Like a stormy sea, but not made of water, but by dozens and dozens of manes, horns, wings and tails, so the pony crowd was overwhelming everything, while pouring noisily inside the library. In their confused and disorganized advance, they swept away everything, throwing to the ground the furniture and stepping on the books that were on the ground, as well as trampling on each other hooves and tails, which caused a further series of cries, that added up to the excited screams of those who had come to meet Swift Swap, or simply that were enjoying the party.
The result was a confusion worthy of a revolution.
“PINKIE PIE!” Twilight cried on a rampage, while hovering in flight above the crowd, the only way in which she had managed to make her way through, “I don't recall to having given you permission to organize a party in my library! And to tell the truth, you didn't even ask for permission! Who in Equestria you think you are for do as you like in others's places?”
As for the others, they were still caught among the ponies. Especially Spike, who, crouched, was trying to get out of the forest of legs without being squashed by a hoof. But the task was proving to be quite difficult, since none of them stood still even for a second, and as soon as he was able to catch a glimpse of an opening to escape, it immediately shut, and he stayed even more surrounded.
Fluttershy instead, as soon as the throng of ponies had entered, she had been violently pushed against a wall, and now, squeezed between the wall and the mob, she couldn't find the strength or the courage to move. Regarding Applejack, however, she was opening her way by dint of shoves and leaps, in an attempt to reach Pinkie. And when she finally succeeded on that, she told her, “She's right. And anyway, you promised him that he would have the chance to rest, and that you wouldn't have made much fuss. Do you think this is the way to keep that promise?”
Pinkie looked at her two enraged friends, and then at Swift Swap, who now appeared exhausted, and which also appeared more dejected than ever, and then ruefully said, “Well, to tell the truth I didn't actually promised, but I'm sorry anyway. The fact is that, in this way, he will be able to meet everypony in the shortest possible time. It was the only way to ensure that he met all by tomorrow. But don't worry, Twilight! If you don't want us to party here, we can move elsewhere in an instant. And as for your rest, Swift Swap, I'm two hundred percent sure that by tonight you will have met everypony, and after that I promise that nothing will separate you from the warm sheets of a bed. Promise! Pinkie Promise! Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!”
He looked at her with a worried expression. But he didn't seem concerned about the party. He seemed worried about something else. However, in a voice that sounded almost pleading he said, “I understand that you were well-intentioned, and that you mean to achieve your goal while leaving me time to sleep, but the fact is that I need to sleep NOW, not tonight! I just did a rather tiring magic demonstration, and I was already tired before! Therefore, you can well understand that I'm in the worst possible mood for attend a party so loud, no offense to your style of celebration. And in any case, it's just past noon, and I haven't had lunch yet, as I'm sure even they haven't had lunch. Don't you think we could postpone this party to a more opportune moment, so that everyone can go to...”
But then he looked at her and realized that she wasn't listening anymore. She seemed completely enraptured by her thoughts, as if she just had the idea of the century. Also Applejack and Twilight noticed that, and knowing her, they realized that the situation was going to escalate. They knew that when she had an idea for a party, nothing could stop her.
“Ehm, Pinkie?” Applejack began to talk to her, trying to distract her from her purpose, “I just think that he is right. Why not you-”
“Move the party in the Windy Plain, right on the border of Ponyville, then once there set the tables that are in the warehouse of Sugarcube Corner for the last-minute parties, and then organize a huge, massive banquet for everypony?” Pinkie said, looking at Applejack with a huge smile painted on her face, that kind of smile that implies "Come on, please! Pretty please!"
She in turn looked at Twilight, which was evidently thinking back to her welcome party, and then at Swift Swap, increasingly concerned. However, one thing was clear: all three agreed that that was a really bad idea.
But, for every second spent, Pinkie's eyes and smile widened further, in an expression that was irresistible but also unsettling at the same time.
In the end, Twilight couldn't resist anymore, and then came up to Swift Swap and whispered in his ear, “I'm afraid that she won't desist, as far as we can insist. You'd better give her rope, for the moment, and then, when the party is over, you'll see that she'll leave you in peace. She's stubborn and obstinate, but she always keeps her promises!”
He glanced first at Twilight, then at Applejack, and both seemed firmly convinced that this was the best choice. And so, in a resigned voice he murmured, “Fine. I know I'll regret it, but I hope to stand up to tonight.”
“HOORAY!” Pinkie shouted, which indicated that, despite the noise, she had managed somehow to hear him. Then climbed up on a shelf, and pulled out from nowhere a little megaphone, within which she yelled “Hey, everypony! Last-minute notice! The party is now moving to the Windy Plain, where, offered directly by Sugarcube Corner, there will be the biggest, most fantastic, the most sensational feast EVER! And then, there will be an extensive program of entertainment, which will include dancing, ghost stories, puppet theater, outdoor cinema, seven-legged race, pillow fight, mimes game and much, much more! And keep in mind that all this is in honor of our welcome, very welcome guest, coming from over the ocean, ambassador of Chidontrememberthename, Swift Swap!”
As she said his name, she pointed at him, and everyone turned to him, and who was already facing him looked at him with even more intensity. In front of all that attention, he turned red with embarrassment, and gave a weak smile.
He didn't make time to do anything else, because a few moments later a dozen of hooves grabbed him, lifted him up, and dragged him out from the library in triumph, while he showed throughout his disapproval by shaking and trying to free himself from the roaring crowd.
Soon, in the library there were only four ponies: Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie, still on top of the shelf. In the library there was also Spike, which had miraculously survived the hasty exit of the mob without too much damage, and was now cautiously raising. Also Fluttershy seemed not hurt, but she was still so terrified that she couldn't move away from the wall yet, as if it was protecting her from some mysterious danger.
“Well, I guess it went well!” Pinkie said, while with a leap she went down from the shelf and hid the megaphone under a book, “ I hope we can arrange the tables in time! I bet they have already arrived to the plain!”
“Are you worrying about the tables?” Twilight cried at her, “It's incredible as sometimes you can be so insensitive! How it came to your mind to organize one of your rowdy party for somepony who dies by sleep? Haven't you learned anything from what happened with Cranky Doodle? Somepony just want peace and quiet, and he told you that several times! It's possible that you haven't figured that out yet?”
But, as she said those words, she remembered some of the first words Pinkie had said to her, the second time they had met: “And if you haven't met anyone yet, you must not have any friends, and if you don't have any friends then you must be lonely, and that made me so sad!”
That was true. Also thinking about what had happened with Cranky Doodle reminded her what that story had meant not to him, but to her. For her, who was friend of everyone, and considered wasted every second spent alone, the thought of a lonely pony would be inconceivable. The same had happened when she, Twilight herself, had come to Ponyville. And now it had happened more or less the same thing. Which then the solution consisted of wild, chaotic and noisy parties, well, that was Pinkie Pie. She was that way. Take it or leave it. And, honestly, now she would have chosen to take.
Therefore, she looked at her friend with an eye a little more forgiving, and then asked “Are you sure that this is the quickest way for him to meet everypony. Because believe me, he is in desperate need of sleep. He has performed a magic very complicated at my request, and he was already tired before, so it would technically be my fault if he faint in the middle of the party!”
Pinkie, who was a little taken aback by the previous outburst, straightened up a bit and answered, “Yes, it's the only way. And if I have done well my math, within eight of this evening he will know everypony. And I promise you a thing! I promise I'll go easy on him. No, it won't be tiring at all! And one more thing. Regarding the music I had thought of something 'paaartay' style, but since I don't think that would be the ideal for somepony so tired, maybe I can find something less......well......loud!”
Twilight smiled, put her front leg around her shoulders and said, “Good, I knew you'd understand. So, since now we are all into it, there is something we can do to help you?”
Also Applejack, who was raised by the fact that Pinkie had finally surrendered, at least in part, approached her and made a sign of approval. And also Spike and Fluttershy did the same. They were all ready to help her.
Pinkie, touched, patted the tuft of her mane and said, “Okay, everypony! We have a party to organize, and we haven't a moment to lose. Applejack, you and Spike will go to take the tables at Sugarcube Corner, and while you do that, please tell the Cakes that today they will have to prepare a special order in record time, also tell them also that everything will be on my emergency fund for welcome parties! Fluttershy, you please gather your delightful choir of birds. And Twilight, do you have by chance a book of party activities exciting but not too much?”
With the sweetness of the moon reflected in the lake, the vividness of the rainbow falls, and the brilliance of a diamond that sees the light after being buried for millennia in the womb of the earth, so each bead of the bracelet shone in the light of the lamp.
That little ring of beads contained within itself the poetry of a starry sky. Each one of those little multiform and multicolored gems seemed to contain a constellation, and together they formed an iridescent and dazzling galaxy, profound and mysterious. A galaxy that you could tuck on your wrist.
These were the emotions that Rarity felt, while carefully observing her latest creation. She always did so because she wanted to make sure that the reflections of the bracelet weren't too similar to the one what she had made before.
Because any of her creations had to be the same as the previous one. Because each one had to give a different emotion, a different feeling to the one who was wearing it. Each of her creations had to be like the snowflakes: unique.
After having observed it for a long time, from any angle and in any light intensity, she finally gave her judgment: “Perfect!”
Having said that, she took it off from her pastern using her magic, and put it with the greatest delicacy in a big casket, filled to the brim with bracelets, earrings and many other different accessories, then, with a satisfied expression, gently closed the casket.
“Well, it was tough, but it was definitely worth it. I don't think I'll get another opportunity to create accessories for the 'Miss Diamond' beauty contest. It's one of the most prestigious beauty contests of all of Equestria. Only the best jewelry are used! Ah, I'd love to attend it. I bet that by seeing the work of all the other jewelers I would certainly find the inspiration for a new line of accessories, and maybe even a new line of dresses to go with them! Uh, that would be marvelous!”
As she said this, she turned off the lamp the light of which had manufactured and studied every single accessory, and put her glasses on the work bench. Her desk was in the usual chaos that accompanied and followed whichever of her creation: little gems discarded, spools of thread of various colors, needles, cloths, polishing products, various drawings and sketches, and much, much more.
She looked at the mess and for a moment he thought to reorder everything. No, the desk could wait. After all that work without interruption, she just needs a break.
“Oh, I must remember to thank Spike for helping me the other day to find all those gems.” she said to herself, “If it wasn't for him, it would take me hours just to extract them from the ground! It must be a nice convenience to have claws, at least when you have to dig! Well, I think that maybe I can find some gems in good condition to give him, among those that remain. I don't remember if he like more the emeralds or the rubies...”
While she thought, her eyes fell on the clock on the wall, and she nearly had a stroke. It was six and ten minutes in the afternoon.
“Oh, my! It's already after six?” she said shocked, “I was so taken by my work that I haven't taken into account the passage of time! And so I've worked for nine consecutive hours! And to think that today I was hoping to get me also the styling to the tail!”
While she spoke she looked at her tail. It was shining and perfectly curled, as always. Or that at least to the eyes of an inexperienced. Because to her eyes, acute and trained to catch even the smallest detail, didn't escape a slight ripple that the tail had taken near the end.
“Not that I don't like to look a little different sometimes,” she said, waving her tail to see the effect of that ripple seen from various angles, “but only when I want to. And I didn't decided at all to change my tailstyle. Well, maybe, although I am quite tired from all that work, maybe I can give it a sprucing up, before preparing dinner.”
And so, after placing the casket on a safe shelf, where she usually pinned the finished and ready for dispatch works, she came out of her workshop and descended the stairs, to pick up her hairdresser kit. But while he was looking for it, she saw, leaning on the doormat, a small pink letter.
Curious, she came over, picked it up and opened it with magic, and was instantly covered by a shower of confetti and streamers.
"Uhm, I think I know who is the sender!” Rarity said, while pulling the letter from the envelope.
The letter was decorated with a quirky drawing of what she recognized as Pinkie Pie and someone completely unknown, both with a party hat, both happy and smiling, both evidently intent on doing a strange dance. Along the edge of the paper, as a frame to the drawing, she read the following text:
“Dear Rarity, You are cordially invited to the welcome party in honor of Swift Swap, which will be held on the Windy Plains. There will be a rich banquet at one o'clock, plus a buffet for the whole duration of the party. In addition there will be music, fun activities, and much more. All this won't be too much over the top, as to the specific request of the guest, but the fun is guaranteed. Please don't miss it out and come! Pinkie Pie!”
“Oh, my!” she said, as soon as she finished reading, “If the party started at one o'clock, perhaps at this time it's already over. Wait, now that I remember, I think she's already come this morning to tell me about this fellow named Swift Swap. Maybe she wanted to tell me about this party, but before she could explain it all, I've driven her away in a bad way, because I was too caught up by the work!”
As she said this, she gave another look at the invitation. It was done with the usual rainbow of colors that characterize every invitations sent by Pinkie. The drawing was rushed, but the style, however, was so funny and light-hearted that automatically put a smile into anyone who looked at it. The words were in a messy and childish style, which however indicated how much she had enjoyed writing it. Because she knew that Pinkie wrote every single invitation personally, putting into each of them her emotions, and those who wanted to convey to the addressee. Pinkie always did so. Just as she always did the same for her clothes and her accessories.
That thought made her make a decision.
“I just hope it's not over yet, and I also hope that nopony notices my tail. Well, actually, I've heard that the 'messed up' style will definitely rage next season! I'll just have to find the right accessory, and it will be done!”
So, without losing a moment, she ran in her wardrobe, and began to try, one after the other, all of her hats. And finally she took one, not too big or flashy, but decorated with a beautiful assortment of precious stones and purple feathers. Then looked in the mirror of the wardrobe, and gave her judgment: “Fabulous!”
Satisfied, she turned off the light and walked out of her shop, locked it and went at the quick trot toward the Windy Plains.
Like an ice skate that slides gently on the ice, drawing a thin, stylish line, which formed chaotic artwork or fine arabesques on the white, icy canvas, so the bow glided over the strings, hanging like strands of cobweb between the bridge and the hoofboard, making them vibrate, almost imperceptibly. The vibrations of the string echoed in the sound box, causing it to vibrate completely, from the scroll to the endpin.
That vibration was the secret. It was that, by vibrating also the air in the sound box, produced the deep but melodious sound that she, Octavia Melody, loved so much.
Among the many things she had been taught, when she learned how to play that wonderful instrument, there was also the physics hidden in the music, those curious mechanisms that the nature put in place when she wanted to produce a sound.
But honestly, she wasn't interested in those details. It was like explain to a painter why the paint is colored. All that matters to him is to paint. And all that mattered to her was to play.
It was wonderful. When she was playing, there was only the music, as if by rubbing the bow against the strings she would build a world of her own. A world of symphonies and harmony. Nothing else.
For this she never had stage fright. There was no stage, when she played. No public. Only she and her cello.
It was in this spirit that, with the last movement, she played the last note, concluding her performance. Then she opened her eyes, and as if someone had suddenly turned up the volume of the public, she also heard their applause. Composed, but touched at the same time, as always, she made a little bow, not because she didn't want to make a more deep one, but because she had to hold the cello, or it would have fallen on the ground.
While raising her head she saw a couple of ponies who were approaching her. She knew one of them, it was Pinkie Pie. The other one was the famous guest, which until now she had just glimpsed.
She was amazed at how tired he was. His face resembled to Octavia her good friend Vinyl Scratch when, after a whole night of work, she insisted, however, to do the home chores, so that she doesn't get tired too, and the next morning she was completely worn out, after two whole days without sleep.
However, despite the extreme lassitude, he was making superpony efforts to be able to stay awake and follow Pinkie.
“Hey, Octavia! Octavia!” Pinkie called, at the foot of the stage, “Great performance, for the record. Now listen, can you come down for a minute? I have to introduce you to the guest of honor!”
Her, smiling, put the cello in its case, a little behind the scenes, then stepped down from the stage and said, “Thank you very much, Pinkie. You know, it's very rare that you invite me to your parties. As entertainer, I mean! You usually prefer a genre a little more....well..... noisy!”
“Yes, it's true,” Pinkie replied, “but today, since our guest isn't in the right mood to go wild, I opted for something quieter. And after the bird chorus of Fluttershy, I immediately thought about you! So, Octavia Melody, meet Swift Swap! Swift Swap, meet Octavia Melody!”
“It's a pleasure!” he said, “I listened to your performance, and I must admit that you have an extraordinary talent. I admit that I haven't been to many concerts of classical music, but after listening to you, I think I should do it more!”
She, rather flattered said, “Oh, thank you! I usually don't get so many compliments on my music. Also because I usually don't play alone. But it's a pleasure to know that I made somepony approach to good music!”
“Don't mention it.” he replied, “I'm glad you've been able to help Pinkie to animate my welcome party. You know, she wanted so much that was a good party, even though I wasn't exactly the best celebrated in history. But you know, it's really impossible to get bored with her. She manages to convey energy into you all the time. I think if it had been someone else to organize this party, I'd already fainted four hours ago!”
At that line both Octavia and Pinkie sniggered. Then Pinkie looked up and saw someone coming from afar. Someone who was advancing at the trot, apparently without haste, but with a sense of urgency in step.
“Rarity!” she shouted, overjoyed, “You made it! I was beginning to worry that you're offended by how I invaded your workshop this morning, and that you had decided to not come!”
“Don't even say that in jest, darling!” she answered, as soon as she reached the group, “On the contrary, it was rather me the rude one, who cast you away without leave you no time to explain everything! A behavior like this is not worthy of a lady! And I'm also arrived terribly late! I'm terribly sorry for my deplorable conduct. I promise that I'll find a way to make you forgive me.”
“Come on! Don't worry about that!” Pinkie reassured her, “The important thing is that you came. Nothing else matters!”
“Oh, I'm so relieved to hear you say that. And hello to you too, dear Octavia. It's a pleasure to meet you here!”
“I'm glad to see you too, Rarity!” Octavia replied, “Also because I haven't thanked you yet for the ceremony suit that you have prepared for me in occasion of the big gala concert of the Crystal Empire last week. Thanks to you, I made a great impression! I even got an engagement for another five important receptions for the next month, and all thanks to you!”
“Now, now, don't be so modest.” she demurred, “Maybe my clothes may have given you that extra touch of class, but I'm sure that was your wonderful music to make inroads into the hearts of the organizers of the concert.”
“She's right!” Pinkie interjected, “In the end, you go to a concert for listen to music, not for look to clothes, right?”
And having said that, she hugged her friends. But then, as if she had suddenly remembered the reason of the party, she let them go, and pushed Rarity toward Swift Swap, while saying, “Swift Swap, meet Rarity! Rarity, meet Swift Swap!”
“Ah, so you're the guest!” she said, slightly embarrassed by the fact that until then she had completely ignored him, “Well, I'm happy to meet you. Every time somepony new comes along, here it's always a big party. And since this town is quite small, these festivals are always a great event, especially thanks to this pony here, Pinkie Pie! I know that sometimes her wild and unpredictable ways can catch off guard who doesn't know her, but after a few minutes, you always learn to love that!”
“Yeah, I noticed.” he answered, “ Believe me, I wish I came here in Ponyville less tired. Perhaps I could better appreciate everything she has done for me. Not that I don't appreciate it, all the contrary! It's just that I'm so exhausted that I think I may put me to sleep right here, and now. But of course I would never do that, with the risk of offending all those present, especially Pinkie Pie, who has worked so hard to make everything perfect for me!”
“Oh, my!” she exclaimed, “It's true. Those dark circles of your are really horrible. The last time I saw some that deep was that time that Applejack got the weird idea to buck every single apple of Sweet Apple Acres by herself! How did you get so much tired?”
“Well, the fact is that I've traveled by hoof a lot, and the last two days I've never stopped. It was an exhausting journey, and once I arrived here I intended to rest for a bit. Unfortunately, things didn't go as I had planned. So, here I am, exhausted but determined to not give up. Not after having met ponies so friendly!”
“Admirable!” she said, impressed, “I must say that your willpower is really admirable. I wouldn't know how to do, without the train, and the idea of traveling, even by train, for two consecutive days, get me tired just at the thought. But anyway, why did you embarked on a so difficult journey?”
“It's my duty.” Swift Swap answered, “I'm an ambassador, and I've received orders from my lord, the Count of Chipados, to deliver a secret and important message to your Princess Celestia. So, I leaved Euhock by taking the-”
“EUHOCK?!?!” Rarity cried, in the throes of a sudden and unexpected attack of excitement, “Do you really come from Euhock? The most glamorous, charming, inspiring, picturesque continent in the entire universe? Ah, I envy you so much! I've always dreamed to visit it, at least once in my life!”
“Goodness, Rarity!” was the comment of Octavia, “I've always believed that the place of your dreams and your desires was Canterlot.”
“Oh, but it's still so!” she replied, “But anyway, how can you resist to the lure of the exotic but at the same time classic old continent. Here in Equestria there are many classy city, but over there there are whole nations of class! And how can you, especially, forget the three great nations of style: Ponytalia, the homeland of artists, United Keldom, the homeland of gentleponies, but above all Prance, the homeland of stylists!”
At the word "stylists", she seemed almost fainting, in emotion. Fortunately, Pinkie was quick to move behind her to support her, and while Rarity stood there, almost completely abandoned in Pinkie's forelegs, the pink mare told her “Well, you're lucky, because the place where he comes, the county of Chistilldontrememberthename is located right in Ponytalia!”
“Really?” Rarity said, suddenly getting up and placing herself at an inch from Swift Swap's nose, “Have you ever been to Modalanum, one of the four fashion capitals of the world along with Manehattan? Every year there are fashion shows of international importance there! I've also heard that houses many historic buildings of world importance, both historical and artistic, as well as many works of art of inestimable value. And not to mention one of the oldest existing shopping centers! Oh, and then of course there is also Rumon, the capital, that....”
But she abruptly stopped, because from Swift Swap's face began to arise a strange golden light. It didn't come from his horn, but from his face. And when the light faded, he didn't seem the same. She couldn't say what the problem was, but there was something different in his eyes and in his ears. He no longer seemed him.
“Oh, no! Here it comes!” he whispered, with an expression of pure terror on his face.
Rarity kept looking at him, confused, and also Octavia began to look with interest to his face, struck by the bizarre change. Pinkie instead seemed to haven't noticed anything, because while they were discussing, she pulled out her checklist and was carefully checking it.
“Hey, Swift Swap!” she said excitedly, putting aside the list, “Good news! We are almost done! There are only five ponies missing for complete the 'MYNFMAOYOF' checklist! All we need is Raindrops, Thunderlane, Bulk Biceps, Cloudchaser and Rainbow Dash! Practically, we just have to wait for the team of Wonderbolts trainees to come back from their monthly training and we'll be okay! Now it's pretty late, so they should already be on the way back! Are you happy, Swift Swap?......Ehm, Swift Swap? Are you okay?”
She said that because she also had noticed the strange changes on his face. Under the confused and worried gaze of the three mares, he stepped back trying to keep cool and find a solution.
“But....But....But of course!” he said, trying to hide his state of panic, “I'm fine, wonderfully fine! I just have a insane hunger! I think I'll head to the snack table. See you later!”
And he disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind Rarity and Octavia, looking at each other confused to understand what had happened, and Pinkie Pie, who suddenly seemed to forget the odd change. Too distracted by a moth that had just landed on her nose.
Swift Swap however, as he made himself room in the mob, he knew only one thing. He had to flee, now or never. Before it was too late!
At the snack table, Applejack was standing on the sidelines, watching from afar, with a sly smile, her brother and Cheerilee dancing together, slowly, looking intensely at each other. Cheerilee had arrived in time for the banquet, while he had arrived about four o'clock, after he had finished repairing the roof. But since they had met at the party, they didn't separate even for a moment. They seemed very happy together, whether they were eating, or chatting, or, as now, dancing.
With a sigh, she turned and spotted Apple Bloom, that, together with Sweetie Belle was admiring their friend Scootaloo, who was doing a complicated balancing act on the back of a chair. And, not too distant from them, Granny Smith was chatting pleasantly with Apple Rose. In fact, she had decided to spend a little more time with her favorite cousin, and for that she had come with her back to Ponyville, with the intention of stopping for the evening. Couldn't have chosen a better time, since she had the chance to join the party too.
Yes, apparently, although that wasn't the kind of party that Pinkie organized usually, this was still a success! All around her everypony were enjoying themselves, and there wasn't even the shadow of a long snout.
The only thing for which she was worried was Swift Swap. It was since a few hours that she didn't see him anymore, but the last time she do he seemed at the end of his strength. And since now she could no longer see him, in the midst of the multitude of ponies, she began to worry seriously.
“Applejack, excuse me!” said a voice familiar to her, “Can I have a word with you?”
Although taken by surprise by that voice, she turned around. It was Twilight, with a concerned expression, and with a book floating in front of her, hanging with her magic. On the book was written, in elegant red letters, the title 'Magic Physics'.
“ Ah, that's where you were hidin'. It's been a while I haven't seen you around. What are you doing with that book? It seems impossible to me that you always have to read, even at parties !”
“It's not the time for jokes!” was the answer, “I'm serious. There's something wrong and I need your opinion!”
By the way in which she had spoken, Applejack realized that she was indeed serious. It was the typical tone she had when a trouble was about to happen.
“Okay, I got it! It's not a joke. Now tell me everything about it!”
“Good!” she said, opening the book and beginning leafing through it, “Do you want to know where I was gone? I was curious to try Swift Swap's swapping spell, but I found it tremendously difficult. But you know that, at least usually, I just need to see a few times a peculiar spell to be able to immediately replicate it!"
"So what?" Applejack said, surprised that she was worried just about not being able to do something for once, "You have found a difficult one to replicate. Isn't it better that way? Doesn't it mean that it's particularly powerful?"
"This is not the problem!" Twilight cried impatiently, "The fact is that when I tried it, I thought back at all the feelings it gave me every time Swift Swap performed it. It's in this way that I usually can repeat a spell performed by somepony else. And that's how I noticed something that I had missed before. When an object is under the influence of that spell, it emits a particular energy frequency. It usually happens that each spell has its particular frequency. But the point that he also emits it!"
"What do you mean?" Applejack asked, that even though she didn't understand everything she sensed that something was wrong.
"I mean that he used his spell on himself this whole time. I don't know how, nor why, but has exchanged its features with those of somepony else, as if he had something to hide about himself! Earlier, while he was chatting with Golden Harvest, I approached him stealthily and analyzed its energy frequencies. And, apparently, his whole body it's impregnated with that energy. This could mean that his whole body as we know it isn't really as it seems!"
That revelation caught her by surprise, but never as the scream that suddenly rang out in the crowd. A scream of terror.
“What's happenin'? Seems like somepony had just seen a ghost!” she said, rushing toward the source of the scream. Twilight followed her, flying above her.
And that was why, for the fact that she had the advantage of the elevated position, that she was the first to see everything.
She saw the circle that the ponies had made, in the middle of the group.
She saw Daisy, near the edge of the circle, paralyzed with terror and breathless.
And she also saw what Daisy was pointing with her trembling hoof.
It was Swift Swap, just as scared as she was and in the midst of a panic attack.
But it wasn't his state of mind, since his appearance to make her shiver. His eyes were now tilted in an odd angle, his pupils had become strangely tight, and his ears now seemed longer and furry.
But all this was a banal detail, when compared to the huge, scary pair of bat-like black wings, which now extended from his back.