Somewhere else, two ponies faced off. Theirs was a battle eternal, a fight waged between foe and kin alike for aeons since the very founding of equine society. It was a duel where neither could claim a permanent victory; no matter which outcome, the same scenario would soon play out again, and nopony could know for certain who would win this time.
"Vinyl Scratch, clean up this mess," the grey mare commanded.
The pearly white unicorn twisted lazily on the couch, pushing a pizza carton to the floor. Around her, piles of detritus flocked; stained clothes, stacks of takeout food boxes, empty bottles, and pieces of dismantled sound equipment. Something red and sticky had formed a almost perfectly circular stain on the carpet. "C'mon, Octy, it's not so bad." She wiggled her eyebrows, making her impenetrable sunglasses bob up and down. "Y'know, at school they taught me that all things strive towards entropy, so what's the point of fighting a losing cause? Just mellow, okay?"
"I will not 'mellow'! I pay half the rent on this place, and I placed the deposit!" Octavia poked the stain and fumed as she realized that the unknown substance was now coating her hoof as well. "Which I'll never see again if this continues." The agitated earth pony started stalking around the room. "I shouldn't have to deal with this. I only agreed to share this apartment with you because I'm only ever here when I'm not touring, but when I am here, I do not want to deal with this! I need to relax and unwind now and then, and this is not relaxing!"
Vinyl sighed, got off the couch and draped a hoof over her roommate's withers. "Octy, baby, chill."
"Don't you 'baby' me, Vinyl Gretchen Scratch!" Octavia shrugged off the offending appendage. "This is beyond deplorable, and you'll not attempt to sweet-talk me like one of your…" She snatched a piece of cloth off the ground and inspected it suspiciously. "This is my underwear. Why is it not in the closet where it should be?"
"Uh, you sure?" Vinyl asked nervously. "Might be mine or something."
"Vinyl, you don't wear underwear," Octavia said sternly. "You said so years ago. You made a huge deal out of how clothes constrict your style and how it's just another tool The Mare uses to oppress us, or something to that effect. I didn't listen too closely."
"Some of my friends do," Vinyl suggested. "Like this totally cute pegasus last week with the—"
"Ugh!" Octavia made a face. "Spare me your tales of licentious escapades. I recognize my own clothes very well, Vinyl. So either you've been going through my closet, or your dates have. Does either seem acceptable to you?"
Vinyl sighed shamefully. "No, Octy, it doesn't. Sorry. Guess I could get rid of some of this junk, huh?"
"Yes, you could," Octavia said. She looked around the room disdainfully. "Though at this rate we might as well just start a fire and be done with it."
Vinyl let out a sharp laugh. "That would be so groovy and cathartic, y'know? Better not, though. The landlord's got two strikes against me after—"
Whatever crime the DJ was about to admit to was unknown, as the door chose that moment to slam open and reveal a frantic, frizzly filly. "Vinyl! I need your help with a party! Oh, hey, Octavia."
"Pinkamena," Octavia said curtly.
"Pinkie!" Vinyl exclaimed happily, holding out a hoof for her fellow party pony. "How ya been, girl?"
"No time to explain!" Pinkie Pie said. "I've just come from Manehattan, and can you believe the place, so many ponies, they sell fried carrots in buns and there's shows and fun stuff and excitement and Applejack got to see her relatives and—"
"No time to explain, huh?" Octavia said.
"Exactly!" Pinkie said. "I gotta put together a really super-special-awesome party strong enough to knock Cheese Sandwich out of the running, and I need a solid crew for this, and that means you!"
"You're challenging Cheese Sandwich again?" Vinyl asked, surprised. She whistled. "Nice! Gonna settle that goof-off for real this time?"
"No!" Pinkie said. "Well, maybe. But it's not the main event. See, my friend Twilight… you know Twilight? Purple, really smart, became a princess?"
"She's a princess of Equestria," Octavia said tiredly. "Who doesn't know of her?"
"You'd be surprised," Pinkie said. "Impossible to get a cab, I tell ya. Anyways, she's fallen head over hooves in love with a funny showmare in Manehattan, and at first Trixie was all 'nu-uh, my hooves are cold and I don't love you', but after we helped Twilight to be really romantic she warmed up to the idea, and I really thought we had sealed the deal the last night, but then Cheese Sandwich jumped out of nowhere, I mean he literally jumped out, why was he in that box anyway, and said he wanted to be her coltfriend, and now Trixie is playing all hard to get and wants to see who can impress her the most, so I need to go all out and that means I need your help!"
"You got it," Vinyl said confidently. "A princess in love? Classic romance story. How could I say no?"
"Sure, you're a true romantic," Octavia said sarcastically. "Did you say 'Trixie'? As in, Trixie Lulamoon?"
"You know her too?" Pinkie said with an incredulous tone. "How serendipidipidipitous!"
"Well…" Octavia said. "Years ago, back in Canterlot. She provided fireworks and lighting for our performances sometimes. Even played with us a few times. She kept saying she'd make it big as a solo act, doing magic shows. So she went back to Manehattan?"
"Yeah, uh… something like that," Pinkie said carefully. "Actually her show got ruined in Ponyville and she had to go work for Dad to earn a living and then she came back and tried to take over Ponyville and rule it with an iron hoof. And then she went back to Manehattan."
"...Right," Octavia said slowly, nodding. "That's fascinating. Girls, I'm getting in on this performance."
"Didn't you say you needed to unwind?" Vinyl said. "Besides, violins never solved anything. I got this one in the bag."
"It's a cello, and who could relax with something like this going on?" Octavia said. "Besides, if you play those abominable 'wubs' of yours at this event, you'll sink the princess like a lead horseshoe, and then you'll have the second coming of Nightmare Moon on your hooves. I know a few things about that blue egomaniac. You'll need me."
Vinyl laughed. "Awesome! See, there's the pony I love and room with! Baby, this is gonna rock!"
"Vinyl…" Octavia glared at her friend. "What did I tell you?!"
Pinkie grinned widely at the bickering musicians and pulled a checklist out of her mane. "Music, check! Now, for the rest…"
"See her now on the stage, brilliant sapphire mage…" Trixie sang softly to herself, trotting along the store's aisles. Grocery shopping was, admittedly, not a task worthy of her Great and Powerful persona, but it was something that needed to be done from time to time, as usual. Does Ponyville have convenience stores, or was it one of those towns with open markets? Hmm… "Cloak of stars all alight, such a wonderful sight… ooh, clearance on tomatoes! Excellent!" She tossed a bundle of the red delicacies into the basket on her back, followed by a head of lettuce. For a little while, her most prominent experience with tomatoes had been having them thrown at her, but she was gracious enough not to hold that against them. She continued her happy stroll. "A little dressing and we'll have a wonderful salad, mm-mmm."
Rarity walked around the corner, followed by Rainbow Dash. "Goodness, you cook too? You really are a surprising mix of talents, Trixie."
Trixie took a step back in surprise, but quickly regained her composure. "Naturally. On the road, you either learn how to cook or you learn to like grass."
"Indeed, grazing is… uncouth," Rarity said. "One should always maintain some decorum, lest one is seen as a complete ruffian."
"Hey, I've grazed," Rainbow Dash said defensively. "It's great when you're too busy to get real food."
"Case in point," Rarity said loftily. Rainbow just rolled her eyes.
"So why are you here? Is Twilight about to leap out of the dairy section with yet another attempt to seduce Trixie?" Trixie looked quickly around the store, just in case.
"Nah, she said she had to do something that came up," Rainbow said.
Meanwhile, at the hotel…
"One, two, one two three four!" Twilight announced before strumming her guitar.
"Ra-a-a-arity, what will your answer be?" Spike sang. "Oh, Ra-a-a-arity, when will you go out with me?"
The things we do for each other, Twilight mused to herself.
"Dunno what, but Spike said it was urgent," Rainbow continued. "So we figured we'd go hang out with you instead."
"Um, okay?" Trixie said uncertainly. She frowned at them. "Trixie was under the impression that you all didn't like her very much." She paused. "Aside from Twilight Sparkle, obviously."
"Yes, she really is quite taken with you, isn't she?" Rarity said cheerfully. "I've literally never seen her like this. The closest she gets is when she's found some exceptionally rare and dusty old book, and even that isn't usually enough to send her into tumult. Whatever she sees in you must be special indeed. So I thought, why not spend a little time with this exceptional mare and see who she really is?"
"Besides, you weren't exactly sad to see me the last time we met, Queen Trixianna the First," Rainbow said with a meaningful grin.
"Can we not bring that up again…" Trixie muttered. "Fine. You wish to enjoy Trixie's glorious company for the day? You shall. Sadly, today's schedule is far from as exciting as you might hope. Shopping, some practice, then work, then sleep. No open spots for world-saving or god-vanquishing or other acts of heroism today. Oh, and see if there's any affordable bread."
"That's okay, dear," Rarity said. "I've found that world-saving isn't something you can schedule anyway. Most of the time, at least." She held up two loaves and gave them a light squeeze, frowning a little. "You know that you'll be set for life if you accept Twilight, don't you? No need to hunt for bargains ever again."
"As if I'd ever plan on being a gold digger," Trixie said scornfully. "Trixie has always stood on her own hooves. How would you feel, hanging on to somepony and knowing that you were relying on them for everything?"
"True," Rarity said. "I did have my eyes on a very eligible bachelor once, but…" She turned over one of the loaves and made a disgusted face as it turned out to be covered with green mold. "Let's just say he turned out to be less than I expected. Anyway, I suppose I can see your point. I myself rely on myself and my business to stay afloat, and it would take a very special stallion for me to give that up." She discreetly discarded the moldy bread where the staff could deal with it, and dropped the untainted one into Trixie's basket.
"Then you see Trixie's point…" Trixie tilted her head at Rarity quizzically. "…sorry, what was your name again?"
"...It's Rarity," Rarity said, a little taken aback. "You know, the fashion icon of the year? You do pay attention to fashion, don't you?"
"And I'm Rainbow Dash," Rainbow interjected. "But you knew that already."
"Rarity?" Trixie asked. "As in 'Hotel Chic' Rarity?"
"Oh, so you have seen my fashion line after all?" Rarity said with interest.
"Oh yes." Trixie smirked. "Trixie could only dream of having the guts to dress ponies in lampshades and bedsheets and parade them around on stage. That's a really impressive act. Hat's off to you." Trixie doffed her hat mock-courteously.
"Ooh, burn," Rainbow laughed.
"I had to work with the materials I had on hoof," Rarity said, seething. "I wouldn't expect anypony who wears the same hat and cape all the time to understand the finer points of fashion."
Trixie snorted. "Trixie understands fashion just fine. She just doesn't care for the buffoonish extravaganza it so often excretes on the unsuspecting populace. Also, this?" She spun around, letting her cape fly. "This is the traditional garb of the stage magician, and was lovingly hoof-stitched by Coco Pommel only a few weeks ago. Kindly don't insult her work."
"Well." Rarity noted the defensive tone to Trixie's voice. Quite protective of your friend, aren't you? "Yes, I suppose it suits you. Coco is quite talented, too. It looks good on you. But… honestly, was 'Hotel Chic' that bad?"
"Oh, horrible!" Trixie laughed. She sobered up a little. "No, just peculiar. Seriously, it was a very bold choice of materials. I'm genuinely impressed that you'd try something like that. And get away with it, too! Did you really tear up a whole hotel room for it?"
"Oh yeah," Rainbow said. "The hotel manager was pissed. And she made us work all day, too." Rainbow glanced at Rarity, who looked ashamed, and grinned. "But it was worth it. Besides, friends help each other out."
"So is that why all of you are here?" Trixie inquired. She looked curiously at the two ponies. "To help Twilight with her 'problem'?"
Rarity laughed. "Yes, I suppose you could say that…"
Days ago…
Rarity sliced apart a seam on the dress before her before deftly stitching the fabric back in place a few inches lower, to allow for better leg movement. Dressmaking was, after all, not an exact science; adjustments had to be made now and then. Fortunately she had a keen eye for details and could almost always spot the little things before the client picked up the finished work, something that had saved her on many occasions.
Nearby, Spike sat on a stool, waiting patiently. Today they had planned to go gem-hunting – always a pleasant and rewarding endeavor, as long as they could avoid Diamond Dogs – and Spike had looked forward to it for weeks. The sweetheart so loved to show off his skills and manners for her; he probably loved it even more than the delicious gems he'd get as reward, she suspected. Unfortunately she had found herself with a little extra work to take care of before they left, so he had to wait. And wait he did.
In fact, he was disconcertingly quiet today. Usually they would chat, and maybe he'd fetch things for her, or maybe offer some comment on the dress she was working on, or compliment her looks. (Rarity admitted that she was a little vain, but when you looked as good as she did, how could she not be?) Today, though, his mind was elsewhere.
Not unlike Twilight, lately. The poor mare had been very distracted these last few weeks; absentminded, vacant, forgetful. As though her mind was focused on something else completely. Of course, Rarity knew perfectly well what that something was. Twilight had brought up the subject a while earlier, and it was easy for anypony with some sense to connect the dots. Twilight was in love, regardless of her attempts to deny it. Rarity just hoped her friend would do something about it instead of moping around.
Spike's current state of mind was a different matter, however. It really wasn't like him, and she had no idea why. "Spike?" she asked. "You seem to be a little distant today. What's on your mind?"
"Huh?" Her words seemed to snap him out of his fugue for the moment. "Oh… Twilight went to Manehattan yesterday."
"Yes, you mentioned," Rarity said. "Some awards ceremony or something."
"Yeah…" He fell into silence again for a few seconds before snapping out of it again. "Rarity, would Twilight ever lie to me?"
"What? No!" She paused. "Well… maybe once in a while, if she had a very good reason, but never ever to hurt you." Even Applejack had admitted that, now and then, a white lie or a slight omission of truth was easier to make. The important thing was to recognize the moments when dishonesty could actually hurt, her friend had said. "Why, do you think Twilight has lied to you?"
"Well…" He twirled his claws in that peculiar way she had learned meant that he was worried or nervous. "It's just… it came up so suddenly, this Manehattan business. She didn't even get the invitation delivered through me, and I handle all her important correspondence. It just feels so… so convenient that it was today, when I had stuff to do with you. She even insisted that I stayed behind to help you. It's like… like…"
"Like she may have set it up to give herself an excuse to leave on her own, without you?" Rarity suggested.
"Yeah!" he exclaimed. "That's exactly it! But why?"
Oh, Twilight, you vixen. Sneaking off to meet your paramour one-on-one? How romantic! "I'm sure we have nothing to worry about," Rarity said out loud. "I would wager that she's meeting somepony and just want some privacy." She returned her attention to the dress before her.
"Meeting somepony?" Spike said, surprised. He thought for a moment, and his eyes widened in sudden realization. "Oh, of course! Gah, I'm so stupid. Hah, of course she wouldn't want to tell anypony she's off to see her."
"Her?" Rarity asked. She lowered her scissors and looked straight at Spike. Has he figured out who Twilight is in love with? I really don't give Spike enough credit, the clever darling. "Do you know who Twilight's meeting?"
"I could hazard a guess," Spike muttered with a bit of distaste in his voice. "There was an article in the Gazette earlier that she seemed really interested in. About Trixie."
Five pins, a sheet of cloth and a pair of scissors fell to the floor in a clatter, as the magic holding them up winked out in the blink of an eye. "Trixie?!" Rarity cried.
"Uh, yeah, Trixie," Spike said. He didn't seem too fazed by her reaction; Trixie had left a very distinct impression on Rarity and the others, after all. "I think Twilight's been really concerned for her since the last time she was here. Especially given what happened to her after the, you know, the Ursa incident."
"Uh huh," Rarity said hollowly.
"Seems the girl's gotten her show back on track, though," he continued. "I guess Twilight's off to make sure she's doing well and actually has given up her revenge-seeking. Makes sense. Maybe she thought we'd get upset if we knew…"
Oh dear. Oh dear. Trixie, huh? Rarity bit her lip nervously. Hmm. Well now. I guess she could be Twilight's type, now that I think about it. Magically gifted, good looking. Hah, and quite adept at making a lasting impression. Add to the design that she's a 'bad girl' who supposedly showed her better side in the end, and you could hardly expect Twilight not to want to snatch her up and take her home… oh dear. If it goes badly, though…
She swiftly pushed the ponyquine aside and swept her tools off the floor and back to their respective places on the worktable. "Spike, I think we'll have to cancel today's gem hunt."
"What?" he asked in surprise. "Why?"
"Find Rainbow Dash and Applejack and tell them to meet me at the train station," she continued. "Tell them it's an emergency and that we might be away from Ponyville for a while. I'll find Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie."
"Rarity…" Spike began.
"I might be wrong, but…" She sighed. "Twilight might need our help."
An hour later, five ponies and a dragon huddled in a passenger car on the Friendship Express, heading east. Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked less than pleased with the situation. Fluttershy looked worried. Pinkie Pie looked… like Pinkie Pie.
"Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh, Twilight's got a marefriend!" the pink party pony cheered, capering across the cabin.
"Pipe down, Pinkie!" Applejack said. "You absolutely sure about this, Rares? Ya really think Twilight's gone a-courtin' Trixie of all ponies?"
"Of course I'm not absolutely sure, Applejack," Rarity said, a bit irritated at her friend's tone. "It might be as Spike thought, and she just wanted to congratulate Trixie on recapturing her fame and fortune, as any friend would. On the other hoof, I am a pony in touch with my feelings, and I recognize an infatuated pony when I see her. Twilight is in love, I'll bet my whole spring lineup on it."
"Yeah!" Pinkie agreed. "Everypony knows that good girls want bad boys! Or bad girls, in this case. And you don't get any more goody-four-shoes than Twilight, unless maybe you're Fluttershy." She clopped her hooves together excitedly. "Hey, is that why you hang around with Discord all the time, Fluttershy?"
"P-P-Pinkie!" Fluttershy exclaimed, her face red.
"Aaaanyway," Rainbow Dash said, desperately changing the subject. "What are we supposed to do about it? Sure, Twilight's got absolutely rotten taste in girls, but she's a grown mare. It's not exactly our job to tell her who she can and can't date. I'll leave that to her brother."
"Yeah, an' ah can't see how Trixie's doin' anythin' wrong in this picture either," Applejack said. "Believe me, I'm lookin', but unless she's figured out some kinda alicorn-overpowerin' long-distance brain-whammy spell, she don't seem to be doin' anythin' at all we have to stop her from."
"Oh, I'm not worried about that," Rarity said. "If Twilight is in love, I'm sure it's all natural. I'm willing to believe that she finds Trixie very, very appealing indeed. But I don't know how Trixie will react."
"Maybe she'll be happy?" Fluttershy suggested. "I mean… she's so lonely. Maybe she secretly wants to have a friend, or a special somepony. I'm sure she and Twilight would make a cute couple…" She blushed.
"Maybe," Rarity said. "But I'm not willing to take the risk. This is Twilight we're talking about, going off on a hare-brained plan all on her own. And when things go wrong and she's on her own, well…"
"Ah," Spike said knowingly. "Like the 'tardy report' incident."
"Or that time we had to disaster-proof Equestria because she received a message from the future she didn't listen to," Rainbow suggested.
"Or that time she ran herself ragged trying to figure out my Pinkie Sense," Pinkie chimed in. "I get it. Worst thing happens, we have to be there to catch her, or she might break apart or explode or something."
"I'm fairly sure she won't explode, but, yes, that's about it," Rarity said. She gazed out through the window, looking at the countryside passing by. "I just hope we won't be too late…"
Present day…
"Huh. You really don't trust her very much," Trixie mused.
During the reminiscing, the trio had finished shopping and withdrawn to Trixie's wagon lot. The magician had taken the opportunity to practice a few acts with an audience on hoof; currently she was putting together a pony-sized box out of six square panels of painted wood, with Rainbow Dash very reluctantly agreeing to be inside.
"It's not a matter of trust, it's…" Rarity began.
"It's her going nuts when her plans fail," Rainbow Dash's muffled voice came from the box.
"Exactly," Rarity said. "She's unstoppable when she knows what she's doing, but given her inexperience when it comes to romance… you're the first pony she's shown this kind of interest in, you know?"
Trixie blinked. "Really? I mean, um, of course." The magician drew herself up a little. "That hardly surprises the irresistible and enchanting Trixie. Now, watch in awe!"
Trixie's horn glowed with power, and the box quaked and shifted before separating into eight identical boxes, each barely small enough to hold a young filly. She spun them around in the air to show that they were sealed on all sides; where Rainbow Dash was, nopony knew – except, hopefully, Trixie.
Rarity couldn't help but gasp in shock at the display; for all her flaws, Trixie certainly could surprise with her tricks. No wonder Twilight's so taken with you.
The eight cubes danced through the air, mixing and switching places until no onlooker could remember which was which, before Trixie stacked them together again. With a flourish of her cape and a flick of her horn, the seams of the box burst apart and the sides fell away, revealing a bemused-looking Rainbow Dash.
Rarity stomped enthusiastically. "That was incredible! Rainbow, darling, are you okay?"
"Uh, yeah? My stomach felt funny for a moment, but…" She glanced curiously at the remains of the box. "Did something happen?"
"Let's just say that Twilight's not the only pony who comes apart at times," Rarity said with a giggle. "And that why we came here for, Trixie. I reasoned that if things went bad, in the worst case… well, in the best worst case, Twilight would need some support and a shoulder to cry on."
"Best worst case? What would be worst worst case?" Trixie asked, an eyebrow arched.
"You don't want to know," Rainbow said. She shuddered. "Anyway, like I said, we stick out for each other. The girls have always been there for me, and I'll never leave them hanging, you know?"
"Must be nice," Trixie mused. She sat down on the pile of box panels and sighed.
"Aw, come on, you're not all alone." Rainbow flew over and put her hoof over Trixie's shoulders. "I mean, I could've ditched you with those dogs, but you're nowhere near enough of a jerk to deserve that, see? You're pretty okay when you're not causing trouble."
"And you have dear Coco Pommel," Rarity added. "The girl's really taken a shine to you."
Trixie nodded. "Coco's nice. I should do something good for her sometime."
"Yes, you should," Rarity agreed. "And then there's Twilight. Dear Celestia, there's Twilight. She's so head over hooves in love with you, I've never seen anything like it." She frowned and narrowed her eyes. "I really hope you're not just playing with her feelings, Trixie, or I will be very upset. She really does love you."
Trixie glared back and drew herself up defensively. "Trixie does not 'play with anypony's feelings'. At least not beyond the bounds of manipulating the audience in order to give them a real show experience. Trixie is above that kind of schoolyard nonsense."
"So you mean you didn't hire Cheese Sandwich to play the rival?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I hired what now?" Trixie asked, confused.
"C'mon, it makes perfect sense!" Rainbow replied, taking to the air. "Him showing up like an Everfree storm cloud on a sunny day? Just when everything seemed to finally go Twilight's way? On your stage, too?"
"This is Cheese Sandwich we're talking about." Trixie shook her head. "No, Trixie can promise you that she did not plan to include him. His entrance was just as much of a surprise to her as anypony else. Still, it felt like a good idea at the time."
"Are you even serious about him?" Rarity asked. "Maybe I'm just biased, but it's kind of difficult to see you as the kind of mare that would be interested in a colt like him."
Trixie was silent for a moment, staring off into the distance. "He's a performer too. He understands… I think he understands better what I want." She sighed. "I know you all think I'm selfish and uncaring, but…"
"What? No, we don't," Rarity protested. "Well, not much," she amended. "We all have our flaws to overcome, even I. What do you mean, 'he understands'?"
Trixie looked at her and bit her lip, before tearing her gaze away. "It… doesn't matter. Twilight will figure it out if she's as smart as you claim." She straightened up again. "Anyhow, Trixie thinks it's more interesting this way, with a romantic rival added to the mix."
"Because the 'performance' needed a little spicing up?" Rarity suggested dryly. I guess it would be too much to ask for you to actually come out and say what you want, hmm?
"Definitely," Trixie said, pursing her lips. "Anypony knows that victory tastes so much sweeter for the challenge."
"That goes without saying," Rarity said. Rainbow Dash nodded in wholehearted agreement. "Of course, Twilight is going to win. She always does, eventually. Maybe I can take your measurements right now, so we can have your dress ready for the wedding, darling." Rarity grinned confidently.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, darling," Trixie replied with a matching grin. "Anything can happen when you have wild cards in your deck. And Trixie doesn't play favorites."
"Good. A fair game is all Twilight Sparkle needs to win," Rarity said. She turned to Rainbow Dash. "I think it's high time we returned to the others, don't you? It was lovely to see you, Trixie. We simply must spend more time together, home in Ponyville."
"Trixie will be happy to see you anywhere she goes, Rarity," Trixie said cheerfully. "You're welcome in Manehattan any time."
"Uh, yeah," Rainbow Dash said. "See ya later, Trixie." She waved before flying after Rarity.
Some distance down the street, once they were out of earshot, Rarity stopped to think. "Well, that was an interesting act, don't you think?"
"I guess," Rainbow said. "I didn't see much from the inside."
"That too, but I was talking about her acting in general. I wonder if she's even aware she's doing it…" Rarity mused.
"I think she's getting herself in over her head," Rainbow said. "But she usually does, you know?"
Rarity nodded. "Good thing for her and Twilight that we're here, then."
"Aaattention!" Spitfire barked. Before her, the line of Wonderbolts straightened up. She paced along the exercise field, inspecting each trooper carefully. As expected of their prestigious division, they wore their signature uniforms without blemish. "At ease!" The Wonderbolts relaxed. "All present and accounted for?"
Soarin', standing beside her, checked off his notepad. "Lightning Dust is on leave, Rainbow Dash filed an 'off saving the world or something' slip, and Bulk Biceps is still on medical leave. Everypony else present."
"Right shame getting his wings crippled like that," she commiserated. "That's going to drop his flying speed to a crawl, assuming he'll get back in the sky at all. And that's why we don't take stupid risks!" she barked at the gathered troops. "Now! Let's begin! Fleetfoot, Rapidfire, you…" The cloud shook under her hooves. "…Did anypony else feel that?"
"Yeah," Soarin' began. "It felt like…"
"CLOUDQUAKE!" Spitfire yelled, throwing herself into the air.
The line of blue-clad pegasi scattered as the cloud floor shook and heaved before tearing itself apart, spinning metal blades scattering the cloud as though it was just puffs of water vapor. A bizarre construction of striped bars and propellers rose out of the ground, bearing a pink, grinning maniac. "Surprise!" she cried.
"Oh, great," Spitfire mumbled. "Rainbow Dash's insane buddy. At least it's not the punchy white one…"
A blonde Wonderbolt gasped at the sight. She pushed up her goggles. "Pinkie Pie!"
"Surprise!" Pinkie cried again. "Surprise, I'm throwing a tremendousrifficspecial party for a VIP – that's Very Important Pony for those who don't know their acronyms – and I'm putting the old gang together to do it!"
"Sweet! When's this awesomtastilicious party going down?" Surprise asked.
"I don't really know!" Pinkie said. "We haven't set a date yet!"
"Oh…" Surprise said. "I'm busy that night."
"Pretty please?" Pinkie pleaded. "With sugar and cream and a cherry on top?"
"I don't know…" Surprise said, shifting from hoof to hoof uncertainly. "It's gonna take a lot of time out of my busy schedule, this…"
"Oh really." Pinkie looked shiftily at Surprise and plucked a bottle and a rag out of her mane. "Perhaps this chloroform might change your mind…"
Surprise rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Well, I've always wanted my own chloroform… what the hay. I'm in!"
"Yay! Party ponies twogedda foureva!" Pinkie cheered.
"Corporal Surprise!" Spitfire yelled. The blonde Wonderbolt flew into the air by the shock and crashed head-first into a free-floating piece of the floor. "What do you think you're doing with this civilian, mare?"
Surprise got her head out of the clouds. "Captain Spitfire, Sir! I'm off to help with a party, Sir!" she replied.
"We are doing flight exercise, Corporal!" Spitfire yelled. "You can not just fly off to go to a party whenever you like! How many times do I have to remind you?"
"Sir, with all due respect, this is a big one!" Surprise pleaded. "The party calls to me, the fate of Equestria hinges on our success! I can feel it in my pinions!"
"You go AWOL one more time and I'll fire you and your pinions!" Spitfire yelled.
"Well, you can't fire me if I quit!" Surprise yelled back indignantly.
"You quit and I'll have you dishonourably discharged!" Spitfire screamed, flecks of spittle flying from her lips. "By which I mean we'll discharge you out of a cannon so far you'll be an old nag before you manage to fly back!"
"Um…" Pinkie tried to interject, still pedalling her flying contraption. "Did I mention that this party involves the new princess? So it's kinda sorta I dunno… national security or something?"
"That's not…" Spitfire began. "I mean… you… argh! Fine," she growled. "Take a few days off, Corporal Surprise. But make sure you do the uniform proud at this event, you hear?"
"You got it, Captain! Let's go, Pinkie!" Surprise saluted and leapt onto Pinkie Pie's pinkiecopter.
"Wait! This thing isn't built for…" Pinkie cried as the vehicle plummeted through the hole and disappeared from sight.
"Right!" Spitfire spun around and glared at the remaining Wonderbolts, who had regrouped as best as they could on the damaged field. "Let's get started on what we came here for! Unless anypony else has something more important to do than flight exercise!"
"Um…" Soarin' mumbled.
"Yes, Soarin'?" Spitfire barked.
"Well, I have this book I'm reading," he said.
"Get to it, then!" she spat. "And you better figure out whodunnit! Anypony else? Yes, Fleetfoot?"
"I, ah, need to go stalk my coltfriend," Fleetfoot said.
"Go! Anypony else?" She glared viciously at the remaining ponies.
"I've got some knitting to do…" "Need to water my cloud garden…" "Nephew's in town…" "I think my house is on fire…" One by one, each pegasus left until only one remained.
"Well, Rapidfire?" Spitfire spat. "Don't you have something more important to do than your actual job?"
"Uh… no?" Rapidfire said nervously, looking left and right at the now almost empty field.
"Find something to do, then! Don't expect me to keep you busy! Shoo, shoo!" Spitfire flailed wildly with her hooves. Rapidfire looked worriedly at her before quickly absconding. Spitfire stared after her, eyes twitching in fury. "I'll just have to do this flight exercise by myself then! No problem!"