//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: Adjustments 
// Story: Everlasting Paradise 
// by Spark_of_Friendship 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 2: Adjustments


A unicorn in a grey and purple robe carefully trotted into the dim magelight.
"Sir, the Catalyst has arrived."
"Ah. You finally found him, did you after four tries? Very well... it is time that we put our plan into action..." Caelum dismissed the minion with a slight gesture with his hoof. Finally, after millenniums of waiting, building, and planning, he could now finish the conquest that he had failed at so many years ago.

~~~

Argent, as expected, was having a bit of trouble coping with the fact that he had quite suddenly changed gender.

...and race.

...and dimension.

...and basically EVERYTHING in his life, as far as he was concerned. To try and help him adjust, Lyra had sent him and Serene Breeze to get the day's groceries. 

Oh, poor, poor Breeze.

"Should I be walking this way? Is this how a girl walks? No, wait. Is this how a filly walks? Oh, no! Should I be doing something different with my hair? Er, mane? I've just left it like this... Oh, sweet Celestia, what if RARITY sees me?! She'll probably put me in a dress... Some horrible, frilly dress-"

"ARGENT! Just calm down. You don't need to do anything different. Rarity is not going to put you in a dress the moment she sees you. She doesn't even know who you are!" Serene sighed. It had taken over an hour to find even half of the food needed to sustain a household of six ponies, and Argent had been raving the entire time. "Just do what you've been doing the entire time. ...you know, it's kind of nice to have another girl around."

"Wouldn't you have had Lyra and Bon Bon, though?"

"Well, Lyra keeps asking obsessively about humans, and Bon Bon is always off doing various odd jobs. I meant another human-turned-pony girl. Unfortunately, you seemed to be... uh... a different matter."

"Yeah, I guess..." Argent had visibly calmed down from the tangent. His pace was now much more confident, and his breathing more steady, Serene noted. "...it really doesn't help that people keep bowing, though."

"What?" Serene had been so focused on Argent that she hadn't noticed. Various ponies were throwing themselves on the ground as he passed. "It... must be because you're an alicorn. They think you're a princess."

"Great. So now anypony who doesn't know better thinks that I'm a visiting princess," Argent snarled, "I wish I could just hide my wings with something. Like a cloak."

Serene smiled. A horrible, twisted, maniacal smile that was about to make up for an hour of pitying Argent.

~~~

"I hate you."

Argent was currently being held captive on a pedestal the Carousel Boutique.

"Well, you asked for a cloak, and well, Rarity seemed the only logical choice."

Argent turned to the white and purple unicorn who was furiously taking measurements. "Um, Rarity?"

"Yes, darling? Oh, dear me, I'm so sorry. Miss Spark?" Serene stifled a giggle.

"Um, please, just Spark is fine. I'd just like something that hides my wings. You see, they've been attracting too much attention."

"Oh, I see... too much attention..." Rarity stopped to think for a moment. "A-ha! I've got it!" The unicorn practically galloped behind a bright red curtain, from where the sounds of clanging metal could be heard.

"What could she possibly be doing back there?" Serene wondered aloud. In response, Argent shot her the best death glare he had ever done. "Oh, come on. You asked for something that didn't attract attention, right? You asked for a cloak. She wouldn't dare insult a princess of your caliber."

Argent sighed. "Yeah, I guess so..." Argent went very pale all of a sudden. "Why did it have to be me, huh? A female alicorn? What sort of cruel trick is that?" Serene's smile faded. Maybe she had pushed too far.

"Argent, I'm so-"

"It's FINISHED!" Rarity emerged from the curtain, carrying a gold necklace in her magic. The necklace was periodically studded with varying sizes of opals. 

"What's that going to do," asked Serene as Rarity slipped the necklace over Argent's neck, "it doesn't even cover- ooh."

Argent looked back at where his wings should've been. He smiled warmly. "Why, thank you Rarity, that will do perfectly."