//------------------------------// // Prompt #320: Deception // Story: Ponywatching // by ThunderTempest //------------------------------// Rarity held her breath as the changeling guard trotted down the corridor. It had been a mere stroke of the purest luck that had allowed her to evade being put into one of those horrid green pods. Who knew what the muck would have done to her mane. How she had been captured in the first place, however, was still a mystery. All she could remember was putting Sweetie Belle to bed, then heading to bed herself. She supposed that the changelings must have broken into her house, and kidnapped her then. However, that was not the important thing right now. She had to find Twilight Sparkle and the rest of her friends. She had to get out of here, and Twilight would have a plan. As Rarity peeked around another corner, she could hear voices carrying on the stale air contained in the tunnels. It sounded like Twilight and Rainbow Dash, at least, were already free. Rarity sighed with relief. If Twilight was free, then it would be all right. They could find the rest of their friends, and get help from the Princesses to clear out the changelings from these caves. Rarity pulled her head back behind the outcrop of rock that she had been peeking around, and found herself face to face with a changeling. For a moment, neither Rarity nor the changeling knew what to do. Then they charged at each other. ****** Twilight Sparkle sighed. “Rainbow Dash, you shouldn’t go charging off like that. Who knows what’s in these tunnels?” “There’s nothing around here, Twilight,” said Rainbow Dash, “besides, Applejack should be back with Flutters and Pinkie soon. Then we just have to find Rarity, and get the heck outta here!” “I’m with Rainbow on this one, Twilight,” said Applejack, emerging out of a side tunnel. Fluttershy slunk close behind her, and Pinkie bounced just behind the both of them. “The sooner we’re out of this place, the better I’ll feel.” Just as Twilight was about to reply, a noise from another tunnel caught her attention. She held up a hoof, and the other four instantly quietened. They waited, and at length Rarity became visible to the group. Once she caught sight of them, she rushed the last few steps into the dim light of the open space. Her normally immaculate coat was scuffed and stained with dirt and a few bruises. “Oh, girls,” said Rarity, wrapping Twilight in a hug, “I was so worried for you! Who knows what these terrible beasts are up to, but never mind that. We need to find a way out of this absolutely dreadful place. I simply cannot wait to get to a spa.” “Rarity,” said Twilight, “are you feeling alright?” “Oh, I am most assuredly, dear. A little worse for wear cosmetically, naturally, but nothing that a nice soak won’t fix. But I will say, that this little event has made me realize something. I love all of you. I love all of you with all of my heart, and I know it does seem a little cliché, but I really do think that if any group could manage a six-way relationship, it is us.” Rarity paced in front of the group, her eyes flicking to each of the ponies in front of her. “I cannot put a specific time on when I began to like all of you as more than friends, but I know that I would rather be put into one of those terrible, icky pods than live the rest of my life without you girls.” “Rarity,” said Applejack, “That’s real sweet of ya, but we’re friends. Nothin’ more. You sure you’re feelin’ okay?” “Girls, I think Rarity’s been replaced by a changeling,” said Twilight Sparkle, her horn sparking to life, “don’t let it fool you.” “Au contraire,” said Rarity, a smile spreading across her lips, and her own magic flickering to life, “I think that it is you who are changelings.” ****** “As it turned out, I had stumbled into a group that was setting out to replace us. My best guess is that they would use a changeling disguised as me to lure all of you girls to a party at Carousel Boutique, and replace you then,” said Rarity, as she relaxed in the tub at the Ponyville Spa. “It was pure luck that I encountered them before their version of me arrived. The rest of her friends sat around Rarity, listening to her tell them about her kidnapping. “But how did you know they were changelings?” asked Twilight. “It was difficult. They had studied each of you extensively, had most of your mannerisms down, but they were unaware that I had confessed my love for all of you a week earlier, and Rainbow Dash hasn’t quite been able to keep her hooves off me since.” Rainbow, who had been edging closer and closer to Rarity throughout her story, had the decency to look half-ashamed and shrug. Then her hoof vanished back under the water, and Rarity had to fight back a blush. “They assumed that because I was telling them that I loved them, that I was a changeling and wanted to feed off their love. I have no idea why they didn’t break character and tell me if they assumed me to be a changeling. Perhaps they had been instructed not to, no matter what. Still,” said Rarity, leaning fowards to wrap her friends in a hug, “It doesn’t really matter now. I am just glad to be back to civilisation.”