Chapter 2: Hard Working Designers and the Resentful Apple

A few days later, Rarity and Adagio meet Vignette at the Equestria Land Theme Park entrance.

Vignette introduces herself, "My name is Vignette Valencia, and to answer your first question, yes, I'm that 'Vignette', but no, I do not think I'm better than you just because I have three million followers on SnapGab."

Vignette walks down and the girls follow

"You're up to three million now? I mean, yes, uh, yes, I-I am familiar with your online repertoire," Rarity says.

"I have a good feeling about you, Rare. Oh, you have to let me call you 'Rare'. It's the perfect name for lead parade costume designer. Not a... um, caramel apple girl. I don't even know why you applied for a job like that. Not with a SnapGab feed like yours," Vignette says.

"Oh," Rarity replies.

"Obviously, I looked you up. Great pictures, by the way. That gingham and linen sundress caught my eye, and your follower count is… im-press-ive. For someone just starting out, of course. But I can already tell you've got magique inside," Vignette says with a smile.

Pleased, Rarity says, "Oof. Magi— You can?"

"The light parade is the most important event in the park. Over a hundred cast members, and you are gonna make them look perfect," Rarity says with excitement.

Then points to the table, and says, "Oh. And before I forget, don't put anything on that table. Especially your phone. No reason. Just a super-important rule I made up, 'kay?"

"Um why?" Adagio asks.

"Um, you don't wanna know," Vignette says.

Adagio and Rarity blink their eyes with confused looks.

Then Vignette says, "But enough about that, lemme take to where you two will need to work. You both will be working in the sewing room and you two can work on the float for the contest. By the way, where is our beloved Princess of Equestria Land Light Parade."

"She went camping with some of our friends, but she'll be here for the show. Just don't post anything about her dress for the parade. Rarity and I wanted it to be a surprise," Adagio says.

Vignette giggles, and answers, "Deal."

Over a week has gone by, and Applejack is busy working at her family's farm. Applejack hears her phone ring, and picks it up to hear her friend.

"Rarity!" Applejack happily yells.

Rarity who is sewing, says on the phone, "Applejack! Darling! How's work on the farm?"

"Fantastic!... I could not be happier... makin' foot-stompin' applesauce the old-fashioned way with my family," Applejack answers, as she squishes apples in a barrel with her brother and sister.

"Less chatter, more splatter!" Granny Smith yells.

Just then, Wire Wolf comes in with the crate full of apples, and asks, "Where you want this to go?"

"Just put them by the others sunny," Granny Smith answers.

Wire Wolf leaves to do what Granny says.

"Oh, good. I'm so happy for you," Rarity happily says.

"And I'm happy for you and your new job, too," Applejack replies.

"Oh, yes, well... It's certainly a big job," Rarity says with a nervous laugh.

At her job, Rarity is sewing up the outfits, and the employees are beginning fabric materials to her in a rush.

"I'm sure you won't slip up," Applejack says, holding the phone, and almost slips on the apple.

"Well, I-I was calling, because, you see, well, it's not that I'm… nervous or anything silly like that, but I-I-I was wondering if... if you and the girls wanted to come on opening night to see the parade. V.I.P. passes! You can cut the lines!" Rarity says, but is sounding nervous.

"You bet your britches, missy! I wouldn't miss your big night for the world!" Applejack says with excitement.

She then remembers, "By the way, you are not going to believe the craziest thing happen during Sun's campin' trip with Princess Twilight and the others. Also, she's hearing to the park right now."

"That's good to hear," Rarity says.

"Yep. Our good friend is going to be Equestria Land's Princess," Applejack, but slips and falls into the smashed apples. Then drops her phone in the batter as well

"Ugh…" Applejack groans in reply.

On the other line, Rarity calls out, "Applejack? Darling? Hello?"

Later on at the park, Adagio is helping out with the float she and Rarity has design. That is when Sun walks in.

"He Adagio," Sun calls out.

"Hey Sun, it's nice to see you here," Adagio happily replies.

"So are are things going?" Sun asks.

"Great. The float is almost done, and Rarity and I are still working on the clothes," Adagio answers.

Sun looks around, and asks, "Where is Rarity?"

"She needed some inspiration to herself for a little," Adagio weakly answers.

But Sun bluntly suspects, "She's nervous isn't she?"

"Yes. She is," Adagio answers.

Just then, Vignette somes in happily says, "Adagio, hey. And I see our Equestria Land Princess is finally here!"

"She is. Vignette this is one of my best friends, Sun. Sun, this is Vignette," Adagio introduces the two to each other.

"Hi. It's nice to meet you Vignette," Sun says.

"It's nice to meet you too. I remember watching some of your videos of you girls in a band, and you all have a lot of followers," Vignette says.

"Yep. So is there anything you need me to help with?" Sun asks.

"Oh, don't worry about your pretty little head. All you have to do is practice your hello and wave. And just so you know, you should, B.Y.B.B: Be Yourself But Better," Vignette says.

Sun becomes confused, and says, "Okay. But I think I like myself the way it is. I'm not sure if I can be better."

"Non since, everyone can become better than they are now," Vignette says with a smile.

"If you say so," Sun replies.

Weeks go by, and today is the opening day of the Equestria Land Theme Park. People are riding a roller coaster, riding on the hot air balloon ferris wheel, and going into a haunted out. Of course, Trixie, Bon Bon, and Lyra run out screaming.

Applejack and the others along with Wire Wolf enter the park

Pinkie happily cheers, "Equestria Land opening day! What should we do first?"

"Appleloosa Wild West Stunt Show?" Pinkie asks, turning to Applejack.

"Nightmare Moon's Haunted Castle?" Pinkie asks, hugging Fluttershy.

Then Pinkie is upside between Rainbow and Twilight, "Sugarcube Everything?!"

"I don't think there's a ride like that," Wire Wolf replies.

Applejack cuts in, and says, "Now, hang on. I got the sense Rarity's overwhelmed, which is understandable. I mean, she, Adagio, and Sun are alone without the rest of their friends. Which is why I wouldn'ta taken the job, but that's just me. Uh, point is, we're here to support Rarity."

Suddenly, everyone scream and running towards a girl that is Vignette Valencia. Everyone gather and start taking selfies and pictures with her.

Confused, Applejack asks, "What? Uh, which character is that?"

"Ah, it's not a character, silly! That's Vignette Valencia! She's famous on SnapGab, which you'd know if you actually logged in once in a while. You're missing my "One Cupcake Every Day" series," Pinkie answers, bringing out her phone and looking over it.

Then Pinkie gives Applejack her phone.

"She posts a lot of pictures of her Welsh corgi named Yas Queen," Fluttershy says.

"And she's friends with, like, every awesome athlete in the world!" Rainbow Dash adds.

Applejack and Rainbow look at Twilight.

Twilight says, "Don't look at me. I only follow bots that post interesting science facts."

Applejack looks over the picture, and says,"These are her pictures? 'Chillin sandy style?' 'U no how I do?'"

Applejack sees her at the beach wearing a blue swimsuit.

"'I came I saw I vintaged?'" Applejack questions, seeing a picture of Vignette's selfie with her sitting on a bench holding a tennis racket.

Then look at the next, picture, and questions with a confused looks"Okay, somebody tell me why this picture has twenty thousand likes?"

The picture is a video of Vignette having her bang over her eyes.

As she moves it, Vignette says, "Hashtags Bangs."

Then has her finger close to her mouth.

Wire Wolf questions, "I don't get it."

"Uh, I don't know. Spendin' all that time just to look good in a picture ain't my idea of fun," Applejack replies.

Just then, Rarity walks over, and happily says, "There you are!"

With Sun and Adagio walking alongside her.

"Here comes the lead parade costume designer!" Applejack says.

Applejack and Rarity pull each other to a hug.

"Guilty as charged!" Rarity replies with a giggle.

Sonata asks, "So how are you all doing?"

"Yeah. We haven't seen you guys for weeks," Aria adds.

"And how is our Equestria Land Princess?" Rainbow asks.

"I'm doing fine," Sun answers.

"And the float is looking great," Adagio adds.

"Glad to hear it," Wire Wolf replies.

Then Applejack asks, "So, you three have been here for so long without your best friends. What can we do to help?"

"Hold that thought," Rarity says.

Then she calls out, "Vignette! Over here!"

Hearing her name, Vignette walks to Rarity and the others.

"You know Vignette Valencia?" Applejack questions in reply.

"Pfft. Do I know her?" Rarity repeats.

The two give each other side kisses.

"Why, she's our best friend at the park!" Rarity happily announces.

Applejack gasp in shock.

"Selfie! Oh, but can we use your phone? Mine's been acting super-weird lately," Vignette asks.

Then Rarity says, "Come on Sun, Adagio, you're needed too."

Sun and Adagio walks to Vignette and Rarity so they can have their picture taken.

Vignette happily says, "Thanks. You're the best!"

Then the four girls makes funny faces, and Rarity takes the picture. Applejack is rather shocked to see Rarity, Sun, and Adagio are getting acquainted with this social media star.

Applejack has her arms crossed and looking at them with frustration on her face.

"Everyone, this is Vignette Valencia. She runs P.R. for the park, and she's my boss," Rarity introduces the others to Vignette.

But Vignette jokes, "I told you not to use the "B" word. I'm your... "friend"... who gets to boss you around!"

Rarity nervously laughs to hear the joke. Rarity get the others to nervously laugh as well. All except, Wire Wolf, Applejack, and Aira

"I don't get it," Pinkie replies.

"Isn't that kind of the same thing," Wire Wolf replies.

"Heh. So this is Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Falling Star, Twilight Sparkle, and Fluttershy," Rarity says, introducing the gang to Vignette, and stands in front of Applejack.

Applejack clears her thought to get Rarity's attention.

Rarity nervously laughs, and says, "Oh! Ha. And Applejack. Sorry, you were standing a— I-I didn't see you."

Sun walks to Wire Wolf, and says, "And this is Wire Wolf."

Then Adagio says, "And these are my sisters, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk."

"Hmmm," Vignette says, looking at her phone.

The others are looking a bit confused.

Rarity says, "They're our best friends. So... I thought you'd like to meet them."

"Mm-hmm," Vignette replies, not paying attention

Then Adagio says, "We all perform together in a band called the Rainbooms. Of course, my sister and I work as backup singers called The Dazzlings.

"Rainbooms? Why is that familiar?" Vignette questions sounding surprised and interested.

"Well, I didn't mention about us being in a band," Sun says.

Not listening, Vignette looks at her phone, and says, "A hundred thousand followers? Focused consumer-centric demographic, too? Does your curated content consistently aggregate across multiple platforms?"

The others are looking at Vignette with confused looks.

Then Pinkie says, "We sing songs together!"

Vignette gasp, and happily announces."I am going to turn you into the centerpiece of tonight's light parade!"

"Uh, the Rainbooms?" Rainbow questions.

Then Vignette sushes Rainbow, "Shhh... Are you ready?"

Then happily explains, "B.Y.B.B. Be yourself, but better! That's been my power phrase since I started my first company. A middle school girl selling artisanal handmade mascara. 'But isn't that just melted crayons?' Hey, neighsayers gonna neigh. But I say B.Y.B.B."

"Um, how many people will be watching us?" Fluttershy asks.

"All of them!" Vignette answers with a smile.

Then asks, "What do you say?"

Sun thinks about it, "Well, if it's gonna help out Rarity and Adagio…"

The others agree, but Applejack lets out a huff with a stern look on her face.

"Like, like, like, like, like, like. Upload and post it, ladies. This'll trend fer sure! I'll you later with the exact deets. B.Y.B.B, Rare. V, out," Vignette says, putting likes and posts on her phone.

Vignette leaves the scene with a smile on her face.

"I know. She's amazing, right?" Rarity replies with a smile.

"She sure is... somethin'," Applejack says.

"She sure is," Wire Wolf replies.

"Logistical question: How're we supposed to get our instruments?" Twilight asks.

Rarity scoffs it off, and says, "Pfft, kuh! Vignette will handle everything,"

Applejack raises her hand, "I got a question, too. When you said she's your 'best friend at the park', did you mean 'best friend, comma, at the park?'

"Did I say that?" Rarity says looking confused.

Then happily gasp, and says, "Listen, tonight's a huge opportunity. And not just for me now, but for all of us!"

"Let's go see the park!" Rainbow happily shouts.

But Falling Star asks, "What about Wire Wolf? He's not in the band. What does he do?"

"It's alright. I have watch you guys from the side. And I can end you guys a video," Wire Wolf suggests.

"Great idea. Until then, let's go have some fun," Sun happily says.

"And Rarity and I need to get to work," Adagio replies.

"Aww, do you really have to?" Sonata whines.

"Yeah. You and Rarity have been working those stuff for weeks," Aria replies.

"Don't worry, I'm sure we can schedule some fun after our work is done," Adagio says.

Rarity walks to Applejack noticing the scowl look on her face, and says in concern, "Honestly, I don't know why you're giving me your frowny eyebrows.

"It's nothin'," Applejack answers.

"Uhhh, well, uh... enjoy the park. We're gonna be super-busy preparing for tonight. So let's meet in the staging area for sound check and run-throughs. We have three minutes' break at four o'clock, and I can give you two of them. B.Y.B.B.!" Rarity says.

She nervously laughs, and says, "Rare, out!"

"I need to get going. I'll see you guys later," Adagio says, and leaves.

"Bye," Aria and Sonata reply.

Rainbow leans to Applejack, and says, "Well, looks like Rarity doesn't need us as much as you thought. So…"

Applejack lets out a sigh.

"Should we practice for the parade? It's a little…" Fluttershy asks.

Then quietly says in fright, "...daunting, isn't it?"

"We know every song by heart. Wouldn't you rather go have some fun?" Rainbow says with confidence.

Everyone cheer in excitement.

Twilight even shouts, "Great idea!"

Twilight and Falling Star goes in one direction. Fluttershy and Rainbow go to another. Pinkie goes off by herself. Aria and Sonata head off to a different direction. Only Applejack remains on the scene. Then decides to join the others.