about to tell her until Rarity covered his mouth.
"Meet us in the music room later this afternoon, and we will explain everything." The teen fashionista smiled innocently.
The others soon left them alone with Spike and Patch.
"Rarity...?!" Atticus scolded slightly.
"You guys got nuthin', huh?" Spike asked Atticus and Rarity.
"How'd you guess?" Rarity asked.
"Lucky guess." Patch teased.
"Maybe the mall will give us suggestions." Rarity said.
"That should help cheer you up," Atticus smiled to her. "Let's go then."
They soon went to the Mall to think, but they didn't have a lot of luck in that.
"Oh, rats," Rarity sulked. "Three hours and still no ideas for a lucrative last-minute fundraiser. Usually, window-shopping inspires me."
"Yeah, maybe that can help." Atticus said.
'Are you a musician?' A TV announcer asked.
"Hmm?" Rarity looked over.
'Do you and your friends love to dance?' The TV continued.
"Yeah...?" Atticus said.
'Are you unique, cool, stylish?' The TV asked.
"Yes, yes, yes, and... Obviously!" Rarity smiled.
'Do you want to win a cash prize?' The TV asked.
"Get to the point!" Atticus begged.
'Then enter the Canterlot Mall Chance to Prance Competition!' The TV announced. 'All you need is a music video of your own original song and dance. Then you could be prancing your way to first prize! Sign up now at the booth near the Aunt Orange Smoothie Kiosk.'
"This is a sign!" Atticus smiled.
"Oh, we're certain to win!" Rarity smiled back to him.
"Rarity! Atticus!" A certain sour sweet girl appeared. "What a surprise!...Not."
"Hey, Sour Sweet." Atticus greeted.
"Oh, and is that Sunny Flare?" Rarity gasped. "Why, it's been ages."
"It's only been a few months since the Friendship Games." Sugarcoat muttered.
"And I see you haven't changed a bit, Sugarcoat." Atticus said.
"I could say the same thing about you." Sugarcoat replied as she adjusted her glasses.
"So, how are things at Crystal Prep?" Atticus asked.
"Oh, things at CPA have never been better since Principal Cadence took over." Sunny Flare replied.
"Yeah, she's going to let us have the spring dance on a yacht, if we raise the money." Sour Sweet added.
"That's nice." Atticus said.
"Sounds divine." Rarity added in agreement.
"Are you signing up for the 'Chance to Prance' contest too?" Lemon Zest asked.
"We are!" Rarity giggled. " Are you girls here to sign up for the competition?"
"We definitely aren't here because we like standing in lines." Sugarcoat replied.
"Of course not." Atticus said.
"I assume you already have a video concept figured out," Sour Sweet told the two. "The competition's going to be pretty fierce."
"Oh, we sure do, but we're not going to be sharing any information on what it's going to be." Atticus said.
"Oh, right, what he said." Rarity smiled nervously.
"Oh, can't you tell us more?" Sour Sweet pried.
"Nope, sorry." Atticus said.
"Why don't you tell us your concept?" Rarity smiled nervously.
"Nothing," Sugarcoat replied. "We don't have one yet."
"What she means is it's a surprise!" Sour Sweet smiled. "But it's amazing! So original."
"Oh, well, we can't wait to see it in the contest." Atticus said.
"Good luck!" Rarity wished.
"You too!" Sour Sweet replied before leaving with her classmates.
"Whew," Atticus sighed. "That was close."
"That red ensemble did give me a slight idea though." Rarity replied nervously.
"That's great." Atticus said.
"Each member of the Rainbooms is going to dance in a different style—like flamenco, hip-hop, or street ballet—and we'll wear costumes to match each genre," Rarity giggled. "Designed by yours truly, of course. Well, what do you think?"
"It sounds perfect." Atticus smiled.
"I thought you might like it," Rarity replied. "I just wonder what to give Cherry."
"Some thing that really speaks Cherry: a perky goth." Atticus said.
"This might take a while..." Rarity pondered about what Cherry could wear for their dance number.
They began to ponder for a while until they figured a perfect outfit for Cherry.
"This shall be a great plan for Camp Everfree." Rarity told Atticus.
"Very stylish and generous of you, Rarity." Atticus replied.
"Well, it is who I am." Rarity smiled.
"Can't argue with that." Atticus smiled back.
Unknown, to them, the three girls from CPA had stayed behind and heard everything.
Everyone soon met Atticus and Rarity again for the big fundraising idea.
"See? It's a wonderful plan," Rarity smiled to their friends. "We'll write some lyrics for our new song, and we'll choreograph some dance moves. Then our video will win a cash prize, and voilà!"
"It's a perfect idea." Atticus said.
"You guys make it sound as simple as pie." Applejack replied.
"That's because it is!" Rarity smiled. "The girls at Crystal Prep even agree. They're making a video, too."
"They are?" Cherry raised a brow.
"That can't be good." Mo said.
Sci-Twi looked nervous.
"Are you okay, Sci-Twi?" Atticus asked, still used to calling her that since their adventure with her.
"I-Is that a problem, darling?" Rarity asked her.
"Oh, no, it's not," Sci-Twi shrugged. "Just haven't heard much about my old school since I left, I guess."
"Ooh, right." Patch winced.
"Well, if you ask me, Crystal Prep has got nothin' on CHS!" Spike smiled. "I love it here!"
"Why wouldn't anyone love it here?" Patch asked.
"See what I mean?" Spike smirked.
"Okay, before we get started with the choreographing of our dance moves, and..." Rarity said before mumbling slightly. "There's just one tiny, teensy-weensy little thing I forgot to mention."
"We need the money to pay for the equipment we'll need." Atticus said.
"Hmm..." Sunset hummed in thought. "How much is the grand prize worth?"
"More than double what we need to fix up Camp Everfree!" Rarity replied as Atticus nodded.
"HA!" Rainbow Dash replied. "Then of course you can use the money for costumes!"
"Great." Atticus said.
"Oh, what the hay?" Applejack shrugged herself. "Why not?"
"Sounds like a good idea." Mo said.
"I have a strange feeling about this, but whatever." Cherry replied.
"How about the rest of you?" Atticus asked.
Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie already agreed.
"According to my calculations, if we lend Rarity and Atticus the funds we've already raised, we stand to gain four times as much money as we have now." Sci-Twi replied.
"That's good." Mo said.
"But if we lose the video contest, we'll be completely back to square one and zero dollars," Sci-Twi warned. "Anyone else think this is an awfully risky endeavor?"
"This isn't risky." Mo said.
"I mean, um, heh... Me neither." Sci-Twi smiled nervously.
"It'll be okay, Twi," Patch soothed her. "We can all do this together, remember?"
"Yeah." Spike added.
"Okay, what do you guys say we get set for our video?" Atticus smiled to the girls.
"Yeah!" Mo smiled.
The others of course agreed, though Cherry's cheerfulness wasn't fully shown due to the kind of person she was.
"You sure you wouldn't be more comfortable to hang around someone like Moonlight Raven, Cherry?" Rarity asked the perky goth.
"If this helps save Camp Everfree, I'm in." Cherry said.
Rarity shrugged to her, but they all went straight to work before laughing. "Looks like I have some fabric shopping to do!"
"Yep, sure looks like it." Mo agreed.
And with that, they all got some work done so that they could save Camp Everfree, but of course, it wouldn't be easy.