Author's Notes:

What was that you said Spidey about waiting for the next chapter? Anyways, huge thanks to Shagohad12 for co-writing this chapter and giving me the basic idea for the plotline.

Ponyville:

“For the record Twi, still not entirely sure of the point of these familiars when you say you’ve got this magical fountain that ‘detects’ Orgs and whatnot when they arise,” Gilda commented, relaxing in an armchair with a cup of coffee in her claws. “Just sayin’ here, that’s all…”

“Yeah, the fountain?” Twilight said, still not looking up as she cut away at the magicite stone chipping away at it ever so gently. She was trying very hard not to let her eyes wander towards Gilda, or rather her state of dress. Seems Gilda had already made herself at home and was dressed only in this black t-shirt that barely covered her modesty. “It only ‘detects’ Orgs and only Orgs when they start rampaging, not when they’re… first born.” she said, swallowing and looking away from Gilda quickly blushing a bright red.

“What, see something you like Twi?” Gilda commented, idly fiddling with the dragon energy Lockseed, opening and closing it repeatedly. Couldn’t blame a hen for being curious, she reasoned.

“Dragon Energy!”
“Dragon Energy!”
“Dragon Energy!” the Lockseed continued to state over and over. It was all really rather distracting.

“I mean, if you really want me that bad, you can just say so. Hell, I’d gladly have you right here and now,” Gilda remarked with a small shrug of her shoulders. “Seriously, on the floor right here and right now even!”

“O-One, I’d rather save myself till marriage,” Twilight stammered out. “Two, can you please cover yourself up? There’s a freakin’ hole in my house that you caused! Ponies could see you!”

“Oh, you and your pony modesty,” Gilda scoffed rolling her eyes as she did so. “We’re married besides, unless you missed something. You really should be worried more about a draft honestly, it’s cold out there!”

“And three!” Twilight stated, putting her hoof down as to Gilda’s seemingly at times carefree personality. “You’re lucky that’s an Energy Lockseed, otherwise you jailbreaking it like that would probably summon some high-powered Inves to our world and believe me that’s the last thing any of us want!”

“Point taken,” Gilda shuddered, and quickly put down the Lockseed in exchange for taking a big sip of her coffee. “And I’ll change, I promise. Just wanted to see if I had an effect on you, Princess. No sense marrying you if you’re not even remotely attracted to me. Believe it or not, I do want to try and make this marriage work really…” she sighed.

Twilight nodded in understanding, before briefly grumbling about solar princesses with their stupid if not necessary ideas. She huffed, at least Celestia could have consulted with her about this beforehand! Grumbling, she levitated a bunch of wooden boards into Gilda’s grasp. “Okay then. Good. After you change, you can start by repairing the damage you did to our house!” Twilight smirked, making sure to emphasize the ‘our’. Gilda did live here now, and she had to pay her dues just as much as Twilight did.

Gilda squeaked out in fear and nodded nervously before Twilight smirked. “Who’s wearing the pants in this relationship now huh?” she thought before turning her eyes back to the stone. “Now, if only I could figure you out…”

Meanwhile, across town Rarity along with Spike in tow had returned to Claude the Puppeteer, the whole catalyst in a way one supposes of what was about to happen. The fashionista had meant to make it up to the rather hard to impress artisan with a surprise.

The somewhat chubby pale blue pony was putting on a little show with a rather small and might I say rather bored crowd watching. Amongst them, a few ponies were muttering on how they’d like to get their money back infuriating Claude even more, and it didn’t really help when he saw Rarity walking his way.

“Ah, Miss Rarity, come to see the show, I presume?” Claude asked. “You'll notice I had to make do in light of your recent failure to produce a functioning theater,” he sneered.

“Oh, but I think you'll find the new one I've created will be much more to your liking!” Rarity replied, with a grin on her face that made Spike just that little bit nervous for some reason. Truth be told, ever since he handed Rarity that odd spellbook he’d been nervous. Something was just off about it to him truth be told even if he didn’t know exactly why.

Rarity, with a snap of her fingers, produced a completely new and very exquisite theatre covered in bright oranges and blues with a touch of silver. If that wasn’t enough, it actually managed to unfold itself completely from a briefcase Iron Man Mark 5 style to boot! The crowd watching Rarity unfold the briefcase in a green aura of magic looked on in awe and gasped at all the right moments.

Her eyes gleamed with perverse wonder, running her hands over the surface. “Marvelous isn't it? Perfectly suitable for travel, all the while carrying itself with the height of fashion.”

“Quite, quite!” Claude agreed with a very rapid nod of his head. “Ah, well, it is gorgeous, but that was never the problem now, was it? Plenty of room for my puppets... I say, Miss Rarity, I don't know how you managed to do so in such a short amount of time, but you seem to have redeemed yourself. How did you manage to do so in such a short time?” he had to ask.

“Ah well, you do know a lady must never reveal all of her secrets,” Rarity replied and she smiled at Spike even as Claude happily took his new portable theatre along with him to his next gig. Mind you, it probably wouldn’t improve his skills with his puppets but Rarity was far too polite to mention that. Really, I must thank you again Spike, for being such a dear friend and finding this book for me!” Rarity squealed out in joy, kissing the book and then Spike’s forehead making the young drake blush a bright red.

“Well… Well, anything for you Rares. Though now that you’ve resolved your little issue with Claude, I’d like to return that book,”

“Why of course dearie, but I don’t think the Princesses would mind if I kept it a little while longer. I mean, not like they’re using it are they?” Rarity asked. “I've made my creative contribution as I'd hoped to do, and all is well! But you know, I’m feeling a touch inspired, more than I ever have! So if you don’t mind perhaps I can keep an eye on it just a skotch longer?” she asked pleadingly. “...You don't mind, do you, Spike?”

Spike looked skywards before groaning this entire thing going against his better judgment. “Ugh fine, but I’m getting it back tomorrow understand?”

“Yes, quite dearie.” Rarity smiled before talking off with an extra spring in her step. A loud hoot came from a tree nearby and Spike looked up to see Owlowiscious giving him a ‘really?’ expression.

“What? She'll keep it for a few more hours, no harm in that right?” Spike asked before he let out a sigh. Now, if only he could believe that. Maybe if he kept telling himself that it’d actually work.

Later that next morning, Spike returned to Carousel Boutique only to hear the sound of distant magical zapping coming from within.

“Uh, Rares?” Spike asked, seeing the Boutique covered in more dresses than was normal. Actually, the dresses themselves were more ‘out there’ than normal, one being themed after the Dazzlings and another themed after bubble wrap of all things. One very tired Zephyr Breeze was sitting on the sidelines, trying to pay attention to his coffee and avoiding spilling it all over the floor. “Can I just… No, really. Can I just ask what the Hell happened here?”

“...It’s like she’s become a Greeed,” Robert muttered in tired annoyance as he stepped down from his room, wearing a bathrobe. “Kept us up all night with her sewing. Like she desires prettifying anything and everything. I mean, look at me!”

He undid his robe just a little to reveal his entire body covered in glitter and such. “Like I got attacked by a couple of PCP-crazed strippers here!”

Spike had to bite back his laughter at the poor man before he turned his gaze back to Rarity who was doing a dress and suit combo themed after a peacock.

“Are... you okay?” he asked nervously pressing two of his fingers together.

“Oh, I've never been better!” Rarity squealed in glee with somewhat of a crazed look on her face. “This book you've given me is amazing! Why, I… I... I... I've been up all night just creating and creating and creating and creating! Oh, why, I've completed my summer line for the next fifteen seasons!” she proclaimed in triumph.

Sure enough, the entire back wall was packed with dresses of every shape, size and description amongst other things like kigurumi, tuxedos, dress shirts gala dresses -including one he swore was meant for Ponyland Rainbow Dash- and even the odd body pillow now and then. Spike’s eyes nearly bulged out of their skull at this. Something was definitely wrong and he knew it.

“Lucky us huh?” Zephyr muttered shooting his wife a nervous glance every now and then.

“Book?” Robert asked, looking at Spike critically and filing this information away for later. The dragon tugged nervously at his shirt collar.

“Relax, nothing you need to worry about,” he hissed back at the Fox Ranger. “I’ll get her under control. You just worry about cleaning yourself up, and your bedrest okay? I can handle this!”

“If you say so…” Robert muttered not entirely believing Spike for a moment. Meanwhile, Rarity continued to ramble on.

“But then I started thinking, 'why stop there'? Oh, Spike, I've always thought this town of ours could use a few beautifying upgrades, and with this book, I can make that happen with such ease! You will support me in this endeavor by letting me keep the book just a little longer?” she asked, fluttering her eyelashes.

Robert gave Spike a warning look, asking him if this was really such a good idea. Zephyr meanwhile seethed in jealousy. Whether that was because he wasn’t getting enough or Rarity was paying more attention to Spike than him it was hard to tell.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Spike whispered to Robert. “Make sure she doesn’t go too overboard.”

“Okay… But the minute she starts acting strange… Er, stranger, you call this number okay? Go right to Sunset!” Kingsley whispered, handing him his Fox Amulet. “No hero antics, understand? Just call Sunset. I have a feeling we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg here…” Robert muttered. Spike nodded.

“Right, call Sunset the moment things get out of control. Got it!” Spike whispered back.

“Spikey-Boo?” Rarity called from outside. “Aren’t you coming along?”

“C-Coming!” the drake called back.

Robert simply groaned and hung his head. Where was Wyatt when you needed him? He’d be able to talk some sense into Rarity. Or at least bring along Spyro the Dragon to flame broil this book Rarity kept going on about. “Damn it, Emily…” he thought to himself. “If only you hadn’t been so stupid as to set that Lord Drakkon hologram against me…” he thought. “Hell, if only I hadn’t been so stupid to sign onto your training in the bloody first place!”

Meanwhile, Rarity and Spike had continued to the marketplace with Rarity spying Big Mac and Applejack bringing a bushel of apples into town as ever with a wagon that had looked to have seen one too many harvests. “Idea!” Rarity cried out, before zapping the wagon with her horn changing it into a golden cart covered in diamonds and other assorted rare gems.

“Now see? This is exactly what I'm talking about! Why, that cart hadn’t an ounce of stylish flair before I got to it!” Rarity proclaimed as Applejack looked at her new cart in shock.

“What in the name of rhubarb pie just happened?” she murmured.

“ You know, I really think you oughta have asked AJ if she wanted you to give all the Apple family wagons a makeover,” Spike commented as Rarity continued to do the same with the other wagons as Applejack looked on in stunned silence and disbelief.

“Now see here Rares, now Ah think this is goin’ a mite far, don’t ya think?” Applejack exclaimed.

“Oh, I don't really think I need to ask permission, darling. Everypony loves surprises, especially when they're gorgeous ones!” Rarity exclaimed, Applejack’s remarks and protestations going ignored. “Doesn't it just look marvelous~”

“Yeah… It’s something I suppose…” Spike murmured rubbing his chin in thought. “I presume you’ve got other ideas in store?” he asked warily.

“Oh yes~” Grabbing Spike, she lifted him to eye level. “Did you see how pretty that other Twilight's eyes were? Wouldn't it be just divine if other ponies could share that look?”

“Pretty sure transmuting species is a bit out of your power Rares,” Spike laughed nervously not really wanting to know if she could actually do such a thing. “Just sayin’ here.”

Dropping him like a sack of bricks, she turned back to Applejack. “Why, AJ, thank you so much for volunteering!”

“Wait, whut?” Applejack asked taking a few steps back. “Uh, Rarity, maybe we should talk this out just a bit Ah’m thinking here…”

With a manic grin, Rarity zapped the confused mare with a bolt of green magic. A loud Poof! of green smoke and an entirely new Applejack was revealed, complete with a brown leonine mane and a jagged horn with orange glowing lines cut into it.

“What in tarnation…?” Applejack asked, as her mane began to glow with a red and blue flame. “WHAT THE HAY DID YOU DO TO ME?” she roared, temporarily becoming this black creature with pure white eyes and a mane of hot burning flame.

“Oh simply wonderful!” Rarity twirled over, running her fingers through Applejack's new mane. “No need to thank me, Applejack. The new you will make farm work a snap!”

“YEAH, AH DON’T LIKE THE NEW ME! HOW IN LAND’S SAKES AM I SUPPOSED TO CHANGE BACK, OR AVOID BURNING DOWN ALL OF PONYVILLE FOR THAT MATTER?” Applejack bellowed.

“By being calm of course,” Rarity commented, tracing a hand along AJ's arm. “Must look at these muscles. Far more sculpted than before, and those legs! With the power and endurance of a dragon, yet the refined form of a pony, you'll be able to do the entire orchard by yourself! My my!” she said, licking her lips.

Applejack took a few deep calming breaths and changed back from her Nirik form. “Okay, firstly, mah barn door doesn’t swing that way, and secondly yer married last Ah checked,” she stated.

Rarity snorted, narrowing her eyes. “Are you implying I'm hitting on you?” Drawing her hand back, she slapped Applejack hard enough to leave a mark. Spike winced, and let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding when AJ didn’t go back into Nirik form. “How dare you imply my simple admiration of beauty was anything but pure! Good day, Applejack! I said good day!” Grabbing Spike's tail, she dragged the hapless dragon away from the newly formed Kirin.

“...Rarity, uh… Just asking, but aren’t you going a little bit far here?” Spike asked nervously beginning to think Robert may have had a point even as Rarity created this Lockseed themed after Kamen Rider Wizard in her hands and tossed it to Spike.

“Just having a bit of fun dear!” Rarity commented. “Give that to Twilight, would you? Besides, I feel more inspired than I have in ages! AGES!”

“Uh… if you say so…” Spike trailed off nervously. So, the day when on, with Rarity turning anything and everything around her into her ideal aspect of beauty. A gazebo got turned into crystal. One of Pinkie’s parties got changed into this classical music showcase. All the homes gained lacey exteriors and golden roofs. Things were definitely beyond out of control by now, and Spike still couldn’t muster up the courage to tell Rarity she was overstepping her bounds.

“What the flying fu…?” Gilda muttered as she walked out of the Golden Oaks, which was now probably living up to its name more than ever. “Okay, seriously now, what’s going on? Twilight, please tell me this is usual for Ponyville! Actually, strike that, please tell me it isn’t!”

“...Um, actually pretty sure this is weird, even by our standards,” Twilight replied.

“Don’t know whether that reassures me, or just outright scares me. I’ll tell you in a minute...” Gilda muttered. “Least the hole in the wall’s been patched up… right?”

Twilight didn’t look amused. Nearby, Bon-Bon/Sweetie Drops was watching Rarity from behind a corner.

“Looks like me and Lyra may have to step in shortly…” she thought, fingering the Joker Memory in her pocket.

Carousel Boutique meanwhile had become solid crystal. Needless to say it’s occupants were beginning to take notice of what was going on around them.

“Yeah… Uh…” Robert trailed off, upon seeing the girly, frilled mess Ponyville was becoming in the latest batch of insanity to hit it. “My suggestion on the wisest course of action would be to… uh...?”

“Head back inside till everything blows over?” Zephyr remarked, and Robert could only nod sagely.

“Yes, that,” he replied before both males turned tail and headed back inside Carousel Boutique slamming the door shut.

“Spike!” Rarity gasped, her eyes going wide. “The most perfect idea just came to me!” She gestured to the ponies moving around them. “Why turn ponies into species that already exist, when I can create new ones?!”

Something struck a chord inside Spike’s mind right about then, that comment sounded frighteningly like something that old scientist of Rita’s would have said. And now that he thought about it, changing AJ into… well, whatever she was was something Finster might have done as well. “Uh, Rares…?” Spike said, trying to muster up the courage to tell her what she was doing was going beyond her usual level of generosity. “I’m not entirely sure this is a good idea…”

Perhaps needless to say, it failed utterly but points for trying at least.

Rarity turned her magic on herself, giggling as it reshaped her body. “Well, Spikey Wikey, how do I look?” She struck a pose, waiting expectantly for his response. From her waist down, Rarity had the lower half of a rattlesnake, sporting gorgeous white and purple scales.

“You look like you’d give Discord a run for his money,” Spike replied, not really sure what else to say. This was so not Rarity, it wasn’t even funny anymore. If it ever was to be honest. “Listen Rares, I think you should stop now. I really do, this is going too far!”

“Hush, Spike, creativity is coursing through me!” Another magic bolt and a passing Rainbow Dash became a shark pony. Fortunately, she kept her wings. Unfortunately for Fluttershy, hers was replaced by those of a butterfly. “This is the best gift you ever could have given me, Spike!”

“No… No, it isn’t. I realize that now,” Spike murmured. “I should have stopped you. Look around you Rarity, this isn’t Ponyville anymore. This isn’t you. Do you understand? This. Is. Not. Y-” he started, before his mouth turned to solid crystal.

“Creating new life is always such fun, isn't it?” A new voice asked from beside her. “The thrill of creation; to bring forth into the world something new, something never seen before! Ah, the wonder of artistic expression!”

“Oh yes, I feel the same way! Unfortunately for those creatively inclined, we're never appreciated in our time.” Rarity turned before crystallizing Spike just to keep him from interfering further. “How very rude of me, I didn't realize I had an audience.”

“Ah, that's quite alright my dear,” the newcomer assured with a smile. “I know the ecstasy of creation very intimately, it would have been wrong of me to interrupt.”

“W-Who are you…?” Rarity stammered out understandably more than a little freaked out.

“Name’s Finster, so pleased someone finally found my book after all these long years!”

“Oh, so this was your book?” Rarity asked him.

“Yes, quite. Made it to store my ideas in case I ever was to die in Rita and Zedd’s service. Eventually, I decided to use it as a phylactery. Genius, isn’t it?”

“Um… Yes, quite. I suppose…” Rarity trailed off, rather unsure about this. “You’re… you’re not going to do anything to me are you?”

“Oh, no! I’m just observing for now. Mind you, I will ask for a small favor when the time comes, but that’s for later. Seriously, just relish in all of this. Have fun, enjoy yourself! Creativity, it’s the spice of life no?” Finster asked.

“Yes… Yes, I suppose it is…” Rarity trailed off.

“Though, one small thing really. I really must ask you to free that poor drakeling you crystalized,” Finster told his new vessel of sorts.

“But… But he wanted to stop me! Prevent me from doing what I wanted!”

“Yes, that may be,” Finster returned. “But he’s your friend, and last I checked friends don’t crystalize one another do they?” he asked sounding rather uncannily like a certain chaos spirit.

“No… No, I suppose they don’t…” Rarity sighed, snapping her fingers and freeing Spike from his crystalized state. “Besides, he still has to give that little gift I made with our combined powers to Twilight, does he not?”

“Gift?” Finster asked. “Oh, I do love gifts. Do tell, what is it?”

“Oh… It’s just something based on a friend that passed through here a while back, nothing more. Nothing less. A tribute to her, for helping save the town from this horrendous brute calling himself Lord Drakkon. Allows my friend Twilight to channel the powers of her alternate counterpart calling herself Kamen Rider Wizard,”

“Ah… I see. And I must say, that’s a work of inspired genius! Not even I would have thought of that!” Finster exclaimed.

“Yes. Quite,” Rarity smirked as Spike ran off to tell Sunset what was going on. “It really is. I do wish Spikey could appreciate my artistic endeavors… but oh well. True art is incomprehensible to some I suppose… I think you of all people can understand that right?”

“Yes, yes quite,” Finster agreed. “Believe me, the people of my homeworld… They didn’t exactly understand my art. Not one bit, you hear! Small wonder Rita was the only one who actually cared about my ‘art’ and even then when it suited her. Pff! Rarity, you want to be seen as one of the best artists Equestria has ever known right?” Finster asked. “I mean, that is why you picked up my book am I correct?”

“I… I suppose. At first, I just wanted to limit myself to making things pretty, but…”

“But what?” Finster asked, stoking the fire that lay within. “You want to continue on with what you’ve been doing today, right? I mean, I’ve seen what you did to that Applejack mare. And to yourself, really turning yourself part Naga. Beauty isn’t just only related to dresses and decoration. You could beautify everything, make yourself completely something new. A complete… Might I dare say it, a complete rarity?”

“Oh yes… That I can do…” Rarity said, adding a few diamonds to her ensemble embedding a few in her scales and having a silver choker wrap itself around her neck like a snake’s tail.

“Now this is me…” Rarity smiled licking her lips.

“Ah, now that is a form of beauty,” Finster praised, nodding his head. “But tell me, aren’t you tired of just alter what already is? Not that what you’ve done isn’t high art, but don’t you wish to truly create?”

“Whatever do you mean dearie?”

“I had the same problem once, merely sculpting art just became a chore. Even when I changed my subject matter, I was just going through the motions,” Reaching into his apron, he produced a small jar of grey material. “That is until I met my patron. Ah, now she appreciated artistic talent. Even if she had a very... narrow view of it. But I’m rambling. This is the answer. Magic clay, of a kind that is easily reproduced. Anything you sculpt with it, given proper treatment and the right incantations, will come to live! I could show you how to make it, if you’d like.”

“Just one question, what do I get out of this? No, what do you get out of this. I’m a businesswoman, so I know this isn’t for free. There’s a catch isn’t there?” Rarity asked raising an eyebrow.

“Ms. Rarity, I am a mere ghost, my spirit bound to the book in your possession. I simply wish to pass on my knowledge to one who is clearly worthy. So many techniques have faded from this world since my passing; would you deny me the chance to reintroduce them?”

“I would never! That would be a crime against art itself!” Rarity gasped.

“Then allow me to be your master, at least for the time we are together,” Taking the book from her, he hummed a soft tune. “Ah, here it is. The clay recipe, as clear today as it was then. I’ll walk you through the steps and we should have a good few pounds before the sun sets on this very day.”

“Excellent…” Rarity smiled.

“Oh for Mystic Mother’s sake!” Sunburst shouted as he swung his peacock battle fan -which for the record was almost as big as he was- creating a small blast of wind sucking Tengas up into the air as a tornado would. “Bad enough Rarity’s seemingly lost it and painted the town gold, quite literally in this case, and now Thrax decides to capitalize on the insanity!”

Using the powers of the Peacock Animal Crystal had a notable effect on his costume, adding it a long coat that ended in peacock-like detailings.

“Well, it’d be stupid of him not to,” Vapor stated impaling a Tenga to the wall of a building with her trident. “I mean, think about it. From a villain’s point of view, this is just the perfect time to catch us off-guard. The whole town’s gone crazy, Robert’s out of action and Sunset’s gone to Canterlot! Leaves only the four of us and one somewhat undertrained Rider to defend Ponyville!”

Trixie nodded as she fired a barrage of energy arrows into the Tenga hoard before kicking one in the stomach and striking it across the chest with a z-shaped slash. “Hate his guts, but smart move. Smart move.”

Lightning just groaned as she went into Orion Mode and sent down a storm of lightning bolts to finish off the remaining Tengas. “Not even a challenge,” she remarked.

“Perhaps that’s not the point though,” Trixie surmised. “Just send down the small fry, just to tire us out for something bigger? Like Goldar or something? I mean, that’s what I’d do.”

“Thrax never uses the same plan twice,” Sunburst replied. “So no, doubtful.”

“What, you don’t call attacking Ponyville with a random Org or Monster every other day using the same plan twice?” Trixie sneered.”

“...Point to my sister,” Sunburst sighed in admittance. Trixie fist-pumped the air in victory. “So, where’s Goldar then? I mean, it’d normally be right about now he’d jump in and attack. What, he taking a siesta or something?”

“Maybe, but they aren’t!” Trixie shouted as gaggling putty patrollers leaped out of seemingly nowhere wielding wrecking balls and jagged swords. “Oh for crying out loud, do they never end?”

“Putties?” Sunburst blinked under his helmet. “...Wow, Thrax must be desperate. His flocks must be about extinct if he’s resorted to those old things!”

One of the aforementioned ’old things’ clocked him in the face with a wrecking ball. “...Okay, maybe be old fashioned but they still hurt,” Sunburst muttered, his visor cracked from the sheer power behind the blow.

“Anyone get the memo about these things showing up to the party?” Lightning asked, even her comrades activated their super modes all of them just about tired of monsters ruining their day.

“No, but I can tell you where these gate-crashers are going!” Vapor remarked as she sent a wall of water from her sword sweeping away some of the foot soldiers.

“Yeah, they’re leaving!” Trixie added as she clashed her arm-blades with a putty’s sword before thrusting them through the creature’s chest and slicing outwards clay spattering her visor. Spike ran past them, carrying the Wizard Lockseed in hand rushing back towards the Golden Oaks.

“...Wonder where he’s going in such a hurry?” Sunburst pondered as a pillar of shadowy energy erupted from beneath him sending Sunburst skywards before he fired his Animal Spirit at some of the putty patrollers.

“Well, guess when you gotta go…” Trixie trailed off. “Still, really wish he’d stick around to help. He is a fire-breathing dragon, right? Or did I miss something?”

“He isn’t that other Spike, he’s just a kid,” Sunburst reminded, gulping as a trio of putties rushed towards him blades in hand. “Plus sis, Twilight would have both our heads if she found out we put Spike in danger.”

Across town, local guards stationed for just such an emergency were leading ponies into bunkers that had been set up just last month in case of monster attacks.

Sunburst and the others readied their blades for battle, but could only watch as the putties began to… well, combine for a lack of a better word. Their grey bodies melted and then melded together, forming a single big towering colossus over the rangers, it peered out from six eyes, three faces smashed together like a clumsy child’s hands over play-doh.

“Okay, now that’s just wrong…” Trixie muttered in disgust.

“Okay, that’s… a new one,” Lightning whispered. “Who said they could do that? No, seriously, who said? That’s just cheating right there!” she yelled out.

“Since when do monsters ever care about playing fair…?” Sunburst muttered sending out a wave of shadowy energy towards the ‘Megaputty’ which just shrugged off the Orion-infused element. “..Okay, now that’s cheating. I take back what I said about Thrax being despera-HEY!” Sunburst started before he let out a yelp as the Megaputty slammed a fist down nearly squashing him.

Suddenly, a blast of gold magic hit the monster right in the chest making it stagger.

“Hey, you with the ugly mug. Lay off them right now!” Lyra shouted pointing at the monster even as it looked at her. “Yeah, that’s right, talking to you freakshow!”

“L-Lyra, what the Hay are you doing here?” Sunburst sputtered out. “You’re supposed to be in a bunker with your wife! I thought the rules about this were very clear!”

“Oh, you know her…” Bon-Bon said as she walked up and held up a black USB drive-like device. “Never listens to a word anybody says,” she smirked as she slammed on a belt with two slots on its buckle before tossing the Gaia Memory skywards and letting it fall into place. She tossed a look at her wife. “Ready partner?”

\ Joker! /

“Always. Just like we practiced, right?” Lyra asked slamming a green memory into her driver.

\ Cyclone! /

“Henshin!” Bon-Bon shouted as Lyra fell to the side unconscious as two minds and bodies became one. In Bon-Bon’s place stood a figure, one side green and one side midnight black with a scarf hanging off the figure’s neck as two red eyes stared the Megaputty down.

“See, now you’re in trouble. Two in one Kamen Rider. How’s that for fun?” Lyra’s voice commented, the eye on the Kamen Rider’s left half lighting up as she spoke.

“...Kamen Riders, everyone’s getting in on the act nowadays,” Trixie muttered. “What, this some new trend or something? Onori Dikeido…” she grumbled half-heartedly.

Leaping backwards to avoid a swing from the Megaputty’s arm, the new Kamen Rider Double then switched out one of her(?) Gaia Memories.

\ Trigger! /

With that, her left half turned blue and pulled out a machine pistol firing blasts of air at the creature making it stumble back. “It’s own weight, that’s the issue!” Bon-Bon shouted as she noticed the creature stumble from the blasts of wind. “It’s too top-heavy!”

“Nice to know…” Sunburst mused as he began dashing forwards and sending out slashes of shadowy energy that wrapped themselves around the monsters legs binding it.

“Oh, that thing’s going to do some damage if it hits street!” Lightning shouted before she leaped skywards charging her blade with electrical energy before slashing downwards even as Double went into LunaTrigger Mode and fired off a blast of homing shots. Simultaneously being punched full of holes and sliced in half, the creature simply exploded into clay splattering the Rangers and Double.

“...Oh, just ugh. Seriously, just ugh. Going to take forever to wash this out…” Vapor muttered looking at her suit covered in the gray clay. Meanwhile, as per his instructions, Spike had called Sunset via Robert’s morpher, and was just now informing her of the situation.

Perhaps needless to say, the mare was still a bit shaken up by the revelation about Thrax having access to Serpentera but right now she knew there were bigger or at least more current problems to worry about. Like say, the whole town going nuts with the glitter and gold and Thrax seemingly taking advantage of the chaos. While she was confused about the whole putty patrollers bit she decided not to question it. Thrax was a dark wizard, after all, the formula was probably easy enough to replicate for him.

“Okay Sunset, focus on the present now and future problems later,” the mare thought to herself as she rocketed on a course for Ponyville. “Your team needs you in the here and now.”

She was more right on the money than she realized as putties weren’t the only thing ‘Thrax’ had up his sleeve with a monstrous gray winged cat-creature wearing a pharaoh's attire leaped out of nowhere sword in hand. The now-revived King Sphinx sent question mark shaped fireballs towards the Rangers and Double, sending them flying.

Or at least, he was until Sunset came swooping in and kicked him in the stomach sending King Sphinx staggering backwards.

“Really, you really think today of all days is a good one to mess with my team Thrax?” Sunset asked in a very sour tone of voice drawing her blade. “Seriously, really I have to question what you’re thinking. If you’re even doing that at all!”

“My only loyalty is to Master Finster, and Lady Rita Repulsa!” King Sphinx laughed sending another series of fireballs towards Sunset and in her shock, she forgot to block them knocking her to the ground. Picking herself up, Sunset balanced herself on her blade.

“...You do realize Rita’s reformed right? Or did you miss the whole Mystic Mother part of things?” Sunset asked in genuine confusion. “And what’s this about Finster? Pretty sure he’s dead!”

“Never! Rita would never turn to the side of the light!” King Sphinx roared sending out more fireballs that were only shot out of the air by Double still in LunaTrigger mode.

Finster, watching from the shadows unseen by all but Rarity smiled. “My my,” he commented. “She’s an even more ideal student than I thought, progressing this far and already making monsters! It warms a teacher’s heart…”

“Newsflash, she can and she did,” Sunset said as her wings flared igniting as she went into Orion Mode. They grew to truly massive size and wrapped themselves around King Sphinx. “Dunno what sorta reality you’re caught up in, but let me bring you back down to Equus.” she said calmly as she burned the monster to a crisp. Course, troubles weren’t over as more classic monsters like Gnasty Knight, Bones, and the Pudgy Pig leaped out of the woodworks.

“Great… Just great.” Sunset thought.