The Changeling of Illusions

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Forge knocks on the door of the Carousel Boutique, waiting patiently outside. It's not long before Rarity opens the door, the little bell above jingling.

"Hello Forge. Come in, come in." Rarity says as she opens the door wider.

Forge stands in place. "I'm not staying long, so no need for that. I'm cancelling the suit."

Rarity double-takes. "Cancel? Why? Did something happen?"

"I don't really plan on going to the gala anymore, those kinds of parties aren't something I enjoy, and Luna's too busy to attend. I don't have any real reason to go." Forge elaborates.

"Are you sure you don't want a custom suit? Even if you aren't going to the gala, there may be other events you would need a nice suit for." Rarity prompts.

Forge mulls over this. "I... suppose that makes sense." He steps into the boutique, looking around.

Rarity ushers him over to the stand, magically levitating the measuring tape over and measuring him. "Weren't you going to go before ever having the thought to ask Luna to go with you? What were you planning to do then, if I may ask?"

"I wasn't really planning on doing much of anything. Just, bumming around. I don't think anything super interesting is gonna happen there." Forge says, omitting the truth.

While he knows the night's going to be a train wreck, he's not sure he even wants to be there for it.

"You'll never know if you decide not to attend. You might even meet someone there." Rarity tries to persuade him.

Forge sighs. "Maybe... Everybody else I know is going, so I won't really have anyone I could hang out with for the night." He nods in affirmation. "Alright, I'm going again."

Rarity perks up at the news. "Splendid! That's great to hear, darling." She softly claps her hooves in celebration.

Forge squints. "You just wanted me to go so I could promote your clothing, didn't you?"

Rarity sputters in shock. "I- what? That's not- I would never!"

Forge starts laughing. "Relax, I was just messing with you."

Rarity starts to chortle a bit herself. "Goodness, you really had me for a moment." She retracts the measuring tape, her work done.

"In any case, I look forward to seeing what you come up with." Forge says, stepping down from the little platform.

"And I look forward to seeing you at the Gala." Rarity smiles, waving as Forge heads for the door.

"Until then!" Forge calls out, shutting the door.

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Forge stands in front of his bedroom mirror, adjusting his suit. The suit itself is black, with a slightly reflective sheen, lined with gold trim that matches his golden stripes in his mane and tail. The inner part of the suit is a dark blue, almost velvet material. The cuff-links are small, gold colored cogs made to match his mark. He rights the matching top-hat, centering it atop his head. Briefly, he looks out his window, seeing the carriages beginning to arrive. Ponies dressed in all manner of fancy, frivolous clothing head towards the castle, heads held high.

Turning his attention back to the mirror, Forge tightens his dark blue bow-tie. "Showtime."

Unfortunately, Forge has to exit from one part of the castle to officially enter for the gala. Presenting his ticket, he's granted re-entry. On his way inside, he sees Princess Celestia standing dutifully atop the flight of stairs.

"Welcome- Oh, hello Forge. I have too make this quick, so I'm glad you decided to come." She nods.

Fearing any potential of holding up the approaching line, or seeming too chummy with Celestia in public, he nods.

"Glad I did." He says a little faster than usual, quickly proceeding past her.

Forge makes his way down to the ballroom, where the gala is being held. Being among the earliest of the guests, he noticed the band finishing up with their preparations. The only pony on the stage he recognizes is Octavia, only thanks to her reputation in the fandom. Brushing those thoughts off, he surveys the rest of the room, noting any potential exits in case of emergency. Or in this case, for imminent emergency.

As the ponies file in, he notices none of his coworkers are coming through. "Maybe they're running late? I... don't actually know what their schedules look like outside of work hours..."

Growing a little more disheartened each passing moment, he wonders if any of them are even coming at all. Eventually, he spots the mane six enter, and subsequently dash off in different directions, leaving Spike alone.

"As much hate as he gets... poor guy doesn't deserve to be ditched like that. Nobody does." Forge waves Spike over.

Spike's mood brightens as he speedwalks over to Forge. "Hey Forge, cool to see you're here too!" He beams, offering a fistbump.

Forge returns it. "Yep! I uh, guess the others are busy with their own, personal plans. And to be honest, I have absolutely no idea what to do at this kind of party." He leans down, whispering. "And the nobles around here are just, unbearably stuck-up. I have no idea how you and Twilight managed to live here for so long."

Spike waves it off. "Just ignore 'em, that's how I handle it anyway."

Forge nods. "Got it." He tries to think of another conversation topic, or anything else to do. "Wanna go hit up Applejack's cart soon? I'd imagine she's already set up by now."

Spike mulls it over. "Sure, I was just gonna ditch and go to Donut Joe's anyway. Now that we're hanging out, I'll stick around."

The two make their way outside, as Spike follows Forge. "Where did she set up again? Couldn't be too far." It doesn't take long for them to spot Applejack, who gives a friendly wave. Forge and Spike rush up to the cart, eyeing the goods.

"Howdy there, what can I do ya for tonight?" Applejack asks, gesturing to said apple-themed goods.

Forge considers his options. "I think I'll have a couple fritters. You want anything, Spike?"

Spike points to the caramel apples. "Can I get one of those caramel apples please?"

Applejack bags the fritters and hoofs them over to Forge, and gives Spike a caramel apple. Before she can get the words out, Forge levitates the bits to her.

"You know, the strangest thing happened earlier. One of them Wonderbolts bought a whole apple pie from me. Ah wonder what Rainbow would do if she knew that." She laughs gently.

"I bet Rainbow's already hanging out with them. She did save some of their lives before, I'm sure they'd remember that." Forge grins, unbagging and biting into one of the fritters carefully, swallowing before speaking again. "I hope your night goes well." He says, a twinge of guilt creeping in the back of his mind. Of course, he knew she wouldn't be drawing any more customers due to her food not being anything the snobs would go near. Despite this, he waves as he and Spike walk away.

"Thanks for getting the caramel apple for me. I could've paid for it, though. Want me to pay you back for it?" Spike asks as he takes bites out of the stick-bound, sugar-covered apple.

"Nah, it's not like I'm hurting for cash. I don't mind spending some on my friends." Forge assures him. In truth, he's built up a substantial bank account thanks to his generous payroll, and typically frugal spending habits. More of his cash has gone to Sugarcube Corner than he'd like to admit, but such is the price of good, love-infused food. The fritters he's eating also have some similarly positive infusions, though Pinkie's seemed to be the best in that regard.

"Thanks again. You're a pretty cool guy, Forge." Spike smiles.

"You're also pretty cool, Spike." Forge smiles back.

Once Spike finishes the apple, he chomps down on the stick, devouring it as well. "Oh! That reminds me. Want me to show you where Celestia's golden apple tree is? I was planning on showing Applejack, but a good tour guide doesn't let a tour go to waste."

Momentarily stunned, it takes Forge a moment to register what Spike had just said. "You know, in all my time here, I haven't actually seen it. Lead the way, little dude."

As he and Spike pass through the gardens, they notice a few hiding, frightened animals in some spots. Peeking around a corner, they see a disheveled Fluttershy setting up an improvised trap.

"Fluttershy?" Spike starts, accidentally startling the yellow pegasus.

"Oh, goodness. Hello Spike, hello Forge. Are you out here to see the animals too?" Fluttershy asks, her demeanor surprisingly calm.

Forge looks at the trap, then back to Fluttershy. "You uh, sure you're just here to see them?"

Fluttershy's eyes dart nervously over to the trap, which she sidesteps in front of in a vain attempt to hide what she's planning. "Yes! That's what I'm doing!" She grins, cracks in her facade plain as day on her face, even in the moonlight.

"... Riiiiiiiiight... Well, uh... have fun with that." Forge says, turning around and not looking back.

"Dude, that was so weird. Why would Fluttershy set up some kind of trap like that?" Spike thinks aloud, brows furrowed in thought.

"Not sure, and I don't think I want to know either." Forge says, already knowing full-well what her intentions are. If the sudden incidental lightning they just heard is anything to go by.

Silently agreeing to avoid the gardens, and the currently less-than-sane Fluttershy, Forge and Spike set course for the ballroom.

Forge and Spike pass by the outdoor catering stands again on their way back to the ballroom, seeing Rarity follow a storming-off Blueblood.

"Woah, what's with THAT guy?" Spike blurts.

"He's a Canterlot noble, what isn't wrong with him?" Forge remarks.

"Touche. I still kinda want to go to Donut Joe's. You in?" Spike asks, looking up to Forge hopefully.

Forge looks towards the castle, weighing his options. He could stay and witness the chaos unfold firsthand, or go with Spike to get some donuts and coffee. He shrugs. "Sure, I don't see why not."

-<>~--*--~<>-<

Spike sets down his mug. "Aaaaaand that's why issue 9 has WAY too many variant covers. And why they didn't do that many variant covers ever again."

Forge finishes a sip of his own drink, setting it down as well. "You know, Spike. A thought occurred to me."

"Yeah?" Spike asks.

"Have you ever tried hanging out with anyone other than Twilight and her friends? Like, say... other colts in Ponyville? You could really benefit from having another friend group more willing to talk Power Ponies with." Forge raises a hoof slightly. "N-not that I'm not interested in this stuff. I'm fairly into comics myself."

Spike sips his hot chocolate in thought. "Hmm... Maybe. I'll have to talk with Twilight about it later."

Forge lets out a faint sigh. "Why do you need Tw-"

Forge, Spike, and Joe turn their heads as they spot the mane six entering, all in various states of disarray. As they sit at one of the tables, Spike and Forge get up, walking over to them.

"What happened? You girls look like you've had the worst night ever." Forge says, a slight twinkle in his eye.

"We did!" They say in unison, before breaking out into laughter.