Carousel Boutique
Rarity glanced over at Spike, smiling softly. "Spike, you really should see this!" She turned back to the window, watching the green and pink lights flit through the sky.
He sat next to her, curious. "What are they?"
"Oh, I haven't the faintest idea. I do enjoy how dazzling the display is, don't you?" Rarity sneaked a peek at Spike, wondering why he wasn't being as bashful as he used to. Did something change-
He interrupted her thoughts with one question, a worried tone evident in his voice."Is that supposed to happen?"
Rarity returned her gaze to the window in time to see the pink light disappear behind the rooftops. "I don't think so."
"Rarity!"
They turned, seeing Pinkie and Twilight framed in the doorway. Twilight looked extremely stressed, her mane and tail fraying slightly. Of course, Pinkie was just as bubbly and positive as ever.
"Did you hear? We have a new hero in town, and she can make these amazing green things out of thin air!" Pinkie had taken no time in rushing inside, almost nose-to-nose with Rarity.
"Ahem." Twilight made sure everypony was listening, trying her best to keep it together. "There seems to be a problem with Fluttershy. She's acting rather...strangely."
Rarity quickly became concerned. "If there's anything I can do to help, darling, please, don't hesitate to ask."
At that moment, the door slammed open, letting two fillies fall into the room. One of them quickly got up, eyes wide in panic. "Somethin' happened ta Sweetie Belle!"
Spike sighed, moving over to the kitchen area. "...bluh...this place is getting too full..." He sat down at the table, resting his head on his crossed arms.
He thought quietly for a minute or so before something came flying through the doorway. He was shocked to see that it was Apple Bloom. His mind flashed to Rarity and he quickly rushed through the door, determined to protect her.
He was shocked at what he found.
Oa
The Guardians finished explaining the threat to Celestia and Rainbow. The alicorn princess was stunned, slightly horrified by the danger presenting itself in the space sector - one she had seen before. Rainbow, on the other hoof, was curious, not only about the strange entity, but with the alien that was in the same room. They sat for a few moments, completely quiet.
Rainbow eventually broke the silence. "...okay, then. So all we have to do is defeat this thing, and our planet will be safe, right?" She grinned, hitting her hooves together in excitement. "Piece of cake!"
"I wouldn't say that." The alien from before stepped forward, crossing his arms. It still amazed Rainbow how anypony could walk only on their hind hooves. "I fought this thing before. It's really quite dangerous, despite its appearance."
Princess Celestia slowly approached him, eyes squinted slightly. "Why are you here, human?"
He turned to face her, able to look straight into each other's eyes due to their similar height. "My name is Hal Jordan. I'm here because I'm supposed to teach our latest recruit here-" he motioned to Rainbow "-how to use her ring properly." He paused for a moment before rubbing his neck, a sheepish smile on his face. "...you are female, right?"
Rainbow nodded, not even attempting to hide her annoyed look. "Are you really unable to tell the difference between a mare and a stallion?"
Hal shrugged, not fazed by her death glare. "I never really had to." He held his hand out, wiggling the appendages attached to the end in unison. "May I have the ring, please?"
She held her forehoof to her chest protectively. "I'm not giving you my ring!"
He shook his head, sighing softly. "I meant the other ring. You know, the one Kyle gave you?"
She blinked, thinking for a moment. "...oh, that one." She motioned to the skies with her hoof. "It flew off."
"Huh..." Hal smiled, putting his hand on Rainbow's shoulder. He paused for a moment before slowly removing it, coughing to try and clear the awkward air. "...it only means that someone else has been chosen."
"WHAT!?" Celestia stomped the ground, pausing to take several deep breaths to calm herself down. "Another of my subjects is going to become an emerald enforcer?" She forced the last two words out through gritted teeth.
"We know of our agreement. We recorded it in that book you are currently carrying." The Guardian floated down, grabbing the book Celestia brought with her. He flipped it open to the first page, turning it towards the alicorn princess. "'We, the Guardians of the Oa, agree to assure no outside forces try to act on Earth of Space Sector 3492, recognizing its status as a protected planet. This includes recruiting Green Lanterns from said planet, unless a valid reason is present for a sapient being there to join the Corps.'" He looked up at Celestia, keeping his gaze even. "We didn't break this vow, Celestia."
"Wait a minute." Rainbow raised a hoof to get their attention, curious. "Why is our planet protected in the first place?"
"Because of the Manhunters." Rainbow turned to Celestia, whose face was grim. "They attacked Space Sector 666, back when I had just banished Nightmare Moon to the moon, and began my lonely, thousand-year rule. I confronted the Guardians, and we struck a deal." She sighed, looking to the side. "I kept their book, to protect it, and two others, from falling into the wrong hooves. In return, they made Earth - our Earth - a protected planet."
There was a few minutes of silence before she spoke up again. "If you are coming to Equestria, Hal Jordan, you will have to follow our customs."
He nodded, waving his hand for her to continue. "What customs are those?"
"First off, no eating meat." She shuddered at the word. "Don't...don't even mention it around ponies. Or else..." She motioned to Rainbow, who was visibly turning green - without the use of her ring.
He groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose in slight annoyance. "...how did I know that would be one of the rules? Fine, I can handle that."
"Second," she walked closer to him, inspecting his form the way Rarity would a dress (at least that's how Rainbow saw it), "you will have to change your appearance to fit in among my subjects."
Hal stared at her for a full ten seconds before he burst out laughing. When he saw her stern expression, he immediately stopped, frowning. "Oh, hell no. I'm not going to let myself be turned into some pony."
Celestia leaned forward, her face mere inches from his. She let out a soft yet commanding growl. "You don't have a choice." Her horn began to glow, enveloping Jordan in the same light.
Ponyville
Sweetie Belle soared through the sky, smiling widely. She could feel it - the world below her was full of love. She was amazed that she had never noticed it before. It kind of made sense that the Queen of the Changelings wanted to come here.
She paused in mid-air, looking down at her friends below her. They seemed to be heading into town for some reason. She closed her eyes and sighed, wishing she could share this amazing experience with them.
That's when she realized she was flying towards her sister's house. She quickly changed direction, silently landing behind a building nearby. Her pink costume disappeared in a wave of light. She didn't want to startle her sister, after all.
She quickly trotted over to the front door, knocking on it with a hoof. She had to know the truth.
"Come in!" She could hear her sister's voice clearly through the door. It made her feel...annoyed.
The door swung open, and she walked inside. She tried to, anyways - she froze in the doorway, seeing the stares that everypony was giving her. She nervously smiled, waving a hoof. "H-hello."
Rarity walked over, smiling kindly. "Hello, how may I-"
"OHMYGOODNESSISTHATSWEETIEBELLE!?" Sweetie flinched as Pinkie suddenly appeared right in front of her. "It is! How are you doing, Sweetie? Why do you suddenly look older? I'm sure I didn't forget your birthday!" Pinkie quickly turned around and pulled out a thick calendar, flipping through it rapidly, a worried look on her face. "I didn't, did I?"
Twilight shook her head at Pinkie, cautiously approaching Sweetie. "...so...back at the library...exactly how much did you hear...?"
She looked down, sighing softly. "...I heard enough." She looked up at Rarity, fire in her eyes. "...why?"
Rarity backed up a bit, concerned by the fierce expression her sister currently had. "...w-why what?"
"Why did you have to take Spike from me?" Sweetie's eyes flashed pink, and her body slowly lifted off the floor. "I love him! You just want him as a lowly assistant!" She growled, her uniform rapidly reappearing on her body in a blast of light and energy.
The powerful shockwave knocked everypony backwards. Scootaloo was sent flying out a window, breaking the glass and startling several passersby. Twilight slammed into a group of mannequins, scattering them. Applebloom sailed head-first into the kitchen, and Rarity crashed into her mirrors, shattering them, pieces of glass covering her body, laying on top of her now-disheveled fur.
Sweetie pointed an accusing hoof at her older sister. "You can't stand the thought of us together!"
Rarity cried out in surprise as she started to lift off the ground. Tears formed in her eyes as she struggled to free herself. "...p-please...you have it all wrong, Sweetie Belle..."
"My name is not Sweetie Belle!" She brought her sister close, snarling slightly. "I AM STAR SAPPHIRE!" As she talked, a crystal began to form around the helpless unicorn's hooves.
It was at that point Spike came back into the room. His eyes were wide in shock, staring up at the two unicorns. "Rarity!" He grabbed a nearby sewing needle, his face becoming a mask of determination. "Don't worry, I'll save you!" He charged at the pink-clad pony, unaware of who it was.
She stopped him, floating him closer to herself, her face showing the hurt in her heart. "...you really do love Rarity..."
He blinked, confused by her statement. "...yeah..."
She turned away, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "...you never loved me..."
He tapped her crown with the needle, frowning in annoyance. "I don't even know you!"
She gasped, flinching like he had struck her, dropping him on the ground. "...you..." Her eye twitched, a low growl escaping her lips. "...you're going to LOVE ME!!" She turned her attention back to Rarity, who was now almost completely encased in the crystal. "Think about that while you're in there, big sister."
"...'big sister'?" Spike's jaw dropped, everything suddenly clicking. "...you're...you're Sweetie..."
She scowled at him for a moment before returning her attention to Rarity. "My name is Star Sapphire." With a final flash of light, the crystal sealed, trapping the fashionista inside. She let it fall unceremoniously to the ground, floating over to Spike.
He gulped, glancing over at his crush before deciding what he should do. He held up his fists, prepared to fight. "Release her right now, Sweetie!"
Star Sapphire laughed, poking his head with her hoof. "Sweetie isn't here, anymore, you foal."
A bright emerald light flew through the window, blinding them both momentarily. When they could finally see, and the light had dimmed significantly, they looked at it.
Neither were prepared for what they saw floating there.