Clue Me In

Pinkie Pie looks out the hotel window. “WOW! The whole town is coming here for the ball! Look at what they’re wearing! Or, uhhh, what they’re not wearing! Gosh am I over dressed!? I can take off some of my clothes! Ah hahaha! There’s the PEACOCK lady!” she says all in one breath.

Everyone gathers around Pinkie to look at the traffic coming in. Fireworks were set off and speakers from around the Inn started to blast the soundtrack of Phantom of the Opera , Title: Masquerade. The towns people started to sing along.

‘Masquerade! Paper faces on parade . . . Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you!

Masquerade! Every face a different shade . . . Masquerade! Look around - there's another mask behind you!

Flash of mauve . . . Splash of puce . . . Fool and king . . . Ghoul and goose . . . Green and black . . . Queen and priest . . . Trace of rouge . . . Face of beast . . .

Faces . . . Take your turn, take a ride on the merry-go-round . . . in an inhuman race . . .

Eye of gold . . . Thigh of blue . . . True is false . . . Who is who . . .? Curl of lip . . . Swirl of gown . . . Ace of hearts . . . Face of clown . . .

Faces . . . Drink it in, drink it up, till you've drowned in the light . . . in the sound . . .

But who can name the face . . .?

Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds . . . Masquerade! Take your fill - let the spectacle astound you!

Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads . . . Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you!

Masquerade! Seething shadows breathing lies . . . Masquerade! You can fool any friend who ever knew you!

Masquerade! Leering satyrs, peering eyes . . . Masquerade! Run and hide - but a face will still pursue you!’

“It’s like the whole town is tonight’s show!” laughs Rainbow Dash. “Oh, by the way, you’re dressed fine! Gosh I’m hungry!”

Apple Jack’s stomach growls. “EEyup! No kiddin! Ah’m a starvin! Our ladies better be ready, RIGHT NOW! I don’t wanna get there and everythins already eaten up!”

“Then let’s GO!” Pinkie jumps up excited. “I can’t wait to see the dessert table!”

They exit Dash’s suite and heads over to Apple Jack’s. On the way, they pass Pinkie’s room. They had to stop for a hot sec so that she could strip a layer of clothing off. She acquired several pairs of rolling eyes. The group passed Twilight Sparkle’s room and she assured them she had everything she needed and didn’t want to reveal anymore of her skin than what was already showing.

“Are you supposed to knock if you have a key, A.J.?” Pinkie ponders out loud.

“Ah’m just gonna tap lightly before we enter…” Apple Jack does what she says and opens the door softly. Her eyes widened. “OH MAH LORDY!”

Inside the suite was an organized mess. Make up kits spread out on the dresser. Dresses and hangers are in two separate piles on top of the bed. The ironing board was open. Towels were on the floor. The two ladies dressed and masked.

“You two took a shower together didn’t you?!” Pinkie shouts out loud bouncing into this room like the other one.

“Why would they do that?” asks a confused Twilight.

Dash starts to cough. “Oh brother, nothing. No reason. They wouldn’t. Would you?!” she blushes and looks at her wife and Rarity. Fluttershy blushes the same shade.

“If you must know… us girls shower all the time at the spa together. But, we did not shower in that way, PINKIE!” Rarity glares.

“Well, EXCUSE Me!” Pinkie says. “I was just wondering.”

“You look stunning, Babe!” Dash hovers to Fluttershy giving her a kiss. Fluttershy gives her Rainbow the mask that slightly matched hers.

“Ya look a ravashin, SugarLove!” Apple Jack says giving Rarity a kiss.

“Mmmm! That hat looks sexy on you!” Rarity gives Apple Jack a kiss back. “And here, this is your mask that matches mine!”

Twilight starts to grin. “Shall we, Ladies?”

“YES!” everyone shouts in unison.

*******

Vinyl Scratch is in the lobby by herself doing whatever she does to prep and pump herself up for her gig. The elevator opens and she sees her six lady friends get out of it. “Hey, guys!” she says.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in the grand ballroom already spinning your amazing music?” Twilight asks?

“Not yet! I am during dinner intermission and dancing after dinner.” Vinyl says grinning. “Octavia is doin her thang! She saw this awesome white cello. I took a picture of her before we came down here. Want to see? I kinda took the picture before she got dressed. Ah hahahaha.”

“That’s a mighty fine photo ya got there!” Apple Jack says.

Pinkie had to compliment as well. “That is a super duper sexy rexy picture you have there, Vinyl!”

Dash starts to laugh at Pinkie’s comment and turns to Twilight to ask “Everyone’s at our table right, Twi?”

“Yep! That’s how it’s set up! I know you and Apple Jack are really hungry… go to the buffet already and get your food! The rest of us will grab our seats!” Twilight says pointing out the direction to the grand ballroom. When she did her tummy started to grumble just as loudly as her friends'.

*******

Dash and Apple Jack race to the ballroom’s entrance.

A beautiful woman in a red dress and gloves, holding a hand held mask welcomes them. “Hungry?” she asks receiving two heads nodding. The woman leads them to the beginning of the food line. “Enjoy this meal!” she smiles at them and gives them a kiss on the cheek each.

“Look at all this grub, R.D.! Ah can’t wait ta dig mah teeth in ta that there pig roast! Whatcha gonna grab at first?”

“Mmmm… I’m thinking about that filet mignon and those loaded baked potatoes! But, Fluttershy will most likely have a salad waiting at the table for me to eat first.” Dash looks at the table. “Ah ha! And, Rarity, apparently, has one for you too!”

“Uhhh, Ah think that them servers automatically just refill yer salad when it’s empty!” Apple Jack laughs at her friend and points to several other tables.

“Oh… awesome.” Dash starts to say as Octavia’s cello music and pianist accompaniment does a subtle ending.

An older gentleman walks up to the stage with a roaring applause from the locals in town shooting at him. He points fingers at several people in between waving. Miss Scarlet walks on to the stage handing him a microphone. He taps it a few times. “Testing… testing… one, two, three!” he clears his throat, “Can you all hear me?” he smiles to the crowd even bigger. “Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Façade Inn. We are pleased, honoured, and happy to have you here joining us for our first dinner of the season… our annual MASQUERADE BALL! We have plenty of food in all varieties and cuisines! We want you to feel right at home! We have special guests performing for us on last minute notice and on their vacations! Be sure to shake their hands later! They are both rather brilliant and they are dazzling to my eyes and I am sure in yours when you greet them! This is the end of my speech as I want this dinner to commence!”

Another round of applause clamored throughout the banquet. Dash and Apple Jack waited till the man stopped talking to get to their seats. The lights started to flicker just a little bit. Octavia had a plate of food in her hands as she joined the table as well.

“Over here, Tavi!” Vinyl called for her lover. “Saved you a seat next to me, of course!”

“Love, you must check the equipment you’re to use… the electricity, I think, is a little off today. The lights have been flickering.”

“It might be due to not being functional for the last 2 seasons!” Spitfire yells across the table.

“Spitfire’s right, Babe!” Vinyl says getting a look. “Oh, alright. I’ll check right now. Please don’t let them take my plate away!?” she gets up and leaves the table to where the DJ booth is next to the stage. The lights flicker again. She returns to the table after passing one with someone in need of a band aid due to slicing their finger on accident. There were several napkins seeping with blood from one tiny index finger.

“Everything all cool?” Soarin asks.

Vinyl makes a face forgetting that one table. “Yeah, for the most part. I hope nothing skips while I’m doing my first set in half an hour!”

“Everything is so scrumptious!” Rarity muses out loud.

The food was. Everyone started to eat in silence. Only sounds of mouthgasms throughout the room. Vinyl’s cell phone alarm started to ring, ‘SHOW TIME SHOW TIME SHOW TIME SHOW TIME’.

*******

“May I have this dance?” Soarin asks Spitfire.

“Yes! I was wondering when you were going to ask!” Spitfire replies standing up with the help of Soarin’s hand.

They join the dancing crowd. The lights flicker.

Apple Jack and Dash had only room for dessert. They both leaned back into their chairs rubbing their bellies. Pinkie was out on the dance floor by herself dancing with any couple that swung her path till Octavia joined her. Fleetfoot and Rapidfire too started to dance. That left the five at the table.

Apple Jack nudged Twilight with the back of her hand. “Like Ah told R.D. over there… Ah am gonna sleep good TA-night!” Rarity giggles next to her giving her a kiss.

The lights turn off for a minute cutting the music. A glass fell to the ground shattering. Water splashed everywhere from it letting the tiny glass shreds flow. Everything turned back on as if nothing happened. Bus boys just hurried to clean it up.

“Figures. The lights just turn off for a sec and someone is clumsy to drop their glass of water.” Dash says to no one in particular. She rests her head on Fluttershy’s shoulder with her eyes shutting.

The lights flicker and Vinyl turns off the system to cut the power before the power cuts her again. Everybody booed. Some people continued to dance regardless because they were simply drunk. Dash sat up after hearing the upset crowd getting loud.

The lights turn off. Silence. Some drunk on the dance floor says ‘WHOAH’ trying to hold their balance. Dash, Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy got splashed with something warm and oozy which immediately turned cold and icky. Ruffling noise and a breeze surrounds them. Rarity and Fluttershy shriek. Fluttershy jumps onto her Rainbow’s lap after getting shoved. Rarity jumps onto a big puddle of wetness.

“Apple Jack?” Rarity says in the darkness her voice wobbly. “Apple Jack, my love… where are you!?” She feels the air as she reaches. “I need you, APPLE JACK!” Rarity stands up and hears a metal something drop clanking to the floor. She screams again as she loses balance and her hand touches the puddle of wetness she was just sitting on. Against the chair she felt something squishy. Lifting it up she brought it to her nose without even touching her face. It smelled disgusting. Rarity started to have a really big sinking feeling in her gut. “Apple Jack” she whispers. “Where are you.” She didn’t even notice anyone around her calling for Apple Jack. She bumped into the soaked chair and a lighter metal sound happened.

More tables have turned upside down. Food was on the Floor. People calling for each other left and right, some of them are screaming. The lights, finally, turned back on. The room was covered in red. The place was redder than anyone following the dress code. Rarity and Fluttershy both shriek as Rarity drops a heart to the table. Fluttershy buries her blood splattered face into her Rainbow’s neck sobbing uncontrollably. After screaming Apple Jack’s name one more time, Rarity faints on top of the brand new cowboy hat that was lying on the ground that turned red and sticky. There laid a knife that could kill and Apple Jack’s lucky horseshoe.