//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: "Royalty" // by RickHammersteel //------------------------------// Pinkie Pie stood on her hooves, watching as the brown-maned unicorn scribbled down information on her little clipboard. They were looking at a building with various parchments peeling off its walls; an empty room was visible inside the window. Pinkie grinned as she told the mare,” We’ll have this place fixed up in no time!” Pinkie took a look at the unicorn’s perpetual frown,” Why are you so grumpy?” “ Well maybe because I had to listen to you talk all day, or maybe it’s because I have to work on my birthday.” The unicorn salesmare growled. The pink pony gasped,” Its your birthday!?” She made a wide grin, then she pulled out a cupcake and a wrapped gift,” Happy Birthday, Estate!” the mare, Estate, took the gift in her magic,” You... You’re giving me a present? I’ve never had a client do that for me before!” She teared up,” Here, sign, you... you wonderful crazy pony you!” she gave Pinkie the clipboard and quill. Pinkie took the quill and scribbled her signature. The unicorn took a look at the parchment and began to cry,” Your mouthwriting is so elegant! I’ll get everything prepared, Miss Pie.” She sniffled as she walked away. Pinkie Pie’s attention, however, was directed at a white unicorn mare with blond mane and tail and a mop cutie mark. “Now that I have used my magic potion on the two princesses, and I’ve gotten the map, I will be one step closer, mwahahahaha.” Clean Wipe whispered to herself as she trotted down the street while holding a piece of paper, when she came face to face with a certain pink mare. “Where did you come from!?” She screamed. “My Mom and Dad, silly! So, what you looking at?” Pinkie said. “Oh, just a map to a very powerful artifact that was sealed away in Celestial Year 978.” Clean said nonchalantly. “Wow, that was 34 years ago! Usually these ancient artifacts or ancient beings come from 1000 years ago... ” “Well, I guess... But that’s not important right now! I must get going!” Clean walked away. “Oh, can I come!?” Pinkie asked,” Estate won’t come back for awhile so I’ve got some free time on my hooves.” “No.” “Please?” “No.” “Please?” “No!” “Please?” “Alright! you can come.” Clean Wipe said, then she muttered “Random pony from out of nowhere... “ Pinkie Pie squealed as she hopped along Clean Wipe. Luna knocked on the door to the Carousel Boutique, hoping to get her next soldier. Fluttershy stood with her head drooped next to the princess, feeling bad that not only had she let herself get taken away so she could help banish Celestia for no real understandable reason, but that she eventually consented to coming with the obiviously-not-thinking-straight princess. The door opened to reveal not Rarity, but her little sister, who’s face was stained with tears. Sweetie Belle looked up at the mares and hope seemed to fill her eyes,”Fluttershy! P-Princess Luna! Please help!” She said sadly. “What’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked. “Rarity won’t come out of her room no matter what I try to say. She keeps talking about how she can’t bear to be outside looking like she does and she was stuck there for three hours and I want my sister back!” Sweetie cried. “Don’t worry, she’s probably having a bad mane day. We’ll get her out as quick as we-” Luna ran up to Rarity’s room “RARITY BELLE!” “Go away, I said I’m not coming out!” Rarity’s voice was heard, alongside a few grunts and an angered shout while something hit the door. “HOW ABOUT YOU COME OUT FOR A PRINCESS!?” Luna shouted. “No, I mean I’m not coming out!” Rarity’s voice said, while some scuffling was heard. “THEN I’M COMING IN!” Luna opened the door magically... then she was attacked by a long purple strand of hair with a mouth. Luna quickly closed the door on the thing. “Oh, my!” exclaimed Fluttershy, flying up next to Luna. “So that’s why you wanted me to leave!” Sweetie said. “Yes, I was hoping you could get Twilight, but I guess a princess could work too... “ Rarity’s voice chimed in,”I would’ve told you what was wrong, but I didn’t think you could believe it without seeing for yourself and I didn’t want whatever is possessing my mane right now to attack you. A little help, please?” Luna frowned,” I have seen this happen before. What is affecting you right now is known as Hairicanitus.” “What’s that? Can you cure it?” Sweetie Belle asked, with worry on her face. Luna looked down on the young filly,” Allow me to recount a tale to further explain things: Luna looked out her balcony, watching the beautiful starry night she had created. She had admired the fact that she did so much more than her stupid, ugly, stuck up... “Uh, Luna? I think you’re going off track a bit... “ Fluttershy said. “Oh, sorry about that.” Luna gave a sheepish grin. Luna breathed in the brisk, night air. Then she heard a scream. She turned and saw a massive colossus of a mane. It seemed to be alive. Several ponies were running around frantically, with a stallion running around screaming,” Somepony help! My son is stuck in there!” Luna flew towards the thing. It growled menacingly as two red eyes glared at her inside a tornado of follicles,” THOU DARE THREATEN OUR SUBJECTS!?” Luna growled back as she pulled out a metal instrument from her saddle. The thing laughed,” As if you could do anything, Filly, I have more power than you could ever imagine!” “THOU UNDERESTIMATE US!” Luna flew into the thing, her blade slashing every strand of hair. “... Luckily it doesn’t have the ability to talk or give bad villain lines.” Luna said as she finished. “But that doesn’t explain why it happens! Or if Rarity will be okay... “ Sweetie’s face was drooping. “No one truly knows where it comes from, but your sister will be safe, I promise” Luna said, putting her hoof on the young crusader. “If you help me and stop this thing, I’ll be in your debt!” Rarity exclaimed. Luna smiled,”Good, gives me even better reason to save you... “ A long blade appeared in front of the alicorn as she quickly ran into the door. There were sounds of slicing, dicing and screaming in the long twenty minutes that Luna was in there, fighting for all of equinekind. What followed was silence. Then the door opened and a huge mound of purple hair fell out. Luna walked back through the doorway, a very bald Rarity behind her. Sweetie Belle giggled at the sight. Fluttershy gasped,”Rarity, your mane!” Rarity shook her head,” It’s fine. I’m glad I was able to make a sacrifice for the greater good.” Rarity shuddered,” Even if it was My mane...” Her horn glowed as a large golden version of her mane popped out of a drawer and was placed on her head,” Luckily I always keep extra emergency wigs just for this kind of occasion!” Rarity took a look at the remains of her cursed mane,” This little disease-curse-thing isn’t contagious, is it? I’d hate to leave good hair to waste... “ She watched Luna shake her head,” Good! This’ll go straight to charity! Now, is there any reason why you came down to my house, Your Highness?” She bowed. “I need you... to help me banish my sister!” Luna said. “... What?” was the only thing Rarity could say. Twilight stared at the book encased in her magic. She thought about what it contained, what sorts of creatures it talked about. Did it mention changelings? Hippogriffs? Does it contain anything about dragons? However, the unicorn soon begins to think about how she got this tome: bribery. Shining had told her many tales of guard ponies falling to this great evil of the known universe, and now she had fallen victim to it. She sighed, feeling a little more than guilty. She looked towards her mentor, whose face was drooping. “I can’t believe I let her slip away from me like that!” Celestia muttered as she walked on the road in between the many trees of Sweet Apple Acres,” Well, maybe I’ll have better luck with Applejack... “