“I can't believe it.”

“What?”

“You actually did it.”

Twilight was very rapidly becoming fed up with being the last to figure this out. “Did what!?”

Spike bounced on his new, much less Sunset-colored perch on Twilight's back. He'd been placed there when it was discovered he could conceal the break in her shell. “Equestria to Twilight! Were you even with us a few minutes ago?”

“YES, Spike! I am fairly certain I've been here the entire morning!”

Sunset, despite their recent dealings with ponies, was in an extremely good mood. “Isn't it obvious, girl? You've actually made a friend!”

Urk.

“No, I did not! That was nothing more than manners and academic curiosity – I mean, who wouldn't be ecstatic to see a real-life thestral who is more than eager to talk about themselves?”

“Sounded to us more like you were making a connection.” Sunset grinned knowingly.

Twilight growled. “No friend-making has occurred today yet, Sunset. I have done as you oh so nicely asked and already interacted far more than I would like.” She glanced around to make sure nopony else was looking, and then adjusted her saddlebags with her magic. “The important thing is that it's only just now noon, and we've already crossed off two points on the list. I'd like to keep this momentum up, so can we please drop the silly making friends nonsense because it isn't happening and move on!?”

The other unicorn's muzzle twisted in a smirk. “Alright, we'll accept your denial for now, Twi.” Twilight groaned loudly at this. “In any case, you are absolutely right. We've been blowing through these far faster than I had expected.” Sunset perused the list she levitated to her face. “Well! Town hall decorations are next.” She lowered the scroll to reveal a sheepish grin. “Heh, maybe it would have been best to actually look at this in full before shoving you out the door...”

Twilight's irritation magnified to astronomical levels upon hearing this. “UGH!! How much stupid walking around could we have avoided if you did that???” As they entered the square once more, the mare split away from Sunset. “I'm going to drop off my bags in the library and be right back.”

Sunset sat on the green lawn, before realizing that was what everypony else was doing and searched for a chair to use instead. While looking, she appraised the quaint square.

Yep, she thought, definitely a commoner village. The most obvious denoting of this was the fact that almost everypony walked around with no clothes on. It was lightly awkward to see everyone outside in the nude, but Sunset wasn't one to judge, since she did so herself. She saw that the golden dais had finally arrived from Canterlot and was in the process of being set up. Tomorrow morning, the princess would stand tall, regal and radiant upon it, and she would raise the sun of the new year, and she and Twilight would stand by her side.

Hopefully...

Sunset tore her gaze away from the familiar dais and returned to watching the unfamiliar earth ponies and pegasi flitting about their home. If she were being completely honest with herself, the fire-haired unicorn liked these ponies. There was no pretense or elitism to be found in this village – hay, they even seemed to accept the bat-pony-- thestral, she reminded herself. It's not gonna to do you any good to speak of these ponies like that. If the unicorns of Canterlot were leeches and mosquitoes, these were the helpful little ants and ladybugs of Equestria, contributing positively to the infrastructure and beauty of the country with none of the icky creepiness of real bugs. For the life of her, Sunset could not see what Celestia saw in Canterlot's citizens, but if it were more these ponies she referred to when addressing her subjects, then she understood.

“So, are we actually gonna go inside or what?”

Sunset jolted out of a thoughtful reverie she hadn't realized she fell into at Spike's voice. “Oh, you're back. Uh, yeah. Where'd you get the umbrella?”

Twilight was now being shaded by an ornate violet parasol in the grasp of Spike's claw. “I had packed it but forgot to get it out. Not that I'll need it if we're going inside.” She turned her gaze to the great beige carousel building, which Sunset appraised as well.

“Well, at least you have one,” Sunset rose from her seat on the ground. I could swear I stood up... “Gives you one less thing to complain about today.”

Twilight thought the interior looked magnificent.

Most years the Celebration was held in Canterlot, whose streets were usually decked with banners singing the sun's praises year-round, so the additions for the event went mostly unnoticed. Now, however, against the humbleness of Ponyville, they showed their true selves, and they were absolutely beautiful. There were even flags depicting the moon hanging from the left balcony! She was certain she'd never seen those. Or maybe they just hadn't stood out before.

“Beautiful..”

“I have to agree Spike, this all looks amazing!” Twilight was very pleased that the drake had developed a sense of taste for décor recently; she didn't really have the time to look into beautifying the tower and it would help immensely if Spike were to take an interest in--

“Whuh?” The scaly rider shook his head as if to clear away a drowsy haze. “No, not the stuff, her!”

Spike pointed a claw to the center stage of the hall, where an alabaster unicorn with a luxuriantly curled mane of indigo stood with her tail to the trio. She appeared to be giving the decorations a critical eye, a hoof to her mouth in thought.

Twilight could feel Spike fidgeting on her back. “How're my spines? Are they straight? Are my teeth white enough?”

Sunset giggled at the little dragon. “You look fine, loverboy. I don't think it's you who has anything to worry about.”

Spike cracked up again at that, and Twilight had the distinct feeling it was her that they were talking about. “I'm not sure what's so funny, but I think if you just stay put, Spike, no one's going to notice.”

The giggling from the baby dragon evolved into full-blown laughter.

The white unicorn tied a pair of great sparkling red ribbons around the brass support poles flanking the stage and began to turn toward the door. “Hmm, yes. Sparkle always does the trick. Would have deduced that a bit faster had that commotion outside not bled in here. What is that laughing about anyway--” She froze at the sight of her audience, and Twilight gasped.

Her horn was split open. It was split in four and sitting on her forehead in pieces. And her eyes! They were a bloody crimson! Pupils that should have belonged on an amphibian shrank in horror, and the unicorn's mutilated horn opened further to reveal another red eye, this one catlike in appearance.

Twilight shrieked. The white mare shrieked as well. Sunset pulled her ears flat to her skull in response.

“My goodness, dear!!,” The mutilated unicorn recovered her voice first, “what happened to your coiffure!?”

Twilight looked at her mane for the first time since this morning. It was a frizzy gnarled mess, sitting atop her head in a disarrayed afro. Her shock was briefly replaced with annoyance. “Oh, so that's what all the laughing was about. Thanks a lot, guys.” Spike oddly said nothing. Sunset took a moment to stifle a laugh.

“Oh dear.” The pale-coated mare stood up on her back legs effecting as if she were about to faint. “Here I am standing utterly indecent, thinking I have the blessing of privacy to arrange the décor, and a fashion disaster walks in to see me in all my shame. It would seem a discussion with the mayor about the meaning and importance of privacy needs to happen before we work together again...”

“Oh yeah, I meant to ask about that; what happened to your horn!!? What is that thing!?”

“...I suppose an explanation is in order. Just a moment, please!” The mare returned to all fours, and from the eye where her horn should be wept a red mist, enveloping her utterly for a brief moment. When it cleared, the mare stood with her horn together in perfect, unbroken beauty, and her terrifying eyes replaced with mesmerizing deep blue pools, sparkling and wide like any other pony's.

Both Twilight and Spike were dumbfounded.

“But first! We shall all steal away for my boutique! Your hair is absolutely dreadful, darling, and I simply cannot allow you to strut about with it in that state any longer.” With that, she leapt off the stage, landing daintily, and strode out at a brisk trot.

Twilight numbly followed the mare out of town hall with a whispered “Okay.” Sunset brought up the rear as they left the building.

“Oh my, the two of you are from Canterlot?”

The one thing keeping Twilight Sparkle's patience from running out at this point was the promise of an explanation from this mare – Rarity, she called herself. A walk down Ponyville's Stirrup Street had led the unicorns into a much more extravagant carousel building, which the pony called her home and place of business. To Twilight's dismay, the actual explaining had not occurred first thing, merely basic pleasantries uttered as Rarity fussed over Twilight's mess of a mane for what felt like hours. And the various outfits she was stuffed into had been just unnecessary.

She had attempted to plead with Sunset and Spike to save her, but the other unicorn seemed to be thoroughly enjoying watching her be tortured in such a way from the luxury of the lounge area, and Spike's silence was explained by his being utterly enraptured by the fashionista mare.

I swear, Celestia is watching this from somewhere, somehow, downright snickering into her hoof over what she's putting me through... The purple mare was mercifully spared questions about her wound, even though Rarity had to have seen it in the process of dressing up Twilight like a living doll.

“Oh, I am so envious!” That's right, the melodramatic mare was going on about something. “The glamour, the sophistication! I've always dreamed of living there!”

Canterlot. Right. “Well, uh, it's not quite as amazing as it may seem...”

“Ohoho, I can imagine, darling. Who knows what sort of scandalous and sordid affairs go on behind closed doors high atop Canterhorn in that magnificent marble piece of paradise? Why, you might, of course!” A dainty smile danced on Rarity's lips, only thinly veiling her intense hunger for gossip.

Twilight did her absolute best to pretend her temper wasn't being tested and put on her biggest grin. “I think the more interesting story to share might be yours.” Please for the love of the heavens.

“Ah, yes. I did say I would explain myself, hadn't I?” The fashionista's cheery mood drained as she examined the rib-crushing corset she had tied Twilight into. “Emerald? What was I thinking...? Perhaps ruby would be a better fit...”

Rarity's blue eyes returned to the false unicorn's face, or rather, her mane, which was back to the way Twilight preferred it. “Well your hair looks nowhere near as hideous – quite pleasing in its simplicity, actually, excellent choice – so I have gotten what I desired from our transaction.”

The white mare spun away and rose up on two legs, casting her mane back as her horn split open again. Twilight couldn't help but be unnerved by the sight as the red mist pouring from her head enveloped Rarity once more. It lingered for but a breath, before falling away to reveal the changed mare.

Up close, it was obvious that her three eyes were not the only alien thing about this form Rarity had; her ears had been replaced with great white horns. Underneath them, on the sides of her head were new orifices that Twilight could only guess were ears, though she'd never seen any like them before. On her left foreleg was an unsightly brand resembling a pair of horns on a bull-ring, and her actual tail was much longer than any pony Twilight had read about, with only a small tuft of coiled hair on the end.

“Well... this is moi. What you are looking at is the raw, unfiltered, true Rarity.” She remained on her back legs as she looked away in shame. “There are only four other ponies who have had the misfortune of seeing me like this. Look! Look upon me!” As Rarity gesticulated theatrically a teapot boiled from the kitchen adjacent to the foyer. “Actually no! Don't look at me; I'm hideous! Let me get that...”

Rarity walked to prepare the tea for her guests as Twilight finally felt permitted to sit down, taking her seat next to Sunset in the lounge area.

The white mare returned with the tea a short moment later, four cups being grasped by teal magic, a black cloud, a claw, and a red mist. Rarity took a sip from hers, and let it calm her nerves for a time before she began once more.

“I'm sure it is obvious to you all that I am not a normal pony.”

“You look stunning...” The young drake finally managed.

“Oh! My, you are far too kind, little one.” A blush formed on the fashionista's pale muzzle. “Well, I suppose I am very fetching for a demon, but only magic can truly salvage... this.” She gestured to herself with a wave of her forehoof.

Twilight's eyes sparkled once again with wide-eyed wonder. “A demon?”

“Yes, indeed; straight from the darkest bowels of Tartarus, I have risen and managed to walk verdant and gorgeous Equestria – uninvited, of course. I sincerely doubt that the princess would take kindly to the knowledge you'll be taking to her tomorrow that I live amongst her subjects...”

Sunset spoke up for the first time since their arrival, “I wouldn't fret so much. She already knows.”

“What!?”

“What!?” Twilight jerked her head to her companion. “What do you mean, 'she already knows'???”

Sunset drank some of her tea, and cleared her throat. “Princess Celestia has been aware of your presence since you started making a name for yourself in Ponyville. I am not only her advisor, but also manager of her network of domestic informants, who knew about you the second you set hoof in this town.”

Rarity gasped at that.

“And just when were you planning on telling me Ponyville had real live mythical creatures in it, Sunset?”

A half-lidded glance was thrown Twilight's way. “Never. You didn't need to know.”

The violet unicorn fumed. “You're starting to sound an awful lot like Celestia.”

“Twilight, think about it: until today, you've never once left High Canterlot in your entire life, and you had no plans of doing so. You legitimately had no reason to know about Rarity or Rainbow Dash.”

“But I would have come here willingly had I known there were paranormal ponies to study!” Twilight's forehooves flailed about in the air.

Rarity sat a bit taken aback by the outburst. “Er, darling, perhaps you should have some of your tea? It really helps the nerves, you know.”

Twilight was suddenly very much invading the demon pony's personal space, her increasingly manic mind grasping onto a question very important to her. “I need to know how you disguise yourself so easily!”

“Um--” Rarity did her best to gently push the unicorn away to a more polite distance. “I suppose it is quite the simple trick once you get to know it, but I'll say no more! I made a promise!”

“A promise to who?!?”

“And the stipulations of said promise extend to not divulging whom I had learned it from.” She turned her nose up in the air, before peeking one red eye at Sunset. “Though I suppose you are already aware of them, as well.”

Sunset nodded. Twilight, for her part, drooped and moped back over to the other unicorn.

“Oh well,” Rarity rose from her seat and walked to a nearby desk, her mist taking hold of a quill and parchment. “I guess it was wonderful while it lasted, but tomorrow the town shall be razed to the ground for harboring us as it has for all these years. If you'll do me one favor, please don't hurt the ponies; they have been nothing but gracious and kind, and they deserve better than to be thrown under the wagon with us.”

Sunset's eyes widened in realization. “Oh, no no no no no! I guess it wasn't clear enough – Celestia is very much at peace with your residence here! In fact the Summer Sun Celebration is meant to put Ponyville at ease about its unusual citizens.”

Rarity turned from the desk with a look of shock dominating her face. “Truly!?”

“I don't claim to know the princess's reasoning, but she told me that if they have a cutie mark, then they are as pony as anypony, and they will always be welcome.” She looked to Rarity's flank. “And that certainly looks like a cutie mark to me.”

The demon mare regarded her posterior as if seeing it for the first time. Indeed, each flank was emblazoned with a trio of sparkling blue diamonds, a symbol of her special talent for locating and using precious stones. She breathed a sigh of relief as tears began to form in her eyes.

“I... I'm at a loss for words... And all this time I was so terrified that she would bring her wrath upon this beautiful little town if word of my true self were to get away from me.”

Twilight watched Rarity with her blasted heart aching once again. She was feeling things again, and she didn't like it. Her body was nearly compelled to move before Sunset and Spike did what these sensations demanded she do. They walked to the white pony to offer their withers (or in Spike's case, shoulder) to cry on.

Sunset's hoof placed itself on Rarity's back (which also sported the same ugly brand as her foreleg Twilight noted) as she sat next to her. “I can only imagine the weight that's just been lifted from you.”

Rarity remained mostly composed, even as tears began to roll down her face. Her muzzle curved into a small smile as she sniffled. “I can finally put away that silly fear of mine... I can't go back there. I could never accept such a stubbornly disgusting and dreadful land as Tartarus after Equestria.” She looked to Sunset. “And now I know that I don't have to. I... I don't know how I could ever thank you for telling me this incredible news.”

“Well, I would say you could do so by making the town hall look immaculate for the Celebration, but you've already done that.” Sunset said with a half-smile.

The demon tittered at the unicorn's flattery. “Oh, please, it simply wouldn't do to put anything less than my all into helping make this Celebration the most magnifique the princess had ever laid eyes on. I would wager that I have managed to do just that.” Her tears dried as Rarity's face became one of satisfaction. Her eyes looked toward the baby dragon by her side. “And you! Such a little charmer, you are! Spike, was it? Even in my doom and gloom your kind words kept me from breaking down utterly, which frankly would have been embarrassing. Oh, aren't you just the cutest widdle dragon?”

Spike's face flushed so heavily that it could be seen through his scales. “I-i'm not cute! Dragons aren't supposed to be cute! Just you wait; I'll become a big and scary and handsome one day, and then what'll you say to that?”

Rarity chuckled once more at the youngling's histrionics. “I would probably say that you are indeed a fearsome and gorgeous sight to behold. And I do hope that I'll live to see you that way. But could you do me just one little thing?” Her eyes fluttered as the sweetest of smiles graced her muzzle, and Spike may as well have melted into a puddle on the carpet for how thoroughly his determination quailed in the face of his nascent crush.

“Anything for you, Miss Rarity...” The drake looked upon her dreamily.

“Don't be so eager to grow up, Spikey-wikey. You've been blessed with a pair of wonderful friends in these mares, and I'm sure they have so very much they would love to share with you in their lifetimes.” She squeezed his face, soft and squishy despite its scaly exterior. “And besides, you are just too adorable to grow up yet!”

Spike was too addled by his fluttering heart to protest. “Yes, ma'am...”

Author's Notes:

For some context, this and the next chapter were meant to be one big thing just like the previous one, introducing both Rarity and Fluttershy, but for the sake of being on time I cut it in half and posted them separately. Something like this would happen one more time, but unlike here, it took me an embarrassingly long time to finish the "second half".

-N