Prisma Glow and Maxi(1) were heading to the meeting in manehattan. Maxi quickly summarzed the plan. "We get in, schmooze a bit and when the villains of the day come, we lay the smack down, but keep one of the buggers alive for questioning. And then, well... we'll see. Capisce?" she exposited
"Completely, dear." Prisma replied, nodding once quickly. "Now, as I understand, there will be a bunch of vain fashionistas and supermodels who are equally full of themselves. Nothing "super" about either. Well, maybe supercilliousness, but hey."
"Unfortunately, we'll have to deal with it. For now. Hopefully the action will happen soon enough." Maxi said, adjusting her dress.
"Well, time to make an impression. I'll take the models, you take the modelers."
Maxi nodded and the two entered the building. Looking around, the two could clearly see that this place used to be a mall, of sorts. There were multiple floors, each teeming with the elite. On the two lowest levels were the earth pony designers. On the top were the pegasi (mostly models), who suffered from Rincewind Arcology Syndrome by their very nature(2).
Prisma, of course, flew upward to meet with the classy pegasi. Maxi, meanwhile, would chat up the members of the other two subspecies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POV: Prisma
I scanned the area as I was winging upward, as was my way. On the second level, -the "primary food court", apparently, if you could still call it that- there were some unicorns that were poking around, occasionally grabbing a bite to eat from one of the repurposed stalls. I'm pretty sure that I saw Fancy Pants and Fleur-De-Lis among them, too.
Occasionally there were pegasi who would glide down to snag some munchies themselves, hence why I was more careful and leisurely with going up. The less attention I brought to myself, -and thus the disapproval of the other "guests"- the better.
On the third floor, some shops were still open, servicing those that went in and out with an occasional trinket or bauble(3). Everything looked pretty high-quality. The businesses there must be making bank off of the party-goers.
Flying to the top floor, I saw several pegasi and a few unicorns. They seemed to be chatting amiably, awaiting the meeting proper. There was also a long table nearly covered with food, though nothing as lavish as the second tier selection. I suppose it made it easier than making them fly back to the second level. A quality versus convenience issue, I suppose.
There was also an assortment of games going on, from things you'd find in an arcade (like racing games, fishing games, claw games, etcetera) to things you'd find in a casino (Blackjack, Poker, Roulette, and so forth).
Among the fourth tier highborns there were a few celebrities, such as Star Blast, Peal Splash, Ceruleanne, Boom Mike - and that was just the pegasi! Truly I was rubbing withers with the elite!
Since Pearl Splash was nearly alone at one of the aforementioned roulette tables (only one other pony being there, the dealer -who had a cutie mark of aa roulette wheel- aside), I flew over to her, beginning a conversation, bidding a few tokens myself (betting on red, to start). This version had two balls going at once.
"Lovel evening, isn't it?" I queried.
"As it happens, it is!" she replied, smiling. "Prisma Glow, I presume?"
"Black 15, Red 7!" the dealer exclaimed
I was surprised that my reputation had spread this far, but schooled my expression, doing a Corner bet (that is to say, betting on 1, 3, 34 and 36. Four and six were my lucky numbers, but I wasn't going to tell her that, certainly). "You presume correctly. Pearl Splash, I believe?"
"Indeed! So, what brings you to a place like this?"
"A little birdie told me that this was a place that classy ponies were gatherinng. Thoought I'd see why."
"Red 19, Red 3!" The dealer called, then doled out eight tokens to me and eight to Pearl. We placed new bets
Pearl nodded. "Hm. Well, surely you've heard of the attacks on fashion franchises, recently?"
"Who hasn't?" I repllied.
"Well, we're gathered to see what can be done about it. Hopefully something can be done."
"Red 27, Black 17!" This time I'd won douly. I was starting to get a feel for this wheel, betting on a double street, the balls rollng again.
"Red 12, Red 19!" Another win for both of us!
"Lucky, aren't you?" Pearl said, concentrating more deeplyon the game.
"Only slightly more than you." I returned, also concentrating further.
The next few rounds went similarly, My pile of bits grew further, modestly, but Pearl's did too. Deciding to quit while I was ahead (and nobody suspecting me), i cashed out and moved on, bidding Pearl a good day while scooping my winnings into my right saddlebag.
Next I went to a poker table playing a variation on Txas Hold 'Em: Pot Limit Okolahoma. (4)
Sitting at the tale there were also a cybernetic pegasus (who had a cutie mark of a computer), a Diamond Dog who looked surprisingly intelligent (he was also wearing a trenchcoat, and rocking the look, i daresay), a muscular looking unicorn (who had a cutie mark of a flexed foreleg), and a gryphon wearing a simple -yet stylish looking- denim jacket.
Sitting down at the table, i greeted them all. "Gentlecolts..."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(POV: Maxi)
While Prisma was mingling on the upper floor, I was chatting up some of the upper class on the lower floors. Among them were Fancy Pants (and his wife, Fleur De Lis), Photo Finish, Sapphire Shores, Sharp Shears (a stylist of some renown in Manehattan), Close Knit (designer of form-fitting clothing from Trottingham) and nd more of the like. All were worried for their businesses, but came nonetheless.
I got many a compliment on my manestyle, So I was swift to return the favour. Photo Finish insisted on taking a picture, even when I reminded her that I'd already made the front cover of her magazine for this very style.
Suddenly, there was a sharp tapping sound. We all turned our attention to Suri Polomare, who had miniature cameras floating around her. Prisma glided down to come to a stop beside me.
"Hello everycreature. I know that i'm probably not well liked due to my past shady actions, and for that I apologize. But this is a serious time, and we can better handle this together than we can alone."
"Why should we trust you?" one pony spoke up.
"Because I'm telling the truth. Look, I likely rubbed you the wrong way in the past, whoever you might be. But if we're going to make it through this, we need to work together, as corny as that may or may not sound. Also, I've caught a look -or five- at who these jokers really are."
Fancy Pants queried curtly, "Oh?"
"Yeah. It's a group of gryphons and diamond dogs. They're always led by a gryphon brute; someone who keeps them in line. They wear forest green outfits and their symbol is a crimson fire. They come in groups of ten or so at a time."
"How do you know all of this?" Fleur asked.
"In the past I moonlighted as a ninja. A fairly good one, too. Ever since my business was torched, I have an excuse to scout the city. And no, I haven't been spying on any of you, before you ask. (5)
Anyway, I can say with fair confidence that they're likely to try to stop this from happening. And soon. But together we have an actual chance. Furthermore-"
As if on cue, the door was blown open, a group of about fifty green-coated toughs coming through the now-gaping hole. Lastly was a large bronze-hued gryphon, who looked quite serious.
"Arrite." he said in a stereotypical Manehattanite accent, "I'm Gladius, and this is essentially a stick-up. Disperse quietly -without any jewelery ya might 'ave- and none o' yas has ta get 'urt."
Prisma and I shared a glance and nodded. We stepped forward.
"And what makes you think we'll do what you ask?"
"Ask?" the leader said, "I'm COMMANDING you to do it. And also-"
Prisma interrupted, "Really? I don't-"
HEY! I'm talkin' 'ere! Anyway, show 'em, boys."
Each of them brought out what was clearly a firearm of some sort. My keen sense for detail told me that they were magically charged, likely with charged crystals. Deadly if used correctly. We couldn't waste any more time.
"Any last words?" one of the diamon dogs asked, grinning.
"Yes, actually." I said. "Code 10523512: Engage!"
Simultaneously, Prisma exclaimed, "Maverick Charge: Overdrive!!!!"
Taking on bipedal stances, Prisma and i began to be girded with armour. Mine was a white metal of diamond-liketoughness, but still allowed for freedom of movement. In fact, it was designed to boost my mobility and defense. As a finishing touch, an array of blue crystals began to spin around me. Had I more time, I would have made something more intricate, but this would do for now.
Finished, I exclaimed, "Bright Jewel!"
Prisma's transformation was somewhat more complicated. First her dress became more form-fitting, hardening into light armour. Her extremities were then covered, with gauntlets and metallic boots. Then her wings were covered by a shiny metal A helmet with a more horselike design covered her head and a chestplate finished the design. Overall, I had to say it was definitely quite gorgeous, while still being functional. focusing my sight, I could see the runes etched into the different parts of the outfit. It was made to guard the body while enhancing strength and mobility.
Her transformation finished, she called out: "Spiral Pegasus!"
Looking round, I could see several other ponies taking on alternate forms. I could see the Power Ponies, among others.
Prisma grinned underneath her helmet. "So. Any last words?" she said, throwing the diamond dog's words back at them.
"Just one." Gladius repliedd. "ATTACK!!"