The Gentlecolts Club

In the downstairs cellar, Thunderlane propped a leg hoof up on the table and leaned his chair back still chewing on a muffin in one hoof and turning the pages in the Gentlecolts manual with the other.  As he looked down on the page, he let out a hoot.  “Woo!  Doc, you have to check this out!”  He turned the book sideways and unfolded an inner page staring at it wide eyed.  “Man, these guys knew what they were doing!  I mean look at this art!  It’s so…detailed”  Thunderlane said slowly as he opened the page further.  He took another bite of the muffin as he stared at it.  “Yummy yum…”

The doctor busy grinding various herbs in a pestle at a nearby table wearily looked over his shoulder at him displeased.  “I really wish you would be careful with that.  It’s far more important for research then as some pleasure book.”  Noticing the muffin he cursed under his breath, quickly walked over, picked it out of his hoof and placed it on the table.  “I also want you your keep your hooves clean when touching the pages.  I don’t need grease stains on the text.”  He added.  Reaching over on the table, he picked up a napkin and placed in his hoof.

“Ah you grumpy grump.”  Thunderlane replied as he looked back at him as if without a care.  Using the napkin, he wiped both hooves and threw it on the table.  Turning back to the book, he closed the fold out and turned the page.  As he looked at it, his face contorted in disgust as he tapped the page.  “Aww, gross.  That is just…yuck.  I mean, who would cover themselves in that kind of mess?”

The doctor smirked as he looked at Thunderlane from the corner of his eye while still grinding the ingredients.  “As I said, research.”

Derpy could be heard as she yelled from upstairs.  “Doctor!  Soarin is here!  Should I let him go down there?!”

He yelled back still focused on his work at the table.  “Yes! Send him in!”

Soarin still wet slowly worked his way down the stairwell as a drop or two of water fell on each step.  Thunderlane looked up and laughed instantly.  “Oh man!  You ought to look at yourself.  Did you fall in a lake?”

The doctor turned and looked at him curiously.  Soarin breathing heavy took a moment to collect himself at the base of the stairs while holding the handrail.  As he looked from one pony to the other, he spoke slowly.  “The sooner I can handle this, the better.”

“I don’t even want to know.”  The doctor spoke as he raised his head slightly and held an outstretched hoof.  He then waved it towards himself.  “Come on over and we can dry you off.  I’m nearly ready.”

As Soarin neared the table, the doctor trotted over to the base of the stairwell and yelled up.  “Throw down a towel Derpy!”  Seconds later, a large lump of cloth landed at the base of the stairs.  Picking it up with his mouth, the doctor dragged it over near the table and threw it over the soaked pony.

Pulling the cloth over his head,  Soarin looked at the items on the table.  “Alright, so what do we do doc?”  He asked as he began to rub himself down.

Standing next to him, the doctor pointed at a bag on the table.  “This here is draw powder.  I’ll form the circle with this on the ground.”  He then moved a hoof next to it.  “This here is the dispersal liquid.  You’ll have to drink this and once it absorbs through you, it’ll start a reaction once it comes near the draw powder hence you being inside the circle.  Before it reacts, you have to think of the problem you have and as a result, it will neutralize and carry it away to the circle.”  He then paused in thought.  “Well, at least as far I can figure out.”

Soarin cocked his head as he realized how unsure the doctor was in trying this idea.  “What do you mean by ‘as far as you can figure’?”

“You have to keep in mind these actual therapies are a hundred years old or more.  It’s not as if I’ve tried any of them.”  He replied.  “I’m doing what I can to help you and this appears to be of minimal risk.”

Taking the towel off, he draped it over a chair nearby.  The doctor turned around and addressed the other pony in the room.  “Are you going to just sit there and goof off or help our friend here?”

Thunderlane is seen with an arm over his head, a hoof under his jaw and his head turned sideways as he looked up from the book to the doctor.  Slowly he put his arm down.  “Nah, don’t think I’d try that anyway.”  He said as he closed the book and placed it back on the table.

The doctor picked up the bag he pointed to earlier and gave it to Thunderlane.  “Take this and create a circle.  It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does need to be close.  Try not to botch this please.

Taking the bag, he opened it and sniffed it.  With a gag, he turned away.  “Blech!  What’s in this anyway?  Essence of skunk?”

“Just do it okay?”  The doctor sighed.  Thunderlane backing up turned slowly as he created a short line after another short line until he finished the circle in the center of the room.

The doctor held one bottle on the table as it sat next to another.  “I hope you’re ready for this.  As soon as I mix these, you have to drink it and lay in the circle for a few minutes until we get the reaction.”

“Let’s just get this over with.“  Soarin grumbled.

Picking up one bottle, he poured into the other.  The light green fluid mixed with the red and it instantly turned pitch black.  Slowly, it turned to an off color white.  The Doctor motioned at Soarin.  “Quick!  Drink it now!  The ingredients have mixed!”

Soarin picked up the bottle and took a sip.  Gagging, he looked at the doctor.  “But this stuff tastes…”  The doctor quickly lifted the bottle from underneath.  “You have to finish it quick!”  Trying to keep up, Soarin emptied the flask as it dribbled around his mouth.  Dropping it, he stepped back and coughed heavily.

“That was the worst mess I’ve ever tasted!  Yuck!” He choked.  Getting behind him, the doctor directed him to the circle.  “Sit inside and stay put!”  Walking into the circle, he lay down on his side.  From outside of it, the doctor held both hooves up and motioned forward to Soarin from his head.  “Now focus.  I need you to focus on what it is that bothers you so much.  Let it out.”

“Alright then.”  He said as he looked down at the floor.  As he lay there silent, the doctor spoke up again.  “Well, tell me!  Cmon!”

“Heck doc, can’t I just think about it for this to work?”  Soarin balked.

“If you talk about it, it will work better.  The more you think about it the higher chances we have of this doing the job.  You can trust me and you can trust Thunderlane here.”  The doctor continued.

Soarin looked over at Thunderlane as if he told a bad joke.  Thunderlane looking back at him could visably be seen resenting the comment.  “Hey!  C’mon man!  Really?”

Suddenly Soarin went wide eyed.  He looked to the doctor.  “Ah, I’m feeling kinda funny here and it’s getting awful warm.”  The doctor yelled at him.  “Do it!  Do it now!  You have to think of your ailment!”

Angrily he yelled back.  “Fine!  I’m tired of being scared, gun shy and locking up every time I have a lady pony touch me!  I want to be in control of my emotions!”

Instantly the circle flared and a burst of smoke exploded around Soarin.  Thick smoke quickly filled the room as all the ponies inside were surrounded with the thin ash.  All three ponies coughed and waved hooves trying to see anything through as it moved.  Once it started to clear, Thunderlane and the doctor could see one another, but Soarin was still lost in the mess of the center of the room.

Both worked their way forward until they saw a figure stand up.  The doctor called out still hacking.  “Soarin?  Can you hear me?”  The dust around them finally settled enough that the doctor could see Soarin coming forward.  Instead of being light blue with a dark blue mane, he now appeared a medium grey with a charcoal mane.  As he looked at the doctor he continued to choke on the dust as he spoke.  “Ugh, that was not enjoyable.  That stuff feels worse then it tastes.”

The doctor came close to him and ran a hoof over his coat.  A thick amount of dust collected on the tip of his hoof and he left a line on Soarin showing his original coat color of light blue.  “Well, at least this isn’t permanent.  The dust really got into your coat since you’re still a bit wet.”  He said.  As the doctor looked at him face to face, he lightened up a bit.  “Well, how do you feel?”

Soarin went quiet for a moment in thought until he spoke.  “I’m not sure.  I feel OK for the most part and nothing seems out of place.  What next?“

The doctor raised a hoof to his chin in consideration.  “We should take things esy to see if it worked.  I don’t want this to fail before it’s had a chance to settle in.  I suppose we can bring Derpy down and-“

Suddenly a loud banging can be heard on the entry door upstairs.  The trio turned to the stairwell listening.  After a brief moment, Derpy hollered down.  “Doc!  Rainbow Dash is here looking for Soarin or Thunderlane!  What do-OOF!”  A loud thud could be heard as something large hit the floor above them.  “Ah, Doc!  She’s already inside looking around!  What do I do!?”

The doctor looked around the room as Soarin backed up a bit in shock.  “Dash is here!?  Doc what do I do!  I can’t face her!  Not yet!”  Thunderlane placed both hooves on his head as he sat back down in the chair.  “Heh, you’re worried?  I think she’ll come after me first.  There’s nowhere to hide down here.”

“Alright, alright…”  Frantically the doctor looked around.  He quickly looked at the coating of dust on the floor and then to the table.  Looking at Soarin, he looked him over.  “Yes...just maybe…”  He muttered.  Kneeling down, he scraped up a collection of dust and coated the area where Soarin was showing the blue line the doctor made.  Quickly moving to the table, he picked up a small bag, dug a hoof inside and brought out a hoofull of white powder.  Looking at Soarin, he dropped the bag back on the table, pointed to his face and spoke in a serious tone.  “Don’t move and stay quiet.”

The doctor sidestepped over to Soarin’s hindquarters and lined up his hoof to his rear flank.  With a quick blow, a white smattering of the powder left an impression.  The doctor quickly moved over to the other side and did the same.  Just as he finished, Rainbow Dash came storming down the stairs.

“Where is that no good, window diving, escape artist Soarin?”  She said angrily.  Looking around, she saw the doctor calmly sweeping the floor, a nervous pony she’d never seen before and Thunderlane sitting in a chair at the nearby table with hooves on his head.

“You!”  She said as she walked over and sat next to the table.  “I defiantly want a word with you!”

Thunderlane took his hooves off his head and faced her.  “Alright, what is it.”  He replied.

“I don’t know what you pulled or how you did it, but I had a talk with a representative at Canterlot and he told me your work record is as clear is a sunny day in Ponyville!“  She pounded a hoof on the table.  “And yesterday that night out you promised me was a complete wash!  We spent five minutes at the restaurant and then left!  I ran around last night trying to track him down until I had to go home in time for work today.  I’m on my lunch break right now just to get some answers!”  She then squinted at him with suspicion.  “Speaking of work, why aren’t you there?”

Thunderlane sighed as he looked up lazily.  “I’m still on suspension.  Remember?”

Rainbow Dash grumbled and went silent for the moment thinking to herself.  Starting up, she banged the table again.  “Don’t think I’ve forgotten our deal.  I still want a night out or I go straight to the princess herself!  I still have your record on my file!”

Thunderlane quickly gasped as he looked up to her then over to the doctor.  Out of view from Rainbow Dash, the doctor looked back at him, held a hoof up and shook it wildly.  He then held his hoof across his lips as if to stay quiet.  Dash looking over her shoulder, looked at the doctor as he brought the hoof over his head and ruffled his mane.   She then turned her attention over to the mystery pony quivering next to the doctor.

Walking over to the grey stallion, she looked deep at him with suspicion.  “I don’t believe I’ve seen you around here before.”  Looking around him, she noticed white puff mark on his rear flank.

She continued to look him over until the doctor stepped between them and announced himself.  “Can I help you young lady?”

“I’m looking for Soarin and the hospital told me he came here after he was discharged yesterday.  Have either of you seen him?”  She asked.

“Soarin…Soarin…”  The doctor tried to look as if recollecting something distant.  “Not that I recollect.  Isn’t he one of the Wonderbolts?”  He asked inquisitively.

With a frustrated sigh, she turned to the unknown pony.  “How about you?  Have you seen him?”

Still shaking, Soarin blinked and opened his mouth as if to say something and watched as the doctor quickly jumped in between them.  “Please excuse my patient here.  He’s a been a mute pony his whole life and I’m doing my best to help his inability to talk.”  Soarin looked back at her nodded with a mild smile as Rainbow Dash looked back and forth between the pair.

“Does he have a name?”  Rainbow Dash asked still looking at the pony curiously.  The doctor quickly glanced at his rear flank and turned back to her.  “Fogbank.  Yes, I recall his name is Fogbank.”

“So…Fogbank…have you seen him anywhere around?”  She asked him again with an eyebrow raised.  Soarin rolled his eyes and shook his head indicating that he did not.

“Ugh!”  She yelled.  Turning around and heading back over to Thunderlane, she leaned in close to him with both hooves on the table.  “I know you have to know where he’s hiding out.  I also know you’re up to something fishy at Canterlot, but I’ll let it go if he’s at my place tonight.  The same time as last night when I waited for you.  You tell him that or it’s curtains.”  As she ran a hoof across her neck she heard a muffled squeal behind her.  Turning around, the doctor looked around wild eyed and made face motions as if he was quite scared.  “My goodness, Thunderlane!  You had better get the news to him when you can!”

“You’d better believe it.”  She said as she turned from the doctor back to Thunderlane at the table.  She  tapped a hoof on it as she looked at him intently.  “Tonight.”

Stepping down from the table, she walked over to the stairs and made her way up.  Derpy could be heard at the top as she opened the study door.  “Thanks and come again!”

As the door shut, Soarin banged both hooves on his head and fell to the floor.  “Oh dear Celestia, I just can’t handle this anymore!  I’m going to be sick!”

“You think you have problems!?  Thunderlane spouted sitting up from the table.  “I just had my record cleared only to have her blackmail me!”

“You really need to calm yourself Sorain”  The doctor said as he took a breath to calm down.  He then looked over to Thunderlane.  “Technically it’s not blackmail.”  He added and paused.  “All things considered, she’s keeping the original bargain.  Unfortunately all three of us are now in the same boat.  If she shows everything on you from her own file, it might expose the gentlecolts after the changes were made and you’re up the creek.”  He reflected on the situation.  “This is bad…”

The doctor kneeled down and had a closer look at Soarin.  He shook his head with concern and sighed.  “After all that work, I don’t think we made much progress in the way of helping Soarin.”  Walking over to the book, he began leafing through it.  “This is going to call for something stronger.”

Soarin still lay on the ground quite sullen.  “I’d give anything for another pony to go in my place.  Anything.  I just can’t deal with those two anymore.”  He whined.

Momentarily, the doctor continued to leaf through the book until a light bulb went off in his head.  Looking back over at the table, he walked over and picked up a bag in the corner.  Heading over to Soarin, he brushed a hoof across Soarin and blew the dust away revealing his original light blue coat.  Opening the bag, he pulled out a small hoofull of light blue dust and sprinkled it on Soarin.  Comparing his fur next to the dust, they appeared identical in color.

Thunderlane walked up next to him and looked down.  “What are you up to doc?”

The doctor turned around and faced him.  Dipping his hoof into the bag, he brought it out and ran a stripe down the forehead of Thunderlane.  He smiled as he stared at it.  “Yes.  This just might work…”

Thunderlane was lost in understanding until the same idea clicked in his head.  “Oh no, no, no, no!  You’re crazy!  She’ll be on to me for sure!  She hates my guts!”

“A mane and tail extension…yellow contacts…yes…”  the doctor spoke aloud.

“Are you even listening to me?”  Thunderlane spoke in exasperation.

“All you have to do is talk to her at wherever you go.  You don’t have to go home with her.  Just take her out then tell her you’ll see her later.  It’ll at least give us some time.”  The doctor said as he made his way over to the stairs and looked back.  “Right now, time is what we need.  You also started this mess you know.”  Walking up, he could be heard yelling as he moved away.  “Derpy!  I need you to fly over to Mr. Yellow!  I have a list of needs here for you to take!”

Thunderlane lay down next to Soarin.  He shook his head in disbelief.  “This just couldn’t get any worse, could they?”

Stoic as can be, Soarin replied as a whisper.  “None whatsoever.”

**************************************

“I’ve got them!  I’ve got them!”  The hooded pony yelled as she ran into the cave.  Her long cape bounced and flapped as she ran at full speed while jumping over rocks and stones.  She continued down the depths deep from the light of the mouth until she couldn’t see.  Slowing to a crawl, she tried to make out any sign of light in the dark.  “Boss?  Are you in here?”

Taking a misstep, she stumbled to the ground.  “Clumsy fool...”  A voice sneered in the dark.  A light blue glow started and became brighter as the illumination came from the horn of a black stallion before her.  “Show me what you have.”

The pony picked herself up and pulled back her hood.  The orange pony dug under her cape for a moment producing the small negatives.  As they glowed the same blue hue, the larger unicorn brought them up one by one until he could see the one frame he was most interested in.

“I wanted the developed picture, not the negatives.”  He said coldly.  “The frame I want will have to be developed.  That’s a waste of time.”  The magic waned from the negatives as they dropped to the floor.  Quickly, Swindle picked them up and placed them back in her coat pocket.

Swindle tried to state her case. “But, they had it upstairs at the schoolhouse!  There was no way I-”

“When I say I want the picture, I expect results.  Do I not?”  The larger pony stated almost menacingly.  Swindle trying to appease him continued.  “Of course boss, but with this we can make more than one picture!”

“Idiot!”  He said as he turned and yelled at her face.  “I only need one!”  Turning back around, he continued into the cave with Swindle close behind.  As the pair continued to travel further into the cave, a large clearing opened up showing a small assortment of home furnishings.  Random items on the far sides of the room could be seen in the blue light.   In the center of the room a table is seen where the large pony walked towards.  As he focused in on the five large candles on the candelabra placed in the center of it, they all ignited at once giving a much brighter light to the area around them.  No longer hidden in the dark, the figure of another pony is revealed to be sitting in the far corner of the room.  The disheveled looking turquoise pony with the scar on his cheek sat picking at a hoof with a dirk in his mouth at a nearby table.  Flipping it up into the air, it landed blade point down into the table.  “It’s about time you got back.”  He said as he looked over at her.

Swindle walked over to her bed and pulled out the negatives she had in her pocket earlier.  Holding each one up to the light of the candles, she giggled as she peered through them one at a time.

As the larger pony placed books from a table back onto a shelf, he noticed her action and came over curiously watching what she was up to.

The other pony in the corner shook his head and laughed as he watched her.  With a strange look, he spoke.  “Swindle, what are you doing?”

“These Cutie Mark Crusaders are a fun lot, Squander.”  She said to him with a smile.  Holding up another frame, she laughed.  “This little one here took a photo of herself with the flash on.”

The larger pony came over and quickly swung a hoof across hers and knocked the frames out falling onto the floor.  “Were you not listening earlier when I say we have to focus on the mission!?  Stop goofing off!”  He said angrily.  Walking back to the shelf, he continued to place books back up.  With the last one, he opened it and started reading a page.

Swindle picked the negatives up and placed them in her pocket.  Looking over at the other pony, she spoke up.  “How will we get them developed?”

“It wasn’t a problem until you grabbed the wrong item.”  Squander chided as he leaned back and stretched a leg.  “You’ll have to take them to Ponyville.  We can’t have you seen in Canterlot.”

“Okay.”  Swindle replied to him calmly.  As she started to think, she turned to the large stallion.  “I was also thinking Sceptre that-“

“I told you not to call me that!”  Sceptre shouted at her.  “My name is mired in history that most ponies don’t understand except in a history book.  Someday, I’ll fix that all.  I’ll force them if I have to.”  He said as he turned back to look intently into the book in front of him.

After a calm moment, she started again.  “Well boss, I was wondering what are we going to do about Spitfire and Soarin if the picture thing doesn’t work?  I mean the letter didn’t work so what if the same happens with this?”

Sceptre stood up and walked over to Swindle.  As he started to talk, he came in close to her.  “This time won’t fail.  After Spitfire sees the proof that her Soarin has been fooling around, she’ll go over the edge and his career is done.  She will kick him out for certain.  That will guarantee us room to move in for the ceremony.  Then we strike when they least expect it.”

“Right, right…”  Swindle said.  As Sceptre moved back to the book, his horn glowed as the book levitated and he moved it to the center table of the room.  A twisted smile could be seen on his face.  “Vengence.  Oh, I dreamed of sweet vengeance for my grandfather whom was stripped of his title by those how couldn’t grasp his true potential!  For my grandfather I fight!”  He said.

“Of course.”  Swindle said calmly.  “You’ve have talked about this for a long time.  I know it means a lot to you.”

Hearing her, a look of boredom crossed the face of Squander as he muttered to himself and inspected his hoof.  “Here we go again…”

“It means more to be then you know, Swindle.”  He said almost growling.  He turned to her and squinted in the dim light of the candles.  “Years ago when I was much younger, I listened to my grandfather and how he was part of an old organization called the Gentlecolts.  They were a powerful group that influenced many a mare and stallion alike.  When he rose in power to control the deviant and unruly actions of the organization, they demoted him and had him conduct the most menial tasks they could find.  He ran errands, provided busboy services, cleaned floors and the like just to stay with them.  It was humiliating for him.  In his revenge he blew their whole secretive lid off this group and took the bull by the horns once Celestia herself helped him.  He had control of what was left for a while until that two timing Celestia double crossed him and hired the Gentlecolts to track him down like a wild dog!  My grandfather had everything and they took it all away.   He was lucky to escape with his life!”

He angrily raised a hoof and shook it as he yelled.  “She is going to pay for her treachery!”

Sceptre turned back around and again looked at the book.  “This book has the most powerful spells of any texts he collected when he still had control before Celestia came after him.  He saved it for many, many years so that one day, someday I his grandson Sceptre would bring down a fist of revenge for him!”

Behind his back, Squander mimicked Sceptre in jest as he raised a hoof and crossed his eyes.  He shook his head in disagreement as he continued to chew at the edge of the hoof he was inspecting.

Swindle spoke up again after he paused.  “But, this was so long ago.  Most ponies think this is just a bedtime story.    Why do this now when nopony understands what good it will do?”

Angrily, he turned around and yelled back.  “Celestia will atone for her actions!  I’ve grown up hearing the stories from others and how shameful I must be to have come from such a failure!  He was the only pony that ever respected me when I grew up through the years and taught me all of the magic he learned so that one day, I would be able to use it for what he wanted more then anything else in Equestria.”  His appearance changed as his face twisted into deep thought and his horn again glowed blue illuminating his face.  “Redemption.”

Turning back around, he continued to read the book leafing through pages with a hoof.  “I have sought to find an appropriate spell to eliminate the presence of Celestia in these lands.  I am not powerful enough to take her in single combat, but I can entrap her and banish her to another dimension she would be unable to return from.  I would then reestablish the Gentlecolts Raiders as my grandfather did long ago and rule over Equestria as he had planned.  This land will once again be under our control!”

“And I’ll be by your side when we take control, right?”  Swindle said with hopeful consideration.

“Of course.”  Sceptre said with a flat tone.  “For your help you will be in my higher court.”

“We both will.”  Squander added from his corner.  Pulling the dirk back up with his mouth, he started to pick at his other hoof.

With a gleam in her eye, she stood up from the bed.  “And things will get better.  Finally.”

Grabbing a bag from a nearby table, she also picked up a small pouch and rattled the few bits within it.  “I’ll get those negatives developed, you’ll see.  I’ll earn my place.”  She began to walk out of the cave and spoke as she left.  “Soon for us, no more cold nights of living in caves, or eating unfresh greens or struggling to survive in the wilds any longer.”  Her echos could be heard in the distance.

Squander spat the dirk onto the table and yelled into the cave.  “And bring back some cider!”

Sceptre continued to read deep into the book with a cackle.  “Yes soon.  Soon Soarin and Princess Celestia won’t know what hit them until it is too late.”

**************************************

“You’re crazy if you think this is going to work.”  Thunderlane stated as both Soarin and the doctor dusted him with the blue powder.  Covering him head to hoof, his deep grey mane brightened up to the similar light hue of blue of Soarin.  The doctor stood back and looked him over searching for spots he may have missed.  “Sometimes crazy tends to work.”  The doctor replied.  “We don’t have time for any other options right now.”

Soarin turned to place his bag on the table, and picked up a pair grease pencils and a piece of tracing paper.  As he walked over to the rear flank of Thunderlane, he placed the paper over his own cutie mark and copied the outline then held it up to the rear of Thunderlane as he started to trace the image.  “I have to agree I’m with the doctor on this one.”  Soarin added.

“You’re just doing this so you don’t have to deal with Rainbow Dash!”  Thunderlane grumbled loudly.

“And you’re the one that got me into this mess with her!”  He yelled back.

“Stop it!  Both of you!”  The Doctor interrupted.  “We can’t have an argument right now between you two.”  As both pegasi looked at each other irritated, they remained calm as Thunderlane brought up a hoof and studied it while Soarin continued to draw on his rear flank.  A moment later Thunderlane let out a surprised yelp and menacingly looked back to Soarin.  “Hey you!  Watch it with that pencil or I’ll put a hoof in your face!”

“Well, stand still clumsy britches and I won’t.”  Soarin grumbled back.

The doctor looked Thunderlane over and nodded in agreement.  “Yes, I think that covers you top to bottom here.  Let me see if these work as well.”  Moving over to a nearby table, he picked up the mane wig and placed over the neck of Thunderlane.  Pulling over both sides, it covered his shorter and thicker hair as the doctor used a brush to disperse it evenly.  “Not bad, not bad…”  He mumbled.  Reaching back over to the table, the picked up the tail extention and wrapped it high above high up on his short tail.

“Watch it back there doc.”  Thunderlane lowly growled through clenched teeth.

“Don’t think for one moment I enjoy this.”  The doctor replied as he continued to secure the hair on.  Again using the brush, he pulled the fake wig straight over his short tail.  “I’m doing it for both Soarin and The Gentlecolts and you have an obligation to him.  I’d think you owe him big after your little stunt.”

“He sure does.”  Soarin said as he finished the coloring of his rear flank on one side and stood back.  As he did so, he leaned in and tapped on the doctor.  The doctor noticing him nodded and stood by his side looking at their dressed up pony.  The pair looked him over as Thunderlane watched them.

“Well?”  Thunderlane spoke as he continued to stand still in the center of the room.

“Well, it’s not perfect, but you’ll pass for a twin.”  The doctor stated.  Soarin nodded silently.  Suddenly the doctor spoke up as he looked his eyes.  “Oh, the contacts!”  He said as he turned back to the table.

Picking up a small rubber bag with his mouth, he pulled it over a hoof.  “Thunderlane, come over to the table here.”  He said as picked up another and did the same with the other one.  As Thunderlane approached the table, the doctor opened the cap on the first and turned it over in a hoof with water dribbling off the sides.  Turning around, he faced the powder coated pony with the small blue cup like object.  “I need you to lean your head down.  Look straight at the ground.”  The doctor stated.

As he did so, the doctor looked to the side of his head.  “Keep your eye wide open and don’t move.”  He said.  While pulling one eyelid up, he deftly placed the contact on the eye of Thunderlane.

As both of them looked up, Thunderlane looked around.  “Everything is blue doc.  Is that normal?”  The doctor waved a hoof to Soarin, and as the pony came over he compared the eye with the contact to that of Soarin.  “It’s close.”  He said looking back and forth at each pony.  “Not perfect, but close.”

“It’s certainly green, doc.”  Soarin said looking at Thunderlane.  The doctor removed the cap from the second cap and turned around.  “I don’t think anypony will know the difference unless it happens to be one of your friends or somepony that has known you for a while.”  He motioned for Thunderlane to look at the floor again and quickly placed the lens in the other eye.

The doctor removed the rubber bags off his hooves and backed up as Thunderlane peered around.  Quickly looking over at Soarin, he motioned for him to stand next to each another.

Thunderlane and Soarin stood side by side.  As the doctor moved left and right, he nodded in agreement as a wide smile spread across his face.  “Uncanny.”  He said as he started to laugh.  “This just might work.”

Upstairs Derpy called down.  “Doctor!  Mr. Tan is here!  He has to see you urgently!”

As the doctor heard the news, his expression changed to shock.  “What, now!?”  He said in disbelief as he went over to the stairs.  He turned back briefly to the cellar.  “Just hold out here you two.  This will only take a moment.”  He continued as he went up.

As the doctor came to the top of the stairs, Derpy had just closed the door as Filty Rich approached him with an envelope.  “I have to talk to you and Soarin!  This is bad!”  He said asthe doctor waved him back with a hoof and whispered to him with caution.  “Ssh!  Stay back!  Soarin and Thunderlane are still down there!”   He then called over to Derpy and continued to whisper.  “Get a big towel, cape, pollow case with holes, anything!  Quick!”

Derpy nodded and took off into the next room as Filthy opened the envelope and pulled out the photograph.  Placing it on the table, he tapped it with a hoof and gave a nervous sigh as the doctor looked down at it.  The doctor briefly thinking raised a hoof to his head as his jaw dropped in shock.

“Oh by Celestia and the heavens above…”  He spoke as if he was doomed.  “I can’t believe this.”

Derpy came back with a large bedsheet and a pillowcase with two holes in it.  Filthy took it and pulled it over his head as the doctor threw the bedsheet over his body.  He then spoke to Derpy.  “Go downstairs and bring those two up here.  We have to talk.”  As requested, she trotted down the stairwell.

The doctor rubbed his face with a hoof as he looked at Mr. Tan.  “Where did you get this?”  He asked in confusion.  The masked pony spoke with a hint of fear as the story unfolded.

“My daughter informed me when I went to the schoolhouse due to her less then desirable behavior.  I learned this photo was taken by several of the youth there to help another young friend.”

As Soarin and Thunderlane arrived at the top stair, Mr. Tan looked between them and then at the doctor.  “I…I didn’t know they’re twins.”  He stated puzzled.  Derpy quickly came back over and cocked her head as she looked at them.  With a  laugh, she pointed at the pair.  “Yep!  Two of a kind!”

Looking behind him, the doctor waved a hoof as if to disregard.  “Don’t worry about it.  It’s a long story best saved for another time.”  he replied.  “Please continue.”

The masked pony shook his head.  “Whatever.  The important thing here is that the negatives from this photo have been taken.  I think it may have something to do with Soarin so I came here.”

Listening in, both Thunderlane and Soarin walked over to the table and looked at the photo.  One pony let out a wail as he looked aghast at it.  The other studied it close and looked up.  “Who was in my house?”  He stated.

As the two identical Soarins mired over the photo, Mr. Tan broke the short silence.  “I don’t have long and must return.  I wish you luck for us and for the Gentlecolts.”  Turning to Derpy, he motioned for her to follow.  “Please come with me to the hall so I may give you your sheets back.”  Derpy quickly nodded.

The doctor looked back at the photo as Derpy and Mr. Tan left through the entryway door.  He audibly cursed and followed up with a plan.  “The next spell will have to wait until you can take care of things with Spitfire, Soarin.  You have to get over to your Captain’s office before she gets that picture.  For you Thunderlane, I only hope this doesn’t make it as far to Rainbow Dash before your get together tonight.”

Thunderlane scratched his head in confusion causing dust to fall on the photo.  “I still can’t believe this was taken.”  He said.  Soarin just let out a low groan as he lay his head down on the table next to it.

“Thunderlane...”  Soarin spoke with his head still down.  “…we were wrong.”

“”Huh?”  He looked at him oddly.  “Wrong about what?”

“Remember when you said things couldn’t get any worse?”  He said.

“Well, yes.  What about it?”  Thunderlane replied.

“Things got worse.”  Soarin mumbled as he continued to softly groan on the table.  “Ugh.”

**************************************

A well dressed pony of sizable statue walked down the long red carpet inside the Canterlot castle.  As he approached the main throne room, he cleared his throat and raised his head.  Two armor clad ponies quickly pushed the center doors open to the main court.  From above him, an announcer called out.  “Hear ye, hear ye, all welcome the head royal advisor of Canterlot!”  A pair of horns trumpeted following the call for a few brief seconds.

Princess Celestia watched him from her throne as the pony walked up.   As he removed his hat and crossed his chest with it, he bowed to her.  She gave a nod and smiled to him.  “Please continue my good pony.”  She said.

He stood professionally and continued on.  “Princess, as you requested I have news on several important points for the day tomorrow.  First off, all events in Manehatten scheduled for that day will continue without delay.”  He stated.  “Work has completed on the Celestia 2 and can be lowered to the water for the ceremony.  The Wonderbolts will arrive and perform following your speech then join you on the vessel afterwards for the feast with your head of staff.  We have the course plotted for a simple two hour trip and return to the dock.  We’re open to any changes you may have planned.”

“Hmm, It’ll be nice to go on a boat ride tomorrow.”  Celestia said thoughtfully.  “It’s a refreshing change of pace I look forward to.  Please inform all of my local court they are invited if they would like to go.”

“Of course m’lady.”  The advisor replied with a short bow.  As he was about to continue, an armor clad pony ran up and whispered in his ear.  Looking at him with the corner of his eye and mild nod, the advisor waved him off, cleared his throat and started up again.

“M’lady, There is one small addition that I have just been told of and wasn’t aware of until just now.  I believe Fancy Pants has arrived and is awaiting your council should you chose to allow him in to your court.  It appears he has something important to say about the commissioning tomorrow.  Shall I let him in?”  The advisor spoke.

She looked at him interested with raised eyebrows.  “Fancy Pants you say?  It’s uncommon for such a high class unicorn to request my attention on such short notice.  If it’s deemed important, I shall.  Please let him in.”  The princess replied.

The doors to the main room opened again and dressed to impress, Fancy trotted down the red carpet and stopped next to the advisor.  He then lay a hoof forward as he bowed crossing his head over the front knuckle.  “Please rise Fancy Pants of Canterlot.”  The princess said.

He stood up and to looked to her.  “My princess, I have important news that regards the commissioning of the Celestia 2.”  Fancy expressed his concern to the best of his ability.  “I have a strong belief that you are in a great danger should you choose to partake in this ceremony at Manehatten tomorrow.  I beg of you to delay the function until we can identity and stop the threat.”

The advisor next to him turned to his side and glared in amazement.  “What!?  Preposterous!  This event has been scheduled for months and we have taken all of the nesseccary precautions to ensure the greatest level of safety for the princess!”  He turned to her and continued.  “M’lady, we have all of the appropriate security measures and guards posted so any possible threat will be halted before they make it to the ship.  We will also have numerous forces aboard that any attack would be foolhardy!”

Fancy interrupted.  “That may be, but we have no idea where the threat may lie.  Part of the security forces might be in on the heist or the ship may be sunk.  We still have to find the threat.”

The advisor laughed.  “A simple fix for both hypothetical threats.  We can inspect the hull before the ship is sent to the water and inspect each of the guards before they post on the ship.  Is there anything else you would like to add?”  He said almost amusingly.

Fancy Looked at him quite irritated.  “My princess, I wouldn’t come to you if this wasn’t serious.  All I ask is that you don’t go to that ceremony.  We can always organize one later.”

The advisor shook his head is disapproval.  “You don’t seem to understand good sir that many bits have been spent on the entire event.  To cancel it would cost us a fortune that could not be repaid.”  He turned to the princess.  “I cannot support his claim without some sort of evidence m’laday.  I only ask for him to prove a shred of it for us to even consider such a claim.”

“I understand.”  The princess nodded.  As she looked to Fancy Pants, she shook her head.  “If this threat is as true as you say, I would certainly take it into consideration for rescheduling.  Without anything substantial, I’m afraid trying to prove your case to the event organizers will prove unsuccessful.”

“I must add princess that Manehatten has also spent quite a lot of bits on this as much as Canterlot to happen.  I imagine they would be quite angry at the loss and may place us in a poor light for future events.”  The advisor chided as he gleamed at Fancy Pants.  The white unicorn bared his teeth at him as he quickly composed himself and turned back to the princess.

“Neither bits or manehatten are as important as you are and Equestria would be in danger should anything happen to you m’laday.  I bring this to you for your safety.  As my duty to you, I warn you for your safety.”  He pleaded.

“Gentlemen, enough.”  She said as she outstretched a hoof.  Lowering it she looked toward Fancy.  I understand your concern, but is there anything you can tell me to prove your claim?  Anything at all?”

Fancy closed his eyes as he lowered his head to the floor.  With the information provided by the Gentlecolts, to mention their name would cause more problems then help the situation.  The possibility of the Wonderbolts being involved, the possibility of harm, and the danger she was in.  None of it could be proven for certain.  At least not now he thought.

“M’lady, I…I cannot prove any of it.”  He said begrudged.

“Ha!”  The advisor yelled.  “We’re wasting our time here.  May we carry on?”

The princess nodded and looked over to the unicorn.  “I’m sorry Fancy Pants, but this will need more for us to cancel the event, but thank you for your concern.”  The princess said as she looked at him with a smile.  “I’ll spend the time to hand select my guards and everypony that boards the ship.  I promise safety will be a top priority.”

Mildly angry, Fancy Pants bowed to her and looked to the advisor.  “You’re going to regret your decision.”  He said before he turned away and trotted through the doors.  As he continued down the hall he whispered to himself when nopony was around.

“The Gentlecolts will hear about this.”