Rarity's day began normally enough; she got out of bed, and made her way to the washroom.
But when she gazed into the mirror, she wasn't prepared for what she saw gazing back at her.
A quarter of her body had already hardened; her mane had begun falling out, likely to make way for the fin that most Changelings sported; one of her eyes was clouding over; holes were starting to form in her hooves; and just above her shoulder blades, two near-invisible bumps had begun to form.
She nearly screamed at the sight, momentarily overwhelmed by the fear. But the memories of yesterday quickly returned to the forefront, calming her significantly —although she'd be lying if a small part of her wasn't upset that yesterday hadn't just been a dream.
Sighing, she attempted to get back to her routine. No matter how hard she tried, though, her focus kept returning to the mirror. A morbid curiosity tempted her to simply stand there and watch herself slowly transform, but she had more important things to do; idle hooves are Tirek's playthings, after all.
So she lit her horn to grab her toothbrush, then groaned when she realized that her blue magic was now sporting neon-green streaks. "Ugh, really? Why'd it have to be green, of all colors?"
To her surprise, hoofsteps approached from outside the bathroom, and Thorax's voice replied, "It's the Hive's signature color."
Rarity opened the door to find Thorax rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. When he did, he cringed at the sight. "Ooh, that far already, huh?"
"It would appear that way, yes," Rarity nodded simply.
Thorax took a moment to look over her. "It looks like your wings'll be the next thing to come in, so just prepare yourself — y'know, mentally."
She nodded again, still cringing at the idea. She could barely feel two tiny pressures on the small of her back, but she knew that, soon enough, it'd be the worst pain this experience had to offer. "Right. Thank you, Thorax."
He nodded. "Yes, your Majesty."
Rarity began to turn back to the mirror, but paused as Thorax's words registered. "What'd you just say?"
Thorax then slapped himself, "I meant Rarity. Sorry, I lived in the Hive for so long that it just kinda came instinctively."
Rarity shook her head, "It's alright, Thorax. Truth be told, I've always had fantasies of being royalty."
Thorax blinked. "Really?"
She winked, "I used to want to marry a Prince, until I learned he was a stuck-up tightwad."
Thorax thought for a moment. "If I'm the son of Queen Chrysalis, then does that technically make me a prince?"
Rarity blinked, then smirked. "If so, then you'd better watch out; I might try and court you, too."
"Like that'd ever happen," Thorax chortled for the first time he could remember. It was a sound so adorably dorky that it made Rarity giggle, too.
Once she'd finished taking a shower (she skipped makeup because she couldn't think of anything that would look good even as her transformation progressed), she headed into the kitchen to make breakfast. The smell of haycakes and eggs eventually lured a drowsy Sweetie Belle out. "Morning, Rare," she mumbled.
"Good morning, Sweetie Belle," Rarity greeted as chipperly as she could. She turned around, but sighed when she saw Sweetie cringe at Rarity's new look. "Yes, I know; it's gotten worse."
Sweetie cautiously nodded. "Yeah, it's still really freaky."
"You're telling me," the fashionista quipped back.
"Are you still sure you're okay? No urges to drain ponies dry, or take over Canterlot, or s-stuff me into a cocoon?"
The fashionista raised an eyebrow. "Of course not! Whatever gave you such an idea?"
She hesitated before replying in a small voice, "I had a nightmare about it."
Rarity gasped, momentarily forgetting about breakfast so as to wrap Sweetie in a hug. "Oh, darling, I had no idea! What happened in it?"
Sweetie sniffled before recounting, "I was in the boutique, and you and Th-Thorax were there, but then you turned into that Queen, a-and you trapped me in a c-cocoon. Thorax t-tried to stop you, b-but..."
She wiped away a tear. "Thankfully, Princess Luna came and stopped it. But even then, I could tell that she was just as frightened as me; she wasn't able to give me any advice."
Rarity sat there for a moment, absorbing she'd just heard.
Then she smiled, "I think I have some advice."
Sweetie blinked. "Y-you do?"
The fashionista nodded. "Don't worry about it, because I won't allow that to happen."
Sweetie looked unsure af first, but eventually, she gave a smile. "Thanks, sis."
Rarity responded by lightly booping her sister on the nose, producing a giggle.
Then something occured to her: she hadn't yet taken their breakfast off the stove. She quickly turned towards it, only to find that Thorax had come in at some point and began tending the food. "Why thank you, Thorax," she gave him a relieved grin.
Thorax responded with a simple nod, then focused his attention back to the pan.
Sweetie Belle then looked up to Rarity. "So, do you have any plans for telling Mom and Dad?"
Rarity blanched. This whole time, the thought of her parents had completely slipped her mind! "Actually, no. But we've still got time to come up with one, so—"
"Uh, Rarity?" Sweetie now had a nervous look on her face. "You do remember that they're supposed to be picking me up today, right?"
Rarity's eyes widened. She quickly stood up, accidentally dropping Sweetie to the floor in her panic. "Oh no, I completely forgot!" She began shuffling on her hooves as she stammered, "Uh, erm, I don't— Maybe we could—"
The doorbell rang. "Sweetie Belle, you ready?" came a familiar voice from the other side.
Crap.