Author's Note

I realize there are long gaps between fighting demons and stuff but honestly that would be kinda boring if it were constant "dungeon after dungeon."

Chapter 8

After lunch, Rarity borrowed the keys to her parents’ SUV. Her parents traveled a lot, she explained, but luckily since they just got a new vehicle she was given the older SUV. It showed since the inside was completely picked clean.

“Now, you girls might remember I mentioned a friend named Sassy,” Rarity said while driving. “Well, she actually has her own boutique downtown, I forget if I mentioned that. Anyway, she tends to have some... interesting stuff, so don't worry if you feel a little overwhelmed. I figured if we're really fighting the legions of hell we better find, well, some heavy-duty clothes.”

“Like what, armor?” Dash snorted. “Did this turn into a video game?”

“Well duh, plus that lunch totally gave me +5 dexterity!” Pinkie said.

“Sure gave me +5 fullness,” Applejack smiled.

“I think ‘legions of hell’ is a bit of an exaggeration,” I said.

“Well, if what Starlight says is true then maybe it's not,” Twilight added.

“How is she anyway?” Fluttershy asked.

“We talked on the phone for about an hour last night,” Twilight replied, sighing. “Before yesterday it was like she didn't care but now that I talked to her she seems to regret what she did. She texted me this morning so she's fine for now.”

I decided to ask the question that was most likely on everyone's mind. “Are you thinking about her joining us?” It certainly got everyone's attention.

“I think it's a little early to decide that,” Dash replied.

“I agree, only Twilight really knows her and honestly, I don't one hundred percent trust her,” Rarity said.

“No I get it,” Twilight said. “Besides she kind of is still in trouble with the police.”

Once we got downtown, Rarity managed to find a parking spot near the boutique. As she had warned, the boutique was very glitz and glamour. The inside even more so.

The entire building looked bigger on the inside. There were clothes, dresses, everything a girl would want. Even I felt my more feminine side coming out.

“Hello, hello!” A woman then came out with dirty blonde hair and wearing a small black dress.

“Oh Rarity you've come and you brought your friends, splendid!”

“Of course,” Rarity said, giving her a hug. “Everyone, this is my friend and fellow seamstress Sassy. Now about what we discussed last night…”

“Oh yes, I just finished the last of the items this morning,” Sassy said. “Now, Rarity didn't quite tell me specifics other than sizes because I know she was trying to spare me the extra time, the kind girl, so I tried to make everything more neutral.”

“Unfortunately Sassy had a few…’ideas’ that didn't quite take off,” Rarity said. “However, after a little sprucing up, I think we can get finally get them off her shoulders.”

“Just give me a moment and be prepared to be dazzled!” She then went into the back and came back with a cart full of clothing and footwear.

“Ahem, the first product I'm showing may look like a simple T-shirt but it's actually made from ripstop fabrics, making these shirts almost impossible to tear and able to regulate your body temperature, keeping you cool when you're hot and warm when you're cold. I also have tank tops and long sleeves available as well.

“For footwear... okay I admit I made this one more for Rarity's taste. One thing I love about high heels is while they're stylish they can really do some damage.”

I just had a weird picture of Rarity in stilettos slamming her heels into a demon's skull pop into my head. It can never be unseen.

“But for anyone else these heavy-duty boots are made from the highest quality of leather and so light on your feet it's like you're wearing sneakers,” Sassy continued.

“Wow I'm not even into fashion and I think feel nice,” Dash said.

“I realize it's not much now but if I get high demand for this maybe I can make new products,” Sassy said. She then grinned. “So what will it be?”

I had to give Sassy credit. Whether or not she knew what was going on, the extra clothing would most likely give us extra protection, and we could hide it beneath our outfits. Most of us went for the tank tops although both Applejack and Dash decided to go for the t-shirts. As for the boots, they were pretty comfy.

Unfortunately Rarity wasn't too thrilled about the bill. “W-W-What!?” she almost yelled. “...Well I suppose I'll pay credit for this since I doubt all of us brought that much money...you all owe me.”

“Hey this was your treat,” Dash reminded her.

Rarity sighed. “Fine...that will be all then.”

“Splendid!” Sassy said. “I only wish I was making these kind of sales more often. Since opening I haven't really had many customers.”

“Well darling perhaps you should uh...lower your prices?” Rarity suggested.

“Oh come now they aren't that high…are they?” Sassy wondered.

“Business is about experimentation and fashion is no different,” Rarity said.

“Well...coming from you Rarity it must be worth a try! Alright, I'll see to lowering prices then and go from there,” Sassy said.

There was silence for a moment as Rarity stared at her expectedly. “Oh, I guess I could give a discount on that as well…”

After getting changed at the shop, we headed back to Rarity's. “I had been thinking since this 'Masked Circle' seems to be targeting large events I looked at the calendar for this weekend and realized there's going to be a Countess Coloratura concert,” Rarity said as we were sitting in the living room.

“Oh my gosh I totally forgot!” Pinkie cried. “And the tickets are probably sold out by now…”

“Actually I managed to score just enough tickets for all of us,” Rarity said with a sly smile.

She was then almost tackled as Pinkie hugged her. “Rarity you are the best ever!”

“Score huh?” Dash asked.

“Get your mind out of the gutter Rainbow nothing like that happened,” Rarity snapped.

“Uh... who's this Countess Coloratura?” Applejack asked.

Everyone stared as Pinkie quickly got in her face. “How can you not know the number one pop idol in the world!?”

“Ah thought that was Sapphire Shores?” Applejack asked.

“Pft, Sapphire Shores wishes she was number one,” Pinkie said with a dismissive gesture.

“Well...Ah did know a gal named Coloratura...though Ah just called her Rara when we were younger…” Applejack then chuckled. “Wouldn't it be something if they were one and the same?”

“So let me get this straight…” Pinkie said. “You've known Countess Coloratura since you were kids...and you didn't tell me!?”

“So you think this concert will be their next target?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

“At this point who knows?” Twilight commented. “But if they do attack and we manage to intercept them in time...all those people will see us.”

“Oh I wouldn't worry about that,” Rarity assured her. “These days, anything can be interpreted as special effects.”

“Well Ah won't let anybody touch Rara,” Applejack said. “Ah'm just glad to hear her music career took off.”

“Once again...how!?” Pinkie yelled at her.

“The concert isn't until tonight but I figured we could try to get there early and scout the area,” Rarity said. “Although honestly I wish somehow the concert could be cancelled.”

“I doubt it'd happen even if you begged her,” Dash said. “Us music stars have a duty to our fans.”

“No offense Rainbow, but Countess Coloratura is in another league,” Fluttershy said.

“That hurts Flutters…”

“It's been so long Ah wonder how she looks…?” Applejack wondered.

Pinkie grinned. “Oh you'll see.”

Unfortunately, security wasn't so willing to let us in. “Listen ladies, we know you want to be the first ones in but we don't open the gates til five o’clock so come back in a few hours,” the guard was saying.

“But the website said these were backstage passes,” Rarity said, quickly making up a story.

“I'm pretty sure they're not…”

“Alright look, we weren't supposed to discuss this but you left us no choice,” Dash said, taking out a piece of paper. “You’ve heard about the recent disappearances right?”

“Yeah so?”

“Well we have authorization from Detective Spitfire from the CPD to be here as as an effort to prevent further crimes from happening,” Dash said, handing over the paper to the guard. “They'd never suspect us and we can catch them in the middle of the act.”

He read the paper and looked back up at us, not totally convinced. “...You guys?”

“Hey I can call her if you want, I got her number,” Dash replied, pulling out her phone. “But if she has to come down here she'll be in a bad mood and you know, she's got quite the temper.”

“Uh...no that's fine.” The guard sighed. “Alright fine but don't get in anyone's way they're still setting up.” He then opened the gate for us.

“...How in the world did you pull that off?” I asked once we were inside.

“Oh just something I came up with on the dot,” Dash replied, grinning.

“So that's what you were doing on the ride over,” Applejack said.

Rarity looked at the paper. “Wow, this is the neatest handwriting I've ever seen Dash do. How did you get Spitfire's signature?”

“I didn't, but thanks for the compliment.”

“You forged it!?” Twilight whispered loudly. “Are you insane!?”

“Oh come on she would've totally played along,” Dash said. “Besides we got in didn't we?”

“Ah have admit that was impressive,” Applejack said.

“So we just need to find her trailer right?” Fluttershy asked.

“She doesn't have a hotel to stay in?” I asked.

“Actually she doesn't stay in hotels mostly,” Pinkie said. “Most of the money she earns goes to charity so she tried to avoid spending as much as she can.”

Applejack smiled. “Yep, that definitely sounds like her.”

Pinkie gasped and pointed. “And she's right over there!”

“...Where exactly?” Applejack asked.

“Right where I'm pointing!”

“All Ah can see is some gal with a...ya can't be serious…” The girl Pinkie was pointing at was wearing black and silver with her hair pulled back and wearing what looked like a silk veil in front of her face.

“I admit her presence is a bit intimidating at first but at the same time there's a mysteriousness to it as well,” Rarity said.

“That ain't the Rara Ah used to know,” Applejack said. “Still... alright Ah'm gonna have a talk with her; it ain't fair to judge not knowing her story.”

“Aren't we trying not to get kicked out?” Twilight asked. But Applejack was already walking over.

“And she says I'm stubborn…” Dash muttered. I could only shrug as we followed her over.

“Uh excuse me...Rara?” Applejack said, getting the girl's attention. “You may not remember me but we went to camp that one time as kids...Ah played the guitar when we did that little number on the last day of camp.”

Coloratura stared at her for a moment and then her eyes widened. “AJ?”

Applejack chuckled. “Aw shucks ya did remember…”

“Of course, how could I forget a friend?” Coloratura said, hugging her. “Wow...Rara...it's been a long time since I've heard that name…” She then lifted back her veil. “How did you get in here anyway?”

“Oh...you know…” Dash replied.

“Listen Ah know this is kind of sudden but...is there anyway you can postpone your concert?” Applejack asked.

“Postpone it? But why?” Rara asked.

“It's just there've been these incidents at these events and Ah'm worried something might happen...to you.”

“AJ I understand your concern but I can't simply postpone it there's too much that's already been planned out. Don't worry though, my manager specifically requested for higher security tonight.”

“And said manager would like to know how these kids got past security?” A man with thick glasses and what looked like like an expensive suit appeared behind them.

“Oh Svengallop,” Rara said. “This is Applejack, an old friend of mine. Uh... how'd you get inside again?”

“Special permission,” Applejack said, glaring at Svengallop slightly.

“Well they can take their 'permission’ and leave since we still have dress rehearsal to attend to, Countess, and I don't recall anyone being allowed access to that.,”

“Oh you're right,” Rara said, sighing slightly. “Sorry AJ I do have to get going. If you're going to the concert tonight maybe we can catch up afterwards.”

“Yeah, Ah’d like that,” Applejack said, forcing a smile. “Talk to you later then Rara.” She didn't show it as we were leaving but I could tell Applejack was fuming.