The Revenge of Dr. Negative

~~~~~Manehatten~~~~~

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but feel a little bit claustrophobic as they trotted away from the docks, the massive towering buildings looming over their little group were more than a little intimidating. Still, this club wasn't supposed to be all that far away, so Daring had said they were gonna hoof it. Something about not wanting to attract too much attention. Yeah, like that's going to happen in these getups. Dash had to admit the clothes were pretty stylin, but like most pegasi she knew, she didn't feel comfortable in anything but a flight suit.

Still, the sleek black vest and flat cap looked kinda boss and fit her plenty well enough that she didn't feel too constricted by the clothes, and she had to admit the long forehoof gloves were pretty smexy.. Scooter was trotting right alongside Twilight in that thick black cloth coat she wore with a happy grin. Alongside... Twilight. Who looked absolutely beautiful. Daring Do had produced a sleek looking black silk shirt and short skirt, along with a bright white tailcoat, meshed stockings and a jaunty looking top hat. Dash thought Twilight looked like a sexy stage magician, but Daring insisted it was one of 'the styles' of the time for powerful unicorns

Dash didn't care what the style was, Twi looked hot. She bit down a little on her lip and turned her eyes away from her, trying to focus instead on the questions she'd been fielding from Daring Do. "So yeah, I think we're from some kinda alternate dimension. I don't understand how we got here, but I can tell you that our Manehatten is nothing like this place." Dash remarked, staring up once again to the tall buildings that flanked them at every turn. "My turn. Just who were those guys who tied me up and in those weird ship thingies? You said something about Neighzi's?" Dash tilted her head, a curious expression across it.

Daring sighed a little and rubbed at her chin. "Well, I'm pretty sure those guys in the warehouse were members of the Apple Mob." Dash was beginning to feel the effects of whiplash as she turned suddenly to stare at Daring for what felt like the umpteenth time today. "Didn't get a look at their cutie marks, so I can't say for sure. As for the Neighzi's? Ugh. I hate those jerks." She shuddered a little as she walked, and spoke softly. "Okay, so to keep a long story short - basically, they're Pony Supremacists. Some really charismatic unicorn started making this big political stink about ten years back about how we couldn't trust our current peace treaties with any of the 'lesser races' and how we needed to basically conquer and enslave them."

Daring made a disgusted sort of face. "Unfortunately, he had a lot of folks who agreed with him, or were just scared of anything that wasn't a pony. Eventually they got pretty powerful and the Royals decided they couldn't risk em causing an incident, so the first time they did something stupid they all got banished to some big island out east of Manehatten." She waved a hoof generally in the direction of the sea. "They've been stirring up trouble all over the world ever since.  Seriously, those guys never know when to give up. That's kinda simplifying the story, but you get the idea."

Dash slowly nodded, and bit at her lip. I really don't want to ask this but... What choice did she have? If she had to live with the idea that a certain somepony might be her enemy here, she'd better know now before things got sticky. "I know I already had one but... I figure I've gotta know what's going on if we're gonna stay safe here. What did you mean by the Apple Mob?" She queried in a slightly quavering voice, suddenly really glad they hadn't taken the time to go hunting for Applejack. She heard a titter of sound behind her... Scooter and Twilight talking about something.

Daring cut in through that thought firmly. "Gangsters. They run the biggest hard cider distillery in northern Equestria." She shook her head slowly. "But that's just a front for everything else they're into. Gambling, extortion, racketeering, smuggling, and a lot of brute thug work. Unlike most of the other mobs, they're actually pretty damn cohesive. They're a literal family, ya see... kept in line by the head Apple herself, Miss-"

Daring's words were cut off as they rounded a last corner, and Dash cursed and praised the interruption... having not particularly wanted to know what that name might be. A wave of noise had descended upon them as they crossed into the busy downtown club districts of lower Manehatten.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight was fascinated. Scooter had been only too willing to talk extensively about the mechanics of her Motorcycle, as well as where all these spark lights and other mechanical marvels had come from. Much to her incredible amusement, it appeared that a slight change in history had turned the Flim Flam brothers into two of the biggest industrial magnates in Equestria. With one of the most respected brands of motorized vehicles anywhere in the world to boot. The mechanics of how everything worked were the big thing though, and Twilight was already making plans to spirit away a few books on the subject back to her Equestria.

And she was more than certain now that she was in some kind of other Equestria, one that had taken dramatically different historical paths. More importantly, one that still sat under a deadly and dangerous threat. Twilight's eyes traced up to the moon, where two equine faces faced one another with a mournful look upon them were etched into the surface of it. Twilight didn't yet understand why there were two, but the meaning was painfully clear to her. She could only hope that there would be time to warn the Princess Celestia of this world about the impending event.

For now though, she had to focus on what she could accomplish - rescuing Rarity and Sweetie Belle. As the little group of ponies turned into the bustling and busy streets of Manehatten, her thoughts began to race. There were so many ponies! Of every color, type and style walking through the streets quickly from destination to destination. "How far away is this place?" She asked Scooter, pitching her voice close to her ear.

Scooter replied back, yelling a bit too loudly as she did, "About a ten minute walk! We're gonna need the extra time to get a table on a friday night!" Twilight nodded and followed quickly in her wake, trying to keep from getting caught up in the crowd.  It was rather like trying to swim in a swift stream, although the stream was made of ponies with extremely foul mouths. Still, it wasn't quite as difficult to keep up with Scooter as she'd originally thought it would be.

Eventually the first crowd dispersed, leaving them with a bustling street but still quite able to talk together in a group. Daring and Dash went back to talking about whatever they had been talking about, and Twilight elected this to be a good time to do the same. "So, tell me about this Rosie." she said, sticking extra close to the flame-haired pony so they could be heard over the general din of the walking crowds.

Scooter nodded, a little sober looking. "Yeah, Rosetta Stone. She's a pretty damn smart unicorn, she's known Daring forever. They had something of a fallin' out a few months ago and things've been kinda strained, but they're still really good friends. Leastwise I think they are." Scooter frowned a little bit. "Even if they get a lot grouchier at one another nowadays. Nopony more reliable when it comes to crazy stuff like this though, I'm glad Daring was willing to bring her in."

Twilight sucked in a soft breath and exhaled it. "Falling out? What happened?" She asked... quite earnestly, and then berated herself for it. Damnit, Twilight! You've got to put a lid on your feelings about these things before it causes some kind of paradox! She cursed silently, but luckily it didn't look like Scooter noticed that too much. "I mean, I'd rather know what kind of subject to avoid so I don't cause a problem." She noted, and Scooter nodded, looking impressed.

"Yeah, stay away from the subject of Manehatten Silver. If either of 'em brings it up, try to steer the conversation someplace else or we're gonna have issues, ya dig?" Scooter noted, just a little bit grimly and Twilight nodded her acquiesce. "Good. Oh, and one more important warning... You look like a sweet kid, but you've never been in Manehatten before." Scooter began as they turned onto a strip of street full of bright lights and flashing glows.

Scooter shielded her eyes a little for a moment, then grinned. "So be careful what kinda offers you accept from other ponies, or you might find yourself in hotter water than you can handle." She said, a little mysteriously before hurrying on ahead to join Dash and Daring, and Twilight picked up her pace to join them.

~~~~~~The Blue Note~~~~~~

Twenty minutes later, they were past the front doors and inside.

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but stare, the whole place was just... perfect. The doors to the club were made of old and much polished oak and brass, and swung open at the touch of the suited bouncers. The floor had been richly carpeted beneath their hooves, plush and deep enough to sleep on.  The lighting of the entire place was just bright enough to see other ponies, but dim enough that if you were careful and stuck to the shadows you could probably get away with a lot in the secluded little corners.

The tables were spaced just far enough apart to encourage privacy, but the place being packed probably helped that a lot more than anything else did. There was a single lit candle at every table in the main room, but very little other lighting except for the stage. The air above the tables hung with just a little bit of smoke coming from pipes or cigars being enjoyed by many of the patrons. And oh, the patrons! Suited business stallions, uniformed soldiers both mares and stallions alike,  shifty eyed ne'er-do-wells, this place had it all. Discreet mares wearing... rather risqué outfits slipped in between the tables bearing platters of food, drink and other sinful pleasures. As dash had just been thinking, it was perfect for the nightclub rendezvous scene.

A pretty pegasus mare with a bright blue coat lead them down the steps into the mane room as the smell of tobacco and... other things permeated the air. Dash felt her wings give a little involuntary ruffle at the sight of the blue mare's rolling flank as she walked, and bit her lip firmly to get under control. This was exactly the wrong place for that kind of reaction - so she dragged her eyes to the stage where a little white sign sat upon a stool that read 'On break, back in 10 minutes.' Well, damn. She had been hoping for something to distract her, but apparently no dice.

They reached a cozy and out of the way booth that still had a good view of the stage, and the pegasus mare cooed in a voice that made Rainbow Dash shiver just a little. "Welcome to the Blue Note, my name is Bluebell and I'll be... taking care of you tonight." She winked saucily, which got a grin from Scooter and an eyeroll from Daring... and a very distinct blush from Twilight. "Nice to see you too, Miss Do. I see you've brought some new lovelies this evening..." Those bedroom eyes drifted over Rainbow Dash, and made her rather acutely aware of just how long it had been since she'd engaged in any... unusual forms of exercise.

"Mm." Bluebell gave off a little suggestive sound, then licked her lips and chuckled. "Very lovelies. We've got a full bar and Bell Pepper's in the kitchen tonight, so the food's divine. Take a moment..." She slipped a menu deftly into Rainbow Dash's hooves as she sat down. "To see just what we can offer you." She winked. "I'll be back in a minute or two." she said all softly, breathily, before slipping away into the dark room. Dash turned to Twilight and was immensely thankful that she was blushing just as much as Dash was right at that moment.

Daring actually chuckled softly. "Easy there girls. We're here on business, not pleasure." Scooter made a disappointed sound and Daring smacked her across the back of the head with her hoof. "Quiet, Scoots.  At least we've got a waitress we can trust, Bluebell is a damn good pony." she observed, gently lifting the slim menu to glance inside for a moment and then shut it with a snap. "How much longer we got, Kid?"

Scoots pulled out  - much to Dash's amazement - a brass pocket watch and checked it coolly. "Twenty minutes. Better order something, Daring, we don't want Miss Kitty giving us a hard time again. Especially not with new fillies around. You know how she gets when..." She stopped in mid-sentence as Dash and Twilight stared at her together and then chuckled softly. "Let's just say Miss Kitty's got a healthy kind of appetite... and you two are exactly the sort of dish she enjoys indulging in. Catch my drift?"

Twilight colored up extra prettily, and Dash had to enjoy the sight. To be honest, she probably wouldn't much mind that sort of attention from somepony right now, but Twilight might give her a hard time about it... and besides, the pony she'd rather be getting that attention from was, well. Dash probably shouldn't be thinking that stuff right now. Not until she had a time to talk to her alone, anyway. So she slipped open the menu to take a look, wondering if a place as fancy as this seemed to be had hay fries. Much to her surprise, there was a little pink card tucked into the middle of the menu. It had a kiss of lipstick upon the corner, and a little hoof-written note in the middle,

"You're pretty cute for a new filly. What's your name? - Bluebell. ' I'm ________ ' "

It even read, and there was a little pencil tucked into the menu. Dash looked up furtively... and then shrugged, picking it up between her teeth discreetly and scribbling out her name onto the card before going on to further examine her menu. Much to her delight, the thing wasn't packed with overly complex appetizers and too-expensive fancy meals, but with the same kind of working-class faire that Dash favored above all other foods. Of course, there were also listings for... rather more intimate services as plain as day in the menu, and Dash's jaw had to drop at the sight of it.  Sure, she wasn't so naive as to believe this sort of thing never went on in Ponyville, but to have it out in the open and bold as brass like this?

Luckily, Twilight hadn't even opened her menu before the soft sounds of applause distracted the whole table of ponies from further discussion over the menu. A pair of elegant looking mares walked out onto the stage and took up positions next to a large standing piano and a huge double-bass. Rainbow Dash wasn't entirely sure but... well, the mare at the piano had a white coat and was a unicorn, and the one on the bass was an earth pony and had a grey coat and dark mane. Sure, the unicorn's mane was different - but if Dash didn't know better... "Hey Twi, doesn't that look like Vinyl and Octavia?" She whispered to her, and Twilight nodded slowly. Things were getting weirder and weirder, and Dash was beginning to wonder just how much stranger things would get.

Then she got her answer.

The room went silent as the pair of mares began to play a soft sort of tune, the kind of thing that tickled at Rainbow Dash's memories in an odd way.... For a few moments, she was confused... until a sweet and sexy sort of voice began to project out from the stage, obviously being amplified magically somehow. The sound of it sent a shiver up her spine and set her neck hairs to standing on end at... at just the pure beauty of it...

♪♫ "Now.... You... say you're lonely.

You cried the long night through...

Well you can Cry me a river...

Cry me a river....

I cried a river... over you..."♪♫

A sleek white hoof stepped out onto the stage wearing a glittering back heeled shoe, then was followed by a second hoof wearing the same. Dash's jaw slowly dropped as she watched the elegant mare in a sleek and glittering blue dress slowly pace out onto the stage, her long mane fetchingly done up to emphasize her bare shoulders and beautiful face. The soft red lipstick and blush simply made every movement of her lips enticing, and for a moment Dash tried to force herself to believe that this name was just a coincidence.

But Dash couldn't deny it for very long. The mane color was too perfect, the body shape - while obviously much, much older looked far too familiar. She was the spitting image of Rarity, except somehow all of Rarity's grace and elegance had been transformed into this glamorous and beautiful little starlet of the stage. Every step she took was just a little smoky, and every turn of her head was just a little suggestive. What convinced Dash the fastest though, was that voice. There was no mistaking it, that was Sweetie Belle alright.

♪♫ " Now... you... say you're sorry,

For bein' so... Untrue...

Well you can Cry me a river...

Cry me a River....

I cried a river... over you." ♪♫

"Celestia help me, she can sing." sighed Scooter, looking nothing so much as absolutely in love with the mare on stage. Privately, Dash had to agree with that sentiment. Heck, even Twilight was nodding slowly, her eyes riveted to the stage as Sweetie slowly came back to the stage, slowly perching herself up on the tall wooden stool. She even managed to make that look sexy, the silk of her dress slipping over her body and legs as she moved sinuously, her forehooves keeping her balanced on the chair as she crossed her legs a little.

♪♫ "You drove me,

Nearly drove me... Outta my head.

While you.... never shed... a tear....

You remember, I remember.. all that you said...

Told me love was too plebeian,

Told me that you're through with me... and now...." ♪♫

Dash felt her gaze tugged over to Twilight, and for just a moment their eyes met as the soft sounds of the song wafted around them. Dash didn't entirely know what she was doing, and for once she didn't care. Her hoof slowly stretched out under the table, blindly looking for another to grasp - and for a moment, she found it - Twilight's hoof gripped tightly around hers and the two of them looked at one another as the world moved around them. Damnit, Dash! Say it! Just bucking say it! Buck the consequences, buck the timing!

But couldn't. Her mouth opened and no sound came out. She swallowed and tried again, but the words kept getting caught behind some stupid feelings Dash didn't know how to categorize or deal with. It didn't help that Twilight looked like she was trying to come up with the right words to say herself, so for the last minute or so of the song - which Dash tuned out completely in spite of the beautiful voice singing it - the pair of them simply held hooves as they both tried to confront fears they didn't know how to describe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight on the other hoof, was just about to break through the barrier of speech when the song came to an end to quite raucous applause, and the sweet and sensual looking Bluebell appeared by their table with that pretty smile of hers. "Sweetie's sure got pipes on her, doesn't she?" The waitress observed, with a fond look over at the stage before turning back to the table. "So what'll it be, fillies?" She asked in a sweet and brisk sort of voice, having apparently decided to turn down the sexy-mare routine, for which Twilight was infinitely thankful.

"I'll have a double scotch on the rocks, and the dandelion club." Daring Do noted, and then gave Scooter a stern sort of look.

Scooter sighed. "I'll have the usual, Bluebell. No help in the lemonade though." She said with a mournful look at Daring, who seemed to be smiling in patient amusement.

Dash looked startled and then bit her lip before responding. "Gimmie a tequila sunrise with extra orange juice and uh.." She quickly flipped through the menu for a moment before saying. "The Spinach salad with a side of hay fries." She handed over the menu with a slight blush on her cheeks, and Bluebell gave Dash a very... cute sort of look.

Which for some reason annoyed Twilight, but now wasn't the time to get snippy with the help. "Large spring water." She indicated smoothly, wanting to be at her absolute best tonight. "With the grilled cheese and tomato soup, thank you."  She finished, floating the menu back primly.

Bluebell nodded and slipped off into the darkness again, giving Twilight a few moments to indulge herself in self-examination - tuning out the music and the quiet sounds of Scooter giving Dash a ribbing about how she'd reacted to Bluebell.  Sweetie Belle looked like a fully grown, if still kind of young mare up there. She hadn't aged eight months - she looked like she'd aged eight years. What if Dash and Twilight had been similarly changed? Her magic back in that warehouse had been incredibly powerful, so powerful that a simple stun-bolt spell had turned into a massive lightning strike.

Twilight was scared. Incredibly, undeniably scared - what if they were changed so dramatically that it'd be impossible to go back home? Worse still... what if there wasn't any way to go back home in the first place? Twilight had left an explanation for Celestia, but she knew the Princess. If that portal was a threat to Equestria, she'd close it in a heartbeat. She might weep and rage at the heavens for the necessity, but she would still do it. Twilight didn't know how Dash had known she needed somepony's hoof to hold, but she was glad that she had known. She'd been a hairs breadth away from completely breaking down right then.

Twilight didn't think she'd have been able to handle this with anypony else. Applejack certainly wouldn't be as cool and laid back about this insane situation, and Pinkie Pie was... well, Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy fell into that same category, as much as she loved her as a dear friend. But Dash was the mare of action of their little group - even when her performance anxieties got the best of her, there was nopony more fearless in the face of the weird.

The minutes passed as Twilight silently worried over her problem - before she knew it, the food was hitting the table and the golden brown toasted bread of her sandwich was a welcome sight. No matter how odd this world was, grilled cheese was still grilled cheese, and for that she could be thankful.  Two bites later though, yet another new thing intruded upon her world... something that she knew, instinctively, was going to change more than just their situation.

Out of the dim light of the club, a new unicorn mare walked into the little pool of light surrounding their table, and Twilight dropped her sandwich onto her plate in mid bite as she saw her. She had a dark blue coat that was perhaps just a shade or so off from the color of Twilight's mane, and her mane was streaked with bright pinks and purples. She wore a pair of spectacles and a buttoned up suit and tie that looked very collegial. But that wasn't what had sent Twilight into shock.

Twilight lived and breathed being observant about everything around her - she'd known that Rosie had to refer to Rosetta from the books, but what she hadn't been prepared for was what she looked like in pony. Twilight knew, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that if she were to stand next to Rosetta in the same outfit, the only way a pony would have been able to tell them apart was by coloration. She even looked the same way Twilight did when she was aggravated about something.

It was like looking into an enchanted mirror, and when Rosetta spoke her voice was pitched only a little bit above Twilight's. "I do hope this was important. Our instruments just recorded a physical impossibility right over Manehatten Bay and..." She paused, as her eyes caught the serious and sad look on Daring Do's face. Immediately, Rosetta's whole attitude changed to one of concern as she spoke much softer, "Is everything alright, Daring?" There was worry in her voice as her eyes traveled over Twilight and Rainbow Dash. "You don't normally send that particular emergency code. Who are these young ladies?"

Daring Do adjusted her helmet and spoke softly. "Grab a seat, Rosie. We've finally got a lead on Doctor Negative, and a whole lot of other crazy stuff is going down." She eyeballed Dash and Twilight a little before speaking. "These two girls are caught up in it too. The doc's got one of their friends in his insane hooves, and it looks like they might know how he got away the first time."

Rosetta looked startled and nodded, hopping up into the booth a moment later and leaning over the table with her hooves folded as she looked at Twilight with appraisal. "Yes, I think there's quite a lot we've all got to talk about. Why don't you go first, Miss..." She trailed off, the look in those bright and intelligent eyes sending a shiver down Twilight's spine.

Well, nothing for it. Better to show confidence than anything else, Twilight. She leaned in herself and folded her hooves in a mirror image of Rosetta's pose - which wasn't hard, considering it was the kind of look she adopted when she was thinking. "Twilight Sparkle." She indicated, and then her eyes traced for just a moment to the stage. "We've probably got some time until she's done anyway." She noted, before staring back into the eyes of... well, herself. "Ask whatever you'd like, Miss. I'll answer what I can."

Twilight had a feeling though, that the night's excitement was just getting started. There were more than a few mysteries left to solve, not the least of which was what had happened to Sweetie Belle... and maybe even herself.  Twilight only hoped that the answers could be found in time, and in the case of how to get home... that the answers existed at all.