> Heart's Warming Fantasies
>  by Donraj
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“It’s perfect!”
Rarity’s horn glowed merrily as she typed the thank you message for her favorite artist into the unicorn-built keyboard. She looked back at the image of Clover the Clever and Princess Platinum in a rather compromising position and her smile widened. 
“It’s everything I hoped it would be. I just love your style. The payment should be showing up in your account momentarily, with a bit extra.”
She quickly saved the picture to her ‘historical’ folder and shut the window, flinching slightly as the chimes signaled that somepony was coming into the boutique. Tamping down on her sudden nervousness with what she imagined was the talent of a master actress she rose and went to greet her latest caller.
“Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where everything is chi—oh hello Twilight.”
“Hi Rarity!” Twilight said cheerfully. “I have that book you were wanting on socks in Canterlot during the Celestia Victoriana period.”
Rarity fought down her suddenly fluttering heart’s attempt to force its way up and out of her chest.
“Why thank you darling! That will be such a help because I just know they’re going to come back into style soon.”
“What makes you say that?” Spike said before Twilight could stop him, his eyes glazing over at the sight of the beautiful unicorn. 
“Well you see Spike, bedroom chic is all the rage right now, and socks are something you wear to bed to keep your hooves warm. It’s a natural progression and I want to be ready!”
“Well, glad I was able to help,” Twilight said. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
Several possibilities flashed through Rarity’s mind, but she forced them down. A lady did not think such things.
“No dear, thank you so much for asking? But I simply must do something to thank you for finding this. Are you free this afternoon? Fluttershy’s down with a cold, poor thing, and she can’t make our weekly spa get together. Would you care to join me? My treat, of course.”
“Well I do have reshelving to do…”
Spike gave her a hard nudge to the flanks from his position on her back, rolling his eyes the entire time.
“But I suppose Spike can handle that,” Twilight finished. “Thanks Spike!”
“You’re welcome,” Spike grumbled before his sarcastic mood was once against swept away by the radiant glory that was Rarity.
“Excellent!” Rarity said. “I’ll see you at a quarter past one. Ta!”
As the two departed Rarity watched them go. Once she was quite sure that she was alone and out of earshot she fell back on the nearest couch and let out a dramatic sigh.
“Oh Twilight, why, why can’t I tell you about my feelings for you? How can you not see the passion that burns within my very soul, kindled by the very sight of you and enflamed by your every word and breath, every swish of your tail and every expression of your beautiful face? Why? Why? WHY?!”
After several minutes in that vein she made her way back to the computer and opened a text file. She blinked the tears from her eyes and began to type.

--

The unicorn princess sat in her tower, weeping, for she knew that come the morrow she must needs wed her captor, the foul black knight. “Why?!” she cried out. “Why must I be condemned to such a fate?! Is there none in this terrible world with the courage to save me?”
Suddenly there was a burst of light from outside and a voice called out, “Hark! Hark fair maiden in yonder tower! It is I, the knight of the Evening Star, come to rescue thee!”
Rising from her couch the unicorn princess made her way to the window of her high chamber and looked out to see a dashing purple unicorn mare astride a mighty wingless dragon. A sword was buckled at her side and she held a lance levitated at the ready. With a breathless gasp of delight the unicorn princess brought a silken kerchief to her eye and dabbed away a tear, then tossed it out the window to flutter down to the knight below. 
“I pray thee, sir knight, rescue me from this den of evil and my father will reward you richly!”
The knight tucked the kerchief into her belt and struck a rakish pose. “A lady’s token and the chance to gaze upon such beauty with mine own eyes is reward enough for one such as me!” she declared. So saying the knight slammed the butt of her spear against the stone path. “Come forth, villain!”
The tower’s portcullis drew open with a long steel rattle and from the tower strode forth a centaur bearing in his hands a lance and a shield with a fiend rampant! The foul beast stood twice as tall as any normal pony, his equine parts covered with heavy black armor and his chest with supple black leather. He sneered as he lowered the visor of his helm with an audible clang and in a dark, menacing voice asked, “Who dares to challenge the Knight of the Black Wind?”
“Avant, monster!” cried the stranger. “Know thee that justice hath arrived! Release the lady thou hath imprisoned and lay down your arms, lest I instruct you in her kin’s unbearable sorrow!”
“Have at thee, whelp!” cried the dark knight, whipping his lance up in a way that made his muscular forearms stand out in iron relief. 
The smaller unicorn knight met the centaur’s charge. Thrice they tilted at one another until at last the dark knight’s lance broke upon the unicorn’s shield. The unicorn could easily have ridden him down at that point, but instead she cast aside her own lance and dismounted, levitating her long sword before her in a ready position as she did. The dark knight snorted at the chivalrous gesture as he cast aside his shield and drew his own mighty blade in a double-handed grip.
Then back and forth the contest went, the centaur’s superior strength pitted against unicorn grace and skill. Finally skill proved true, and with a thrust of deadly accuracy the unicorn slew her vile foe, who fell over in a heap, black blood spurting.
With a cry of joy the unicorn princess rushed down the tower steps and out the gate to throw herself into the forehooves of her rescuer. “Pray brave one, speak to me the name of my rescuer?
Her sword sheathed now, the knight levitated her helmet from her head. “I am but a poor wanderer who seeks to do some good, and my name be Twilight Sparkle!”
“Oh noble dame, how can I ever thank you for saving me from my vile imprisonment?” she asked as she felt the other mare’s athletic form against her own soft curves. The knight released her and gave a courtly bow.
“Tis enough to see justice done,” the gallant unicorn declared. “Beauty such as yours must needs shine across all of Equestria, not kept hidden away for some blackguard’s amusement.”
 “Oh Twilight Sparkle, wouldst thou take me home to my father the king? Surely you have but to ask and he will consent to give my hoof in marriage.” 
“Your wish is my command!” said Twilight Sparkle as she swept the unicorn princess off her hooves, helping her to climb atop the wingless lizard that served as her steed. “Ho, Greenfire! Let us away!”




	

> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“I see Twilight, do go on.”
“Well,” Twilight said, clearly warming to the subject. “Celestia wrote back to me and said that the stories have some surprisingly accurate details about the Outlaw in Lincoln Green and his band. She said it was when she was still in mourning over Luna’s banishment and that she had let oversight over Equestria slip more than she should have and that as a result local nobility and officials were able to abuse their privileges over common ponies to a disgraceful degree. The old unicorn aristocracy was still largely in place then and the pegasi were occupied with external threats like the griffons, so the unicorns in particular benefited from all this. But it was actually an unicorn noble who fell afoul of the sheriff of Trottingham that began the most famous band and..."
Blinded by the cucumbers over her eyes, Rarity lay back in the hot tub and let the waters envelop her as Twilight yammered on adorkably about her latest historical obsession. Her words, analytical, scholarly but so full of passion and interest painted a picture of a world of corrupt nobles and cruel knights who grew fat off the labor of the poor earth ponies who worked the land. 

--

Long ago in Trottingham town there lived a Sheriff with a heart as black as night. Under his tyrannous reign the poor grew poorer, and many a stout earth pony yeoman found himself turned out of his home and off his lands by weighty taxes and forfeitures. In those days there lived in Sherclop Forest a band of merry ponies led by a mare named Sparkling Twilight. They lived off the fruits of the royal orchards and passed their days in games of merry archery and cudgel play. Seven score and five they were, all clad in Lincoln green, and it was said that none of the royal guard ever twirled a spear so well as they swung a crabtree staff, nor fired a crossbow bolt as well as they could loose a grey-feathered shaft. In times of need no pony ever went to good Twilight and departed with empty saddlebags, and never did they take a single copper bit from the poor, but rather preyed on the fat merchants and nobles who traveled the princess’s highways as they crossed forest and dale. 
Many times the Sheriff sought to capture Sparkling Twilight, but ever did the clever mare elude his best efforts, for no ranger or forester knew the greenwood half so well as she. One day after a meeting with the Princess’s regent the Sheriff was in a black mood, for the chancellor had made it plain that the throne was not pleased by the reports it had heard of the Princess’s laws being made sport of. “Somehow,” quote he, “I must needs find a way to lure this saucy varlet into Trottingham town, that I might have her clapped in irons ere she is hung from the highest gallows tree in the county!”
He puzzled and puzzed in a mood most unpleasant, remaining in his solar until well after the bells had tolled lunch and dinner. Naught penetrated his reverie, not food nor petition nor even sleep. Finally he laughed maliciously and said, “Tis said that fair Maid Rarity was once a companion of this outlaw’s youth. Forsooth, and she is of an age to be wed. With her father fallen to the ponypox it is only natural that I should be the one to give her hoof in marriage.”
So saying the Sheriff called for parchment and quill and with a cruel snigger he set about outlining a proclamation. In it he decreed a grand tourney the likes of which Trottingham had never seen, with rich prizes for those who proved themselves at cudgel play and archery. Chief amongst these prizes would be the hoof of the lady Rarity, who would be wed to whichsoever leal pony should prove themselves the better of the Sheriff’s champion. 
When brave Twilight heard this decree she was sorely vexed, for many were the fond memories she held of her times with fair Rarity in their childhood days. “By my halidom,” she cried, “I have a mind to enter this tourney, and neither food nor drink shall pass my lips until fair Rarity is safe by my side!” 
But good Little Spike was of a more suspicious turn of mind and said, “Hold Twilight, for in Trottingham town you would be easily espied and seized, so far from the greenwood.”
Twilight heard well the wisdom in Little Spike’s words and so quote she, “Tis beyond doubt that this be a trap. But no mare am I if I leave fair Rarity to be given away by the Sheriff, and if I hide myself in the greenwood we should quickly become the subject of sport, for ponies shall say that I fear the Sheriff. Wits and cunning must needs serve us against yon Sheriff’s devilish trickery.”
So saying they began to lay their plans amidst the filtered light of the greenwood. 

--

On the day of the tourney Sparkling Twilight set out for Trottingham town. On this day she was clad not in Lincoln green but in a coat of black and white. As she reached the gates of Trottingham town the guards cried out for her name and Twilight replied, “I am Evening Star, an envoy of the Princess, waylaid by vile brigands upon the greenwood!”
On hearing this the guards were greatly roused and made haste to convey her to the Sheriff’s presence, whereupon Twilight told her the tale of woe she and her little ponies had spun. When she had finished the Sheriff quote, “That saucy varlet! I must needs make an end to her and her band. But come, Dame Evening Star, and sup beside me. Mayhap today’s tourney will distract you from your troubles, and who knows, but that justice might be served up as well?”
So saying Twilight took her seat at the Sheriff’s right hand. The lady Rarity was seated beside her as well, and her eyes widened as she recognized her old companion even through the disguise. “Lack a day,” she thought, “What is that mare about? Does she not know her danger?”
As if hearing her thoughts Twilight gave Rarity a sly wink, and said, “Good day, my fair lady. Much injustice abounds this day, but perhaps by day’s end all shall be put aright, if I know my lord Sheriff!”
A great flutter of hope rose up in Rarity’s breast at those words, and she spoke, “Good dame, well it is that you are here.”
Before Twilight could reply the Sheriff called out a toast, and circumstances demanded that all tongues be silent save his. “To the capture of that vile rogue, the outlaw Sparkling Twilight!” 
At that, every cup was raised in salute. Once they were lowered Twilight raised her own flagon and said, “To wrongs being set aright!” which brought another cheer from the table, and with that they set about feasting in earnest. 
The dinner progressed in merry fashion, with the disguised Twilight more than once singing a ballad of unicorn knights and their deeds of valor. Rarity listened to it all over the sound of her thundering heart, wondering what plot the merry outlaw had in mind. Finally, as the last courses were served Twilight rose again from her chair.
“My lord Sheriff!” quote she, “You serve a fine table. But I came today bearing tidings from her majesty, the Princess, and would fain deliver them.”
“Speak then, my good mare!” laughed the Sheriff, who had imbibed well of the grape and had grown passing merry. “Tell us now what the Princess has decreed?”
“Hear ye all and scribe in stone,” she began, and once again Rarity’s heart did rise in her chest as she wondered what bold scheme was about to commence. What the noble outlaw would have said none would ever know, for it was then that the doors to the feasting hall flew open with an audible boom. A white coated unicorn stallion with a blonde mane strode in, his face a mask of rage. “Seize that mare!” he cried. “I, Prince Blueblood, was waylaid on the road to this tourney and only just escaped with my life!”
“Blackguard!” Twilight proclaimed, for she had promised the prince his life and his freedom in exchange for staying clear of Trottingham town for the day. “Is the word of an unicorn worth so little in these sad days?”
As the true envoy made his challenge the Sheriff’s guards looked at one another, unsure what to do. Before the drunken Sheriff could react Twilight grabbed Rarity’s hoof with her own to bid her rise. With a mighty leap she sprang atop the long table with the beautiful unicorn damsel in tow, sending a wave of confections flying this way and that into the faces of the Sheriff and his men. As they neared the end of the table and the doors out Blueblood drew his long sword and held it in a ready position. With a fearsome cry Twilight turned and bucked a three story chocolate cake square into the prince’s face and chest. The prissy noble screamed as he futilely pawed at the dark frosting that covered his formerly pristine white coat. As he stood there distracted Twilight levitated a chair from the table and smashed it into the honorless prince’s side, sending him sprawling and clearing the way for the two mares’ escape. That done, Twilight swept Rarity onto her back and galloped away, even as the Sheriff shouted, “Stop that robbing hood!”
The two made their way to freedom before the Sheriff’s household could bestir itself in pursuit. Once they reached the safety of the greenwood Twilight lowered Rarity back to the ground and fell to one knee in a formal bow. 
“Fair friend,” she cried, “Long have I dreamed of this moment, but dared not to make it a reality for fear of bringing danger upon your beautiful head. Rarity, my dearest friend and most beautiful of ponies, my heart has burned for you these many years. Will you make me the happiest mare in Equestria and consent to give me your hoof in marriage?”
At that, Rarity gave out a cry of joy and flung her hooves around Twilight’s neck. “Yes, yes Twilight, your words have freed my heart from its prison even as you have today freed me from that foul Sheriff.” So saying, she leaned closer, their faces drawing together as Rarity closed her eyes and…

--

“Uh, Rarity?” 
Twilight’s words brought Rarity back to reality. She realized that the water had started to go cool and, most embarrassingly, that her lips had puckered unconsciously. She felt her cheeks go red.
“Is everything alright?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, yes. Of course darling. I was just…thinking about something I read earlier.”

> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“My word, Sparkle!” I ejaculated. “It’s all so obvious!”
I watched as the greatest detective in Her Majesty’s service rose from the body and adjusted her deerstalker cap with a flourish. “So you see,” she continued, “the occult ritual is simply a smokescreen: this Ripper killer is targeting witnesses to the plot. He couldn’t know who she told, thus he went after her friends and associates as well. But he has slipped up and I have the scent! Come Rarity! The game’s afoot!”
So saying she made for the door, a feverish light in her eyes that frankly alarmed me. I was no stranger to the manic moods that would seize hold of my friend when she was working a case, her obsessive nature providing a rush and focus superior to that provided by the vile solution in her syringe, but this case had filled her with a fire that put even that to shame. I recognized well the passion that had filled her voice as she had sworn to see justice done for the poor evening mares of Whitechapel, and inwardly I dreaded but that she had placed herself upon a collision course with a terrible and deadly adversary. 
I have remarked more than once on how strange it is that the more direly important an investigation the more likely it is that it will necessitate a visit to a burlesque club, a bordello or both. Once again my companion proved the truth of this observation, for we soon found ourselves in a parlor filled with mares dancing in various states of undress. Upon arriving my companion approached the bar and conducted a hurried conversation with its tender in whispers that I could not hear over the din of the room and the shouts of the patrons who filled it. Afterwards she deposited a handful of bits on the counter and made her way to a table in the front, motioning for me to follow. I did so, though I felt most uncomfortable.
“Really Miss Sparkle, if the neighbors could see me…”
She cut me off with a gesture. As she did the lights dimmed to near total opacity. I was staring into the blackness towards the stage waiting for my eyes to adjust when a cacophony of sound and light assaulted my senses. A tower of sparks and explosions erupted from the center of the stage, and when they died down a blue mare in a spangled outfit stood in their place.
“Ladies and gentlemares,” she began in an obnoxiously arrogant tone, “today on this stage you shall behold feats hitherto unwitnessed by Equestrian eyes! The Great and Powerful Trixie has traveled far and wide, from the mountain peaks of the griffon monks of Lahaysa to the celestial empire of Xiaomaguo, and now she has brought the wonders of their secret performance arts back for your inspection!”
Another burst of fireworks punctuated her words. By the light they cast I stole a look back at my companion and saw that she alone was not looking at the silver-maned mare of ill repute but was rather inspecting the rear of the establishment. I followed her gaze to find a large, hooded figure wrapped in shadows at a table in the corner. She started to rise from her seat, presumably intending to make her way across the room while all eyes were fixed on the showmare, when suddenly the brazen hussy gestured in our direction and a spotlight appeared out of nowhere and affixed itself to my friend. She gritted her teeth and turned to face the stage, clearly displeased by this turn of events.
“The Great and Powerful Trixie has need of a volunteer from the audience! Step on stage and-“
Suddenly Sparkle’s horn flared with magenta light and the spotlight darted across the stage to transfix the figure I had spotted earlier, who had just started to rise himself. The hood fell away to reveal a white unicorn stallion with a blonde mane. 
“Prince Blueblood!” I exclaimed. 
“Stop that colt!” my companion cried. “In the name of the princess!”
Back towards the entrance I noticed that the bartender had assembled some stout-looking ponies to block any escape. Cursing, Blueblood charged up his own horn and suddenly furniture began flying across the room as he darted towards the stage. I ducked, but my friend’s quick wits proved equal to the task of deflecting the barrage. Our assailant leapt from table to table, veering off towards the dressing room beside the stage as my friend tried to slow his progress. 
“Stop him!” my friend repeated. “If he reaches the last witness, war is assured!”
Together we vaulted onto the stage and galloped after him. When we caught up to him he had unsheathed a large knife and was hurriedly searching the room full of screaming mares for his quarry. His eyes narrowed as he apparently found his quarry. Just as he let the weapon fly something purple flashed across the room and suddenly my companion’s walking stick was transposed against the knife, blocking the stab. Blueblood withdrew the blade and turned to face us with a sneer.
“You’re too late!” he said, stroking his long mustache. “Already Mariarty is making her way to Parliament with the device! Soon I will be the ruler of all Equestria and you its most wanted criminal!”
My companion said nothing, refusing to rise to the bait, but rather focused her full attention on her quarry’s movements and those of his weapon. After several tense seconds he snorted and lunged forward. With a quick, deft maneuver my friend slipped the stick past the knife and rapped Blueblood hard on the horn, disrupting his magical grip and sending the knife clattering to the floor. She followed up with a quick sweep to the legs that sent him sprawling. She then proceeded to beat him unmercifully, ignoring his pathetic whines of protest, until finally his battered form fell insensate to the floor.

--

        Something hard rapped on the door to the boutique. A knock. Rarity raised her head, closed the text file and made her way over to open it. With a winning smile she declared, “Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where everything is ch—oh, hello Twilight. What brings you here today?”
Twilight was practically skipping with excitement. “Rarity, I need a favor.”
“Why certainly dear, whatever can I do for you?”
Twilight proceeded to clap her forehooves together, clearly giddy at what she was about to say. “I need you to help me pick an outfit for this Friday. Rainbow Dash asked me out on a date!”
Rarity’s smile froze into a rictus grin.

--

“And there, deep within that dreadful caldron of swirling water and seething foam, will lie for all time the most dangerous criminal and foremost champion of law of our generation.”

> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Why? Why? Why did I wait so long?! How could I have let her slip through my hooves?! How?! I WAS SUCH A FOAL!”
Fluttershy held a box of tissue out for Rarity as her unicorn friend lay there on her couch sobbing her eyes out. She pulled one out and passed it to Rarity by hoof when the dressmaker failed to levitate it out herself. Rarity took it and blew her nose into it loudly. If the past few hours of barely coherent wailing hadn’t driven home the point that this was serious that would have. Rarity would normally never risk dirtying her hooves when she could use her horn. Fluttershy patted Rarity’s mane with her other forehoof. 
“There there. It’ll be alright.”
“But it won’t! Don’t you see Fluttershy?! It’s over! You know Twilight. She’s so inexperienced in matters of the heart, so impressionable! Rainbow Dash will sweep her off her hooves and she’ll never give me a second glance!”
“Well…maybe it won’t work out?” Fluttershy said hesitantly. 
Rarity’s sobs seemed to decrease for a moment. “Do you think it won’t?”
“Well…sure! I’ve known Rainbow Dash for a long time. She, uhm…”
“Is crude and insensitive?” Rarity said hopefully. “Has a wandering eye? Loves the thrill of the chase more than catching her quarry?”
Fluttershy’s ears flattened. “Well, no.”  She looked away and took a deep breath. “Actually she’s always been a really devoted special somepony. I’ve never seen her so much as glance at another pony when she’s in a relationship. She’s always doted on her marefriends and takes it really hard when things don’t work out. She has a hard time with casual dating because she always takes relationships very seriously. That’s why she doesn’t do it very often. Uhm, sorry.”
If tears were fish Fluttershy’s animal friends would have been eating a whole lot of tuna.
“Well,” Fluttershy said hastily, “Maybe you could try talking to Twilight.”
“It’s too late!” Rarity cried. “I would look jealous, and she was so happy. I could never forgive myself for denying her the chance to be happy. What kind of friend would do that? She would resent me. She would hate me! I couldn’t live with that! So I’ll wait. Yes, that’s the only solution. Wait and see how things turn out with Rainbow Dash.” 
Fluttershy tried to say something, but Rarity continued. “But what if they work out well? What if they become an item? Oh Fluttershy, what if they decide to get married? What if they ask me to make their dresses? I can see it now. Me, forced to make my rival look her best on the day she weds the mare that I love! I would probably be one of their bridesmares, and I would stand there as they walked down the aisle, hiding my true feelings. I would construct a wall around my true feelings, presenting a façade for all the world for fear of revealing the envy that gnawed at my very soul! I would lose all inspiration! My business would shrivel up and die! I would be forced to rely on the charity of friends, until finally I exhausted your patience and found myself on the streets. I would have to turn to the most vulgar means to keep body and soul together, demeaning myself with strangers as they eagerly filled the empty holes Twilight left in me, metaphorical and literal. I would become the lowest sort of pony, ugly and dirty with the grime of filthy back alleys. I would—”
“Quiet!”
Rarity blinked and stopped in mid-tirade as Fluttershy’s version of a shout snapped her back to her senses. Fluttershy was staring at her with an unusually intense expression. Rarity found herself frozen as the pegasus continued in a tone that brooked no argument.
“I cannot stand to watch you torture yourself like this! The Rarity I know is a confident and intelligent pony who knows better than to let one setback drive her into a breakdown! You’ve made a mistake and you know there’s only one thing to do about it!”
Suddenly Fluttershy’s assertive posture sagged into her usual meek pose. She broke eye contact and added in a whisper, “I mean, if that’s okay with you.”
Rarity felt her tears beginning to dry as a new sense of purpose filled her, almost as if she were borrowing Fluttershy’s confidence from a moment before. “You’re right!” she declared, rising to a sitting position. “I’ve bucked up, and there’s only one thing to do about it.”
Fluttershy smiled as she nodded in agreement. “Yes, that’s right. You have to just accept—“
“I have to get back in there!” Rarity continued, ignoring her friend. “I’m going to go out and win the mare of my dreams from Rainbow Dash no matter what it takes!” So saying she trotted to the door of the cottage and flung it open. “With Celestia as my witness, I will get Twilight to love me back or perish in the try!”
And with that, she was gone. Fluttershy raised a timid hoof and called out weakly, “Wait, I meant that you need to accept that you missed your chance and move on!” but Rarity was gone.
“Oh dear,” Fluttershy whispered. “This isn’t going to end well.”

--

“The rocket, Rarity,” Rainbow Dash said with a sneer as she held her revolver to Twilight’s head. 
Rarity forced her face into an expressionless mask. Fighting was clearly out. Fleeing would prove equally fruitless. She slowly released her grip on the ignition switch to the rocket pack even as her mind raced for a third option, some way to foil the villainous pegasus and her collaborators. Her heart sank as more gangsters poured in. There was no way she could get past so many armed ponies.
“Come on sugarcube, hand it over so we can all go home.”
Rarity’s eyes flicked to the blonde earth pony leading the reinforcements. An idea struck her. Maybe she didn’t need to get past them.
“What’s it like working for a griffon, Applejack?” she spat. “Did they pay you in bits or talonmarks?”
Applejack looked over to Rainbow Dash, annoyed. “What’s she talking about?”
“I heard it directly from the Guard, Applejack,” Rarity said in a cultured, scathing voice. “Griffon spy ring, Diamond Dog shock troopers, the works!”
Rainbow Dash let out a devilish laugh. “Filly’s been playing where the air’s too thin. Ignore her.”
“Ask her about the secret room,” Twilight gasped suddenly. “Ask her about the cawing on the radio.”
Suddenly the tension was so thick Rarity could have cut it with a knife. Applejack adjusted her grip on the bulky Tommy gun and turned her full attention to the prismatic pegasus.
“Talk fast, Rainbow.”
A trapped look flashed across Rainbow Dash’s face. It vanished just as quickly an instant later. “Oh come on AJ,” she said ingratiatingly, “I’m paying you well. Does it really matter who I work for?”
“It matters ta me,” Applejack said firmly. “Ah may not make an honest bit, but I’m a hundred percent Equestrian, and I don’t work for no two-bit griffons.” She aimed the gun squarely at the pegasus. “Let her go.”
Rainbow Dash froze as more gun barrels swung her way. Then she laughed mockingly. “Blitztalons!” she shouted. “Angreifen!”
Several things happened at once. Leonine roars filled the sky as uniformed griffons came swooping down, guns blazing. Rainbow Dash’s minotaur partner swung his hand cannon in Rarity’s direction and squeezed the trigger just as Rarity ignited the rocket on her back and sent herself flying away sideways. She came to a tumbling halt some dozens of yards away. She scrambled back to her hooves just in time to see Rainbow Dash taking off with a struggling Twilight still in her clutches. Rarity thumbed the ignition again, this time angling the rocket to take her up and after the fleeing traitor.
The rocket-propelled unicorn roared through the sky faster than any winged flier could hope to match. Some of the griffons broke off their strafing runs and attempted to block her ascent, but with deft maneuvering and a few quick jabs she easily evaded them. Up ahead she could see the profile of a huge airship looming in over the field. With a most unladylike snarl Rarity increased her velocity. She expected Rainbow Dash to make for one of the doors or windows lining the airships cabin, but instead the pegasus flew higher still to land atop the massive balloon that held the vessel aloft. 
Rarity kept up the chase, slowing a bit as the spymaster vanished behind the massive airship. She landed atop the blimp and scanned the horizon for the pegasus. Her eyes widened as she saw an apparently unconscious Twilight sliding down towards the side of the airship. She leapt forward, not daring to ignite the rocket so close to the hydrogen-filled balloon and just barely managed to snag Twilight’s hooves before she went tumbling. She heaved with all her strength and pulled her love back from the abyss, then fell back breathing hard, the other unicorn’s head cradled in her forehooves. Twilight’s eyes fluttered open.
“You…you caught me,” she whispered, seeming dazed and confused.
“Always darling,” Rarity replied. “I’ll always catch you.”
Twilight gave a weak smile. Her eyes widened. “Look out!”
Suddenly a pair of hooves slammed into Rarity from the side, sending her flying. She felt a horrible rush of disorientation as the sky began to spin about her. Her forehooves closed on a rope and she found herself dangling in midair, a sudden wind pushing her out several feet away from the edge of the balloon out to the limit of the rope’s extension. She looked back to see Rainbow Dash leering down at her, the rocket clutched to her chest. 
“Rarity!” Twilight cried as Rainbow Dash let out a cackle. 
“So predictable! Such sentimentality is why the Griffon Empire will soon rule the world!” 
She once again grabbed Twilight, pulling her roughly into the air. “You want this mare so much? Here, take her!” she shouted as she hurled the purple unicorn at her dangling nemesis. 
That was all Rarity needed. As Rainbow Dash lessened her grip on the rocket Rarity ignited her horn and jerked the rocket upwards. The athletic pegasus quickly seized hold of it again, looking up as she did. “Is that the best you can do?”
“Hardly!” Rarity shot back defiantly as she telekinetically fired the rocket’s ignition. Flames shot out from the rocket’s exhaust port and into Rainbow Dash’s face, setting the pegasus’s head ablaze. The prismatic pony shrieked in agony as her flesh was seared away and her mane ignited. 
Without a second’s hesitation Rarity released her grip on the rope and held her forehooves out wide to catch Twilight. The two unicorns went flying away from the blimp just as the volatile gases within exploded into a firestorm. Griffons screamed in terror just as the burning behemoth plunged into their midst, clearing the skies of their filth. 
The ground rushed up to meet the two unicorns. Their eyes met, and Rarity seized her chance, kissing the purple mare with a passion she hadn’t known she was capable of. Twilight’s eyes widened, then closed as she returned the kiss. When they opened again they were sparkling with white light. A blaze of heart-shaped magenta flames erupted into being around them, burning with a passion that outshone the exploding blimp and drowned out the screams of dying griffons nearby. Suddenly they were floating, their descent slowed to the pace of a falling autumn leaf. They drew apart.
“You caught me,” Twilight whispered again, not seeming to believe what had just happened.
“I caught you,” Rarity agreed as she closed in for another kiss. “And I shall never let go of you again.

--

Alone in her idea room, Rarity scribbled feverishly, papers levitating about her like circling birds. “Yes Twilight, she murmured as she put the finishing touches on her plan, “Soon, soon we shall be together at last!”

> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“It’s alive! IT’S ALIVE!”
Doctor Rarity flung her hooves up in ecstasy, her lab coat trailing behind her like a great pair of wings. The creature on the slab still jerked convulsively beneath the sheet from the aftereffects of the lightning strike. The creature’s horn glowed a brilliant lavender visible even through the heavy cloth and suddenly the restraints holding it to the table were ripped away with an audible snapping of metal. The creature turned its body sideways, rear hooves dangling over the side of the slab even as its forehooves pulled the obscuring sheet away from its head, revealing, revealing…
…The most beautiful creature Rarity had ever seen. A coat of purest lavender topped with a dark purple mane. A single stripe of pink bisected the mane, perfectly situated to accentuate the spiraling horn that marked her as a member of the unicorn tribe. Large, luminescent eyes sparkling with intelligence and wit stared back at her, filled with the innocent curiosity of a newborn taking in her first sight of the world. Rarity stepped forward without thinking, laying a hoof on her creation’s cheek. The creature’s eyes swiveled to regard the limb. She leaned her head to one side, causing the hoof to slide across her cheek. She seemed to enjoy the sensation and looked back to the source of it. Rarity could feel the creature’s breath on her face, warm and still warm with the spark of life itself. Their eyes locked, creator and creature, and with that contact came a connection that transcended petty details of social norms and customs.
“W-Who am I?” the creature said, the first words stumbling from her unused throat like a toddler taking her first steps. Rarity smiled and lowered her hoof, placing it beneath her creation’s chin in a loving gesture.
“You are Twilight Sparkle. I am Rarity. I created you, and you are perfect.”
“Twilight Sparkle,” the creature said, feeling the shape of the name in her mouth. “Rarity,” she breathed, as if tasting her first sweet.
“That’s right darling. I made you to be—”
The sound of a heavy door being flung open reverberated through the lab. The bucolic, ill-bred voice of her assistant cut through the moment.
“Mistress! Ah’ve got bad news!”
“Not now Applejack!” Rarity said curtly, never once taking her eyes from Twilight for so much as an instant. “Whatever it is, it can wait.”
“But Mistress!” the up-jumped peasant pleaded in her rustic accent, “The townspeople are all outside the gate and shouting something fierce! They’re saying y’all have sinned against Celestia and that they’re comin’ to stop you!”
“What?!” Rarity cried. “No! Not now! Not in my moment of triumph!”
Rarity rushed to the window of the lab and threw it open, heedless of the driving rain outside. From it she could see a mob of ponies gathered in front of her estate, brandishing torches and pitchforks. A sudden burst of lightning further illuminated the scene and Rarity was able to make out one particular cerulean form hovering above the mob, exhorting them onward with wild hoof gestures and angry shouts. Rarity’s eyes narrowed.
“Rainbow Dash. I might have known.”
Rarity turned to see that Twilight had gotten off of the bier. She swayed awkwardly as she took her first hesitant steps towards her creator. Her lavender eyes were wide and frightened. The poor dear could clearly tell that something was wrong. 
“What is happening?”
“Somepony is coming,” Rarity explained hurriedly as she closed the windows. “Somepony bad. She wants to take you away from me, but I won’t let her. Come darling, we must away!”
Rarity gave Twilight a quick kiss on the cheek before striding purposefully towards the open laboratory doors. The perfect purple pony blushed adorably at the gesture of affection, her face darkening even more as the innocent mare felt the white unicorn’s long tail brush lovingly against her flank. She stood frozen in place as she tried to cope with the strange new feelings that were rushing through her all at once and so she was the only one who saw the blue missile descending through the torrential downpour outside. She screamed as the window burst inward, sending an explosion of a broken glass flying into the room. Rarity spun to see a blue pegasus with a prismatic mane standing in front of her beloved. A lightning bolt illuminated the vile brigand from behind, reflecting off her myriad garish earrings and piercings. The pegasus narrowed her one eye that was not hidden behind a patch and guffawed evilly. 
“Halt! In the name of Duke Blueblood this vile experiment is at an end!” The ruffian leered at Twilight wickedly. “Though methinks he’ll find a use for this pretty morsel after all!” she said as she seized the precious purple pony in a headlock.
“Release her!” Rarity cried, levitating various sharp instruments from around her workspace and hurling them at the intruder with pinpoint accuracy. Rainbow Dash twisted Twilight in front of her like a living shield. Rarity changed tacks and sent her makeshift weapons arcing around to catch the pegasus from behind, but the momentary delay gave Rainbow Dash all the time she needed to spring into the air, dragging a terrified Twilight aloft with her. Before Rarity could initiate another plan of attack Rainbow Dash flew up to the massive device hanging from the laboratory’s ceiling and gave it a good hard buck. The unwieldy machine turned on its pivot and let loose a bolt of pure electricity that Rarity barely dodged. It ricocheted off the stone floor and rebounded off the wall, then the ceiling and back down again. Rarity smelled smoke and looked up to see a tapestry catching fire. Rainbow Dash laughed wildly.
Rarity gave a most unladylike snarl and seized a table with her magic. With a mighty mental heave she sent it hurtling towards her foe. The agile pegasus dodged easily and gave another laugh as she tightened her grip on her hostage. 
“Careful, Rarity! You wouldn’t want to hurt your precious creation.”
“Damn you, you fiend! Have you no heart?!”
More laughter bubbled forth in reply. “There’s no shortage of perfect flanks in the world. What does it matter if I ruin hers?”
A shriek of tortured metal audible even over the storm came from outside. The sound of hooves pounding on stone followed, drawing nearer. Rarity did not need to look to know that the mob had forced the gates. She glared at her nemesis.
“More of your dupes?” she spat. 
Rainbow Dash sneered. “An awesome pony like me always has followers. You should be used to that by now.” She stopped hovering and started flying backwards towards the window. “You should know by now that there’s nothing you can make that I can’t take from you!” 
Twilight squirmed desperately in her abductor’s grip. Rarity knew that she had to think fast. She would never catch up if the prismatic rogue made it outside. Thunder boomed again and the still swinging device hanging from the ceiling powered on again in response, sending another blast of destructive energy flying across the room. It struck the outer wall of the lab, sending out a cloud of dust and shattered stone. Rainbow Dash juked to avoid one of the larger fragments and coughed as she breathed in some of the detritus. 
Rarity saw her chance. A blue aura surrounded one of the jagged hunks of stone that remained in the wall as Rarity reached out with her telekinetic grip. Suddenly there was a loud crack as it ripped free of the remains of the wall. Rainbow Dash turned just in time to see the makeshift club swinging at her face. The roundhouse blow caught her completely off-guard and sent her flying back into the machine dangling from the center of the roof. As Rainbow Dash’s grip weakened from the shock Twilight bite down hard on one of her captor’s forelegs and suddenly the purple mare was in a freefall. She shrieked as she saw the hard stone floor rushing up to meet her. An instant later she felt something soft and white enfold her, bearing her gently downwards. She opened her eyes to see that the shroud she had woken up under had wrapped itself around her. She looked across the room to see Rarity’s head bent forward in concentration as she levitated her down safely. She came to a rest at Rarity’s hooves.
“Thank you, oh thank you!” Twilight cried as she threw her forehooves around Rarity’s neck in a grateful hug. Rarity patted her back comfortingly, then drew back, her face a mask of anger and wariness. 
“You’re welcome darling, but we’re not safe yet.”
As if on cue the machine activated again. A blast of azure-white electricity descended straight down into the laboratory floor. Stone and dust flew everywhere as the column of heaven’s harnessed fury blew a hole straight down to the floor below.
 Rarity looked back to see the door to the lab blocked by raging flames. She gulped, then took Twilight by the hoof.
“This way dear!” she said as she sprinted towards the opening. Twilight followed, and together they dived down to the floor below. A purple bubble popped into being around them midway down, slowing their descent. Rarity looked at her companion and smiled.
“My, you are a fast learner, aren’t you?”
Twilight blushed adorably. “I want to learn everything you have to teach me, Mistress!”
“And you shall darling, you shall,” Rarity assured her. 
Above, Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes as she waited for the dazzling effects of the artificial lightning bolt to fade. Her vision cleared just in time for her to see something small and sharp moving very fast up into the machine. It struck the device right in the center of its projector and smashed through to its innards. The lightning projector began to spark and smoke. A voice from below caught her attention.
“Do you know what happens to a pegasus who gets hit by lightning?” Rarity asked mockingly. “The same thing that happens to everything else!”
Rainbow Dash’s head jerked back up just in time to see the device explode, sending streaks of electricity flying in every direction. She tried to scream, but the current forced every muscle in her body rigid as it streamed through her. The force of the blast threw her bodily out the window to land sizzling on the cobblestones of the courtyard below.
Rarity looked down at Twilight. “After all the times she’s come crashing in through the window it’s good to finally see her defenestrated.” Twilight giggled approvingly.
There was the sound of iron-shod hooves striking wood, and with it the front doors to the mansion came crashing in. Rarity and Twilight looked up to see the angry mob begin to pour into the foyer where they stood. Rarity took Twilight’s hoof in her own.
“Together forever, darling.”
Twilight nuzzled her back. “Until the end.”
They held each other as they calmly waited for the inevitable.


†


Wild techno music began to blare, and the Avenging Death Slayer of Doom leapt into action. She rushed into the entrance to the labyrinth, body held low to the ground to present as little of a target as possible. As she came to an intersection she caught a flicker in the corner of her eye and hurled herself into a forward roll. She came up in a crouch, right forehoof raised and pointing at where she had caught the motion from. The strange device around her foreleg beeped and buzzed as it sent a steady stream of coherent light down the hallway. Here and there dust caught it and it was visible against the strobing lights that provided illumination to the otherwise darkened maze. She saw the laser light splatter uselessly against the far wall. Nopony was in sight. The Avenging Death Slayer of Doom sighed in frustration.
The Avenging Death Slayer of Doom felt a sudden vibration on her hind leg. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized what that meant. She threw herself into another forward roll down the hallway, veering left and right as erratically as possible to throw off her attacker’s aim. She came to a halt a few feet short of the corner at the end of the hallway she had just fired down and scrambled on her hooves and knees the rest of the way to safety. Boisterous laughter rang out behind her, audible even over the loud music.
The Avenging Death Slayer of Doom clambered back onto her hooves. She panted from the sudden exertion, but she knew from the sound of hooves galloping across the corridor she had just fled down that there was no time to rest. She snaked her right foreleg around the corner and fired her laser blindly, then scampered down further into the maze without waiting to see if she had hit anything. She heard something large crash into a wall behind her as she hurried away, turning randomly down whatever pathway seemed promising whenever she came to an intersection. Finally she came to a stop, panting. She cocked an ear but heard no sounds of pursuit. Had she thrown her adversary off her trail? Or was it just the damned techno beat making it impossible to hear anything?
She started back down the way she came. She favored her right foreleg, ready to bring it to bear at a moment’s notice. She turned each corner suddenly, bringing her sidearm up and ready to fire each time. After repeating this three or four times she began to grit her teeth in frustration. Where was—
The Avenging Death Slayer of Doom froze as she heard a faint snickering behind her, just barely audible over the electronic noise that some ponies called music. She started to freeze, then forced herself to relax. She had to play this just right…
The Avenging Death Slayer of Doom rolled to one side, grunting as she smashed into the cardboard wall of the labyrinth. Coherent light flashed across the space where she had stood a moment before, shining blood-red against the floor. The Avenging Death Slayer of Doom spun around and returned fire, mentally backtracking the beam’s trajectory to deduce where the shooter must have been standing.
The Avenging Death Slayer of Doom found herself firing at empty air. She gawked for a moment, then scanned the hall behind her for any signs of her quarry. Before she could complete her sweep she felt the harness across her chest begin to vibrate like crazy. A buzzer sounded, and suddenly the lights and music both stopped. The maze was dark for a moment, then more mundane illumination powered on. The Avenging Death Slayer of Doom raised her head and glared upward.
“No fair Rainbow Dash! Using wings is cheating!”
Rainbow Dash landed and folded her wings theatrically. “Never said I wouldn’t!” she said cockily.
“The rules said no magic!” Twilight Sparkle countered. “Pegasi fly using pegasus magic!”
“That doesn’t count!” Rainbow Dash snapped in reply. The two glared at each other for several seconds. Twilight was the first to break.
“You’re impossible!” she giggled.
“I know, I know, it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. I’m just that amazing. So, best two out of three?”


†


The two ponies were still laughing as they walked out of the arcade together. Twilight gave the cerulean pegasus an affectionate punch on the shoulder.
“This has been a great day Rainbow Dash. I had no idea they even had a place where you could play laser tag in Ponyville. How did you get the whole arcade reserved for us?”
“It’s new,” the brash pegasus replied. “And the owner may have owed me a favor for rescheduling a few storms while she was getting the roof fixed,” she added as she buffed a hoof on her chest and held it out for inspection.
“Well however you did it, I had a wonderful time. I can’t wait to see what you have planned ne—“
Ponies have very sensitive hooves. Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle may not have had the connection with the natural world that their earth pony friends had, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t feel the ground trembling beneath their feet. They looked at each other, then jumped as they heard the sound of wood being splintered by something heavy. They looked in the direction of the impact and saw something large and gray hopping up and down atop the remains of a cart. 
Twilight squinted slightly. “Is that…?”
“It can’t be,” Rainbow Dash said at about the same time.
The heavy object started rolling towards them ponderously, thumping loudly each time one of its irregular sides made contact with the dirt road.
“Tom?!” the unicorn and the pegasus shouted in shocked unison.
It was Tom. Rainbow Dash hadn’t actually been there to see Tom herself, but Applejack had been more than happy to give her a detailed description between guffaws of laughter after the business with Discord was over, and Twilight didn’t think she could forget the damned boulder if she tried. They stared in slack-jawed amazement at the now animate rock. Twilight was the first to regain her senses.
“He—it’s speeding up,” she noted in a slightly frightened tone of voice. A moment later she felt a pair of hooves wrap around her midsection from above and suddenly she was being pulled up and away from the accelerating death stone. It crashed into the front of the arcade a few seconds later, smashing its way through the front of the building and continuing as its inertia built. The sound of expensive machinery being smashed to pieces echoed from inside. As the two ponies listened to the destruction a new voice called out from the direction Tom had appeared.
“Twilight! Darling, are you alright?”
Rainbow Dash and Twilight turned to see Rarity galloping down the street, a long cape billowing behind her. She came to a stop in front of the devastated arcade and struck a dramatic pose. 
“Vile miscreant! How dare you threaten my friends?” 
“Rarity!” Twilight shouted. “Be careful!”
Rarity looked up and gave Twilight a wink. 
“Don’t worry darling, I have things well under control.”
As Rainbow Dash and Twilight watched in confusion Rarity began to charge her horn. Tom came rolling slowly back out of the arcade. Rarity lowered her head. 
“Treacherous rock!” she cried as she levitated something shiny out from under her cape. “Take this! And that!”
The shiny object whipped out straight for Tom. It struck the animate boulder once, twice, three times, sending stone chips flying with each strike. Rarity leapt to one side as the boulder picked up speed, landing adroitly even as Tom went crashing into the front of the building on the other side of the road. She gave Twilight another wink. 
“Diamond chisel,” she explained. “Never leave the Boutique without it.”
“Uhh, Twilight, what’s going on?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Not sure,” Twilight responded. “But I have an idea. Fly me in closer.”
Rainbow Dash shed altitude, bringing Twilight closer to the hole in the storefront. As they drew near Twilight closed her eyes and raised her head in a gesture of concentration. A lavender pulse issued from her horn. As the light swept over the boulder it began to slow, sliding to a stop a few feet into the storefront. Rarity blinked.
“Oh, good show Twilight,” she said with a nervous giggle. “I... didn’t know you could do that.”
“It’s a basic dispulsion spell,” Twilight said absently as Rainbow Dash lowered her to the ground. “But who in the hoof would want to animate Tom of all things?”
“Oh who knows?” Rarity said hurriedly. “You know how things are in this town.”
“And what’s with the cape?” Rainbow Dash said suspiciously.
“Oh, this old thing?” Rarity said. “Just something I threw together.” She watched as Twilight began to inspect the boulder. “Twilight, what are you doing?”
“Tracing whoever cast the spell to cause all this,” Twilight explained as she charged up her horn again. “This should take just a second…”
Lavender light flashed again, and suddenly the image of three glowing diamonds appeared on the side of the boulder. Twilight and Rainbow Dash turned to regard their friend. Rarity raised a hoof to her mouth.
“Hehe...Oops?”
	
	

> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The building was on fire, and it wasn’t my fault.
I looked around as I galloped through the smoke. The bat ponies were shrieking in mad terror at the sight of the flames racing up the walls of the corridor. As I watched one of them backpedaled a shade too slowly to prevent its coat from catching the spark that set its oily body ablaze. I saw my chance. With an effort of will I charged my horn with magic and reached out with a glowing telekinetic grip to seize the boards beneath the plaster on the wall. I bit down a hiss of pain as my horn flickered from blue to orange due to the exchange of energies. It began to smolder and smoke, and I cringed, trying to focus on the pain to distract me from the damage it was likely doing to my coiffure. Fortunately there was plenty of pain to focus on. I’m lucky that way.
My name is Rarity Sweetheart Marshmallow Belle. Conjure by it at your own risk. I’m a professional snoop.
It’s a tough job, but I’m a tough gal. You’d have to be to make it this line of work. What I was being paid wasn’t likely to be enough, but I comforted myself by thinking of the billable hours. Especially Bill, my masseuse and Billie, my mane stylist. 
It had all started innocently enough. I’d been dozing at my desk when the sound of the door opening jolted me awake. I took off my sleeping mask just in time to see it slam shut. The room looked empty. I raised an immaculately groomed eyebrow and was about to resume my catnap when I heard a coughing sound from in front of the desk. I rose to see just the cutest little thing standing on the fashionably used rug I kept there. A baby dragon all purple with adorable green spines looked back up at me in annoyance, arms crossed. I put on a professional smile in reply.
“Welcome to Belle Investigations, where we know that every case is is unique. Please, have a seat.”
The baby dragon stammered for a moment as his scaly little cheeks darkened. I realized that he was blushing. I carefully resisted the urge to giggle as he struggled to regain control of himself and hopped up onto the indicated chair. Mustn’t laugh, I told myself. Whoever this gentledrake was he clearly wanted to be taken seriously. I sat back into my own desk chair and waited.
After several more seconds of stammering the dragon managed to start putting together coherent sentences. 
“Are you Miss Rarity?”
“Of course darling,” I replied. “And you are?”
He stared at me with a dreamy expression for a bit longer before realizing what he was doing. He shook his head and said, “I’m Spike. My sister is missing and I need help.”
The smile froze brittle on my face. My eyes automatically flickered toward the framed picture sitting on my desk before I forced my attention back to my guest. 
“Do go on,” I said, nodding for him to continue.
"She's a librarian at Canterlot University. She's been working on a new project lately that she wouldn't talk about, and now nopony has heard from her for nearly week! I checked the library and all of the bookstores like the other times she's vanished, and if it was like the time she was obsessed with caterpillars somepony would have heard her muttering about whatever she was obsessed with. I just know something's wrong, but nopony will listen to me!"
I steepled my hooves, feeling remarkably Hex Luther as I did. "What can you tell me about this project?"
"It was really hush hush," he said immediately. "All she would tell me was that it involved archeological work done at the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters. Apparently they'd made some kind of big find and she was part of the team examining it."
I thought about that. Anytime an excavation like that had to be hushed up it meant one of two things. Either they'd found something that only a handful of academics would care about but would all sell their cutie marks to steal credit for or they had found something so valuable that a great many ponies would sell their cutie marks to steal it in the literal sense.
"Do you have a picture of your sister?" I asked.
The little fellow nodded and rummaged through the satchel at his side. He produced a framed picture of himself atop a unicorn with a coat the same color as his scales. I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Your sister?"
He flushed. I wasn't sure how blushing worked on a dragon but that wasn't important right now. "It's a long story."
"Quite," I said. "She's certainly a cute filly. I can see where you get it from." I followed that with a wink. 
Literal smoke started to waft up from his scales. He hemmed and hawed and reached up with one clawed hand to smooth his spines self-consciously. "We're not, I mean...she hatched me from an egg she found on a dig."
"Well now," I said proddingly. "She must be quite the talent to pull off something like that."
Spike nodded enthusiastically. "She's the best at all kinds of magic! I think that's part of why she ended up on this project."
"Oh?" I said. "Who made that decision?"
"Dean Luna at the university invited her personally!" he said proudly. He puffed his chest out in an utterly adorable manner. I hid another smile.
"And where was the last time you saw your sister?"
"About three days so," he said. "She seemed really upset but she wouldn't tell me why. I think it had something to do with a letter she got, but she wouldn't let me see it and she took it with her."
I pursed my lips. "And you're sure it has something to do with this excavation?"
"It has to be! You don't know what she's like when she's caught up in her research. Nothing else even registers with her!" Moisture gathered in his eyes. "You've gotta help me! I've got nowhere else to turn!"
I rose and walked around my desk to lay a comforting hoof on his shoulder. When he looked up at me I raised it to his face and brushed the tears away.
"I'll find her. You have my word."
He threw his arms around me in a tight hug and buried his face in my chest. I patted the back of his head reassuringly. "One last question. What is your sister's name?"
He looked up at me, blinking and trying to pretend he hadn't been crying. 
"Twilight Sparkle."


†


Long story short, yes she had stumbled onto something big and yes powerful ponies had intervened. I burst into the amphitheatre loaded for bear. I thought I was ready for anything. Turns out I was wrong.
A purple pony with leathery wings that were a rather garish darker shade of purple stood before the altar. A horn shone atop her brow and a shimmering nimbus of the same color surrounded her. Smoke rose from the altar and I could make out indigo blue feathers laying amid ash and bone.
The pony turned, and I knew I'd found my objective. She smiled to reveal long, gleaming fangs. 


†


There was a sudden knock at the door. Rarity's head jerked up in surprise. 
"Rarity, we need to talk."
Rarity had never expected to not want to hear Twilight's voice. She hurriedly levitated some other papers onto her desk and took a moment to compose herself. 
"Come in."
There was a muffled bampf sound and suddenly Rarity felt another presence in the room. Had she left the door locked? Didn't really matter. She stayed silent as Twilight walked across to stand behind her. Neither of them spoke for awhile.
"Spike said you haven't been doing so well," Twilight did finally. 
"Not well," Rarity said dully. "Yes, you could say that."
Twilight nodded at the edge of her vision. "He's worried about you."
Rarity shook her head. "Such a dear little drake. You should be proud of him."
"I am."
Another long silence. Then, "He deserves better than having Sweetie Belle turn him away at the door. Is he alright?"
"He's fine. I think he's a little hurt that you used him to get those books on golem creation, but he understands. I think he knows he would have done the same for you if he could."
Rarity couldn't help but laugh at that. "He would. And Rainbow Dash?"
"She'll get over it. Though the 'Come at me, sis!' bit was taking it a bit far."
Rarity winced. "And the others?"
"You're not the first pony to nearly level the entire town because you were obsessed with something," Twilight assured her. "Pinkie Pie insisted that we ship Tom to her family's rock farm. She said that with proper guidance he would make an excellent role model for the little rocks."
They both sat processing that statement for a while. Finally Rarity spoke again.
"Twilight, if I had asked sooner do you think..."
"Let's not go down that route," Twilight said firmly. Rarity flinched.
"A—Are we still friends, Twilight?"
Rarity felt a pair of warm forelimbs wrap around her. She finally turned and buried her face in the other mare's neck. Twilight patted her comfortingly.
"Of course. Friends forever."