Rainbow Dash tossed a hoofull of popcorn into her mouth and chewed noisily on the heavily buttered goodness. Reclined on the comfortable library couch, she appeared to have reached the absolute pinnacle of relaxation. On the coffee table before her sat a bowl of candy and a bucket of popcorn while in her hooves rested the brand new Daring Do novel.
“You are by far, the laziest pony I’ve ever seen,” Spike remarked, leaning against the side of the peice of furniture.
Rainbow Dash shrugged. “You can't be the fastest if you don't know how to slow down every once and a while.”
“Covering your laziness with a thin veneer of wisdom doesn't make you any less lazy,” Spike pointed out.
“Hey, it's worked for me so far,” Rainbow Dash retorted.
Spike snorted. “You could have at least gone out and bought a costume, you know.”
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow and looked over to where Spike stood next to the couch. The diminutive dragon was gone, replaced by a rather well constructed mix of cardboard and paint. Which when combined with the fake set of extra legs made him appear to be a slightly shorter copy of Big Macintosh.
“I still can't believe you two are dressing up as each other. How corny can you guys get?” Rainbow Dash deadpanned.
Big Macintosh snorted, drawing Rainbow Dash’s eye over to the farmer who was dressed as a much taller version of Spike.
“Yeah well. That's why we asked Twilight to help us spice up our costumes with some magic!” Spike declared.
Big Macintosh nodded. “Eeyup.”
“Not even magic can save you two from looking like dorks,” Rainbow Dash shot back.
“Hey at least we put some effort into our costumes!” Spike exclaimed.
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh agreed.
“Hey I am totally wearing a costume, can't you tell? I’m an escaped cannibal on the run from the law and hungry for pony flesh,” Rainbow Dash declared, wiggling her hooves in a spooky manner.
“Eenope,” Big Macintosh replied.
“You’re just being lazy because you plan on closing the blinds and eating all the candy you agreed to hand out to the foals,” Spike accused.
“I would never deprive the foals of Ponyville from their candy,” Rainbow Dash retorted.
“Yer gonna put the bucket outside with a note aintcha?” Big Macintosh offered.
Rainbow Dash sunk a little lower into the couch. “Maybe…”
“I can't believe Fluttershy is joining us but you aren't,” Spike exclaimed.
Rainbow Dash shrugged. “What can I say? The new Daring Do is worth it.”
“Alright I’m all ready guys,” Twilight announced from atop the stairs.
Almost all eyes turned to watch as the unicorn walked out from her room, a ragged shawl over her shoulders. Upon her head was a green wig, and her fur had been painted an eggshell white.
“Let me guess… Clover the Clever?” Spike asked.
Twilight smiled. “You are correct. I guess all that extra torturing is paying off.”
“Actually I remember that costume from the one you wore for last year’s hearth's warming play,” Spike replied.
Twilight’s grin turned to a frown. “Oh uh right. I forgot about that.”
“It's not bad,” Big Macintosh offered.
“Thank you Big Mac. Now, have either of you seen Fluttershy?” Twilight inquired.
“No, but she should be here any second. It isn't like her to be late,” Spike replied.
Sure enough it wasn't more than a few seconds later before Fluttershy appeared in the doorway, breathing heavily. Her fur had been painted black and the pegasus had a crooked fake horn attached to her head while false butterfly wings rested on her back. Dressed like an exhausted, and panicked Changeling, Fluttershy hastily made her way inside, shutting the door swiftly behind her.
“Are you alright Fluttershy?” Twilight asked.
“I’m fine,” Fluttershy murmured. “I just saw my reflection in one of the windows and got a little startled, is all.”
“At least it wasn't your shadow this time,” Rainbow Dash muttered quietly.
“What was that?” asked Fluttershy.
“Nothing. You look great Flutters. Let me guess, you’re a changeling?” Rainbow Dash replied.
Fluttershy nodded. “Rarity helped me with the fur dye.”
“Well you all did a great job. Now then, are you ready to get started? The spell needs to be cast at the edge of town, in full view of the moon,” Twilight declared.
“Why?” Big Macintosh inquired.
“It's an old spell, which means it has plenty of weird restrictions,” Twilight explained.
“Trust me. That's about the best explanation your going to get. Old magic is strange,” Spike stressed.
“Indeed it is,” Twilight agreed.
“I’m ready when you guys are. Is… Rainbow Dash not coming with us?” Fluttershy replied.
“Nah. You guys go ahead. I’m going to hold down the fort and hand out candy,” Rainbow Dash shouted back without looking up from her book.
“Make sure you also hand out my printed book recommendations to each of the foals,” Twilight added.
“Yeah sure, whatever,” Rainbow Dash muttered.
“Now Rainbow Dash, literacy is important,” Twilight began, clearly readying herself to launch into a speech.
“I will. Don't worry,” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “Now go on out there and have fun.”
“Yeah come on Twilight. You said you’d help make our costumes that much cooler,” Spike declared, grabbing the unicorn by the hoof and leading her towards the door.
“Oh fine, but those recommendations better be handed out. Ponyville’s literacy rate is abysmal,” Twilight stated firmly.
“It's like ninety nine percent though,” Fluttershy whispered.
“Well it should be a hundred,” Twilight retorted.
Spike rolled his eyes. “Come on. Let's get to the spot before we miss our chance.”
“Right,” Twilight muttered.
“Here,” Twilight declared, stomping a hoof against the soft, grassy ground. “This is perfect.”
“At least it's not… that spooky,” Fluttershy murmured, glancing from left to right.
The grassy expanse was empty, and lay just far enough from Ponyville to hear the general clatter of Nightmare Night without being able to see anyone. It was also surrounded on three sides by trees which had extended away from the main forest like a pair of crooked fingers. Other than the vegetation, they were alone with the bright white moon which hung low overhead.
“This is a cool spot,” Spike remarked. “What else do you need?”
“Not much. Just light the incense I brought with me and remain silent. The spell doesn't take long but it is finicky with sound,” Twilight replied.
“Got it,” Spike exclaimed, snapping off a salute.
A few seconds later and the three scented sticks had been lit, the smell of cinnamon wafting over everyone. It was a pleasant aroma, one which put everyone at ease, all save for Twilight who was completely concentrated on her spell. Horn glowing brightly, it wasn't long until Twilight had completed her preparations and was ready to release it.
Big Macintosh rubbed his nose, trying to dismiss the tickling sensation caused by the sweet smell.
Unfortunately for her, the second she did, Big Macintosh suddenly sneezed with enough force for the sound to be audible clear across town. The magic was already being cast however, so there was nothing Twilight could do save for wince as she prepared for something to go wrong. And go wrong it did, as rather than being contained to just the small area, Twilight’s spell expanded until it felt like it covered nearly the whole world.
Purple energy shimmered across the skin of everyone in the area, briefly obscuring their bodies before rapidly dissipating. When it did, everyone had been changed, their forms altered to that of what they had been dressed up as.
Twilight became slightly shorter, her fur becoming as white as snow while at the same time her mane became an emerald green. Fluttershy appeared at first glance to be unaltered, though a second look informed the viewer that the paper holes taped over her fur were now real. The pegasus seemed to have become a changeling version of herself, with the only distinct alteration being a slight decrease in height.
Spike and Big Macintosh simply looked like one another, with only the color of their eyes giving away who was actually who.
“Woah. This is crazy,” Spike muttered.
“Sorry ‘bout that,” Big Macintosh murmured.
“Its fine. I’m sure we can figure this mess out,” Twilight replied.
“I’m a changeling,” Fluttershy whispered to herself.
“And it appears as though I am Clover the Clever. Funny, I would have assumed her mane was slightly longer,” Twilight remarked, running a hoof through her relatively short, tangled mess of a mane.
“Can everyone walk alright? Noone’s hurt?” Fluttershy inquired.
“Eeyup,” Spike remarked, trotting in a quick circle.
“Yes. Though I do feel mighty strange,” Big Macintosh exclaimed.
“Like, the urge to throw up strange, or to take everything that isn't nailed down strange?” Spike asked.
“A little bit of both,” Big Macintosh replied.
“Just remember that you are in control of that urge. Why just look at Fluttershy here, she hasn't drained anyone of their love,” Twilight pointed out.
“I mean I’m a little hungry, but that's probably because I forgot to eat dinner,” Fluttershy muttered, rubbing her stomach.
“I… I got it,” Big Macintosh exclaimed, swallowing hard.
“Are you sure?” Spike asked.
“Y-yeah,” Big Macintosh stuttered. “That's intense.”
“You get used to it,” Spike replied.
“You know I would have thought this would have ended worse then it did,” Twilight openly remarked.
“I mean we should go check on the town. I’m sure the spell hit at least part of it,” Fluttershy replied.
“I mean yeah but I just assumed that something more would have gone wrong given two of you’s new race,” Twilight stated.
“I guess this is a good reminder that it's more about what’s inside that counts,” Spike exclaimed.
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh agreed.
“Well said Spike,” Twilight agreed. “Now then. We should probably go make sure that the town hasn't erupted in chaos due to the spell getting a little out of control.”
“I’ll go check on Rainbow Dash and meet you guys back at the library,” Spike offered.
“Well at least we don't have to worry about her,” Fluttershy remarked.
“True,” Big Macintosh added.
“I suppose it's a good thing she got lazy and chose not to wear a costume,” Twilight mused. “Either way we’ll be back at the library soon. In the meantime would you mind gathering all the books on counterspells that we have?”
“I got it el capitan!” Spike exclaimed, snapping off a salute..
“Right, let's go!” Twilight triumphantly declared.
“Wow, this whole night has turned out way better than I thought,” Twilight remarked before popping a snack sized candy bar into her mouth.
“Who would have thought that everything would turn out so well?” Fluttershy offered between licks of her lollipop.
“I mean. It is Ponyville. Were pretty used to weird,” Big Macintosh remarked, stopping long enough to adjust the heaping sack of treats he had slung over his scaley back.
“Still. It's too bad the other girls were either busy or away. They would have loved this,” Twilight added after swallowing her snack with a gulp.
“Pinkie especially,” Fluttershy mused.
“Oh yeah totally. Especially since she was going to dress up as… what was it called again?” Twilight asked, turning to Big Macintosh.
“Godzilla, I think,” Big Macintosh replied.
“It's a Japaneighs thing,” Fluttershy added.
“Either way she would have loved it. I’m sure,” Twilight asserted, stopping briefly to glance down at the bucket of candy placed outside the door. “I should have known.”
Twilight walked forward and pushed open the door to the library, stepping into the dark room. Once inside she immediately stopped, her welcoming call dying on her lips the second an unpleasant, rust like aroma tickled her nostrils. The sickeningly dry, almost sweet metallic smell made Twilight’s body immediately launch into flight or flight mode.
A sentiment shared by her companions who had discarded their candy, and were looking frantically around the room. Though dark, they could also hear what sounded like faint sobbing coming from somewhere near the couch. This was accompanied by a soft wet squelching noise that was repeated every few seconds.
Twilight lit her horn, and cast a quick light spell, causing a glowing purple orb to rise up over them all. Illuminating everything in an eerie lavender glow, Twilight’s eyes struggled to adapt to the low light, though when they did she wished they hadn't. Her lunch lept into her throat, and though she stopped it in time, Fluttershy wasn't so lucky, and puked all over the floor.
“S-spike?” muttered Big Macintosh.
All eyes lay on the transmogrified Spike, who lay on his side between the couch and the love seat. His belly had been cut open by a letter opener which lay only a few feet away, the dull blade covered in blood. That wasn't the only thing that had a layer of crimson however, as the fur around Rainbow Dash’s face was absolutely matted with the stuff.
The pegasus turned towards the new arrivals, intestines dangling from her partially open mouth. Tears ran down either side of her face, and though she was clearly repulsed by her own actions she continued to chew.
Her wide incisors designed to crush vegetation made poor work of Spike’s organs, yet she squished them regardless. Each squeeze of Rainbow Dash’s jaws sent another squirt of blood across Spike’s ruined fur, the soft squelch audible across the room. Over and over she chewed, tears continuing to trickle down her face even as she chewed a link of Spike’s intestines.
Then Rainbow Dash swallowed, the bloody viscera making a large bump in the mare’s throat which traveled down to her belly. With a splash, the mangled meat joined the bloody chunks she had already eaten. The pony seemed to want to speak, but immediately turned back to Spike, and grabbed a hoofull of guts, stuffing them into her mouth.
“Help me,” whispered the dragon.
Author's Note
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