Golden Harvest examined herself in the mirror, her green eyes shifting in agitation. She had to keep telling herself over and over again that she looked fine. So her makeup was amateur, what of it? Rarity wouldn’t mind… would she? What if the lipstick didn’t go with the dress? What if she used too much perfume? At least her mane was nice and silky, that being the one thing she was truly confident she could do.

What about the manestyle?

She knew she was being ridiculous, that Rarity would be kind, yet still Golden’s legs wobbled.

Golden turned away, eyes roaming the small bedroom. Her house was modest. Not bad for a farm pony… but modest. Her bed was old and her walls were solid but bland. She raised an ear as quiet creaks came from her roof, the familiar grumblings of ancient woodwork. It all seemed so empty.

Golden bowed her head, thinking about what was to come. She’d not been on a date with Rarity in almost a month. The mare never seemed to have time for her anymore and the potential reasons had Golden worried. Yet this was the first high-class event Rarity had ever brought her to – well, aside from that first beautiful date in Canterlot – and Golden wanted it to go right. She needed it to.

Golden went to the closet. There was a curtain on one side that separated nearly two thirds of the space, leaving the rest of her modest wardrobe little room. She sat before the curtain and stared at it for several long seconds. At last she pushed the ugly brown thing aside… and felt her heart rise in her chest.

The dress was as beautiful as it had been on the first day it had been worn. Indeed, the only day. The silk-like orange and gold fabrics, the thick gigot sleeves, that long, flowing skirt. The collar flared tall and wide with precious ambers that glimmered in the dim light like stars. There were bright orange shoes and a sparkling golden crown, but the most beautiful sight of all was the necklace, a glorious ornament of amber carrots with emerald leaves and gleaming diamond dew.

It was hers. Sweet mother of Celestia, this dress belonged to Golden.

She didn’t dare wear it. It was too precious, a beautiful reminder of a magical moment in her life, a moment Rarity had given her. So she kept it here, safe and well cared for. Yet Golden felt that now was a good time to breach her usual rule, if only a little.

She took the necklace. Normally she would have worn the older one Rarity had made when she was a filly, but maybe with this Golden could remind her mare-friend of how special their connection was. Golden set it around her neck, the weight of the gems pressing against her heart. She delighted in its cool touch and the way it gradually began to take her warmth.

She closed the curtain, sucked in a deep breath and left, making sure to lock the door on her way out.

It was dusk and Ponyville was just starting to quiet down for the day. Golden saw many ponies in town, most of them heading home. Some tried to talk to her, but she politely excused herself every time; she had no intention of being late.

Soon she was outside the Carousel Boutique. Its white walls looked orange in the fading sunlight. Golden stood at the door for several long seconds, shifting from hoof to hoof and struggling not to chew her lip and ruin the makeup. This had to go well… it just had to. She raised a hoof… and couldn’t move.

“Come on, Golden,” she whispered, trying to maintain a firm expression. “You’ll be fine.” It didn’t make her feel as good as she’d hoped, but at least she was able to go inside.

The chime above the door seemed disproportionately loud in her ears. She stepped through the entrance, her eyes immediately roaming the now-familiar shop. Fancy dresses on display, lovely purple wallpaper, mirrors and lace and bright finishes. Rarity’s home was so much more extravagant than Golden’s…

“Hey, Carrot Top.”

A bit livelier, too.

“Good evening, Sweetie.” Golden waved pleasantly to the filly as she appeared from upstairs. “Haven’t seen you in some time. How’s my favorite filly?”

“I’m great!” Sweetie bounced for emphasis. “I’ve got everything I need for tonight’s crusade. Me and the girls are gonna try getting our cutie marks at Fluttershy’s.”

A wry smirk came to Golden’s lips. “Is that so? Did you take something of Rarity’s without her permission? Again?”

The filly winced and set a leg over her pack as if to keep Golden from checking it. “Maybe…”

Golden rolled her eyes with a good-natured sigh. “I’ll keep quiet if you promise to return everything. Deal?”

Sweetie grinned. “Deal! Whatever’s not cut up.”

“Cut up?”

Sweetie was out the door before Golden could inquire further. She considered going after the filly, then abandoned the thought. It would take too long to get to the bottom of things and she didn’t want to make Rarity and herself late for the auction. She would just have to hope Sweetie and her crusader friends didn’t plan on doing anything too terrible.

Rarity wasn’t on the bottom floor, so Golden made her way upstairs. She found the door to Rarity’s room open… but she paused around the corner to listen in. The familiar sound of a sewing machine hit her ears. Still hard at work, was she? That pony never seemed to rest. Not that Golden was one to talk; she reserved nearly all her relaxation time to her mare-friend.

Given Rarity’s recent jump in productivity over the last month, however, that was proving to be a rare thing.

Golden hesitated, wishing she had a mirror to check herself just one more time.

There she went, falling into the trap again! She silently lectured herself and entered the room, knocking on the door frame as she did. “Rarity?”

Rarity’s head rose with a jerk from its spot over the sewing machine. She spun about to gaze upon Golden with wide eyes. “Golden! Is it that time already? Do forgive me, I didn’t leave you waiting did I?”

Golden grinned and waved her legs. “Calm down, I just got here.”

“Oh, thank goodness.” Rarity set a hoof to her chest and took a deep, calming breath before standing from her stool with a smile. “I’m sorry, I thought I’d lost track of time again. I have so many orders to take care of before the end of the week and I fell a little behind thanks to somepony.”

Her eyes darted about the room, her smile fading to dour suspicion. “Which reminds me, did you see Sweetie Belle when you came in? She wouldn’t stop pestering me about wanting to borrow something for one of her ‘crusades.’” She stuck her tongue out as she said the last word.

Golden chuckled with a blush. “I… uh… must have just missed her.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Oh well, I’m sure I’ll be hearing something about it sooner or later. I always do. Now—” she grinned and approached Golden, gesturing to her significantly-sized closet, “—how about we get you into your new couture?”

“Oh…” Golden’s blush came back in an instant as she found herself being pulled towards the closet. “Okay, then. I… um… I don’t know if my makeup’s right or anything…”

Rarity paused to give her mare-friend a heavy-lidded, saucy smile. “Nonsense, darling, I taught you myself. You look fine… and you’ll look fine when I get you into your new outfit.”

Golden blinked, her ears perking at the sultry change in Rarity’s tone. She grinned like a schoolfilly as her mind began to wander to indecent places. “…okay then. Let’s get me in that thing, shall we?”

The clothes Rarity had made for the occasion were nothing like Golden had anticipated. It was a… quasi-dress? The front had the design of a stallion’s dress suit, green and well-suited to her toned form, whereas the back was a long but sturdy looking skirt. Amber buttons and a silk necktie completed the ensemble and worked surprisingly well with her necklace. Golden eyed herself in the mirror and was only able to think of one word: ‘tomcolt. ‘ It didn’t look bad on her, just… different.

“So,” Rarity called from the closet, “what do you think of it?”

“Well it’s interesting, I’ll give it—”

Golden turned and sucked in a sharp breath. Rarity was just stepping out, adorned in a brilliant blue dress. The short sleeves and long skirt were decorated with silver lines that shimmered as she moved. The entire dress was lined with a barely-noticeable amber. Unlike Golden, her ensemble included silver shoes with a similar golden trim. Her mane was raised in a ponytail – not a common style for her – that hung loose over her shoulder.

Rarity tilted her head at Golden’s gaping face. “Is something wrong?” She glanced back at her outfit with a frown. “I know, we don’t match. I just didn’t have the time to make a dress for myself to—”

“You are gorgeous.”

Rarity leaned back a little at Golden’s gush… then regained her playful smirk. “And you are going to be delectable.”

Golden’s face was burning. “Going to be?”

Rarity approached at a leisurely pace, her skirt swinging back and forth with her flank. She gave Golden a peck on the cheek before slipping past for the door. “I have more surprises in store for you tonight than just a new outfit, darling.”

A sputtering whimper slipped from between Golden’s lips as she watched the mare go, her eyes and mind strangely captivated by that swaying skirt.

This might be a good night, after all.

The wheels creaked loudly in the cool dusk air. Applejack moved at a leisurely pace, the cart swaying gently over the ruts in the road. It wasn’t exactly filled to bursting: a generations-old painting of Sweet Apple Acres she’d found in the attic, a large antique press for making wine, and a golden soldier’s helmet that had belonged to her great-great uncle. All had been appraised by an associate of Filthy Rich and declared of sufficient value to be made part of his auction for the night.

Applejack had been tempted not to sell the items at first – family heirlooms and all that – but then she recalled her great Auntie Applesauce’s ‘collection’ and decided it was better not to start down that road. Besides, Filthy Rich’s auction themed on ‘Ponyville History’ was the perfect way to make an extra bit or two for the farm, and a portion of the money would be going to the town itself. Mr. Rich might be a made stallion, but nopony would dare to call him ungenerous; he wasn’t earning a single bit for putting on the event.

There was only one problem.

“Good evening, Applejack.”

Applejack looked over her shoulder to find Rarity approaching the cart from behind. Her heart skipped a beat; that mare sure knew a thing or two about looking pretty! “Hey, Rare. Ah thought ya’d be at the auction grounds already.”

Rarity beamed as she came alongside her. “I had to make sure we were ready! I worked long and hard on Golden’s ensemble.”

And there was the problem: Golden Harvest appeared at Rarity’s side, blushing in a fancy, tomcoltish outfit that Applejack begrudgingly acknowledged didn’t look too bad on her.

Applejack forced a smile to her lips. It wasn’t easy. “Hey there, Carrot Top. Ah see Rare’s got ya all gussied up like an apple turnover.”

Golden averted her eyes with an anxious smile. “Y-yeah, I look silly, don’t I?”

“You look fetching.” Rarity nuzzled her marefriend, the motion filling Applejack with a distinct bitterness. “Does she not, Applejack?”

“Ah guess…” Applejack set her eyes on the road and struggled not to sneer.

“Don’t mind her, Golden.” Rarity's tone went from fawning to lecturing. “She doesn’t have an eye for this kind of thing, as you can imagine. Speaking of which…”

Applejack glanced over to find Rarity eyeing her with an expression of pouty disapproval. “What?”

“You mean you’re going to an event as prestigious as Filthy’s auction and you didn’t even bother to dress up?” Rarity lifted a hoof to her head as if she were in distress. “Whatever am I going to do with you?”

“Ah don’t need no fancy-shmancy getup to sell a few things.” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Give me a break; at least Ah washed up before comin’.”

“I suppose that is an improvement,” her friend admitted with classy disdain. “Really, Applejack, you could have at least thrown on one of those dresses I made for you before. Don’t you still have your gala dress?”

Applejack peered at Golden, who returned the look with wide, uncertain eyes. “How the hay do ya put up with this all the time?”

Golden grinned and eyed Rarity in her gorgeous dress. “By reminding myself that it’s worth it.” Rarity giggled and gave her a peck on the cheek, prompting Golden to add, “So worth it.”

Applejack went red. She averted her eyes and ground her teeth; that could have been her cheek! How the buck had a mare like Carrot Top landed Rarity? How was she any more interesting than Applejack? Because she put up with the bucking outfits?

“Applejack?”

She glanced over to find herself sharing a confused look with Golden. They looked back in unison to find Rarity paused in the road and staring down a side street with a haughty expression.

Golden gave Applejack an apologetic look and turned back. “What’s wrong?”

Rarity glowered down the road in silence for a few seconds.

“Please tell me that’s not who I think it is.”

There was a moment’s pause, and a voice rose up from beyond the trees on the corner. “Oh… h-hello?”

Rarity sneered and turned her head away with a hmmph. “I didn’t expect to see your face in town anytime soon.”

“Trixie is still a free mare, she can come and go as she pleases.”

Applejack let out a long groan and pressed a hoof to her temple. Of all the ponies that might show up tonight…

“Trixie?” Golden paused at Rarity’s side. “What are you doing back in Ponyville?”

Trixie appeared around the corner, head held high and walking at a trot. “The Great and Powerful Trixie has come to grace your town’s silly little social event,” she declared. “You should be thanking Trixie for donating her time.”

“Or maybe we should be buckin’ ya outta Ponyville.” Applejack shook a hoof at the showmare, who for once wasn’t wearing her trademark hat and cape. “What are ya really doin’ here, Trixie?”

Trixie sniffed in a derogatory fashion and walked past Rarity and Golden with muzzle held high. “There’s no need to be rude.” She approached the cart-bound Applejack. “Trixie admits she has history here, but she did apologize for the incident with the amulet.”

“It’s gonna take a heck of a lot more than an apology ta get back in this town’s good graces,” Applejack declared, watching Trixie walk past with a glower.

“And what better way for Trixie to fix her reputation that to participate in an auction supporting the town?” Trixie threw a smirk over her shoulder her as she continued down the road. “It’s not good to hold a grudge, you know.”

Applejack snarled and stomped a hoof. “Yer one ta talk!”

Rarity was at her side, watching Trixie walk off with a bemused glower. “This night just became much more troublesome.”

“When did she get here?” Golden appeared next to Rarity, lips set in a concerned frown. “I didn’t even know she was in town. She usually tries to make a grand entrance.”

Applejack shared an ominous look with Rarity. “There’s nothin’ to it: we’ll just have to keep an eye on her. Ah think we can all agree that when Trixie’s come ta town, trouble’s not far behind.”

Rarity sighed and nodded with a pout. “And I was so looking forward to this evening…”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Golden nuzzled Rarity with a comforting smile. “Just because Trixie’s at the auction, it doesn’t mean our night’s ruined.”

A pretty smile graced Rarity’s lips as she returned the motion. “You’re right, of course. Who knows, perhaps she‘s changed.”

Applejack watched them nuzzle one another for a moment and jerked her face away with a grimace; this night couldn’t get much worse.

This night couldn’t get much worse.

Trixie glanced back to make sure she was alone before dropping her smile. She hadn’t expected any of Twilight’s friends to go to the auction. Now what was she going to do?

She sucked in a shaky breath and trudged on, head bowed and heart heavy. She hadn’t seen any of them since the incident with the Alicorn Amulet. She’d never wanted to go back to Ponyville, but with her financial situation…

Trixie used her magic to pull out the bronze anklet in her pouch, studying it with a grim frown. It was thin and tall, with a raised edge on the outer sides. Engraved lines covered it in some strange, foreign, decorative design that reminded her of the pictures of ancient Llama temples. This thing belonged in a Daring Do novel…

She hoped it was worth something, like her neighbor had suggested. If it wasn’t…

But it was her last hope.

She tucked the anklet back into her pack and moved on at a trot, struggling to regain that confident air she’d been holding. If she was going to make any money – and not look like a foal in front of the town’s citizens for a third time – then she needed to maintain the image.

Trixie just wished the auction wasn’t being held outside Ponyville…

She moved quickly. She didn’t want to bump into any more of her ‘acquaintances,’ so she tried to stick to the side paths through town. Why hadn’t she thought to go around? It would have been so much easier; no ponies throwing suspecting looks, no foals running to hide, no constant, nagging guilt.

No, that wasn’t true; the guilt would still be there.

Holding her head high took all the willpower she had.

The auction was being prepared under a white tent on the edge of town. Trixie spotted it instantly upon leaving the back alley. She was well away from it, but she could still see the large crowd within. The sight made her hesitate and linger at the edge of the buildings.

She could do this. She had to tell herself several times: she could do this. It wouldn’t be so bad; this was an elite function, and most of the auction-goers wouldn’t even be from Ponyville.

…right?

Trixie needed the bits. Just enough to let her last a while longer. Then she’d have a real job and this kind of humiliation would be behind her. Mind focused on this simple objective, she sucked down her anxiety and moved forward. She tried to maintain a brisk pace, if only to keep the wobble in her legs from being obvious.

Her injection of confidence failed get her into the tent. Trixie found herself pausing a few feet away, staring into a crowd of well-dressed, well-groomed, high-society ponies. She chewed her lip and scanned the scene. The upturned muzzles, the haughty atmosphere… this wasn’t her kind of crowd. Some ponies thought her anxiousness around elites to be hypocritical. She didn’t blame them; they simply didn’t know.

“Can I help you with something, miss?”

Trixie jumped at the voice at her side, turning abruptly to find a high-browed servant in a fancy suit eyeing her. She saw his posh frown and hesitated… but quickly came to her senses. The anklet rose from her bag and hovered between them.

“I… Trixie was hoping to sell.”

“Hmm…” He scrutinized the anklet. “And did Miss Trixie submit her intention to sell to Mr. Rich’s organizer?”

Trixie’s ears folded, the anklet sinking a little lower in the air. “Submit…?”

The servant’s frown intensified. “All sellers were required to submit a form regarding details on the item to be sold no later than a week before auction.”

“…oh.” Trixie’s head sank… but she raised it quickly and shot him an imploring look. “Maybe Trixie can submit late? She only heard about the auction a week ago, she didn’t have time.”

“I’m sorry, but that simply isn’t possible.” The servant turned away and marched for the tent. “Do feel free to sign up for bidding, should you be able to afford it.”

At his arrogant tone Trixie felt a fire burning inside her… but it died quickly. Had it been so obvious that she was broke?

Shoulders sagging, she eyed the anklet and wondered what she would do now. Back to the rock farm? Goddess, she prayed she’d never have to do that again. Yet if she didn’t find a job immediately…

She gazed at the auction-goers. Even if she couldn’t properly auction the anklet, surely one of them would be interested in buying? The thought made her fidget though; in her head it sounded almost like she would be begging for bits. That’s about what it amounted to, right?

She sat and thought on it for a long time. More than once she started to enter the tent… only to pause and drop back. She saw Twilight’s two friends arrive: the confident Rarity and her extremely anxious marefriend exchanging pleasantries, Applejack strolling right up to the auctioneer’s podium to deliver her goods.

Trixie really didn’t want to go in there now. Trying to sell the anklet – Goddess, she couldn’t stop thinking of it as begging! – would feel even more shameful now that they were here.

The exhaustive battle between pride and desperation hadn’t eased up when Trixie felt the tap on her shoulder. It was like a jolt of lightning, leading her to jump high with legs locked and the fur on her back going straight. She jerked about with a shout and backed away… to find herself facing a pair of elite-looking ponies.

How horribly embarrassing! Trixie hurried to relax her legs and strike a haughty pose. “Trixie does not appreciate being sneaked upon!”

The Earth pony grinned and waved his light brown hoof in a denying motion. “So sorry, Miss. I did not mean to startle you.” He reached up to brush his dark mane back, green eyes playful.

Trixie already didn’t like him – he reminded her of a snake – but at his side had to be one of the most beautiful unicorns Trixie had ever seen. She was tall, her light pink legs enviably long, and her pink mane immaculate. The mare was leaning adoringly on the well-dressed stallion with eager, violet eyes.

Trixie studied the two of them together and thought they were a rather mismatched pair.

“Please,” the stallion offered with a smile that struck Trixie as more deceptive than kind, “do not take offense, but you have caught my lady’s attention.”

“Oh?” Trixie blushed and turned her attention to the unicorn. By Luna’s sparkling mane, Trixie felt so… plain in comparison.

She sucked down her nervousness and forced a strong tone in her voice. “The Great and Powerful Trixie will indulge the interests of a fan.”

The mare giggled in a silly, mindless manner that just screamed ‘model moron’ to Trixie. “I was just wondering if you are auctioning off that darling anklet.”

Trixie was caught between her disgust at the mare’s bimbo-esq manner and the abrupt surge of hope rising within. “N-no, Trixie was unable to get it into the auction, but she is still looking to sell.”

“Oh, that’s perfect!” The mare turned to hang off the stallion and whisper into his ear. “Come on, Doctor. I know a pony, she can clean it up and it’ll look amazing on me. Let me look amazing… for you.” The last words came out in a longing purr.

The ‘doctor’ rolled his eyes with a good-natured smile. “What a stallion will do for beauty. So tell me, Miss Trixie, for how much were you planning to sell the trinket?”

Trixie beamed; this night was going to go her way after all.

Fleur listened to Trixie and Dr. Caballeron barter over the anklet, always sure to maintain an air of mindlessness. Even now, after years of working her skills, it amazed her what she could get away with. All she needed was to pretend to be stupid and smile and the stallions gave her whatever she wanted. Dr. Caballeron was a bit trickier than the usual playcolt, but her experience told her exactly what was needed: a certain fawning attention and just the right level of sultry suggestion.

She studied Trixie Lulamoon, wondering how this lowly street performer had managed to get her hooves on something as unique as the Ring of Mudarra. Discovering that she possessed it had been pure luck, and obtaining it had become a major priority the instant word got out. Getting it out of public circulation was considered essential, and this was the perfect opportunity for Fleur to prove herself to her boss.

“Trixie finds your offer far too low.” The showmare turned her muzzle up with a hmmph. “She demands at least ten times as much.”

Dr. Caballeron shot her a lecturing frown. “Correct me if I am wrong, but it is you who are in no position to debate. Do you really think anypony in there will be interested in buying that worthless piece of junk?”

Fleur put on her best pout. “It’s not junk! I’ll show you just what it’s worth…” She leaned over to nuzzle his neck even as she laughed from within.

Trixie must have caught his shiver, for she held the Ring in both hooves and smirked at him. “Trixie thinks your incentive has gone up. Ten times, no less.”

Dr. Caballeron shot Fleur a glower; she batted her eyes with a clueless smile.

“If you believe I am going to pay that much for a mere decoration, you are sorely mistaken.” Dr. Caballeron peered at Trixie, his eyes roaming her form. “You do not belong here, Miss Lulamoon. You are not wealthy and your no archeologist. You have no idea what that dumb band is really worth.”

It was all Fleur could manage not to laugh at the irony of his statement, but she noted Trixie’s hesitation.

Dr. Caballeron caught it, too. “You are out of your league, little filly. You strike me as a mare in desperate need of funds.”

Trixie’s ears drooped.

“What is it? Debts for gambling? Medical bills? …can’t find a job?”

Trixie shifted and averted her eyes.

The doctor’s grin turned wicked.

“I am offering to buy that trinket. I am an archeologist, and I can tell you that my offer is far more than what it is worth.” He pointed at the crowded tent. “Those ponies? They will not give you the time of day. It is trash to them. Take my offer and be a little better off, or refuse and wake up in the morning realizing you have made a very foalish mistake.”

How cold. Fleur was glad she already had plans for the known criminal. Trixie, on the other hoof, was beneath her attention. Fleur wished she would just give up the damn Ring and go about her wretched, lonely little life.

Trixie sat and clutched at the Ring, staring down at it with a despondent frown. She looked over her shoulder at the tent and bit her lip. “I… I mean…”

Fleur was growing impatient. She began to wonder if she shouldn’t pour a little more charm into the doctor to get him to raise his offer a touch.

At last, Trixie bowed her head with a despondent sigh. “I guess… I guess two months worth is better than nothing…”

“Smart girl.” Dr. Caballeron reached into his vest and pulled out a couple coin bags. “Do we have a deal?”

Fleur watched, barely able to contain her smirk. It was just too easy.

Trixie hesitated, her eyes shifting from the coin bags to the anklet. She licked her lips, averted her gaze… and offered the artifact. Her entire body sagged as Dr. Caballeron took it and set the bags into her waiting hooves. She stared at them with a despondent pout and moist eyes.

“Oh, thank you, doctor.” Fleur batted her eyes and struck a radiant pose, hoof stretched in Dr. Caballeron’s direction to receive the ‘gift.’

“No, thank you.”

She blinked as he promptly set the anklet in his vest, noting his smug smile. “But… I thought—”

“Oh, please.” He patted her cheek with a wicked grin. “Do you really think I would waste that kind of money on something as worthless as jewelry? You are just a dumb call-mare, what could you possibly know about the value of something as important as the Ring of Mudarra?”

Fleur’s jaw dropped at the name.

Trixie looked up at him with lost eyes. “W-what do you mean, ‘important?’”

Dr. Caballeron turned his smirk on her. “This artifact has been missing for centuries. I do not know how you came about it, but it is very fortunate for me that you did not manage to sell it at auction. Now that I have bought it for cheap, I can go to the black market and make a fortune.”

“What?” Trixie thrust her hoof out with a snarl. “Deal’s off, give it back!”

“Too late for that, Miss Lulamoon.” He walked past her and started for the tent. “A deal’s a deal. You should have been more aggressive.”

Trixie’s eyes flared, her horn began to glow…. but then it fizzled out. Her anxious eyes went to the tent, her cheeks going red. After a second she slumped, entire body shaking. “Curse you… Why did this have to happen here?”

Fleur shot the wretched pony a scowl before hurrying after the doctor. She threw on her prettiest smile as her mind scrambled to fix this ‘problem.’ “But doctor, please, can’t I wear it at least for tonight? I promise, when we’re done—”

His hoof rose to block her advance. He didn’t bother to look at her. “Sorry, dear, but I’ll have to leave town quickly and get this to my… ‘dealer.’ I just need to take something of lesser importance off the auctioneer’s desk and then I’m gone.”

Fleur paused, eyes going wide as she realized she was being cast aside. The doctor stopped just at the edge of the tent and offered a smirk. “Thank you for spotting the Ring, though; you’re mindless discovery has made my night! Here—“ he reached into his coat and threw a coin bag in her face, “—go buy yourself some useless bauble.”

Fleur watched him go, momentarily stunned at this blatant disrespect.

Then the anger came boiling up like a vicious beast. She glared into the crowd, shoulders shaking and lips trembling. How dare he treat her like some concubine! Even if her cover had been as a high-class escort, this was not an indignity she was prepared to tolerate.

Buck him. She’d planned to acquire the Ring of Mudarra through more legal, quiet means, but if this was how he wanted to play then she’d show him exactly who he was dealing with! She raised her head and cast a quick spell, whispering two simple words – “To me.” – then jerked about to face Trixie.

Trixie was leaning heavily over the two coin bags she’d been given, clearly fighting back tears. Fleur threw her own coin bag so that it struck Trixie’s cheek, and the showmare jerked into a proper sitting position.

Fleur moved to stand tall before the smaller pony. “You. I will pay you five times what he did to get that anklet back for me.”

Trixie’s eyes lost their anger and went wide. “What? But I thought—”

“Whatever you thought was wrong,” Fleur snarled. “I did not spend the past two months planning this purchase just to see that bastard walk away with my artifact.”

Trixie stepped back at Fleur’s aggression. “Two months? What are you—”

Fleur pressed her muzzle against Trixie’s. “I am offering you enough bits to pay almost a year’s worth of rent! Get me that artifact.”

Trixie pushed her away with alarmed eyes. “H-how do you know I’m… no.” She shook her head as if to clear it. “This is Ponyville! I can’t cause another ruckus here, I—”

Fleur rolled her head back with an impatient groan. “I don’t care what your miserable little situation is! Do you want to end up homeless on the streets?”

Trixie flinched. She shifted from hoof to hoof, eyes roaming the tent behind Fleur. “I… w-what assurance does Trixie have—”

“None.” Fleur leveled her with an ominous frown. “The question you should be asking is ‘What choice do I have?’”

Trixie stared at her with a lost expression, worry and sadness in her big eyes. She hesitated, chewed her lip, bowed her head…

She shoved past Fleur at a gallop. “Please don’t make me regret this.”

Oh, she’d regret it all right…

A servant stallion appeared at Fleur’s left. “I take it the deal went south?”

Fleur only grimaced in response.

A second stallion, one of the elites, appeared on her right. “New plan?”

“New plan.” Fleur turned away from the tent, jaw set and eyes hard. “I’ve arranged for a little distraction. Caballeron’s going to make for the train station. Slow him and Trixie down. I’ll intercept them in a suitably quiet location and we’ll take them both.”

“Got it.” The elite pony turned back for the tent.

The servant lingered, his frown harsh. “What are we to do with them once we have the Ring of Mudarra?”

A wicked smile grew on Fleur’s lips. “Caballeron is a wanted criminal. Trixie is about to attempt—” shouts arose from the tent, “—is attempting theft and possibly assault. They’re going to prison, anyway; take them to the Canterlot dungeons, where we can have our resident expert wipe their memories of our influence.”

The servant thought on this as he studied her, his face set in a solemn frown… but after a moment’s hesitation he finally nodded and left for the tent.

Fleur left the area, moving into a dark alley so that she wouldn’t be seen. She focused on her spell, which required only a second or two, then examined her hoof.

She couldn’t see it.

Satisfied the invisibility spell was working, she trotted swiftly through the Ponyville streets. She fumed as she walked, her mind going over the plan again and again. She still couldn’t believe that she’d missed this obvious flaw; she had arranged to be Caballeron’s escort because he was certain to attend the auction, but never imagined he’d actually recognize the Ring of Mudarra!

It was a foalish oversight. Her boss would be disappointed and that only fueled her anger even more.

And to be cast aside like that! Caballeron would pay for his disrespect. Daring Do had nothing on the fury of an Archon Lieutenant!

She used the magic link she’d formed with her two agents and tried to gauge their location and direction. They were moving fast… perhaps Trixie had Caballeron on the run. That or she’d managed to get the anklet and was herself fleeing.

One way or another, Fleur would be getting that artifact.

She set herself up in an alley, standing right in the center and peering at the opposite exit. She focused her magic a little, transmitting her location to her agents, and waited. She could sense them getting closer as they shadowed Trixie and/or Caballeron. All she needed was one good shot…

Problem.

Trixie pushed her way through the elite crowds, her mind frantic with questions. Could she really do this? What if it ended up being another disaster? Goddess, what would Twilight do to her if she found out?

No, she could do this. Just find Dr. Caballeron and demand he return the anklet. Surely he wouldn’t be so mean in front of so many ponies. Yes… yes, if she could confront him in the crowd then surely...

Trixie’s eyes roamed the crowd. Where had that bastard gone? He had to be nearby. She fought to ignore the scowls of the ponies she was pushing aside and prayed that dumb mare was good on her word. If she wasn’t…

By Luna’s starry mane, Trixie did not want to think about that.

There he was! Trixie pushed her way towards the main table, where Dr. Caballeron was debating with the auctioneer. She clamped her teeth tight to keep from shouting; the last thing she wanted was to draw a lot of attention to this.

She still had some pride left.

At last she was close enough; Trixie reached out and tapped the doctor’s shoulder. He tried to wave her off, not even bothering to see who was disturbing his conversation. Trixie growled and hit a second time with force.

That caught the doctor’s attention. He glanced over with a scowl and, upon realizing who his assailant was, smirked. “Oh, back again are we? I am not buying.”

Trixie leveled him with a firm frown. “Give it back.”

“No.” He rolled his eyes and turned back to the table.

Despite her position, Trixie’s body tensed and her eyes flashed. She reached forward and pushed, knocking him against the table.

Dr. Caballeron brushed his nice vest off and shot her an expression of blatant disgust. “Be careful, little pony. You know not with what you are playing.”

Trixie’s hoof pressed beneath his chin as she snarled. “Trixie has very few options left. Somepony has offered a better deal. Give. Me. The anklet.”

He slapped her hoof away with a scowl. “Or you’ll what? Attack me here in front of all these ponies?”

A small hiss passed through Trixie’s teeth as she hesitated. Her eyes darted about at the crowd.

Did she dare?

“I did not think so.” Dr. Caballeron huffed a small laugh and turned away. “Go home, Miss Lulamoon. If you even have one.”

Trixie’s heart hit her throat. For a moment she could only stand there, stunned into numbness at his cruel words.

Then the fire came back at full force. She glared at the back of his head, a distinct pounding in her ears. She found herself filled with loathing and an intense desire to pound some basic pony decency into his smug, smartaleck face!

Buck the crowd, and buck Ponyville: she pulled her leg back and delivered a hit against the back of his skull so hard his head dropped down to smack chin-first on the table with a loud crack.

The doctor turned about in an instant, teeth bared, but his eyes went wide at the sight of her glowing horn.

Trixie fired a beam, but her aim was off and he managed to duck his head just in time. Dr. Caballeron dove sideways as a second and third shot quickly followed. The fourth beam almost flew true, but the doctor managed to grab an old mirror and use it to send the laser flying up through the tent ceiling.

“For the love of Luna, what is wrong with you?”

Trixie reared back, making up a new spell as she did.

“Give it back!”

A large magenta orb flew from her horn, and Dr. Caballeron dove into the crowd to dodge it. It flew right past where he’d been…

...and hit an unprepared Rarity in the chest.

Rarity let out a pained cry as the force of the blast ripped her dress and knocked her off her hooves. Her marefriend, who had been standing right beside her, let out a shout and went to cradle her.

A mare shrieked.

Ponies began to mumble amongst themselves.

Alarmed, fearful gazes were being cast about.

Trixie stared, jaw loose and heart pounding.

Oh, Goddess… she’d done it again.

“Trixie!”

Applejack was between Trixie and Rarity, body dropped low in an aggressive pose and her green eyes menacing. “Ah knew you were nothin’ but trouble. How dare you come in here an—”

Trixie spotted Dr. Caballeron just over Applejack’s shoulder, pushing his way towards the exit. She shifted, caught in a whirlwind of guilt, worry and desperation. Her hooves shook, her eyes darted from Applejack to Rarity to the doctor.

She didn’t mean to hurt Rarity… she should explain…

But Dr. Caballeron was getting away. If she couldn’t stop him…

Why was she such a bucking screw up?

“I’m sorry!” Trixie ran, the crowd all but leaping out of her way as she chased after the doctor. “I promise, I’ll make up for this!”

“Where do ya think yer goin’?” Applejack moved to intercept, but wasn’t fast enough. “Get back here!”

Trixie ignored the pony even as she cursed herself. How could everything fall apart so quickly?

“Hey!” Rarity’s marefriend jumped in the way. “You’re not going anywhere until—” Trixie jumped sideways and ran right past. “—Hey! Stop, you bucker!”

“Don’t let her get away! She’s gonna get it this time.”

Trixie’s heart twisted; if only she had time to fix her mistake! Their words hurt more than they could imagine, but she had to get that anklet back.

So she galloped after the retreating Dr. Caballeron and prayed that blasted mare wasn’t going to cheat her.

Problem.

The word hit Fleur’s mind like a hammer, indicative of the inexperience of the agent who’d sent it. She shook her head with a scowl and whispered, “What problem?”

More ponies. This one came from the other agent, whose words had a more gentle touch.

Fleur ground her teeth with a snarl. “How many?”

The other agent’s words came back: Plus two.

That wasn’t so bad, Fleur had been fearing a mob of some sort. She could handle this.

“Proceed.”

Understood. She winced at the force of the word and cursed under her breath.

Sorry. The word was softer, but strained.

Fleur snorted her frustration and kept her mouth firmly closed this time.

She lingered in the alley for several long minutes before the voices began to reach her ears. Shouting and cries… yes, they were coming. She braced herself, eyes set once more on the opposite side. Who would it be? Caballeron? Trixie? What of these strangers? How would she deal with them once it was over? She couldn’t have them all sent to the dungeons…

The first pony rounded the corner. It was Caballeron, looking over his shoulder with a sneer. He was soon followed by Trixie, who came barreling after him with a face of such menace even Fleur was given pause.

Fleur released her spell and the invisibility cloak faded. She stood tall in the center of the alley, an ominous scowl on her lips, and when Caballeron looked to her he came to a sliding halt. “What are you doing here?”

Fleur aimed her horn, eyes focused and unyielding. “Give. Me. The Ring.”

Caballeron grimaced and started for her, clearly intent on calling her bluff.

Too bad for him she wasn’t bluffing.

Just as he was about to pass, Fleur turned sideways and delivered a one-legged kick that knocked him into the wall. She fired a small laser that made a black line in the stones, and he jumped back with a startled cry just in time to be tackled by Trixie.

Fleur stepped back as the two wrestled, Trixie snarling and Caballeron struggling to get her off his back. Trixie really was a desperate pony, wasn’t she? Good, she’d fight harder.

“There they are!”

Fleur looked up to find two Earth ponies running into the alley. She recognized one as the Bearer of the Element of Honesty, but the other was a stranger. Fleur made no attempt to interfere as the two jumped atop the fighting ponies and began to pull them apart.

The stranger worked to hold Caballeron and keep him from bolting. “That’s enough, you two!”

“Whoa there, girl.” Applejack easily held back Trixie. “You’ve got some explainin’ ta do, and an apology for what ya did ta my friend!”

“That was an accident!” Trixie clawed at Applejacks hooves, her violet eyes nothing short of vicious. “He’s the villain, you should be attacking him! I just want the anklet back!”

Caballeron had paused in his struggling to catch his breath, though he leveled Trixie with a grim frown. “Why are all the mares in this town crazy?”

The situation seemed to be contained, so Fleur moved a little closer. She leveled Caballeron with her most ominous sneer. “The Ring, Caballeron, and maybe we’ll go easy on you.”

He shot her a smirk. “You seem awfully capable for a mere call-mare. Who do you work for?”

“Ah don’t care who any of ya work fer, an’ Ah don’ care about no buckin’ anklet!” Applejack repositioned to offer a stronger grip on the ever-resistant Trixie.

“Your little brawl hurt my mare-friend,” the stranger added, not loosening her hold on Caballeron one iota. “You’re lucky I don’t—hey!”

Caballeron reared back and delivered a single rapid strike with an elbow, cracking the stranger in the side of the head. He slipped out of her grasp in an instant and was safely out of her reach. Fleur snarled and focused, a massive brick wall rising up in the alley between him and his exit. “You won’t be getting away, Caballeron!”

Trixie let out a frustrated shout. “Give me that anklet!”

Caballeron turned to the mares, a smug smile on his face as he eyed Fleur. “You think you are so clever, but I am no stranger to being chased. I know illusion magic when I see it. You want the ring?” He reached into his vest even as he backstepped through the image Fleur had created. “You can have it!”

Fleur’s eyes went wide in understanding. “Stop him!”

“You’re not going anywhere!” The other mare started running at the same time as Fleur.

The anklet appeared through the wall, thrown violently at an angle. Fleur tried to focus her magic, but she wasn’t anywhere near quick enough; the artifact hit the ground.

There was an explosive flash of white light. Fleur felt her body go flying through the air. Her stomach gave a sickening twist and for an instant she felt as if she were floating…

Then she hit the ground on her belly. Her ears were ringing and her vision was blurred. She tried to move and couldn’t. Something felt… wrong, like she didn’t fit in her own skin.

What in the name of Luna had that foal done?

She was lifted roughly by her shoulders. She could feel herself being dragged off. Fleur shook her head, tried to focus her mind…

At last the world became clear. “W-what?” She looked up to find her agents dragging her backwards from the alley. “What are you doing? I’m fine!” The stallions completely ignored her. Caught off guard by this blatant disrespect, Fleur started to struggle...

...then her eyes locked on her legs.

They were short.

And blue.

Her head snapped forward to see where the other ponies had fallen. Applejack lay on her side near the wall, the other mare on her belly nearby.

Fleur’s eyes went wide; there, crumbled in a heap in the middle of the alley, was her own body.

The bastard had activated the Ring! “Wait… stop!” She began to struggle, and when she did she was surprised to find that she could almost match her two agents. “Let me go, you foals! Don’t you know what just happened?”

“She’s a lot stronger than she looks,” the servant snarled as they fought to hold her.

“Dammit.” The elite pony grasped her around the midsection. “We’ll never be able to catch Caballeron too, not at this rate.”

“Release me, get the anklet!” Fleur let out a frustrated cry and began to focus her magic. If they wouldn’t listen…

“What is she on about?”

“Shut up and help me!”

The spell surged through Fleur’s horn. The sheer force of it caught her entirely off guard, and she released the laser entirely on accident.

It hit the ground and exploded with such phenomenal force that Fleur was once again sent flying, her mind rendered numb by the shock of the power she’d somehow managed to unleash.

She saw the wall just before impact.

The world went dark.

Author's Notes:

When I saw that the Transformations group was putting on a contest focused on body swapping, I initially had zero interest. My preference is to target concepts that are unusual and not commonly written about, and body swapping can hardly be referred to as 'original.' But the more I thought on it, the more I felt intrigued. Given my tendency to write about uncommon characters, I realized that I might be able to put a fresh face to the genre.

Thus did I create Ordinary World, a story using a common concept with characters I'm pretty sure most writers wouldn't consider swapping.

A common thing for these kinds of stories is to make them comedy fests and full of ridiculousness. Because I abhor the common (and have zero faith in my ability to write comedy ), I avoided that track as a general rule. What follows is what I like to think of as a more realistic interpretation of how this kind of situation would turn out. I hope it impresses and puts a little life into an old trope.

Let this opening chapter stand as a testament to my willingness to compromise. One of my editors became very insistent that I make some big and very unwelcome changes to this chapter, and I was extremely antagonistic towards the idea. But he laid out his arguments well and, with no small amount of displeasure, I decided to enact the changes. It meant butchering a lot of my intentions for the story, but in the end I have to acknowledge that the first chapter does read better. So for those editors out there who think I'm stingy about changes (and I am), talk to this guy. He's witness to my ability to accept changes for the betterment of a story, even when I highly resent them initially.