Première: To show, not tell
Night time in Canterlot is truly a beautiful sight. The capital of ponydom remains still and quiet as the loveliness of Luna’s moon shines upon all those brave enough to hit up the celebrity filled nightlife. The few ponies who slumber through it do not know what they are missing; for this is one of the grandest sights a lady could ever ask for! Oh I’m so grateful I’m allowed to grace this city with my presence once again! The stars are magnificent, the view is magnificent, and the town as a whole is simply fabulous!
“Um, Rare? Help…”
That…however, is not fabulous. This whole situation is most certainly not glamorous in the slightest.
I sigh as I envelop my purple mane companion in the frosty blue glow of my magic. Poor dear can’t fly yet you see, so I have to be the one to lift her up to this vile rooftop. I know a rooftop is not a place one normally visits, but all the same you should not leave what is yours in such a horrid condition! Who knows what could have been up here! Ewewewew! Oh, I would have never set hoof on something so dirty and unclean if given the choice.
Sadly though, rarely are we given choice in our lives. The young dear and I are on this rooftop for a reason, a serious one at that. I am here because of it, the thing that will decide whether I make it in this world or not.
'The Layer' and the ‘Angels’; my grand stage and my top of the line dress…or as most ponies know it, my battlefield and my weapon of choice.
Such a simple thing it seemed at first, a simple toy that I could manipulate to become the talk of the town. It quickly spiraled out of control into pure non-organized chaos, however, when I foolishly failed to see its beauty originally. This sport has engulfed my life now, and I’m unfortunately taking Sweetie Belle’s dear friend along for the ride.
Said friend quickly straightens herself as she approaches my side. “Thanks.”
I give her a sideways glance. “Think nothing of it dear.” Then I hardened my gaze forward. The bell in the distance chimes five times; signifying the change in the hour. It should now be midnight, and we are the only ones on this gable. Well, it appears as though our guest is late. Such a pity; it’s not nice to keep a lady waiting after al-
Clipclopclipclop…
Ah, fashionably late. I can respect that.
A unicorn mare joins us on the rooftop. Her silver mane flashes and glows with the moonlight, and her lime green coat sinks into the darkness of the night. Again, such a pity; green is such an unpleasant color for a pony, and her mane is simply a mess! Is this what Canterlot considers in nowadays?! Oh this will simply not do! Once I’ve made it to the top, they’ll be a few changes around here I can assure yo-
“Rarity of Ponyville I presume.” The unicorn states in an almost threatening manner. Cute.
The darling seems to have a bad habit of interrupting my thoughts. I also find this cute.
I shuffled around in my black turtleneck sweater; my clothing of choice for such a chilly evening. “That would be me dear, and this is my darling assistant Scootaloo.”
The little filly in the matching sweater, always lively even in the dead of night, proceeds to jump up and flutter her wings as hard as she can in a bid to be seen. The unicorn on the opposite side of the rooftop, however, kept glaring at us. Oh I do hope she stops that soon; her lovely face might stick that way!
“You must be Moondancer I presume?” I asked; already well aware of the answer. Who else would be occupying a rooftop at this hour after all?
Moondancer merely scoffed at us. My, she is not making a good first impression to her opponent of all ponies.
“Yeah that’s me. Moondancer; Ranked #13 on the Canterlot Circuit, and your Ranked #29 last I checked, right?” She stomped her hoof in anger. “What the hay are you trying to pull taking on somepony over twice your own rank?! You’re going to get creamed girly!”
Silence filled the field of battle, but it was short lived as Scootaloo I started laughing. I held a hoof to my lips in order to hide my ladylike chortle, but always energetic Scootaloo quickly fell on her back and kept kicking herself into circles in her fit. Quite an adorable sight if I do say so myself.
It seems Moondancer did not like our pleasantries. “W-what in Celestia’s name are you two laughing about?!”
Deciding to let her in on the secret, I allowed the last few chuckles to escape my system before responding. “Well, Ms. Moondancer, you see Scootaloo and I placed a friendly wager after our last fight. We are both used to the accusations that we are ‘out of our league’ by this point, as all our opponents have said the same every time, but it is always said to us in new and imaginative ways! So, Scootaloo has won the bet by perfectly predicting that you would use the word ‘creamed’ in your dialog. I voted for ‘uncouth,’ so I have lost and now owe her an ice cream cone, where the other way around would involve her cleaning my store. I must say, I’m quite disappointed in you Ms. Moondancer. I would have thought a Canterlot pony, let alone a unicorn, would have used more civilized words when addressing others.”
Oh deary me; that seemed to set her off.
She looked absolutely furious. “You…you! I will destroy you!” With that ‘threat’ she quickly levitated a familiar looking pair of goggles and matching headband to her head. “Well? What are you waiting for girly? Pull it out!”
“My my; such impatience Ms. Moondancer. That is not befitting of a lady.”
Scootaloo continued her giggling as I continued my jabs at Moondancer. This will be infinitely more amusing then what’s to come you see.
“S-shut up!” Barked Moondancer. “J-just pull out your damn ‘Angel’ already lady so I can be on my way!”
I raised my muzzle into the air. “Hhmp! Well, awfully rude for the one who chose our time and place. Midnight on a rooftop? Really? Dear, and I really shouldn’t have to tell you this, but someponies need their beauty sleep.”
Her giggles finally running out, my little filly assistant grumbled to herself. “I don’t want any beauty sleep…”
“Well, even if that wasn’t the case Scootaloo darling, I feel just awful for having to keep a young filly up this late at night. So you see Ms. Moon-”
Steam exited the dear’s nostrils. My word, for whatever reason is she angry about? Oh, wait, that's right. It because of me, and I'm enjoying it ever so.
“Quit, talking, and, fight me!” She once again snarled.
I offered her a little bow. “Oh, but I must insist that you be the first one ‘up to bat’ as they say. I’m sure you want to show off your Pegasus or Griffon ‘Angel’ so badly. I wouldn’t want to spoil its grand entrance! *gasp* I’d dare say it would go against my very nature if I were to deny you that!”
Moondance blinked from behind her visor. “H-how did…”
Scootaloo quickly cut her off. “How did we know you have a flying ‘Angel’? Well, you did call us out to the rooftop of Pony Joes’ for our battle. Not much to do here unless you have a pair of wings to take advantage of the extra space! Rarity didn’t even need me to tell her that!”
I quickly patted the dear on the head. “Oh there there Scootaloo; your always very helpful! Don’t ever belittle yourself, understood?”
My assistant blushes wildly. “T-thank you Rar-”
“Oh gag me with a spoon!” Moondancer called out, making a motion like she was about to shove her hoof down her throat. “Knock off that damn drama and fight me already!”
On command, Moondancer’s saddle bag suddenly burst opened and a small object started circling her head. With the light of the moon illuminating all, the object appeared to be a stripped bare Pegasus doll that lacked a mane, tail, or any defining features. It remained flouting by Moondancer’s head; waiting further orders from its master’s mind.
Moondancer began her obviously rehearsed speech. “This is my Bullet, maggot, and it wil-”
Before she could finish, I shrieked out in horror, causing her to jump and Scootaloo to roll her eyes.
My eyes were wide in shock. “Oh my goodness! W-what have you done to that poor ‘Angel’?!”
Moondancer looked at the monstrosity she dared to call her ‘Angel’ and shrugged. “I just made it more aerodynamic.”
I nearly fainted! “I can see that darling, but you did it at the cost of its soul! No, Ms. Moondancer, I’m afraid this is unacceptable. I’m afraid this fight has become personal now.” I stomped my hoof to finalize my decision.
Moondancer’s face went a darker shade of red in anger. “What’s that supposed to mean?!”
My own saddle bags were shrouded with the radiance of magic as I began to fish out my own goggles and headband. Tacky though they may be, I’ve grown used to them over the past few weeks. “What I mean, Ms. Moondancer, is that I was not looking forward to this ‘brawl’ at all. I enjoy showcasing my talents in front of an audience; with a crowd whose breath I take away with my very attendance! A solo competition such as this is simply of no interest to me, so I was hoping to beat you and be on my way.”
She made a motion as if to object, but I held out a hoof to silence her. “But don’t you fret dear; your hideous ‘Angel’ has changed my mind. You will now be esteemed by my full strength. Maybe seeing an ‘Angel’ of such beauty as mine will help you see the error of your ways.”
Ah, red looks so much better on Ms. Moondancer. Placing the angelic visor upon my head, I quickly began the show.
From my second saddle bag, my ‘Angel’ burst forth in a brilliant display of movement. The crimson suit wrapped around its frame shined in the moonlight, it's pink mane and long robotic wires waved in the night air as she made her descent, and with a resounding ‘clank’ she righted herself at my side. With a quick twirl on her hooves; she cleaned herself of the dust that had collected on her and readied herself into a battle stance. Though she only comes up to my knee cap, she was my prized creation; an ‘Angel’ with pose and grace, yet fast and strong. A true lady is never defenseless you see. Her entrance encapsulates all these beliefs and, as Scootaloo’s critical eye scanned the performance and rewarded me with an approving nod, it was just as wondrous and awe-inspiring as it always was.
Lifting up a hoof, my ‘Angel’ jumped up into my grasp. "This is my Hikaru. Quite an interesting name, isn’t it? In Neighpon, it means ‘glowing’ or ‘shining’; a perfect name for something that came from me.” I smiled at my assistant. “Darling little Scootaloo came up with that one.”
“Aw, it was no problem Rar- *yawn*”
“Oh my; I guess I really should wrap this up, shouldn’t I? You parent’s will be awfully sore at me if I let a filly your age stay up any later than this.” I returned my attention to the fuming Moondancer. “I’m sorry dear; but let’s get this over with, shall we?”
Moondancer attempted to say something but it seems a cat caught her tongue. I imagine I am simply making her too angry to speak. Well, if she wanted ‘nice’ Rarity she wouldn’t have tried to challenge me at midnight.
Something dawned on me at this moment. “Oh my, I almost completely forgot. Scootaloo, dear? Can you set up ‘The Layer’ for us?”
Scootaloo nodded groggily as she reached into her own saddle bag and brought out a shining blue gem. With no abandon, she hurled it into the sky above us and it exploded into a brilliant rainbow of colors. The sparks quickly faded to the ground as a dome took shape between Moondancer and me, completing ‘The Layer’. Excellent, the field has been set; time to work my magic.
Taking her ‘Angel’ into her green magic hold, Moondancer flung it into the barrier. “Bullet! Take her down!”
Why am I not surprised? “*Sigh* Really darling? That’s your entry phrase? It’s almost as brash and clunky as my friend Rainbow Dash’s.”
I think I’ve about hit the limit of Moondancer’s tolerance. “Cram it lady!”
Another sigh escapes my lips. “Ah, why can’t this sport have more refined ponies in it like me? Very well; Ms. Moondancer I’m afraid I’ve had enough of you this evening and it has become quite apparent that you have had enough of me. Let us end this shifty.”
I sat on my haunches, fought desperately to ignore how dirty this rooftop is, and gripped Hikaru in both my hoofs gently. I refuse to sully her with my magic or to fling it haphazardly as others fling theirs. No, Hikaru must enter ‘The Layer’ gracefully as an actual angel; she must soar on the wings I foolishly took from her.
Throwing her into the air, I allowed Hikaru to fly.
“Angel Wings! Please guide me and Hikaru!”
Hikaru flew through the air with grace before spiraling into the dome. As she pressed through the protective shield, she corrected herself and landed majestically on her hoofs. The beauty of her entry was lost on the lime green unicorn, who simply laughed it off.
“Hahaha! Oh, who are you to be criticizing my own entry when yours sucks just as badly?!”
With half-lidded eyes, Scootaloo responded. “Ms. Moondancer?”
She shot her a glare that the poor filly neither earned nor paid attention to. “What is it kid?”
“Three, two, one, *yawn* go.”
“…what?”
Moondancer’s Bullet was quickly assaulted with a flurry of bucks and punches from Hikaru. The dear tried to correct herself by mentally ordering her ‘Angel’ to retreat to the sky, but once you’ve been captured by my darling Hikaru, well then the game is simply over I’m afraid.
“N-not fair!” Moondancer sputtered, trying desperately to correct her mistake.
I remained sitting as I moved Hikaru with my mind; our bodies becoming one and her punches my punches as our pace increased. “I’m truly sorry dear, but once both ‘Angels’ have entered the arena, the battle is on. Scootaloo only reminded you of this and nothing more.”
Another yawn escaped Scootaloo’s lips. “Air, En I’ Rare.”
“Ah, thank you dear.” I replied, nodding to her. There's a reason she's by my side.
With a quick mental push, Hikaru danced to the music within my mind. She jumped skywards as Bullet tried to make a hasty retreat. With a quick grab, the pegasus ‘Angel’ was quickly subdued and brought back to the rooftop harshly, leaving an indent.
Any redder and Moondancer’s face may give Big Macintosh a run for his bits. “C-cheaters!”
I tilted my head to the side and Hikaru did the same. “Where have I cheated darling?”
“Y-you had help!”
“You were allowed help as well dear.”
“You started the fight early!”
“No, you started it late, and not fashionably either.”
“Y-you…you!!”
I raised a hoof and cut her off once more. “Dear, look at your screen. It’s already over.”
Just as the words left my lips, Bullet’s life bar disappeared from my vision as she was crushed into tiny pieces of plastic; small sparks of magic leaving the remains. Hikaru, meanwhile, returned to me without a scratch on her. As she exited the layer, the dome collapsed in on itself and returned to a blue gem once again. In the spatial distortion left behind in its wake, the rooftop was repaired and Moondancer’s Bullet retuned to its original, and ugly, state.
Moondancer punched the rooftop with a hoof. “D-damn it…”
Scootaloo trotted over and picked up the blue gem with her teeth. After stashing it away in her lightning bolt saddle bag, she approached Moondancer. “Hey, Moonsomething, *yawn* cough up the ranking pin… please.”
The unicorn grumbled as she tossed the pin marked #13 in front of Scootaloo with a flare of her horn. Scootaloo quickly stashed it away and placed our #29 pin in front of her before returning to our side of the rooftop.
I levitated the dear’s tired form onto my back. “Thank you darling. I’ll make sure to get your ice cream tomorrow.”
She grumbled something before curling up into a ball and falling asleep. Darling reminds me so much of my Sweetie; no wonder the two became fast friends.
As I levitated my visor off my head and quickly combed my hair, I bowed to Moondancer before exiting the rooftop. Oh I’m sure she swore some profanity before I left but I couldn’t care less. Another battle successfully won and another major jump in the rankings. I am getting one step closer to my goal.
“Zzzzzz…”
While I listened to the filly's steady snoring, I reflected back on how this whole mess started; how these dolls had, overnight, become my whole world. How I rose up from the ashes of failure and become even more radiant then I was before, and how Scootaloo and I became fast friends ourselves over the most unlikely of shared interests.
Yes; truly this has become a hectic month.
…but looking at the little filly resting on my back, I couldn’t be happier.
And I owe it all…
…to the Angelic Layer.
A Rare Scoot: Twin Princesses of the Layer
A Fictional Story by Manlyderp.
I do not own Hasbro’s MLP or Clamp’s Angelic Layer
One Month Earlier…
Deuxième: To show and tell
Carousel Boutique; a month prior.
“Thread by thread, stitching it together~ Mmmmm mmm mmmm mm mm mmmm mm…annnnddddd finished! ~”
Trotting over to the nearby table, I removed my work glasses and took a long sip of my herbal tea. Sitting down, I admired my work.
Twenty-eight fabulous dresses. Celestia knows how long I’ve been at it. Hoity Toity paid me to have these dresses sewed up and individually designed by the end of the month, but once I’m in ‘the zone’ nothing can stop me! Oh I do hope none of my friends have worried about me; despite it being a backhoofed comment from Rainbow, I’m alleged to believe that I can be ‘worst then Twilight during a study session’ if given the chance. But now that these are done, I am free for the rest of the month to pursue and work on other ventures. Ah, this will be a lovely boost to my business for sure!
Knock knock knock!!
Oh! Somepony has finally come to check up on me. “Coming! ~”
Opening the door with my magic, I was greeted by…my darling Sweetie Belle?
“Hi Rarity!” My little sister chirps happily.
“Oh, why hello there Sweetie. You’re awfully early! Wasn’t mother and father supposed to drop you off this weekend?”
Sweetie was already halfway up the stairs, to put her bags away in her room, when she stopped to give me a curious look.
“Sis? It is the weekend…”
My eyes widened as I glimpsed at the calendar. “My word! B-but I started these on Monday! Oh the girls must be so worried…Sweetie? Did you have plans with the crusaders today? I would really appreciate it if you played with them while I catch up with my own friends.”
The dear came hopping down the stairs with the saddlebags I made for her strapped to her sides. “Sure thing sis! I’ve got to catch up with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo anyways. We’ve got sooo much to talk about and new crusading ideas to share!”
I chuckled at Sweetie’s enthusiasm. I’ll never understand where she gets all this energy from. “Well you have fun then dear. We’ll catch up ourselves later. You simply must tell me how your trip to Prance went!”
Sweetie stopped her bouncing and started shaking. “Yuck. I’d rather not. So many mimes…”
She shuttered one last time before approaching the door. It was then that I noticed that one of her saddlebags had been left opened. Oh dear, with all that hopping she did earlier she must have lost a thing or two. Bringing my acute eyes to the stairs, I scanned it and quickly found an item she had forgotten.
It was a small toy shaped like a tiny unicorn. Its mane was short and silver and it was dressed in a dark blue vest with a light blue cape. Over its eyes lay a simple blue visor, its shockingly realistic fur was a cyan coloring, and it appeared that it was a colt. My goodness; such detail and fashion sense on a simple toy! Maybe Sweetie has picked up a thing or two from me after all!
I called out to her. “Sweetie, wait! You forgot your doll here!”
At my voice, Sweetie quickly trotted back inside and yanked the doll out of my magic grip.
“It’s not a doll!” She squeaked.
I raised an eyebrow at this. “Really Sweetie? Do I have to treat you like a colt and call it an action figure? There’s nothing to be ashamed of; why, I had plenty of dolls at your age! Some of which I designed little dresses for like you did for yours. It’s very nice by the way, you should be proud!”
She blushes at my praise. “T-thanks sis, but I didn’t make it. I bought the outfit for my ‘Angel’.”
“And you call it your angel! How adorable! ~”
Sweetie turned a bright red. “T-that’s just what they’re called! His name’s Wizard and, oh why am I even trying to explain this to you? Rarity, you need to get out more!”
With that last shrill comment, Sweetie dashed out the door once again, this time with ‘Wizard’ in tow. Well that was awfully rude! Does she honestly expect me to be on top of the latest toy trends as well as the latest fashion? The two simply do not mix I’m afraid! Humph, I shouldn’t dwell on this any longer; I need to find my friends. Maybe darling Fluttershy will be in the mood for an early spa day…
…
After combing my hair and making sure I was as lovely as ever, I strapped on my own saddlebags and took to the town. Let me think, it’s the afternoon so Applejack’s stall should still be open. Excellent! This will allow me to not only chat with her, but also hear the latest rumors and stories circulating around the marketplace. I’ve been out of touch with the town for almost an entire week now! Certainly something exciting must have happened in that tim-
“Look out!” cried a young filly.
I turned my head just in time to spot an orange blur heading my way at high speeds. No, more importantly I witnessed an orange blur heading my way at high speeds…towards a mud puddle! I am not liking where this is going.
Jumping backwards, I narrowly dodged the inevitable splash. Phew! That would have simply ruined my day.
The orange blur moaned from her crash zone. “Ugh. If it’s not tree sap its either sweat or mud; why can’t I ever be covered in chocolate or liquid rainbow...?”
With a quick flare of my horn, the dear was brought back to her feet and her toy was retrieved as well. Wait, I recognize this; it’s a scooter! So that must mean this is…
“Are you ok Scootaloo?” I asked the mud incrusted filly.
Still a little dizzy, the dear nodded a response. “Y-yeah I am Ms. Rarity. Sorry for almost splashing you…”
“Yes, well, do try to be more careful… for your own sake that is! Wouldn’t want Sweetie’s friend to get hurt after all ha-ha.”
I may be the element of generosity, but that does not mean I don’t have my own selfish moments every now and then. No lady is perfect after all; they simply give off the illusion of being perfect.
Readjusting her worn out saddlebags, Scootaloo looked a bit better now. “Um, I will. Oh! Speaking of Sweetie, is she back from her trip yet?”
I offered her a warm smile. “Why yes, she showed up a little while ago before speeding off. She should be at your little clubhouse by now I dare say.”
“Ok! Thanks Rarity!”
With that she jumped back on her scooter and buzzed away. Ah Scootaloo; quite the curious little filly. Of Sweetie’s friends, she’s the one I know the least about, yet she was her very first friend here. I know quite a bit about Apple Bloom thanks to my friendship with Applejack, but Scootaloo’s parents aren’t anyponies I personally know; they mostly keep to themselves. They don’t have any rumors floating around about them that would make me nervous or cautious either. They’re just normal weatherponies doing normal weatherpony work I suppose.
Zoom!
Aha, speaking of weatherponies. I’d recognize that rainbow trail anywhere…but it seems a tad closer to the ground then what I normally see Dash flying. Oh no; has the dear broken a wing again while I was in ‘the zone’?! No no, that can’t be right. If it was then somepony would have gotten me posthaste.
The rainbow trail suddenly took a U-turn and heads my way. After a few seconds Rainbow Dash is trotting right alongside me.
“Hey Rare!” She greets me. “Where have you been?”
I greet her as well as we continued our trotting. It’s so odd to see Rainbow actually trotting next to you; I can’t even remember a time where she wasn’t flying or at least hovering next to somepony.
“Hello to you as well Rainbow. I’ve sadly been cooped up inside my boutique for the last week, desperately trying to finish a massive order. But it’s finally finished now, so I can socialize and see you girls again. Tell me, where are you ‘trotting’ off to today?”
“Just off to see Applejack. She owes me a fight.”
Why am I not surprised? I pretended to be just that however. “Goodness! Whatever are you two fighting about now?”
“For fun.”
“…come again dear?”
She stopped and quickly shrugged nonchalantly with her shoulders. Strange, she usually uses her wings to do that. “Well Applejack beat me the first time, then I beat her the second, but she came back and beat me harder so now I want to do best three out of five.”
“Wait, she beat you up?!” I gasped.
Rainbow stopped again and rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. “Yeah, she beat me pretty hard. I’ve been trying to improve my fighting technique, but once you ground me it’s pretty much game over…”
My world was spinning; how much did I miss?! “Ground you?! She grounded you?! T-that monster! I thought we were friends! I was wondering why you were trotting with me today.” I gripped her in a tight hug, rewarding strange looks from passersby in the marketplace. I cared not. “There there dear; we’ll get through this together.”
“…Rare? Why are you hugging me?”
“Shhhhhh, it’s ok dear. Though you’re flying days are behind you, I will do my best to make you soar to even greater heights in the fashion world.”
Rainbow was silent for a moment before bursting into tears of…laughter?
“Hahaha! Oh Rare; and here I thought Pinkie was the random one!”
“W-what?”
Dash broke the hug and flared out her wings; a series of small objects remained in her grasp as she folded them back up “My wings are just fine! I’m just not flying because I lost my saddlebags somewhere, so I have to carry my stuff under my wings. I think they’re in a random cloud somewhere, but I haven’t spotted them yet.”
Ah there’s the Ranbow Dash I know and…tolerate. At least that hasn’t changed in the week I was out of it. Her response did not answer my earlier question thought. “Oh, I see now darling; but what was this nonsense about Applejack grounding you then?”
We resumed trotting. “Just describing how she usually beats me up in the ‘Layer’ Rare.”
I blinked. “The what?”
Rainbow looked at me blankly. “…you really need to get out more.”
I pouted. Twice today I’ve been accused of being left out of the loop, it’s not fair! I told her as much. “I cannot help it if my work has caused me to become unaware of the world around me Dash! Humph ~, I suppose I’ll just follow you and see what this ‘Layer’ thing is for myself.”
She shrugged. “Meh. You’ll probably just say that it’s,” she performed a horrid impression of myself. “‘Not my cup of tea’ or something girly like that.”
I pouted again. My eyes darted around Rainbow’s figure in a desperate attempt to find something I could use against her. They landed on the object in her left wing.
Grasping at straws, I began my attack. “Ah, well at least I’m enough of a lady to know when she’s too old to be playing with… dolls?”
I had to double check to be certain that what I saw was correct. Yes…yes I’m quite sure that is what she has cradled in her wings right now. Rainbow Dash, Wonderbolt hopeful and self-proclaimed daredevil pony, was trotting around with a doll in her wing. She wasn’t even attempting to hide it!
She glanced at the item in question and shrugged once more. “Yeah, so?”
I looked at her quizzingly. “Dear…it’s a doll.”
“No, it’s my ‘Angel’.
There’s that word Sweetie Belle used earlier again. This only furthers my point.
“It’s a toy.” I told her.
“An awesome toy, but yes.”
“Dear, what would the Wonderbolts say if they knew you still played with toys? I’d imagine they wouldn’t be inclined to allow somepony as juvenile as that on their team.”
“They have their own indorsed ‘Angels.’”
I blinked twice. “Oh. Well there obviously not pla-”
“They did a themed show with them yesterday.”
I had just about reached my limit.
“Oh that is preposterous! Why would an air team be playing with dolls, and how could they make a show out of it?”
Rainbow rolled her eyes and laughed at my expense once more. “Like I said Rare, you need to get out more.”
Before I could positively blow my lid, a hardy voice cried out. “Well howdy there Rare, Dash! What brings y’all around to these here parts?”
Thank goodness, a sane pony to talk to.
“Hello there Applejack.” I greeted. “I was on my way to visit you when I bumped into Rainbow Dash and started having the most curious of conversations.”
“Was it about ‘Layers’ and ‘Angels’ sugercube?” She asked me.
I was taken aback. “Why, yes. How…?”
She laughed in her normal good-mannered way while Rainbow kept snorting and giggling behind me. Just what one would expect of Rainbow Dash I suppose.
Applejack started to say. “Rare, ya nee-”
But I cut her off. “Need to get out more. Yes yes I’ve been reminded that quite a bit today. I’m starting to feel like Twilight!”
All three of us shared a laugh at the joke. We love that girl ever so, but that doesn’t stop it from being true.
“As ah was tryin’ to say Rare,” Applejack started again. “We’ve been wonderin’ when you’d come out of your dress shop and learn about what’s been goin’ down while you were out of it. Ya see, there’s this new toy an’ game that’s captured the hearts and minds of all of Equestira an-”
This time Rainbow cut her off. “Yeah yeah; leave the eggheady explanation for the eggheads. I’m just going to show her!”
With that Rainbow’s right wing lifted up and a blue gem fell out into her outstretched hoof. Quite a curious gem; it glowed as if it were filled with magic and the make of it almost made it appear artificial. Before I could observe it any longer though, Rainbow hurled it into the air. Applejack took a step back as the gem exploded and rained sparks down in a neat pattern in the middle of the square. A dome materialized around Applejack’s stand, completely incasing it. This shocked me, while angering Applejack.
“Dag nab it Rainbow!” She cried. “You know I can’t play durin’ my rounds!”
“Oh…opps.” Rainbow smiled sheepishly. “Don’t suppose...?”
“Your ‘Layer’, your problem sugercube.”
“…darn it.”
I was completely flabbergasted. “I-I-I-I w-w-w…”
My two friends shared a quick glance at each other before laughing at my expense once again.
“For land’s sake Rare.” Applejack remarked. “You’re a unicorn! Stuff like this shouldn’t even faze you!”
I stomped a hoof at Apple’s comment. “There’s a difference in using a horn and using a gem dear! One you can do and the other you simply can’t! Please excuse me for being a little surprised over what little understanding of magic I had being overruled so harshly!”
Applejack took off her Stetson and rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. “Er, sorry Rare. If it makes you feel any better, this right here is the ‘Layer’ thing everpony’s talkin’ about.”
That did not make me feel any better, because it only raised an even more vital question.
“Everypony?!”
While bouncing on the dome like she would a cloud, Rainbow answered me. “Yeah! Everypony! ‘Layers’ and ‘Angels’ are kinda the only thing ponies are talking about this week. Man, it feels soooo weird to be the one telling you that you’re behind the times Rare!”
“Behind the times?!”
I felt Apple’s hoof touch my silky white shoulder. “Rare, calm down now girl.”
“Calm down?!” I shouted. “How do you expect me to ‘calm down’ when, while I was creating fashion, the whole world went crazy and started making magic bubbles and dolls into the hip new thing?! It’s like our darling Derpy and her daughter are running Equestria now!”
Pop!
“Eek!” I jumped as a loud noise startled me. I turned around and witnessed that the dome was gone and that Rainbow was lying flat on the ground with a static-y mane and the blue gem in her mouth.
She spat the gem out and weakly replied, “Got it…” before passing out.
“…Darn it Rainbow.” Applejack muttered. She returned her attention to me. “I’m sorry Rare, but I’ve got to take care of this. Go talk to the other girls if you want answers about how the world gone and went as ‘crazy’ as yer sayin’ it did.”
With that, Applejack closed up shop and trotted away with Rainbow on her back. I don’t know what to make of it all. So a ‘Layer’ was that odd dome, and ‘Angels’ are the toys Sweetie Belle and Rainbow were carrying, and there is a game one plays with them? The remark about the Wonderbolts throws me for a loop, and the fact that even Applejack knew about it means that it’s almost common knowledge! My word! This is an even bigger problem than I originally thought. I need to see the other girls right away in order to straighten this up.
Let me think; Twilight would make the most sense, but she would most likely just give me an ‘info dump’, as Rainbow calls it, and simply confuse me even further.
Fluttershy’s house is too far away and I fear that she might be just as lost as I am. If this is a game that Applejack and Rainbow Dash enjoy enough to play repeatedly, then it might be too violent for dear Fluttershy to handle. The idea is simply preposterous though; playing violently with dolls? Yet, that’s the only way I can explain why those two would find it enjoyable.
I guess that would leave Pinkie Pie then. That works out for me; Pinkie has a habit of showing up while I’m shopping anyways. I can get my chores done and learn what in Celestia’s name is going on here.
…
Oh…oh my.
I should not have cut through the parkway on my way to get lunch. Those domes were everywhere here. Children, adults, cults, mares; it apparently mattered not for this game. The scene was always the same no matter where I looked; two ponies would be standing on opposite sides of the dome from each other, they would both be wearing these tacky goggles and headbands on their heads that resembled a pink visor with little white pegasus wings decorated on the side of it, and in the center of the dome…well I don’t know what to think.
Dolls were locked in what appeared to be mortal combat. There were so many different kinds of them, and they all wore such ‘unique’ costumes. I say ‘unique’ because all of them looked more geared towards the casual side of fashion and not the formal. While some were interesting to look at, some were downright hideous!
For once in my life, however, I was not focusing on the clothing. I was more engrossed in the movement of the actual dolls. Not a hint of a glow was about them, meaning they were not being manipulated with magic. Even if it was some form of invisible magic, rarely was the competition between two unicorns. Earth pony, unicorn, pegasus, cow, mule, donkey; it once again mattered not! It must be the visors, but how can such a thing be possible? Oh, I’m afraid I will require Twilight’s aid in solving this riddle now. How can something like this just pop up in only the span of a single we-
“Hi Rarity!”
“Eek!”
For the second time today, I was startled by a loud noise. I should have known better than to wonder about how something could just pop up out of nowhere. When you think things like that your pretty much summoning Pinkie Pie.
I straightened myself before addressing my pink friend. “Why, hello there Pinkie.”
Pinkie bounced around in her usual way. Ah so much energy, how I’m envious. “Hi again Rarity! Did you come here to play some Angelic Layer like everypony else? Oh I hope you did! Everypony stopped playing with me when I keep beating them! I didn’t mean to, but that’s just how the games played! Fluttershy understands that at least, but she’s the only one whose ever beaten me…and everypony else! She’s missing now by the way, some say forever…but I don’t believe those ponies! Anyways, I need some fresh meat Rare, so come on and whip it out already! Please? Pleasepleasepleasepleaseple-”
Placing one of my hoofs over her mouth, I quickly saved my ears from further assault. My Celestia, she’s even more perky then usual! Upon further inspection, I noted that she also had the same goggles on her head as everypony else as well as an ‘Angel’ on her back. It looked like a miniature version of herself, except with darker colors and a straighter mane. It was wearing a simple pink shirt with a balloon on it.
Seeing that I was staring at it, Pinkie took a step away from my hoof in order to talk again. “Oh you like my ‘Angel’ Rare? I call it Mini-me and its super-fast and jumps really high and it can do this awesome pile driver and and…”
Another hoof to the mouth cut her off again.
“Pinkie Pie!” I pleaded. “Please wait! I’m so very, very confused! I’ve been out of it for an entire week and suddenly dolls are all the rage! What is Angelic Layer? Why is everypony playing it? Did you say Fluttershy plays it as well and that’s she’s missing?! How can one move a doll around like that without magic?! Oh, I’ve too many questions and not enough answers!”
Pinkie Pie giggled as she moved my hoof away for a second time. “Heheh, oh Rare; you need to get out-”
“Ugh!” I roared. Pinkie kept giggling.
A young voice called out. “Ms. Pinkie? Do you want to play a game? I finally got my pirate ‘Angel’ just the way I want it!”
Pinkie turned her head. “Coming Pipsqueak!” She returned to me. “I’ve got to go Rare! Maybe you should talk to Twilight? She’s more obsessed with Angelic Layer then the rest of us combined! Although. I don’t think she actually plays…*gasp* unless she plays in secret with Spike!” Her eyes narrowed. “Clever girl…”
And with that Pinkie bounced off to go play with a white and brown spotted earth pony colt. Oh my, I think I will most certainly have a headache by the end of the day at this rate. My spa visit can’t come any sooner…
…
Knock knock knock!
“Coming!” Cried a young man’s voice on the opposite side of the door. Soon my little Spikey Wikey opened it for me.
“Oh, hi Rarity! Haven’t seen you in a while!”
“Nor have I you Spike! I’ve been absolutely swamped at work and have been unable to visit anypony. This has, sadly, left me blind to the world around me and caused me to have quite a shock when I discovered that all of Equestira is obsessing over dolls of all things! Tell me, do you know anything about this Angelic Layer game dear?”
Spike’s face curled up into an adorable frown. “Only that I’m not allowed to play it.”
A voice yelled out behind him. “It’s too violent Spike! You’re better off reading like me!”
“Oh, is Twilight in, Spike? May I go see her?” I asked.
Spike grumbled to himself a bit as he opened the door up and allowed me passage into his and Twilight’s home. Twilight was, as usual, snout deep into a tome. She put it down when I entered.
“Hello Rarity!” She beamed. “What brings you here?”
“Oh darling, I’m ever so lost! I haven’t left my home in over a week and when I finally leave it I discover that all our friends, as well as most of Ponyville, are playing with dolls! Please, dear, do you think you could shed some light on all this for me?”
Twilight got up from her spot and led me to a clean table. “Certainly! I suppose somepony like you would be quite confused if they weren’t around when all this went down. Now…”
With a quick flare of her horn a familiar looking gem, goggle and headband piece set, and a tiny purple alicorn doll with a flowing white gown were brought to the table with her magenta magic.
I huffed. “Oh Twilight, please tell me you’re not into to this game as well.”
She shook her head. “Nope, I’m only fascinated in the technology. I think the game is a big waste of time.”
Spike grumbled some more. “Yeah, a fun waste of time…”
She shot him a look before continuing. “Anyways, these ‘toys’ are the most advance magical and neurological feat of scientific ingenuity in our generation! They’ve actually been in Neighpon for almost a year by this point, but Equestira is only now receiving them.”
“Ah huh.” I nodded my head in understanding.
She continued. “You see, while the goggles provide statistical feedback for the game, the headband allows a mental link to be established between the wearer and the doll, allowing somepony to move the doll, or ‘Angel’ as it’s called, as if she’s moving her own limbs!”
“Ah huh.”
“The downside of this, however, is that it establishes a physical bond as well. So, to avoid pain from reaching the ‘Deus’, which is what they call those who control ‘Angels’, we use the blue gem to form a ‘Layer’!
“Ah huh.”
“This ‘Layer’ cuts off the physical link but keeps the mental one intact. All the ‘Layers’ out there have also been enchanted with a publicly available version of Starswirl the Bearded’s time manipulating spell! This allows the ‘Angels’ to recover after you play the game, and repairs damages done to the surrounding area as long as it’s not organic. That’s why I don’t let you play Spike! It’s too dangerous!”
Spike grumbled some more while I nodded my head again. “Ah huh.”
“Oh, but I haven’t got to the best part yet! The ‘Angels’ themselves are amazing!”
She placed the goggle and headband set on her head and started moving the doll in front of me without the aid of magic. It flew around her head as she resumed. “Their strong and durable and highly customizable! Apparently, and this is my favorite part, they’re based off a cloned version of the Changeling’s transformation powers!”
“Ah huh.”
She had begun bouncing in place. “Yes! This allows anypony, right after purchasing it, to transform it once into whatever race or form they want it to be! I turned mine into an alicorn like the princess and made it look like myself…do you think that was a little vain of me Rarity?”
“Ah huh.”
“…Rarity? Are you even paying attention?”
“Oh…oh I’m dreadfully sorry dear. All the science and magic terms flew right over my head.”
Twilight pouted. “I tried to avoid science and magic terms this time Rarity.”
“Oh, yes, I suppose you did. I’m so sorry Twilight, but I still fail to see why all of Equestria is so obsessed with these toys.”
Spike added to the conversation. “Oh well that’s easy.”
I lifted my head up. “It is?”
A magazine was levitated up to me as Twilight took over once more. “It’s because of the combined efforts of Fancypants, Spitfire, and Sapphire Shores. They…”
“WHAT?!” I screamed as I yanked the magazine out of her magic grip. “How, where, when?!”
Twilight took a step back. “Yes…those three have been promoting the game ever since it made it over here.”
My very world was crumbling. “Why?! Why would a business stallion, a stunt flying captain, and a fashion model advertise a toy?! The same toy I might add!”
I think I was starting to make Twilight nervous. I tried to calm my rage enough for her to attempt to answer me.
“W-well, I know Spitfire wrote something about it encouraging team play, friendly competition, and helping to promote sports and active play in a different light.”
Objection dear, I spot a contradiction in that statement! “Active play?! But everypony was just standing around when I trotted through the park today!”
She kicked a hoof. “I think she was referring to how a pony moves the doll. To play the game properly, you need to have an understanding of karate, yoga, dancing, or any other field of movement that requires rigorous practice.” With a quick nod, she commanded her ‘Angel’ to perform a few loop-d-loops in midair. “And if you choose a flying ‘Angel’ then you need to understand how to fly. This gave me some excellent books to look up and read! I would also hazard a guess and claim that ‘Angels’ are being used as a learning tool right now to help teach younger pegasi how to move their wings properly before they’re strong enough to fly!”
I watched her ‘Angel’ soar through the air. I’ll admit, it was rather impressive. “Ok, fine. I understand why Spitfire is promoting it now, but what about the others?”
“Well Fanypants promotes it because of the friendship portion of the game. As with any game, it helps you meet a lot of different ponies who share similar interests.”
“Ah yes, I can imagine Fancy doing just that, but Shores? Now there is a pony that I simply do not see playing with toys.”
“Well she might be promoting it because of the fashion line.”
Something inside me suddenly snapped. “Fashion line?! Why does a toy have its own fashion line?!
Twilight shrank under my gaze. “W-well, yes. It’s all about customizing them after all. Someponies prefer that their ‘Angels’ looks nice, I guess, and others would even go so far as to claim that it’s the most important part of the game.”
Ah, some semblance of sense…too bad it’s not much. “Well yes darling, looking ones best is crucial, but not for dolls! A pony that puts a toy over herself is simply insane.”
“Oh…well.” she chuckled to herself. “I guess I understand why Photo Finish is having that contest now.”
My mind went blank. “…what was that dear?”
Twilight was picking up her tome and returning to her reading spot when she answered. “Photo Finish will be in Ponyville again tomorrow and she’ll be holding an Angelic Layer contest. She wants to find somepony here who has,” she waved her hoof in the air. “THE MAGICS, or something like that. She wants somepony to ‘grace the ‘Layer’ with his or her beauty’ and offer the winner a spot in the upcoming showing in Canterlot. I thought it was crazy, but that’s the exact word you used to describe her last time she was here wasn’t it Rarity? …Rarity?”
The library, however, was empty outside of herself, Spike, and a door flapping open and closed.
Beds and Quills and Toy store, five minutes later.
Bang Bang Bang!
A stallion looks up from his magazine to the mare banging on his counter. “Oh…hello there ma’am. Can I hel-
The mare was me and I practically shouted at him.
"Yes, I’d like to purchase one ‘Angel’ please!”
