“Truly, there is no greater treasure than one’s friends and family.”
Sweetie Belle opened a letter that she had gotten from Derpy Hooves that was addressed to both her and Rarity. Telekinesis had gotten easier after she discovered her talent for singing and finally earned her cutie mark. Though she, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo had earned their cutie marks, the Cutie Mark Crusaders still existed, devoted to expanding and opening chapters across Equestria. All for the sake of helping blank flanks find their talents and earn their cutie marks. Her eyes widened and she let out a small gasp as she read the letter.
“Rarity!” she called as she galloped into the Carousel Boutique. “Rarity you’re not gonna believe it!”
“What is it, Sweetie Belle?” Rarity asked as she focused on a dress that Fluttershy was modeling for her. “I’m in the zone. PINCUSHION!!!”
At that last shout, a small purple and green dragon with pins stuck between his scales walked over to her on all fours. “You called?”
Rarity lifted several pins with her telekinesis and put them in their places on the dress. “Thank you, Spike,” she said before turning to her younger sister. “Now what pray tell is so important that you saw fit to interrupt me while I’m working, Sweetie Belle?”
“Facet’s coming to visit!” Sweetie Belle said in excitement as she held up the letter.
“Facet is coming here?!” Rarity asked in surprise.
“Who’s Facet?” Fluttershy asked.
“Facet is my twin brother,” Rarity said. “Though you can hardly tell by looking at him, thanks to that dye spell he uses on himself. But he does have a nice sense of aesthetics where a pony’s color scheme is concerned, and his is absolutely dashing.”
“I didn’t know you have a brother,” Fluttershy said.
“He works in Manehatten,” Sweetie Belle said. “We haven’t seen him in a long time. I can’t wait to see him and Karot again.”
“Who’s Karot?” Spike asked.
“Karot is a dragon, like you, Spike,” Rarity said. “He is to Facet as you are to Twilight: a valued assistant.”
“He’s not uh… mean, is he?” Spike asked, thinking back to his experience with fellow dragons during the Dragon Migration.
“Worry not, Spike. Karot is a darling little dragon. A true gentledrake,” Rarity said before turning back to the letter. “And they’re arriving later this afternoon.”
Facet was not a happy unicorn right now. His ruby red coat, his sapphire blue mane and tail with amethyst highlights, and his emerald green eyes made him a very attractive stallion, and his cutie mark, a paint pallet with gems where the paint would be with a hammer and chisel in the background, didn’t detract either. But the fact remained that he was annoyed at this moment. And the black and red baby dragon on his back wasn’t helping, despite his efforts.
“Is that it?” Karot asked, pointing out a pair of saddlebags.
“No, Karot. For the 100th time, that’s the same stupid black bag. Mine doesn’t have a yellow stripe.” He grimaced at the bag. “I feel sorry for whoever made the fashion mistake of wearing that ugly thing.” After a bit more searching, Facet sighed. “Well, my saddlebags are gone. A sacrifice to the train station gods. Now I’m here for two bucking weeks with no supplies!”
As he walked out of the train station and into Ponyville, he took in the scenery. “Such a beautiful town. It’s been a while since I came home. I wonder how everypony is doing.”
“Twitchy tail!” a mare called, making everypony panic and take cover.
Not one to take chances, Facet took cover as well. And just in time, since an anvil landed where he had been standing not five seconds before. “That was close,” he said before he found himself staring at a mare who was pink all over with a mane and tail that resembled cotton candy. The look was fitting for her, strangely enough.
“Thanks for the save!” Karot said, smiling at the mare.
The mare’s only reaction was to gasp loudly while jumping and hovering for a moment before speeding off through the air.
Facet just stared after her. “What just happened?”
“Let’s go find Rarity,” Karot said. “We can worry about that mare later.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Facet said as he headed for Carousel Boutique.
Twilight was looking over her shopping list, having to do her own grocery shopping since Spike was busy helping Rarity in her shop. So focused on making sure she had everything she needed, she didn't notice an approaching pony until she ran right into him, knocking both to the ground and making Twilight lose her grip on her groceries, allowing them to fall to the ground.
"Watch where you're going!" a young sounding voice snapped.
"Karot. Manners," Facet said as he got to his hooves.
"I'm so sorry!" Twilight said as she got up and locked eyes with Facet, and felt her cheeks heat up. "He's so handsome! she thought as she looked him over, shaking her head a bit when she realized she was staring.
Facet had briefly stared as well, glad that his coat hid his blush. "Even in all my other models, I've not seen such subtle beauty." he thought. "No. The fault is mine, despite what Karot says."
"Karot?" Twilight asked before seeing the dragon in question. "You have a baby dragon too?"
"I found him abandoned," Facet said. "I've raised him since then." He picked up the fallen groceries in his telekinesis as he spoke. "Sorry about your groceries," he said as he noticed broken eggs and crushed bread. "I'd replace what's broken or ruined, but my money was with my bags..."
"You lost them at the train station?" Twilight asked as she took the groceries. "It's alright. I can get new eggs and bread. I'm Twilight, by the way. Twilight Sparkle."
"Facet. A pleasure to meet you," Facet said. "The dragon is Karot."
"Hi," Karot said as he climbed onto Facet's back.
"So you're Princess Celestia's student and bearer of the Element of Magic," Facet said. "I've heard much about you from Rarity."
"You know Rarity?" Twilight asked in surprise as they started walking toward the library.
"Know her? She's my sister," Facet said. "We're twins."
"Really?" Twilight asked. "I thought Sweetie Belle was her only sibling."
Facet chuckled. "I live and work in Manehatten. I'm visiting for a couple of weeks. Partly to visit my dear sisters, and partly to get away from my ravenous clients. My talent may be art itself, but I cannot make 100 statues overnight!"
"Sounds rough," Twilight said. "So why don't you look like your sisters?"
"Dye spell. I prefer a bit more variety with my color scheme," Facet said. "Like it?"
"It suits you," Twilight said with a small giggle as she let them into the library. "Well, welcome to my humble abode."
Facet looked around. "I like it. Has a cozy feel to it."
"Thanks," Twilight said as she put the intact groceries away. "Would you like a drink? I can brew some tea. Or do you want something a bit stronger?"
"Just tea, thank you," Facet said, smiling.
"You sure?" Twilight asked as she filled the tea kettle and put it on the stove.
"Yes, I'm sure," Facet said with a chuckle. "You said earlier that you have a baby dragon?"
"Oh yeah. His name is Spike, and I hatched him in my entrance exam to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns," Twilight said. "I'm kind of his mother and big sister in one." She then remembered something else. "Oh and, a heads up. Spike is -" She was cut off by her cupboard flying open.
"FOREVER!!!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, staring at Twilight before retreating back into the cupboard and vanishing.
Facet stared as his heart slowed back down. "Was that... Pinkie Pie?"
"That's the crazy mare Rarity's mentioned in her letters?!" Karot asked. "And why did she yell 'forever'?"
"A few months ago, I promised Spike I wouldn't mention a secret he told me. Had me Pinkie Promise, and Pinkie Pie takes those very seriously."
"I'll keep that in mind," Facet said. "Tell me. What was it like to live in Canterlot? I've been there several times for art shows and auctions, but never longer than that."
"Being Princess Celestia's personal student, I had a room in the palace, well, more of a tower that I turned into my own personal library," Twilight said. "I uh... like books," she said with a nervous chuckle.
"I enjoy a good book myself," Facet said, smiling at her.
Their idle chatting continued until the kettle screamed. Taking it off the stove, Twilight poured them both a cup of tea.
"Good tea," Facet said after taking a sip.
"Thank you," Twilight said before sipping her own tea.
"Hey Facet, weren't we heading for Rarity's?" Karot asked.
"That's right," Facet said, quickly finishing his tea and setting the cup down on its saucer. "Thank you for the tea, but Karot and I need to be on our way."
"Okay," Twilight said. "Tell Rarity I said hi."
"I will," Facet said as he headed for the door with Karot.
"Wait," Twilight said, getting his attention. Blushing, she looked at him. "Would you uh... be interested in getting dinner with me tonight?"
Facet blushed, once again happy for the red coat. "Certainly. I'd be honored."
"Great! Pick me up at Seven," Twilight said, smiling as he nodded and left, shutting the door behind him. Once he was gone, she collapsed onto her haunches. "Wow... I just asked out one of the nicest, most handsome stallions I've ever met, and who knew he was Rarity's brother?"
Facet was getting his blush under control, letting muscle memory put one hoof in front of the other. "A mare possessing such rare subtle beauty, and she asks me out. This is going to be an interesting two weeks."