Switching Sides

Warm sunlight splashed across a plethora of colorful pillows and blankets and across a purple Pegasus's face. The birds outside her window chirped happily in melody, and just outside was a bright, new day of adventure awaiting Shadow Blast. She stretched and held it for a long moment as a loud yawn escaped her lips. On her own time, Shadow finally stood up, yawning once again. “Good morning,” she announced to nopony in particular as she slowly trotted to her bathroom.

Her eyes half closed and tired, she positioned herself in front of the mirror and gazed at the reflection before her. She was still the same mare she saw every day in the mirror, but for some odd reason Shadow couldn't quite put her hoof on what seemed different today. She needed to shower, and that is what was probably bugging her as she is accustomed to seeing her hair clean and brushed.

Hopping into the shower, her hooves were met with cold as she touched the tub floor. She used her teeth to adjust the water's heat and once the water was spraying with might down her coat, face and mane, she began to relax. She froze, just enjoying the hot water pour down her face, dripping down and splashing her hooves. She found her mind drifting as she thought over everything that came to mind.

Shadow can't help but feel a sense of amnesia as she went over her past few days.

What did Shadow Blast do yesterday? She rubbed her forehead in thought, unable to remember quite what happened. She recalls visiting the market and heading to her friend's house for...some reason that Shadow can't quite remember, then she draws a blank. She wasn't quite sure which friend she had visited either. Shadow was never the type to forget, so how come she can't recall the day before?

Shadow sighed a bit in defeat. “I'll figure it out later,” she said to herself as she began to lather herself.

She began to lather the spots of her back that she could reach, but she was suddenly hit with a sense of Déjà vu.

Something seemed very odd, but Shadow just couldn't quite figure it out. What's missing? Did Shadow forget to do something, did she leave her saddlebags at work again?

Did she even go to work yesterday?

The confusion was beginning to eat away at her psyche. Shadow grit her teeth and shook her head in a desperate attempt to rid of the terrible sense of repetition.

Perhaps finishing up my shower will help me get my mind off it, she thought and grabbed for her bar of soap.

She began to wash her face, feeling a sense of relief of a new, clean muzzle. As she was cleaning her face with a washcloth, her hoof bumped into something hard and unusual, when Shadow would normally touch hair in such a spot. What's this?

Shadow was surprised; and she suddenly found herself fearful as she continued to fondle it; the object seemed to be... attached to her head?

She felt a bit light-headed as the anxiety hit her. She scrambled to escape the tub, slipping on the hard, wet tile below her as she leaped out, falling onto her face. Ignoring the slight pain, she quickly raced back to the mirror and gazed at her blurred reflection. The foggy mirror told her she lacked any strange tumors on her head, when she used her hoof to wipe away the steam, she was absolutely shocked at what stared back at her.

It was a bright, happy day in Ponyville. Villagers went about their own business, continuing a ritual that they've done most of their lives. It was truly a beautiful day.

Almost no one noticed the bush that had sprouted eyes, legs, and a tail as it sneaked along.

Shadow tiptoed through as quietly as possible, hiding behind everything that could shield her. A brown paper bag adorned her head with eye holes as the stressed mare tried to blend in as much as possible. Although, it is sorta hard to blend in when you're a bush.

Finally reaching her place of destination, Shadow ditched her plant costume and knocked rapidly on the double doors in front of her. Forgetting it was a public building, she pushed into the room, followed by a loud, peaceful chime from above.

“One moment!” A familiar, feminine voice called from the back rooms.

Shadow planted her rump onto the floor, waiting for her friend. She glanced around, studying the building's fabulous and regal décor, along with several lines of dresses throughout the area.

“My apologies,” Rarity announced in a sing-song voice as she entered the room. “Welcome to the Carousel Boutique! Where every garment is chic, unique, and magnifi--” Rarity paused to doubletake at the mare in front of her. It was her friend and regular customer Shadow Blast, whom she's had tea and lunch with on several occasions. She met the pegasus during a trip to the spa, Shadow was a new employee that day, and since then, Shadow was always happy to serve her during visits. The odd thing was that Shadow was wearing a brown paper bag over her head, with sloppily cut holes in them for her eyes.

“Um, no offense dear, but I don't think paper bags suit you,” she remarked,  “A nice sun hat would be lovely on you, though.”

“It's not a fashion statement,” the dismayed pony said as she stood up. “It's...awful!”

“What's awful?” Rarity questioned, raising her eyebrow.

“It's a catastrophe,” Shadow cried as she put her hoof to her forehead dramatically. “It's probably the worst thing to happen in Equestria!”

“What in Celestia's name is so wrong, darling?!” Rarity exclaimed, growing concerned for her friend.

“Okay, don't scream,” Shadow whimpered as she slowly removed the bag. Rarity stared for a long moment with a blank expression, but suddenly it turned to shock and terror. “Oh my gosh,” she said, stepping back with wide eyes. “Of all the worst possible things--”

“I know! I have no clue how it happened!” Shadow sobbed as she rubbed the growth on her head.

Rarity raced passed the once-a-pegasus, holding a curtain that hung from her window gingerly. “Opal ruined my favorite curtains!” She cried, rubbing the tears and holes that were scratched into the fabrics.

Shadow whirled around and stared in disbelief at the unicorn. “You don't notice anything?” she objected. “Pardon?” Rarity said as she turned to look at her friend, instantly being hit with a wave of shock. “Oh my goodness, your wings are gone! And you have a horn?” she was completely baffled, trotting ahead to study the mare's new appendage. “How in Equestria did this happen to you?”

“I have no clue,” Shadow admitted, her head hanging in sadness. Rarity lifted a hoof and made contact with her horn, and it definitely felt real.  It was a bit pointier than her own, and she traced the indented lines that spiraled up the steak. Shadow jumped in surprise, feeling a unexpected bout of sensitivity shoot through her body from the touch, as if she was being tickled. She reeled back a bit and Rarity smiled sheepishly at the mare, blushing slightly. “My apologies, darling,” she corrected herself. Shadow straightened again and looked up towards her horn, her eyes crossing in the process. She couldn't see the horn doing this, and mostly just made her head hurt. She rubbed her temples and looked at Rarity in dismay. “What should I do?” she wailed, when she was struck with an idea. “Oh! I'll go to the library! Great idea, Rarity!” Shadow said, hope returning as she grinned at the unicorn.

She headed for the door. “See you around,” she called as she exited the boutique. “You're welcome, I think,” Rarity called back, giving herself a mental pat on the back as she smiled.