Twilight awoke from her slumber with a start which then transitioned into a pounding sensation that centered itself a few centimeters above her horn.  The unicorn groaned in sleepiness and hopped out of her bed and made her way to her bathroom mirror to freshen up.  She glanced at the state she was currently in and suppressed a chuckle, her mane was as disheveled as ever before.  The previous night events were…she couldn't recall them.  She pouted in annoyance; she had one of the best memories around and for some reason this one event could not be recalled.  She then levitated a special comb that she had purchased for her wings to assist in their up keep; it always helps when you know a pegasus who had been to the store in question a couple of times.  She then brought the comb down to her side to begin…only for the comb to brush nothing but her side.  Twilight’s eyes widened in shock, her vision slowly traveled to her right wing.  At least it would have if it was still there, the scream that followed shook the foundations of the tree house.

Spike ran upstairs wearing a pot helmet and wielding a whisk, “What happened Twilight?!  Were you attacked, is their some strange creature in the house?”

Twilight’s right eye twitched, “My wings…”

Spike looked at her unimpressed, “Yeah, and?”

Twilight then broke down, “THEY’RE GONE SPIKE!!!”

Spike then took notice and ran around her in a circle, “Your right!”

Twilight was panicking to say the least, “Who or what could have done this?!  Did I catch some sort of alicorn disease, did the princess relinquish my title?!”

Spike raised his hands in a calming gesture, “Chill out Twilight, remember your breathing.”

Twilight nodded and slowly inhaled then exhaled, “Thank you Spike, I lost my head for a second there.”

All of a sudden a series of loud knock shook Twilight from her surprised state.  Both dragon and pony traveled downstairs and opened the front door and collectively gasped.  Rarity was standing in the doorway looking positively devastated, her mane was blackened.  Her coat seemed to have some odd green substance attached to it along with several scrapes and small burn marks.  She also seemed to have some black on her horn.

Twilight walked toward her friend with concern, “Rarity what happened to you?”

Rarity then quickly planted a hoof on her friend’s mouth to silence her, “Have I come here yet?!”

Twilight raised an eyebrow only for Rarity to tackle Twilight to the ground, “DID I COME HERE YET?!”

Twilight yelled out her answer in exasperation, “NO! Why?!”

Rarity sighed, “Good, when I do come here in about most likely a minute.  I want you to tell me no.”

Twilight was very confused now, “What?”

Rarity seemed to buzz with static electricity as the faint smell of marshmallows began to permeate the air, “JUST SAY NO!!!”

Rarity then vanished in a small pop of white and silver light.  Twilight was even more confused as before.  Spike was just blinking in utter surprise at not only the thing he just witnessed, but the fact that a completely normal Rarity appeared in the door way.  She glanced in shock at Twilight’s current state.

Rarity approached Twilight, “Darling what happened to your wings?  Do you need any help?”

Twilight then yelled out in surprise, “NO!”

Rarity backed up in surprise and then looked slightly offended, “Well I’m so sorry, there is no need to shout.”

Twilight stood and quickly apologised, “Rarity you were just here!  How did you-“

Rarity cut her off, “What in Equestria are you talking about?  I JUST got here.”

Twilight was pointing to the doorway, “No, I mean yes and no.  Grrrr, it’s just so weird.”

Rarity was now greatly concerned, “Are you sure you don’t need any help?”

Twilight turned toward a nearby table in exhaustion, “Probably, at least of the psychiatric variety.”

Rarity walked to her friend’s side, “I think maybe this Princess business is taking a toll on you, OH YES! That reminds me of why I came here in the first place.  I wanted to know if you wished to join me at the spa for some unwinding and to tell me ALL about the things you did at the Royal Retreat.”

Twilight blinked in confusion, “The Retreat?”

Rarity tilted her head slightly, “You know, the Royal Retreat you went to for two weeks to meet with the royal delegates from across the land.”

Twilight blinked once more, “This may sound strange, but I have no idea what I may or may not have done.”

Rarity smiled and nodded, “OH I get it, mums the word right?”

Twilight furrowed her brow, “Huh?”

Rarity tapped her nose with her hoof, “I get it.”

Twilight stood in utter befuddlement as Rarity walked out the door, “Well I don’t.”

*

After perusing Rarity to the spa and accepting her invitation, both ponies were sitting in the sauna letting their troubles melt away.  Twilight was still focused on two things, her wings and the odd Rarity encounter as well.  She knew not following up on it might make the situation worse, but she also thought that a little relaxation would help the thought process.  As Twilight sat she began to feel a very unusual sensation throughout her entire body.  Rarity then yelled in surprise and fear beside her.  Twilight glanced at her friend and then down at herself.  Both continued to scream.

*

Spike was currently in a heated argument with a stall vendor that was being very insistent on ripping him off.

Spike glared at the stallion, “Just give me the quartz and take the usual price.”

The stallion shook his head, “I’ve told you that I’m in charge now and the policy-“

Spike rolled his eyes, “JUST went into effect, I know.”

The stallion leaned over the counter and smiled, “AND the price just went up again.”

Spike growled in frustration, “Just give me the quartz and take. The usual. PRICE!”

Spikes right eye then flared slightly as a red dragon like shape of light glinted on its surface and shot into the stallion’s eye.  The odd occurrence caused his mind to yield to the command.

The stallion then robotically replied with small red rings around his irises, “Of course.”

Spike was given the quartz in great confusion but he thought nothing of it.

*

Twilight was standing before Rarity completely changed.  Her coat had become completely gold and even had a metallic sheen to it.  Her mane, tail, and eyes were white gold much to her shock and fear.  Some odd lines seemed to be engraved from where her legs connected with her body down to the bottom of her hooves.  Rarity on the other hoof was both afraid and in awe at the spectacle before her.

Rarity took a cautious step forward, “Are you alright Twilight?”

Twilight glanced at herself once more, “Actually, I feel fine.”

Twilight’s back leg then brushed the water bucket which exploded all around her into an odd green substance.  The substance blinded and surprised Rarity who stumbled out of the sauna and smacked into a large cup of black hair dye.  The black dye poured onto Rarity’s mane along with a bit of her horn and worked its magic immediately much to the Rarity’s horror.  Before she could speak however, static electricity surged across her ruined coat and she popped out of existence with the smell of marshmallows.

Twilight was at a loss for words but a familiar voice of a certain reformed individual invaded her ears, “Well that escalated quickly.”

Next Chapter: The Gold Experience II Estimated time remaining: 8 Minutes