The morning light shimmered, giving the library's surroundings a nice shine. Both occupants were certain that everything was fine as they opened the door. Four teal hooves and two violet feet skipped along the ground. However, the rest of the residents quickly ran for cover. A lightning bolt struck a random spot on the ground. Then, a metaphorical flood gate released the rain.
"Oh, mother of Celestia!" The dark cyan eyes became irritated. "Who put Muffins in charge of weather?"
"So sorry, darling. I can't seem to get the hang of this today."
Spike blinked. "Uh... why does Rarity have Rainbow Dash's cutie mark?"
The resident changeling's red tail went droopy. "This is not fine at all."
---
Ocellus shapeshifted into a jackalope and hopped as quickly through the rain as possible. Spike ran closely behind. Upon reaching a sunny patch near her unicorn friend, she changed back to her default form.
"Rarity, what's going on?" Spike blew a short burst of fire at an incoming hail sphere.
Ocellus bit her lip to prevent her from shifting instinctively. "Why are you out here doing Rainbow Dash's job?"
"Whatever do you mean, Ocellus?" Rarity tilted her head, horn lit. The clouds moved wildly and in sharp corner turns. "I've been on cloud duty for as long as I've known you."
Ocellus copied her friend's trademark four-sound effect. "Ah-puh-ka-chi! You're a seamstress for generosity's sake!"
"Pretty sure that's Applejack's calling." Rarity didn't even bat an eye while snow covered half the bridge she was standing on.
Spike inhaled and put his claws together. "Did you hit your head recently, Ms. Rarity?"
Ocellus lit up her horn. "Okay, please humor me for a second and just look at me."
"Oh, very well." Rarity turned around. "But I really don't have time to play this morning."
Upon contact with Rarity's forehead, Ocellus cast her 'memory spell'. Several images flashed in the back of Rarity's eyes. There was the time her Element of Harmony chose her. She forbade her group from speaking of "Tom" ever again. She held the back of a conga line at Ocellus's birthday party. When Ocellus released love energy in a huge burst, Rarity's eyes had sparked at the new wardrobe ideas for her friend.
She returned to the present.
"Bu-whaaaa?!" Rarity shook her head. "What am I doing messing with the weather?" She looked down at a sharp right. "And why do I have Rainbow Dash's cutie mark?"
"I was hoping you could tell me." Ocellus motioned with her hoof in expectation. "Where is the weather team?"
Rarity hummed. "For some reason, I recall a notice regarding the feather flu crippling most of the team in one go. The rest quarantined themselves for safety. Rainbow Dash is in her cottage." She flinched at her last statement. "Her cottage?! Ugh, no. That's supposed to be Fluttershy's!"
Spike's shoulders slumped. "You mean, you're not the only one with a mix-up?"
"Only one way to find out." Ocellus shifted into a cheetah, nommed Spike by the neck, and ran. Said dragon yelled at the sudden change in speed.
Rarity winced at the sight of a frozen pony with a sunburned behind. She slowly turned around before galloping after her friends.
---
Ocellus gently set Spike next to her before she knocked on the cottage door. A cacophony of animal noises startled her back into her own carapace. Rarity caught up to them, taking a moment to catch her breath. Carefully, Ocellus pushed the door inward. At least, the assortment of animals running wild matched the collection of sounds. Amidst the critters, a stressed out Rainbow Dash was flying around, grabbing a fox into a cage. In the next moment, a snake escaped her grasp, leaving her to crash into a wall.
"Rainbow, what's going on?" Ocellus used her wings to hover over a racoon that fled out the door.
"~These animals won't listen. No, not one little bit! That cat is spilling litter while that mongoose throws a fit! This wild fury is too crazy, but it's what my cutie mark is telling me.~" The pegasus pony looked hopelessly at her flank. Upon which, there were three pink butterflies pictured.
Ocellus took a deep breath, crawled under a vulture chasing after a dog, then held out a hoof. "~Take one moment to listen. This might sound kind of strange. You may think you belong here, but the circumstance has changed. Your cutie mark is not matching... to the truth imprinted on our memory.~" She cast her memory spell, sending images flashing within Rainbow's mind.
It started with the time Rainbow accidentally splashed mud over the changeling. The next image showed her giving her new red-tailed hawk the name "Duck". She and Ocellus worked together to save their friends after falling out of a hot air balloon. There was the time Rainbow mopped the floor with a few changelings that had hissed the word "traitor" at Ocellus.
Dash shook her head. "What the heck? Why am I trying to herd Fluttershy's animals? Where's my cutie mark?"
"It's over here." Rarity waved. "Though, don't ask how I got it. I haven't the foggiest idea."
"Quick, without thinking, where is Fluttershy now?" Ocellus pressed.
"Sugarcube Corner!" Rainbow blinked twice. "How do I know that?"
"I have a suspicion, but we'll need to see Fluttershy to know for sure." Ocellus trotted outside.
As soon as she was clear of the cottage interior, she levitated Spike onto her back. Ocellus shapeshifted into a wolf and ran. Rarity galloped after her. A few mice had found the cutlery and were holding them like villagers would hold pitchforks. Rainbow Dash screamed before flying in pursuit of her friends.
---
Where Dash's situation had too much happening, Fluttershy was trapped in a silent presentation. She was pulling out party favor after decoration. Those in attendance had either nodded off or were looking at her with disbelief. A brief glance showed that her cutie mark was a trio of balloons. Yet, when she tried to make a balloon animal, it popped into three separate pieces. They landed as two patches above a downward-facing curve.
Rainbow motioned with a hoof at the poor thing. Fluttershy quietly mumbled an apology before trotting over. Once she was within reach, Ocellus cast her memory spell. In a rush, Fluttershy saw a whole bunch of past events: the Element resonating with her, the time she stood up to a dragon for her friends' sake, fawning over Ocellus's new colors, and when she cheered for Rainbow Dash's Sonic Rainboom.
Fluttershy massaged her mane above her eyes. "Rainbow Dash? Why do you have my cutie mark?"
"Probably the same reason you've got Pinkie Pie's." Dash pointed it out.
"I'm starting to see a pattern here." Ocellus nodded.
"Do you know why all of this is happening?" Spike leaned over. When he realized he was losing balance, he quickly straightened his back.
"More importantly, is there some way to reverse the damage?" asked Rarity.
"I think so, but I'm going to need your help to do it." Ocellus looked at her.
"Me?" Rarity was taken aback. "I don't know anything about cutie mark mix-ups."
"Come on." Ocellus turned toward the entrance. "I'll explain on the way."
"Shouldn't some pony stay to entertain the guests?" Fluttershy looked between her friends and the bored audience ponies.
"I think you've done everything you can here." Rainbow gently nudged her. "Ocellus looks like she has got a plan."
"Oh... okay." Fluttershy nodded and followed her friends.
---
Hammer and nails could be heard before the group made it to Carousel Boutique. Most of the lower windows were covered in wood boards. Mold was growing on some of the exterior decorations. They saw some pony swinging a hammer. A measuring tape was haphazardly dangling around her neck.
"Wait, stop! What are you doing?" Rarity called out.
Applejack turned her head. Bags were under her eyes. One of her mane bands had snapped loose. She spat her hammer onto the ground. She sat in defeat. She tried to smile at the sight of her visiting friends, but the thin line that was her mouth threatened to crack under the strain.
Rainbow crossed her hooves while she hovered over the rest of them. "Let me guess, your talent that you're sure you've had your whole life is working against you today?"
Applejack sniffed and nodded. "How did you know?"
Fluttershy twiddled her hooves. "It feels like a running gag that won't stop."
"There's something else going on, and it isn't your fault." Ocellus trotted up close.
"How can it not be?" The board that wasn't quite nailed securely fell behind Applejack's tail. "I can't seem to get the sewing machine to listen to me! What did I do?"
Ocellus lit up her horn. "First thing's first: you need to see this."
Various points of Applejack's life flashed before her eyes. There was that race where she and Rainbow learned there were more important things than winning. She helped hold Fluttershy in place until the chaotic touch could be removed from her mind. She remembered asking Rarity for dress specifics before realizing she had no grasp on form. It all went back to the time she slowly warmed up to the idea that Ocellus wasn't bad just because she was different.
Applejack gasped and the measuring tape slid down her back. "What in tarnation am I doing here? This ain't my calling!" She took a running start.
"Where are you going, AJ?" Ocellus called out.
"I need to get to Sweet Apple Acres!" Applejack hollered. "I'll catch up with y'all later!" She galloped away.
"Wow, she seems eager to get back to work," said Spike.
Ocellus chuckled. "Some things never change."
---
Rarity nearly fainted at the sight of the rags and tattered hats inside. Fluttershy muttered that the fainting couch probably wouldn't respond to the unicorn, considering the circumstances. Clearing her throat, Rarity went into commander mode. After showing the others where the cleaning supplies were, she focused her efforts on throwing Applejack's failed creations out of sight. Fabrics, strings, needles, and blueprints flew around in her magic glow.
As the fashionista set up models with new attire, the others went about the boutique itself. Fluttershy convinced a swarm of spiders to leave the house. Ocellus brushed through the cobwebs with a feather duster. Spike scrubbed the floors while glancing every so often in Rarity's direction. Rainbow Dash rushed around the building's exterior, wiping up all the gunk.
An hour or so had passed. By that point, Carousel Boutique was gleaming. Its showcase was glittering. A few passersby stepped into the place. The entry bell rang merrily. Rarity put on her best sales pitch, appealing to the customers. Ocellus asked her to meet up at the library during her first break.
Sighs of relief were passed around. At least one thing was back to normal. Rainbow Dash flew off to deal with the misaligned clouds. Fluttershy headed to her cottage to calm down the ravaging beasts. Ocellus took to the sky as an eagle. She carried Spike with her talons.
---
Sweet Apple Acres was still standing. As she was descending, Ocellus could see that Applejack was finishing up a few repairs. She also caught the tail-end of a conversation Applejack was having with a straight-maned Pinkie Pie.
"You're so much better at all of this than I am." Pinkie stared in awe.
"Well, this is my calling, no matter what today says." Applejack adjusted her hat. "Oh, hey! There they are."
Spike tumbled forward on the ground several times before he stopped on his rear. "Whoa! Are you okay?"
Pinkie blinked twice. "You just took a dirt tumble and you're asking me if I'm okay?" She put some effort behind a chuckle.
Ocellus shifted to her default form before landing next to them. "Sorry about that, Spike. The ground looks a lot closer with eagle vision."
Spike sighed and shook his head. "It's okay. I'm used to it."
"Hey, Ocellus." Pinkie slowly waved a hoof. "What brings you here?"
"A wake-up call, I hope." Ocellus's horn glowed before it made contact with Pinkie's head.
In a trance, Pinkie Pie saw herself dance midair with fireworks behind her. She watched a bubble pop, sending Ocellus with a broken wing onto the cliff beside her. She was excited to be a part of the heroic team of Mare-Do-Wells. She got to throw Ocellus's first surprise party. The flashes centered in on Pinkie somehow using Ocellus's magic as a boom stick.
Pinkie's poofs returned with a vengeance. "Wow! That's almost more fun to witness the second time around! Do it again!"
"Maybe later," said Ocellus. "Right now, I think Ponyville could use some of your natural cheer."
Applejack smirked. "I think I know just the entrance we can use."
---
"~The townspeople need you. They've been sad for a while. They march around, face-a-frown, and never seem to smile. And if you feel like helping, we'd appreciate a lot... if you get up there and spread some cheer from here to Canterlot!~"
With one swift motion of her hoof, Pinkie threw the nose glasses to the side. "Persona!" A blip of white light made her repeat the action. "Come on, ponies! I want to see you smile!"
"Pinkie!"
The rest of her friends quickly finished up their tasks and gathered around. Spike pulled out a marching drum and tapped out the rhythm as the group picked up the chorus.
"~A true, true friend helps a friend in need. A friend will be there to help them see. A true, true friend helps a friend in need to see the light! That shines! From a true, true friend!~"
---
Everyone else resumed their normal business. However, the bearers of Harmony and their dragon companion sat around inside the library. Five cutie marks were still emblazoned on the wrong ponies. Ocellus paced the floor, creating a large circular hole in it.
"I just don't understand," said Ocellus. "You have your memories back. Every pony else seems to think you're all back to normal. Why aren't the cutie marks back to normal?"
"Maybe it's like a cold?" Fluttershy suggested. "We've treated the symptoms, but not... the... cause. I'm sorry."
"No, don't be sorry." Applejack waved a hoof dismissively. "You might be onto something."
"So, whose butt do we have to kick to get our marks back?" Rainbow crushed an imaginary object between her hooves.
"Now, now, there's no guarantee that the solution is so barbaric." Rarity levitated a compact to double-check her eyeliner.
Pinkie Pie offered Spike a hot-carrot on a bun with pickles. He gladly accepted it and crunched a bite in his mouth.
"One, two, three, four, five." Ocellus stopped pacing. "I only cast the memory spell five times today. Is it possible that... I'm forgetting something important?"
"How can that be?" Spike asked between bites. "You and I were the only ones that noticed anything was wrong with what every pony was doing."
Ocellus hopped out of her pacing hole and levitated a standing mirror in front of herself. "Better to be safe instead of ruling it out too hastily."
As the changeling's horn glowed against the glass, her own past rolled out before her.
---