Mane Mishaps and New Beginnings
Zecora raised an eyebrow at Rarity, her facial expression that of confusion and concern, but mostly a deadpan frown.
"You want me to make what for Rainbow Dash?" Zecora questioned, meeting Rarity's eyes. Rarity felt her face redden. She wasn't sure if the face Zecora was pulling was in offense to asking for something so bizzare and an insult to her skills, or if she was just questioning the white mare in front of her.
"I was hoping you could help me make a prank shampoo for her, nothing too crazy, just something that switches around her mane colors or something...?" Rarity smiled awkwardly at the zebra before her, who's gaze intensified and eyebrow arched higher. Rarity explained more. "You see, Rainbow Dash loves pranks, and I thought she'd appreciate a gift that saw that part of her," Rarity smiled a little wider hoping to convince Zecora.
Something in Zecora's face softened as the gears turned in her head. Whatever it was she was thinking about, Rarity didn't know, but Zecora's face changed from her prior confusion and concern to a soft smile, her arched eyebrow remaining up.
"You know that mane magic is difficult, right? And that this might cause Rainbow Dash to want to stay out of sight?" Zecora questioned Rarity one last time. Rarity hadn't thought of that, until another thought struck her.
"Then make two! One for her and one for me! We can be silly looking together." Rarity said in a moment of inspiration.
"Very well," Zecora said as she turned to her cauldron and got to work. Magic bubbled and brewed within, an array of colors swirled in the air - a full rainbow - before the colors flashed and switched, the now-messed-up rainbow swirling into the pot. Then a purple tone came into view, swirling about with its colors mismatched before also swirling into the cauldron.
"One final ingredient I must mix, with careful precision so I do not nix," Zecora stated, reaching for a bottle high up. After a moment of struggle, Rarity used her magic to levitate it down for her. Zecora smiled and nodded to her in thanks as she took the bottle into her own mouth, standing high above the cauldron to sprinkle in whatever substance was in it, being careful not to fall off the stool she stood on.
Focusing on her breath, the shimmery powder that came out of the bottle filled Zecora's nostrils, and her eyes welled with tears as she attempted to hold back a sneeze, but it was too late. She was past the point of no return. A large, hefty sneeze escaped the zebra's lungs, from which there was no return. As if in slow motion, Zecora slipped on the stool, the bottle in her mouth slipping as Rarity jumped into action.
Rarity may not have been skilled in magic like Twilight, but she made a commendable effort to catch Zecora in her magic, softening her fall with a levitation spell, leaping forward towards her. In a bright rainbow explosion, all was well once more, the spellwork in the cauldron bubbling quietly.
"Are you quite alright, darling?" Rarity asked, standing and helping Zecora up. Zecora brushed herself off and nodded, taking a ladle and two large glass bottles, filling each one with the shimmering brew, corking each bottle and covering them with a shimmery wax to match.
Rarity and Zecora thanked each other and Rarity payed, unaware of the disaster that was about to occur.
Hearth's Warming Eve came swiftly for the girls, and spending it together before seeing family was ideal. It was the hours of early morning when Rarity awoke, wanting to give Rainbow Dash her gift early. Showering quickly and putting on her finest winter outfit, she strode out the door of Carousel Boutique with Rainbow Dash's joke shampoo wrapped delicately in a bag.
Before long, Rarity had trotted to Rainbow's home, calling up to her. Rainbow sleepily yawned and flew down to meet Rarity.
"Hi Rare, what can I do for you?" she said, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Nothing darling, I just wanted to give you your Hearth's Warming gift early, as I do have to set off earlier than expected before the eve is out," Rarity said, smiling.
"Fair enough, so what'd you get me?" Rainbow Dash asked eagerly. Rarity smiled wider and handed her the bag, trying not to giggle and give away the surprise. Rainbow Dash opened it to the charming, shimmery bottle of potion inside. Dash tilted her head. "What is it?" she asked.
"It's a special mane potion I got made for you! It's basically fancy shampoo but with your Wonderbolt activities kept in mind! Obviously, the longer you're in the Bolts, the more naturally your hair shifts to be permanently windswept. This just helps keep your hair healthy while that effect takes hold," Rarity said, beaming at the pegasus before her. Dash looked at the bottle she held in her wing, eyeing it.
"Wow, Rarity, that's really thoughtful," Dash said, smiling back at her. She meant it too. It was a great gift. While Dash didn't completely care about appearance, she may as well have a nice looking mane when she performs with the Bolts. The two shared a hug, laughing together. "Thank you, Rare. I'll see you at Twilight's castle tonight?" she inquired, tucking the potion under her wing.
Rarity nodded. "Yes, you will! Give that potion a try, yes? I'd love to know how great your mane looks after," she replied with a wink. All right. That was it. Dash knew Rarity was up to something. Rarity never normally winked. Dash smiled and waved at Rarity as the two parted, but squinted at her when she was sure Rarity couldn't see. Something was fishy, but Dash liked the excitement of it all.
Flying back up to her home, Dash figured she'd try out the shampoo, given Rarity was insistent. Stepping into her bathroom and then her shower, she washed as normal, and dried off, stretching as she stepped out of the shower. Dash looked at herself in the mirror, but didn't notice any difference.
Perhaps she had read too far into Rarity's strange quips? What if Rarity really did just get her some nice shampoo and wanted to know how it was? Rainbow Dash's thoughts swirled in her mind as a glowing light swirled around her, ripping the rainbow maned mare from her thoughts. When it subsided, Dash took a second look in the mirror to see that her mane and tail colors had completely changed, as well as her coat!
Her coat was a radiant white, her mane a stunning violet. After realizing her shock, Dash shut her open jaw and let out a belly laugh, realizing what had just happened. She looked just like Rarity, and figured this was part of Rarity's little ploy all along. What an amazing gift. Dash would have to seek out Rarity for the antidote, but she could do that in a little while.
Rarity, as Rarity does, strode through the streets of Ponyville, waving to those she knew who had waved at her. On the streets were nearly-finished stalls being set up for the Hearthswarming night market- a tradition Ponyville had. As Rarity waved to another friend, their expression changed. Was there something in her teeth? Did she have a horribly large pimple she didn't notice? Rarity, too, was ripped from her thoughts when light surrounded her, and she came out the other side changed - her perfectly coifed mane and tail were a rainbow array, and her coat was a light blue. Rarity user her legs to "cover" herself coyly, smiling an awkward bean mouth smile before mustering up her magic to teleport to her boutique.
As soon as she was hidden away inside, she ran to her room and assessed her situation in her mirror. My word. She looked just like Rainbow Dash! The only difference was her mane style and that she was still a unicorn. What in the name of Celestia had just happened?
Before she could answer that question, a knock rasped wildly at her door, and a voice from the other side. "Rarity? Did you want to know how your..." a snicker, then an ill-hidden giggle, "'shampo' worked?" came Dash's voice. Thank Celestia it was just Dash...
Rarity opened her door shyly, bean mouth smiling (again) awkwardly. Then she gazed at Dash, who had her coat colors.
"I -? Wha?" was all Rarity could say before Dash burst out into laughter.
"I knew it! We swapped colors completely!" Dash said through boughs of laughter. "You look like me, Rare!"
Before long, Rarity's embarrassment faded away and turned into laughter with her friend, collapsing to the floor as rolling laughter chased her embarrassment away.
"We look ridiculous, darling!" Rarity said, laughing. "Why, the potion was only meant to change around YOUR mane colors, not both of ours!" she proclaimed, meeting Dashie's eyes. The two stopped laughing for a moment suddenly, before snickering and bursting into laughter once more. Rainbow Dash had an idea.
Rarity heaved one final laugh before standing from the floor with the help of Dash, catching her breath and wiping tears from her eyes. "Perhaps we should see too Zecora...?" Rarity suggested, observing Rainbow Dash, who had a scheming look in her eyes. "Dashie... what are you scheming about...?" Rarity intoned, leaning in a little with a pout and a look at Dashie that was scrutinizing., a single eyebrow sharply raised.
"Rarity, what if we pranked Ponyville?" Dash answered, smirking. Rarity's previous look faded, only to be replaced with one of confusion. "Hear me out - we have a little fun with this prank mishap and then see Zecora at the end of the night? She'll be at Twilight's castle, right?" Rainbow met the unicorn's eyes, which lit up. A smile grew on Rarity's face, thinking about the fun they could have.
"The Hearth'swarming Night Market is soon, perhaps we spend our afternoon together and then pull some pranks on those attending the event?" Rarity added to the ploy.
Dash nodded eagerly. "Sounds perfect Rare, this is gonna be so good..." she replied, rubbing her hooves together like an evil villain.
[ Music for this section -- Right click > Loop]
Before long, the night market was upon the two color-swapped mares. Throughout the afternoon, they relished in each other's company, plotting and ploying about how they'd try and convince their friends they were the other and had practiced acting like each other for hours, giggling and laughing together.
The two stepped out into the night air, stunned by the night market's beauty before them. The festival was in full swing now, strings of lights swung high above in the night breeze, and stalls were full of Hallmark levels of holiday joy. Rarity swore she could see the lens flares and ambient glow that would've been edited in herself.
"Ready, darling?" Came Dash's raspy-but-attempting-to-sound-like-Rarity words. Rarity stifled a giggle. "But of cou- I mean - yea, duh!" Rarity said in her attempt-at-sounding-like-Dash. The two trotted into the night market together, heading to their first ~~victim~~ stall. It was Applejack's stall, and she was selling hot apple cider.
"Allow me, darling," said Dash, who flipped her mane fashionably with a hoof, batting her lashes at Applejack, who only looked confused. "Two hot apple ciders, daahhhling," Dash said, impersonating Rarity and placing four bits on the counter. Dash smiled at AJ in the way Rarity does when she wants something, her eyes half lidded and lashes bat once more for good measure. Rarity was impressed by Dash's performance, stifling a laugh with a hoof. Applejack eyed Rarity, a single eyebrow raised higher then Celestia's sun... which... I realize now isn't saying much, it being a NIGHT market and all. ANYWHO!
Rarity waved sheepishly at her friend, trying to act like nothing at all was happening and all was normal. AJ turned from them both to serve up the cider, and Rarity and Dash shared a look. "You're doing great!" Rarity whisper yelled, stifling more giggles. Applejack turned back to the two with fresh mugs of hot apple cider, eyeing them both.
"Thank you, dahhling!" Dash said, taking both mugs in her "magic", which was just Rarity hiding the use of her own and levitated them to each other.
"Remember, AJ, you still owe me that arm wrestle later!" Rarity "reminded" in a gruff impression of Dash as the two trotted off. AJ smiled as the two burst out into laughter, watching them go.
The rest of the night was full of pranks, confused glances and stares from onlookers, but it was a night of unexpected bliss and splendor. They managed to get Pinkie, Fluttershy and even Mayor Mare as the night went on. As the night market Hallmark joy subsided, and the lens flares of holiday magic subsided from Rarity's vision, the two strode to Twilight's castle, giggling about the day's adventure.
The two entered the castle, to be greeted by the smiling faces of their friends. "Rarity! Dash! There you two are!" said Pinkie, who brought them into a hug.
"Love the new horn, Dash," she said, smiling. Rarity raised a brow, then realized what was happening. They were in on it now too.
"Thanks, Pinkie," Rarity said in a weak impression of Dash, smiling at the pink mare.
"Nice wings, Rarity! Where'd you get them?" Pinkie asked Dash, who also had a moment of realization.
"Why, thank you, daaahhling," Rainbow replied, stifling a laugh with a hoof.
All around them, the girls began to laugh, Rarity and Dash chiming in as well.
"What even happened to you two?" Asked Twilight, wiping tears from her eyes, still laughing a little.
"I had ordered a prank shampoo from Zecora for Dash for Hearthswarming," admitted Rarity, who laughed with Twilight. "And I think something went wrong in the process of making it!" she added. "It was only meant to mess with her mane and coat colors, not both of us!" Rarity let out a giggle.
"I see now the results of my mistake," Zecora chimed in stepping into view. "This one really takes the cake." she added, her usual rhyme in cadence with her steps. She bore a big grin on her face at the sight of the color swapped mares.
The rest of the night went on without a hitch, and before long, the magic reversed itself, and the two shared the memory for years to come, laughing about it for ages.
Author's Note
Happy holidays cryptix! Again, super sorry for the delay, but regardless, I hope you enjoyed! This was a very fun write and I enjoyed working on a pair I normally don't write. I also got a cold halfway through writing this so that's cool.
If anyone spots any issues such as grammar, spelling, etc, please let me know so they can be fixed.
