Chapter 29: Rarity's Bad Hair Day

James Birdsong: Thx, I appreciate your review

One day at school, Rarity was at her locker, looking at herself in her little mirror.

"Oh Rarity, you look absolutely lovely today." she told herself.

She then pulled out her comb, and started combing her hair.

"Rarity." called a voice.

Rarity jumped, and turned around and saw Twilight.

"Oh, hello Twilight."

"The bell's already rung, aren't you going to class?" she asked.

"Oh yes. I was just making sure my hair looks good for picture day."

"Picture day? That's today?"

"No, but it's coming up."

And then she and Twilight went to their classes.

During morning announcements, Principal Celestia said something that surprised Twilight.

"Picture day will be two weeks from today."

"Huh, Rarity was right." she said to herself.

At lunch, the girls talked about picture day.

"How'd you know, Rarity?" Twilight asked.

"Darling, I take upon myself to be on top of these things. Besides if I'm going to keep my reputation I have to get started now."

"Reputation?"

"Rarity always get chosen for having best photo." explained Fluttershy.

"Yep, it's true." Applejack added.

"And so my regime for the perfect picture starts now."

"And what does that mean?" wondered Pinkie.

"Step one, the outfit. Would you ladies like to go shopping with me after school?"

The others agreed, though Rainbow Dash agreed reluctantly.

"I'd rather be at soccer practice, but I'll go."

"Great, we can all find some new clothes."

When school was over, they all went to Carousel Boutique.

"See anything yet?" asked Fluttershy.

"I found a nice blouse." informed Twilight.

"Get a load of these jeans." Rainbow Dash told, as she held the hanger.

Her friends looked at her with teasing looks.

"What, they're nice. And we're already here." she defended.

"Ah ha, I just found the perfect top." announced Rarity.

The girls went over to her, and saw her holding up a white shirt with purple mid length sleeves and diamond made of rhinestones on the front.

"It's nice, Rarity." complimented Fluttershy.

"Now I need some bottoms. What do you think? Skirt or pants?"

"Well...you always wear a skirt, so why not wear pants?" Pinkie suggested.

"Great idea, Pinkie Pie."

After picking out their clothes, the girls went home.

In her bedroom, Rarity put her new outfit on hangers. Along with the shirt, she'd also bought a pair of black pants, and a some new purple shoes.

"Now that I have the outfit, time for step 2 my face." Rarity told herself.

The next day, she went through her skin care products.

"Okay, I'm going to have to make sure my face stays acne free for the next two weeks. So that means facials and face washing every night."

She pulled out facial cleanser, face cream, and some face masks.

"What are you doing, Rarity?" asked Sweetie Belle, as she walked past the bathroom.

"I'm getting ready for picture day."

"But that's not for a while."

"Oh, my dear sweet Sweetie Belle, you'll understand the importance of this."

Sweetie Belle just shrugged, and walked on.

As the days went by, Rarity continued to get ready for the big day. She made sure her outfit stayed clean and wrinkle free, and that her face stayed nice and clear. Then a few days before picture day, it was time for Rarity to get her hair done.

She went straight her local hair salon, ready for her beautician to do her thing.

"Hello, Rarity." greeted her beautician, Updo Hairstyle.

"Hello, Updo. I'm ready for you to do your magic." Rarity said.

Then Updo rubbed her eyes.

"Something wrong, Updo?" Rarity asked.

"Oh, I got some new eye contacts yesterday. I'm still getting used to them."

"Oh, okay then."

She sat in the chair, and Updo started washing her hair. While washing, Updo got some shampoo, but instead of the shampoo bottle, she grabbed some green hair dye. After a shampoo and conditioner, Rarity went under the dryer.

As she waited for her hair to dry, she flipped through one of the salon's book of styles.

"See anything you want?" asked Updo.

"I'm thinking this one."

Rarity showed her a picture of a style that was had the hair half down, the rest up in a ponytail, and the hair would be poofy.

"Excellent choice."

And as soon as Rarity was finished drying, she got in the chair, and Updo got to work.

Things were going fine, but then Updo reached for some hair cream, but instead of hair cream she accidentally grabbed some french onion dip she'd been eating. She put it into her hair, and worked like nothing was wrong.

And then she grabbed the curling iron, and began curling Rarity's hair. After another hour, Rarity's hair was finished.

"All right, what do you think Rarity?" asked Updo, handing her a mirror.

But when Rarity looked in the mirror, she was shocked in a bad way. Her hair had green highlights, and instead of her hair looking poofy it looked like it was frazzled and messy.

"(Shrieks), what happened?" Rarity wanted to know.

Updo then took out her lenses, and put on her glasses. When she did, she was shocked.

"Oh my goodness, Rarity. I'm so sorry." Updo told her.

"How could this have happened?"

Updo then explained that because of her contacts she wasn't able to see the products properly. She apologized a lot, and even offered to give her a free touch up.

"It's okay, Updo. It was just a mistake." Rarity assured.

"But I need to get this fixed before picture day."

"Don't worry. I'll get it done."

The next day, Rarity wore a scarf and a hat to school. Coming to school with bad hair was like a nightmare for her, and she hoped that no one would notice. At her locker, she got her things when her friends came up to her.

"Hi, Rarity." greeted Pinkie.

"Oh, hello girls." Rarity said quietly.

"Is something wrong?" asked Fluttershy.

"Why are you wearin' a hat? I thought you got your hair done yesterday?" Applejack wondered.

"There was a little mishap." Rarity whispered.

"What kind of mishap?" Twilight wanted to know.

Rarity looked nervous.

"Hey, you can tell us." Rainbow Dash told her.

"We're friends."

"Okay, but not here. We'll meet in the girls' room during lunch."

When lunch time came around, the girls met in the girls' room.

"All right, Rarity. What's going on?" Applejack wanted to know.

After making sure they were alone, Rarity locked the door, and then took off her hat and scarf. Upon seeing her new "do", the girls were shocked.

"Rarity, what happened?" asked Pinkie in shock.

"Unfortunately, my hairdresser was trying out her new contact lenses when she was going my hair." Rarity explained.

"Oh my, can she fix it?" Fluttershy questioned.

"She can, hopefully today."

Just then, there was a buzz from her phone. She pulled it out, and when she looked at it, her face fell.

"What's wrong?" asked Twilight.

"I just got a text from Updo. The only time she can do my hair is the day after picture day."

Rarity backed up against the wall, and then sat down on the floor looking devastated.

"Don't worry, Rarity. It'll be okay." Fluttershy told her.

"Hey, maybe we can try to fix it." suggested Rainbow Dash.

"You really think so?" Rarity wondered hopefully.

After school, Applejack took Rarity to her house.

"Granny should have something that could help." Applejack told her.

"I hope so." Rarity replied.

They went up to Granny's room and into her bathroom. Applejack dug under her sink, and found what she was looking for.

"Ah ha, here it is." And she pulled out one of Granny Smith's blonde wigs.

"Sometimes when Granny wants to feel young again, she put one of these on."

She then placed it on Rarity's head, and she looked in the mirror. The wig was blonde, but was in two braided pigtails.

"Uh, it's a nice gesture, Applejack. But the country girl isn't really my style." Rarity told.

And she took it off.

They then went to Rainbow Dash's house, and her mom tried to wash out the hair dye.

"I used to experiment with hair dye back when I was young, so I might be able to get the green out." Windy told her.

She washed Rarity's hair in the kitchen sink, and when she finished and dried her hair, Rarity looked in the mirror. Most of the green was gone, but you could still see hints of it.

"Thanks for trying, Ms. Windy." Rarity told her.

Next was Fluttershy's house.

"Are you sure Zephyr can help?"

"He's been studying and practicing different hairstyles so he should be able to do something with it." Fluttershy explained.

Rarity sat down on a chair in the kitchen, and Zephyr placed a towel around her.

"Don't worry, Rarity. I'll get your do back in shape." he told her.

He brushed, combed, and then pulled out an electric razor.

"Excuse me, what are you going to do with that?" Rarity asked.

"Don't worry, Rarity. Just gonna give you a little edge."

"But Zephyr, haven't used that tool yet." Fluttershy told.

"Relax Flutter Butter, how hard can it be?"

That didn't sound good to Rarity, and so she quickly got up and hurried out of the room.

That evening, Rarity sat in her room depressed.

"What am I gonna do, Opal?" Opal just meowed.

Just then, her laptop began buzzing, and she saw that her friends were trying to video chat with her. She got on, and accepted the invitation.

"Hi, girls." she greeted.

"Hey, Rarity. How you doing?" asked Twilight.

"As well as I can be."

"You know, it's not the end of the world." Applejack told her.

"It feels like it. And I'll lose my reputation."

"Well Rarity, even if your hair isn't perfect, you're still Rarity." Fluttershy comforted.

"Yeah, your hair doesn't make you." added Pinkie.

"Thanks, girls. But I don't know if I can get my picture taken like this."

"There's always make-up day." Rainbow Dash suggested.

"But I have almost everything ready. I can't postpone."

"Well why don't you try fixin' it yourself?" Applejack thought.

That struck a cord with Rarity.

"Fix it myself." she whispered to herself.

"Rarity?" asked Twilight.

"If you'll excuse me girls. I have something important to do. Thank you."

And with that she logged off.

When picture day came, the girls waited for Rarity to arrive.

"I wonder if she's gonna show up?" thought Rainbow Dash.

"I don't know, she seemed a little weird when we last talked." Fluttershy said.

"Hello ladies." greeted a voice.

The girls looked, and couldn't believe their eyes. Rarity was walking towards them in the outfit she picked out, her face was all clean and shiny, and the most surprising that was her hair looked amazing.

There were still hints of green in it, but it was styled in half a high ponytail, the rest was loose and curly.

"Rarity, you look great." Pinkie complimented.

"Thank you, Pinkie. It's all thanks to you girls."

"Really?" asked Twilight.

"Yes, you made me remember that even with bad hair I'm still the fabulous Rarity. And that I can fix things myself." Her friends smiled at her.

"Thank you, again."

"You're welcome." replied Applejack.

Then when picture time came, Rarity sat in her seat proudly, and smiled for the camera.

That's chapter 29