Equestria Girls: A Black Rose by any Name

***A Black Rose by any Name...

Chapter 7: Scooping out Ponyville...***

The evening train from Canterlot arrived at Ponyville in the morning with it coming to a slow many ponies walked out of the carriages onto the platform including a stallion with a posh mane and tail with a black top hat, black suit with white shirt to match with the suit hiding his cutie mark, he looked to the strange half covered posh hoof shoes he was wearing, they wasn't even covering his hooves and looked really weird to him.

He put his hoof to the ear and muttered “Tell me why ah got to do this again...” Braeburn muttered making sure no pony was around to see him talk to no one.

The voice he heard was Daring Do “Twilight and Rainbow Dash seen me and Electuroo but not you, just go with the plan and scout the place out, just try to act posh and don't do anything stupid ok?”

“Fine fine... but still not sure how these are working without a antenna” Braeburn step off the platform looking around the town. “Nice place”

“About the antenna thing well... I had my nephew put one just outside the city by the mountain range, just hope no one finds it” Daring Do voice came through the ear piece inside his pony ear.

“What don't y'all have?” he felt a little annoyed being made to do this...

Daring Chuckled “Well I did say I got things prepared incase we needed, so let leave it at that, you got a job to do...”

“Fine fine...” he muttered “over and out...” he trots through town looking around to see where to go first “Where in tarnation do ah go first?” he groans wishing he had some sort of town map to know where he going at least... He twitch his snout finding the orange moustache he was wearing to be irritating to his fur, he knew it was part of the disguise but he hated it right off the bat..

“Oh hi ya!” he turn quickly to see a pink pony right before him “Are you new in town? Of course you are! I never seen anypony like you around!”

Braeburn was looking around with puzzlement then back to her “Erm... yeah... how...”

“Oh silly me I forgot to tell you my name! I am Pinkie Pie! Welomce to Ponyville! What your name?” she was bouncing around him

“M-my name... well it erm...”

Daring Do spoke into his ear piece “Rare Fruit” he heard Electuroo chuckled in the background.

Braeburn was now feeling really silly. “Rare Fruit... ah own a business in the city and looking around to see if mah business could work here too” Braeburn felt that the story the two pegasi came up with was stupid no way he thought she believe him.

“Oh that cool so you here for the day or more? I really love throwing parties for new ponies!” Pinkie Pie giggled

Braeburn raise his hoof “Thank ya Pinkie Pie but y'all don't need to, ah'm only here today and going home tonight, but if ya like y'all could give me a tour of the town” he hope she would compromise to his idea then get involved in a party.

Pinkie Pie thought about it and nods “Okie Dokie Lokie! Tour it is!” He sighed in relief inside as he smiled seeing she did. “What do you like to see first Rare Fruit?”

“Y'all lead ah follow” he replied putting a hoof out “Thank ya for the compromise”

“No problemo! Rarey! Oh your voice sound like somepony I met before” She put her hoof on her snout “Do you know a pony called Braeburn?”

“Never heard of a pony by the name of Braeburn Miss Pie” he replied trying not to look too shocked that he almost got discovered.

“Oh ok, you do really sound like him, maybe because your a southern pony like him”

Braeburn nods “Maybe that the case partner, mah parents own a apple orchard before ah moved to Canterlot to run mah business”

“Ooooo then our first time is Sweet Apple Acres!!!” Pinkie Pie bouncing away “Come on silly billy!”

Braeburn spoke silently “Starting to check out for the crystal”

“Ok we will stay in touch” Daring Do replied through it.

Canterlot...

Electuroo sitting in the room with Daring Do by the tablet listening to the chatter between Pinkie Pie and Braeburn “So far so good” Daring Do spoke to Electuroo and munch down on a apple.

Electuroo sat on the window side with front legs behind his back chilling “For him or us?” she shook her head at that comment and he turn to the view of the city below “Auntie do you think Black Rose be spying on us?”

“Most likely” Daring Do ate the last of the apple. “Do you see her?”

Electuroo scanned the area he had limited view of “Not a hair of her”

“Trust me she there, like the thief of the night back in our world she a over confident person” Daring Do sat back in her chair. “All we have to do is keep her thinking that we fell for her little plan”

Electuroo yawned “Ok auntie, I am going to take a nap...” he closed his eyes and shifted a little.

Daring Do rolled her eyes “Kids...” she went back to checking on what the talking between Pinkie Pie and Braeburn to get the information she needed most, the location of the Stardust Crystal...

Black Rose using some binoculars hovering over her eyes with her magic took a look at Electuroo snoozing away at the white side. “Strange...” she took another look then put them down. “It seem they trying to figure out to get there and out without being noticed I am guessing... but it a small town, there no way they could unless Daring Do going use her fame as a way to sneak Braeburn through with Electuroo to get the crystal”

Black Rose took the tea pot with her magic and pour the drink into the cup then glance to the palace through the hotel window she sat by “Either way they will be exposed and everything will fall into place with me getting my hooves on the Stardust Crystal... I didn't spend 15 years on the alternate world to not only take over this worthless kingdom but now to get revenge on my father and bring him back... those no good for nothing ponies will be sorry for what they did... but luckily I got the perfect body to restore my father” she smirked.

Black Rose saw no change to Electuroo and went back to drinking her tea “Only a waiting game now... all I have to do is wait till my plan is set in motion”

Sweet Apple Acres...

Braeburn and Pinkie Pie walked up to the entrance of the farm, Braeburn took a look around the farm. “Quite the place this Sweet Apple Acres, it sure remind me of home... wonder how ma and pa are at the moment...” he feeling a little home sick...

“Hey lookie it Applejack” he snapped out of it when he saw the mare walking to the barn with a cart full of apples, Pinkie Pie bouncing over to her “Hey Applejack!” she called out.

Braeburn couldn't believe what he was seeing it was his cousin in every way but pony version “Howdy Pinkie Pie” Applejack wiped the sweat off her head with her hoof. “What brings ya to Sweet Apple Acres?”

“Oh I brought a new friend here, he lives in Canterlot but his family owns a apple orchard just like yours” Pinkie Pie replied waving him over.

Applejack watched the stallion come up and frowned “Pinkie is this some sort of prank? That Braeburn wearing some stupid moustache and posh up suit”

He step up to them “That there here name again, who exactly is Braeburn?” he playing to the story that Daring Do came up with. “Name Rare Fruit”

Applejack shook her head “Not buying it Braeburn, ah know that voice from anywhere, ya and Pinkie Pie not fooling me”

He felt a little uneasy but kept to it best he could “Ah run a business in Canterlot, my ma and pa run the farm ah grow up on, ah sell their fruits there”

Applejack still didn't seem to buy it “Ok then say Appaloosa”

Daring Do heard this and was uneasy “Braeburn don't blow this”

Braeburn took everything he had for not crying it out and spoke “Appaloosa...” he managed not to scream it out “Is that here town south of Ponyville that ah saw on the map?”

Applejack saw the strain but he didn't burst it out and smirked “Ok Y'all not mah cousin sorry about that partner. Thought it was one of Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie's pranks”

“Ah was unaware of such a thing” Braeburn look to Pinkie Pie

She just giggled “Oh it ok, we did do some fun pranks, oh come on it time to show you the rest of Ponyville!”

“Nice meeting ya Applejack” he bowed to her and trots off after Pinkie Pie whom bouncing away.

“Nice meeting ya too Rare Fruit and sorry for the miss understanding!” she called out

“Not a problem partner, everyone makes mistakes” he called and rush off to catch up with the pink pony whom was way ahead of him already.

Applejack blinked “Did he say everyone?”

The next stop was the library when Daring Do spoke again “Are you at the Library by any chance?”

“Yes” he whispered seeing Pinkie Pie talking to Twilight “Why Daring?”

“There a crystal inside there that I need you to pick up. Before it was a library during the early days I hid a crystal there, it behind a tilted shelf” Daring Do explained.

Bareburn was confused “What? But that was over 80 years ago wasn't it y'all?”

“Indeed, I left a letter in your pocket” Daring Do replied

He took it out and saw the letter walking over with his three remaining hooves he came up them “Howdy”

“Oh hi, I heard from Pinkie Pie your just visiting for the day and looking to set up some new business” Twilight said with a smile. “Got to admit that I can see why Applejack miss took you for a friend of ours”

“It quite alright, but ah decided not to set up shop here... ah respect other farming family business and if ah did it could harm their business. So just a visit be fine, but ah did talk to a pegasus by the name of Daring Do, she asked me to pick up something for her that was left in this place over 80 years ago... ah never thought a pegasi could live that long specially someone that look so young” He knew that Daring Do heard all that and she was going to either thank him or kick his flank when he gets back.

“Oh?” he gave her the letter and she reads it “What this?” she looked at it while holding it with her magic “A crystal that been in here since the early days of Ponyville? Well I didn't know that, if Daring Do left it here then I guess I can get it for you” she walks in and look around “Spike is there a tilted shelf in here?”

“Oh yeah there is, it right over there” he points as he walk by them carrying a box “I am off to Rarity's to give her my gift to her”

“Sure thing Spike thank you” Twilight walk up to the shelf and use her magic to move the books off it and find a panel, with a pull with her magic it comes off to show a small box covered in dust, coughing a little she pulls it out and opens it. “Whoa...”

“Oh pretty but...” Pinkie Pie stared at it “There only half of it... where the other half?”

“Knowing Daring Do she has the other half on her” Twilight replied with a smile “It really making me feel giddy just thinking that I just helped Daring Do on one of her quests...”

“Ah will tell her that” he replied as she gave him the box and crystal “Thank ya miss”

“Not at all. So why was you looking for a new place of business?” Twilight dared to ask

Braeburn told the last part of the story he was given “Business is been slow and not doing well, ah was hoping that to set up shop here but since there a farming business already here ah not going to do so and moving back to ma and pa's farm after finishing up business with Miss Do”

“Wow that a shame, I would of came up to your shop and see what you had, well good luck either way” he nods to Twilight and leaves. “He such a gentlecolt”

“I know right?” Pinkie Pie giggled “Well I better be going and show him the rest of the town!”

“Alright Pinkie Pie see you later” Twilight close the door after Pinkie Pie left

Braeburn whispered to Daring Do through the ear piece “ah got the crystal in the library but also think ah know whom got the Stardust Crystal”

“Rarity right?”

Carousel Boutique...

Spike arrived at the Carousel Boutique with the box in hand to give to Rarity, he just hoped she like the strange crystal that he bought from White Rose from Canterlot, he opened it up looking how sparklingly it was, some unknown reason he felt no desire to even lick or eat it, he felt a strange aura coming from it when staring at it.

“Oh hi Spike I didn't hear you come in” Rarity spoke walking by him carrying a set of dresses she made to her shop floor for show and sell. “How was your trip to Canterlot with Rainbow Dash and Twilight?”

Spike smiled “It was fun but Rainbow Dash seem to be downed a lot but she sure cheered up on the last day since she met her fictional hero in real life”

“Fictional hero? What do you mean darling?”

“Daring Do of course, Twilight also met her” Spike replied.

Rarity gave her a raised eye “D-did you just say Daring Do?”

“Yep I sure did, awesome right? And get this she has a nephew too” Spike added to the list of amazing things

Rarity tapping her hoof on her snout “My that is something I didn't expect Spikey wikey... I wonder if I can get something made for them, something dashing, something adventuress” Rarity eyes lit up “IDEA!!!!!”

“Rarity wait!” he quickly yelled out

Rarity froze as she was about to charge up to her work room. “Yes darling?”

“I-I go-got you this from Canterlot” he raised the box to her. “I hope you like it”

Rarity took the box “Oh my stars you didn't have to Spike, it...” when she opened it her eyes was as large as dinner plates “Th-th-this...”

“Oh...” Spike saw her reaction and felt sadden “You don't like it do you?”

“WHAAAAT!!?!?” Spike covered his ears “Don't like!? I LOVE IT!” she took it out with her magic looking at the star shape crystal “My word is completely perfect in every way! I never seen anything more perfect then me...” she studying it and with all her wildest dreams she never expected to find a crystal such as this. “Spike this must of cost you a lot... I can't believe you would spend that much...”

“Well it didn't really since the unicorn that sold it couldn't really sell it because of where it came from you see...” Spike replied very nervously “She told me to tell you...”

“Oh?”

Spike gulped “Itcamefromsomeportalsixdaysgoandhitherandshetriedtosellitbybeingtruthfulandnevergottosellitand attheendshesolditrealcheapandIgotitforyou!” he said rapidly and then took a deep breath afterwards

Rarity look to it and back to him “Amazing. I can understand why the dear would have such a problem selling it with a plor like that but even so I still love it and very grateful for you getting you me this as a gift... it a crystal from the heavens my dear and for that I thank you with the bottom of my heart” she kissed him on the forehead “Now I got things to do and if you like... do you want to help?”

He was dreamy from the kiss he got and nods “Huh uh...”

“Then come along darling we got no time to waste, with such a perfect crystal star to inspire me! I got to make those outfits!” Rarity trots up stairs carrying her prized crystal and Spike floating after her in a dreamy state still.

White Rose...

White Rose pulling along her cart looking around Ponyville “I wonder where I could set up my business... there must be a market spot around here” she stops for a moment taking in the sights around her. “Let see, the station behind me, that sweet shop to the left and the library is to the right if I remember what the pony at the station said...”

After a few minutes she saw a yellow pegasus and her horn pulsed for a second “best to come to this one nice and easy, my horn telling me she most likely jump if I come too fast...” she walked up to the pegasus with supplies in her bag walking along. “Excuses me miss” she spoke in a soft tone. “I am sorry to trouble you but I am new in town and looking for the market square”

Fluttershy turn to the soft voice it was if this pony coming up to her knew how to approach her “Oh my... erm yes I do... are you a travelling sale pony?”

“That I am, I come from the Crystal Empire, the name is White Rose” she bowed a little to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy felt as if she was the one intimidating this unicorn “Oh please don't bow... I am nothing special... my name is Fluttershy I take care of the animals at my cottage”

“Pleasure to meet you Fluttershy, as for what I sell it a assortment of crystals including using my crafting magic to shape them” White Rose took some out of the cart opening it a little and fuse the white crystals into a crystal bunny and lower it down to Fluttershy

“Oh my that is beautiful... I never seen magic like that before, but your from the Crystal Empire then how come your a Unicorn, I thought all crystal ponies was Earth Ponies” Fluttershy put a hoof on her mouth “Oh my I am being rude...”

“Not all Fluttershy, I kind of expected that question and as I told everypony before I was born like this but I was treated no different to anypony else when I worked in the mines before King Sombra was defeated” White Rose replied. “We kind of getting off topic, where do I go from here?”

“Oh course, sorry” Fluttershy points a hoof “Down that way, you will see some stalls still out, hope that helps”

“It does and for your kindness for helping me out I return the favour by giving you this little crystal bunny” White Rose put it before Fluttershy.

“Oh I couldn't...”

“It fine I got plenty of crystals and with my finding crystal magic spell and teleport spell it doesn't take me long to get new ones” White Rose beamed in delight “Well see you around my friend and take care” White Rose hums to herself walking away pulling her cart to the market area.

Fluttershy waved a hoof “Bye White Rose and thank you!” White Rose waved a hoof back without looking back in reply. Fluttershy took the crystal putting it in her bag “Oh Angel bunny going to like this for sure!” she beamed and trots off back to the cottage.

Sunset, Train Station Ponyville...

Braeburn felt rather tired he spent almost the whole day with Pinkie Pie exploring almost everything in Ponyville, he did have a lot of fun and enjoyed the meals he had too, the sweets at Sugarcube Corner was amazing at most for him. “Well this is where we part ways Pinkie Pie, thank ya for the lovely tour”

“No problem” she looks around seeing no pony around that would suspect him “Braeburn” she beamed “I know you are so take off that silly disguise” she giggled

Braeburn looked dumbfounded “Ya knew all along?”

“Yep but your not our Braeburn for sure, your from the alternate world that Twilight went to once aren't you?” Pinkie Pie looking him in the eyes.

Braeburn sighed and took off all the suit, shirt, hoofshoes and moustache tossing them to the side keeping his saddle bag firmly on with the crystal he picked up for Daring Do “That is all true partner, ah'm Braeburn from the other world” he smirked “Ah never met anyone quite like y'all”

“Of course not Braeburn but don't worry about the crystal, Rarity will keep it safe and sound” Pinkie Pie beamed to him “Also you can say it”

“S-say what?”

“You know” she winked.

Braeburn looked around and screams it out “AAAAPPPLLLOOOOSSSSAAA!!!”

Electuroo back in the palace sleeping through out the day almost falls off the window hearing Braeburn scream it out through the tablet with Daring Do covering her ears and both screaming out “BRAEBURN!!!!”

He heard they yell through his ear piece but didn't care “Wooo weee that is sooo much better” he grinned “Thank ya for a lovely time Pinkie Pie and ah'm sure we find a way to get the crystal without causing any problems” he kissed her on the snout without thinking and pulled away “Ya be good Pinkie Pie and not say a word”

“Don't worry I Pinkie Promise. Cross my heart and hope to fly, put a cupcake in my eye” She said in a semi dreamy state wobbling around as he gave her a smile and a wave he step onto the train, it starts to leave almost as soon he got on. “Wow... so that a kiss...” Pinkie Pie said with a few giggles stumbling around as she leaves the station feeling very happy and giddy from that kiss she got from the alternate world Braeburn walking back to Sugarcube Corner...