"Well, darling! That party certainly was dashing!" Rainbow said, with a smile. "I apologize, Pinkie Pie darling, I almost forgot that today was your special day!" She said, causing a rainbow to snake across the sky, and smash a window in city hall.
"That's ok Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie said, with a chuckle. "It's hard to remember anyone's special day without the Birthday Book!" She sighed. "I miss Razzaroo!" She said, wistfully. "Hopefully we'll be able to return to all our friends soon."
"Oh, I know darling!" Rainbow said, putting her hoof on her friend's shoulder. "But this Pinkie was pretty good at it too!" She said, with a smile. "Albeit, a little less practical then, that darling, Razzaroo." She said, still missing the original.
Rainbow started skimming up and down the list. Did she forget anything? She had to have forgotten something, but what it?
Pinkie glanced over her shoulder. She started pointing down the list. "We have that!... We have two of those -- I got extra!... You almost exploded getting those!..." She said, ribbing Rainbow Dash slightly. "I think we have all of these!" She said, with a sarcastic smile, and a giggle.
"Very funny, darling!" Rainbow said, motioning at her friend. "But seriously, I'm having trouble finding what isn't on the list." She said, checking her list twice and thrice.
"Well maybe I can help you search? I wouldn't want to leave you in the lurch!" An old zebra said, approaching the two of them.
"Oh Zecora! hi!" Pinkie said, with a smile. "So how's it going?"
"Do you have the ingredients I seek?" The Zecora said, with a smirk. "Or will it take all week?" She said, winking at the two ponies.
Pinkie smiled back, this was her kind of humor. "We have them right here!" She said, with enthusiasm. "I'm sorry about taking so long!" She said, blushing slightly. "I kind of held myself up, because I, apparently, got wind of my own special day." she said, smiling slightly -- feeling very confused in her own words.
"Ah yes my Pinkie I see, a distraction she can, undeniably be!" The old zebra said, closing her eyes slightly. "But I'm certain your party was a sight to see!" She said, smiling slightly.
"Oh it was!" Pinkie said, feeling very exuberant, but after a second, she had to ask about the ingredients. "So, um... Zecora!" Pinkie said, with hesitation. "We've been looking over this list, and we're trying to figure out if we missed anything."
The zebra looked up and down the list, before giving an understated smirk. "One more ingredient I seek!" She said, with a smile, holding a hoof to one of the lines on the paper. "Please Rainbow Dash, take a peak!" She said, smiling again.
Rainbow never did figure out why she could read these bizarre hieroglyphics (I mean why didn't any one here write in English, like they did back in her Ponyville?) In any case, it appeared the writing was for a costume, for something called Nightmare Night -- that was right! She looked at that line earlier.
Zecora, continued, sensing that the rainbow earth pony would be listening. "I need a costume for Nightmare Night, with which to give the children a fright!" She said, practicing her nightmare night voice for a second.
Rainbow Dash was intrigued. Did that mean that someone around here sells cloths? Maybe a clothing shop like the one she owns back in her Ponyville (ok when she wasn't maintaining her kite store.)
Zecora smirked slightly, she could see exactly the spark in Rainbow's eyes that she was hoping to see. "Miss Rarity owns the shop you seek! Inside the Carousel Boutique, you should take a peek!" She said, pointing off into the distance.
Rainbow smiled. A boutique! She thought to herself, feeling, for the first time in days, like an exuberant school girl. "Of course, darling! That sounds rainbowy ravishing!" Rainbow said, completely forgetting about her earlier issues at the bazaar. In fact, she could already imagine all the outfits that they must have. She might even get a chance to look at some fine French -- or maybe even Parisian fashions! "Oh fashion, darling, that sounds so dashing!" Resisting the urge to fly off towards the boutique. Thinking about her fashion shop back in Ponyville -- and all the fashions she might find at this shop.
In the end though, her mental parade stopped, when she remembered her green friend. "And what about Minty, darling?" Rainbow said, with concern. "Is she ok?"
"Early tomorrow to the hospital she heads! Here in Ponyville, tonight, you should rest your heads!" Zecora said with a smirk; watching, as on cue, her Pinkie materialized. This might be a good friend for this alternate Rainbow and Pinkie to get a little of themselves back.
"You two should stay with me! It'll be like a sleepover! We'll do each other's hair! And we'll talk about boys!" Zecora's Pinkie said, with her usual enthusiasm. "I mean that Pokey Pierce is hot!" She babbled with enthusiasm. "But don't go for him! He's mine!" She said, winking ostentatiously.
"Oooh!" That sounds like fun the straighter haired Pinkie replied. "Too bad Cherry Blossom, Cotton Candy, Kimono, and Razzaroo aren't here! Their all excellent story tellers!" She said, thinking about her friends. "We could have a story party!"
The fluffy haired Pinkie responded, with a confused expression, followed by a volley of words. "Don't you mean Cheerilee, who happens to be Scootaloo's sister? She's an excellent storyteller! And I don't know who these other two ponies are."
Rainbow's Pinkie looked on in awe, not just at her poofy haired counterpart's seemingly insurmountable ability to talk, but also in the fact that her words were both very familiar and yet strangely confusing -- all at the same time. "Pardon?" She asked, blushing slightly. "But do you mind if -- " She said, before being carried away by her darker haired clone.
"Oh dear!" Rainbow said. "The darling forgot about me!" She said, with a sigh. "Oh well!" She said, rubbing her hooves together -- thinking about fashion again. "I'll really enjoy looking at the newest fashions!" She said, galloping out the road.
********
"Oh darling!" Rainbow exclaimed to herself. "Simply dashing!" She said, looking at a large shop on the top of a hill, with awe (nonsense, darling, carousel shaped buildings are perfectly normal in my Ponyville -- have you looked at the Tea Pot Castle, Pinkie's place, my fashion shop, or, even, my humble abode?) What filled her with awe, was the sight of another clothing shop. She served as Ponyville's premier, and only, fashion designer, and half time event planner (and, yes, she was still planning to resurrect that kite shop, don't worry darlings!)
She just didn't have the nerve to face another fashion designer right now, fashion was her thing -- it would be weird to meet another fashion designer. So instead, she peered into the windows. The insides were very different then her own shop back in Ponyville. While she kept all of her designs out in the open, for all to see, the owner of this establishment only kept a few choice designs out in the open -- and another scant few on a nearby rack. What was even odder was that this Ponyville's shop was outfitted with tents to protect the privacy of the patrons (and apparently some of Rarity's in progress pieces.) As with her shop, this boutique had a large folding mirror front and center that could be used to demonstrate their newest creation. The Carousel Boutique was definitely a lot larger then her fashion shop was, but also definitely less open.
She had considered just leaving, despite her enthusiasm, but she was on a mission (it didn't hurt that she was intrigued by the fashion choices, saddles? Definitely unique. And was that a corset she saw? She had one back at her fashion shop too, but her's looked very different!) In the end, she just couldn't resist taking a look.
As she walked inside, a bell went off over the door. After a few seconds, she began to become concerned -- could this Ponyville's premier fashion designer be out? "Do you suppose the darling might be busy?" She thought to herself, looking around slightly. "Well, maybe I'll see if I can locate the darling costume myself!" Rainbow Dash thought to herself, trying to be helpful -- before rubbing her hooves together at a possibility. "Of course, it'll give me a positively dashing opportunity to see what else is available besides the very few outfits she left out for public view." She thought to herself with a smile.
First though, she dutifully walked over to a rack of outfits that had been left out for customers to view. The outfits were so different than the ones that she made back in Ponyville, which were more suited for bipedal use then for quadrupedal use. "Now how do you suppose the darlings are supposed to stand in one of those?" She asked herself, looking at a couple dresses, which were exquisitely fitted for a quadrupedal form. "It certainly looks fetching." She remarked to herself, in awe. "But how would it look when someone stands up on their own two feet?" She asked herself -- thinking about her own designs.
There was one thing she could say: this Rarity's choices in outfits were superb. Albeit a little loud, she preferred her outfits simple. This of course reminded her of the dress her friends: Cherry Blossom, Pinkie, Toola-Roola, Triple Treat, Coconut Cream, and Scootaloo had made her for her special day... Except they couldn't have! She hadn't met the really real for real pegasus ponies until last summer, and her special day is in May! The headache returned with a vengeance, and everything started to go green. But she wasn't going to let it get to her! Not now -- not when she was so close to fashion nirvana! (She wanted to see what this Rarity kept under wraps, and what marvelous designs she had in her closet -- she also wondered why she hadn't shown up yet?)
After a minute or two, the fog started to clear, her strength returned, and she started to feel better. "Much better!" She thought, to herself, peeking under the curtains. "I'm hoping for something that will wow everyone back in Ponyville!" She thought to herself -- temporarily forgetting about Zecora's costume -- and becoming increasingly bold in her search. Everything in here was so different, so original, so colorful -- it really was a breath of fresh air to find someone as interested in fashion as she was.
She realized that she really shouldn't be peaking in the closet -- she really shouldn't! But It really was like taking a peak for the Christmas presents before they've been wrapped -- she knew she shouldn't, but she was going to anyway. She was still surprised that she hadn't run into the owner of this establishment yet; she wondered what the owner could be up to.
********
Rarity loved her parents; she really did! But every once in a while! She moaned quietly. "Oh Rarity, could you be a doll for us and pick up Sweetie? You're father's business needs him urgently in Baltimare, don't-cha-know! And we need someone to look after Sweetie!" Her mother had said, with her lower unicornian accent. So naturally they left Sweetie with her again! The day before a very important order for Hoity Toity of all ponies! Why did she even still take his orders again anyway? She supposed because he was the client that really got her star rising, and he was a very rich and important client to boot.
She sighed, Sweetie had apparently run off to join her crusader friends sometime between the school house and the boutique. And without telling her! Oh well! It was for the best, she'd chastise her sister later, but for now she didn't need the distractions, anyway.
As she approached the shop, she noticed to her dismay that the door was wide open. Either Sweetie had returned earlier than expected, or she had company. The second was apparently true, as she saw a pony in the middle of her showroom.
The plot was definitely a female's -- this might be an opportunity to make a quick sale. "I'm terribly sorry for keeping you madam. But I'd love to welcome you to the Carousel Boutique where every garment is chic, unique, and magnifique." She said, dragging out her store's catch phrase to the mare. "Is there anything I can --" She said, before she looked aghast at the mare staring at some of the dresses from her downstairs closet (she kept her old gala dress in there for nostalgia purposes, and she'd rather not have some stranger touching or looking at her things without permission!)
"Excuse me madam! I'd rather you not look at, or touch anything that isn't out on the -- " She said, starting to get a good look at the mare.
"Rainbow Dash!" She exclaimed with horror. "What are you doing here! And why are you snooping in my closet! Is this some kind of prank?" She stated, growing ever more belligerent. "Well if it is, I would rather you not -- " She said, as Rainbow Dash turned around.
"I'm terribly sorry, darling!" Rainbow said, with an apologetic blush. "I know it was not dashing of me to be snooping in there! After all, darling, a lady never sticks her nose where it doesn't belong. And I just wanted to say --" Rainbow Dash replied, her wings seemingly gone, and her muzzle increased in size like 14 or 15 times.
"WAOH! HO HO HO!!!" Rarity shrieked -- temporarily forgetting about Rainbow's transgression. "Rainbow Dash! What happened to your beautiful muzzle? Did you have an accident while doing one of your unnecessary and dirty stunts?" Rarity said, as calmly as she could -- thinking about all of the injuries and dirt Rainbow created while doing her stunts.
"Excuse me, darling!?" Rainbow said, with agitation. "Darling, Why does everyone think that I'm into horrible and dangerous 'stunts'! With the exception of my one time sledging I don't do dirty, and I don't do dangerous, or outrageous, or anything else, darling!" She said, her head starting to pound.
Rarity frowned. Rainbow must have hurt herself doing one of her dirty and unnecessary stunts! And it caused Rainbow Dash to think she was her! How dreadful that someone as dirty and uncivilized as Rainbow Dash would be -- inadvertently -- hurting her good name! But at least, while Rainbow was in touch with her feminine side. "I'm sorry for insulting you, dearie!" Rarity said, with a smile. "But you're still beautiful on the inside, right?" She said, trying to comfort the now-non-pegasus.
Rainbow Dash laughed, in a polite and ladylike manner. "Oh darling! I see what the problem is here!" She said, mentally smacking herself. "You have me confused for that pegasus!" She said, with a smile. "No I'm actually quite different, darling. And I'll have you know my muzzle is small, and beautiful, darling!" She said, standing on only her back two hooves to shake hooves with this Ponyville's fashion person. "And you must be Rarity! I heard you were into fashion, darling!"
"Why yes I am." Rarity said, confused as to how this other Rainbow Dash bent her front leg joints like that, or what she was intending. But she needed to get to Hoity Toity's order. "So what do you need, dear?" She asked, with a forced smile.
"Well I originally came to pick up Zecora's costume for nightmare night, darling!" Rainbow said, with a smile. "But then I just couldn't resist taking a look myself!" She said, with a blush. "And I apologize, darling. "
Rarity sighed, she shouldn't give this strange pony too much trouble. She didn't leave many designs out, after all, and she really should've been back at her shop -- too bad she was picking up her sister from her parents, on short notice, again. "Well I suppose, but could you at least wait for me to come back before snooping around my shop?" And what was this new Rainbow Dash talking about? There was no costume order for Zecora -- she makes her own costume every year (not that Rarity didn't want a chance to do it herself, mind you. It's just that Zecora wouldn't won't allow it -- something about pride, and tradition.)
"Of course, darling! I lost my manners there for a second. It's just everything is so interesting, and different here then back in my shop." Rainbow Dash replied, blushing in embarrassment.
"You own a shop too?" Rarity asked, making small talk (it was almost unheard of for an earth pony to go into fashion design -- their lack of magic made it difficult to do the tasks that went into designing fashion, all requiring a fair amount of dexterity.)
"Why of course, daring!" Rainbow said, with pride. "I'm Ponyville's premiere fashion designer, and half time event organizer." She said, thinking about not just her own shop, but last year's Christmas, this year's friendship ball, and every year's celebrations for the First Rainbow of the Season.
"Ponyville?" Rarity said, raising an eyebrow. "But I'm Ponyville's premiere designer!" She said, with a frown -- how dare this charlatan claim to be the premiere fashion designer in the same town as her business!
"Huh." Rainbow said, with confusion -- how can they both be the premiere fashion pony in Ponyille? "Maybe there's more than one Ponyville?" She asked, herself confused.
"Well, in any case." Rarity said, with a forced smile -- she was NOT going to become territorial like that barbarian pegasus Dash. "Did you see something that interested you?" She asked, politely.
"Why, of course, darling!" Rainbow Dash said, with enthusiasm. "I saw this darling pink, yellow, and purple dress!" She said, pointing to Rarity's gala dress. "Why a darling would look just like a princess in that dress." She said, wistfully, suddenly thinking about Kenbroath. "But, alas darling! the colors wouldn't go well with my mane and coat!" She said, with a sigh -- her plan to impress the young dragon evaporating before her eyes.
Rarity smiled, maybe she'd put Hoity Toity's order off a little longer (but not that much longer!) "Well, what about this one? It's made for my friend, who also happens to be named Rainbow Dash. It would fit you smashingly, and it should go with your rainbow mane spectacularly." Rarity said, feeling as proud of her earlier accomplishment, as the day she first finished it.
"Oh I see what you mean, darling. It would go perfectly with that other Rainbow Dash, and the only difference in our mane colors is a more pastel tone in mine." She said, with a smile. "But, darling, it's a little too brash for me! I prefer my outfits to be more feminine!" She said, not wanting to feel like a tomboy.
"I suppose so." Rarity said, thinking for a second. She really wanted to help, she really did, but there simply was no more time today! If she waited any longer she might not get that order done (and it was a doozie) "I would love to do a fitting -- I really would -- but I really need to get this order done for a very important client tomorrow, and --" She said, starting to notice the time.
"An order, darling!" Rainbow said, with enthusiasm. "I can help, darling! It would give me an excellent opportunity to see another fashion designer in action!" She said, with enthusiasm, secretly hoping Rarity would say yes.
"Oh no, darling! I could never!" Rarity said, with a frown. "I don't know how good you are with fashions, and I could never impose on you!" She said, with hesitation. "Besides, I wouldn't want anything to go wrong with this order! This client is awfully picky, after all!" She said, trying to discourage the rainbow pony from trying to 'help'.
"Nonsense, darling!" Rainbow said, standing steadfast. "I believe I have one of my favorite hats and scarf's in my bag." She said, grabbing a couple of things from her saddlebag. "That gives me an idea! What if, tomorrow -- after this order -- we hold a festive hat party?" She said, with a smile (why did this idea sound familiar to her?) "We could get all of your friends, and I could get my Pinkie, and we could all have a competition for whose design is the best!" She said, with a smile, dragging her favorite hat and scarf out of her bag.
Rarity sighed. It was a terribly good idea, but she strongly suspected that Twilight would over think it, and Rainbow and Pinkie wouldn't be able to sit still long enough to make it work. Nevertheless: "We can certainly try." She said, smiling warmly (if with hesitation.) In any case, despite the fact that her choice in clothing designs was childish, it demonstrated basic competency -- and she seemed to have more then a little enthusiasm. And this strange Rainbow Dash did definitely think like Rarity -- and Rarity had to admit, that with Sweetie visiting, well! "I suppose you can help, if you really insist." She said, with hesitation. What was she getting herself into? "But I get final say on everything, agree?" She asked.
Rainbow nodded, with glee.
In the end though the rainbow themed, and self proclaimed fashionista, demonstrated at least a basic competency, and a never-ending source of passion. Perhaps Rarity would be able to finish this order after all, despite Sweetie's visit. And by the looks of things, she might have time to spare!
That was, until, the door could be heard slamming open below, and hoof stomps could be heard thundering up the stairs.
********
The hoof prints started thundering up the stairs. Finally a voice could be heard shouting from down the stair slightly from Rarity's work room. "Rarity!" Sweetie shouted, from downstairs. "I'm grabbing some of my things!" She shouted galloping up the stairs. "I'm going to have a sleep over at the clubhouse!"
Rarity sighed, this was not going to be a fun conversation. "I apologize Rainbow." Rarity said, sighing again."Why don't you take a short break? I think I need to talk with Sweetie." She said, as she started over to the stairs. "Sweetie! We need to talk for a minute!" She shouted across the floor, towards Sweetie's room.
"In a minute Rarity!" Sweetie shouted, at the top of her lungs. "I'm packing!" She shouted from inside her room, apparently trying to leave before Rarity could think about it.
"No!" Rarity shouted, showing slight agitation. "We shall talk right now! I don't appreciate you running off without permission and --" Rarity shouted, with great agitation, right up to the point where her sister interrupted.
"You never let me do anything!" Sweetie shouted, to her sister -- slowly and noisily clomping towards the door. "All you care about is your orders! And looking good -- I still haven't forgotten about my fifth birthday party!" She shouted, slowly opening her door.
"Excuse me, darlings." Rainbow asked, leaving Rarity's room behind. "Is something the manner." She asked with apprehension -- she wasn't used to seeing ponies argue like this. "I apologize for the intrusion, darlings, but -- " She started saying, until the moment she saw the young unicorn -- it was like something blew up in her head. Was she feeling angry about a scarf and her most specialishish dress up party ever? Suddenly she was looking at the youngest of her six only friends just before the wishing festival. "Oh Sweetie Belle." She said, with a girlish giggle, as she saw the young white unicorn. "What brings you by my shop today?" Why did her head want to burst, and why was she talking so childishly? And why did she suddenly think this was her shop? "While you're here, you want to bake something nice for Rarity and me?" She asked, with another giggle. "Your baking is simply dashing!" She said, her voice two octaves higher than normal.
"See Rarity!" She said, glaring at her sister. "I am good at baking!" Sweetie said, to her sister with glee -- and at least a little delusion -- as Rarity face hoofed (Sweetie was the only one, that Rarity knew of at least, that could burn juice!) "But, anyway, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and I really need to go!" Sweetie said, feeling belligerent. "We have IMPORTANT CRUSADING to do!"
"Scootaloo's here too?" Rainbow said, with a smile. "Did her sister Cheerilee show up too?" She said, giggling. "Maybe we could have another sleepover! And she could tell ghost stories again!" What was she talking about? Cheerilee was a unicorn -- and how did she even know that? And she certainly wasn't Scootaloo's sister! Wasn't Cheery Blossom Scootaloo's sister?
"You ok Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asked, as Rainbow began to wobble a little bit. "Do you need to take a break?" She asked, wondering why her new assistant and her smashing accent had been replaced by this absurd valley mare?
Sweetie Belle just smiled innocently. "She's down stairs! WAITING ON ME!" She said finishing with emphasis. "Along with Apple Bloom!" She said to her sister."Why don't you say hi!?" She said, turning to the other Rainbow Dash, with a smile. "Scoots is a big fan of yours, Rainbow Dash!"
"Oh she is?" Rainbow Dash tittered. "I'll have to say hi then!" She said, staggering down the stairs, surrounded by a strange aura.
"What do you think that's about?" Sweetie asked her sister. "You don't suppose something is wrong with Rainbow do you? I've never seen her act like a goof like this before." She sound frowning. "Scootaloo might have trouble with this." She said, with concern.
"I don't know!" Rarity said, with concern -- forgetting temporarily about Sweetie Belle's pending punishment. "Maybe I should fetch Twilight!" She said, looking at the green aura beginning to swirl around the earth pony.
Rainbow could see Scootaloo, and a small yellow earth pony filly with a red mane, right outside the door. "HI!" She tittered. "How's it going Scootaloo!" She said, giggling slightl. "You planning another sports party?" She asked, continuing to talk strange.
"Rainbow Dash?" The young pegasus asked, almost afraid of what she was seeing. "You ok?" She asked, looking at the profound lack of awesomeness in the area. "And why is your muzzle so big?"
"An yer looking a little green!" Apple Bloom, the small yellow earth pony asked, her face filled with concern.
"Why of course, Scootaloo! And I'll win the race again, just like at the last sports party!" She giggled, her mind seemingly divorced from reality. Rainbow stood there, her head spinning. Sports party? Scootaloo had never had a sports party before! And since when did Scootaloo become a really real for real pegasus pony? What's worse was not just that her head felt like it was going to explode, but that the whole world seemingly was being eaten by a field of pure green.
"You ok Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo asked again, this time sounding slow and warbled. "And what happened to your wings?"
Why did she know Sweetie? What kind of pony was she? She was a unicorn, of course, just like Rarity? Rarity? Why was that name familiar. The more upset she became, the more everything hurt. Wasn't Rarity supposed to be pink? When were they supposed to meet?
"Girls get behind me!" Twilight screamed, inaudibly -- suddenly galloping up from a nearby street (not that Rainbow could see, everything was being consumed by Blarney king of green!
"What's wrong with Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo asked, again inaudibly.
"Yeah!" Apple Bloom said, joining in. "Ah've never seen her act this way before!"
"That's not our Rainbow Dash!" Twilight cautioned. "And I don't know what's happening, but I can tell it's bad!" She shrieked as a green aura began to expand from around the fashionable earth pony.
Scootaloo just sighed in relief. "I'm so glad!" She said, with a smile. "I thought Rainbow Dash had become lame like Rarity for a second!" She said, blushing as the white unicorn peaked her head out from within earshot.
"Hey!" Sweetie protested to her pegasus friend. "My sister is not --" She said, ducking as a bolt of magic whizzed past, turning a nearby tent into a scale model of friendship castle (the purple one, not the pink one.)
"Twilight!" Rarity shrieked. "You need to protect the boutique! I have an important order to finish!" She said, in terror.
Another bolt of magic caused a tree to uproot itself, and start tap dancing.
"Why'd she turn that tree turn into Fluttershy?" Apple Bloom asked, with a smirk.
"It's getting worse!" Twilight lamented. "I need to do something fast, or things could get very ugly!" She shouted as more bolts shot out, causing one building to float in mid air -- upside down -- another one to sprout girly heart designs everywhere -- and pink, lots of pink! (basically becoming a G3 building), and another one turned a rock into a cactus.
A thought occurred to her, what was the spell Celestia used when she had her magic burst? But was an earth pony even capable of a magic burst? Unfortunately, there was only one way to find out.
All Rainbow felt was someone putting a hand on her shoulder, before everything descended into the inky blackness.
********
Early the next morning
"So this is where the lady has been hiding." A blond haired, blue eyed changeling stallion hissed to himself. "Captain Raphanus!" He shouted, with conviction. "Where are you?"
"You beckoned prince Vladímir?" The changeling captain responded, with devotion. "What do you need?"
The prince of the changeling's pointed out at a swirling bubble of magic, with a gaping hole sticking out the side. "Apparently we've found the lady's hiding place." He said, with great rejoicing. "Gather the forces, it's time to eliminate the hive's number two enemy."
"Oh course, your majesty!" Raphanus dutifully responded. "Your sister's enemy will be eliminated here and now!" He said, with pride, an enemy of the hive's queen is an enemy of all members of the hive.
But as the captain started to gather the forces, the nearby changeling prince chimed in. "Oh and captain!" He cautioned.
"Yes majesty?" Raphanus asked. "What is the matter?" He asked, with great concern to what his master was requesting.
"Nopony will be permitted to feed, and no converts will be made on this mission!" Vladímir cautioned.
"Pardon?" Raphanus asked, filled with confusion. "What do you mean nopony will be permitted to feed? We always feed at the end of a mission, unless one of the fluttering ones is found and --"
"No, commander, there will be no feeding!" Vladímir responded, giving emphasis to 'no feeding'. "The whole town has been poisoned with the Lady's imperfections! And feeding on anything will only poison the hive!" He said, his zeal showing.
"Wait... The lady?" Raphanus said, shaking slightly. "You mean The Lady? The infamous traitor? The Rainbow of Darkness? The undoing of the hive? The Rainbow of Doom?"
"Yes: the one and only!" Vladímir responded, waving his hoof. "And as such the town will be treated as if one of the fluttering ones had been located. Gather up all the ponies, and bring them to me! I shall decide an appropriate fate!" He said, standing tall. "And anypony caught feeding is to be treated as if they, themselves, were one of the fluttering ones!" He said, with zeal. "Now go and gather everyone, and I shall decide the proper ending to this story!"
With a wave of his hoof, the changeling forces were off. Buzzing through the hole, and onto unsuspecting, innocent ponies.
********
"So you seem to be under the weather slightly?" Asked a smiling Doctor Horse of his patient. "What seems to be the matter?"
"I'm not sure, darling." Rainbow said, with a sigh. "I've been having conflicting memories, and nightmares for days." She said, remembering al her strange dreams, and her conflicting memories. "And, then, suddenly I started seeing green, and the next thing I know, darling, I wake up here."
The doctor turned to the nearby princess. "And you say she had a magic burst?" He said, turning to the princess.
Twilight nodded. "Yes doctor! I know it's hard to believe, but the mayor can attest, to the fact, that I spent all afternoon yesterday trying to undo the effects of her magic bust."
The doctor looked at the princes of friendship skeptically. "A magic burst? You realize she's a regular earth pony, right? (ok except for her muzzle, and her mutant hooves, but those don't cause magic bursts.)"
Twilight sighed. "Yeah I know, but it's the only logical explanation." She said, speaking with authority.
The doctor sighed himself. "But that's not possible. if she was a unicorn, It's very much a possibility -- you, yourself, have had at least a couple since visiting Ponyville. And it's conceivably possible if she was a pegasus -- albeit only theoretically possible -- but there's no possible way that magic bursts can happen with earth pony magic. It's not biologically possible!" He said, trying to diagnose the possibilities. "Let alone the fact that their magic is grounded in the earth itself! Let me test another theory, though!" He said, bringing out a glowing crystal.
Twilight shuddered, feeling ill. She knew what this was -- she'd, in fact, wished she had some days ago, when these ponies first visited, but she couldn't get her hooves on them. It was a very rare kind of gem enchanted with a very powerful spell meant to uncover changelings.
"Oh darling, what is that? And why do I feel ill?" She said, as her body began to spasm, and her eyes began to turn a solid neon green color -- her pupils disappearing entirely.
The doctor was forced to throw the crystal to the ground -- as it began to glow a neon color, and suddenly became blazing hot -- watching in terror, as it shattered before him. Green magic began to shoot out of the fashionable earth pony. The doctor's face began to contort in terror. "Nurse!!! Get an inhibitor stat!" The doctor shrieked, ducking a bolt of magic.
The nurse rushed in, carrying an inhibitor intended for a unicorn's horn. Unfortunately there was no way it was going to fit anywhere on the earth pony. This was not going to be easy!
********
The attack had gone swimmingly, as this had been the single most docile group of creatures that the captain had ever seen. They barely ran, and never fought. All they did was cry and whimper -- maybe hide in obvious places -- like small children!
The other three teams had been sent out to gather the earth ponies, the pegasi, and a tribe of very off looking breeizes, who seemed to all be segregated into separate small villages. What a strange group of ponies!
He, himself, however, had been sent to bring in the unicorns, and had fully expected them to attempt to use their troublesome magic -- instead, they didn't even seem to know what magic was.
It was all quite pathetic. He really, really, wished Vladímir would have let them feed, so many delicious emotions here, and so much tasty despair, and desperation. But was too terrified to do so -- Vladímir kind of had a negative tolerance policy towards ponies going against his orders (he tended to react negatively when ponies came even close to disobeying his orders -- and woe to the one that actually did!) Oh well, this made him a very effective commander (he expected perfection of his troops, and he usually got it). And that, in turn, made him the new darling of the tribe -- especially after the wedding debacle last year -- where the queen, herself, literally broke under pressure and was, basically, reduced to being a pathetic clown (and not a funny one either.)
In the end, the only thing that impressed him was the unique architecture these unicorn's had developed -- far away from Canterlot's watchful eye. In the end, though, he had the last three unicorn's located -- two adults and a very young filly (or maybe even a foal.)
Oh the first two tried a pathetic barricade using their own bodies, and a door. Luckily they finally saw reason and allowed him entry. The last one was a tiny filly, with a woefully underdeveloped horn -- maybe it was because she was so young? In any case, she was trying to stop him and his army of changelings -- the very same that had defeated Celestia's mighty army the year before during the wedding debacle -- with a child's toy.
He turned to two of his men. "Grab the two by the door! I'll grab that pathetic filly." The captain smiled to himself. "Another operation completed successfully, maybe I'll be promoted into the praetorian guards this year for my great victories!" He thought to himself, full of confidence.
All that silly filly could do was wave a toy wand like she was some kind of 'wizard' or something. "Oh what are you going to do with that worthless toy?" He taunted, feeling ever more confident -- this was, after all, the only pony that remained. "Cause me to laugh to death?" He said, as the filly tossed the toy into the air with all of her might.
It flew up, rotating in the air.
Captain Raphanus, laughed raucously. "Oh wow! She's going to impress us with her 'wand throwing skills' boys!" He said, howling with laughter.
However, the laughter was ephemeral, as all three unicorns, in the room, disappeared, one by one, into puffs of smoke.
"What?! NO!!!!!" He shouted -- his changeling telepathy beginning to go wild -- as, all across the hive invasion forces the same cry could be heard. Breezies, unicorns, earth ponies, even pegasi, gone -- disappeared into thin air. One drone even lost an arm when the pony that he was holding in said arm disappeared into a puff of smoke. "This is not good! What am I going to tell Vladímir?" He asked himself, shaking violently.
********
Vladímir stood there, fuming violently. "What do you mean, you can't find one pegasus, earth pony or unicorn?" He asked, ready to blast somepony where they stood. You see Vladímir didn't fail, and he didn't permit any of his men to fail either. And this had increasingly made him the pride of the hive, compared to his sister's two abysmal failures. His horn started to power up, filled with green changeling magic. "Now commander, tell me again: where did all the ponies go?"
Captain Raphanus gulped, this was going to be bad -- he was lucky if he was even permitted to be reduced to a drone after this. "They all just vanished sire. One of the unicorn's used some kind of artifact to cast some kind of a group teleportation spell."
Vladímir frowned, and began to bark. "I don't believe that for a minute! Even the most powerful unicorns can't teleport more than a handful of ponies at a time! And they must all remain within close proximity -- not hundreds of miles apart! And you expect me to believe that some odd little unicorn just performed teleportation magic that Celestia can't?"
The commander didn't know what else to do but tell the truth. "It's the truth sire! The unicorn used some kind of unknown magic and --"
The changeling prince simply scoffed. "Gather up all commanders!" He barked. "We have traitors in our midst. " He said, demanding that the entire invasion force be brought forward.
"And those forces that are digging under the castle sire?" The captain asked.
"Let them finish! We'll interrogate them later." He said, giving the death eye to his commander. "And you'd better hope they find something promising!"
After a short time, all the commanders had been gathered. The prince looked over them all with disdain. "How is it that the best trained force in the hive simply loses track of hundreds of ponies? Do some of you feel sympathy? Did some of you want to disobey my order not to feed? Or maybe -- " He said, his eyes narrowing. "Some of you are traitors against the true ruler of this hive? Maybe you have visions of putting somepony else in power?" He said, looking over the group.
As he spoke, one of the commanders grew more and more agitated, until finally. "How dare you speak this way! It's not any of us that is a traitor, but you 'prince' Vladímir! You betray the true Queen of the hive! Queen -- " He said, before disappearing bug zapper style into a beam of light released from the prince's crooked horn.
Vladímir seethed, and his face was contorted into anger. A strange smirk crossed his mouth. "Interrogate everypony!" He demanded. "Some in our ranks don't believe that this hive's ruler is legitimate!" He said, with zeal. "Yes! I believe that some on this force want to discredit the ruler of this to put another into power!" He said, passionately.
After a short while a dozen "traitors" were rounded up. And the prince made another proclamation. "Bring forth commander Raphanus! It's time for his judgment."
"Yes sire!" The changelings shouted, in unison.
"Do you know why you are here?" The prince bellowed, looking at the thirteen changelings before him.
All thirteen shook their heads.
"You have all been found guilty of treason against the crown of the changelings! Plotting our downfall, presumably to put crown on to the head of The Lady! And all of you have been found guilty of impeding and preventing the work of the hive for your own slanted aims!"
Commander Raphanus began to shake violently. "But sire I've done no treason!"
"Maybe not!" the prince replied. "But you still failed! And at your level, failure is not permitted! Take them away and --"
The new commander, commander Laevigatae, approached the changeling princess, shaking furiously. "I apologize, majesty, but we couldn't find any trace of the ponies sire. They appear to have gotten away.
The princess was not more agitated than ever. "Then why did you return? Did you take joy in telling me that they couldn't be found? Are you a traitor as well?"
The new commander shook ever so slightly. "I apologize, majesty, but I do have good news."
"It had better be! Or I will, once again, need to find a new commander!" The changeling lord hissed.
"Yes! Majesty: while digging under a purple castle in the earth pony village, we found this." She said, opening a box containing a crown. The crown looked like a tiara, except for the onyx black gem in the middle, which contained the images of a wand, and a moon. "There were five other artifacts as well, but we're still exhuming them." She said, with a great deal of apprehension.
The prince's mood suddenly improved, as he licked his lips. "You are fortunate Raphanus, that your men are much more successful then you." He said, smiling greatly. "Take the 'commander' away, and demote him to private. I think he has become too comfortable in his position of authority -- and maybe being commanded will remind him to take more care in his work!" The prince said, with a sarcastic smirk.