//------------------------------// // Rad: Atlas, Drugged // Story: Dan Vs. The Magic of Friendship(Season 1) // by Barrobroadcaster //------------------------------// The museum held a lot of different artifacts and exhibits. Most of them seemed to be related to Equestria, but not all of them. Rarity even stopped to examine one. Time being of the essence, it wasn't the most prudent decision and she knew it, but this exhibit was special; it was about her. And at the same time, it wasn't. "That is not Carousel Boutique," she declared. The Doctor examined the exhibit closely. A pony mannequin like the ones Rarity used stood in front of a photograph of Carousel Boutique. On either side, framed, were dresses and clothes designed by Rarity. "That's not Carousel Boutique?" Doctor asked, eyeing the picture. "Then, what may I ask, is it?" Rarity shook her head, a little irritated. "I don't know. But that is not MY Carousel Boutique." She approached the photo. "The colors are COMPLETELY wrong, the patterning on the exterior is absolutely ATROCIOUS and the... the... the-" her hoof shook as she pointed, "the accentuation! It's- it's clashing! Oh goodness, I need to sit down." The Doctor squinted his eyes. It looked like the Carousel Boutique. The shape, size, the decorations on the outside and even the Ponyville tents in the background were the same. But on the closest of possible inspections, Doctor Whooves DID notice the differences: the colors were off just a little, with the lighter purple and pink swapped out. The pattern of the paint on the walls was also narrower, with the diamond-shape being more of a square and the accents, the triangular covers extending from the roof, alternated between round and pointed edges like a streamer rather than an embroidered edge. "Oh... oh yes, I see." "We don't have time to sight-see," Kelsan reminded them. Rarity ignored him and pressed the button. Something about her, specifically something wrong about her place of business, she was compelled to learn more. She pressed the guided tour button in front of the exhibit. "Please deposit two bits." "I got it." Norman produced a couple coins from one of his belt containers. "The Carousel Boutique, an iconic feature of all Version 4.0 Equestrias, is the home of Rarity V4. As the home and business of a world-renowned fashion designer, it functions as the perfect centerpiece for fashion-oriented Ponyvilles. Base cost- 1200 gem and 400 bits. Additional accessories are purchasable, cost varies." The guys all looked confused, but Rarity's face held an additional mixture of distraught. "What?" she asked, and hit the button again. "I don't... there's not-" "The Carousel Boutique, an iconic-" "No." Rarity said, shaking her head. "No, that's not right. That's not right!" She pressed the button repeatedly, frantically, hysterically. "The-The-The-The-The-The-The-The-TheThThThThThThTh- "Rarity, sweetheart-" "The Carousel Boutique, an iconic feature of all Version 4.0 Equestrias, is the home of Rarity V4." The Doctor intervened. Rarity turned away from the display, rubbing her left leg. It was as if she couldn't face the exhibit about her own house. "Rarity, what's wrong?" "It'll have to wait, whatever it is. We're moving on. Now," Kelsan said sternly. He and the stormtroopers ushered the pair back into the present and forward down the hall. Although pressed onward, the Doctor leaned over to whisper, "What's wrong, Rarity?" "They- they didn't mention my sister. Or Opal." "Oh." The Doctor didn't say anything more. There was nothing he could say. Was the Boutique in the exhibit from some alternate reality? Some Equestria in ages past? Or did they just leave out Sweetie Belle and Opal, along with who knows what else? It didn't matter. Being objectified in such a way was bad enough but even worse was forgetting the important things. Family was important to Rarity, more than any dress or clothing she ever made. The bonds that kept them all together, even with the distance between them, was the strongest fabric Rarity worked with. *krrsssh!* Something shattered behind them. One of the displays had broken. Rarity, Imperials and Doctor all spun around. But instead of seeing someone breaking into the exhibits, they saw someTHING breaking out of one. "I don't think that's part of the guided tour," Whooves said. Standing as tall as the corridor was a fully-upright tyrannosaurus rex in a black suit with a matching black fedora. Only Norman, one of the stormtroopers, had seen Tuxley before but with his vastly-altered appearance, he didn't recognize him. Tuxley's upper body had more bulk and musculature than Captain America and his arms, formerly a bit on the small side and gentle, were now enormous trunk-like features ending in five-fingered claws. His tail was like a whip and his legs were like steel girders. And he was walking right towards them. Unauthorized Augmented Umbrella Corporation B.O.W. Mr. ReX Gon Give It To Ya Every step from the approaching dino made the corridor shake. The sound of his boots reverberated off the walls, through the ears and into the hearts of all five of them. For a brief second, they all had froze. "Are you daft?! Shoot him!" Whooves ordered. The stormtroopers opened fire, with Kelsan joining in a moment later. As could be expected, their weapons had absolutely no effect. Mr. ReX didn't even slow down. "Weapons are ineffective!" Norman said. His Imperial combat training kicked in and he automatically stated the obvious. Kelsan sneered. "We're not even singing his clothes." "I've made suits like that before. It's no wonder your guns didn't work," Rarity said. "Will you DO SOMETHING?!" Rarity jumped forward and projected a shield from her horn. For a moment, Tux did have to slow down, but shouldered through the energy barrier like pushing through a light breeze. "Wait!" Whooves said. "I know what to do!" He grabbed Rarity's underside with one hoof and her tail with the other. He then spun her tail. It had the effect of causing the fashion designer to look at Doctor Whooves and question his sanity. "Darling, I can safely say, you DON'T know what to do." The Doctor released her. "I'm having an off... everything." "Run. Run!" Kelsan said. The others followed his lead and bolted down the corridor as Mr. ReX stomped towards them. "At least we can outrun him!" Rarity said. The mannequin then landed in front of Kelsan, nearly causing him to trip. Behind them, the brainwashed Tuxley was now throwing the museum exhibits at them. The picture of the Carousel Boutique smashed into the ground in the middle of them, along with part of the wall. "Please deposit twoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo- krsst" "New plan!" Doctor Whooves announced. "What's that?" "We find Dan!" "What good will that do?" Kelsan asked. "I HAVE NO IDEA!" But neither did anyone else. They continued running, now in search of Dan.