//------------------------------// // Epilogue: Ponyville // Story: Wolf In Pony's Clothing // by Ardashir //------------------------------// Epilogue: Ponyville Above Ponyville, Celestia’s sun sank towards Red Dragon Peak and the Everfree; Weather Patrol pegasi moved clouds in preparation for tomorrow’s scheduled rain. Even at altitude, they could hear the party sounds coming from Sugarcube Corner. Especially Vinyl Scratch’s magically-amplified “Bass Cannon”. “Another party, Pinkie?” Twilight neighed over the blasting music. “What about yesterday?” “That was the ‘Welcome to Ponyville Ardi’ party,” the bouncing pink earth pony bubbled as she balanced another plate of cupcakes on her poofy mane. “This is the ‘Welcome Back Real Rarity and Cheer Up Sweetie Belle’ party!” “Yeah. Whatever.” The purple unicorn looked across the semi-crowded banquet/party room. Applejack riding herd on the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Derpy riding herd on Dinky, Spike pigging out, Berry Punch sneaking one right from the punchbowl, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon under the grim gazes of their mothers, and one exhausted-but-no-longer-demented white unicorn and overwhelmed yellow pegasus in the corner by the door. Twilight sent a spark from her horn towards Rarity and Fluttershy; when she’d gotten their attention, she gave them the same signal she had when they’d fled the Gala, and two unicorns and one pegasus made for the outside door. The old well outside where the street branched was far enough from Sugarcube Corner that they could talk, but close enough so Pinkie wouldn’t come searching for them. “Thank you so much, dear, for getting us out of there. At least here it’s quiet…” “I like quiet,” Fluttershy near-whispered. * * * Afternoon shadows slid across the street as the three ponies talked away by the well. “So my, I mean our, costume idea worked better than we thought,” Twilight Sparkle said over the remaining party sounds, nodding at her two friends. “Oh, the thesis I’ll be able to write for this!” Rearing up, she clapped her hooves. “No way to make polymorphs permanent? Hah! All I needed was Equestria’s greatest designer! Hmm, I may need another copy of that suit when I make my presentation though. My old professors in Canterlot will never believe me without a working example. Oh, and by the way Rarity, congratulations on getting your designs in with Finest Silk.” “Thank you, dear,” the white unicorn said. “But really, another copy of that suit? Of moi? Admittedly, there can never be enough beauty and grace in Equestria, but,” she shivered, a ripple passing along her purple mane, “Perhaps we can make one of, oh, some other pony?” Her eyes seemed to sparkle. “Perhaps Rainbow –” A frightened gasp and neigh interrupted her; Fluttershy eeped as the other two turned to see. The three Flower Ponies coming out of their shop stood frozen like statues in the Palace Gardens, eyes wide, staring at Rarity. Lily reared back in terror, ready to run. “Not again! Look…” The white unicorn opened her mouth, wrinkled velvety lips back to reveal the flat teeth of a pony, with the fangless gap between incisors and molars. “I am NOT That Wolf!” Lily dropped back onto all four hooves; the three earth ponies left, casting nervous looks over their shoulders as they trotted away. As they disappeared past Sugarcube Corner, Rarity grumbled, “How long am I going to have to be doing that? Half the town seems to think I've ALWAYS been a wolf!” “Oh, not too much longer. I mean, you can if you want to.” Fluttershy shrank back under Rarity’s dirty look. “You’re not still angry about me hiding Ardi as you, are you?” “Dear, that did bother me a bit, especially when I saw That Wolf pretending to be me with your and Spike’s connivance.” Rarity shook and settled herself. “That said, I am pleased that Princess Celestia stopped off here with him on their way to Stalliongrad.” That had been the day before. The Princess at Town Hall, reading her proclamation to all Ponyville with an uneasy white wolf at her side. Everypony happy except maybe for Lotus. Everypony decamping to Sugarcube Corner for Pinkie’s “Welcome to Ponyville Ardi Party” while Celestia left “to pay another state visit” to that dragon in the Everfree. In true Pinkie Pie style, the party had lasted until Celestia set the sun, its guest of honor staying far away from the pink party pony the entire time, hiding out with Fluttershy and the CMCs. Twilight grilling Ardi on lupine social structure and culture until Fluttershy had to threaten her with The Stare. Ponies spilling over from the bakery into the street, most of them trying to get a look inside Rarity’s mouth to prove she was still a pony until the frustrated mare finally bit one of them. Then at the end, the Princess returning for Ardi and Lotus’s teary cider-fueled goodbye to Captain Longspear and his wolf tails. And Sweetie Belle’s even more teary goodbye to Ardi, the wolf sporting a CMC capelet with obvious embarrassment. “Um… How is Sweetie Belle taking it?” “She cried a bit.” Rarity smiled, the smile usually reserved for dreams of meeting her Prince Charming. “I had to let her into my bed and snuggle her – her and her Wavedancer plushie – until she finally went to sleep. She misses ‘her wolf’.” “Did you tell her what the Princess said?” “Do you think that our young wolf is never going to return to Equestria? His folk will need an ambassador, and better to deal with the one who had the nerve to come among ponies peacefully.” “But of course. It didn’t help.” A momentary pause as half the Weather Patrol landed in the street and entered Sugarcube Corner, then Rarity turned back to Fluttershy. “You do know, Fluttershy darling,” Rarity purred to her friend, “Now that I have that arrangement with Finest Silk, I would like the loveliest and most graceful mare I know of to model my designs for her. And pegasus models are all the rage this season. Last year’s sensation, the famous Fluttershy, now appearing exclusively for Carousel Boutique!” At Fluttershy’s almost inaudible squeak, she quickly added, “I am not Photo Finish! I wouldn’t put you through that again. Just a couple walks down the runway in House of Rarity creations. And you are my junior partner in the Boutique. Though if you don’t, then hmm…” She rubbed her chin as the “IDEA!” smile slipped over her face. “Twilight, you want to make something like that old costume. And if that wolf Ardi can be convinced, then maybe you can do your Archmage’s Thesis even while I show my work…” She stopped at a frightened gasp from Fluttershy. “Oh, please, Rarity, don’t! Wasn’t there enough trouble the first time? And I think Ardi got tired of looking like a mare.” “I don’t know, Fluttershy,” Twilight added. “It’d be a great way to show how good my work and Rarity’s is. If we can convince Ardi or somepony else to play along, that would make for one great way of showing off just what my and Rarity’s magic is capable of.” She looked at the dismayed Fluttershy and the hopeful Rarity, afternoon shadows creeping across them all. “Anyway, it’s great that everything has gotten back to normal.” Both Rarity and Fluttershy looked at her. “At least, as normal as things get for Ponyville.” “Still, I do wonder about some things,” Rarity said, rubbing her chin. “It’s been such a pain having to apologize to half the mares in town after Ardi’s little performance; where did that wolf ever get the idea of how to act like a mare? Certainly not from anything he found in my home!” Fluttershy hid behind her mane, looked down at her forehooves; Twilight rolled her eyes skywards. Both of them knew about the pile of “Merry Mare” saddle-rippers Rarity kept by her bed; every year she tried to give her surplus to the Library without success. Then a poofy-maned pink blur popped into the midst of the three. “HI EVERYPONY WHAT ARE ALL OF YOU DOING OUT HERE BY THE OLD WELL?” “EEEEEEEEP!” Fluttershy went airborne before she knew she’d spread her wings. “PINKIE!” the two unicorns chorused as they reared back. “OH RARITY LYRA AND BON-BON WANT YOU FOR SOMETHING I DON’T KNOW WHAT BUT THEY SEEM REALLY REALLY PLEASED ABOUT YOU OR MAYBE ARDI BUT HE’S OFF WITH THE PRINCESS SO IT MUST BE YOU…” Then the sugar-rushed Pinkie herded the three of them back into Sugarcube Corner. Fluttershy landing as they crowded through the door into the banquet/party room. No sooner did they get inside between two of Vinyl Scratch’s sets when Lyra and Bon-Bon closed in on Rarity, both wearing broad smiles as they trotted up. “Those two seem more pleased then usual with me,” Rarity observed as the sea-green unicorn and cream earth pony approached. “What exactly did I, or Ardi, do to them?” “Oh, umm, I think I know.” Fluttershy blushed as her two friends looked at her. “You see, Ardi is very fond of me, and he, well, wolves are rather open about their affection, a-and, other things…” Her voice grew quieter as her cheeks grew redder. Rarity cocked an eyebrow. “And?” “Well,” Fluttershy gulped as she leaned in close to her oldest Ponyville friend to whisper in her ear, “For one thing, they think that we’re...” She whispered the last two words. "(from Lesbia...)" “Oh! Well if that’s all, I’ll just explain that it was Ardi…,” Rarity began before Fluttershy cut her off. “Well, not really,” she said in a weak voice. “Er, uhh, you see, it turns out Lyra and Bon-Bon have a little secret that they share with Rainbow Dash.” Rarity was about to ask her what it was when the two caught up with her. “Close your eyes, Rarity!” Lyra called out. “It’s a surprise!” They pulled her into what had to be one of the private-party side rooms where she smelled something awful. She opened her eyes to a scene of horror. Between ready trays of rainbow-iced cupcakes and Derpy-esque muffins, a massive plate hovered before her in the pale green glow of Lyra’s magic, covered with a bloody, dripping piece of – meat? Speechless, her mouth working without a sound, she looked at them with wide shocked eyes. Both mares smiled at her like wolves. They sported cloth bibs covering their chests, stained a truly dreadful red-brown that wasn’t clay. Both bibs bore the pictures of a smiling griffin setting a haunch down before a pleased pony along with the legend: Sky Dive’s Barbeque Pit Wherever there are Griffins in Equestria We Serve Ponies! The mares locked gazes for several seconds, two delighted and one stunned. A third, identical bib floated up before the stunned unicorn, aglow with pale green. “We never knew you had it in you, Rarity!” Bon-Bon looked at her almost dreamily. “Yeah, it’s so great finding one more meat-eater in town! Hey, maybe you can make fashions for us all that won’t show off the stains!” Lyra added, hopping for joy. Vinyl’s next set blasted through the side room, drowning out Rarity’s one-word objection, her opinion of meat-eating ponies, and what That Wolf had done to her reputation: “WHA-HA-HAAT?”