//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Haircuts and Memory Loss // Story: Good Fabric // by Meatabex //------------------------------// “Thank you so much for letting me borrow some of your mane, Pinkie!” “It’s no problem Rarity! You’re like one of my best friends anyways, so it doesn’t matter if you borrow some of my silly hairs!” She stifled another giggle. “Hold still now, Pinkie. This is a delicate process, and I don’t want you to get hurt.” Pinkie sat patiently on a stool as Rarity carefully plucked hairs from her poofy pink mane. Surprisingly, it was a difficult process, as each curl had overwhelmed the next, forming a dense, interlocking mesh of sorts that somehow stood up over her head. Rarity didn’t doubt that Pinkie would not be in the least bit of danger from being struck from above, assuming her mane held together. It would be a nightmare to even try to hack through the pink foliage with a sharpened katana. However, Rarity entertained the idea, and decided to ask Pinkie. “Also, I hope you wouldn’t mind if I stopped by along with you the next time you go to a get a trim!” Rarity said brightly, gliding another strand of pink mane through the air and around a small cardboard cylinder. After carefully wrapping the whole strand, she packed it along with the other various cylinders she had finished. Finally, seeing a sufficient number of Pinkie mane samples, she selected the first one. Hovering a needle towards her, she licked the first fibrous string before sliding it into the eye of the sewing point. “Oh, I don’t get my hair cut, silly!” Pinkie giggled. Rarity gagged, and spat. “Are you... suggesting that you’ve never... had your hair cut before?” Rarity whispered. She gagged again as she thought of all the years of Pinkie’s life... playing, partying, frolicking without a care in the world, rolling in mud, getting tangled in bushes, being bitten by her pet alligator Gummy... she had just licked Pinkie-old hairs. "Ya-huh. So?" “Bleh!” Rarity blehed. “That’s... just unsightly!” She grabbed Pinkie Pie’s hoof and dragged her off of her stool. She levitated her saddlebags, and slid them on. Then, with the determination of a proper lady, she strode out of her boutique, Pinkie in her hooves. “We are going to bring you to a hair salon this instant!” “Um, ok Rarity! Whatever you say!” Pinkie beamed. ------ “Rarity, how lady-like for you to treat your young friend to our newest establishment in Ponyville!” an eager mare welcomed. Rarity had dragged her loquacious friend to the Mare’s Stable Salon, which was a new addition to the town. However, Rarity recognized the owner of the new store from her stop to Canterlot last year, when she had gone to promote her newest line of clothing. She had to find a place to have her own mane done that time, and she was the very same unicorn that had trimmed it for her. “It is nothing, really. It’s been a long time since she’s had her hair done,” Rarity professed. “And I thought perhaps we could avert this crime against fabulosity by bringing her here!” “And there’s no better option!” the mare agreed. Within minutes, Pinkie Pie was settled in a chair, the barber by her side. “Hmm,” she said, poking at the pink shrubbery that was her mane, “it looks like its been awhile since her last haircut.” “Indeed,” Rarity muttered, still trying to remove the taste of pony hairs from her tongue, “a long time.” “Indeed,” the barber scratched her ear with a hoof before pulling out her tools. “I believe that the top could use a snip... as well as the sides... hmm...” Before long, swathes of hair were under attack by a pair of glistening scissors. “Hmm...” the barber continued assaulting Pinkie’s mane, “interesting...” She soon brought out the main salvo of her offensive: the electric trimmer. With a determined face of a veteran coiffeur, she slashed and hacked at the brilliant bouncy hair. However, the mane seemed to only lash back, stubbornly puffing right back up to its original size. The barber took this as an insult, and snarled ferociously. The hair wasn’t going down without a fight, and neither was the haircutter. And so began a lengthy war between the two rivaling factions. Rarity, who had been spectating, began to step away, astounded by the ruthlessness of the barber who had delicately trimmed her own mane only a few months before. The sounds of metal upon mane and scissors against curls filled the room, and a dust cloud whirled up into the air, scattering tools and instruments as the battle escalated. Every now and then a saw-like noise sliced through the air, and a hammer banged harshly. The sounds of clashing swords and gunfire ricocheted throughout the salon, and Rarity herself had to bring up a metal tray with her magic to deflect the stray bullets that cut across. As soon as the fighting had begun, it had instantaneously stopped. All that remained was the chair and an exhausted barber. And Pinkie Pie. “I... think...” the barber panted, “I may... have... finished...” As the hairdresser collapsed onto the floor, the remains of her foe scattered throughout the floor in slowly dying curls, Rarity brought herself back into the present. Oh goddesses! She thought. I’ve killed her! She crawled her way over to her friend, who was still sitting in the chair. As the hair vacuum raised itself, it revealed Pinkie Pie, her smiling face, and... A completely undamaged mane. ----- “Oh, that was fun! Can we do that again?” Pinkie Pie bounced across the floor as they entered the boutique. “Can we? Can we?” “I don’t know if they will be too willing to let you in next time,” Rarity said slowly. She had filled her saddlebags to the brim with Pinkie Pie’s mane, and had quietly snuck out of the salon while nopony was watching, leaving a generous tip at the accountant’s desk. Still, she had a sinking feeling in her gut that the barber had more than met her match. “Awww...” Pinkie moaned sadly. “I was hoping to do this more often! I didn’t know that getting a haircut was this much fun!” On fun, her bounce height increased exponentially for a split second. “I just... I don’t understand...” Rarity was still trying to grapple with the fact that Pinkie’s mane looked practically untouched. Untouched! Not one curl was out of place, and yet, her saddle bags were stuffed with it... “I need to try something...” Levitating a sharp cutter (which she saved usually for the thickest of woven wool) she slowly made her way to Pinkie Pie. “Now, I want you to be completely still...” she murmured, inching closer and closer. “Sure!” *snip* Rarity gasped as she watched the slice of Pinkie’s mane slowly drop to the floor inaudibly. It maintained the exact composure and structure as it had while attached to Pinkie’s head. Suddenly, she realized she forgot to pay attention to what was left of Pinkie’s mane, and as she looked up, she was just in time to see the rest of the hair revert back into its original shape. “It’s... impossible!” Rarity stammered, stepping back a few paces and dropping the wool cutter. “I’m not sure I follow,” Pinkie cocked her head, and scratched with a back hoof. “I just... I used a tool strictly for the use of cutting the thickest fabrics, and cut an entire section of your mane of...” A piece of Pinkie’s mane levitated up for Pinkie to see, and she giggled. “That’s really neat, Rarity! Cut a few more off and you’ll have yourself a complete replica!” Pinkie beamed. “But that’s... impossible!” Rarity stuttered. “It... it takes me months to g-grow out my mane, and you... you... it... she...” “Ya?” Pinkie leaned in, pressing. Rarity gave an exasperated sigh and slumped to the floor. “I... I don’t understand...” “Do ya still need me?” Pinkie asked, “you’re kinda acting funny...” “Just go...” Rarity mumbled. “I have what I need...” “Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie grinned, and hopped out of the boutique. ----- Another loud thump brought Twilight Sparkle out of her book organizing. “Spike!” she hollered. “It wasn’t me this time, I swear!” Spike swallowed. If it was him, there would be no ice cream for a week. He cringed at the thought, and immediately began looking around for the cause of the sound, and made sure to stay as far away from it as possible. “No, I think it came from outside,” Twilight murmured, and slowly trotted her way to the window. Outside, a group of three fillies were attempting to hop over a wooden table, with varied results. On the table was the copy of “Novice’s Guide to Parkour” that she had lent to Rarity just a few hours ago. Twilight rolled her eyes, and giggled. “Of course Rarity wouldn’t be doing parkour...” she smiled, and returned to her book shelving. “Still... her and Pinkie... what are they doing...” “Hey Twilight,” Rainbow Dash yelled from the staircase. “I don’t know about you, but the newest Daring Do book was such a let down! I can’t believe they could get away like that... and Daring’s dad is such a mule to him!” “I know,” Twilight suppressed another grin. “I’m just glad you enjoyed it, is all.” “Yeah, well, it wasn’t that bad of a read,” Rainbow yawned, and began flipping through the pages again. “Just the end... It’s like deja vu, like I’ve read it somewhere before... I’m so confused...” “Uh, Twilight,” Spike said, sounding more anxious than usual. “I was just wondering...” Twilight groaned. “What is it?” she asked her assistant. “Well,” the dragon started, bringing his index claws together slowly, “let’s say you enjoyed a book so much that you decided to erase your memory of the ending. How would you keep track of how many times you’ve finished it?” Twilight laughed. “Silly Spike, that would defeat the purpose of using a memory erasing spell! You’re not supposed to remember anything, that way you can enjoy the story to it’s fullest, right?” “Right, it’s just that,” Spike wondered aloud, “does that mean you could have possibly spent entire weeks, or months, or years reading the same book over and over again?” Twilight paused, and then giggled again. “Nah, I would’ve noticed time going by. Or something.” Spike felt uneasy. For somepony who literally kept track of everything, this was a strange development in their relationship as assistant and... well, for lack of a better word, owner. Perhaps that was the reason she had kept returning to her old titles... she did have favorites, after all... but it was just... strange... And what if she used her memory spells on more than just readings? What if she had done that to Spike every time he had messed up? What if she had forced him to.... gulp... read something, and then erased his mind? He shook his head. These silly thoughts weren’t getting him anywhere. “Well... ok then...” he mumbled, and hurried back to dusting the covers of the constellations section of the bookcase. Meanwhile, a couple feet away, Dashie was skimming through the Daring Do book when something caught her eye. A bend on a specific page towards one of the last chapters of the book... what was it about it... Dashie’s eye glinted, and realization struck. The bend. Pinkie Pie. The plot ruined. Frustration and anger built up inside of her until she could no longer contain it, and her mouth opened to holler. “PINKIEEEEEEEEEEEEE-” Another bolt of light struck square at her temple, and she crashed onto the staircase, unconscious for at least the tenth time today. Twilight groaned as she finished casting the spell. “Wow, her memory never fails to daunt me. Spike, I’m pretty sure it’s the bent page that’s making her remember. Can you please try to smooth it out now?” “Alright,” Spike grumbled. “But I deserve a raise for all this trouble you’re putting me through.” “That’s not important,” Twilight moaned. “The important thing is that we need to stop Rainbow Dash from remembering! The memory spell is only for her to forget, and if I increase the power on the spell, it might cause her to forget everything! The only thing we can do is keep this up until she decides to leave or until everything is perfect.” “Ugh,” Spike groaned. “I don’t see why we could have just let her leave and get Pinkie... I mean, she kinda deserves it, for ruining the story for her.” “I don’t think Rainbow will treat her too kindly...” Twilight muttered. “As a reader of books myself, I know exactly what kind of backlash to expect from such a hateful crime.” ----- “Hey Twily!” Twilight groaned. “What is it, Shining Armor?” she asked. “What’cha readin?” “Oh, the Hunger Games. I’m almost done with the second book!” “Well, Twily, I’ve finished the whole trilogy now!” “Well, don’t ruin anything for me, ok?” Twilight sat back down and concentrated on her reading. [Spoiler alert for those who have not read the book] [Close your eyes as you scroll down] “Oh, by the way, Primrose dies.” [Spoiler is over] Twilight’s prepubescent head swelled as the words registered in her brain. The fact that her own brother would do that to her... the sheer frustration that wracked her nerves sent her magic into overdrive. Shining Armor was hospitalized for two weeks. ----- “Look, I’m sure it won’t be that bad...” Spike encouraged. “She’s not a powerful unicorn like you. Besides, you’re wasting time knocking Rainbow Dash out every time she remembers again.” “And energy,” Twilight groaned. “Ok, you’re right. I won’t knock her out unless she remembers that I was part of it... and that I tried multiple times to remove her memory...” “Uh, ok then...” Spike said finally, now more confused than before. “What are you guys talking about?” A voice mumbled from behind them. Twilight jumped in fright, and fired another bolt of magic, sending her friend sailing across the room. As Dash’s body landed again with a thud, Spike gave his owner a disapproving glance. “That... doesn’t count.”