Another calm day had passed for Rarity, she completed the last of her orders, just in time for her day with Twilight tomorrow. After Fluttershy’s episode, those that were known to whisk Twilight away became much less inclined to do it again, even Chrysalis, now that she got to do what Applejack did for a day.

Thinking about the once-villain turned herdmate doing manual labour caused Rarity to chuckle. “One could only hope that it teaches that ungrateful royal pain some manners,” she thought aloud. Her train of thought derailed when she heard a knock at her door. Curious, she went to answer it. “Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique, and magnifique.”

Before her stood a golden mare with a silver mane tied and braided along her neck, her piercing blue eyes taking in every detail of the clothing store and it’s owner. She wore a thin white dress that both covered her completely and teased any who saw her. “Rarity, correct?”

“Oh Sweet Celestia’s living ghost,” Rarity gasped, staring in awe of the earth mare before her, a newcomer on the fashion scene that’s taken Equestria by storm, the illustrious Wicked Weave. “H-H-How may I help you, M-Miss Weave?”

“First way you can help me, is get some tea, Shimmering Crimsonleaf. Second, we can discuss business. There might be a third, providing you can satisfy the second,” Wicked said, her silky voice had a rather sharp edge as she walked into the Boutique, examining the dresses. “Fancy Pants did say you were… creative.”

“I’ll get tea going,” Rarity winced, running to the kitchen to find Shimmering Crimsonleaf. Fortunately, being associated with several ponies that enjoy tea and a alchemist trivialized the issue. A few minutes later, she returned with tea in her magic. She spotted Wicked looking over some of her older creations. “Miss Weave? Your tea is ready.”

“Good, we may now finally get to business,” Wicked stated, taking a seat on Rarity’s fainting couch. “So… the scent in the air tells me you have a lover, is that true?”

Rarity nearly spilt tea all over her glass table. “You could say that, yes,” she replied with her face bright red.

“I see, his scent is all over your store, it’s rather distracting,” Wicked sneered, as she took a sip of her tea. “Now, I am in need of… assistance.”

“Assistance?” Rarity repeated, curious as to what her guest meant.

“Yes, you see I have a show in Las Pegasus coming up and some idiots have left me in my time of need, thus I have traveled to this… charming town to seek your aid,” Wicked explained. “I simply request that you help provide some outfits for the show.”

Rarity’s eyes widened. “I-I’ be honoured, but is there a theme? Anything specific I need to make?”

“Make it mystical, magical,” Wicked exclaimed. “I want to be hypnotized by it, the audience hypnotized by it, I want the Princess to be in awe of it.”

“Mystical… understood,” Rarity chuckled.

Wicked Weave’s nose twitched. “I must leave… your stallion is distracting. This must be done in two weeks, I’ll send someone to acquire them. Farewell,” she growled, quickly leaving the boutique in a huff.

Rarity just sat there with a confused expression on her face before taking a few sniffs of the air. “I… don’t smell Twilight, or Fleur for that matter. Must be a sensitive nose.”

~dood~[/hr]

Twilight was feeling rather cheerful, nothing bad has been happening, no foalnappings, only peace and quiet as she walked to to Carousel Boutique to spend the day with the fashionista. She thought about letting herself in but considered that to be rude and knocked instead.

After a few minutes, no answer.

Confused, Twilight knocked again. “Rarity? It’s me, Twilight.”

She was met with silence and a closed door.

She found this rather odd, Rarity said she’d be home because of an order but usually leaves time for her friends, especially her Alpha and hard work orders tend to make Rarity in need of relief. Twilight opened the door slowly and stepped in, while the main floor appeared untouched, there was the sound of a sewing machine working on the upper level, the unicorn going to investigate.

The door opened slowly to reveal the store owner in front of a sewing machine, her rear hoof tapping the pedal beneath it while her hooves carefully slide the fabric under the moving needle. “Rarity?”

The sudden voice startled Rarity, her hoof leaving the pedal while her fore hooves flailed above for a second before turning to her Alpha. “Twilight! What brings you here?”

Twilight gave her a blank look. “It’s… your day today, did you forget?”

“Oh my, that must had fled my mind with my most recent order, I apologize, Darling,” Rarity gasped, leaving her sewing machine to kiss Twilight, her mate easing into the kiss.

When they broke apart after a minute, Twilight licked her lips and smiled. “Whatcha working on to distract you like this anyways? Must be big.”

“It’s just one of the biggest advancements to my career. The most premier designer, Wicked Weave, has asked moi to help her with her show in Las Pegasus and here I am making new designs in…” She turned to her calendar and her eyes widened. “Twelve days! Goodness gracious that isn’t nearly enough time to complete all this! I’m sorry Twilight, I must complete this order.”

Twilight was surprised to watch Rarity run back to the sewing machine and return to work. Concerned over her mate, she approached her again. “Would you like some help?”

“I wouldn’t want to impose,” Rarity said sheepishly, her eyes focused on her task.

“I’m scheduled to spend the day with you today, I’m going to make sure that happens,” Twilight added with pride in her voice.

Rarity sped away from the sewing machine. “Then could you finish those seams for me? Just make sure the needle stays on the dotted line, darling.”

“You got it!” Twilight exclaimed, getting straight to work. The machine itself was tricky for somepony that had never really touched it before it wasn’t long before Twilight knew how to use it, any mistakes she made were quickly corrected with her magic.

Rarity, on the other hoof, was on the opposite side of the room drawing up a design for another dress. Thankful for the extra pair of hooves, but there was still so much to do if she wanted to impress Wicked Weave.

~dood~[/hr]

Over the course of the week, Fluttershy and Chrysalis were roped into helping the resident fashionista. Twilight had to leave for ‘Alpha’ reasons, but Rarity was thankful for the caretaker and Queen, she was even surprised by Chrysalis’ knowledge of fashion, though fitting, if only due to her shapeshifting.

“Why am I doing this again?” Chrysalis muttered to herself, carefully stitching one of Rarity’s new dresses together for the show.

“Because Twilight thinks it would do you good to have to do these things after all the foalnappings and assaults you’ve done before,” Fluttershy answered meekly, avoiding eye contact with the insect matriarch.

“That was a hypothetical, my dear idiot. I know what I did, I just refuse to feel guilty over it,” Chrysalis snapped, causing Fluttershy to quiver in fear.

The door opened, Rarity walking in with a few designs in her magic. “Stop scaring poor Fluttershy, Darling. There are worse things you could be doing.”

“Don’t remind me,” Chrysalis grimaced, continuing Rarity’s work.

“I can’t thank you two enough for coming to help me prepare for the show in Manehatten. Despite your discomfort with this Chrysalis, your aid is greatly appreciated,” Rarity cooed, picking out fabrics for her new designs.

“I’m always happy to help a friend, Rarity. Thank goodness Zecora can look after the cottage while I’m here,” Fluttershy added with a soft smile.

“Indeed,” Rarity said, marking the fabric out and getting ready to cut into it. “As much as I love Twilight, I’m not so sure if our Alpha is qualified without her nose in a book and nopony else in our circle can sew. Oh, how I’m blessed with a dear friend, and an admirable queen, to come to my aid.”

Chrysalis only grunted, continuing her current duty with a frown. “How much of this do we have to do before we’re free?”

“Well, if this wasn’t a punishment in your case, you’d be free to go at any time,” Rarity pointed out. “But you are here until it’s all done.”

“This pampered buffoon better be worth the trouble,” Chrysalis grumbled.

“But of course!” Rarity squealed in delight, her mind racing with all the boons this opportunity would present. “Once Wicked Weave shows my designs off in her show, everypony will want to wear my work, in absolute awe of my dresses.”

Chrysalis stopped for a moment to think. “Wicked Weave?”

“Yes, that’s her name, why?”

“No… reason,” Chrysalis uttered, that strangely familiar name fighting to bring forth a memory. Her worked slowed while she thought, the name on the very tip of her tongue.

“Finished!” Rarity exclaimed, raising a beautiful crystal blue dress in the air, the long glittery white collar studded with three perfectly round rubies, no sleeves, and rest was ruffled very slightly with a single patch of silver fur as the dress’ crest. Triumphant, Rarity left to her main floor to go over it a few times before it could be deemed ready for her commissioner.

The fact that Rarity finished her newest creation in so little time told the Queen that she had been thinking on the name for a while. Even Fluttershy had finished stitching several dresses more than than her. “Is everything okay, Chrysalis?”

“I’m fine, just… deep in thought,” Chrysalis spoke, quickly finishing the remainder of her dresses before getting up to leave. She spent the entire walk back to the library in thought, Fluttershy and Rarity bidding their farewells, which reached deaf ears. Soon, she stopped in the middle of the empty street in sudden realization of what that name meant to her, her eyes widened before snarling in anger. “That bitch!”

~dood~[/hr]

The day had arrived, Rarity pacing around behind the stage, peeking out from the curtains to see half of her herd sitting together in the middle of the crowd, Fleur, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Luna in a disguise, Trixie, and of course, Twilight Sparkle. Gilda and Rainbow hadn’t joined them, believing it would be beyond boring. Zecora offered to watch Fluttershy’s cottage again, seemingly a bit nervous with the idea of going into a large city, and Chrysalis disappeared shortly after arriving to the show, with not even Twilight knew where she went.

She turned to see Wicked Weave directing some of the backstage staff and models to their positions and immediately went to her. “Miss Weave?”

“Busy,” Wicked muttered, keeping her eyes away from Rarity. “And didn’t I ask you to stand away? Your stallion clings to you like a perfume.”

Rarity was taken back by the remark and returned to the curtains, looking over the crowd, confused when she didn’t see Twilight in her seat. “Maybe she went to find-”

“Hey Rarity!” The fashionista jumped at the sound of her Alpha greeted, causing Twilight to wince from her mate’s scream. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s alright, darling,” Rarity said nervously, tapping her hooves together. “How did you get past the security?”

“Apparently the laws around ‘herds’ were never enforced, I mentioned I was dating you, then it led to them finding out that you were in my herd and let me in because I was your Alpha,” the scholar grumbled, the thought of a rule being disregarded befuddled her, even if it was to her advantage many times in the past. She turned her gaze back to Rarity and placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. “Are you feeling okay?”

Rarity turned to see Wicked still barking orders and sighed. “It feels like she’s been hiding something from me, she was actually shocked to see me here today.”

“I see…” Twilight said, glancing to the golden mare. “I’m sure she has her reasons.”

“I do hope so. Sapphire Shores was far easier to work with than her,” Rarity whispered, worried that the famous designer would hear her. “I’ve been just pacing and waiting for an hour, it’s destroying me slowly.”

Twilight went to nuzzle her mate and smiled, hoping to cheer her up. “Well, your dresses are beautiful and I don’t-”

*sniff*

Twilight slowly turned to see Wicked Weave sniffing around and staring at her. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to comfort my mate,” Twilight answered, pulling Rarity closer.

Wicked took in another deep whiff and coughed, holding her nose as her cheeks began to glow red. “Security!”

Twilight soon found herself being escorted out. Rarity’s jaw dropped at the sight and knowledge. “Why?”

“Her scent is VERY distracting, please control your fans and mates,” Wicked scolded, walking back to the models while holding her nose.

Rarity couldn’t help but frown at what her employer had done but kept herself from giving the other mare a piece of her mind, in hopes to save her possible rise to fame.

“Miss Weave, the show starts in less than a minute,” a stagehoof said nervously.

Wicked gave him a smug look before turning to the curtains, taking a deep breath before stepping out, a smile spreading on her face as she strut out with music blaring and spotlights shining upon her. “Stallions and Gentlemares, I bid you welcome to a feast for your eyes, and the future of fashion!”

Rarity was giddy at the sound of the last line but noticed that Twilight didn’t return to her seat and began searching the crowd for her.

“Tonight, I show you the ponies you wish you could be, all wearing clothing made by yours truly,” Wicked smirked.

While the audience clapped, Rarity and those who call her ‘friend’ had confused looks on their faces. The curtain opened wider and the models began walking down the catwalk, all wearing clothing of Rarity’s design. The audience snapped pictures and smiled as the looked over the dresses with a critical eye, marveling at their structure and creativity. Wicked herself took a seat next to the catwalk to admire Rarity’s work, smirking at the crowd as she sat along the sidelines.

Rarity fell on her rump in surprise, unable to get over what had just transpired. “She… stole my designs, but… why? I- there has to be some misunderstanding- some mistake, perhaps?”

“Not a mistake, my dear.”

Rarity jumped when she saw a mare who looked exactly like Wicked Weave stand next to her with Twilight by her side. “Wait… who? Twilight? Who is this?”

“I’m the real Wicked Weave, and that impostor had stolen my identity,” the golden mare growled, motioning for Twilight and Rarity to follow her.

Rarity glanced back and forth between the two, utterly baffled by what had occurred. “Twilight, how did you find her? What is going on?”

“I’ll explain in detail later, Chrysalis was bothered by her and I asked her to look around before the show,” Twilight said, nodding to Wicked as they stepped forward.

The audience gasped as the three mares stood on the catwalk naked, some fainting at the sight. The Impostor had the look of confusion and fear, rage building behind her mask. “What is the meaning of this!”

“Security! Capture that impostor! How dare she have the gall to steal my face and reputation!” Wicked ordered, using her sickly green magic to bind the other mare down. Rarity noticed this and gave the second golden mare a confused look.

“How dare you! If anyone is the impostor, it is you and that strange smelling mare is nothing but a nuisance!” the supposed impostor declared, glaring at the security ponies coming to detain her.

“Then explain THIS!” Twilight announced, blasting her with a bolt of magic and forcing her back into the form of a Changeling nymph.

This resulted in more gasps and more fainting ponies. The changeling in question snarled and hopped onto the stage, models fleeing from the creature. “Our worthless Queen should have executed you when she had the chance, you’ve been trouble ever since the wedding.”

Those that were at the wedding were caught unaware by this information, surprised to see a survivor of Chrysalis’ original hive. Rarity could have sworn she saw Twilight give Wicked Weave a reassuring look. The golden mare huffed and stepped towards the changeling. “Next time you try and take a face, insect…” Soon they were within a hoof distance apart. “Research the face you wear, I’m sure your ‘worthless queen’ taught you THAT much with your training and her mistake at said wedding.”

With a sickly green glow, Wicked forced the changeling on her belly and held her there until guards came bursting in to take the black creature away.

The herd soon gathered to help Rarity, checking to see if she was okay after such an ordeal. Luna looking more guilty than worried. “I must apologize, I couldn’t detect that the mare was a changeling I-” Her mouth was abruptly shut by Twilight with a gentle hoof.

“Thank you all for your concern, and I- I can’t believe she was a changeling. How did you know, Chrysalis?” Rarity asked Wicked Weave, the golden mare smirking before taking her true form.

Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Trixie all gasped and jumped into Applejack’s and Luna’s hooves, only for Trixie to leap out and jump into Twilight’s, while Chrysalis cackled at a job well done. “There could only be one Wicked Weave, my dear, and she was an alias of mine from when I was scouting your kind for the wedding. Though, finding out a traitor here was a rather interesting turn of events.”

Rarity nodded and turned to Twilight. “And you knew about this?”

“Not really. Chrysalis told me the day she found out and believed it was a changeling or some spotlight seeking pony and we decided to do this. I went along so I can help you,” Twilight explained. She let Trixie down and began rubbing her leg sheepishly. “I hope you’re not mad that we didn’t act sooner.”

“I should be, but it did make for quite the show, did it not?” Rarity chuckled.

“Definitely, Applejack and I were like half way to Snoresville, Fashion shows are not parties,” Pinkie remarked.

Applejack nodded. “Pretty much, this is clearly not a place for ponies like us country folk.”

“And how,” Pinkie cheered, wrapping a hoof around her fellow earth pony.

Trixie rolled her eyes. “Plebeians…”

Luna scrunched her face in confusion. “These fashion shows… are they truly about ponies walking along a pathway to show a dress?” She asked, Rarity slowly nodded her head to confirm, causing Luna to smile nervously. “I fear that might not be the best for us-myself, maybe something more for Cadance or even my sister.”

“It is an acquired taste, Your Highness,” Fleur said, giving Rarity a helpful wink. Luna gave Fleur a thoughtful nod.

Rarity gave her friends a smile, glancing to the Changeling Queen. “Well, I suppose today wasn’t all for naught, after all,” she said, quickly wrapping Chrysalis in a hug. “I do know Wicked Weave as a friend.”

“Be thankful you’re a fellow herd mate or critics about your fashion would be the least of your concerns,” Chrysalis grumbled, blushing when Twilight wrapped her hooves around her and hugged alongside Rarity.

“I’m proud of both of you,” Twilight exclaimed. “Chrysalis, thank you for helping Rarity before something far worse could have happened to her. And Rarity, good job today.”

Some of the herd gasped when they saw a sincere smile cross the Changeling Queen’s face, but it was cut short when Pinkie shouted ‘Group hug!” Inspiring the herd to gather around and hug the three mares. Twilight’s eyes fluttering open to reveal a dim sparkle of diamonds within her pupils.

~dood~[/hr]

All around the sanctum, Magic darted around the many Twilights, excited that there was only one mark left before the unknown destiny occurred. However, within headquarters, the council decided that they needed to know what the little filly was planning.

"Ever since Applejack attempted to foalnap the Host, that filly has been giggling and jumping around. But she refuses to tell us why, referring to it as our ‘destiny’. I move that we find out through any means necessary!" Smartypants, a Twilight wearing a long white labcoat with a dark blue tie, black goggles with several gadgets attached to them that happened to hide her bright green, and a wildly ruffled mane, giving her a ‘mad scientist’ look.

"I say we let her have her fun, she’s only a filly after all," Grace assured, a variant of the purple mare wearing rather plain clothing with a wreath of flowers blooming on her head. "I’m sure she’ll be happy to tell us when the time is right. She hasn’t given us a reason to question her since she arrived so why now?"

"It’s… suspicious..." Star stuttered, a Twilight wearing magic robes, similar to her Starswirls costume, but without the hat and with chains wrapped around her body and a ring wrapped around her horn. She was tapping the table lightly with her hooves, flinching when she accidentally broke a piece off and her glowing white eyes glancing to her fellow councilmembers nervously. "Sorry..."

"While it is true that she’s been the happy bundle of joy that became our leader and link to the Elements. We are still running a mare with an enormous amount of magic surrounded by ponies that she loves. You can’t blame us for wanting to ensure we can wake up the next morning to greet them,” Juliet explained, lying back in her chair, wearing her black tuxedo with purple bowtie. "I for one, wouldn’t mind checking the insides of that little room of hers."

Brave, a large Twilight wearing heavy purple armor, stayed silent. Opening her fierce blue eyes as she spoke "I must agree with Grace, we never had a reason to doubt Magic. She had shown no ill intent, and sought only for the happiness of the other elements, even at the cost of our own happiness, even if we were strongly against such actions."

Juliet let out a chuckle. "Well, I suppose some aspect of Twilight had to be pussywhipped. Agreeing with your wife and all, would you like to try again with your own opinion, instead of Grace’s?"

"That WAS my opinion, slattern," Brave growled.

Smartpants sighed, annoyed by the possible fight brewing between Juliet and Brave. "Shut up, both of you. Every moment lost is a moment that could end with that door flying further from our collective grasp and losing the chance to know Magic’s plans."

"Shame she doesn’t want to tell us… it could ease us of this anguish of not knowing if this is bad… or good," Star said, motioning for a Twilight in a maid outfit to present her with a drink, happily accepting the straw that was in the glass of mana.

“But it’s good! I promise you all!” All Twilights turned to the filly that gave them a serious look. “It’s just a secret though, I don’t wanna spoil it just yet. I’ll tell you all when Pinkie is unlocked, I swear on the Elements of Harmony!”

The Twilights looked to each other and Smartypants sighed. "Very well, but I demand to inspect this before anything happens. For our continued survival, of course."

Star’s less than ecstatic expression soon grew, an aura of magic emanating stronger and scaring the maid into backing away slowly. "Sorry I doubted you… I was just worried, that’s all."

Grace smiled softly and clapped her hooves together. "You see, everypony? Nothing bad will happen, she just wants the Host to be happy and healthy, right dear?”" The filly nodded fervently with a beaming smile.

"Let us hope that this is for the best though, I don’t like unknowns but I still cannot deny your track record for being a boon to us and the Host." Brave replied, nodding her head to Magic, before turning to Juliet. "Well? What say you, harlot?"

Juliet glanced to Brave and shrugged. "Yeah, whatever. So long as we continue to get the mares, I’m happy with whatever we do." She said, but her eyes never truly left Magic’s form, her curiosity and instincts telling her that something VERY fortuitous will occur when the final lock is opened.

Author's Note

My thoughts on this five-chapter shit storm are on the next chapter, dood.