//------------------------------//
// 5 - Glamour Ponies 
// Story: Legends Of Ponyville 
// by mechafone 
//------------------------------//

Lyra sat at the far end of the library as Bon Bon said her goodbyes to Spark Storm and his brother. Bon Bon lingered around Chrome a little longer than Lyra would have liked. Did she really have to make sure that Lyra saw all her flirting? She sighed and looked down at the wooden floor. She'd just have to get used to the fact that Bon Bon was going to continue to get back at her until she saw fit.

Chrome grinned like an idiot as he watched Bon Bon leave. He turned to look up at Spark with big excited eyes. "Bro! Did you see that?! She was totally in to me!" He pranced back and forth in front of his brother proudly, then suddenly turned and posed in front of the girls. "Ladies," he said, wiggling his eyebrows up and down. It was an embarrassing moment for Spark Storm.

He couldn't help it. Spark reached over and put a sympathetic hoof on Chrome's shoulder and whispered something in his brother's ear. Chrome immediately deflated and looked up at his brother in dismay. "Wait, what? H-how does that even work?!" Rarity, Lemon Pop and Ditzy all giggled at his reaction, all with varying degrees of amusement at the poor colt's misguided and misinformed excitement.

Suddenly, Rarity shot to her feet. "Oh! Spark Storm, I just remembered, I've been working on a glamour spell, dear, and it just might let you wander about town with us. I just brought it up because, well, it's lunch time and I rather think that we as good guests shouldn't burden poor Emerald by raiding his meager kitchen. What do you say?"

Spark took a step backwards from Rarity's enthusiastic gushing, his eyes wide like a deer in the path of a manticore. He looked to each of his friends for help, but all of them save for Ditzy and Pinkie Pie were purposely glancing elsewhere. The two mares seemed interested in seeing the outcome. "Well...I guess I'm feeling a little peckish," he said carefully. "And it might be nice to walk around town without being recognized..."

"Yes, that's the spirit!" Rarity cried as her horn lit up unexpectedly. Spark's eyes widened even more as he backed away from the unicorn. "Wait, Rarity, aren't we going to discuss-" and before he could finish, Rarity cast the glamour spell upon the big pegasus. Spark Storm closed his eyes as he could feel something like a strong wind blowing through his fur and his wings. When it was over, every pony, harpy and nymph were staring at him, wide-eyed.

Allie Way grinned and held a hoof over her mouth. She rather liked what she saw, even if it was to Spark's discomfort. Spark turned to the others, a look of panic on his face. "What did she do to me?! Somepony get me a mirror!" Despite the urgency in his voice, Lemon grinned behind a hoof, then burst out laughing. Chrome Spectrum just stared, trying to keep himself from chuckling out loud.

Rarity stepped close to Spark, lightly running a hoof through his now silky, long mane. "My, Spark, you're certainly looking different." Spark turned to glare at her before noticing his mane hanging off of Rarity's foreleg.

Blonde. He was blonde. Spark let out a whimper of dismay as Ditzy brought him a mirror with a sour face. She much preferred his original look. So did Spark. He was strawberry red, like Lemon Pop, with a long, straight, blonde mane and tail, and his eyes were green. His black facial markings were now cream colored, as were his hooves. He whirled on Rarity, his wings flaring. "What were you thinking, using this...this...namby pamby glamour crap on me, Rarity?! I look like a prissy..." He paused. He knew he'd seen this mane-do before. Where was it? It suddenly hit him. He'd seen it once before, and just once.

Just seconds before, Orea had leapt onto his back, sniffing at his new mane. It was very reminiscent of the day that he burst into Celestia's personal dining area and seen that pompous pony that called himself a prince. "Rarity, why does my mane look like Prince Blueblood's?!" he yelled.

"And don't think Ah didn't notice," Applejack said, marching straight up to Rarity, "that with his build and his colorin', he looks just like mah brother!" Spark gasped and looked back into the mirror. Aside from the fact that he was a pegasus, his big build and his new coloring did make him look similar to Big Mac.

"Oh honestly, you two, you can't fault a girl for having good taste in stallions. I simply put two of my favorite eye candies and put them on Spark." She smiled charmingly and fluffed Spark's new mane a bit. "Personally I think it does wonders in bringing out your shapely behind, dear."

Spark, Applejack and Lemon Pop glared at Rarity, who was indeed admiring Spark's more visible posterior. Ditzy flew up over the mirror to also get a look. Spark immediately backed himself up against a wall and sat down, sulking and embarrassed. "I don't like it! I prefer my darker colors. I feel so...exposed!"

Allie Way giggled and shook her head as she walked towards the door, then turned to wave. "As amusing as this is, I think I'm gonna cut out. This is way too embarrassing!" She left, leaving Lyra wondering if she should go, too.

"You been eye-ballin' mah brother, Rarity?" Applejack demanded to know, a pushy hoof on the fashionista's chest.

"For viewing pleasure, yes. A lady is allowed to look, is she not? While I may be refined and proper, I do have an eye for the more rugged, outdoorsy type."

Applejack smirked, then pointed a hoof at Spark. "You been eye-ballin' mah other brother?"

Rarity immediately turned a cherry red in her cheeks, her body language suddenly becoming shy and hesitant. "Ah-wh-I-I beg your pardon, Applejack! I simply cannot speak of this directly in front of said stallion." Regaining her composure, she gestured to Spark Storm. "Why, just look at him, he's uncomfortable enough as it is. And besides," she said, turning to acknowledge Lemon Pop's glare that was switching between Applejack and herself. "I do believe we are upsetting our guest."

Spark sighed and held a hoof over his face. This right here is why I should've stayed with the Fighters, he thought. At least there, I had Frostbite and Gunslinger to balance out the mare to stallion ratio. Who in their right mind would hang out with just mares all day?!



Russet Hearts cantered happily through the market place, his feminine black mane bouncing and shining in the sunlight. He was off of work at his column job for lunch. A quill pen over a newspaper graced his flanks. Many a mare swooned at his appearance, russet brown, with his thin, wiry frame, yet somehow manly chiseled jawline and tight body structure. His mane and tail were always well-kept and shining and beautiful, his horn was always polished, and his brown eyes were a mare's delight. Unfortunately for them, Russet Hearts wasn't interested in mares. It was the male persuasion that he was attracted to.

It was a known fact that Russet was gay, and a usually accepted fact. There had been bullies, to be sure, especially in elementary and middle school. Russet had known who he was by the time he was two. But by the time Lyra and Bon Bon had come out, the two well-known ponies made it easier for ponies like Russet. Lyra, Bon Bon, and Ditzy's problems being shoved out in the open and solved had been the best thing to happen for Russet. More and more ponies began to accept him and call him friend.

One of these friends was Laser Reflex. Laser was a busybody, holding several part-time jobs around town. One of those was helping Rarity out in her boutique, being gifted with an eye for fashion. Being a bit of a hipster, he always had an opinion on the newest fashions and ditching the old ones the moment they got old. He also worked at the paper as a part-time journalist, where Russet Hearts worked as a columnist. The two had hit it off immediately upon meeting two years ago.

Now, Laser Reflex was smart. And he worked hard, and had a great eye for fashion, and possessed great taste in decor, as evidenced by his grand collection of rare flowers and plants at his home. He was not, however, gifted in socializing. He had no idea how relationships were formed, nor did he get subtle hints, much to Russet's chagrin. Reflex was quite often flirted with by Russet, and every time it went over his head, mistaking it for simply hanging out and talking.

It was lunchtime now, and Russet was looking for a place to eat. He was tired of the same old places, he just wished that Reflex would recognize his feelings and take him out somewhere nice. Speak of the devil! he thought. There was Reflex, wandering around the marketplace with a large bag that was quickly filling with all different types of food, bread, fruits, vegetables and nuts.

His bag was really starting to overflow, and he was looking very frustrated. Ever the good friend, Russet quickly purchased a bigger, stronger bag and caught up to his friend. "Well hello there, 'Flex!" he said in the usual bright, cheerful flair. He caught a few of the items that were loose or falling from Laser's bag and put them in his own. "Need some help?"

Reflex jumped at the sound of Russet's voice. His eyes were wide, he was tense, and he looked frightened, causing a concerned frown to form on Russet's face. "Oh, hey. Uh...sure, th-thanks." Reflex seemed more distracted than usual, and it was making Russet a bit anxious.

"You've got quite a haul today, Reflex, are you having a party later?"

Reflex turned to Russet, his eyes wide and filled with terror. "What?! No! No I'm not! Do not come by later! Stay away!" Russet backed away from Reflex until his back legs gave out and he fell to his rump. Several ponies, both buyers and sellers in the market place, stilled their conversations to watch as Russet's eyes filled with tears. Reflex, as thick as ever, turned right around and made off with his haul, leaving Russet Hearts with a wounded heart.

"Oh...ok." the unicorn finally said, his voice quiet and subdued.



Laser Reflex opened the door to his home and pulled in the kill that he bought. He carried almost thirty pounds of food in several bags inside, then shut the door, laid down on the couch, and closed his eyes. He'd almost completely forgotten about the presence of a deadly, hungry creature in his home, so when the bags started rustling all on their own, he yelped in panic and shot up to the top of his couch.

Ampelus, unfamiliar with the concept of groceries, poked at the bags with a vine-like appendage. She turned her muzzle at Reflex, her thin mouth curved in a disgusted frown. "What is this? This is not food! This material is indigestible, even to you!" She reached out and wrapped a leg around the pegasi's throat and dragged him closer to her. "Is this your idea of a joke?!"

"Th' frrd..." Reflex managed to choke out. "S'n th' bgs..." Unamused, Ampelus dropped Reflex to the floor, where he fell and coughed, gasping for breath. He reached and opened one of the bags, revealing a two-foot long loaf of Fancy Bread. Ampelus snatched it up and eyed it this way and than, then leaned in to nibble at it. It was crisp and appealing, so she scarfed it down, crunching loudly on the tasty loaf. Ampelus did the same with the rest of the food, not even bothering to suck the nutrients out properly with her tendrils.

Temporarily freed from his tormentor, Reflex crawled away as Ampelus continued to feast on the food noisily. He made his way to his bedroom and crawled into bed. He closed his eyes as he went over everything that had happened over the last two hours. The report he was supposed to do, the things he saw at the library, coming home and finding that creature waiting for him...and Russet. He opened his eyes as he remembered the look in Russet's eyes right before he left in a hurry.

Russet had looked like a puppy that'd just been kicked. Had he hurt his feelings by warning him to stay away? He'd only been trying to protect his friend, but Russet didn't know that. Reflex got up. Whether or not that Ampelus creature was still there at the doorway, he needed to go find his friend and apologize.

As he approached the door, he frowned at the mess Ampelus was making. Bread crumbs, seeds, pistachio shells and the juice of crushed fruits was all over the floor. He'd have some serious cleaning up to do when he got back, but right now he wanted to find Russet and apologize for yelling at him. The nymph said nothing to him as he walked past her, but when he made to open the door, she shot a leg out to wrap around his middle. "Ah-ah, you are not leaving anymore. You will stay here with me and provide me with entertainment."

No longer willing to be bullied by the seductive creature, Reflex turned right around and pounced on Ampelus, knocking her to her back. He stood over her, his face alight with fury, his wings flared. "Now listen here, you walking lawn, I am going out, and you're going to sit here and entertain yourself! Got it?!" He reached down and slapped her vine off of his waist and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Ampelus stared up at the ceiling where Reflex had been, then chuckled as she closed her eyes and laid against the floor. "I suppose I shall have to, then. That was quite exciting..."



Reflex spent the better half of an hour looking for Russet. He was nowhere to be found, but he did receive more than a few dirty looks for yelling at the sensitive stallion. It was something that Reflex just didn't get, and as could be expected, he didn't know that Russet Hearts was gay. He really didn't get that Russet was gay for him.

He was about to give up and head to the paper hq where he knew Russet worked when he saw something strange. The group from the library was gathered at a restaurant at the far end of the street, minus the harpy and the grassy filly, plus one unfamiliar stallion. At least he seemed unfamiliar. He had odd coloring for a pegasus, strawberry red, like the new mare he saw, but the same markings as...Spark Storm. Why of all the dumb-that was Spark Storm! His markings and his sour demeanor was unmistakable. Reflex would be sour, too, if he looked like that.

He marched right down the street towards the group. He stopped right at the railing separating the street and the outside dining area, a smug smile on his face as he put his front hooves on the border and pointed at Spark Storm and said -

Pain. Reflex's face was in pain. He'd been struck right in the face, and it stung and made his vision blurry with little multicolored stars. "Aah! Wh-what?" He stumbled away from the dining area, followed by confused gasps.

"How dare you!" came a familiar feminine voice. Rarity? Reflex opened his eyes to see a furious fashionista standing before him, her eyes absolutely angry. "How dare you treat that poor boy like that! He has nothing but affection and admiration for you, and you treat him like that? You should be ashamed, sir!"

Laser Reflex stared at Rarity, dumbfounded. He looked around with embarrassment as every single pony on the block had stopped what they were doing to witness the spectacle. He rubbed at his still stinging muzzle and turned to face Rarity. He'd been pushed around enough today, and he'd had it. "What the devil are you talking about? What poor boy? 'Admiration' and 'affection'? I have no idea what you're talking about!" Reflex's tone was angry and aggressive, and although he knew Rarity could handle herself, Spark stood slowly, his eyes on the blue pegasus.

Rarity stared at her fashion partner with bewildered eyes. Suddenly, it hit her: Laser Reflex wasn't gay. Her eyes widened and her own mistake became clear. She had been under the impression that the pegasus working with her in her shop for the last eight months was gay. Laser Reflex kept himself immaculately clean, he didn't have a girlfriend, and he had an eye for fashion that nearly rivaled her own. Reflex wasn't mean to Russet because he didn't care; he was 'mean' because he didn't know!

"...O...oh," she managed to squeak out. The blow she'd dealt to Reflex suddenly stung her hoof, and she dabbled it on the ground lightly, daring to get her hoof dirty. "Reflex, dear, I...I am dreadfully sorry for striking you...I was under the impression that you'd hurt Russet on purpose. When I heard what happened, and when I saw you, I just...snapped." she finished lamely, her head lowered in apology.

Reflex was much too angry to back down now. He approached her, his muzzle still stinging from Rarity's hoof. "What the devil are you talking about? So I yelled at Russet. He's a guy! He'll get over it!" Reflex was still going to apologize for yelling at him, though.

Rarity stared at Reflex as if he'd said something terribly stupid. Which he had. The unicorn's fur stood on end all over again, and she resisted striking him a second time. "A guy? A guy?" she yelled, her voice constantly rising. "He's gay, you blind dolt, and he likes you!" 

Reflex's ears rang with that word. Gay. Gay? And...he never told me? Or was it just that I wasn't listening? Reflex thought back to all the times that Russet had talked to him, joked with him. The physical contact, the brush of a hoof that he brushed off as what guys did, even if Russet had always been a little too touchy-feely. Then he thought about the last thing he said to Russet. Do not come by later! Stay away! The look in Russet's eyes, the kicked puppy look.

Reflex started to get angry. Everything that had happened to him today happened because of Spark Storm. If he'd just stayed away from Ponyville, he wouldn't have taken the job to spy on him, Ampelus wouldn't have snuck in his bag and demanded food, and he wouldn't have hurt his best friend's feelings. He suddenly turned towards the big red pegasus. He was so ready to fight, he was boiling over. "Spark Storm! This is your fault!"

Rarity and Spark's entire group gasped. Spark rolled his eyes, then glared as Reflex lunged over the railing, aiming a punch at Spark's chin. "Oh, Spark, don't let him touch-" The bigger pegasus deftly dodged the punch, but hooked an arm under the thrown punch and threw the blue pegasus back over the railing, where he pulled into a backflip and rolled into the air. He didn't look ready to give up. However, he froze as he saw a different pegasus than the one that he'd started fighting. The entire block filled with ponies gasped as there in their midst stood Spark Storm, the outcast from three and a half years ago, in broad daylight.