Since she saw that crystalline velvet of the cover of the book The Most Mysterious Places, Rarity didn't stop thinking about certain creatures mentioned by Cadance. What she wouldn't give for finding the crystal butterflies and use the silk from their crystalline cocoons to create her dresses. However, the crystal butterflies were gone, having fled from the Crystal Empire when the King Sombra came to power. Anypony hadn’t seen them since that day.
But Rarity wanted to change that. She wanted to find the crystal butterflies and make them return to the Crystal Empire, not only because it was the right thing to do, but also because she wanted so much that silk of theirs, so she could use it to create things as beautiful as the velvet.
Of course she couldn't do the job alone. She would need help. First, She had to find the butterflies and then she would have to convince them to return. But how could she do that?
To find them, she asked for help to Twilight. After all, she was an expert at this sort of things. Then, to convince them, she decided to ask for help to the greatest animal expert she knew: Fluttershy. She was sure that she would accept. After all, they were a new type of animals, butterflies, one of her favorite animals.
After having left Twilight’s library after she had given her what she thought was the location of the crystal butterflies, taking into account the type of environment and conditions that they liked and the description of their migrations, Rarity went to Fluttershy’s cottage, bringing her saddlebags. She knocked the door, calling her:
"Fluttershy, my dear?"
The door opened and Fluttershy appeared, saying:
"Oh, hello, Rarity" Fluttershy greeted. "What brings you here?"
"I came to invite you to a small incursion I'm planning" Rarity replied. "Do you want to come?"
"I don't know, Rarity" Fluttershy replied. "You know I'm not much for incursions."
"But I think you might want to come on this" said Rarity. "You know, I'll try to find the crystal butterflies."
"The crystal butterflies?" Fluttershy asked, getting excited. "Oh, I've heard about them, but nopony had seen them for a thousand of years."
"Yes, since King Sombra appeared in the Crystal Empire" Rarity said, using her magic to take from her saddlebags what appeared to be a map. "But Twilight was able to locate their possible whereabouts. It’s a chance in a million, but I think it's worth..."
But she didn't have time to finish because Fluttershy disappeared for a moment and returned with their saddlebags ready and asked:
"When do we leave?"
"Well, you're really excited" Rarity commented.
"This is my chance to search and maybe find one of the most mysterious, fascinating and beautiful animals ever! Of course I'm excited! Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, rightly so, we've got a long way to go. I'm glad I used my stronger and lasting hoof varnish. We'd better go to the train station to catch the next train."
They went to the train station. Upon arrival to the train station, while waiting for the train, Rarity began to see the map that Twilight had given her.
"So, where are we going?" Fluttershy asked.
"We will catch the train to Tall Tale and then we will go to the Smokey Mountain" Rarity replied.
Upon hearing that, Fluttershy froze.
"Smokey Mountain?" she asked, afraid.
"Yes" Rarity replied. "Apparently, that mountain, as well as the surrounding area, has the cool climate and the discretion that the crystal butterflies love so much. Taking into account that they lived in the Arctic, it’s normal to seek a fresh place to inhabit and how this mountain is constantly covered by mist, is the perfect place for them. I hope you brought scarves. Of course if you didn't bring, I can always borrow one of mines. I have here many scarves."
But Fluttershy didn't say anything, being too nervous. The Smokey Mountain was a place that intimidates her, mainly because the mist, which hid any danger there was out there. But she wished so much to find the crystal butterflies. For that reason, she had to swallow her fear.
The train then arrived and as soon as the doors opened, Rarity entered. Fluttershy still hesitated a bit, but she eventually entered too.
The train was heading west towards the mountains, where a slight mist haunted the mountain base already. The view of that ghostly atmosphere, Fluttershy started to get a little intimidated. Everything seemed to make her nervous, becoming even more nervous when the train stopped at Tall Tale station.
Rarity left, using a scarf, followed by a fearful Fluttershy, who also wore a scarf given by Rarity.
"Come on, Fluttershy, we have no time to lose" Rarity said. "Let's just buy some provisions and then we leave to the Smokey Mountain."
Although afraid, Fluttershy waved and followed Rarity into the town, where they bought some food. After that, they headed to the Smokey Mountain. Upon arrival at the base of the mountain, they started following the dirt roads that wound through, pausing only to take a few minutes and eat something.
As they climbed, the mist was becoming even thicker, causing it to become even more difficult to see through. Fluttershy walked nervous, looking everywhere. The slightest sound made her jump and give a little scream, but seeing it was nothing, she went back to her alertness.
"Uh, Rarity, are we there yet?" Fluttershy asked. "We've been walking for a long time."
"Have patience, Fluttershy" Rarity replied, while observing the map. "If Twilight’s indications are correct, the crystal butterflies should be at the top of the mountain, where the mist dissipates. When it starts lifting, we know we're close. "
And actually as they climbed up and approached the top, the mist began to be increasingly thin, clearing the vision of both mares. This meant that the top was around.
"And now, are we there yet?" Fluttershy asked, a bit tired, also due to her constant alertness.
"According to the map, we should be there… now."
They reached the top and what they found marveled both. There was fresh vegetation, full of flowers of various colors, and flying over them there was numerous butterflies. They looked like the normal butterflies that there were anywhere, but these were not normal butterflies. They were made of crystal of several possible colors, shining with the sunlight. But, of course, they weren't the only ones which glowed. Among the vegetation, there were several bright silk cocoons, some already open and others still unopened.
"It's unbelievable!" Rarity exclaimed, amazed by what she was seeing.
"Wow, I've never seen such beautiful butterflies!" Fluttershy sighed.
They spend a little time to admire them and then Rarity told to Fluttershy:
"Go on, Fluttershy, it's time to you do what only you can do."
Fluttershy gulped, not knowing whether she would be able to convince the crystal butterflies. She advanced and began to say:
"Uh, I'm sorry..."
But the butterflies didn't seem to be paying any attention to her. Fluttershy looked at Rarity that made gestures of encouragement. The yellow pegasus turned again to the butterflies, took a deep breath and said:
"Sorry, my dear butterflies friends, but can you hear me for a moment?"
It was then that some butterflies turned to Fluttershy and approached her. They seemed to be the leaders.
"Listen, I know you came here to escape from King Sombra's terror, but we would like to know if you don't think to return now that Sombra disappeared."
The butterflies exchanged glances with each other and then one of them said something to Fluttershy.
"Oh, I understand."
"What did they say?" Rarity asked.
"They said now that they have made their home here, they don't want to return to the Crystal Empire" Fluttershy said. "They don't want to have to change their whole migration to return to a place they had to abandon because of a tyrant."
"But now that tyrant is gone" Rarity said. "They can return to their true home: the Crystal Empire. They had already changed their migration once. They can make it another time."
The butterflies say something Fluttershy who translated:
"They say that even though the Crystal Empire is safe now, nothing guarantees them that it will not be in danger and will eventually disappear. Due to its location, the Smokey Mountain gives them the perfect place to hide without anypony destroys their paradise."
"But didn't they miss the Crystal Empire?" Rarity asked. "I mean, it is their first home."
After hearing what the crystal butterflies had to say, Fluttershy said:
"They say they nonetheless don’t return there because the crystal ponies just want their silk cocoons to make their crystal velvets and many other things."
This made Rarity blush a little ashamed because that was, in part, one of the reasons for wanting the return of the crystal butterflies.
"Yeah, okay, I might have some ulterior motives" Rarity admitted, turning to the crystal butterflies. "But that doesn't change the fact that the crystal ponies miss you. Plus, don't miss the sparkling streets, the castle, the Oasis of the Heart..."
Hearing the reference of the Oasis of the Heart, the butterflies said something to Fluttershy who translated:
"They want to know if the oasis is back, because it had disappeared as quickly as it appeared even before they have gone and that it was one of the main reasons for abandoning the Crystal Empire."
"But of course the oasis have returned" said Rarity. "All thanks to our friend Twilight and her coltfriend, Blue Sword. Thanks to them and their love, the Oasis of the Heart appeared again. Of course nopony beyond them were still there, but their relationship is itself a proof that it reappeared."
The butterflies talked among themselves and then they talk with Fluttershy. She smiled openly and asked:
"Seriously?"
The butterflies waved her.
"Rarity, the butterflies accepted to return" Fluttershy said.
"Seriously?" Rarity asked, not able to contain her happiness.
"But they want to make it clear that they’ll only come back because of the Oasis of the Heart which is the only place that they consider to be safe for them" Fluttershy said.
"But that's amazing!" Rarity exclaimed. "When will you return?"
Her answer was answered when the leaders began to speak with the other butterflies and most of them began to fly away.
"Apparently, the crystal butterflies decided to go right now to the arctic" Fluttershy asked. "Only a few ones will stay here waiting for the remaining butterflies which are still inside of their cocoons."
Then a butterfly approached Fluttershy and whispered something to her.
"Seriously?" asked Fluttershy, what the butterfly nodded.
"What is it?" Rarity asked.
"The crystal butterflies want you to stay with the used cocoons in thanks for telling them about the Oasis of the Heart" Fluttershy replied.
Upon hearing that, Rarity almost blew up with excitement. Having all those shiny silk cocoons to herself was something that she desired so much, even for being an offer of the crystal butterflies.
"Thank you" Rarity thanked. "It's a very generous offer."
Rarity then used her magic to collect all used cocoons and placed them in her saddlebags, putting those who don't fit in in Fluttershy’s. After that, the most of the butterflies had walked away, leaving only a few one behind. After the goodbyes, Rarity and Fluttershy began to descend the mountain, backing to the dense mist of the mountain, which made Fluttershy return to her nervous state of constant alert.
After reaching the foot of the mountain, they forwarded to Tall Tale, where they waited at the train station for the train that would take them to Ponyville.
As soon as they arrived to Ponyville, Rarity thanked a lot Fluttershy's help gave her to convince the crystal butterflies to go back to the Crystal Empire. Upon returning to her boutique, Rarity received a message from Princess Cadance saying the crystal butterflies had returned to the Crystal Empire, what made the crystal ponies stay immensely happy (which could be view due to the aurora released by the power of the crystal heart), thanking Rarity for the help, because the butterflies had told her that it was thanks to her that they decided to come back.
Rarity was quite happy. Now, all Equestria could see again the most beautiful work made in silk or velvet all thanks to the crystal butterflies. But what made her even happier was that she could contribute to that thanks to the silk the butterflies so kindly gave her.
The End
