"Felix! Frederick!" Queen Shindig frowned, glaring across the chamber. "What is the meaning of this?!"
"The entire tower is buzzing with chaos, Mommy Dearest," Flim said, keeping his weapon trained on Rainbow from afar. "And you would entertain her like a regular guest?"
"She doesn't deserve to trot free on this very platform, much less within shouting distance of the gateway!" Flam added.
"There is something terribly amiss here, my little ponies," Shindig said. "And while the Blue Jay's declarations may sound preposterous, I must do what I can to assure the safety of your sister."
Flim and Flam exchanged glances.
Rainbow squinted, studying their expressions.
"Preposterous declarations, eh, mother?" Flam trotted closer, pivoting his rifle so that it aimed at Rainbow Dash while he approached the Queen. "You should know better than that! After all, you've taught us not to take much stock in the raving words of a stranger!"
"She speaks with great conviction," Shindig said. Her alicorn wings spread wide. "She refers to this world as a dream. As odd as it may sound, I feel there may be some merit to her murmurs. I find it more than a little bit curious that her paranoid feelings should suddenly coincide with Apple Jewell's."
"The Cider Princess was nearly corrupted by these vagabonds' presence, mother," Flam said. "That's why we endeavored to execute them before they could spread to the Cider Princess... and to you, Mommy Dearest."
Queen Shindig frowned. "And exactly who are you to lecture me on the necessity for—?"
Flim groaned. "It's too late, brother, she's tipped over."
"Then we must steady her again." And his whole body flickered like the static outline of a stallion.
Fl-Flash! The walls and floors grew translucent tendrils of energy that lashed out and coiled around Shindig's legs and wings. The Queen gasped, utterly restrained.
"What in the buck?!" Rainbow tried flying to her aid, only to feel a length of glimmering energy wrapping around her petite spine. She struggled and squirmed, anchored in place.
"What... what manner of sorcery is this?!" Shindig barked, eyes a'flame. "My sons, I demand an explanation at once!"
"You do not need an explanation, mother," Flam said. He reached up and lightly tapped the edge of her horn. "Simply a subliminal seditive."
Scrkkkkk! Shindig's face and upper body peeled in opposite directions as if she was a bag being zipped open down the middle. Rainbow Dash watched with disgust as a considerably smaller, frailer unicorn appeared inside the fantastical alicorn body suit.
"Flam?" Serenity Shindig wheezed, hugging herself with chattering teeth. "Flim? What... what's happened?"
"A glitch in the dream sequence, mother," Flim said from afar, his horn still glowing with static in Rainbow's direction. "Nothing more."
"We will have the simulation running smoothly once more," Flam said. He reached into the deflating mesh that was once Shindig's dream-body. "The cider's effect hasn't worn off. However, the fascimile had grown weak."
"I... I don't understand..." Shindig wheezed. "Why can't you just let me observe like normal?"
"We already told you, mother," Flam spoke. "The chance of collapse is too great."
"We need a shell for you to inhabit!" Flim added. "Something that will protect you for the inevitable implosion once the gateway is pierced!"
"And... and then..." Shindig sniffled. "...I'll be with my beloved Philanthropy again?"
"Of course, Mommy dearest." Flam winked. "You can trust us." He wound a swath of the alicorn goo around his forelimb, then flung it back over Shindig's flank and spine like a funeral veil. "Shhhhh... just relax. Father will return, and you two will be together again. You'll see."
"I... I can only hope..." Shindig smiled, eyes tearing. "Thank you, boys. You are too kind. You make me so pr—" The slime rippled over her muzzle, and she collapsed on all fours. "Grlllghhhhh!" The figure melted into a viscous mound of shifting colors. Then—with bizarre grace—a pair of alicorn wings emerged from the mess. The mound rose, forming a head, snout, and legs. Within a minute, Queen Serenity re-formed, glaring in the direction of Rainbow Dash. "... ... ...what is this vermin doing here?"
Rainbow blinked, her muzzle agape.
"She infiltrated the Tower, hoping to attack the Cider Princess in her sleep!" Flim exclaimed.
"Hrmmmf... typical Blue Jay..." Tossing her mane, Shindig marched firmly out of the room in her alicorn shell. "Eliminate her, at once. I do not care how you go about doing it."
"Hey! Wait!" Rainbow hollered, struggling against her otherworldly restraints. "Shindig! Reach deep! That's not the real you!" She raised her voice. "Your sons are killing to bring your husband back!"
"Destroy all who stand in the way of the Coronation," the alicorn's voice coldly rang off the Tower walls.
Flam smiled, shutting the door behind her. "As you wish, Mother..."
Thud!