She quickly galloped towards the dressing area and headed in the backroom, wiping the blood off of herself with a rag before opening the chest that held Reginald's final costume. It was way too small for her of course, but it included a particularly dashing brooch she could use as a fastener.
Cheerilee quickly picked up the brooch and continued on towards the back of the room, where several bolts of cloth lay stashed. She chose a black piece that was just large enough to fit around her body, and swung over her back, using the brooch as a clasp in her neck to end up with something vaguely reminiscent of a hooded cloak.
It wouldn't hold up to scrutiny but since the audience would only see her from far away, it just might do. At least she hoped so. As a finishing touch she slid a knife she found on a nearby shelf through the fabric, improvising some manner of sheath so that the blade rested against her chest, relatively hidden.
The mare then dashed off in the direction of the stage, realising she had no time left to waste. She brought up a mental map of the building on the fly, to figure out exactly where she had to go. For the next scene, Reginald was supposed to emerge out of a mountain cave after the king had climbed up that mountain, to meet his challenge.
Knowing that, Cheerilee rounded a turn and rushed up a flight of stairs, emerging at last into the dark "cave" at the top of the mountain. From here she could see the audience, but she was quite sure the darkness still hid her from them.
Judging from the fact that Apple Bloom was nowhere in sight, she had made it in time. She quietly congratulated herself over this accomplishment, as she took a few moments to catch her breath and rest up, fearing that she may soon need the energy. It only took her a minute to start hearing the filly's voice coming closer, and pretty soon after that she came into view, having made her way up the mountain slope. She was wearing relatively simple attire compared to the royal mantle from earlier. She had a sheathed toy sword with her, attached to her side where she could easily reach for the pommel with her teeth.
"Reginal! I have come to face your challenge, come out and fight like a stallion!" King Goldencrown roared, looking around defiantly. Cheerilee took one deep breath and hid her face a bit deeper under the hood, even though she wasn't sure why. It wouldn't fool anyone, or not for very long at least.
Swallowing back her fear she stepped out of the cave and onto the highest point of the stage. The mountain summit was located several meters above the mine Scootaloo had disappeared into earlier, but as it was placed all the way to the back of the stage even the ponies occupying the front rows could still see the actors up there relatively easily.
Cheerilee could hear the crowd talking and whispering to each other as she stepped out of the shadows, they were obviously wondering what in the hay she was doing up there on the stage. Apple Bloom herself was even more confused, as she had expected to see Snips there, not her teacher.
"Miss Cheerilee, why are you-" she began to say quietly.
"I see you have come, oh brave King, and I applaud your bravery. As a token of my respect, I shall face you here in my one true form. Up 'till now Witchcraft and Sorcery have hidden me from your eyes, but no longer. Tonight we fight an honest battle," Cheerilee's voice boomed through the complex, easily going over Apple Bloom's.
The explanation sounded tacky even to her own ears, but it was the best she'd been able to come up with at such short notice. In a sudden moment of inspiration she gave Apple Bloom a conspirator's wink, praying the filly would play along. Whatever the filly had assumed Cheer meant by it, she suddenly grinned and nodded eagerly, as if to say "Oh, I got it!".
"Oh fiend! Ah knew there was more afoot when you bested mah most trusted advisors. Witchcraft, this explains a lot indeed!" the King responded, Apple Bloom's accent playing up slightly as they strayed from the original script, but the fuchsia mare couldn't have cared less at that point, so relieved was she to see the other pony playing along with her ruse.
