"...which is why we're going to use this delay to our advantage." Twilight Sparkle explained. "As such. I've had Rarity add a command that allows just one of us to activate all the others costumes. Allow me to demonstrate. First the standard procedure, which I'm sure we all know. Izayoi!"
In a flash of light, Twilight's Mare Do Well costume appeared over her body. "Now. The command for a group activation is A-M-D-W and is an acronym for All Mare Do Well. It's pronounce Armedwuh."
Four more flashes of light erupted before fading away, revealing the others in their Mare Do Well costumes.
"What? How come mine activated?" Pinkie asked frantically as she looked over her Muchourin costume.
"Well because I fixed it darling." Rarity said, matter of factly. "I know you said you wanted to resign from the Mare Do Well... but we'd be at a loss without your Pinkie sense."
"Hey. Ah'm noticin' some fancy new gadgets on mah eye thingy. Ah can see all of y'all's faces above your heads and some kinda weird bar at the top of mah vision." Applejack spoke up. "Ah'm pretty sure those weren't there before."
"I umm... have a little bar next to a picture of Seraphim." Fluttershy chimed in.
"Oh yes." Twilight cleared her throat. "I took the liberty of upgrading everyponies eyepieces. The heads up display, or hud, will now tell you all where the others are, but only when they're in costume. And the suits themselves have energy reserves from the crystals used in their... is construction the right word?" Twilight thought for a second. "It'll have to do."
"Energy reserves?" Pinkie asked,eyeing a small bar next to a picture of a pony's body with sensory waves coming off it.
"Indeed." Twilight responded. "The energy reserves drain not only the crystals stored energy, but the magic from the pony wearing it. Be it innate magic such as Applejacks strength or Fluttershy's flight, or active magic, like the kind Rarity and I use. So I built a limiter in."
"A limiter?" Applejack questioned. "But... wouldn't it be better if we were always unlimited? Ah mean. For you an' Rar, of course, limitin' would stop you from over using your magic and sufferin' from an undercharge later, but for Pinkie, Shy and ah?"
"Well that's just the thing Applejack dear, these crystals drain your innate magic, so if too much of that gets drained, you'll find it very hard to get up until it's built back up again. In Fluttershy's case this would mean a loss of the ability to fly." Rarity explained.
"As it stands." Twilight continued. "We all have a very strong magical presence due to the Elements of Harmony. Which brings me to the third feature, which I will demonstrate. Inverse." A burst of darkness spread out and before yielding to the light and revealing Twilight sans her costume. "You should now see a... radar of sorts that has an image of my cutie mark on it."
"Ah see it. What's it for?"
"It's attuned to the magical frequencies given out by the Elements within a range of about three meters."
"Only three?" Pinkie asked.
"Well we tried to boost the strength but that would mean making the radar less focused and then it would send out false readings from any nearby unicorn using their magic." Rarity added.
"So why is all this new gear needed anyway?" Pinkie questioned.
"Three reasons, first,so We're ready to take on Shadowbolt, Second, To locate Rainbow Dash and third. So we can ditch the annoying earpieces." Twilight smiled. "I added a built in communicater to the costumes."
A mutual agreement passed through the group as they all deactivated their costumes and threw their earpieces on the ground.
All except for Pinkie who had slunk out of the room while no pony was looking and switched her earpiece to a seperate frequency.
The pink mare darted down an alleyway not far from the library and made sure no pony else was around before opening the channel. "Shadowbolt? Shadowbolt this in Pinkie... I've got something to tell you."
"Go ahead Pinkie... We're listening."
---
A short while later, Pinkie found herself pinned by the neck against a tree in Whitetail woods. A set of sharp talons holding her in place.
"Well look at what the manticore dragged in. What's up dweeb?" Gilda growled.
Pinkie coughed slightly. "I'm...here to see...Rainbow...Dash. Didn't you...hear me over....the...communicator?"
Gilda pulled back her other claw and clenched it. "Yeah... I heard ya. But Dash isn't here right now. So now I'm gonna get a small bit of payback for last time I met you." She snarled as her claw surged forward before being stopped by a sky blue glow. With a growl Gilda peaked over her shoulder. "Hey Trix, how about letting go of my claw before I snap your horn off your head and jam it up your ass."
"Idle threats Gilda." Trixie smirked. "Besides, the prismatic idiot told us not to hurt her."
"Pssh. One punch and I can blame it on being taken by surprise." Gilda rolled her eyes. "How's she gonna know?"
"Because she's on the tree branch above you." The unicorn smiled victoriously.
Gilda growled and looked up, seeing a distinct lack of pegasus.
"You really shouldn't take your eyes off me." Pinkie giggled.
Gilda looked back down and found her claw gripping empty air.
"Up here silly!"
Looking back up to the branch she spotted the pink pony standing next to a costumed Dash. "What the?"
Pinkie giggled and shrugged. "Yeah. I get that alot."
"If you're all done fooling around." Rainbow started. "We have to prepare."
---
I really need to set a release schedule and stick to it.
2 chapters+an epilogue to go.
For now,back to Persona 3 Portable and helping my friend with their fic.