Shape Shifter

Sporting a new rainbow scarf and a set of saddlebags given to him by Celestia, Snow grinned as he strolled through the snowy streets of Canterlot. Waltzing down Main Street, escort in tow, he recalled the interesting morning he experienced, courtesy of a mischievous young dragon. The morning had started with an extremely detailed tour, including Spike’s favourite places and ended with crash course in one of Spike's favourite pastimes, pranks.

Four Hours Earlier

“Alright Snow, here's the plan.” Spike explained a glint of mischief in his eyes. “You're going to go in first and get her attention. Get her to look away from the main doors, get her away from the desk, and keep her distracted. I'll come in after you and replace her ink with this disappearing version. After I do that, we can hide behind a bookshelf near her and watch the results. Got it?”

“Yeah, but Spike, won’t she get mad?” Snow replied, his nervous body language giving away his uncertainty.

“She may but trust me; this is just a harmless prank. The ink comes with instructions on how to make it visible again, so no harm done!”

“If you say so.”

“Let’s do this, brohoof!” Spike putting his small clinched claw in the air towards Snow.

"Bro-what?” The colt asked, cocking his head at what his friend said.

“Forgot about your memory. It’s where two friends bump hooves, or in my case, claws together in an act of awesomeness.”

“Oh, ok then.” Snow paused putting his hoof in the air. “Brohoof!”

“Brohoof!” Spike brought his clenched claw to meet his friend’s hoof.

Here goes nothing, Snow thought as he entered the library and began to look for Twilight. Spotting her in the same area they had shared earlier this morning he trotted over to her.

“Hi, Twilight.”

“Hello, Snow. How did your tour with Spike go?” She asked putting the quill she was using to write notes with back in the ink pot.

“Good, he was very knowledgeable about this place.”

“That doesn't surprise me, on subjects he likes his memory is photographic.”

“Twilight, I was wondering if you could show me where I could find a few more chemistry books?  Chemistry really seems to hold my interests.”

“Sure, just follow me.” She said as she trotted south along the west wall. Snow following her, she stopped eight shelves down and looked up at the top.  Taking up a spot next to her, he snuck a glance back to see Spike already leaving the desk, Twilight’s ink in claw.

“Anything specific you are looking for?” She inquired.

“Yes, that book is part of a series and I would like the second one.” HE replied, pointing with his hoof to a thick gray book on the top shelf.

“Got it.” She replied, horn glowing as she retrieved the tome.

“Thanks.” Taking the book from her he balanced it on his back. “See you later!”

“Bye, Snow.” She said returning to her desk. Snow watched her as she left before meeting up with Spike. Walking slowly due to the book, he soon spotted the purple dragon behind a bookshelf to Twilight’s left.

“Nice work.” Spike whispered to Snow as he sat down next to his friend.

“Thanks.”

“Now we play the waiting game.” Spike said, kicking back as he leaned against the bookshelf parallel to the one they were using to hide behind. Snow cracked open the chemistry book and began to immerse his mind in the chemicals and equations.

Fifteen Minutes Later

"No, no, no." A frantic unicorn repeated to herself as she rummaged through a pile of papers an inch thick. Where are my notes? They were just here, now all I have is blank pages.  Stopping for a moment to breath, she heard laughing to her left.

"This is too rich!" Spike managed to say between the gut wrenching laughter.

"You were right, it is kinda funny!" Snow chuckled. Their laughter, however, was cut off by a magenta aura picking them up and over the shelf. Brought face to face with an enraged Twilight they gulped simultaneously.

"Umm, hi Twi, nice morning isn't it?" Spike said weakly.

"EXPLANATION NOW!" She exclaimed.

"Disappearing ink, but don't worry ‘cause it will reappear as normal if you just apply the spell in the instructions."

"My regular ink, if you please." She said, liberating her ink from the dragon, putting it back on her desk.

I don't like being levitated, Snow though as he began to feel sick from being upside down.

*THUNK*

"Ow!" Snow groaned as he greeted the floor for the third time today.

"Wait, how did you get out of my field of levitation?" Twilight asked, confused at what had transpired.

"I don't know, but that hurt"

"Must have been a fluke on my part." Picking him up again, she dumped the duo in a heap outside the library.

"DON'T MESS WITH MY RESEARCH AGAIN!" She yelled slamming the door.

The second prank went over a bit better. They had added red food colouring tablets to the water tanks in all the male restrooms in the castle. Laughing over their handiwork, the dynamic duo went for lunch. Entering the dining hall, the boys both ordered a sandwich with hay fries and a soda. Sitting down with their food they began to chat about the time they had used to hang out.

"Twilight scared me, she was so mad." Snow said, thinking about the unicorn.

"You have to admit, the look on her face before she found us was priceless."

"Yeah it was funny but she was scary."

"Dude, you haven't seen her really angry. When she is, she bursts into flames."

"No, thank you." He shuddered at the thought of a fiery Twilight. "The bathroom thing was funny."

"Yeah, definitely one of my finer pranks." They went silent for a while as they devoured the food they had ordered.

"Hey Snow, I had an idea." Spike said, slurping on his drink.

"What is it?" Snow replied, finishing the last of his fries.

"You have to come up with an original prank in twenty-four hours and it’s gotta be something extravagant."

"Yeah, not gonna happen."

"Come on! What are you, a chicken?" The dragon asked, putting his arms in a position that made them look like wings.

“I am not!” Snow called out indignantly.

“Bwak, bwak!" Spike taunted, flapping his arms.

"Fine! I’ll do it and I can’t wait to see the look on you face!" The colt answered, his friend getting the better of him.  Collecting his trash, he got up and deposited it a can. “In fact, let us make this a bet. I do a really good prank and you have to dye you spikes pink for a week.”

“But if it’s not that good you have to dye your coat pink!” Spike retorted.

“Deal!” The colt shot back, confident.

"In fact, I'll start now. So I'll see ya later, Spike." He said to his friend, making his way to the door.

"Bye, Snow.”

It’s official, I am stupid, Snow thought.  “What am I gonna do?”

“What do you mean?” A familiar voice called out from behind him. Turning around, he found himself face to face with Celestia.

“Hi Celestia. Oops, I’m sorry I meant-“

“It’s fine, really. I told you before I don’t mind.” She said, cutting him off.

“If you say so, Princess.” She glared at him. “I mean, Celestia.”

“So, what is wrong, little one?”

“Oh, Spike and I made a stupid bet, boy stuff.”

“Alright, I understand.” She said as she levitated a box in front of him. “I got you a gift.”

“Thanks!” He replied, both curious and happy, looking at the package.

“Well, go ahead and open it.”

Tearing into package he pulled out a rainbow coloured scarf, a blue set of saddlebags, and a bag of bits. Wrapping the scarf around his neck, he put the bits in the bags and tried them on. Happy to find they fit well, he turned back to Celestia.

“Thank you so much!” He squee’d as he jumped up and gave her a hug. She smiled warmly and returned his hug before putting him back down with her magic.

“You’re welcome Snow. I put out the word about you today, hopefully we can find out where you belong.”

“What if I want to stay here?” His question caused a shot of pain to pass through Celestia’s heart.

I wish he could stay here, I've always loved kids but surely he has somepony who is missing him right now.

        She thought before replying. “Snow, I wouldn't mind if you stayed but what if your family is missing you right now? What if you regain your memory and want to go home? I think it would be best right now to try and find out who you are.”

“You’re probably right.” He said with a maturity not usually seen in one of his age. “Celestia, could I go out into Canterlot and look around?”

“Yes you may, but I will assign you an escort so you don’t get lost. Oh, and be back by five o’clock its one o’clock now.”

As she walked away to find him an escort, he had an evil grin on his face.

I have my inspiration and a target. Spike will never see this coming.

Present

Ducking through the crowd, he easily lost his escort. Following the signs, he headed towards the shopping district. Walking around for several minutes he found a store called 'Alchemy and Stuff'. Going inside, he sought out a few items. He first took a set of alchemy tools. Grabbing a bottle of potassium chlorate from one aisle, he moved on to the next which had metals. Picking up a bag of powdered aluminium, a spool of copper wire, and zinc strips, he moved to the next isle to acquire a bottle of sulphuric acid before going to front counter to pay.

"Hello there, young fella." The old cashier greeted Snow as he placed the items and the 15 bits to pay for them on the counter.

"Good afternoon, sir."

"Nice manners, not a lot of kids your age have them. Seem a little young to be handling these sorts of materials. What's this for anyway?"

"Flash powder party poppers. I'm going to use a small amount to launch confetti."

"Clever, aren't you?"

"Thanks." He replied. Putting the materials in his saddlebags, he left the store. The next store he stopped in was a party supply store called 'Party Time'. From this store Snow bought party horns, markers, confetti, cardboard, scissors, tape, and super glue.  All his materials gathered for later, he decided to wander the district and look around a bit before he would look for his unlucky escort who was probably extremely mad at him.

Strolling around a particular store caught his eyes; he stood there mesmerized as he stared at the neon sign that spelled out 'Iron Beats'. As if in a trance, he walked into the store. All matter of musical material and equipment surrounded him and he felt like he was home. Stopping, he fixated on a black electric guitar sitting on a stand hooked to an amp and an overdrive. For a moment it felt like the world slowed around him and he stared at the sleek instrument. Slowly he picked it up, oblivious to the grey pegasus mare watching him from the counter. Slipping the strap over his neck, he reared on to his back hooves hold the guitar in his fore hooves. Breathing very slowly, he took the pick from between the strings and turned on the amp. A felling of nostalgia came over him as he stood there. The words and chords came to him, he didn't know why but it felt so right. He closed his eyes and opened his soul.

   "Oh my goddess. Please help me, knee deep in the river tryin' to get clean. She says wash your hands, get out the stains but you best believe, boy, there's heck to pay. Yeah you best believe, boy, there's heck to pay, sayin." He sang before ripping of several chords from the guitar.

"Come on, oh my goddess. Please help me, waist deep in the river, can you hear my plea? She says, son, you come like a beggar in the streets. You might make it, boy, but by the skin of your teeth. You might make it, boy, but by the skin of your teeth, sayin’." Unaware of the crowd that gathered around him, he continued playing and singing.

"I rambled with the worst of them. Fell in love with a harlequin. Saw the darkest hearts of stallions. And I saw myself starin' back again, And I saw myself starin' back again." He sang now just a voice in the crowd as they joined in. Playing the guitar like a seasoned professional, he played the short intermission between lyrics.

"Oh my goddess. Please help me, neck deep in the river screamin' for relief. She says, it's mine to give, but it's yours to choose. You're gonna sink or swim, you're gonna learn the truth. No matter what you do you're gonna learn the truth sayin'. Ate the bread that once was stone. Fell from a cliff, never broke a bone. Bowed down to get the tyrants overthrown. And I'm all alone and the fire grows. And I'm all alone and the fire grows." He played the next intermission the crowd began to sway with the music.

"La la la la la la la la la la la. La la la la la la la la la la la. La la la la la la la la la la la. La la la la la la la la la la la. La la la la la la la la la la la. La la la la la la la la la la la." The large crowd sang. He was shocked at the ponies surrounding him as he broke from the trance he was in. They began clapping for him as he put the guitar back on the stand.

The crowd muttering disappointingly, dispersed when he told them he was done and he moved on to another part of the store. Looking at several sets of headphones, he picked out a blue pair that matched his eyes. Turning around, he walked right in to a mare.

"I'm sorry!" She said as he got up.

"No biggie, I'm more at fault than you." He looked up at the tall, grey pegasus mare with dark blue eyes, and dark blond mane. "My name is Snow, nice to meet you."

"My name is Iron Night and this is my store."

"You have a nice place."

"Thanks. I was wondering if you were interested in the guitar?"

"It's nice but there is no way I have the bits for it. To be honest, I don't even know why I picked it up."

"What do you mean?" She asked, raising her eyebrows quizzically.

"Well it's like this…"

Fifteen minutes later

"…and for some reason the guitar seemed to spark some sort of connection for me."

"Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. Whoever you were before you must have been one wicked guitarist though, the way you play isn't something you acquire overnight and apparently it’s not something that leaves you easily either. Tell you what, I'll sell you the guitar and accessories including the headphones for 50 bits if you will come and play in front of my store a few times since you really seem to draw people in."

"I can agree to that."

"Done yet?" An angry voice called out. Snow turned to look at the guard Celestia had charged with watching him.

"You found me; guess that means it’s your turn to hide." He said with his now-signature devilish grin, sliding his headphones on.