"SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Yoselin began to jump for joy in the middle of the room. Next to her, her older brother, Paco, smiled, although his enthusiasm seemed more restrained.
Across from them, next to the magnificent Christmas tree in the living room, stood Ram. Although he experienced no emotion in handing over that blissful gift, he understood the importance of this gesture in the annual ritual called 'Christmas'. Without rushing, Ram pulled out a gift-wrapped package from his backpack and handed it to Yoselin. The girl, without wasting a second, took it immediately.
The next thing that happened puzzled Paco and Ram.
Yoselin, who until a few seconds before had been euphoric, suddenly adopted a serious expression and began to study the package with a coldness that was rare for her. Shaking it and measuring its volume with the palms of her hands, she continued to analyze every detail and even sniffed the loose ends of the wrapping several times.
Then, Yoselin lifted the package high up and dropped it to the ground. He repeated this action over and over again.
"Huh?" muttered Ram, unable to understand what the girl was doing.
Paco opened his mouth to reprimand his sister, but before he could say a single word, Yoselin turned and asked Ram, "Is it magic?"
Ram finally understood.
"No, Yoselin, it's not magic."
Yoselin's stern expression changed to one of obvious sadness.
Paco looked worriedly at his friend; Ram hadn't expected things to escalate this way, but he already had a few lines of what to say next thought out.
"Yoselin, I know I promised you 'magic' gifts before, but I don't think it would be appropriate to give you gifts like that at this time," Ram said, taking on a serious countenance like that of an adult, although he clearly wasn't, just like his brother.
"Then when?" protested the girl.
"Be patient, you'll get them soon enough."
"Next year?" asked Yoselin with a cold stare.
"Definitely ... yes."
Yoselin looked uncomfortable at this answer and looked down at the floor. Paco and Ram then prepared themselves for the worst; they both knew too well the prolonged tantrums of that hyperactive little girl.
After a few seconds of silence, Yoselin finally looked up and said, "Okay, I'll wait."
Her older brother, Paco, was surprised, while Ram, on the other hand, showed no expression.
"That's fine with me. I'll keep my word, don't doubt it," Ram said with a slight smile. "Ah, maybe you should open your gift at once. I think you'll like it anyway."
Yoselin, without wasting any more time, unwrapped her present: a colorful pink box filled with drawings of fantastic creatures dazzled before her.
"IT'S PONIS TOYS!" the little girl exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, the entire collection," Ram confirmed. Indeed, inside the box were six pony figures of different colors and manes, along with an eye-catching glass tree.
"YEEEE, HOW CUTE! I LOVE PONIES," Yoselin said excitedly as she looked through the laminated box and the pony figures inside. But suddenly, her joy faded, and again Yoselin's countenance fell again.
"Now what's wrong?"
"It's just...I'm getting too old for these toys," Yoselin muttered crestfallen, fingering the age label on the pony box.
Ram grimaced crookedly. He hadn't anticipated this. Getting these pony toys hadn't been a problem, and he didn't mind trading them in for others. However, he had promised his friend Paco that he would bring him a special gift for his sister for Christmas. Given the time he had had and Yoselin's character, he should have assumed that she would not be pleased. This was his mistake.
"I'm sorry, maybe I should..." said Ram.
"Yoselin, don't be like that. Ram is giving you these toys as a gift, you should accept it," said Paco, supporting his friend.
"Well, yes they are nice, I think... I can put them on top of my closet together with my stuffed animals," said Yoselin little excited, turning the box around several times.
Ram looked at the girl a little worried. Not because Yoselin didn't like the gift, but because of the changes he was beginning to notice in her. How had he not noticed it before? Yoselin was growing up, and he was just beginning to understand that she was no longer the screaming little girl he remembered.
Yoselin was entering a new stage in her life, a stage in which he definitely shouldn't get involved....
Maybe he shouldn't keep his promise to her.
"Hey, come on, take a picture of it and send it to mom. She's going to love that you have these toys," Paco said.
"Really?" replied Yoselin in surprise.
"Yes, really. She likes these things, and so does my aunt. Come on, take a picture of her by the Christmas tree."
"Okay," Yoselin replied again cheerfully.
Both brothers approached the Christmas tree, and with their phones began to take pictures. On the other side, Ram watched the scene with a blank stare.
"Hey, Ram, is something wrong?" asked Paco, noticing his friend's dark countenance.
Ram was startled.
"No, nothing, I just thought you could sell them if you want. They're collectibles; I'm sure you'd get a good sum of money for them," Ram said trying to sound casual and calm.
Yoselin's eyes instantly sparkled, and Ram understood that he had made a mistake. But before he said anything else, Yoselin stood up, grabbed the box of toys and headed for the door of the house.
"Hey, where are you going! You're not seriously thinking about..." her brother yelled at her.
"THANK YOU, UNCLE RAM! I REALLY LIKED YOUR GIFT, BUT I HAVE TO GO TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE WHO IS CALLING ME. I'LL BE BACK, PACO, SEE YOU..." left Yoselin from the living room straight to the entrance of the house. Shortly after, the door was heard opening and the sound of a bicycle bell in the distance.
Yoselin was gone.
Next to the Christmas tree, Paco and Ram stood in silence. Paco just shook his head. He got up and offered his friend a cup of hot chocolate and cookies.
Ram readily accepted them, as well as Paco's apology for his sister's behavior.
Both friends sat down and drank from their hot beverages.
Then, at last, Ram noticed the obvious.
"Uncle Ram?" repeated Ram belatedly. Paco shrugged his shoulders.
"This is a disaster!" exclaimed Apple Bloom, disheartened, as she crushed her face onto the scattered papers on the table.
"It could be worse; at least we have the complete dresses for the play. I'm sure the audience will love the designs you made..." Sweetie Belle tried to console, sensing her friend's despair.
"That's not enough!" reproached Apple Bloom with fury, making Sweetie Belle step back.
"Calm down, Apple Bloom. We gave it our all..." interjected Scootaloo, trying to soothe the situation.
"Giving it our all isn't enough!... We should never have... should never have accepted that gift..." Apple Bloom finally expressed with dismay.
None of her friends said more. The papers piled up in front of them were the tangible proof of their failure. Days after days of trying to fix their disaster only deepened the misery the three friends felt.
How had they come to this?
A week ago, the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' were visited by their new friend 'Antenna,' who was excited to invite them to her first theatrical production within the Great Changeling Hive. "The Prince Belen and the King of the Stars" was the title of her play, the first entirely original children's theatrical production in the history of changelings. Also a changeling herself, despite her youth, Antenna showcased significant talent in scriptwriting and was deeply committed to the success of her work. For this reason, she sought the support of the Cutie Mark Crusaders for the final adjustments to her play.
With smiles and enthusiasm, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo accepted the proposal. Days later, they headed to the hive, where their tasks were simple yet crucial: selecting actors, organizing costumes, preparing the stage, among other things.
Although they weren't in charge of directing everything, there were adults present for that task. However, Antenna always insisted that her friends have the final say. In a few days, practically all the tasks scheduled for that week were completed.
"Are you going to Manehattan?" exclaimed the Cutie Mark Crusaders in unison.
"Yes, it will be for a few days. My parents want to enroll me in the Royal Academy of Writers in Manehattan. I really don't want to go, but they insist so much. I know it's very good for me, but... just now?! Right before the start of the meteor shower! Ahhh..." sighed Antenna with regret.
"The Manehattan Writers Academy only opens its enrollment once a year," reminded Sweetie Belle, recalling her sister's advice.
"That's unfortunate. Couldn't they reserve your spot or something?" added Scootaloo.
"Yes, it can be done, but that's only for those residing in the city," replied Antenna.
"Wow, what an inconvenience," added Sweetie Belle also with regret.
A sense of sadness enveloped the friends, but one of them remained undeterred.
"Well, you shouldn't distress yourself. We are here, and while you're away, we'll make sure everything is as ready and prepared as you left it," exclaimed Apple Bloom with absolute confidence, garnering strong nods from Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo instantly.
"Yes, don't worry. Trust us, everything will be fine," added Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in unison, conveying the same assurance.
"Really! Thank you, you are truly great friends," said Antenna, embracing her friends.
A warm moment of friendship unfolded in the small room of the young 'changeling' writer.
"Uhmm, wait. I have something for you!" exclaimed joyful Antenna, separating from her friends. Quickly, she went to her bamboo bed and began rummaging in its depths. After a moment, she returned with a large key and handed it to Apple Bloom.
"Haa, thanks, Antenna. It's very cute and shiny... What is it?" asked Apple Bloom.
"It's a key," replied Antenna with a smile.
"Oh, right! A key, but what's it for...?" Apple Bloom asked again.
But Antenna didn't respond this time; instead, she began making gestures with her mouth pointing to a corner of the room. There, a large brown chest sat with a voluminous lock where a large key should fit.
The three friends opened their eyes wide. They immediately guessed what this gift was about.
"Are you really allowing us to read your complete work before its premiere?" exclaimed Sweetie Belle, barely containing her excitement.
"Yep, you are my best friends, and I know you'll keep the secret, right?" replied Antenna with a big conspiratorial smile.
"Of course! As loyal friends that we are, we will never reveal this secret to anyone. No spoilers will escape our lips, or we'll stop calling ourselves Cutie Mark Crusaders," proudly declared Scootaloo, flapping her wings. Beside her, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were already jumping for joy.
All the friends embraced once again and soon erupted in laughter and excitement. Questions hung in the air, accompanied by evasive responses. After the commotion and further details to consider during her absence, Antenna withdrew.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders anxiously observed Antenna's large chest. They were unfamiliar with the play their friend had written, and throughout their entire stay in the changeling hive, they had wondered repeatedly about its content. Now, they would be the first to know. The answer to this constant question was within their reach!
Apple Bloom took the first step.
"It's time, girls. We are about to access ultra-secret information that no pony, changeling, or any other creature should know. Is everything ready?" asked Apple Bloom in a solemn tone.
"Doors and windows closed, ready!" responded Scootaloo, confident that no one would spy on them.
"Lights off and candles lit, ready!" replied Sweetie Belle, confident that she had set the right atmosphere for the marathon reading they were about to embark on.
"Very well, all set, let's begin!" announced Apple Bloom, raising the key high and inserting it into the chest.
After the cold creaking of the lock, the darkness inside the chest began to be illuminated by the candlelight, filtering into a curious and restless world as it opened.
"Who would have thought that paper in the changeling realm could be so flammable?" lamented Sweetie Belle.
"It was me who fell asleep," added Scootaloo.
"We all fell asleep," declared Apple Bloom.
On one side of a table piled high with papers containing poorly written script copies, there was a chest filled with charred and unreadable documents that just days ago held a magnificent theatrical work.
Rainbow Dash goes to The Averages Tower (Epilogo v0)
"Well, Miss Dash, I believe I speak for both of us when I say that this meeting has been more productive than expected," said Magi, leaning back in her seat. "I'm quite certain you'll enjoy all the benefits our Premium package offers, and don't worry about the paperwork. The contract you just signed covers all the costs of..."
"Uh-huh... yeah, sure," Dash paid her no attention whatsoever. She was completely captivated by the literary treasure she held between her hooves. They were the thick pages of the original draft of 'Daring Do and the Unfinished Journeys', the latest and most recently published book by the writer A.K. Yearling. In her mind, the Pegasus could already envision Twilight's face when she found out about the great gift she would give her. She also imagined how impressed her other friends would be with her discovery. And above all, how Applejack would react when she saw that she had outdone her by just a 'bit'.
"You did well, Applejack... but I think I've outdone you this time," Dash whispered to herself with a smug smile.
"Is something wrong?" Magi asked, puzzled by Dash's childish behavior.
"Huh?" Dash responded awkwardly. But she soon realized she had been lost in thought. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she quickly composed herself. "No, it's nothing. Just remembered something... funny."
Magi raised an eyebrow but didn't dwell on it and immediately continued.
"Well, Miss Dash, I believe I speak for both of us when I say that this meeting has been more productive than expected," said Magi, leaning back in her seat. "I'm quite certain you'll enjoy all the benefits our Premium package offers, and don't worry about the paperwork. The contract you just signed covers all the costs of..."
"Huh?"
"Is something wrong?"
"Did she just say that... again?" Dash said, confused.
"What are you talking about?" Magi responded, now also confused.
Dash wasn't sure; she hadn't paid attention to what Magi had said before. But she felt the uneasy sensation of déjà vu.
"I think it's nothing..." Dash said, still puzzled, as she began to rise from her seat. "You know, all this talk about being a Premium client sounds good, but I'll review it later. It's getting late, so I better be going..."
Without warning and with a swiftness only a keen eye could catch, seatbelt-like restraints shot out from both sides of Dash's seat, wrapping around the Pegasus's body and holding her firmly to prevent her departure.
"WHAT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! LET ME GO!" indignantly whinnied Rainbow Dash. Foolishly, she had let her guard down while trying to protect the book between her hooves.
"Well, I'm afraid you can't leave so soon, Miss Dash. There's much to learn about our consortium, not to mention the non-optional services you must now fulfill. I suggest you calm down and enjoy the experience," Magi replied calmly as she rose from her seat with a malicious smile. The Pegasus's gaze was shrouded in shadows.
"THIS WASN'T PART OF THE DEAL!..." Dash's rage-filled cry was muffled by another restraint that covered her mouth.
"Yes, it's part of the deal, Miss Dash. I mentioned it to you a moment ago," Magi responded indifferently while pointing out with a pen the part of the contract that referenced Dash's current situation.
Not far from where Dash was seated, a section of the floor sank, and from it emerged a thick column of white gas. Soon, the gas dissipated, revealing the figure of a machine Dash had never seen before.
More than a white box with strobe lights, it resembled a sinister mechanical caterpillar. The surface of this machine, mostly smooth, displayed a panel covered with buttons and screens with incomprehensible diagrams. However, the most unsettling aspect of the apparatus was the thin metal appendages protruding from its sides. Their erratic movement evoked the image of the antennas of some monstrous insect.
Dash's fur bristled nervously at the sight of the terrifying machine.
"This marvel of Averages mechanical engineering is the 'EQ2050 Facial Fixer.' It's highly effective in revealing a lady's inner beauty to other ponies, but we still need to improve its presentation," Magi said as she turned Dash's seat toward the slithering contraption. "Please, don't be alarmed. It's all part of the process."
Dash struggled as much as she could, but it was futile. Desperate, she couldn't understand why her body wasn't responding as it usually did. Soon, the aberrant machine approached Dash and enveloped her in a white gas that clouded her vision. It was vapor mixed with a floral scent she couldn't identify. Relentlessly, the machine's appendages covered the Pegasus's face, tapping lightly all over. After a few minutes, Dash felt her entire face growing numb. Then, without warning, a large white tube engulfed her head and began to spray water at her as if she were in a giant washing machine. At that point, Dash no longer knew what was happening; she had lost her sense of orientation and time. Finally, the noisy rinse ended with a quick drying.
The restraints covering Dash's body were removed. The shaken Pegasus was free again. But she didn't go anywhere. Despite being an experienced flier, the vertigo she felt was unlike anything she had experienced before. Clumsily, she fell from her seat with her face covered by her newly reformed mane.
"Don't worry, the dizziness you're feeling is only temporary..." Magi said, approaching Dash from behind and patting her on the back. "On the other hand, the changes to your face are something you'll surely want to keep."
"My face...! What did you do to my face?" Dash said, beginning to recover and feeling that something wasn't right. Her face felt so fresh and sensitive that she could feel her own breath.
"Now behold your new and improved image!" Magi exclaimed, extending her right hoof toward the screen emerging from the strange beauty machine.
Dash lifted her head and saw the image on the screen.
It was a face that seemed to shine with its own light, like a rainbow. Yes, that was Dash's face at that moment. Not only had her mane changed, but also her facial features, making her look younger than she was. She still retained her colors, but now they had a hue that bordered on the perfect brilliance of light reflected by a prism. Any pony who saw her at that moment could only conclude one thing...
"You are beautiful," said Magi, who had positioned herself next to Dash, suddenly with a wicked smile.
"No," said Dash, denying the image her eyes saw.
"You are beautiful," Magi repeated. Three stone orbs marked with runes rotated above them with a hypnotic gleam.
"NO!" Dash shouted.
"Yes, you are the first... soon the rest of your friends will join you," said Magi, who was distractedly observing somewhere in the room. "I have big plans for you and the rest of Equestria... but let's not get ahead of ourselves. For now, just tell me: Are you beautiful?"
Dash stood up completely and extended her right hoof to slap Magi's face. But nothing happened. Unable to understand what was happening, the Pegasus tried again. However, the muscles of her limbs did not obey. Magi watched her playfully as if she were a mischievous pet. The executive Pegasus simply shook her hoof, and immediately Dash's body obediently sat on the floor.
Dash was afraid. She couldn't move her wings, limbs, mouth, or eyelids. She was completely paralyzed. And yet, she was aware of what was happening to her.
"Good girl. Now answer me: Are you beautiful?"
"I am beautiful," Dash replied with a childish voice and a eerie smile.
Magi returned the response with her own smile, shining brightly but shrouded in darkness.
Deep inside, the rainbow Pegasus begged for someone to wake her from this nightmare.
