Pinkie Pie and the Cursed Belly Jewelby mayorlightChaptersThe Green JewelDancing Through The MallExtractionDebtsThe Green JewelThe Specter Halloween store at the Canterlot mall was one of the few stores of its kind that was open year-round. For many local Halloween enthusiasts, it was their one-stop shop for costumes, accessories, decorations, and props. Scary or silly, kitschy or cute, Specter had something for everybody. Rarity and Pinkie Pie strolled in through the front entrance, eliciting a wicked cackle from a life-size figure of the store's eponymous mascot. They went directly to the costumes section, which boasted the usual assortment of classic horror icons, cartoon characters, and superheroes. Rarity proceeded to peruse the costumes of popular cartoon princesses. As an experienced seamstress, her eyes quickly picked up the minute imperfections of the mass-produced gowns. "Hmm, some rather colorful selections this year," Rarity said placidly. "Alas, same quality as usual." Pinkie cocked her head. "Isn't that why you always make your own costumes?" "That I do, darling. Although it never hurts to see what else is in circulation." "I still like Lemon Zest's idea of us all wearing our bedlahs for Halloween." Rarity tittered. "I am deeply flattered by the notion, but do remember: our bedlahs are for performances only." Rarity took great pride in her work as a fashion designer and seamstress. Her greatest achievements to date were the six ornate bedlahs (dance costumes) she had made for herself, Pinkie, and the rest of their friends in their belly dance class. The thought of any of those masterpieces suffering a single stain or rip was too dreadful to bear! "I know, I know," Pinkie sighed. "But it would be so much fun!" A faint wisp of magical energy silently sailed into the store as Rarity and Pinkie browsed the shelves. Neither the girls nor any of the staff or other customers noticed the wisp as it floated toward the middle of the store and came to rest in one of the aisles. Rarity was now inspecting a shelf full of gaudy novelty costumes. "See anything that tickles your fancy?" Pinkie tossed aside a mermaid costume (complete with a seashell top). "Nah, nothing's really grabbing me. I'm gonna go check out the accessories." Rarity nodded to Pinkie as the latter sauntered off. Continuing down the aisle, Rarity came upon a small section of flimsy "belly dancer," "genie," and "harem girl" costumes. Rarity smiled to herself. Seeing these outfits reminded her of the time several months ago when she and Pinkie ran into Twilight Sparkle at a party supply store. That was when Twilight revealed to them her newfound hobby of belly dancing. Shortly after, Rarity would make her first bedlah - the one Twilight wore for her debut performance and still uses to this day. While Rarity never said it out loud, she did take a little pride in sparing Twilight the horrid fate of settling for one of those awful pre-fabricated costumes! Two aisles over, Pinkie was trying on various wigs and prosthetic noses. After experimenting with a mere two dozen combinations (in under two minutes), she was already bored. There were plenty of silly, spooky knick-knacks, but nothing that she had not already seen before. After discarding a Cleopatra wig and clown nose, she began sifting through a bin filled with various pieces of costume jewelry. Then something in the pile caught her eye: a belly dancer jewel kit, containing a single green glass stone and a tiny vial of adhesive. Pinkie marveled at the imitation jewel. Ever since she and Rarity took up belly dancing, they had both adopted the somewhat controversial practice of wearing jewels in their navels during performances. This would end up becoming a minor point of contention between them and Twilight. According to Twilight (and countless online articles Pinkie and Rarity looked up themselves), the jewel in the navel originated half a century ago in Applewood. It was a quick, easy way for movie and television studios to circumvent the censorship rules of the time - which expressly prohibited exposing one's navel. Thus, whenever a belly dancer, harem girl, or genie appeared on screen, their navels were invariably either concealed by high waistbands or obscured by a jewel. After a few decades, this rule would eventually be relaxed. By then, however, the jewel in the navel had become such a familiar accessory that many professional belly dancers worldwide adopted it. Twilight regarded "belly jewels" as a relic of a bygone era and adamantly refused to wear one. Rarity and Pinkie, however, saw no harm in doing so. Rarity always took every opportunity to wear jewels of any kind. Pinkie reasoned that if her belly was the focal point of her dance, and her belly button the focal point of her belly, she would want to draw as much attention to it as possible! Beyond Twilight expressing her disapproval of belly jewels, she never attempted to dissuade Rarity or Pinkie from wearing them. Despite this, Twilight did not seem to take issue with Lemon Zest wearing her belly button piercing during performances. As such, Pinkie did not think much of it when, not too long ago, Sugarcoat asked to try on a belly jewel. Neither of them ever expected Twilight to stare daggers at them the way she did! While most of the belly jewels in Pinkie's collection were blue to match her bedlah, she made it a point to collect many different colors (a little variety never hurts). The jewel in the kit before her was a bright shade of green - different from any of the greens she had collected. Most notably, its minute facets gave off a beautiful shimmering sparkle - the likes of which she had never seen before. Pinkie made up her mind then and there - she snatched up the kit and headed straight to the checkout counter. After completing her purchase, Pinkie went over to a full-body mirror at the front of the store. There, she tore open the kit and rolled up her shirt. After dabbing a tiny bit of adhesive on her new belly jewel, she blew on it once for good luck and pressed it into her navel. She squealed with delight as she gave her hips a little shimmy. The jewel was so sparkly! But why stop there? she thought to herself. She could take things a step further by adding some glitter. Or maybe henna! She began imagining how her tummy might look with different designs painted on it: a spiral, a starburst, maybe even a mystic eye with her belly button as the pupil. So many fun possibilities! Just then Pinkie felt a sudden twitch, a tiny involuntary shiver in her stomach. What was that just now? she wondered. Maybe she was just so excited about the new jewel that she...There it was again - a tingling feeling around her navel and gradually spread to her ribs and hips. Soon, she felt the tingling throughout her entire body. Suddenly the jewel began to glow like a green nightlight. One hip twitched. Then the other. Before she knew it, she was shimmying in place. Pinkie gasped. What was happening to her? Before she could ponder the question, her arms began to undulate out to her sides in a snake arms motion. Her hips still shimmying, she took a step. Then another. She cried out in a mixture of fear and confusion as she shimmy-walked toward the store entrance. The mascot's cackle seemed to mock her newfound predicament. Rarity had been trying on a wide-brimmed boater hat when she heard Pinkie's cry. She poked her head out of the aisle just in time to see her friend dancing out the door. Several other shoppers and store employees had also taken notice. "Is she okay?" asked a puzzled clerk. A shopper shrugged. "Probably just goofing off." "Pinkie, wait up!" Rarity rushed to the entrance. In her haste, she forgot that she was still wearing the hat. She nearly jumped out of her skin when the loss prevention alarm blared. She hastily doubled back to leave the hat on the mascot's hooded head. After an equally hasty apology to the cashier, she darted out the door as fast as she could in her high-heeled shoes. Author's Note It has been a while, hasn't it? I've had this silly little scenario in my head for a good while. After running into walls with other story ideas, I finally put this one down on figurative paper. As many of my readers may already tell, this story is sillier in tone than the previous installments in my Equestria Girls belly dance series - befitting for any tale featuring Pinkie Pie. My inspiration for Pinkie's predicament came from the "green shoes" scene from the Porky Pig cartoon The Wearing of the Grin, as well as the Dungeons & Dragons spell Otto's irresistible dance. Pinkie's memory of Sugarcoat trying on a belly jewel is a nod to this drawing I did a little over a year ago: https://www.deviantart.com/mayorlight/art/Turncoat-886032877 Dancing Through The MallOutside in the mall corridor, Pinkie continued to dance as though she were a marionette tugged along by invisible strings. Her mind frantically struggled to comprehend what was happening to her. She took a deep breath and held it, sucking her stomach in as much as she could. She could still feel her abdominal muscles fluttering. She then swung one foot out an angle, turning her toes inward. She bent her knees and sank down into a karate stance Rainbow Dash once showed her. Pinkie managed to remain rooted in place, her arms still undulating as the rest of her body quivered ever so slightly. It was only a moment before she felt the quivering in her core intensify. Her belly began to ripple once more as her feet jerkily shuffled against her control. She could only whimper as she fought a losing battle to remain where she stood. Several yards behind, Rarity emerged from the store amid the blare of its alarm. "Pinkie! What has gotten into you?" "I don't know!" Pinkie cried. "I just tried on the jewel, and now I can't stop belly dancing!" Rarity's eyes shot down to the glowing green jewel in Pinkie's navel. Immediately she knew - this could only be Equestrian magic! She recalled the incident that happened at this very shopping center wherein Juniper Montage used a hand mirror picked up from a vendor's stall to trap them and their friends inside a pocket dimension. As far as their friend and resident magic expert Sunset Shimmer could tell, there seemed to be no rhyme or reason as to the incursions of Equestrian magic into their world. The magic just seemed to seek out and empower random objects. The only certainty was the trouble these magically-infused items caused the people who came into contact with them. What were the chances of Equestrian magic finding its way not only into the very store they were browsing but into the very item Pinkie bought? Could she and Pinkie have somehow attracted the magic? Was the mall itself just one giant magic magnet? They would have to ponder all this later, Rarity thought to herself. Right now, she had to release her friend from the grip of this cursed jewel! Rarity hastily pulled down Pinkie's shirt. The glow of the jewel seeped through the fabric like a flashlight under a bedsheet. At that moment, Pinkie lost the struggle to remain rooted and began to dance away once more. Rarity then threw her arms around Pinkie's shoulders, hoping to restrain her friend. Pinkie began to shimmy even faster, as though in an effort to shake Rarity off. It took Rarity every ounce of her strength to hang on. This was more embarrassing than the time Applejack talked her into riding a mechanical bull! Oh, were Applejack here, she would have been able to hold Pinkie in place with her super-strength! Then it dawned on Rarity: she could use her own geode! She extended her hand and focused her power, conjuring a floating diamond "hula hoop" around Pinkie's hips. She then formed a diamond bracelet on her own wrist and a diamond chain linking it to the hoop. Apparently, the jewel could detect if its host's body was actively being restrained. As long as nothing was actually grappling or clamping down on any part of Pinkie's body, Rarity could keep her tethered with minimal effort. "There, that's better," Rarity said, regaining some of her usual poise. "Now, we need to get someplace where we can remove that jewel." Fortunately, the nearest restrooms were only a few yards away. Once they were safely inside a ladies' room stall, away from potential gawkers, Rarity can attempt to remove the jewel using the rubbing alcohol she always carried in her handbag. There was no time to lose! Rarity strode down a hallway with Pinkie in literal tow behind her. Within seconds they reached the restrooms...only to find a yellow extend-to-fit "Closed For Cleaning" sign barring the ladies' room entrance. Pinkie felt her belly rapidly fluttering. It was as though the jewel itself was laughing at their setback! Rarity's mind raced as her friend wriggled in place. Even if she could get Pinkie into the ladies' room, the janitor might call security if they barricaded themselves in a stall. She was not about to drag Pinkie into the men's room, so their next viable option was to go to the restrooms located near the food court located on the second floor in the middle of the mall. Rarity kept her composure. "Not to worry, darling. On to Plan B!" They proceeded to make their way down the corridor, bypassing a man being led by a service dog. Suddenly a toddler on a safety harness strayed into their path. Without breaking stride, Rarity deftly maneuvered Pinkie around the child, whose mother cast a curious look at them. Here and there, they attracted errant looks from passersby. Rarity ignored them all, although she did find herself wishing she and Pinkie had their classmate Wallflower Blush's ability to seemingly vanish from sight. After a few minutes of weaving around bewildered mall patrons, they reached the mall's courtyard. Rarity paused at the yellow marble fountain to consider their options for getting upstairs as Pinkie circled her hips. At the moment, the escalator leading up to the food court was not running - evidenced by mall patrons climbing its motionless steps. In Pinkie's current state, she might not be able to climb the steps - even if she could, it would be especially hazardous. That left the elevator on the opposite end of the courtyard. As much as Rarity did not want to risk her and Pinkie getting enclosed with gawkers, it was the only safe way up. Rarity turned to Pinkie. "How are you feeling?" Sweat beaded Pinkie's brow as she shimmied her hips. "I don't know how long I can keep dancing!" It had only been a few minutes, but this nonstop dancing was taxing even Pinkie's seemingly endless energy. By now, any other person might have already collapsed from fatigue - or worse. And that was if the jewel allowed its host's body to even rest! Rarity clasped her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Hang in there, darling! We're almost there!" Rarity tugged Pinkie across the courtyard as the cabin descended to their floor. The timing could not be more perfect! They arrived at the elevator just as the last of the passengers disembarked. As soon as she and Pinkie were inside, Rarity hit the second-floor button. The doors were about to close when a hand suddenly thrust between them, triggering the sensor. Rarity pulled herself and Pinkie back toward the rear as an elderly woman and a pair of middle school girls entered the cabin. Rarity tightened her grip on the chain, pulling Pinkie as close to her as possible. Although the diamond hoop around Pinkie's hips prevented her from brushing up against anyone else, under the jewel's control, she might end up shoving somebody against the walls! Their ascent began. Pinkie danced in semi-orbit around Rarity like a show dog on a leash. The schoolgirls snickered at the sight while the old woman pursed her lips. Rarity felt her cheeks reddening. Everyone in the cabin thought that she and Pinkie were acting out some weird kink! All she could do was gaze up at the ceiling and count the seconds. After what seemed like an eternity, the elevator bell chimed and the doors opened to the second floor. Rarity waited until the other passengers had exited the cabin before striding out with Pinkie. She could not bear to suffer another embarrassing moment like this! Moving as quickly as she could in her high heels, she tugged Pinkie toward the food court. Thankfully, there were not many people around. It was mid-afternoon and the lunch crowd had already subsided. Several patrons sat among the tables enjoying their meals. In the center of the court, a handful of people were engrossed - more or less - in their CHS classmate Trixie's magic show. The path to the rear of the court - and the restrooms - lay clear ahead of them! In her haste, Rarity failed to notice that she was dragging Pinkie past the Mrs. Meadows bakery counter - in front of which stood a smiling girl in a red uniform holding a sample tray filled with chocolate chip cookies. Pinkie's eyes brightened at the sight of the cookies. She could tell that they were fresh from the oven! Their scent alone was enough to make her forget her current predicament. Despite continuing to shimmy, she regained enough control over an arm to reach out to the server. "Ooh, I'll take one!" Rarity groaned. How could Pinkie think of indulging her sweet tooth at a time like this? Where were her priorities? She jerked on the chain as the server extended a cookie to her dancing friend. "Pinkie, come on!" Pinkie, never one to be denied a free sugary treat, instinctively reached further to grab the cookie - and accidentally activated her geode's power. In that instant, the cookie was charged with a surge of kinetic energy. KABOOM! Rarity shrieked as the blast threw her forward. Her world became a complete haze as she toppled onto the floor. Her ears rang as she struggled to get her bearings. Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself up from the floor. Thankfully, nothing in her body felt broken. Instinctively, she ran her fingers through her messed-up hair to smooth it out as best as she could. She turned around to find a rapidly dissipating cloud of pink smoke. Within the plumes, the rattled server was being helped to her feet by a co-worker. The ringing in Rarity's ears faded in time for her to utter an especially unladylike curse. This was a catastrophe! That blast was sure to bring mall security - maybe even the police! Hopefully, that server was not hurt. Hopefully, she will not press charges! Oh, why did Pinkie have to reach for that cookie? Pinkie. Pinkie? Rarity glanced down at her wrist and gasped. The diamond bracelet and chain were gone! In her shock from the blast, she had allowed them - along with the diamond hoop - to dissipate. Where did Pinkie go? Author's Note The title of this chapter ended up being a nod to the EqG holiday short "Dashing through the Mall." I've been wanting to make use of Rarity and Pinkie's geodes in my stories for a while now. Although Pinkie's sugar bomb remains a mostly comical effect, I imagine it being similar to the Dungeons & Dragons spell thunderwave. Earlier this year, I read On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony, which includes a scene where an unfortunate character literally "dances to death" as the result of enchanted shoes. Thus, Rarity's concerns for Pinkie's health are well-warranted. I'm pretty sure most folks can guess what the name Mrs. Meadows is a parody of. ExtractionIn the center of the food court, the Great and Powerful Trixie stood before a half-interested young girl. The toddler held a playing card in her tiny hand, its face pointed toward her. Trixie's eyes were closed as she placed her fingers to her temple as though attempting to stimulate some latent clairvoyant ability within herself. "Your card..." Trixie began, pausing for dramatic effect. "...is the Three of Diamonds!" The girl's eyes widened as she turned the card around to reveal that it was indeed the card Trixie had identified. Off to the side, the girl's mother applauded with saccharine enthusiasm - more for her daughter than Trixie. The few people dining nearby were too engrossed in their overpriced meals to even look up. While Trixie smiled on the outside, she groaned internally. Lately, she had not been drawing the crowds as she had before. A vital part of being a magician was to keep your act fresh and interesting. She knew that her magic act was long due for an overhaul. She did not just need new tricks, she needed a new look. The navy blue top hat and matching jacket she wore was a step up from her purple hat and cape, but the classy look was clearly lost on the riff-raff that frequented the mall. She needed something that would catch - and hold - everyone's attention. KABOOM! Trixie glanced to the side of the food court where a cloud of pink smoke had suddenly appeared. What the heck was that? she wondered. Did somebody set off a firecracker? The mother quickly snatched up her daughter as all of the diners got up from their seats, shocked and bewildered. A moment later, a girl with pink, frazzled hair emerged from the smoke. Trixie recognized her Canterlot High School classmate Pinkie Pie. Pinkie clumsily staggered out of the cloud. Several mall patrons cautiously approached her, asking what had just happened and if she was injured. Pinkie, seemingly in a daze, did not answer any of them. With each step, her hip movement became more pronounced. Her arms out to her sides, she began to sashay toward the center of the food court. Trixie stared in dismay. Was this some kind of prank? Pinkie was well-known at CHS for pulling over-the-top stunts. That explosion was definitely on brand for her! However, Pinkie's stunts usually involved balloons, confetti, and plenty of sweets. From the way Pinkie was moving, Trixie wondered if this was another belly dance performance like the one Pinkie and her friends had put on to benefit the Animal Shelter. But then why was Pinkie not wearing some colorful costume? And what was that green glow underneath her shirt? Pinkie suddenly dropped down to her knees, swinging her head and arms backward. The motion lifted her shirt, exposing her belly - and what appeared to be a green LED light in her navel. With her head and shoulders mere inches from the floor, Pinkie proceeded to circle her wrists overhead as she fluttered her belly. A nearby bystander wondered aloud if she was having a fit. The little girl pointed at Pinkie. "Look, mommy! That girl has a light in her belly button!" The mother promptly shielded her child's eyes. Trixie twisted her mouth. She did not know what was going on here, but she was certain of two things: (1) Pinkie had interrupted her act, and (2) was stealing her spotlight! She quickly stepped around the gawkers and over to Pinkie. Feigning an attempt to administer first aid, she bent down and whispered into her classmate's ear. "Pinkie Pie, what are you doing? Look, if this is about the time I ate your cupcake, I already apologized for it, and even bought you two to make up for it!" Pinkie continued to wriggle and writhe on the floor. "I'm sorry, Trixie," she whimpered. "But I really can't help myself!" Trixie's face flushed red. Pinkie sure had some gall! From the corner of her eye, Trixie could see that one spectator was already recording the scene on a smartphone. There had to be some way she could regain her spotlight. She had to think of something fast! Then the Clever and Resourceful Trixie got an idea. She clasped a hand down on Pinkie's forehead and reached the other to the heavens. "Oh, misery and misfortune!" Trixie called out. "An evil spirit has possessed this unfortunate girl! I command thee, spirit, begone!" It was the best idea Trixie could think of at the moment - copying the act of a charlatan faith healer she had once seen in an online video. Some of the onlookers giggled at the spectacle, apparently believing it to be part of her magic act. Still, she needed to get rid of Pinkie. Now. She bent down to hiss into Pinkie's ear once more. "Seriously, cut it out! Trixie then felt a hand digging into her coat pocket. She glanced up as Rarity withdrew her hand - along with one of her (Trixie's) smoke pellets. Whatever Pinkie was pulling here, Rarity was clearly a part of it! Trixie angrily bolted up. "Hey, what are you..." "Sorry about this, Trixie!" Rarity said as she dashed the pellet onto the floor. A cloud of bluish-white smoke erupted. All around them, people shrieked and gasped. Caught off guard, Trixie broke out into a coughing fit. When the smoke cleared seconds later, Pinkie Pie and Rarity were nowhere to be found. Trixie cursed as she threw her hat down onto the floor. It was bad enough that Pinkie Pie and Rarity ruined her act - they even stole her signature exit! They were going to pay for this! Rarity ran as fast as she could down the restroom corridor, doing her best to not think about how cold or dirty the tile floor was on her bare feet. In one hand, she held her shoes. With the other, she tugged the newly-reformed diamond hoop and chain. Behind her, Pinkie clung to the hoop under her arms, her feet dragging on the floor. Without solid footing to dance on, the jewel's influence over her body seemed to have subsided - for the moment. "I'm really sorry, Rarity!" Rarity only gritted her teeth. The last of her patience - and poise - had just flown out the window. Right now, she had to get Pinkie free of that accursed jewel before it embarrassed them both even further! The girls burst into the ladies restroom. Thankfully, there was nobody else inside. Rarity took Pinkie back to the toilet stall at the far end - the most spacious of all. After bolting the door, she focused her geode, reducing the hoop's size until its interior was less than an inch away from either of Pinkie's hips. She then dismissed the diamond chain and conjured four diamond struts that anchored the hoop - and Pinkie - in place. No longer being literally dragged by Rarity, Pinkie fell to the jewel's influence once more, sliding her hips from side to side within what minuscule space the hoop now offered. "Alright," Rarity said as she rolled up her friend's shirt. "Time to get to work!" Rarity produced a white handkerchief from her purse and tied it over her nose and mouth. She recalled a scene from a campy spy movie where a secret agent tried to remove a golden bullet from a belly dancer's navel and ended up accidentally swallowing it in the process! Rarity did not want to take any chances of the same mishap happening to her. Pinkie bit her lip. The makeshift mask made Rarity look like a surgeon getting ready to make the first cut! Rarity reached into her bag and produced a vial of rubbing alcohol and a pack of cotton rounds. After soaking a triple layer of rounds in the alcohol, she kneeled down and proceeded to rub the alcohol-soaked round over the jewel. Once the alcohol dissolved the spirit gum, the jewel's grip on Pinkie - physical and magical - would be lost. Hopefully. Pinkie mewled as her belly, muscles already burning, began to ripple even faster. It was as though the jewel sensed what Rarity was trying to do! The cotton was soon depleted of alcohol, but the jewel still held fast. Rarity applied more alcohol to the cotton and began rubbing again - this time, tracing around the edges of Pinkie's navel. The task was made all the more difficult by Pinkie's belly rapidly undulating in random directions - the jewel's last-ditch effort to remain attached to its host. They could only hope some of the alcohol seeped inside the crevice and helped dislodge it. Rarity soaked the cotton a third time. The acrid scent of the alcohol was quickly becoming unbearable. After nearly two minutes of continuous rubbing from Rarity, the jewel suddenly slipped out, clinking onto the floor. Pinkie gasped as she slumped within the diamond hoop, finally free from the jewel's control. At their feet, their green adversary's glow faded as it once again became an inert piece of glass. Rarity clasped a hand on her friend's shoulder. "How do you feel?" "Like I just did a gazillion sit-ups," Pinkie panted. Just then, the jewel hopped like a cricket. Both girls shrieked, Pinkie clasping her hands over her newly-freed navel. "Oh no, you don't!" Rarity exclaimed. She focused her geode once more, dismissing the diamond hoop and encasing the jewel inside a diamond orb the size of a hamster ball. She was not about to risk this magical menace re-attaching itself to Pinkie! As Pinkie staggered against the stall, something fell out of her thick curly hair. She glanced down at the floor to find a chocolate chip cookie - no doubt a leftover from the foodcourt blast. By some miracle, the cookie was still intact. She promptly snatched it up and began kneading it into a ball. "Rarity, on the count of three, make a hole in the top just big enough for this." Pinkie said as she held up the cookie ball. "As soon as I drop this inside, close it up again!" Rarity nodded, immediately understanding her friend's plan. Inside the diamond orb, the jewel bounced about, in a desperate albeit futile attempt to escape its prison. Pinkie focused her geode's power, lacing the cookie with a delayed surge of kinetic energy. She then placed it atop the diamond orb. "One...two..." A tear welled in Pinkie's eye. Such a waste of a perfectly good cookie! "Three!" Rarity opened the hole, allowing Pinkie to slip the cookie ball inside the orb, then re-sealing it again. "Adios mother hugger!" Pinkie crowed. Both girls backed away as the cookie ball detonated. The diamond orb shook as its interior filled with opaque pink smoke. Thankfully, the force of the blast along with its noise was almost entirely suppressed by the orb. Rarity opened tiny vents in the orb to release the smoke. She and Pinkie peered inside the orb to find the jewel reduced to a minute pile of green grain. Not taking any chances, Rarity emptied the grain into the toilet and flushed. With the arcane threat neutralized, the girls took a moment to catch their breath. Pinkie pulled her shirt back down as Rarity began putting her shoes back on. "Well," Rarity said. This will make for an interesting report to the others." Pinkie groaned. "Aww...do we have to?" Rarity lidded her eyes. "You know the rules, Pinkie." When Equestrian magic began flowing into their world, the members of the Rainbooms agreed to report any and all encounters with it to the group. This way, they could better analyze the magical incursions and be better prepared for future incidents. So far, they had survived friends transforming into she-demons (and one ogress), mass mind control, and giant plants. There was no telling what they might encounter next. Although, neither Rarity nor Pinkie ever imagined they would ever encounter an accessory that compelled its wearer to dance non-stop. One would expect such a thing to at least be a pair of shoes! Pinkie pouted. She just knew Twilight would find some way to rub this incident in her face. Having regained their composure, the girls exited the stall...and immediately froze in their tracks. Standing at the restroom entrance was a tall unsmiling woman clad in the white-and-black uniform of a mall security guard. Author's Note This is my first time writing Trixie. I imagine her being every bit as opportunistic as she is egotistical. The incident she mentions where she ate Pinkie's cupcake is a reference to the animatic of the Equestria Girls short Street Magic with Trixie. Sadly, this moment got cut from the finalized version. James Bond fans will undoubtedly recognize the reference to The Man with the Golden Gun. I think Rarity's geode power would come in very handy for bomb disposal. DebtsRarity and Pinkie shrank back as the security guard, a young woman with her platinum hair tied in a ponytail, planted her fists on her hips. The guard's face could have been carved from stone the way she was glaring at them. While they had dealt with the magical problem of that accursed jewel, they now had to deal with the mundane problem of explaining themselves to the authorities - who very likely did not believe in the existence of magic. Rarity gave a nervous laugh. "Uh, we were just cleaning up from a food spill." The guard laughed in turn, only hers was utterly devoid of mirth. "Oh, it was more than just a food spill out there." Another woman, a few years older with her black hair tied in a bun entered the restroom. Her red uniform marked her as the Mrs. Meadows manager. She cast an accusing finger at the girls. "That's them! They're the ones who set off that firework." "W-we don't have any fireworks on us!" Pinkie stammered. "Yeah, none still intact," the guard sneered. "I swear, I was just about to take a free sample and then all of a sudden, boom!" Rarity tried to shush Pinkie but it was too late. The guard and the manager were already adavncing on them. "You girls are coming with us," said the guard. None of Rarity or Pinkie's statements was a lie, but the security guard and the cookie boss were clearly not convinced. The girls were already fearing the worst: getting banned from the mall, being turned over to the police, being charged with who knows how many misdemeanors, and becoming a laughingstock among their peers. This day cannot possibly get any worse! "There you are!" called a voice from the door. Everybody glanced back at the entrance to find a fuming Trixie. The magician pointed a finger at Rarity and Pinkie. "Your timing was way off! We seriously need more rehearsals if you two are going to screw up this badly!" The guard and the manager exchanged confused glances. Pinkie did not know what to make of Trixie's interjection. Rarity, however, immediately caught onto the cue and put on the most contrite face she could. "We're really sorry, Trixie." The guard looked at Rarity before turning to Trixie. "Are these two part of your magic act?" "I'm afraid so," Trixie scoffed. "I swear, it's hard to find good help these days!" Rarity and Pinkie spent the next hour with Trixie in the security office getting grilled by the guard and the Mrs. Meadows manager. Thankfully, Trixie did most of the talking, presenting a bald-faced lie that she had asked her classmates to assist her act as audience plants and that they had each been carrying one of her smoke pellets. For their part, Rarity and Pinkie simply had to back up Trixie's story, which the latter ended up repeating three times at the guard's request - ostensibly in a search for inconsistencies. Toward the end of the third telling, the manager stepped outside to take a phone call. When she returned, she reported that her employee had just been released from a nearby emergency room with nothing more than minor bruising. With this news, the manager and the guard seemed satisfied that the incident was nothing more than a silly accident. The manager, however, demanded that Rarity and Pinkie pay the cost of the destroyed batch of cookies. The guard also advised Trixie that she was henceforth prohibited from using her smoke effects inside the mall. Trixie did not seem all that vexed by the restriction and readily agreed. With this, she was free to go. Rarity and Pinkie were escorted back to the Mrs. Meadows counter. Rarity provided her prepaid credit card for the payment, which depleted the amount she had set aside for a week's worth of lattes. With the manager satisfied, Rarity and Pinkie were now released, although the guard continued to eye them until they were out of sight. Without a word, the girls headed for the nearest exit. Only once they were out in the parking lot did Pinkie break the silence. "Well," she said weakly. "At least we didn't get banned from the mall." Rarity gave Pinkie a grim look. "Still, we should probably stay away for a while. A month at the very least." Tears welled up in Pinkie's eyes as she threw her arms around her friend. "I promise, I'll pay you back, Rarity! That cookie kaboom was my fault!" "Ahem." A throat cleared behind them. They turned to find an extra smug Trixie strolling up to them. "There is also the matter of what you both owe me," Trixie said. "Not only for ruining my show but for saving your bacon just now." Pinkie now turned her pleading eyes on Trixie. "We're reaaally sorry about earlier, but things were waaay beyond our control!" Trixie held up a hand, mostly to keep Pinkie from invading her space. "I won't pry. If I had to guess, it was probably just more of that magic gone wild. Again." Trixie was one of the few people outside of the Rainbooms aware of the existence of Equestrian magic. "I'll reimburse you for the cost of the smoke pellet." Rarity said as she searched her bag for her checkbook. She had a feeling Trixie had some ulterior motive for coming to their aid. She wondered how much more of her latte budget she would have to sacrifice to square the debts she and Pinkie incurred today. Trixie's smile deepened. "Actually, Rarity, I have something else in mind." Later that evening, Rarity and Pinkie told their friends in the Rainbooms about what happened at the mall. Rainbow Dash got a good laugh out of it. Sunset Shimmer was perplexed as to why magic from a world populated primarily by sentient quadrupeds would induce distinctly bipedal behavior. Applejack was worried about "damage control," as the incident had drawn nearly as much attention as Juniper Montage's rampage not too long ago. Thankfully, the one video of the food court explosion uploaded to NikNak failed to go viral. Most of the comments on the video derided the spectacle as being "obviously staged" - ironically, mirroring the cover story Trixie gave. To Pinkie's surprise, Twilight Sparkle did not gloat at her misfortune - not too much, anyway. Despite her ordeal, Pinkie refused to stop wearing her beloved belly jewels, although she did decide to hold off on buying any new ones for a while. The following Friday at Canterlot High School found the girls eating lunch at their usual table when the cafeteria's double doors suddenly burst open. Everybody in the room glanced over to find a cloud of pale blue smoke billowing at the entrance. From the cloud emerged Trixie wrapped her trademark purple cloak. She thrust out an arm, bare save for a shiny prop gold bracelet. "It is I, the Great and Powerful Trrrixie! I have returned from the mysterious east, having learned the ways of the djinn! Behold!” With a grand flourish, Trixie cast off her cloak. Instead of her signature magician outfit, she wore a navy blue bolero vest and bandeau top, with matching pantaloons and slippers. Completing the kitschy ensemble was a prop gold genie lamp hanging from her hip and a large faux sapphire ensconced in her navel. Everybody in the cafeteria stared in awe. Many pulled out their smartphones to record. A few giggled at how outrageous Trixie's entrance and costume were. Rarity and Pinkie slapped their hands to their faces. Instead of demanding financial compensation for the mall incident, Trixie asked Rarity to make her a new costume for her magic act - an Arabian Nights-style outfit similar to the bedlahs she had made for her friends. Always eager to make a new outfit, Rarity gladly accepted. Pinkie in turn repaid her debt to Rarity by footing the bill for the materials. They had even offered to teach Trixie some basic belly dancing moves - she declined, saying that she did not want to ape their gig. Neither of them, however, expected Trixie to debut the outfit here at CHS during lunch period! Trixie sauntered to the center of the cafeteria where she conjured coins, flowers, and brightly-colored streamers to the delight of her audience - the most engaged one she had in quite some time. The excitement lasted only a few minutes before a sudden hush swept across the room. Bewildered, Trixie glanced about to find her classmates all staring at the entrance. She turned around to find Vice Principal Luna standing at the door. Trixie blanched under Luna's steely gaze. "Dress code, Miss Lulumoon." Luna's austere voice resonated throughout the room. Everybody watched silently enrapt as their vice principal strode up to Trixie, who was now struggling to plead her case. "But what about your recital? Or their benefit?” Trixie gestured to the Rainbooms' table, much to their annoyance. The vice principal remained unmoved as she loomed over Trixie. “Both were non-school events scheduled outside of school hours." Despite practicing belly dance herself, Luna knew there was an appropriate time and place for wearing the costumes (or facsimiles thereof). "My office, now.” Trixie wilted as a collective "Oooh" rippled through the cafeteria. Without another word, she gathered up her cloak before being marched out the door. Author's Note While I've never played a FNAF game, I cannot help but imagine the security guard looking similar to Vanessa from FNAF: Security Breach. Realistically, creating such a disturbance within a shopping center would have far more serious consequences. Then again, the EqG universe as a whole seems to be a reaaally forgiving one. Vengeful as Trixie was in Rainbow Rocks, I would like to think that she has grown a little savvier since as far as getting what she wants. I always thought it would be funny if she adopted a kitschy "Arabian Nights" theme to her magic act, complete with the requisite midriff-baring genie outfit. That final scene is a nod to this drawing I did not too long ago: https://www.deviantart.com/mayorlight/art/Dress-Code-Miss-Lulamoon-892128040 The events Trixie and Luna speak of were the ones that took place in my previous stories Our Principal Is A Belly Dancer and In Her Own Skin. Hope you enjoyed this silly tale!
The Green JewelThe Specter Halloween store at the Canterlot mall was one of the few stores of its kind that was open year-round. For many local Halloween enthusiasts, it was their one-stop shop for costumes, accessories, decorations, and props. Scary or silly, kitschy or cute, Specter had something for everybody. Rarity and Pinkie Pie strolled in through the front entrance, eliciting a wicked cackle from a life-size figure of the store's eponymous mascot. They went directly to the costumes section, which boasted the usual assortment of classic horror icons, cartoon characters, and superheroes. Rarity proceeded to peruse the costumes of popular cartoon princesses. As an experienced seamstress, her eyes quickly picked up the minute imperfections of the mass-produced gowns. "Hmm, some rather colorful selections this year," Rarity said placidly. "Alas, same quality as usual." Pinkie cocked her head. "Isn't that why you always make your own costumes?" "That I do, darling. Although it never hurts to see what else is in circulation." "I still like Lemon Zest's idea of us all wearing our bedlahs for Halloween." Rarity tittered. "I am deeply flattered by the notion, but do remember: our bedlahs are for performances only." Rarity took great pride in her work as a fashion designer and seamstress. Her greatest achievements to date were the six ornate bedlahs (dance costumes) she had made for herself, Pinkie, and the rest of their friends in their belly dance class. The thought of any of those masterpieces suffering a single stain or rip was too dreadful to bear! "I know, I know," Pinkie sighed. "But it would be so much fun!" A faint wisp of magical energy silently sailed into the store as Rarity and Pinkie browsed the shelves. Neither the girls nor any of the staff or other customers noticed the wisp as it floated toward the middle of the store and came to rest in one of the aisles. Rarity was now inspecting a shelf full of gaudy novelty costumes. "See anything that tickles your fancy?" Pinkie tossed aside a mermaid costume (complete with a seashell top). "Nah, nothing's really grabbing me. I'm gonna go check out the accessories." Rarity nodded to Pinkie as the latter sauntered off. Continuing down the aisle, Rarity came upon a small section of flimsy "belly dancer," "genie," and "harem girl" costumes. Rarity smiled to herself. Seeing these outfits reminded her of the time several months ago when she and Pinkie ran into Twilight Sparkle at a party supply store. That was when Twilight revealed to them her newfound hobby of belly dancing. Shortly after, Rarity would make her first bedlah - the one Twilight wore for her debut performance and still uses to this day. While Rarity never said it out loud, she did take a little pride in sparing Twilight the horrid fate of settling for one of those awful pre-fabricated costumes! Two aisles over, Pinkie was trying on various wigs and prosthetic noses. After experimenting with a mere two dozen combinations (in under two minutes), she was already bored. There were plenty of silly, spooky knick-knacks, but nothing that she had not already seen before. After discarding a Cleopatra wig and clown nose, she began sifting through a bin filled with various pieces of costume jewelry. Then something in the pile caught her eye: a belly dancer jewel kit, containing a single green glass stone and a tiny vial of adhesive. Pinkie marveled at the imitation jewel. Ever since she and Rarity took up belly dancing, they had both adopted the somewhat controversial practice of wearing jewels in their navels during performances. This would end up becoming a minor point of contention between them and Twilight. According to Twilight (and countless online articles Pinkie and Rarity looked up themselves), the jewel in the navel originated half a century ago in Applewood. It was a quick, easy way for movie and television studios to circumvent the censorship rules of the time - which expressly prohibited exposing one's navel. Thus, whenever a belly dancer, harem girl, or genie appeared on screen, their navels were invariably either concealed by high waistbands or obscured by a jewel. After a few decades, this rule would eventually be relaxed. By then, however, the jewel in the navel had become such a familiar accessory that many professional belly dancers worldwide adopted it. Twilight regarded "belly jewels" as a relic of a bygone era and adamantly refused to wear one. Rarity and Pinkie, however, saw no harm in doing so. Rarity always took every opportunity to wear jewels of any kind. Pinkie reasoned that if her belly was the focal point of her dance, and her belly button the focal point of her belly, she would want to draw as much attention to it as possible! Beyond Twilight expressing her disapproval of belly jewels, she never attempted to dissuade Rarity or Pinkie from wearing them. Despite this, Twilight did not seem to take issue with Lemon Zest wearing her belly button piercing during performances. As such, Pinkie did not think much of it when, not too long ago, Sugarcoat asked to try on a belly jewel. Neither of them ever expected Twilight to stare daggers at them the way she did! While most of the belly jewels in Pinkie's collection were blue to match her bedlah, she made it a point to collect many different colors (a little variety never hurts). The jewel in the kit before her was a bright shade of green - different from any of the greens she had collected. Most notably, its minute facets gave off a beautiful shimmering sparkle - the likes of which she had never seen before. Pinkie made up her mind then and there - she snatched up the kit and headed straight to the checkout counter. After completing her purchase, Pinkie went over to a full-body mirror at the front of the store. There, she tore open the kit and rolled up her shirt. After dabbing a tiny bit of adhesive on her new belly jewel, she blew on it once for good luck and pressed it into her navel. She squealed with delight as she gave her hips a little shimmy. The jewel was so sparkly! But why stop there? she thought to herself. She could take things a step further by adding some glitter. Or maybe henna! She began imagining how her tummy might look with different designs painted on it: a spiral, a starburst, maybe even a mystic eye with her belly button as the pupil. So many fun possibilities! Just then Pinkie felt a sudden twitch, a tiny involuntary shiver in her stomach. What was that just now? she wondered. Maybe she was just so excited about the new jewel that she...There it was again - a tingling feeling around her navel and gradually spread to her ribs and hips. Soon, she felt the tingling throughout her entire body. Suddenly the jewel began to glow like a green nightlight. One hip twitched. Then the other. Before she knew it, she was shimmying in place. Pinkie gasped. What was happening to her? Before she could ponder the question, her arms began to undulate out to her sides in a snake arms motion. Her hips still shimmying, she took a step. Then another. She cried out in a mixture of fear and confusion as she shimmy-walked toward the store entrance. The mascot's cackle seemed to mock her newfound predicament. Rarity had been trying on a wide-brimmed boater hat when she heard Pinkie's cry. She poked her head out of the aisle just in time to see her friend dancing out the door. Several other shoppers and store employees had also taken notice. "Is she okay?" asked a puzzled clerk. A shopper shrugged. "Probably just goofing off." "Pinkie, wait up!" Rarity rushed to the entrance. In her haste, she forgot that she was still wearing the hat. She nearly jumped out of her skin when the loss prevention alarm blared. She hastily doubled back to leave the hat on the mascot's hooded head. After an equally hasty apology to the cashier, she darted out the door as fast as she could in her high-heeled shoes. Author's Note It has been a while, hasn't it? I've had this silly little scenario in my head for a good while. After running into walls with other story ideas, I finally put this one down on figurative paper. As many of my readers may already tell, this story is sillier in tone than the previous installments in my Equestria Girls belly dance series - befitting for any tale featuring Pinkie Pie. My inspiration for Pinkie's predicament came from the "green shoes" scene from the Porky Pig cartoon The Wearing of the Grin, as well as the Dungeons & Dragons spell Otto's irresistible dance. Pinkie's memory of Sugarcoat trying on a belly jewel is a nod to this drawing I did a little over a year ago: https://www.deviantart.com/mayorlight/art/Turncoat-886032877
Dancing Through The MallOutside in the mall corridor, Pinkie continued to dance as though she were a marionette tugged along by invisible strings. Her mind frantically struggled to comprehend what was happening to her. She took a deep breath and held it, sucking her stomach in as much as she could. She could still feel her abdominal muscles fluttering. She then swung one foot out an angle, turning her toes inward. She bent her knees and sank down into a karate stance Rainbow Dash once showed her. Pinkie managed to remain rooted in place, her arms still undulating as the rest of her body quivered ever so slightly. It was only a moment before she felt the quivering in her core intensify. Her belly began to ripple once more as her feet jerkily shuffled against her control. She could only whimper as she fought a losing battle to remain where she stood. Several yards behind, Rarity emerged from the store amid the blare of its alarm. "Pinkie! What has gotten into you?" "I don't know!" Pinkie cried. "I just tried on the jewel, and now I can't stop belly dancing!" Rarity's eyes shot down to the glowing green jewel in Pinkie's navel. Immediately she knew - this could only be Equestrian magic! She recalled the incident that happened at this very shopping center wherein Juniper Montage used a hand mirror picked up from a vendor's stall to trap them and their friends inside a pocket dimension. As far as their friend and resident magic expert Sunset Shimmer could tell, there seemed to be no rhyme or reason as to the incursions of Equestrian magic into their world. The magic just seemed to seek out and empower random objects. The only certainty was the trouble these magically-infused items caused the people who came into contact with them. What were the chances of Equestrian magic finding its way not only into the very store they were browsing but into the very item Pinkie bought? Could she and Pinkie have somehow attracted the magic? Was the mall itself just one giant magic magnet? They would have to ponder all this later, Rarity thought to herself. Right now, she had to release her friend from the grip of this cursed jewel! Rarity hastily pulled down Pinkie's shirt. The glow of the jewel seeped through the fabric like a flashlight under a bedsheet. At that moment, Pinkie lost the struggle to remain rooted and began to dance away once more. Rarity then threw her arms around Pinkie's shoulders, hoping to restrain her friend. Pinkie began to shimmy even faster, as though in an effort to shake Rarity off. It took Rarity every ounce of her strength to hang on. This was more embarrassing than the time Applejack talked her into riding a mechanical bull! Oh, were Applejack here, she would have been able to hold Pinkie in place with her super-strength! Then it dawned on Rarity: she could use her own geode! She extended her hand and focused her power, conjuring a floating diamond "hula hoop" around Pinkie's hips. She then formed a diamond bracelet on her own wrist and a diamond chain linking it to the hoop. Apparently, the jewel could detect if its host's body was actively being restrained. As long as nothing was actually grappling or clamping down on any part of Pinkie's body, Rarity could keep her tethered with minimal effort. "There, that's better," Rarity said, regaining some of her usual poise. "Now, we need to get someplace where we can remove that jewel." Fortunately, the nearest restrooms were only a few yards away. Once they were safely inside a ladies' room stall, away from potential gawkers, Rarity can attempt to remove the jewel using the rubbing alcohol she always carried in her handbag. There was no time to lose! Rarity strode down a hallway with Pinkie in literal tow behind her. Within seconds they reached the restrooms...only to find a yellow extend-to-fit "Closed For Cleaning" sign barring the ladies' room entrance. Pinkie felt her belly rapidly fluttering. It was as though the jewel itself was laughing at their setback! Rarity's mind raced as her friend wriggled in place. Even if she could get Pinkie into the ladies' room, the janitor might call security if they barricaded themselves in a stall. She was not about to drag Pinkie into the men's room, so their next viable option was to go to the restrooms located near the food court located on the second floor in the middle of the mall. Rarity kept her composure. "Not to worry, darling. On to Plan B!" They proceeded to make their way down the corridor, bypassing a man being led by a service dog. Suddenly a toddler on a safety harness strayed into their path. Without breaking stride, Rarity deftly maneuvered Pinkie around the child, whose mother cast a curious look at them. Here and there, they attracted errant looks from passersby. Rarity ignored them all, although she did find herself wishing she and Pinkie had their classmate Wallflower Blush's ability to seemingly vanish from sight. After a few minutes of weaving around bewildered mall patrons, they reached the mall's courtyard. Rarity paused at the yellow marble fountain to consider their options for getting upstairs as Pinkie circled her hips. At the moment, the escalator leading up to the food court was not running - evidenced by mall patrons climbing its motionless steps. In Pinkie's current state, she might not be able to climb the steps - even if she could, it would be especially hazardous. That left the elevator on the opposite end of the courtyard. As much as Rarity did not want to risk her and Pinkie getting enclosed with gawkers, it was the only safe way up. Rarity turned to Pinkie. "How are you feeling?" Sweat beaded Pinkie's brow as she shimmied her hips. "I don't know how long I can keep dancing!" It had only been a few minutes, but this nonstop dancing was taxing even Pinkie's seemingly endless energy. By now, any other person might have already collapsed from fatigue - or worse. And that was if the jewel allowed its host's body to even rest! Rarity clasped her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Hang in there, darling! We're almost there!" Rarity tugged Pinkie across the courtyard as the cabin descended to their floor. The timing could not be more perfect! They arrived at the elevator just as the last of the passengers disembarked. As soon as she and Pinkie were inside, Rarity hit the second-floor button. The doors were about to close when a hand suddenly thrust between them, triggering the sensor. Rarity pulled herself and Pinkie back toward the rear as an elderly woman and a pair of middle school girls entered the cabin. Rarity tightened her grip on the chain, pulling Pinkie as close to her as possible. Although the diamond hoop around Pinkie's hips prevented her from brushing up against anyone else, under the jewel's control, she might end up shoving somebody against the walls! Their ascent began. Pinkie danced in semi-orbit around Rarity like a show dog on a leash. The schoolgirls snickered at the sight while the old woman pursed her lips. Rarity felt her cheeks reddening. Everyone in the cabin thought that she and Pinkie were acting out some weird kink! All she could do was gaze up at the ceiling and count the seconds. After what seemed like an eternity, the elevator bell chimed and the doors opened to the second floor. Rarity waited until the other passengers had exited the cabin before striding out with Pinkie. She could not bear to suffer another embarrassing moment like this! Moving as quickly as she could in her high heels, she tugged Pinkie toward the food court. Thankfully, there were not many people around. It was mid-afternoon and the lunch crowd had already subsided. Several patrons sat among the tables enjoying their meals. In the center of the court, a handful of people were engrossed - more or less - in their CHS classmate Trixie's magic show. The path to the rear of the court - and the restrooms - lay clear ahead of them! In her haste, Rarity failed to notice that she was dragging Pinkie past the Mrs. Meadows bakery counter - in front of which stood a smiling girl in a red uniform holding a sample tray filled with chocolate chip cookies. Pinkie's eyes brightened at the sight of the cookies. She could tell that they were fresh from the oven! Their scent alone was enough to make her forget her current predicament. Despite continuing to shimmy, she regained enough control over an arm to reach out to the server. "Ooh, I'll take one!" Rarity groaned. How could Pinkie think of indulging her sweet tooth at a time like this? Where were her priorities? She jerked on the chain as the server extended a cookie to her dancing friend. "Pinkie, come on!" Pinkie, never one to be denied a free sugary treat, instinctively reached further to grab the cookie - and accidentally activated her geode's power. In that instant, the cookie was charged with a surge of kinetic energy. KABOOM! Rarity shrieked as the blast threw her forward. Her world became a complete haze as she toppled onto the floor. Her ears rang as she struggled to get her bearings. Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself up from the floor. Thankfully, nothing in her body felt broken. Instinctively, she ran her fingers through her messed-up hair to smooth it out as best as she could. She turned around to find a rapidly dissipating cloud of pink smoke. Within the plumes, the rattled server was being helped to her feet by a co-worker. The ringing in Rarity's ears faded in time for her to utter an especially unladylike curse. This was a catastrophe! That blast was sure to bring mall security - maybe even the police! Hopefully, that server was not hurt. Hopefully, she will not press charges! Oh, why did Pinkie have to reach for that cookie? Pinkie. Pinkie? Rarity glanced down at her wrist and gasped. The diamond bracelet and chain were gone! In her shock from the blast, she had allowed them - along with the diamond hoop - to dissipate. Where did Pinkie go? Author's Note The title of this chapter ended up being a nod to the EqG holiday short "Dashing through the Mall." I've been wanting to make use of Rarity and Pinkie's geodes in my stories for a while now. Although Pinkie's sugar bomb remains a mostly comical effect, I imagine it being similar to the Dungeons & Dragons spell thunderwave. Earlier this year, I read On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony, which includes a scene where an unfortunate character literally "dances to death" as the result of enchanted shoes. Thus, Rarity's concerns for Pinkie's health are well-warranted. I'm pretty sure most folks can guess what the name Mrs. Meadows is a parody of.
ExtractionIn the center of the food court, the Great and Powerful Trixie stood before a half-interested young girl. The toddler held a playing card in her tiny hand, its face pointed toward her. Trixie's eyes were closed as she placed her fingers to her temple as though attempting to stimulate some latent clairvoyant ability within herself. "Your card..." Trixie began, pausing for dramatic effect. "...is the Three of Diamonds!" The girl's eyes widened as she turned the card around to reveal that it was indeed the card Trixie had identified. Off to the side, the girl's mother applauded with saccharine enthusiasm - more for her daughter than Trixie. The few people dining nearby were too engrossed in their overpriced meals to even look up. While Trixie smiled on the outside, she groaned internally. Lately, she had not been drawing the crowds as she had before. A vital part of being a magician was to keep your act fresh and interesting. She knew that her magic act was long due for an overhaul. She did not just need new tricks, she needed a new look. The navy blue top hat and matching jacket she wore was a step up from her purple hat and cape, but the classy look was clearly lost on the riff-raff that frequented the mall. She needed something that would catch - and hold - everyone's attention. KABOOM! Trixie glanced to the side of the food court where a cloud of pink smoke had suddenly appeared. What the heck was that? she wondered. Did somebody set off a firecracker? The mother quickly snatched up her daughter as all of the diners got up from their seats, shocked and bewildered. A moment later, a girl with pink, frazzled hair emerged from the smoke. Trixie recognized her Canterlot High School classmate Pinkie Pie. Pinkie clumsily staggered out of the cloud. Several mall patrons cautiously approached her, asking what had just happened and if she was injured. Pinkie, seemingly in a daze, did not answer any of them. With each step, her hip movement became more pronounced. Her arms out to her sides, she began to sashay toward the center of the food court. Trixie stared in dismay. Was this some kind of prank? Pinkie was well-known at CHS for pulling over-the-top stunts. That explosion was definitely on brand for her! However, Pinkie's stunts usually involved balloons, confetti, and plenty of sweets. From the way Pinkie was moving, Trixie wondered if this was another belly dance performance like the one Pinkie and her friends had put on to benefit the Animal Shelter. But then why was Pinkie not wearing some colorful costume? And what was that green glow underneath her shirt? Pinkie suddenly dropped down to her knees, swinging her head and arms backward. The motion lifted her shirt, exposing her belly - and what appeared to be a green LED light in her navel. With her head and shoulders mere inches from the floor, Pinkie proceeded to circle her wrists overhead as she fluttered her belly. A nearby bystander wondered aloud if she was having a fit. The little girl pointed at Pinkie. "Look, mommy! That girl has a light in her belly button!" The mother promptly shielded her child's eyes. Trixie twisted her mouth. She did not know what was going on here, but she was certain of two things: (1) Pinkie had interrupted her act, and (2) was stealing her spotlight! She quickly stepped around the gawkers and over to Pinkie. Feigning an attempt to administer first aid, she bent down and whispered into her classmate's ear. "Pinkie Pie, what are you doing? Look, if this is about the time I ate your cupcake, I already apologized for it, and even bought you two to make up for it!" Pinkie continued to wriggle and writhe on the floor. "I'm sorry, Trixie," she whimpered. "But I really can't help myself!" Trixie's face flushed red. Pinkie sure had some gall! From the corner of her eye, Trixie could see that one spectator was already recording the scene on a smartphone. There had to be some way she could regain her spotlight. She had to think of something fast! Then the Clever and Resourceful Trixie got an idea. She clasped a hand down on Pinkie's forehead and reached the other to the heavens. "Oh, misery and misfortune!" Trixie called out. "An evil spirit has possessed this unfortunate girl! I command thee, spirit, begone!" It was the best idea Trixie could think of at the moment - copying the act of a charlatan faith healer she had once seen in an online video. Some of the onlookers giggled at the spectacle, apparently believing it to be part of her magic act. Still, she needed to get rid of Pinkie. Now. She bent down to hiss into Pinkie's ear once more. "Seriously, cut it out! Trixie then felt a hand digging into her coat pocket. She glanced up as Rarity withdrew her hand - along with one of her (Trixie's) smoke pellets. Whatever Pinkie was pulling here, Rarity was clearly a part of it! Trixie angrily bolted up. "Hey, what are you..." "Sorry about this, Trixie!" Rarity said as she dashed the pellet onto the floor. A cloud of bluish-white smoke erupted. All around them, people shrieked and gasped. Caught off guard, Trixie broke out into a coughing fit. When the smoke cleared seconds later, Pinkie Pie and Rarity were nowhere to be found. Trixie cursed as she threw her hat down onto the floor. It was bad enough that Pinkie Pie and Rarity ruined her act - they even stole her signature exit! They were going to pay for this! Rarity ran as fast as she could down the restroom corridor, doing her best to not think about how cold or dirty the tile floor was on her bare feet. In one hand, she held her shoes. With the other, she tugged the newly-reformed diamond hoop and chain. Behind her, Pinkie clung to the hoop under her arms, her feet dragging on the floor. Without solid footing to dance on, the jewel's influence over her body seemed to have subsided - for the moment. "I'm really sorry, Rarity!" Rarity only gritted her teeth. The last of her patience - and poise - had just flown out the window. Right now, she had to get Pinkie free of that accursed jewel before it embarrassed them both even further! The girls burst into the ladies restroom. Thankfully, there was nobody else inside. Rarity took Pinkie back to the toilet stall at the far end - the most spacious of all. After bolting the door, she focused her geode, reducing the hoop's size until its interior was less than an inch away from either of Pinkie's hips. She then dismissed the diamond chain and conjured four diamond struts that anchored the hoop - and Pinkie - in place. No longer being literally dragged by Rarity, Pinkie fell to the jewel's influence once more, sliding her hips from side to side within what minuscule space the hoop now offered. "Alright," Rarity said as she rolled up her friend's shirt. "Time to get to work!" Rarity produced a white handkerchief from her purse and tied it over her nose and mouth. She recalled a scene from a campy spy movie where a secret agent tried to remove a golden bullet from a belly dancer's navel and ended up accidentally swallowing it in the process! Rarity did not want to take any chances of the same mishap happening to her. Pinkie bit her lip. The makeshift mask made Rarity look like a surgeon getting ready to make the first cut! Rarity reached into her bag and produced a vial of rubbing alcohol and a pack of cotton rounds. After soaking a triple layer of rounds in the alcohol, she kneeled down and proceeded to rub the alcohol-soaked round over the jewel. Once the alcohol dissolved the spirit gum, the jewel's grip on Pinkie - physical and magical - would be lost. Hopefully. Pinkie mewled as her belly, muscles already burning, began to ripple even faster. It was as though the jewel sensed what Rarity was trying to do! The cotton was soon depleted of alcohol, but the jewel still held fast. Rarity applied more alcohol to the cotton and began rubbing again - this time, tracing around the edges of Pinkie's navel. The task was made all the more difficult by Pinkie's belly rapidly undulating in random directions - the jewel's last-ditch effort to remain attached to its host. They could only hope some of the alcohol seeped inside the crevice and helped dislodge it. Rarity soaked the cotton a third time. The acrid scent of the alcohol was quickly becoming unbearable. After nearly two minutes of continuous rubbing from Rarity, the jewel suddenly slipped out, clinking onto the floor. Pinkie gasped as she slumped within the diamond hoop, finally free from the jewel's control. At their feet, their green adversary's glow faded as it once again became an inert piece of glass. Rarity clasped a hand on her friend's shoulder. "How do you feel?" "Like I just did a gazillion sit-ups," Pinkie panted. Just then, the jewel hopped like a cricket. Both girls shrieked, Pinkie clasping her hands over her newly-freed navel. "Oh no, you don't!" Rarity exclaimed. She focused her geode once more, dismissing the diamond hoop and encasing the jewel inside a diamond orb the size of a hamster ball. She was not about to risk this magical menace re-attaching itself to Pinkie! As Pinkie staggered against the stall, something fell out of her thick curly hair. She glanced down at the floor to find a chocolate chip cookie - no doubt a leftover from the foodcourt blast. By some miracle, the cookie was still intact. She promptly snatched it up and began kneading it into a ball. "Rarity, on the count of three, make a hole in the top just big enough for this." Pinkie said as she held up the cookie ball. "As soon as I drop this inside, close it up again!" Rarity nodded, immediately understanding her friend's plan. Inside the diamond orb, the jewel bounced about, in a desperate albeit futile attempt to escape its prison. Pinkie focused her geode's power, lacing the cookie with a delayed surge of kinetic energy. She then placed it atop the diamond orb. "One...two..." A tear welled in Pinkie's eye. Such a waste of a perfectly good cookie! "Three!" Rarity opened the hole, allowing Pinkie to slip the cookie ball inside the orb, then re-sealing it again. "Adios mother hugger!" Pinkie crowed. Both girls backed away as the cookie ball detonated. The diamond orb shook as its interior filled with opaque pink smoke. Thankfully, the force of the blast along with its noise was almost entirely suppressed by the orb. Rarity opened tiny vents in the orb to release the smoke. She and Pinkie peered inside the orb to find the jewel reduced to a minute pile of green grain. Not taking any chances, Rarity emptied the grain into the toilet and flushed. With the arcane threat neutralized, the girls took a moment to catch their breath. Pinkie pulled her shirt back down as Rarity began putting her shoes back on. "Well," Rarity said. This will make for an interesting report to the others." Pinkie groaned. "Aww...do we have to?" Rarity lidded her eyes. "You know the rules, Pinkie." When Equestrian magic began flowing into their world, the members of the Rainbooms agreed to report any and all encounters with it to the group. This way, they could better analyze the magical incursions and be better prepared for future incidents. So far, they had survived friends transforming into she-demons (and one ogress), mass mind control, and giant plants. There was no telling what they might encounter next. Although, neither Rarity nor Pinkie ever imagined they would ever encounter an accessory that compelled its wearer to dance non-stop. One would expect such a thing to at least be a pair of shoes! Pinkie pouted. She just knew Twilight would find some way to rub this incident in her face. Having regained their composure, the girls exited the stall...and immediately froze in their tracks. Standing at the restroom entrance was a tall unsmiling woman clad in the white-and-black uniform of a mall security guard. Author's Note This is my first time writing Trixie. I imagine her being every bit as opportunistic as she is egotistical. The incident she mentions where she ate Pinkie's cupcake is a reference to the animatic of the Equestria Girls short Street Magic with Trixie. Sadly, this moment got cut from the finalized version. James Bond fans will undoubtedly recognize the reference to The Man with the Golden Gun. I think Rarity's geode power would come in very handy for bomb disposal.
DebtsRarity and Pinkie shrank back as the security guard, a young woman with her platinum hair tied in a ponytail, planted her fists on her hips. The guard's face could have been carved from stone the way she was glaring at them. While they had dealt with the magical problem of that accursed jewel, they now had to deal with the mundane problem of explaining themselves to the authorities - who very likely did not believe in the existence of magic. Rarity gave a nervous laugh. "Uh, we were just cleaning up from a food spill." The guard laughed in turn, only hers was utterly devoid of mirth. "Oh, it was more than just a food spill out there." Another woman, a few years older with her black hair tied in a bun entered the restroom. Her red uniform marked her as the Mrs. Meadows manager. She cast an accusing finger at the girls. "That's them! They're the ones who set off that firework." "W-we don't have any fireworks on us!" Pinkie stammered. "Yeah, none still intact," the guard sneered. "I swear, I was just about to take a free sample and then all of a sudden, boom!" Rarity tried to shush Pinkie but it was too late. The guard and the manager were already adavncing on them. "You girls are coming with us," said the guard. None of Rarity or Pinkie's statements was a lie, but the security guard and the cookie boss were clearly not convinced. The girls were already fearing the worst: getting banned from the mall, being turned over to the police, being charged with who knows how many misdemeanors, and becoming a laughingstock among their peers. This day cannot possibly get any worse! "There you are!" called a voice from the door. Everybody glanced back at the entrance to find a fuming Trixie. The magician pointed a finger at Rarity and Pinkie. "Your timing was way off! We seriously need more rehearsals if you two are going to screw up this badly!" The guard and the manager exchanged confused glances. Pinkie did not know what to make of Trixie's interjection. Rarity, however, immediately caught onto the cue and put on the most contrite face she could. "We're really sorry, Trixie." The guard looked at Rarity before turning to Trixie. "Are these two part of your magic act?" "I'm afraid so," Trixie scoffed. "I swear, it's hard to find good help these days!" Rarity and Pinkie spent the next hour with Trixie in the security office getting grilled by the guard and the Mrs. Meadows manager. Thankfully, Trixie did most of the talking, presenting a bald-faced lie that she had asked her classmates to assist her act as audience plants and that they had each been carrying one of her smoke pellets. For their part, Rarity and Pinkie simply had to back up Trixie's story, which the latter ended up repeating three times at the guard's request - ostensibly in a search for inconsistencies. Toward the end of the third telling, the manager stepped outside to take a phone call. When she returned, she reported that her employee had just been released from a nearby emergency room with nothing more than minor bruising. With this news, the manager and the guard seemed satisfied that the incident was nothing more than a silly accident. The manager, however, demanded that Rarity and Pinkie pay the cost of the destroyed batch of cookies. The guard also advised Trixie that she was henceforth prohibited from using her smoke effects inside the mall. Trixie did not seem all that vexed by the restriction and readily agreed. With this, she was free to go. Rarity and Pinkie were escorted back to the Mrs. Meadows counter. Rarity provided her prepaid credit card for the payment, which depleted the amount she had set aside for a week's worth of lattes. With the manager satisfied, Rarity and Pinkie were now released, although the guard continued to eye them until they were out of sight. Without a word, the girls headed for the nearest exit. Only once they were out in the parking lot did Pinkie break the silence. "Well," she said weakly. "At least we didn't get banned from the mall." Rarity gave Pinkie a grim look. "Still, we should probably stay away for a while. A month at the very least." Tears welled up in Pinkie's eyes as she threw her arms around her friend. "I promise, I'll pay you back, Rarity! That cookie kaboom was my fault!" "Ahem." A throat cleared behind them. They turned to find an extra smug Trixie strolling up to them. "There is also the matter of what you both owe me," Trixie said. "Not only for ruining my show but for saving your bacon just now." Pinkie now turned her pleading eyes on Trixie. "We're reaaally sorry about earlier, but things were waaay beyond our control!" Trixie held up a hand, mostly to keep Pinkie from invading her space. "I won't pry. If I had to guess, it was probably just more of that magic gone wild. Again." Trixie was one of the few people outside of the Rainbooms aware of the existence of Equestrian magic. "I'll reimburse you for the cost of the smoke pellet." Rarity said as she searched her bag for her checkbook. She had a feeling Trixie had some ulterior motive for coming to their aid. She wondered how much more of her latte budget she would have to sacrifice to square the debts she and Pinkie incurred today. Trixie's smile deepened. "Actually, Rarity, I have something else in mind." Later that evening, Rarity and Pinkie told their friends in the Rainbooms about what happened at the mall. Rainbow Dash got a good laugh out of it. Sunset Shimmer was perplexed as to why magic from a world populated primarily by sentient quadrupeds would induce distinctly bipedal behavior. Applejack was worried about "damage control," as the incident had drawn nearly as much attention as Juniper Montage's rampage not too long ago. Thankfully, the one video of the food court explosion uploaded to NikNak failed to go viral. Most of the comments on the video derided the spectacle as being "obviously staged" - ironically, mirroring the cover story Trixie gave. To Pinkie's surprise, Twilight Sparkle did not gloat at her misfortune - not too much, anyway. Despite her ordeal, Pinkie refused to stop wearing her beloved belly jewels, although she did decide to hold off on buying any new ones for a while. The following Friday at Canterlot High School found the girls eating lunch at their usual table when the cafeteria's double doors suddenly burst open. Everybody in the room glanced over to find a cloud of pale blue smoke billowing at the entrance. From the cloud emerged Trixie wrapped her trademark purple cloak. She thrust out an arm, bare save for a shiny prop gold bracelet. "It is I, the Great and Powerful Trrrixie! I have returned from the mysterious east, having learned the ways of the djinn! Behold!” With a grand flourish, Trixie cast off her cloak. Instead of her signature magician outfit, she wore a navy blue bolero vest and bandeau top, with matching pantaloons and slippers. Completing the kitschy ensemble was a prop gold genie lamp hanging from her hip and a large faux sapphire ensconced in her navel. Everybody in the cafeteria stared in awe. Many pulled out their smartphones to record. A few giggled at how outrageous Trixie's entrance and costume were. Rarity and Pinkie slapped their hands to their faces. Instead of demanding financial compensation for the mall incident, Trixie asked Rarity to make her a new costume for her magic act - an Arabian Nights-style outfit similar to the bedlahs she had made for her friends. Always eager to make a new outfit, Rarity gladly accepted. Pinkie in turn repaid her debt to Rarity by footing the bill for the materials. They had even offered to teach Trixie some basic belly dancing moves - she declined, saying that she did not want to ape their gig. Neither of them, however, expected Trixie to debut the outfit here at CHS during lunch period! Trixie sauntered to the center of the cafeteria where she conjured coins, flowers, and brightly-colored streamers to the delight of her audience - the most engaged one she had in quite some time. The excitement lasted only a few minutes before a sudden hush swept across the room. Bewildered, Trixie glanced about to find her classmates all staring at the entrance. She turned around to find Vice Principal Luna standing at the door. Trixie blanched under Luna's steely gaze. "Dress code, Miss Lulumoon." Luna's austere voice resonated throughout the room. Everybody watched silently enrapt as their vice principal strode up to Trixie, who was now struggling to plead her case. "But what about your recital? Or their benefit?” Trixie gestured to the Rainbooms' table, much to their annoyance. The vice principal remained unmoved as she loomed over Trixie. “Both were non-school events scheduled outside of school hours." Despite practicing belly dance herself, Luna knew there was an appropriate time and place for wearing the costumes (or facsimiles thereof). "My office, now.” Trixie wilted as a collective "Oooh" rippled through the cafeteria. Without another word, she gathered up her cloak before being marched out the door. Author's Note While I've never played a FNAF game, I cannot help but imagine the security guard looking similar to Vanessa from FNAF: Security Breach. Realistically, creating such a disturbance within a shopping center would have far more serious consequences. Then again, the EqG universe as a whole seems to be a reaaally forgiving one. Vengeful as Trixie was in Rainbow Rocks, I would like to think that she has grown a little savvier since as far as getting what she wants. I always thought it would be funny if she adopted a kitschy "Arabian Nights" theme to her magic act, complete with the requisite midriff-baring genie outfit. That final scene is a nod to this drawing I did not too long ago: https://www.deviantart.com/mayorlight/art/Dress-Code-Miss-Lulamoon-892128040 The events Trixie and Luna speak of were the ones that took place in my previous stories Our Principal Is A Belly Dancer and In Her Own Skin. Hope you enjoyed this silly tale!
