//------------------------------//
// Prologue: Strange Interruptions 
// Story: Steamed and Pressed 
// by Steam Punk 
//------------------------------//

"Curtain Call in five minutes," spared a voice, Toot Suite, a pegasus mare of dark grey eyes and dusty blue coat swung that curly dark pink mane so fast over her withers the bright yellow stripe in it looked like a blur. This special effects pony who worked on machinery in her spare time according to the cutie mark of a wrench stretched across her flank. Unlike the other pegasi I've met she wasn't very competitive and thus didn't have the jealousy and coveting other Pegasi had over the new blimps lazily floating in the skies of Manehatten. 

"Thank you, coming!" I stated starting to leave before being pushed back into the main seat.

"Ach, my hard work!" exclaimed the directing pony, "Dahlia Belle, Peridot, get those wings working again. Toot Suite, will she still fly with them?"

"She's good to go." Toot Suite replied, "And they don't fly, only flap."

"Peridot, Daring Do has less eyelashes, use those contacts, Air brush, Where's my hair extensions," Photo Shoot griped, taking the makeover into her own hooves. I struggled for fear of getting false eyelashes in my eyes. Photo Shoot looked at the ponies who just stood there staring agaped.

Toot Suite checked her digital wristwatch asking, "Where are you Fancy? Curtain Call is in three minutes."

"You heard her, now move it!" Photo Shoot cried, "Schnell, schnell!"

There I sat surrounded by a technicolor crew of talented artisans. Photo Shoot with just a clap of her hooves; Makeup artists, hair stylists, and the works bustled all over me in a dizzy tizz leaving me bored to bits. I was used to all this primping, getting jostled around. When these fashion designers come in they already have set ideas on what they want. Grant it nopony wants to get bossed around but the best kind of model according to the books was someone who basically doesn't care.

"What happened to your Coiffure," Peridot gasped.

"Uh . . . I . . . I'm a wash and go pony," I stated while my currently yellow coat color was resprayed with a hint of goldenrod to cover up the original color of my coat. My gray scale mane and tail, originally bobbed on purpose, had streaks of black added to it. A set of hair extensions. "What I don't wear long hair?"

That didn't stop Dahlia Belle from yanking my fetlocks and teasing them with a rat comb. She slammed down the pith helmet on my head. I blinked at the dry sensation of violet contacts. hiking shirt and a messy main and tail. I'm an Earth Pony who doesn't have a green thumb. What could possibly make me want to play the role of a book character?

"Curtain Call is in two minutes," Toot Suite hissed, "What could be taking you girls so long?"

Ahh-oh-whoops. Wiggling on six limbs. I was trying to deviate between the Mechanical wings and moving my hooves. I took one step the other direction. The "Wings" wiggled south. Peridot and Dahlia struggling to keep me balanced. Toot Suite slapped a hoof to her muzzle. Rolling her eyes, she pushed the button on the remote. I could finally walk but the dang props were now dragging the floor.

"Okay, look you see this computer chip?" Toot Suite explained, to which I nodded, I swear, marbles rattled betwixt my ears, "And it goes where?"

"Behind my ear," I exclaimed. placing the chip there, knocking my ear a few times and ZING! Ouch that electrical burst of static electricity hurt. Those wings popped open.

"I warned you that my props are directly connected to your central nervous system," Toot Suite warned, "That's why you keep getting a wing boner every time you flick that ear."

I flicked it and those wings just popped open.

"Fancy Fizz stop that!" Toot Suite warned, "My props are special and only look like real wings. Don't play with the computer chip!"

"Awww but look Tootsie they're so cute," I cooed, "Watch this. Wheeee!"

I giggled at making the little tips repeatedly flap. 

A few practice flexes and those things felt quite intriguing. So this was what a pegasus wings felt like. Sure they were props but I looked in the mirror and it was Daring Do staring back. It just didn't feel right. I didn't match my image. I scowled, flexing my lips into a smirk. Daring Do is smart and cunning. I practiced a couple lines. 

"You won't get away with this Ahuizotl," My persona growled from my lips, my voice harshened to match the adventurer, Daring Do perked up in the mirror, my persona and I mimicking another line "Now Ahuizotl, you know I love you, but I can't give you the ring 'til I've properly proposed."

"Beautiful," Photo Shoot gushed, "Now for a moment I thought I was seeing the real Daring Do."

"Don't bat your eyes though Fancy, with that line behind that look it makes Daring Do look like she honestly wants to french kiss that baboon," Toot Suite added, "And A.K. Yearling is going to be at the grand viewing. You want her to get disgusted with her own character?"

"Ew! No!" I groused, "Yuck! Those two kissing, bad mental image. Toot Suite, Bad image. I'm trying to keep my focus and I can't keep my act up with distracting no that's just wrong."

"Then consider this focus training Fancy Fizz. Curtain Call is now!" Toot Suite stated, and with a final shove pushed me out the door. "Go! Now! Don't break a leg."

"Good luck to you too," I genuinely told Toot Suite.

The dusty blue Pegasus waved at me replying, "I really mean that last part, Don't break a leg."

Now mind you Toot Suite can be a little literal but she's the only friend who hadn't changed drastically during our days in Filly Finishing school. A thousand years ago a great calamity known as Nightmare Moon had, I didn't pay attention in school it was politics, I hated politics. A princess saved the day, the rest is history. So was the confidence everypony had in everypony else I'm afraid. Merchants such as Flim Flam industries or Barnyard Bargains had started to see stars as well as dollar signs. We had the resources and the technology, steam power, coal, and solar energy. We already had trains, ovens, hot air balloons and cider breweries. Who wouldn't market products that controlled weather, grew crops, and handled things that only magic could.

Suffice to say it also caused a gigantic rift between pony's trust in the Princess and the same jealousy the Princess once felt towards her own had been reflected among us. It was ancient history. I don't know who nightmare moon was but as the descendants of the ponies from back then. I could see it clearly. A few of the set Designers I passed by argued the same thing.

"No pony can handle weather better than us! We need to do the real work around here not some machines. Right Ms. Actress?" The Pegasus pony argued. his green hoof nearly slapping my back, more importantly Toot Suite's wings. The harness hidden by the hiking shirt. As an Earth pony I couldn't honestly agree with him as a fellow pegasus to fellow pegasus.

Besides, the machines and powers of Science was what gave many of the fellow ponies I knew their bread and butter. How could Equestria exist without its zeppelins and steam trains? What would the country I learned about, my entire life be like without the smell of smelters in the air. Stacks of smoke lazing out of the factory smokestacks. Pegasus are jealous of weather baloons and zeppelins. Earth Ponies are generation by generation forgetting how farms work because the skies are literally the limit. Unicorns are just glorified recluses nowadays. I can count on my fetlocks how many Unicorns are actually not technicians or administrators and that's the Headmaster for Philamena's Filly Finishing School. 

My safe haven was not the cold cruel world around me. Cameras rolling I plunged into the made up jungle remembering that in my role this Jungle would be a real jungle. Daring Do could hold her own against hordes of savages sure. The only clue ruining the image. I was careful not to let the water touch me. Mindful of my new prop wings. I didn't have years of practice but with a little composure and a convincing front even a Nopony Special like me could look like an expert.

"Daring Do doesn't need help she can do things herself," spoke the figment of the silver screen.

On cue, I adjusted the pith helmet. She didn't have alot of lines. Her or I should say my glances at my rainbow maned acting partner playing every part the plucky young sidekick seemed to be almost genuine. Parts of the play were skewed a bit. Camera angled to show me outstretching my "wings" to fly off a cliff.

"Cut!" yelled Photo Shoot.

Next Scene I was attached to a wire, "wings" outstretched as I glided in for a trained landing. The invisible zipline broke. I front flipped and rolled. Stunt doubles are trained to roll with blows and punches. That's why it made doing those dangerous stunts Daring Do pulled that much easier. The film cut to another scene of entering the temple. Chained to a wall, my eyes filled with fright. Paranhua water filling up fast towards me. Traps on all sides.

The fake bricks are actually easy to remove. They're supposed to be easy. I swallowed a scream. The things were actually heavy. Where was Rainbow Dash? This was her big scene!

"help," I muttered under my breath. The last brick crumbled. I dangled limply when something went smash.

I closed my eyes in horror. Falling to my doom wasn't in the script. Wind gust at my back. Piranhas nipping at my hooves. I yelped when the last brick popped out too quickly. Watering gurgling closer. Hooves too heavy in chains. The rushing wind stopped to hover.

I barely opened one frightened eye. Blue hooves cluctched either foreleg. Rainbow flapping her wings quite hard. Her next line bit around a small clue.

"You can flap too y'know." the actor scoffed.

. . . Oh yeah . . . The Prop wings can still flap . . . not fly.

"CUT!" yelled Photo Shoot, "Fancy Fizz good job on ze panicking but flap zhose wings FASTer. We need to have the feeling of you trying to come up and fly."

"But honestly Boss," Dahlia Belle snorted, "Why didn't you get a real Pegasus to play as a Pegasus?"

I glared in Dahlia's direction. In all seriousness they said they wanted a good actor who could let Photo Shoot have free reign of the  movie and if anyone actually did think that last line over than Toot Suite would've been out of a job. Pegasi were normally apart of Airship crews. They didn't work the weather anymore. I could do the lines and this was the only movie part I ever clawed my way to the top for and even spoke rudely to get it. Not to rain on Dahlia's parade but an actor's dedication is as paramount to their role as a zebra to their stripes Thank you very much. I didn't have time to politely reprimand her however. 

"That wasn't acting I was actually scared," I stated, "Something is wrong. The piranhas are real live fish and who fixed the bricks? I don't want anypony getting hurt"

"mmm, the movie budget would end up going to the hospital if this keeps up." Photo Shoot commented, "We're shooting a movie not a snuff film."

"What movie?" interrupted Rainbow who pushed her head into the fray, "Get back Daring Do these could be imposters or assasins or imposters dressed up as impersonators only to be secretly involved in an evil assassin association."

A mouthful of words punctuated the awkward silence. The set designers, Dahlia Bell, Peridot, Toot Suite, Photo Shoot and I all exchanged glances. Rainbow's breath hurtled in and out of her lungs. We fell to the floor laughing. I guffawed so hard my ribs hurt. I had to roll onto my stomach to avoid hurting Toot Suite's beautifully crafted fake wings or smudging my costume makeup.

"Even her improvisation is so in character," Photo Shoot squealed lightly, patting Rainbow on the head, "So cute! But we can't continue the movie until this mess is sorted out." She sighed, "Wunderbar time working with you Fancy Fizz."

She said like this would be our final time working together. It scared me. I couldn't just walk away from a movie. Not getting it halfway done. Yet Photo Shoot was a pony of many talents and few cares. She checked Dahlia's pocket watch because unless you can twirl the thing on your nose it's easier to ask for the time instead of just nipping the watch out herself. 

"I have a modeling shoot in half an hour. Fancy Fizz, Toot Suite, put away zhose wings." Photo shoot commanded, "When this mess is sorted out Daring Do shall fly again!"

The speech though baffling our rainbow maned compatriot had struck a chord of hope for my friend Toot Suite and I. Sadly it was also our first team up in years. Toot Suite had been drifting from Zeppelin to Zeppelin flourishing in Mechanics and gadgetry. I had my whole life simply fall into my lap much like the majority of my class in Filly Finishing school. The only problem involved looking into a mirror. 

"Daring Do works alone," I tried to growl but the focus I had on my Persona wore off. The only thing staring back at me was the little pony whose onlooker did not quite match the image I had set up for me. I was not as dashing as Daring Do. Just a simple spritz of water washed away the Cutie mark painted upon my flank to reveal it to be blank and baron of anything. I licked the tip of my hoof and the static electrical zipper attached right there making it easy for a pony unzip and slip out. Peridot and Delilah were scrupulous in harvesting the hair extensions attached to my mane and tail. They weren't mine and honestly was quite glad they could keep them. The contacts I carefully took out revealing plain monochrome eyes. Water washed away all the glitz, all the color off my body revealing a pony who looked like she stepped directly off a black and white film. 

A pony whose mane and tale was pitch black and bobbed short. A grayscale almost white coat without a single cutie mark. The makeup dripping in rivulets onto the floor. Toot Suite entered when everyone else left. Normally, nopony really cares about modesty among fellow girls since horses don't exactly wear clothes anyway but after the first time Toot Suite had seen all the fuss I endure for a single scene. She was more cautious to approach after everyone left to avoid getting trampled. Wings outstretched, the bronze metal glittered underneath the feathers. The harness was beginning to make me itch but I couldn't help but marvel at Toot Suite's fabulous art. It was the perfect mix of our Equestrian Ideals and our Victorian Science. Beautiful, Graceful, and truly old in that well cared for way. 

Admiring the kind of craftsman Toot Suite had become gave me pause to see the sadness reflected in her gunmetal gaze. Watching me stand half in half out of my costume. 

"You are a genius as ever," I told her gently.

"The only difference between Genius and stupidity is Genius has limitations," Toot Suite answered, "All these years and still no cutie mark?"

"Nope?" I stated, "Is that really a bad thing?"

"It's just a sad thing," Toot Suite exclaimed, "You used to be so charming and now. You scoff just like they did."

"They" being the operative turn. All the high society snotty ponies at the Filly Finishing School. An actress can take on any role and play out nearly any dream if paid well enough and any dream can be pretend. Learning the proper way to walk, talk, sit, eat and stand was like a script and I had fun pretending to be something I'm not. Actually I had fun pretending to be many things I'm not. The only time anyone ever saw me with my guard down was when I crashed into Toot Suite. I stared longingly at the vacation photo of a family who huddled together in front of a real fossil. It's back arched backwards and the fine sheen of feathers stamped along the rock showed this strange bird had once had wings. It was primitive yet dead beat gorgeous.

"Toot Suite, the bird in your family's photo was an Archaeopteryx?" I asked slowly, "World's first two winged connection to dinosaurs and birds?"

"Yes!" she stated cheerfully, "And the time you stood up for me at that croquet game."

"You put hot sauce on Prince Blueblood's Croquet mallet. All I did was pass it to him," I pretended to scoff but it quickly divulged into laughter. Toot Suite was having a hard time laughing with her mouth around a belt strap, "I'm sorry for not being myself lately. When you joined the royal Air-Navy. I didn't have my cutie mark yet and decided to keep playing different roles, trying new things until I could see what fit."

"I didn't think you'd make a career out of it though," Toot Suite answered.

"Neither did I," I agreed, "By the way have you seen Rainbow Fruit lately?"

"Let me guess, Pegasus ham? Got all the leading lady rolls until you came on to the scene?" Toot Suite sighed, "No I haven't seen that batty nut anywhere."

"The correct term is androgynous," I corrected with a grimace, she tugged too tight, "And just because he makes it a hobby out of wearing girl's CLOTHES. Eek, does not mean it has anything to do with the strange water filled with real piranhas inciDENT unless he wasn't here and we had the real Rainbow Dash come crashing in here any minute."

Close but no cigar the pony Rainbow Fruit bashed through the door. He barged past us whirling around in the air. The brunette pegasus sat down and asked.

"Have you seen my wig?"

I could barely slap a hoof to my face. The door opens again revealing the erractic rainbow maned pony from before. I braced my hooves on the mirror angling myself to see the pony standing behind me. My prop wings halfway unfurled. Toot Suite looked between Rainbow Stranger and our well known colleague Rainbow Fruit. This Rainbow Fruit look-a-like's eyes widened. Pupils shrunk in shock. Corners of her downturned lips nearly falling off her muzzle. Her face just screamed the heartache of a little filly whose dream was crushed. I-I've seen it on many a rabid fanpony.

"Oh no please don't cry," I begged. 

Here I stood, halfway in, halfway out of my costume. The yellow makeup was not washed off from the flank down. The Cutie Mark bleeding off of my hip. I reached out to the pegasus pony. Her heart wrenching scream of Nooo caterwauled off the iron girders. Toot Suite cussed under her breath. The Irradiated waste disposal unit was in that direction. 

"Wait! Come Back!" I cried. Not that I could fly if I dropped like a stone by doing so. Still ground ridden as I am. Toot Suite muscled into my way. "But she was standing there breathing in radioactive waste Tootsie, we need to go help her!"

"And break those wings of mine into your spine during the process?" Toot Suite asked, "No, that's just some random stranger. Fancy I need to get you out of that harness before you hurt yourself."

"Don't worry Fancy Fizz, Rainbow Dash there couldn't have breathed in that much radiation." Rainbow Fruit reassured me.

"But still she was acting weird, well, weird even for you." I gasped, "We need to help her."

The crash vibrated the room. Crack of bone meeting metal. The Rainbow Maned pony did not get very far. I whimpered in sympathy. Even though I didn't know where she came from. I know a broken heart when I hear one. It's the one thing I hated about being a blank flank in the acting business. There was just that sad truth where the dream is only that, a hope and dream, fragile enough to be crushed.

Gears clicked, belts slid away. Toot Suite put the wings in her saddle bag. Utility belt around her neck. Rainbow Fruit opened the door. Violet eyes showing concern.

"Both of you two just go." Rainbow Fruit said, "I'll talk to Photo Shoot."

My drooping ears perked right up. Attacking the pony in a vicious hug. I cheered, "Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I could kiss you!"

"KISS?!." Rainbow Fruit panicked. Fear of women I'm afraid.

"Quite right, well away we go," I cheered, galloping after the rainbow maned pony.

Toot Suite flying after me yelling, "What did I tell you about breaking legs?"

My clopping hooves echoed after. Rainbow Dash laid unconcious, bleeding but physically fine. It was the radiation damage Toot Suite and I were worried about. It was rarely serious but it did tend to make ponies nauseous, hallucinatory and dizzy. Crazy as she is, she also saved me even if I crushed her fantasy. I didn't know that the start of helping one crazy pony was just the beginning of my first real un-pretended adventure.