Chapter 11: Disguises
10 minutes.
Applejack gasped for breath where she lay leaning against the great wall. She barely had the strength to raise her head and look over at Rainbow who lay sprawled out on her back nearby, also greedily sucking in much needed oxygen. She quickly lowered her head again, finding it too difficult to keep it up.
We had to sprint for ten buckin' minutes to reach this buckin' wall! Why'd they even make it this tall?
The noon sun above them kept them unbearably hot as they sat. Off in the distance, had they the energy to look, they would have seen their friends trotting after them. It would take several minutes for them to get there, none of them having been able to keep pace with the two athletes. Not surprising, as the seven mile sprint had nearly driven them into unconsciousness. Neither had had any energy for finesse and both had simply slammed into the wall at the same time. The tie was disappointing, but at least they'd beaten Show Stopper.
They were still lying on the ground when Show and the rest of the girls reached them. "No way," said Show incredulously. "There is no way that you two sprinted on hoof that entire way."
Applejack gave a small chuckle, which turned into a groan of pain. "Y'all shouldn't have underestimated us," she muttered. "Best athletes in Equestria, right here."
Show just shook his head. "Looks like we'll be here for a while until you both get your strength back." He looked around, seeing the East gate a ways to the left. "Any particular reason you didn't aim for the gate?"
"Road wasn't straight," replied Rainbow, rolling onto her front. "Would have been more distance to run. Besides, there were changelings in the way."
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "So you can think straight to determine the fastest rout, but you fail to notice that you're taking far too long to reach the wall?"
Both Rainbow and Applejack shot glares at Show. "Would've been nice to know how tall it was beforehoof," said Applejack. "Wouldn't have gone all out the whole way."
"Oh dear," said Show in mock concern, looking up at the 200 foot wall that surrounded the Hub. "Did I not mention that we'd see it from so far out? Must have slipped my mind."
Everypony else shared a laugh at the two athletes' expense and settled down to rest for a while. The girls were surprised when, a few minutes later, Show stood up and began grazing.
"Really dear?" exclaimed Rarity. "We're right outside the city. Couldn't we find somewhere inside to eat? I think we're all quite fed up with grazing." Rainbow snorted and raised an eyebrow, to which Rarity replied with a glare. "Pun most definitely not intended."
"We could," replied Show, "but I for one am never one to pass up a free meal. Besides, we'll be much too busy for lunch once we get in. Trust me, there'll be so much to see, you won't want to stop to eat. Better to fill up now than to reach this evening and discover that you're starving."
Reluctantly, the girls joined Show in grazing one last time before he led them over to the 50 foot gate. There were no changelings going in or out at the moment, leaving the gate deserted save for a single changeling sitting in a booth to the side. It was resting it's chin on its hoof, reading a book and looking like it was about to die of boredom.
"Greetings, gatekeeper," called Show as they approached. "How are you this after-"
"Name and business," said the changeling in a tired voice, changing into a grey unicorn mare before levitating over a clipboard and pen, all without looking up from her book.
Show grinned and cleared his throat. "Javert and company," he replied, his voice a full baritone. "We seek a criminal named Jean Valjean, who we believe to be hiding in your city."
The changeling rolled her eyes and leveled a deadpan look at Show. Her magic sputtered out and her clipboard dropped along with her jaw, her eyes widening in an instant. Even her disguise vanished in a flash of green fire. "Sh-Show?"
Show's grin grew even bigger. "Afternoon, Flee. You miss me?"
The changeling was still for a moment, before she launched herself across the counter, tackling Show to the ground. "SHOW!" she squealed, hugging him tight. "Oh, it's so good to see you! How have you been? What are you doing here?"
Show laughed, returning the rib crushing hug with one of his own. "It's great to see you too, Flee. How's the family?"
Flee pulled back and smirked, raising an eyebrow. "After seven years?" she asked. "A lot bigger. Buzz's got a family of his own with three little colts. Wing got hitched to a zebra back in May, and Zip's dating a gryphon from the southern tribes. We're pretty sure he's going to propose soon, but he keeps dragging his talons. What about you? Found yourself a special somepony out on the battlefield?"
Show's grin shrunk slightly. "Not as such," he admitted. "Got my eye on a mare, but it wouldn't work out." He brightened up once more. "So, Buzz finally found someling who could stand him, huh? I'm surprised."
Flee chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Yes, he's calmed down a lot over the years. It's all Star's doing, really. If it weren't for her, I think he'd still be strutting around like an idiot."
Show's jaw dropped. "Star?" he gasped. "Not Star Quality! How in the world did Buzz land a catch like that? Even I couldn't get her to go out with me!"
"Right, because you ever had a chance with her," Flee jabbed. "Buzz became one of her little projects a while after you left. You know how she was, always trying to turn noble changelings into true noblelings. She liked the result with Buzz and married him."
Show sighed dramatically. "Ah, and here I was hoping to woo her with the 'returning warrior' shtick."
Flee's eyebrow went right back up again. "When she didn't go for your 'thespian', 'poor foreigner', 'successful business owner', 'royal-savvy commoner', or any other roles? Trust me, you lost her the first time you tried out a fake accent on her."
Thinking back for a minute, Show rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "That would be the first time I talked to her," he admitted.
"I rest my case." The girls laughed and Flee turned to look at them for the first time. "And who are your friends?" she asked.
Show stepped to the side and gestured dramatically. "Lady Flee," he said, "may I present-"
"No, you may not," interrupted Twilight, stepping forward. She smiled at Flee. "Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle. These are my friends, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. It's nice to meet... is something wrong?"
Flee's smile had dropped at the mention of Twilight's name, and her expression had grown slightly fearful as she named her friends. "So it's true," she whispered.
Show's expression instantly turned serious. "What's true?" he asked.
Flee hesitated a moment. "A few weeks ago," she explained, keeping her voice low, "rumors started spreading around the Hub that there were several ponies making their way here."
Show nodded. "That would be us. What's the problem?"
Flee looked around, making sure that noling was nearby. "Two days ago, I heard another rumor going around that the ponies were, well, The Six. I guess they weren't just rumors."
"Tartarus!" swore Show. "I was hoping to keep those specifics under wraps for a while."
Flee nodded. "It get's worse," she said. "The rumor is that they're here for the Element and to, well, take revenge." She swallowed nervously and gave the girls a glance. "I assume that that isn't true?"
Show snorted angrily. "Would I have led them here if it was?" He started to pace frantically. "I hadn't planned for this. I'd hoped to get firmly established before everyling worked it out. Going to have to keep it hidden now. They're going to need aliases, disguises, backgrounds..."
"If I may ask," said Flee nervously, "why are they here?"
Show stopped pacing to look up at her. "Well, the rumor was partly correct. We're here to return the Element of Loyalty to its rightful bearer. Milkweed shouldn't put up much resistance; she knows she's only a temporary keeper." He went back to pacing. "The problem is, it'll take us almost a month to get an audience with her this time of year. We can't just camp out here for that long - too suspicious. How am i supposed to hide the six most infamous ponies in Hivis in the Hub for a month?"
"You do realize, darling, that we may not be incompetent in that regard?"
Show sighed. "Rarity, I realize that you're trying to help, but changing your accent slightly isn't going to be enough."
"It wasn't Rarity who spoke, darling."
Show looked up to see Applejack smirking at him. He stood in stunned silence for a while. "You can't be serious..."
"Can't I, darling?" asked Applejack in a high-class Manehattan accent.
There was a bright flash of light, and everyone turned to see Cheerilee standing where Twilight had been previously. "I'd never use this spell under normal circumstances," she said, copying Cheerilee's voice perfectly, "but desperate times call for desperate measures, and I'm copying her from before the war."
Show's jaw dropped. "But, that spell... you can't... you shouldn't be able to... IT DOESN'T COPY PAST VERSIONS!"
"Cheerilee" smirked." It does now. As for the magic involved..." She shuddered. "I'm going to have to talk to you about that later." She turned to Rarity and a beam of magic shot out of her forehead. In a similar flash, Rarity was replaced by the tall, lithe form of Fleur de Lis.
"Hm," said Rarity, looking over herself. "Good choice, Twilight," she said. "I wasn't aware you knew Fleur all that well."
"I don't," said Twilight. "The spell is drawing on your past with her to link with her memories."
"IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT!!!"
"Hush, dear," said Rarity. "The ladies are talking." She turned to examine Fluttershy and Applejack. "Changing your mane-styles should work for now," she said, lighting her horn. In less than a minute, Fluttershy's mane and tail were tied back in simple braids while Applejack's mane was done up in an ornate bun while her tail hung freely.
"Hey Pinks," said Rainbow as Applejack's stetson was levitated over to Fluttershy, "can you do that thing where your mane goes all flat and dark?"
Pinkie grinned and saluted. "One depressed Pinkamena Diane Pie coming right up!" She closed her eyes for a moment before her mane and tail suddenly flattened, all of her hair turning a few shades darker.
"Good thinking, Rainbow," said Twilight. "Hm, we'll have to do something a bit more complicated for you, though. I can only cast this spell on unicorns."
"Allow me, darling," said Rarity, again lighting her horn. Rainbow's mane and tail glowed for a moment before all color faded from it, leaving them a pure white. "It's not a permanent solution," said Rarity, "but the bleach spell should hold until tonight."
Twilight nodded and turned back to Flee. "Let's try this again. My name is Cheerilee. These are my friends, Fleur de Lis, Clementine Orange, Cloudy Skies, Pinkamena Diane Pie, and Apple Blossom. Nice to meet you."
"Impressive," said Flee, nodding approvingly. Just different enough not to draw suspicion. Four of you will need to cover up your cutie marks, and you'll need a more permanent solution for 'Cloudy Skies' mane and tail, but this will work quite nicely." She turned to Show, whose eyes were wide and whose jaw was unhinged. "I assume you have plans for lodging and work?"
Show shook his head to pull himself out of his stupor. "Yes," he said, eyes narrowing, "but a disguise is only the first part. It won't hold up if you don't have a good background. Why are you six here with me?"
Rarity shuddered. "I left Equestria as soon as I was released from Discord's grasp. It was simply horrible having him inside my head. I wanted him out!"
Twilight sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I- I just couldn't stand to see my students kill each other anymore."
Applejack sniffed as well, though in derision rather than sorrow. "A warzone is no place for one of the aristocracy. As soon as I heard that my good friend Fleur was back and planning to leave, I jumped at the chance to accompany her."
"And when I heard that my friend Cheerilee was leaving," said Pinkie, "I knew that it was my only chance to get off of the rock farm."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "They were about to send a show-pony on a dangerous international assignment. They needed an elite soldier to protect his sorry flank."
"An' no self-respectin' Apple would give up an opportunity to do business with an international market," said Fluttershy in a passable Apple family accent. "'specially with how badly the war's affected business these last seven years."
Flee laughed and turned to Show, who had his hoof firmly planted in his face. "Disguises, pseudonyms, and fake backgrounds. Was there anything else, oh master of deception?"
"The second best spy in Equestria gets killed because he can't reconcile his background with mine," he muttered, "but six untrained mares can come up with believable aliases at the drop of a hat." He sighed and shook his head, lowering his hoof to gaze at the girls. "Knock on wood, but this may actually work." He turned to face Flee fully. "Show Stopper and company, good guardsmare! Our business: entrepreneurship. It's time i reclaimed my theatre!"
Flee laughed and flew back into her booth to write it down on her clipboard. "Show Stopper and company, welcome to the Hub!"