Season: Z

Episode: G

Swapping Places

(By: Flame Runner)

“I tell you Rarity, the ponies at the weather factory must be under new management or something. They already messed up twice this week and us Pegasus here in Ponyville have had to bail them out,” complained Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, darling, that sounds just dreadful,” responded Rarity sympathetically.

“You unicorns don’t know the half of it! Just yesterday I and the rest of the weather team had to move an entire cloud bank over to Hoofington because they sent us a double order.”

“Us unicorns?” Rarity replied indignantly, “You may have had it rough Rainbow Dash, but we unicorns have it hard from time to time as well.”

“Oh yeah? If I had magic my life would be easy as pie, but us Pegasus have to do manual labor.”

“You don’t know how wrong you are. It takes a lot of concentration to perform magic. Why, when I have a headache it’s almost impossible for me to even levitate my scissors.”

“To levitate your scissors? You call that hard? You know I bet that Pegasus have it much more difficult than you unicorns will ever know.”

“I would beg to differ.”

“Want to prove it? Let’s have a contest.”

“A contest will prove nothing. No. If you want to prove it then I say we go and do some research. I’m sure that Twilight can help us find the answers we’re looking for.”

“Research? Eww…”

“Come along Rainbow Dash; let’s see what we can find out about unicorns and Pegasus.”

Rarity walked out of her boutique and toward the town library where Twilight Sparkle had her residence. Rainbow Dash followed behind her unicorn friend glumly, not particularly in the mood for research.

(Insert Theme Music Here)

* * * * * * * * *

Rarity daintily rapped on the library door. “Twilight?” the white unicorn called out. Some mumbling could be heard coming from inside the large tree. The door opened to reveal a cluttered mess.

“Whoa! What happened in here?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Twilight stayed up way to late star gazing,” answered Spike and then added, “again.”

“Sorry girls, I just got a new book on constellations and had to verify its accuracy,” apologized Twilight Sparkle.

“Oh, that’s quite alright.” Rarity tried to sound polite but her face clearly showed how appalled she was of the mess. “We were actually hoping that you could help us clear something up though.”

“I can sure try. What do you need help with?”

“Rarity here thinks that unicorns have life harder than Pegasus and we just wanted to see what you thought about that,” Rainbow Dash interjected.

“That’s a doozy of a question Rainbow,” Spike said.

“What she meant to say is this: Are there any books or research on the subject?” corrected Rarity.

“Well, we can certainly take a look. Come on in and sorry about the mess.”

Twilight invited her two friends into the hollow tree. Books lay strewn across the floor in various places while some still clung to the shelves. A thick stack of parchments lay on a table, full of Twilight’s stargazing notes.

“Now, we could start at the dawn of the Pre-millennial period or more recently at the Modern Equine Age. Conversely, if you want, we go as far back as the Age of Discovery. Where to start? There are just so many choices.”

“How about the right now age?” asked Rainbow Dash, “What about that time?”

“I don’t think I’ve heard of that era before,” pondered Twilight.

“Twilight, Rainbow Dash is asking about unicorns and Pegasus right now, in this day and age. Is there any research on the subject?” responded Rarity.

“Oh…Let me take a look.” Twilight started to rummage through the cluttered library. “Hey Spike! Can I get some help?”

“Sure thing!” the little dragon started to pick through the books which he knew all to well. Suddenly, he came across one of Twilight’s magic studies books.

“Hey, Twilight! I think I might have an idea.”

“What is it?”

Spike held out the worn book to the purple unicorn. It was a little worse for wear, but definitely well loved. Twilight floated the old tome over to herself.

“What’s this for? I don’t remember anything in here that would be valuable.”

“Flip it to page 57. There was a trick that you wanted to try out, but never had the resources to do it.”

The pages magically moved themselves to the page Spike recommended.

“This one Spike?” asked Twilight as the book rotated to show the dragon what was inside.

“No, that’s not it. Try page 59.”

Again the pages moved themselves under Twilight’s control. The purple pony looked at the trick. Her face registered that she had found what Spike was talking about.

“You’re right Spike! I never had any ponies to try this out on. It would be perfect!”

“Excuse me, but what are you two blabbing about? Did you find the answer to our question?” asked Rainbow Dash impatiently.

“Oh, right. It says: A spell to let one see the world through another’s point of view.”

“A bit vague for my tastes, does it say anything else before I agree to let you try it on me?” questioned Rarity.

“Um…hold on…requires two ponies…um…no, not really anything else. Oh wait! Warning: may cause drowsiness, headaches, vomiting, or involuntary eye twitching.”

“That doesn’t quite sound safe,” commented Rarity.

“Please Rarity? I’ve been dying to see what this thing does. For me?” begged Spike.

The white pony looked into Spike’s eyes and couldn’t resist. “Oh, for you Spike…well, I guess I could try it. I just can’t say “no” to my little Spikey Wikey.”

“What about you Rainbow Dash?” asked Twilight.

“Sure, I’m game.”

“Let me check it over one last time…got it! You two ready?”

“Ready!” they responded.

Twilight’s horn began to glow a soft purple hue as a similar glow encased the other ponies. Ribbons of magical energy flowed between the unicorn and Pegasus. “Hee hee, that tickles,” giggled Rainbow as the magic flowed over her wings. Little sparks of light sputtered from the ribbons of purple magic that coursed over the two friends. The magic came to an end and the warm purple glow faded. Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked over at each other.

“Aw…nothing happened,” whined Spike.

The little dragon was correct, the trick was a failure.

“You sure that was right Twilight?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“I’m sure it was, but let me double check...Yes, I did it just like the book said.”

“Thank you anyway Twilight,” Rarity offered graciously, “I suppose we will just have to solve our question another day. It was nice to see you, but I must get back to my shop. Good bye!”

“I guess I’ll head out with Rarity. I’ve still got some clouds to take care of. See ya guys later!”

The two ponies left the library as Twilight and Spike began a debate over what the trick would do if performed correctly.

“I’ll bet it lets you read other ponies’ thoughts!” stated Spike excitedly.

“I don’t think so.”

“No, no. Hear me out Twilight. What if…”

The conversation lasted well into the afternoon as the two cleaned up the cluttered space. Twilight went to bed early that night, hoping to make up for some of the sleep she missed the past few days. She heard Spike snoring next to her bed and smiled as blissful unconsciousness came upon her.

* * * * * * * * *

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes slowly. The light was blindingly bright, so she squeezed them closed again. The cyan Pegasus didn’t really want to get up, but knew that she needed to. It was well into the morning and she was ready to prove that Pegasus had it harder off than unicorns. She blinked her eyes open again and stretched on the grass below her feet. She stopped for a moment as she looked around at the grass. “Pinkie? Is this one of your pranks again?” shouted the blue pony. “I know you moved me out of my cloud house and down here, but how did you do it?...Pinkie?” Rainbow Dash was currently standing on a hill full of soft grass, well outside her comfy cloud bed. She got up and began stretching out her wings so she could find Pinkie Pie, except she couldn’t unfurl her wings. “Huh? What’s going on?” Rainbow looked over her body and, to her utter horror, found no wings. “My…my wings! They’re gone!” Her mind started swimming and the cyan pony began to feel a nagging sense of unease. Her head also felt unusually heavy, almost like she was wearing a thick headband. She reached up to touch it and found a solid object attached. She had a horn! “T-Twilight!” shouted the now officially freaked Rainbow Dash as she bolted toward the library with all the speed her legs could muster.

* * * * * * * * *

Bam! Bam! Bam! Rainbow Dash pounded on the thick library door. Twilight was coming too slowly, so she opened it herself and charged into an unsuspecting Twilight Sparkle. The ponies collided and hit the floor with a “Thud!”

“You finally made it,” said Rarity from the table she was sitting at.

The white pony was drinking a cup of tea and relaxing at one of the library tables with an open book laying on it.

“Finally made it? You’ve been waiting here for me?” shouted Rainbow from the floor.

Twilight and Rainbow picked themselves off the ground as Rarity responded.

“Well of course I have. You don’t think you’re the only one who noticed a change this morning.”

The fashionable pony unfurled a beautiful pair of white wings.

“It would appear that I have your wings, which means that you have MY horn. So, you better take good care of it.”

Rainbow Dash gaped in awe at her once unicorn friend before she found her voice.

“Wait! Hold on for a second. So, if I have your horn…then I’m a…unicorn?”

“That’s right! Twilight’s trick actually worked!” Spike entered the conversation as he walked over to the table with a batch of fresh cookies. “And I must say, Rarity you look amazing with those wings.”

“So, I’m not just imagining this. I really am a unicorn? Twilight! You have to turn me back! I have work today!”

“I’m sorry Rainbow but…ooo…I can’t,” replied Twilight while holding her head tenderly.

“What? Why not?”

“Rarity came by this morning just as…ahh…confused as you were so I took another look in the book and…ohh…found that two of the pages were stuck together.”

“Are you alright Twilight?” asked Rainbow with concern.

“She’ll be ok,” said Spike, “turns out that warning about headaches and whatnot was for the caster, not the recipients.”

“Is that why she can’t change me back?”

“No dear,” replied Rarity, “let me read you what we found on the stuck page.” The white pony cleared her throat and began, “May take a few hours before effects occur. The magic will last for 24 hours and is irreversible during this time. It looks like we’re stuck like this for an entire day.”

Twilight gave a small nod and then winced in pain and held her head again.

“But…but I have work today. I can’t be a unicorn!”

“Cheer up darling, isn’t this what you wanted? Now you get to find out just how difficult life as a unicorn can be sometimes.”

“Oh, that’s what you want? Fine then, I guess if you have MY wings then you’ll just have to do MY job and you can find out what life like a Pegasus is really like.”

“Sounds simple enough. Besides, I already know how to fly.”

“You’re talking about that time in Cloudsdale? You never flew more than five miles an hour. It’ll take some real speed to get the weather kicked into shape.”

“Hmph. Well at least I know the basics; you don’t even know how to levitate a book.”

“Levitate a book, I’ll show you,” mumbled Rainbow Dash as her cyan horn began to spark.

The tome on the table began to glow a faint blue and shakily flounce around. Its pages flapped back and forth as if a light breeze was blowing over them. “Come on! Move!” shouted the newbie unicorn at the inanimate object.

“Not so easy now is it?” prodded Rarity.

“Don’t break my concentration,” responded Rainbow sharply.

The book still shook and shuttered as the blue glow grew slightly brighter. The old tome shakily rose into the air for the briefest of moments and then fell heavily to the ground. Rainbow Dash was panting from the effort.

“That’s not bad…urg…Rainbow,” encouraged Twilight. “I’d teach you myself, but I just can’t think straight. I’m going to…ooo…lay down. Maybe Spike can help.”

The purple librarian trotted slowly up the stairs to lie down.

“Twilight, I’m not a unicorn. How can I help?” Spike didn’t get a response from the aching pony. “Well, I suppose I can at least point you to a couple of basic magic books. Let me get them.”

The baby dragon went over to retrieve some writings for the beginner unicorn.

“Now you see that magic is no walk in the park. It takes years of practice to lift multiple objects at a time. You may learn how to levitate one object, but I wouldn’t give you much more than that. It’s also quite tiring until you get used to it,” spoke Rarity smugly.

“Ok Rarity, you’ve had your fun, but let’s see how well you can fly,” challenged Rainbow Dash.

“But of course.”

Rarity walked outside head held high as Spike set down a few books in a neat pile. The cyan unicorn followed her white Pegasus friend outside and Spike tagged behind.

* * * * * * * * *

Rarity flapped her wings and pushed at the air. Slowly she rose into the bright sky and began to move around.

“Come on! You call that flying?” Rainbow Dash shouted.

Rarity pushed a little harder and began to gain some speed. Faster and faster she flew as the sky whizzed by.

“This isn’t so tough. It looks like unicorns really do have it harder off,” Rarity breathed to herself.

Suddenly, one of her wings beat a second too late and the white pony began to turn. She attempted to fix the error, but overcorrected into a tail spin. Around and around she spun as the earth grew closer to the dizzy pony. Rarity shrieked as she plowed right into a bush full of plump berries. Spike and Rainbow ran over to make sure that their friend was alright.

“Rarity! Are you ok?” worried the love-sick dragon.

“No! I am most certainly NOT ok! Just look at my beautiful face! It’s covered in these sticky, purple berries! And these branches have utterly mangled my mane!”

“Not so easy being a Pegasus now, huh?” gloated Rainbow Dash.

Spike helped Rarity out of the bush and brushed some loose leaves out of her hair.

“After that performance I’m not sure that you’re up to handling the weather,” Rainbow stated.

“Now just one moment!” fumed Rarity, “I will not be made a fool of. I will take your weather duties and prove you wrong, but you will have to watch over my boutique in exchange.”

“Deal! Now as for your weather duties, you’re lucky that this is my easy day. You simply need to move the rain clouds over to Sweet Apple Acres and get rid of any other clouds in the sky. Got that? Move the rain clouds and kick away anything else.”

“Very well. As for your duties, you are to stay in my boutique and watch for any customers. If somepony comes in, show them around and have them take a look over my dresses. If they want one then sell it to them. There will also be a delivery cart coming to pick up a load of my hats. You will need to move them all into the cart. Spike can help you if he wants to.”

“Can do!” Rainbow Dash nodded and Rarity flew off to find a pond where she could clean up. “So Spike, how about it? Twilight did ask you to help me out.”

“Sure, I’ve got nothing else to do today.”

The little dragon went back into the library and came out with the stack of books he had placed on the floor earlier.

“Plus, it’ll be fun to see you learn some magic. Twilight’s good at it, but she doesn’t learn new tricks often and I’m always in the mood for a good magic trick.”

The pony and dragon trotted off to Rarity’s boutique.

* * * * * * * * *

The white pony had finally finished cleaning off her face and she sat busily combing out her frazzled, purple mane. “There! Much better! Now I can fly with elegance.” She put her wings to the test and rose once again into the air. “First things first, move the rain clouds. Where are they?” The white Pegasus looked around at the clear sky. Not a cloud was in sight. “Maybe they’re higher up.” Rarity climbed upward slowly, not wanting a repeat performance from a few minutes ago. She looked down at her boutique in Ponyville; it looked good even from the air. The Pegasus then stopped and took another look at the sky around her. She spotted a bank of grey colored clouds. “Those must be them!” Rarity flew over to the storm clouds and put her hoof to one. The cloud felt like some kind of soft foam. Rarity placed another hoof on the cloud and began to push it. “This isn’t so hard. I don’t see what Rainbow Dash was so upset about.” She gracefully, but slowly, made her way over to Sweet Apple Acres with the grey storm cloud.

* * * * * * * * *

“Almost got it!” Spike said eagerly as Rainbow Dash placed all of her concentration on Opal, Rarity’s pet cat. The feline had been nothing but trouble for the two as it stretched happily in the doorway. If the pair tried to enter, Opal would hiss and show her claws. Rainbow was trying to move the stubborn cat with magic, but only seemed to upset the white fluff ball.

“I…I just can’t,” Rainbow Dash sighed and hung her head in despair. “I had no idea that magic was this difficult. Rarity and Twilight make it look easy.”

“They’ve just had a lot of time to practice, that’s all,” encouraged Spike.

Opal yawned and lay down to snooze in the warm sunshine.

“That cat! She’s mocking me!” fumed Rainbow. The cyan pony stomped her hooves and prepared to charge.

“Wait!” screamed Spike.

“Wait for what? I’ve had enough of this.”

“Look! Right there is Opal’s favorite toy,” Spike pointed to a rubber mouse lying behind the lazy feline, “do you think you can move it?”

“I’ll give it a try, but if this doesn’t work I’m charging in there.”

Rainbow’s cyan horn began to sputter and spark as she put all of her concentration on the little toy. The mouse began to quiver and shake. Opal noticed the sporadic mouse and got up. The rubber toy barely floated above the ground as its feet dangled on the floor. With a good deal of grunting and some extra effort from Rainbow Dash, the mouse maneuvered across the floor in a spasmodic fit. Opal looked curiously at the rubber toy which continued to move further away from the door. Suddenly, Opal got into a pouncing position. She sprung forward and nabbed the toy. The cat chewed happily on her favorite plaything. Grudgingly the white fur ball let Spike and Rainbow Dash enter the boutique. Rainbow was feeling a little shaky from exerting herself so much, but her ego was very much intact.

“That’s how you do magic!” she said victoriously.

The unicorn and dragon set themselves up in Rarity’s display room. Spike dumped the few books he brought on the ground and Rainbow Dash started pouring over one titled, “Unicorn Magic for Dummies”.

“I wonder how Rarity is holding up?” pondered the pony aloud.

“Don’t know, but I’m sure she’s doing just fine. She is a beautiful and talented pony after all.”

* * * * * * * * *

Rarity was not doing alright. She had only moved a few of the storm clouds over to Sweet Apple Acres and had much of the cloud bank left to go. “This manual labor is harder work than I thought.” The white Pegasus reached up to wipe her sweaty brow. She quickly stopped herself before her hoof touched the perspiration. “I’ll just have to take a long, warm bath when this is over. And I shall never question Rainbow Dash on weather management again.” Slowly the grey cloud in her grasp moved over the landscape below. Rarity admired just how quaint Ponyville looked from the air. She shook her head. “No! Focus Rarity! You’ve got to finish this job. Never, never, never accept a job that you don’t intend to see through to the end.” The beginner Pegasus began to pick up some speed as she let out the softest grunt ever heard. “I’m going to finish this one way or another!” She shakily moved faster, correcting herself from falling on a few occasions. As the sun moved from high in the sky to low on the horizon, the cloud bank shrunk.

* * * * * * * * *

“Ok Spike, ready for another try?”

“Yep, but this time try not to fling it to the ceiling. That last book hit me on the head.”

“Alright, here goes.”

Rainbow Dash concentrated on one of the books Spike brought. A light blue glow sputtered into existence around the hardback. She slowly lifted it into the air with a good deal of effort. The pony let off a few small grunts as the book soared higher into the air.

“No! I’m losing it again!”

Spike ducked for cover as the magic surrounding the tome flashed a bright blue and sent the book flying into the air. Rainbow placed her hooves over her head while the book collided soundly with the floor.

“I almost had it that time!”

“Well, this is certainly more entertaining than watching Twilight, but more dangerous too,” commented Spike.

“I just can’t quite get a proper hold on it. It’s like when I try to move it a little higher I put way to much effort into it and the thing goes flying.”

“So put less effort into it.”

“I know, but it’s like there’s some kind of balance or something. If I don’t put enough into it; nothing happens, but if I give it a little more, it just shoots away.” Rainbow paused for a moment before softly voicing her next thought. “I’ll never speak about unicorns having it easy again. This is hard work.”

Knock! Knock!

“Oh! A customer! Come on Rainbow, let’s see who it is.”

The duo went over to the door. Thankfully, Opal had decided to go away and nap in some unknown corner which left the hallway safe to traverse. Spike tugged the door open.

“Hi Derpy! What are you doing here?” asked Rainbow in surprise.

“Hello Rainbow Dash! I’m here to pick up a hat delivery. Hey…what’s that thing on your head?”

“Oh this? It’s a horn.”

“But, I thought you were a Pegasus…”

“I am. Twilight tried out a new trick and I guess I’m a unicorn for the day.”

Derpy looked confused. “But…I thought you were a Pegasus.”

“How about we grab a muffin at Sugar Cube Corner and talk about it tomorrow. Sound good?”

“Ok. I like muffins.”

“Now, you’re picking up the hat order, huh? Hey Spike! Can you help me grab the hats and put them in the cart?”

“Sure thing!” proclaimed the baby dragon.

Spike and Rainbow Dash scooped up a handful of the decorative hats. The cyan pony put her new magic to the test and levitated one extra bonnet with some considerable effort. Soon the hats were loaded onto the cart and, thankfully, no major catastrophes occurred.

“Bye Rainbow! See you tomorrow!” Derpy waved behind her as she headed into the sky with Rarity’s precious cargo. Spike and Rainbow Dash waved back and then went inside.

“Where exactly is she supposed to be taking the shipment again?” asked the little dragon.

“It doesn’t really matter. Derpy always gets to where she’s going one way or another.”

“Ok. If you say so.”

“Now, I think I’ve almost got this levitation thing down. Just let me…No!...No!...Don’t!”

Another book flung itself through the air and landed squarely on Spike’s head.

* * * * * * * * *

The sun had almost completely sunk below the horizon when Rarity arrived back at her boutique. She opened the door and sighed heavily as she sunk to the floor in bliss.

“Finally done!” the weary Pegasus breathed.

“Rarity!” shouted Spike with joy in his voice.

“Hey, how was weather management?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Ugh, it was terribly tiring. I had no idea that those fluffy clouds could get so heavy. How was my store?”

“Only a couple of customers and we got your hats loaded. They’re being shipped as we speak.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Oh! And I almost got levitation down. Watch this.”

A blue glow sprung to life around a book and Spike dove under a table. The book kept a fairly steady pace as it lifted off the ground. With a few shakes and shudders the tome slowly made its way to Rainbow Dash and then dropped at her hooves.

“Impressive Rainbow Dash! You’re quite a fast learner.” Rainbow Dash beamed at the compliment. “You know, I forgot how much joy such a simple trick could bring. Thank you for reminding me.”

“Come on, I didn’t have all the fun. Being a Pegasus is pretty sweet too.”

“Of course it is. I finally got to a decent speed and, I must say, it’s quite exhilarating. I can see why you enjoy it so much.”

The two ponies paused awkwardly until Rarity again broke the silence.

“Well, I suppose that when we wake up we’ll be back to normal.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Hey, why don’t you girls come back over to the library tomorrow?” Spike asked. “I’m sure that Twilight would have a hay day with all the research from you two.”

“Yeah, I’m game.”

“Sure, why not? I could use some relaxation with friends after all that work.”

“Ok then, see you tomorrow Rarity,” Spike picked up his books and began heading out the door when he suddenly realized what he said, “Oh! And you too Rainbow Dash!” He blushed and hurried home feeling a little embarrassed.

* * * * * * * * *

“How are you today Twilight?” asked Rarity who had become unicorn again.

“So much better,” responded the purple pony.

“Glad to hear it!” said Rainbow Dash who was happily flapping in the air.

“Rainbow, you’re going to blow all the books off the shelves and I just put them back,” whined Spike.

“Sorry Spike, I just forgot how good it feels to be able to fly.” She set herself back on the wooden floor.

“Now Twilight, before we start I think need to write a letter to Celestia. Would that be fine with you?”

“Of course Rarity, let me get something to write on.” Purple magic gently pulled a sheet of yellowed parchment over to the group. “Go ahead,” prompted Twilight.

“Most dignified Princess Celestia, I have learned a valuable lesson about friendship. Sometimes one needs to see life from another’s point of view, to ‘walk a mile in their shoes’ so to say.”

“Hey! I was going to write the Princess,” interrupted Rainbow Dash. “But just add this on to Rarity’s message because I learned the same thing.” Rarity looked grumpily at Rainbow Dash, but let the cyan Pegasus continue. “If you get into a fight it can be helpful to try to see it from another pony’s perspective. You may discover that life isn’t always what you thought it was. Signed, Rainbow Dash!”

“And Rarity,” added Rarity emphatically.

“There we go. Mind sending it Spike?” asked Twilight.

“Sure thing.”

Spike grabbed the letter between his claws and breathed out a bright green flame which engulfed the paper fully. The ashes magically flew out of the library and off to Canterlot where it would reassemble itself for Princess Celestia to read. Long into the afternoon the group could be heard talking and laughing about the day before and enjoying the magic of friendship.