//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Dirty Deeds and Desperate Divas // Story: Rarity: Diamonds After Dark // by Chrome Masquerade //------------------------------// Equestria: beautiful, natural, friendly. Sounds pretty idyllic, yes? Well.... mostly. Truth is, something terrible was happeninng. All across Equestria, one fashion franchise goes up, not two weeks later it goes down, literallly in flames! No evidence ever left behind, exceptscorched materials and sometimes open flame. By the time whatever it was came to Manehattan, Coco Pommel was long gone, hoping to take refuge with an old friend Trotting stealthily through Ponyville, she made her way to the building shaped like a merry-go-round. Looking both ways, she knocked on the door. She shook like a leaf while she waited. "Coming~!" said the proprietor of the place in a singsong tone. When the door was opened, the typical slogan was uttered. "Wellcome to Carousel Boutique, where everything is chic, unique and magnifique! Can I- Oh! Coco! What brings you here?" "Hi, Rarity. I wish I could have come on... more pleasant terms. Can I come in?" "Of course, darling. Come in! Come, come!" The beige mare entered tentatively. "I do hope that i'm not interrupting..." Rarity waved that off. "Think nothing of it, dear. Tea?" Coco smiled. "Please. What kinds do you have?" "Hmm... let's see...." Rarity mused, looking through the cupboard. "I have Ginseng, Raspberry, Rooibos, Blueberry, Peach, Mango, Chammomile, Orange Pekoe, Oolong, Honey Ginger, Green, Rainbow, Allspice, Lemon Verbina, Lemongrass, Dandelion and Burdock, Puritea, Serenitea, Immunitea and finally... Rari-tea!" she quipped at the end, causing Coco to laugh aloud.. "I think I'll stick with the Serenitea. With honey, if you don't mind." she said, smiling in earnest now. As Rarity put the kettle on, she asked, "So. What brings you to my humble abode?" Silently, Coco slid a sheet of paper across the table. Coco Pommel. I'll skip the pleasentries. We want your property. You're going to give it to us. Or you're going to die. You see, we seek world domination and will stop at nothing to get it. I suggest you leave town. Tonight. Get out and leave everything behind... we good. If you don't, or get a burst of courage... we level the place and everything inside. You included. Your choice . Choose wisely. Drake Just as Rarity finished reading, the kettle went off, startling her. As she trotted over to get it off the burner, she said, "Looks like you have quite the pickle on your hooves. You were wise to come to me." Coco nodded. "Yes, and i was hoping that I could stay here for... a few days? Maybe a couple of weeks?" "Of course, darling." Rarity said, "Mi casa es su casa, as they say. Stay as long as you like." "Thanks, Rarity. I'll find a way to pay you back." "Think nothing of it, dear. After all, you are my friend, and I am the element of generosity." So it was that Coco stayed at Rarity's home. She helped with the alabaster fashionista's workload, and things were peaceful for a time. Unfortunately, one day Coco awoke to see a scarlet envelope on her bedside table. The seal upon it was in the form of a dragon's head "Oh, no!" she exclaimed softly, holding her front hooves to her mouth in fear. Tentatively opening the envelope, she read the contents. Coco Pommel. Nice try, but it won't be that easy. We know you have the rest of your most valuable pieces. Leave them at the post office, addressed to your boutique. We mean business. -Drake With that, Coco broke down in tears. --------------------------------------------------------- Later reading the letter, Rarity would have been livid if she wasn't already as white as they come. She looked to Coco with fire in her eyes. "Of course, you realize this means war. Threaten me, fine. Threaten my business, marginally understandable. Stalk my friends, break into my home and blackmail them? You get on my shit list." "I'd say it's time for a bit of payback, wouldn't you?" a voice said from above, startling both mares. Looking up, they saw Rainbow Dash herself, looking quite ticked off. "Rainbow?" Rarity queried, "Whatever are you doing here?" "It's spa day. Remember?" "Oh. Right." Rarity replied. She was so occupied with Coco that she'd completely forgotten! "I'd say that this takes priority, however. In fact, a little birdie told me of the next potential target. It's somewhere in Manehattan, where a bunch of famous designers and hoity-toity types are gathering tonight to discuss the problem. Maybe we can do a bit of snooping, hmm? Counter any troubles that might occur?" "I couldn't agree more, darling. I think I know just what to wear to this... soiree." Walking over to her room, Rarity reached under her bed and withdrew a briefcase. "I was hoping I'd never have to use this." she said under her breath. Inside of the briefcase was a bracelet of sorts, enchanted by Twilight and herself (along with some other ornaments, but that later). If she put this on, she'd become a hunter; a slayer. It would increase her magical potential, make her stronger, tougher. But it would also unleash her more.... wild side.(1) Thing is... once on, she might not want to take it off. She shook her head, dispelling that concern. 'No. Worry about the maybes later.' she thought to herself, 'This must take priority. What those ruffians did cannot stand. I simply must do this.' Sliding the bracelet on, Rarity began to feel energy building within her. Her usually violet, coiffed mane spiked, streaking with multiple colours. Her muscular structure shifted, favouring physical activity over mental. Then it corded tightly. Enough to become less apparent, but not enough so to hinder movement. Next, her ears were pierced with silver studs, five each. Each of these would increase her toughness, further reducing the damage she took by 7% each, for a total of 70%. As she was now, she could possibly take a crossbow bolt with minimal damage. Luck favours the prepared, after all. The next touch was the jacket, which fairly sprouted from her coat. This would increase her agility to the point that she would be able to leap from building to buiding or run allong walls, also decreasing any fall damage to the point of near nullification. Not to mention allowing her to run rings around any attackers. It would also shift to any form that she desired. The form that she rode now didn't have nearly the power that her Rainbow Power form did, but wouldn't require the aid of her friends to unlock its full potential. It had other functions aside from the above, but we'll get to that. The transformation complete, she looked at her changed body in a nearby full-body mirror. She felt powerful. Invincible, even. Nodding to herself, she exited the room, shifting the jacket into a dress that went with her new made-do. This would allow her to fit into the crowd in Canterlot without drawing suspicion. Briefly, she checked on her sister, who was sleeping still. 'Good. Would hate for her to get in harm's way.' Re-entering the main room, she saw none other than Prisma Glow chatting with Coco. "Alright, darl. It's time for action. Let's kick it." she said confidently. "Try to keep up." Prisma quipped. Before leaving the house, Rarity reached into a secret panel. She entered a code and flipped a switch. Shutters slammd down over the windows, the entire structure shifted subtly. Now there would be no intrusions without her say so. Coco would be safe indoors, as would her sister. Since it was summer break, she doubted that her sister would encounter any trouble. Well, any more than usual. "The hunt is on, babe." She told the prismatic mare.