"Rarity is excited to welcome her new apprentice, Charity, to Ponyville. Rarity is sure that the two of them will become best friends, bonding over their love of fashion and glamour. But after Charity dyes her mane and tail to look more like her mentor, and begins to copy the fashionista's every move, Rarity realizes this pony is a problem!"
The fourth note officially licensed My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic chapter book of a series of books by G. M. Berrow, and part of the overall My Little Pony (Generation 4) universe. Just like the previous three books, this also takes place some time after season threenote Rarity is selected to be a part of a mentoring program that would allow up-and-coming fashion designers to learn from the pros. She soon meets her apprentice Charity Sweetmint, who turns out to be a big fan of Rarity's work and the two hit it off fairly well. However, things become difficult when Charity takes her idolization of Rarity too far.
This book provides examples of:
- An Aesop:
- Charity learns to Be Yourself and not to be afraid if your idol's tastes doesn't match with yours.
- Rarity learns that she should have been focused less on her personal gain from being recognized as a mentor and more on being an actual mentor to Charity.
- The Cameo: A certain pegasus with a blonde mane and gray coat crashes into Carousel Boutique to deliver Rarity's letter. She is not named (Rarity can't seem to remember it) and she is unable to talk properly (she has Rarity's letter in her mouth while she's trying to talk), but it's pretty clear she's supposed to be Derpy.
- Canon Immigrant: Pinkie's Pinkie suit, introduced in the IDW MLP comic series, is mentioned here.
- Twilight lends Charity a book about Aquastria and the Seaponies, which are from My Little Pony: Under The Sparkling Sea. It becomes Charity's inspiration for her fashion line in the H.O.O.F. competition.
- Continuity Nod:
- Rarity references the Ponytones at one point.
- Rarity has designed for princesses, pop stars, and the Canterlot elite.
- Rarity holds a meeting with the rest of mane six in the Castle of the Two Sisters, implying that the book takes place at least some point during Season 4.
- Does Not Like Spam: Charity does not like Bedazzle Berry Tarts, but acts like she does to make a good impression on Rarity.
- Drama Queen: Rarity who, unsurprisingly, freaks out on several different occasions.
- Fun with Acronyms: H.O.O.F., House of Outrageous and Opulent Fashion.
- Girly Girl with a Tomboy Streak: Charity is into fashion, and many of the same things Rarity is into, but she's also excited when invited by Rainbow Dash to do some cannon balls at the pond and is interested in learning how to apple buck. However, she tries to suppress her more tomboyish side to impress Rarity.
- Identical Stranger: Charity looks nearly identical to Rarity, save for their cutie marks, eye color, and Charity's green mane. Later, Charity has the mane changed to look Rarity's, leading many to mistake her for her mentor.
- Irritation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery: The premise of the story. Charity is a big fan of Rarity who ends up taking Rarity's words "Just do exactly as I do" too far.
- Shared Family Quirks: What does Sweetie Belle think of her lack of a Cutie Mark and being short?Sweetie Belle: It's the worst. Possible. Thing!
- Ship Tease: The book contains the first instance of Rarity getting jealous when Spike is attracted to another mare and is not amused when Charity starts calling him Spikey-Wikey.Rarity: Let's get one thing straight. That's my Spikey-Wikey. Capiche?
- Shout-Out: Rarity makes reference to a pony version of Rapunzel.
- Tempting Fate:Rarity: Just do exactly as I do.
