As the sun slowly raised up over the ocean, the sound of a whistle echoed as a train crossed over a large white bridge. The train was full of various passengers ranging from families playing with their children; to elderly ponies chatting to each other, and conductors doing their routine rounds. Inside one of the train’s luxurious compartments, Rarity sat on one of the red couches and looked out the window. As she looked upon the Manehatten skyline, Rarity couldn’t help but smile a little.
It’s been so long since I’ve been here, but it only feels like yesterday, she thought to herself. I just need to do what I do best by dazzling the crowd with my outfits.
A sudden knock on the compartment’s door broke Rarity out of her thoughts. She looked towards it and said, “Come in.”
The door opened up to reveal Spike, who gave a wave and a smile. “Hey there, Rarity. Twilight wanted me to check to see if you were up.” He rubbed the back of his head and looked down. “But. . . it seems you are, so I’ll be going now.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow and said, “Hold on, Spike.” She patted the empty area of the couch. “Come sit with me. We still got time before the train pulls into the station.”
Spike looked a bit surprised, but nodded and hopped onto the seat next to the unicorn. As he sat there though, he noticed that both of them were very close to each other. His face turn a slight shade of red and tried to not show it to Rarity.
I’ve never been this close to her before, he thought. Just play it cool though, Spike. Try not to do anything that will turn her off and you’ll be fine.
“Are you alright?” asked Rarity.
The dragon jilted a little and looked up. “Yeah, um, just. . . thinking to myself is all.”
“About what?”
“Oh, you know, stuff.”
“You know you can tell me anything, Spikey.”
The dragon rubbed the back of his head. “Well. . . I was just worried about you,” he hesitantly said.
Rarity looked a bit puzzled. “Whatever do you mean, darling? If it’s about. . . ‘that’, then I can tell you that I’m fine.”
“It’s not that,” stated Spike. “I’m just worried about running into a certain somepony or anypony like her after our last time here.”
The unicorn frowned a bit. She remembered the last time she and her friends came to Manehatten and how it nearly cost her friendship with the others because of a pink mare. A mare she could see in her thoughts, laughing at her coldly. She shivered a bit in disgust at the thought of her. Suddenly, she felt a warm embrace and looked down to see Spike hugging her.
“What’s wrong, Spikey?” she wondered.
He looked at her with a concerned expression. “You were shivering like as if you’re cold,” he answered. “I know I’m not exactly the warmest creature in Equestria, but it looked like you were cold, so I thought I’d help you out.”
Rarity bit her lip a bit and could’ve sworn her heart skipped a beat. “Spike, you’re very nice and all, but…” Her voice trailed off as she tried to come up with something.
Spike frowned and released his grip. He looked embarrassed, but tried not to show it to Rarity. “I’m sorry, Rarity,” he remorsefully said. “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable or anything. I was just. . . well. . . um. . .” He scooted himself away. “I think I should go now. I’m sorry again, Rarity.”
The unicorn watched as Spike got off the couch and headed towards the door. Something in her made her stomach flip and, unconsciously, reached out and pulled him in for another hug. Spike was shocked, but the feeling of the warm embrace of Rarity calmed him down.
He looked up at the unicorn. “Rarity. . . what are you doing?” he asked, unsure what to make of her intentions.
She looked down and said, “I’m sorry, Spike, but I was just. . .um, thinking of an answer to your question.”
“What is it?”
Rarity stayed silent for a few minutes as she tried to think of something.
“Rarity?” asked Spike.
She looked back down at the dragon. “If you must know darling, I was thinking about what happened last time. I can tell you that I won’t make the same mistake as last time. I may be a very generous mare, but I’ve learned some things should not be given away so quickly.”
Spike smiled and nodded. “Great to know!”
Rarity chuckled a little “I suppose it is,” she said.
The two remained silent for a bit as they held onto each other. Rarity looked away and tried to hide a small blush, while Spike seemed to biting his lip.
Finally, the latter broke the silence. “So. . . uh, anything else?” he wondered.
“What?” asked a dazed Rarity. She shook her head and looked at Spike. “Oh, nothing else, Spikey.”
He gulped a little and took a deep breath. “Should I go then?” he inquired.
“No,” she bluntly answered. Spike looked at her with a confused look. “I mean, there’s no reason to leave. Besides. . . it’s not like you got anything else to do, right?”
Spike rubbed the back of his head. “No, not really,” he muttered. The dragon wanted to slap himself. What am I talking about? This is practically a dream! Oh, I hope I don’t wake up!
Rarity felt Spike snuggle against her and felt heat building up on her face. It’s. . . kind of weird, but this does feel nice, she thought. She looked back at him and saw him smile softly. He is quite cute when he’s resting like this. Perhaps I should treat him out to dinner. Well, actually lunch since I don’t want to let anypony see me at night.
As she looked at him though, she let out a contented sigh. Spikey. . .
Rarity leaned her head to the left and opened one of her eyes slowly. The warm feeling was quickly replaced with the feeling of somepony dumping ice water on her. Her eyes met the gaze of two ponies out the compartment window door. A brown unicorn stallion with a combed back black mane and wearing a monocle looked at her with a mixed look of shock and disgust. The other pony, a yellow unicorn mare with puffy orange hair and a pearl necklace, gazed at Rarity with a look of utter disgust. The two ponies shook their heads and trotted away with their noses in the air.
Rarity was in a state of shock and confusion. “What. . . what was that about?” she wondered, sounding upset.
“What was what about?”
Rarity suddenly remembered about Spike and looked down at him. A sudden thought then crossed her mind. . . .No. . . she thought in horror.
“Rarity?”
The next thing Spike knew, Rarity released her grip on him and pushed him away. The dragon was left confused and a little hurt.
“What was that for?” he demanded.
Rarity looked down and said emotionlessly, “I’m sorry, Spikey, but. . . I was just thinking of something and. . . well. . . I . . .” she looked out the window and noticed something. “Oh, we’re here now!”
Spike looked out the window to see Rarity was right. The train had come to a full stop and a lot of ponies were walking or running around.
Spike, however, wasn’t really fazed by it. “That doesn’t explain why–”
A sudden knock at the door interrupted Spike. The door opened to reveal Applejack.
“Ready to go partners?” She noticed the discouraged looks on both Spike and Rarity. “Did I interrupt something?” she wondered.
Spike sighed and walked past Applejack. “No. . . you really didn’t,” he said, dejected. He walked past the orange mare with his head hanging low.
Applejack looked at Rarity with confusion on her. “What happened, sugarcube?” she inquired.
Rarity looked away and said nothing.
The train station doors opened and Rarity and her friends trotted out, each of them carrying their own bags. Rarity however, carried more than she normally would for the fashion show. As such she had a hard time trying to make sure the clothes she brought along weren't messed up. Much to Rarity’s relief, her friends were more than willing to help carry some of her stuff.
The group smiled to themselves as they looked around the city. The towering and colorful buildings reached up into the sky for miles on end. The streets and sidewalks were bustling with various ponies and cabs getting around the metropolis. Many of the buildings had flashing lights and neon signs promoting Hinny of the Hills to DJ Pon-3’s upcoming concert. They could even see a few street performers entertaining the crowd by dancing, playing a musical instrument, or doing some magic tricks.
Rarity’s gaze, however, fell upon Spike and she frowned a little. He too looked excited and mesmerized by the city, but could’ve sworn he was only forcing a smile with the way his lips kept quivering. She thought back to the train and those two ponies who saw her and Spike embracing each other. She felt like her stomach did a flip and chill ran over her.
Perhaps I was a bit too hasty with my actions, she thought to herself. I do hope I wasn’t too harsh on Spikey. I didn’t mean to hurt him like that. I just hope he isn’t too mad at me.
“I love coming to Manehatten,” said Twilight.
Rarity jumped a little, forgetting for a moment about her other friends. “Why do you say that, Twilight?” she asked. “Don’t get me wrong, but Manehatten lacks a certain class that Canterlot has.”
“It’s not just that,” stated Twilight. “Manehatten has its own energy. All the interesting things you see around here. The ponies you see here doing some very interesting stuff. The sights and lights around you.”
“The snake in the grass,” Applejack bitterly said.
The sound of a loud thud caught everypony’s attention and turned to see a large purple suitcase lying on the sidewalk. Spike and everypony else was looking around.
“Uh, Twilight? Where did you go?” asked Applejack.
Rainbow heard something metallic shaking and looked up. She couldn’t help but laugh a little from the sight she saw.
“I think I found her,” she teased.
The group looked up to see Twilight clinging a street lamp and was darting her eyes around nervously.
Rainbow flew up and put her hooves around Twilight. “Alright, egghead, time to come down,” she said.
The pegasus had to pull a few times to loosen Twilight’s grip, but she eventually got her off the pole and placed her back onto the sidewalk. Twilight still looked a bit scared, with her eyes looking around.
“Where’s the snake?” she nervously asked.
Applejack chuckled to herself a little. “Not that kind of snake, sugarcube,” she said. “Though, I doubt any snake would want to be affiliated with her.” She pointed her hoof out.
Everypony turned around and saw a large brownish theater across the street. On top of the roof of the theater were a few spotlights that weren’t active at the moment. A big flashy sign caught the eyes of the group. There was a large photo of a blue unicorn mare’s head, smiling confidently and wearing a large purple witch hat with golden and silver stars on it. On each side of the head was a wand with star at the end and some magic dust behind it. The wand and the dust were flashing blue with some flashing sparks coming out of the end of the wand. On the bottom of the billboard was the theater sign saying, See a great and humble performance by Trixie Lulamoon! LIVE! Tickets on sale now!
Rainbow did a facehoof. “Ugh, not her again,” she moaned. “Haven’t we dealt with her enough?”
“And what’s this whole great and humble performance?” inquired Applejack. “Is she trying a new act or something?”
“Maybe she’s trying to be a little nicer?” suggested Fluttershy.
“Yeah right,” scoffed Applejack.
“That’s not true!” Twilight huffed. “She’s changed for the better!”
“Twilight, this is the same mare who led an ursa minor into Ponyville and took over the town with that weird amulet or whatever,” spat Rainbow. “I bet she’s back to her old ways again.”
“You don’t know that!” objected Twilight. “When she left Ponyville again, she seemed like she was sorry for what she did and wanted forgiveness.”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Darling, forgive me if I don’t believe that. What makes you think she’s actually changed?”
“Wasn’t she also in Ponyville when Nightm–”
Applejack put a hoof over Rainbow’s mouth and nervously looked around. Some of the citizens of Manehatten looked at the group with puzzled expressions.
“Rainbow, what are you doing!?” seethed Rarity. “Do you want all of Equestria to know about me!?”
The blue pegasus’ eyes went wide and her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. She slapped Applejack’s hoof away and rubbed the back of her head.
“Uh, what I meant to say was that she was in Ponyville on Nightmare. . . Night?” she hesitantly asked.
“Er, yeah! That’s right!” exclaimed Applejack. “She certainly put on quite the show that night!”
The citizens looked at the forced grin Applejack gave and just shrugged before going back to their business.
The group let out a sigh of relief, but Applejack smacked Rainbow again.
“Watch your mouth!” she scolded. “It’s already hard enough for Rarity to come here and risk exposing herself, but you're not making it any easier!”
Rainbow frowned and said, “I guess you got a point there.” She looked at Twilight. “But it still doesn’t explain why you think Trixie would turn around.”
Twilight looked a flushed and said, “Well . . . she did sound like she was sorry and that the Alicorn Amulet corrupted her into doing those things when she came into Ponyville. She’s also not really a bad pony once you talk to her a bit, even if she does occasionally brag. And she’s beautiful.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Beautiful? What the hay do you mean by that?” she wondered.
Twilight flustered and tried to hide her reddened cheeks. “Well, I mean, she’s beautiful enough to. . . attract any stallion she wants.” She gave an awkward smile.
Rainbow crossed her hooves. “As long as it isn’t Thunderlane,” she whispered.
“Why don’t you go see what she’s up to?” offered Fluttershy. “If she was nice to you when she left Ponyville, maybe she won’t be so bad this time.”
“And you can make sure she’s saying nothing scandalous about me,” interjected Rarity.
Twilight nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she doesn’t,” she said. “Besides, I have been meaning to check and see if things are going okay for her. Why don’t the rest of you head for the hotel and I’ll meet you later?”
The group nodded, but they then suddenly heard some music.
Rarity quirked an eyebrow. “Is that an accordion playing?” she wondered.
“And why does it sound so close to us?” inquired Spike.
“Um. . . guys?”
The group turned around and saw, to their shock, Pinkie’s body was quivering and scrunching up like an accordion, which resulted in her sounding like one.
“What’s with you?” wondered Rainbow.
“I don’t know, Dashy,” said Pinkie. “I think it’s a Pinkie Sense, but I’ve never had anything like this before.”
“So what does that mean then?” asked Spike.
“I think I better go find out what it means then,” said Pinkie. “I feel like somepony I met before is here. Somepony I haven’t felt since. . . “ Pinkie’s voice trailed off as she seemed to space out. Her friends looked at each other with perplexed expressions and shrugged.
“Uh, Pinkie?” asked Twilight.
Suddenly, the pink mare let out a large gasp and grinned wildly. She let out an excited squee that caught her friends off guard. Just as Twilight opened her mouth to say something, Pinkie tackled her to the ground and pinned her down.
“Twilight! I think I know what it is!” Pinkie shouted with joy. “I need to go now to see if it’s true! Can I go please? Can I? Can I? Can I?”
Twilight struggled to push Pinkie off, but with some help from Rainbow and Applejack, Pinkie was pulled off. Twilight was a little annoyed by her friend’s antics and dusted herself off.
She let out a sigh and said, “Pinkie, whatever you know what. . . it is, then I guess I have no choice but to–”
Twilight gasped for air as Pinkie embraced her in another hug. She let go of the unicorn and smiled. “Oh, thank you, Twilight!” she exclaimed. “If it’s true that he’s here, I’ll be sure to make sure you all said hi to him! Bye, guys! Good luck on your fashion show, Rarity!”
Pinkie bolted down the sidewalk instantly, leaving behind a trail of dust and her friends looking very confused and unsure of what to say.
After a couple of seconds, Spike asked, “Him? Who’s she talking about?”
Twilight shrugged and shook her head. “It’s Pinkie being Pinkie I guess. Let’s focus now on getting a taxi so you all can go to the hotel.”
“Excuse me,” a haughty mare’s voice said.
The group turned around to see a brown mare with her black mane in a tight bun and was wearing red glasses. The group saw her cutie mark looked like a piece of red fabric tied up.. Twilight looked at her friends, who shrugged indifferently.
“Can we help you?” asked Twilight.
“Perhaps you can,” said the mare. “I am Red Ribbon, a representative of Photo & Hoity Studios, and I couldn’t help but notice your friend and that rack of clothes she’s carrying. She wouldn’t happen to be Miss Rarity, would she?”
The white unicorn looked a bit surprised. “I actually am. I’m not running late or anything, am I?” she worriedly asked.
Red chuckled in a haughty manner. “Oh, my dear, no. I was told by Photo Finish herself to wait outside the train station to personally take you to the hotel. All the other designers have been taken there already and we were waiting for you.”
Rarity let out a sigh of relief. “Well that’s good then. I certainly wouldn’t want to make such a bad first impression for Photo. Do you have a taxi big enough to hold my luggage as well as for my friends?”
Red nodded. “We aren’t using a taxi, my dear,” she said. “We’re using that.” She turned and pointed a little bit down the sidewalk.
Parked on the side of the street was a very long black carriage buggy. The sides had only two doors, one nearly at the end, and the other at the front. Each door had an emblem on it that had the P&H logo in silver. There was also a very long window on the side, but it was so dark, nopony could see inside. At the very front were six strong looking stallions, each wearing sunglasses and black tuxedos.
Applejack whistled. “I’ve seen my aunt and uncle ride in one of these things, but I’d never thought I’d ride in one.”
Red smiled, but noticed the clock tower behind her and frowned. “We better not waste anymore time,” she said. “Go on and get into the limo while I get the lead chauffeur, Escort, to get your bags.” She turned and whistled loudly.
A dark blue unicorn wearing a black tuxedo and sunglasses walked up and looked at Red Ribbon with a stoic expression.
“Escort my dear, would you kindly help get Miss Rarity and her friend’s luggage into the trunk?” asked Red.
Escort nodded and looked at Rarity. The white unicorn felt a shiver run down her as the blue unicorn stared at her with the stoic expression on him.
Finally, he asked, “Miss Rarity, I presume?”
She nodded. “That’s me,” she stated.
Escort smiled a bit. “We’ve been expecting you for quite a while now,” he said. “Everypony will be quite happy to know you’re here.”
Rarity gave a puzzled look. “Um . . . thanks, I guess?”
“Escort,” warned Red. “Enough with the chit chat. We’re behind schedule and Photo Finish won’t be happy if we’re late.”
He nodded. “My apologies.” His horn glowed and the bags and clothes rack levitated in the air. “Please follow Miss Ribbon into the limo and we’ll leave shortly.”
The group nodded and headed for the carriage. Twilight said farewell to the others and went off to the theater across the street. Rarity avoided Escort, but she couldn’t help but shake that feeling like she was being stared at.
The limo made it’s way down the street. Inside the spacious carriage, Rarity and her friends looked around in awe at the various buildings. They could see out in the distance, the Statue of Equestria in the ocean. They then passed by Clock Square and saw various signs and lights promoting events.
“Ahem!”
The group turned around to see Red Ribbon looking a bit impatient.
“Not to interrupt the sightseeing, but I want to get down to business with Miss Rarity,” she stated. She pulled out a brown suitcase and opened it. She frowned to herself and after a couple of seconds, she shut the suitcase and put it away.
“I’m sorry neither Photo nor Hoity could come greet you personally,” said Red. “They were busy with ‘affairs’ of their own, but they will be happy to hear you’re here. I was going to give you a schedule, but it seems I have none on mine at the moment.”
Rarity waved her hoof. “That’s quite alright,” she said.
“I will tell you this much,” said Sew. “The fashion show is today.”
Rarity did a double take and looked shocked. The rest of her friends looked equally shocked as well.
“T. . . Today?!” she nervously asked. “As in this very day?!”
Red Ribbon quirked an eyebrow. “Of course it’s today,” she said. “That’s why you needed to get on that early morning train. Photo Finish believes that the sooner we can get the fashion line chosen for the season, the faster we can put it together. She wants to get a head start on creating clothes for fall before the other competitors do.”
Rarity looked a bit unsure. “I guess I can understand that,” she said. “But I, um, don’t have anypony to model for my dresses, or–”
“That won’t be necessary,” Red interrupted. “Photo and Hoity have already got models ready for each designer attending.”
Rarity gulped and tried to maintain her composure.
“Are you alright?” asked Red.
The white unicorn nodded. “I just wasn’t ready for the show to start so early,” she replied. “Um, this may sound a bit weird, but will the show start before sundown?”
Red nodded. “As far as I know, we’re supposed to start around three or four this afternoon,” she said. “Why do you ask?”
“Um. . . well, you see,” stuttered Rarity. “I’m just uh. . .”
“Eager to show her dresses off to Photo!”
Everypony turned their attention to the source of the outburst, Spike. The dragon looked a bit nervous with all the eyes staring at him.
Red was the first to break the silence. “Eager, you say?”
Spike gulped and nodded. “Uh, yeah,” he hesitantly said. “Rarity is just. . . um, so sure her dresses will impress Photo Finish that she can’t wait to show them to her.” He forcefully smiled.
The brown mare quirked an eyebrow. “I . . . see then,” she said. “Well, I guess Photo Finish was right about you after all, Miss Rarity. She did say you had passion and eagerness in what you do. That’s what she likes to see in fashion designers.”
Rarity let out a sigh of relief as she sank into the red couch. She looked over at Spike and smiled. “Thank you, Spikey Wikey,” she stated.
Red’s eyes widened. “Spikey?” she wondered. “As in Spike the Dragon?”
Spike looked at his friends, who looked just as confused as him. He looked back at Red. “Um. . . yeah?”
Red smiled and clapped her hooves together. “Wonderful!” she joyfully exclaimed. “The hero of the Crystal Empire attending this show is sure to promote P&H Studios! Tell me, Mr. the Dragon, would you be willing to endorse P&H Studios after our show? A national hero would do wonders to promote us.”
Spike scratched his head and looked a bit doubtful. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt, but I’m not really a fashion–”
“Wonderful!” Red interrupted. “Photo and Hoity will be happy to know this!”
Spike and Rarity looked at each other and smiled sheepishly.
“Ah, we’re here now!” announced Red.
The carriage came to a slow stop and after a minute, the door was opened and Escort signaled them to get out. The group stepped out of the limo and looked up. In front of them was a large blue building that reached up into the sky. The numerous windows had silver trimming along them. The main entrance had several white marble pillars holding up a small roof. On each side of the large glass double doors were two ponies wearing blue bellhop jackets and hats. In the middle of the small roof was a sign embedded in gold that read Manehatten Royal Suites: Where we make our customers feel like the Royal Sisters!
“This is where all our contestants shall be staying,” said Red. She pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it towards Rarity. “This is a note letting the front desk know you are one of the fashion designers for P&H Studios. Show this to them and they’ll have one of the rooms reserved for our contestants.”
Rarity smiled and said, “Thank you, Red.”
The brown mare nodded. “Just unpack your stuff in the room and bring your designs to the studio within one hour.”
“Do you mind if we come?” asked Fluttershy. “We’d like to help Rarity prepare.”
“I don’t see why not,” answered Red. “Any associate of Miss Rarity is welcome to come.”
Escort walked up and handed the last bit of luggage to Rarity. He looked at her for a moment before smiling. “Good bye, Miss Rarity,” he stated. “We look forward to seeing you later.”
Rarity chuckled weakly. “Farewell to you as well, Escort. It was. . . nice to meet you too.”
“Escort, let us get back to the studio,” ordered Red. “I need to oversee the final setup for the stage.”
The blue stallion curtly nodded. “Of course,” he said. “I just wanted to wish Miss Rarity the best. She’ll need it.” He turned and walked away.
Rainbow shook her head. “What a weirdo,” she said. “Let’s get going already.” Rainbow let out a yawn. “I need a nap from that early train ride.”
The group waved good bye to Red Ribbon as she trotted to the limo. She gave one last wave before Escort closed the door and walked to the other side of the carriage.
Escort looked at a dark green building across the street and pulled out of his coat pocket a small blue tube with a button on it. He pointed the tube at the building and clicked the button three times, emitting a red light from it.
Across the street, in the green building, a dark brown stallion with black military buzz cut and wearing sunglasses and a black robe looked out the window. He saw the red light and pulled a similar blue tube out of his robe pocket. He flashed it three times as well to Escort. The blue stallion saluted and then trotted to the front of the limo and began going off.
The brown stallion turned away from the window and looked into the room. The room itself was very large with royal purple wallpaper, two king sized beds, with each side having a small wooden table and a lamp on each of them. Right across the bed was a large cherry wood dresser, a mirror to the left, another door to the right, with steam coming from beneath it, and a large desk for writing.
The stallion heard something click and saw right across the window, a red door opened, revealing a white pony wearing sunglasses, a black tuxedo, and a top hat. After the door was closed and locked by the security chain, the brown stallion trotted over and bowed before the unicorn.
“Anything to report, Heavy Duty?” asked the unicorn as he removed his clothing.
The stallion got up and nodded. “Prince, my spy has just signaled that Rarity has arrived at the hotel.”
Blueblood smiled sinisterly. “Excellent, now we need to begin preparing the trap for her.”
“And how will you do that?” a mare asked.
A door opened, letting out the steam coming from it. A figure stepped out to reveal Suri Polomare, with a towel covering her mane. Blueblood noticed from the few strands of hair sticking out from the towel that she had washed out her red coloring and was now back to her original purple color.
Suri looked at Blueblood impatiently. “Well?” she inquired. “How will we do it?”
The prince bit his lip, but maintained his composure. “Capture Rarity, you ask?”
Suri nodded. “Well of course. I haven’t been in Photo’s studio for a long time, but I know the place will be packed with reporters, critics, and ponies who bought tickets to see the show. Security will be tight as well and even though the paparazzi has seemed to stop following me around, I doubt Photo Finish will forget about me.”
Blueblood haughtly laughed. “Did you really think I was going into that place like I was some stock action hero?” he asked. “I know what I’m doing after all. As for going into the studio, I have thought of something.”
“And that is?” wondered Suri.
“A package should be here.” Blueblood looked at the clock and frowned. “He’s running a bit late, but he should be here any moment.”
“Could you at least explain to me what this plan is?” demanded Suri. “Whatever we’re waiting for, you could at least fill us in on what we’re doing.”
“I have to agree with Suri, your highness,” said Heavy Duty. “You’ve been vague in your plans since we arrived here.”
Blueblood furrowed his brow and opened his mouth. Suddenly, a knock came at the door, catching everypony’s attention.
Blueblood smirked and said, “That would be my delivery.”
He unlocked the door and opened it, revealing a dark brown stallion with a gray handlebar mustache and was wearing a blue uniform and a baseball hat that said EPS. In his hooves were two large packages and a clipboard.
“Good morning, sir,” said the stallion. “I have a package to be delivered to room 369 for Mr. Eagle Eye.”
“That would be me, said Prince Blueblood.
The delivery pony smiled. “Excellent, I just need you to sign here on the clipboard.” He handed both packages and the board to the unicorn.
Blueblood levitated the packages into the room and placed them down. He took the clipboard to sign the paper, but when he wrote it, nothing showed.
“Hmmm, this pen seems to be out of ink,” said Blueblood.
“I’m sorry, sir,” said the delivery pony.
“It’s alright. Why don’t you come on in while I go get a pen? You look like you could use some coffee before you continue your rounds.”
The delivery pony nodded. “That sounds good to me.” He looked both ways and stepped into the room.
As soon as the door was closed and locked, Blueblood turned and let out a sigh. “What took you so long, Bit Bags?” he wondered. “You should’ve been here awhile ago.”
Bit removed the uniform and tossed it aside. “Apologies, Prince Blueblood,” he said. “The front desk kept asking questions about my business here. Then, they wanted to deliver it to you personally, but I had to insist that you had to sign it. It was just a mess, sir.”
The prince shook his head. “No matter. We have what we need now. I just hope the money spent on these things was worth it.”
“Positive,” replied Bit. “I went through all the trouble to find this stuff on such short notice. I assure you that you won’t be disappointed.”
Blueblood levitated one of the packages and ripped the tape off. He opened the folds and pulled out what looked to be a large black fresnel stage light. There was also a small thing that had a button on it and a tiny antenna.
The prince smiled and nodded. “Good, good. This seems to be perfect.”
“Perfect for what?” asked Suri.
Blueblood ignored her and opened the other package. Inside the box were five black shirts. In the upper right hand corner of the shirt was a P&H logo in silver writing. On the back of the shirt, it had in big, bold, white letters, SECURITY.
The prince looked at Bit Bags. “Any issues with the pony handling these shirts?” he asked.
“It took a little convincing of the lead stocker to give up these shirts, but I was able to do it,” said Bit. “After handing him enough bits to ‘buy’ the shirts and a little tip for his help, he was more than willing to give them up.”
“Excellent.” Blueblood grabbed a few more things in the package. He pulled out three spray cans, a few combs, and three bottles of gel. He then pulled out two different stencils. One looked like a police badge, and the other looked like a baton.
He smirked again. “Good, there should be enough makeup here to disguise all of us.”
“Are you sure we should’ve gotten more stencils, your highness?” asked Bit. “What if somepony recognizes the rest of us?”
The prince waved a hoof. “Relax, they won’t look twice at you, but I want to make sure nopony recognizes me and Suri. While your cutie marks are rather common amongst other ponies, me and Suri are a different case. My cutie mark is unique since I am the only one who has a mark like this. I could be in the makeup for all I care, but my cutie mark would give me away to other ponies.”
“What about me then?” asked Suri.
“Since you’ve been labeled a blight upon the fashion world and worried that Photo or Hoity could notice you, I wanted to ensure that you wouldn’t get noticed so easily,” replied Blueblood. “And I hate to tell you this, but even though you washed that coloring out of your mane, you’ll need to get it colored again.”
Suri rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. “Fine, but I get to choose the color.”
Blueblood nodded. “Very well, but we have no time to lose. We need to meet up with Golden and Quick at the studio soon. Then, and only then, will we put phase 2 of this plan into action.”
“What about that stage light?” asked Suri. “Are we stopping Nightmare, or are we putting on a show for her? I can understand going in disguised, but no light is going to stop some power hungry demon.”
The prince smiled deviously. “Oh. . . it’s not any kind of light,” he sinisterly said. “Let’s just say that Rarity will die the way she loved to live in: being in the limelight.”