Tempest blinked in surprise, but quickly recovered. “Excuse me, miss.”
She presented her ID to Rarity and returned it to her inside pocket. “Agent Tempest Shadow. I’m with the Specialized Taskforce Overseeing Remarkable Matters.”
“Well,” Rarity said with smile. She removed her glasses and placed them in a cleverly hidden pocket of her skirt. “That certainly sounds impressive. And what exactly can I do for you, Agent Shadow?”
“I’m looking into the events that happened here at the mall about two weeks ago,” Tempest explained.
“Ah yes, I was there,” said Rarity. Tempest’s jaw tightened and she managed to keep her surprise off her face.
“You were? Do you mind telling me what you saw?”
“The same thing everyone else did. A seven-foot-tall woman in a black overcoat throwing what looked like some kind of energy beams around. I got caught up in the evacuation and didn’t really see much after the sparks started flying, as it were.”
“I see. And you didn’t see anything else unusual?”
“Define ‘unusual.’”
“On the mall’s security footage, there appeared to be three other women in the area. The thing is, two of them seemed to have wings.”
“Wings?” Rarity’s voice held a note of skepticism.
“Wings,” Tempest confirmed. “And horse ears.”
“No, I didn’t see anything like that,” Rarity answered. “As I said, I was hustled out with the rest of the crowd. No girls with horse ears and wings.”
“And in your music video?”
Rarity blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“You won the mall’s Chance to Prance music video contest last spring, correct? You’re winning video featured yourself and several other girls wearing horse ears and wings.”
“Pfft-tsk-tch,” Rarity sputtered, dismissively. “Costume pieces, darling. We were doing a mash up of various dance and music styles. I decided on the ears and wings as an artistic flourish.”
“Then why didn’t all the girls have them? Seven of you did, four of you didn’t.”
“Sadly, our budget ran out and we ran with what we had.” Rarity rolled back a bit and looked up at the agent, an eyebrow raised. “I’m not exactly certain where you’re going with all this, Agent Shadow.”
The agent ignored the inquiry. “How did this happen?” She nodded toward the wheelchair.
“I hardly think that’s any of your business,” Rarity replied. Her voice was polite but firm. “I had a rather unfortunate accident.”
“What kind of accident?”
“The kind that puts people in wheelchairs. And I believe this conversation is over.”
Rarity turned her chair and began to roll away. Tempest reached out and grabbed one of the handle protruding from the back of the chair, bringing her to a halt. Rarity looked over her shoulder her eyes flashing.
“I’m not up on the law, but I believe that qualifies as assault, Agent Shadow.”
“What kind of accident?” Tempest’s voice was hard.
“I fell from a great height,” Rarity spat. “Kindly release my chair.”
“Not yet. You say you saw the woman in the overcoat, but not the three girls with wings—”
“Two,” Rarity snapped. As soon as the word escaped her lips, her eyes widened and she snapped her mouth shut.
“What?” Tempest asked.
Rarity’s expression was panicked, but quickly hardened. “You said there were two girls with wings, not three. Three girls with pony ears, two had wings.”
Tempest quirked an eyebrow. “Yes, I did say that, didn’t I? In any event, you say you didn’t see these girls, and yet in your own music video, you and your friends are wearing similar wings and ears. That’s quite a coincidence, wouldn’t you say?”
“I’m sure I don’t know. Now will you please let go? I have several things I need to do this afternoon and I –”
“We’re not done here,” Tempest interrupted. She grabbed the other handle of the wheelchair and began pushing Rarity toward the front of the store.
“Oh, I think you are, Agent Shadow,” came a stern voice. Tempest and Rarity looked up to see Luna standing in the next aisle over.
“Vice Principal Luna!” Rarity exclaimed.
“I think my sister made it quite clear the circumstances under which you could speak to our students, Agent Shadow.” Luna folded her arms and glared at the agent.
“We’re not on school property,” Tempest snarled. “You have no authority here.”
“Maybe not, but it looked very much to me like you were planning on taking Rarity somewhere against her will. Which, as I’m sure you know, qualifies as kidnapping.”
“Don’t presume so much, Vice Principal.”
“I don’t’ presume anything, Agent Shadow. I’m merely telling you the same thing I plan on telling the police and Rarity’s parents should you take one more step toward that exit. Now, take your hands off the chair… or do I call security, the police, and your superiors right now?”
The agent and the administrator stared each other down, then Tempest took her hands off the wheelchair. She walked around it and glared down at Rarity.
“Thank you for your time, Miss Rarity.” She looked up at Luna. “Vice Principal.”
“Agent Shadow,” Luna replied. She and Rarity watched as the agent left the fabric store and disappeared out fo sight. Rarity let out a sigh of relief and collapsed against the back of her chair.
“Are you all right, Rarity?” Luna asked, coming around and kneeling next to her. “Do you need me to call your parents?”
“No, thank you, Vice Principal Luna,” Rarity sighed. “I’ll be all right. I wasn’t expecting to meet her in person so soon.”
“What did she say to you?”
“Nothing much. Mostly she asked questions about the fight here at the mall. She definitely suspects something. She’s seen the music video we did for the Chance to Prance contest. She’s put two and two together.”
Luna frowned. “That’s not good.”
“I agree. But what do we do?”
“I think you should go straight home and stay there,” Luna answered. “Do you have a ride?”
“No, I took the bus here.”
“I’ll give you a ride, then, just in case she’s hiding out there waiting to follow you.”
Rarity nodded. “Thank you, Vice Principal.”
Luna stood up. “Would you like me to push, or would you prefer to do it yourself?”
“I’ve got it, thank you.” Rarity gripped the wheels and rolled to the counter. She paid for the fabric she had come for and allowed Luna to escort her out.
“You should probably tell your friends what happened,” Luna said as she led the way to her car.
“Sunset sent a text a little while ago. We’re meeting at her place tonight.”
“Really?” Luna pursed her lips in thought. “Could you text her when you get home and ask if it would be all right for my sister and I to join you? We have news of our own to share.”
Rarity blinked. “I believe she’s at work right now, but I’m sure she’ll respond by six. We’re meeting at nine.”
Luna held open the door leading to the parking lot. “This is a dangerous game we’re playing, Rarity. She smells blood now. It’s only a matter of time before she strikes.”
“I know,” Rarity replied. She let out a deep sigh. “I only hope when she does, we’re able to defend ourselves.”