Altering Harmony

The following morning, the Cutie Mark Crusaders finally managed to find Rainbow Dash in front of Sugarcube Corner after a long day of searching yesterday. She was examining rocks with Pinkie Pie, not betraying the slightest hint that she was bored from doing so.

"There's Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo told her friends excitedly, pointing at the rainbow-maned pegasus. "She's with Pinkie Pie... looking at rocks?"

Sweetie Belle carefully inspected Pinkie Pie. "Why's her mane flat?"

"That happens when she ain't happy no more," Apple Bloom replied. "Rainbow Dash doesn't look too dandy either, y'know."

"Hmph," Scootaloo mused, ignoring her friends while she approached Rainbow Dash confidently.

"Oh, hey Scootaloo," Rainbow Dash greeted as soon as she noticed Scootaloo, only to go back to looking at rocks immediately after.

Scootaloo, having expected a bit more, stood still for a few moments until Rainbow Dash picked up a rock and showed it to Pinkie Pie. "This is a nice one," Rainbow Dash told her, plopping the rock into Pinkie's bag as she did so.

Pinkie nodded in agreement before they both turned away from each other in order to search for more rocks.

"Searching for rocks isn't one of your hobbies!" Scootaloo complained as he stomped toward Rainbow Dash, interrupting her search quite rudely. "What's going on with you, Rainbow Dash?"

"Nothing," her idol replied. "What makes you think that? I'm perfectly fine."

"You're looking at rocks!" Scootaloo exclaimed in response. "Rocks, Rainbow Dash! Rocks!"

"So? What's wrong with rocks? Besides, I've got nothing better to do," Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Rocks are actually pretty cool, you know. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes!"

"Did Pinkie brainwash you or something?" Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Rocks are like, 100% uncool than you!"

"It's no use, Scootaloo," Sweetie Belle sighed in exasperation, laying a hoof on her friend's shoulder. "Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie's lost it too! How about we go to my big sister's Boutique instead? Maybe Rarity knows something about all of this."

"Alright folks, we're headin' out!" Apple Bloom declared, catching Scootaloo's attention. With one last glance at Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, the trio strolled away from Sugarcube Corner and in the direction of the Carousel Boutique.

"Ugh, I can't believe this," Scootaloo grunted as she trailed behind Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. "How could somepony as cool and awesome as Rainbow Dash like boring, uncool rocks?"

"Calm down now, Scootaloo," Apple Bloom said, slowing down so she could trot side by side with Scootaloo. "We'll get to the bottom of this! Aren't we, Sweetie Belle?"

The unicorn filly nodded.

As soon they approached the Carousel Boutique, the Cutie Mark Crusaders exchanged nervous glances with each other as they noticed the wooden planks completely covering the windows of the shop.

"What in tarnation's goin' on?" Apple Bloom exclaimed in confusion as she stopped in front of the Boutique's door.

"I don't know, Apple Bloom, but it sure doesn't seem good," Sweetie Belle answered nervously, approaching the door with Scootaloo behind her.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Don't keep us out here all day!" Scootaloo remarked harshly, causing Sweetie Belle to slightly tremble at the coldness of Scootaloo's voice before she slowly opened the door and entered, her friends following her lead.

As soon as they entered, loud gasps sounded from them in unison as they took in the disheveled state of the Carousel Boutique.

The lights were dim, making the trio barely able to see anything, and small cobwebs covered the cardboard boxes that were set by the walls. Rarity's pony mannequins - the ones that she enlisted the help of to create her fashion designs - were in tatters, scattered around the room facedown.

Sweetie Belle, taking a moment to adjust to the situation before her, scanned her surroundings in distraught; although having been struck speechless by the shop's horrid condition, she still managed to utter out two words. "Oh no..."