Golden Sun and Scarlet Blaze were at a café near Canterlot Castle. This was probably the first time the two were alone to do something together in nearly two decades. Scarlet was wearing a green outfit with a matching beret, and her husband was wearing a slightly modified version of the suit he wore as Mr. Blue.
"To be honest, honey, I feel a little uncomfortable wearing this thing." said Golden Sun to his wife.
"I for one think it makes you look absolutely handsome." said Scarlet. "It's probably the most fabulous outfit you've ever worn."
"But it's also a reminder of one of the reasons I was away from my family for so long." said Golden Sun. "I still can't get over that Lionel brainwashed me into being one of his cronies. We were supposed to be friends!"
"What's past is past, right?" asked Scarlet. "I think we've earned the right to enjoy ourselves right now before we all go back to Vanhoover."
"I'm certainly looking forward to that." said Golden Sun. "I'd sure like to see what's changed back home since I was gone."
Then a pegasus stallion in a blue uniform and hat flew up to the couple, carrying a package in his front hooves.
"Special delivery for Professor Sun!" he said, dropping the package on the table. "Straight from Las Pegasus!"
"Thank you!" said Golden Sun, paying the tip.
"And this note came with it!" said the mailpony, giving Golden Sun a note. "Well, I've got to get to my other rounds!"
When the mailpony flew off, Golden Sun perused the message:
Dear Professor Golden Sun,
The contents of this package are the books, tomes, and other artifacts that once belonged to you that were until recently in the possession of Lionel Summerset. I'm sorry it took so long to send these back to you, but I had to verify with both the University of Baltimare (who Mr. Summerset purchased them from) and the staff of Daystar Manor which items were in fact yours, so that I knew which ones to mail to you.
Things are much calmer here in Las Pegasus with Summerset behind bars, and the Summerset--or should I say Daystar--Casino has been renovated and fixed up. Business is really booming now. And I also took the liberty of temporarily paying your wife's debt to Mr. Steel. I've let him run his business from Summerset Tower, and he's also agreed to have the Iron Horses provide security for the casino. He'll still expect to meet your wife again, though.
Expecting to hear from you soon, friend. And I hope the package's contents weren't damaged on the way over to you.
Maximum Velocity
Golden Sun smiled, and put a hoof on the package. But just as he was about to open the package, Sunset Shimmer approached them, followed by a tall Saddle Arabian stallion.
"How's it going, mom and dad?" she called over to them.
"Good afternoon, dear." Scarlet said to her daughter, then turned to the stallion. "And who is this?"
"His name's Felix." said Sunset. "He's a paladin from Saddle Arabia."
"Pleasant to meet you, Felix." said Scarlet, getting off of her chair to greet the paladin. "I am Scarlet Blaze, Sunset Shimmer's mother."
"Goodness, and what an attractive and charming mare you are, too." said Felix. "I consider your husband to be a very lucky stallion."
"Hello, Felix." said Golden Sun. "I'm Professor Golden Sun, formerly of the University of Baltimare. What brings you all the way from Saddle Arabia?"
"King Nelphyn, that's what." said Sunset Shimmer. "Apparently, he's taken over Saddle Arabia's capital city of Mareusalem, and the whole nation's in turmoil right now. He told Princess Celestia all about it, and she's going to be discussing what to do about it tonight with Princess Luna."
"Outrageous!" exclaimed Scarlet.
"Truly, truly outrageous indeed." said Felix. "And he took over the city nearly two weeks ago. I only just made it here to Canterlot today. There's no telling just what evils King Nelphyn has dealt to my people in the time I have spent on my travels."
"Well, I think we should call for the Princesses to send help to Saddle Arabia immediately!" said Scarlet. "I may have been born in Baltimare, but the Saddle Arabians are my people, too! A whole quarter of the blood that runs through my body belongs to that proud breed of ponyfolk!"
"Mom, the Princesses will do everything they can for Felix's--and I guess our--people." said Sunset. "But with the Equestria Games coming up, their resources are running very tight right now."
"To heck with the Equestria Games!" said Scarlet. "The population of an entire nation's in jeopardy and there's no reason why a few sporting events should stop all those lives from being saved!"
"Now, now, my dear." said Golden Sun. "Let's be reasonable. I want to help Saddle Arabia as much as you do, but that's no reason to cancel the Equestria Games! Just think about what would happen if word got out that the Equestria Games were to be postponed because a powerful menace had invaded one of the nations associated with it! It would cause wide-spread panic and make it even harder to deal with the crisis!"
"That's a very good point, daddy." said Sunset. "So mom, you just need to be patient and have faith in our Princesses. I have every reason to believe that they'll think of something!"
Scarlet sighed.
"I guess I will be patient, then." she said, reluctantly.
Frosty went to the front door of Sunflower Seed's fashion shop. Nose Nip had already rented a hot-air balloon to fly down to the rock farm where the Pie Family resided, so there wasn't much left to do except fulfill his own end of the deal. After taking a deep breath, he opened the front door, and a small bell rang.
"Welcome ta Sunflower's--" Sunflower began, before recognizing who just trotted inside. "Oh, if it ain't the lil unicorn that tried flirtin' wit' me earlier! So what're ya here for this time, Freezie?"
"It's Frosty." corrected the unicorn. "And I just thought I'd come ovuh ta try on somma yo' outfits."
"What kinda outfits did ya have in mind, lil guy?" asked Sunflower.
"How's about we start with a pastel suit?" suggested Frosty.
"What color would ya like ta start with?"
"How's about somethin' dark grey with blue underneath?"
"Follow me, then." said Sunflower.
"But remember: No hat!" Frosty said quickly. "The last fashionista I tried getting a pastel suit from didn't pay attention to that!"
"No problem!" said Sunflower. "Let's go getcha that suit, okay?"
Later, while Sunflower was measuring Frosty's legs and back, she decided to have a conversation with him.
"So where ya from again?" she asked him. "Ya sound like yer from Manehatten."
"Nah, I'm from Baltimare." said Frosty. "My mom came from Manehatten, though."
"What about yo' father?"
"I don't have one!" said Frosty. "My mom was single when she had me, and she's still single to this day."
"Awww, that's too bad." commented Sunflower.
"Yeah, you get used to it." said Frosty.
Then he decided to change the subject.
"So, anyways...uh..." he said. "If you ain't busy later, Sunflower...would ya like ta, you know, hang out with me someplace?"
"What ya mean go out on a date?" asked Sunflower.
"Sure, if ya wanna call it that." said Frosty.
"I dunno, I don't usually wanna date a stallion that's only a lil bit bigger than my lil sister Babs." said Sunflower. "But what the hay, ya look so cute with dat suit on ya, I just can't say 'no'...but only if ya agree ta wear it!"
"No prob, Sunflower." said Frosty. "You know I'd do anything for ya, my precious ginger-snap."
"I know ya would, my lil sugar-muffin!" said Sunflower.
It was in the early evening when Nose Nip reached the rock farm. He landed the hot-air balloon a few dozen yards away, and climbed out. He was wearing the same furry suit he wore in Las Pegasus, and had a saddle-bag full of precious stones he found while exploring the mountain that Canterlot was built upon. He came to the farmhouse, and knocked on the door. The door opened, and a middle-aged stallion who Nose Nip presumed to be Mr. Pie came outside.
"So what're ya here for, fella?" he asked.
"I'm here to see your daughter, sir." said Nose Nip.
"Which one? I got four of 'em!"
"Maud, sir." said Nose Nip.
"You'll find her in the South field." said Mr. Pie. "She's playin' Camouflage again."
"Thank you, sir." said Nose Nip.
Nose Nip went to the South field, where Maud was inspecting the rocks.
"Hey, Maud." said Nose Nip. "Remember me? Nose Nip?"
"Hi, Nose Nip." said Maud in her usual monotone voice, not taking her eyes off the ground.
"What're ya doin'?" asked Nose Nip.
"Playing Camouflage with Boulder." said Maud.
"What kind of game is Camouflage? I'd sure like to know."
"It's like an even more intense hide-and-seek." explained Maud. "If I find Boulder in this pile of rocks, I win."
"And if you don't find him, you lose?" asked Nose Nip.
"Camouflage is much more fun when somepony else plays it with me." said Maud.
"I'll play with ya, if you want." said Nose Nip.
Nose Nip looked down at the many stones, pebbles, and rocks that dotted the ground. After three minutes, Nose Nip picked up a familiar pebble.
"This him?" asked Nose Nip, giving Boulder to Maud.
"Yes." said Maud blankly. "Congratulations, you are the first pony outside of my family to win a game of Camouflage."
"Well, I certainly know a few things about rocks." said Nose Nip. "Being a mountain-climber and all, being able to not only tell one rock apart from the other, but recognize individual rocks, can be a very important tactic for survival."
"Very true." said Maud Pie, nodding once but maintaining the same neutral expression. "Now that I have Boulder, I have to rocks to smash in the East field."
As Maud turned to trot slowly to the East field, Nose Nip rushed after her.
"Could I help at all?" he asked.
"Be my guest." said Maud, who continued to move slowly.
"Umm, do you have a problem with walking?" asked Nose Nip, regarding Maud's slow speed.
"No, I just don't like to rush." said Maud.
"I could carry you, if you'd like." suggested Nose Nip.
"You don't need to worry about me, Nose Nip." said Maud Pie.
"It doesn't mean I can't, does it?" countered Nose Nip.
"No...but why are you so concerned about me?" asked Maud.
"Umm...well..." stammered Nose Nip, who was trying hard not to blush, and failing.
"What's wrong with you, are you sick?" Maud asked, noticing how flushed and red Nose Nip's bluish-green face was becoming.
"I'm not sick, Maud." said Nose Nip. "I guess I'm just blushing."
"And why are you blushing?" asked Maud.
"Because I'm...nervous." said Nose Nip.
"And why would you be nervous?"
"Because...you..."
"Nose Nip, you don't have to be nervous around me." said Maud. "My expectations aren't too high. If you have to say something to me, you're free to say it."
"Okay." Nose Nip took a deep breath. "Maud Pie, would you...go out on a date...with me?"
Maud's eyes widened ever so slightly, and her mouth opened a couple of inches.
"I mean, I can understand if you don't wanna..." Nose Nip said hastily.
"Nose Nip, you are the first stallion to ever ask me that question." said Maud. "And you really do seem like a very nice stallion that I can relate to. So yes, I would love to go on a date with you."
"Really?"
Maud's lips bent upwards into the most subtle, but adorable smile.
"Really." she said, before returning to her neutral expression. "But you'll have to forgive me if I don't express my emotions outwardly. Not like how my sister Pinkie does."
"I spend my time around rocks almost as much as you do, so I don't get to spend too much time around very emotional ponies--apart from Frosty, anyway--when I'm doing my job. So it shouldn't be too hard for me."
"Then I think you and I will get along just great." said Maud. "I just need to smash those rocks in the East field."
"Okay, I'll--" Nose Nip began.
But Maud suddenly charged at the rocks with blinding speed, and repeatedly pummeled the massive boulders until they were broken apart into thousands of pieces. Then she slowly trotted back to Nose Nip, who was panting heavily and excitedly at what he saw.
"So when and where are you going to take me?" she asked.