Alacrity Minificsby Crystal WishesChaptersHow They Met — Upper Crust and Jet Set — "Extraordinary"How They Met — Upper Crust and Jet Set — "Perfect"Lovey Dovey and the Mirror Pool — "Double"Lovey Dovey and the Mirror Pool — "Trouble"How They Met — Upper Crust and Jet Set — "Ordinary"How They Met — Upper Crust and Jet Set — "Extraordinary"Soft orchestral music drifted out of the record player, just loud enough to mask the clinking of silverware against bowls. Jet Set and his parents were only halfway through the appetizer course and the air was already so tense they could serve it for the main course. "So, then, you are not taking Fine Line to the Fall Formal Gala tonight?" Jet Ship glanced over at his son. "Are you sure that is wise?" Jet Set opened his mouth, but Diadem interrupted. "To be fair, Fine Line's family is only moderately successful. He could do better." Ship raised his brow, quietly sipped his soup, then asked, "And what of Lyrica Lilac? She has potential." After a glance at his mother, who seemed preoccupied with straightening her hair, Jet Set said, "I am taking none of the mares you listed for me, Father." Spoons fell from magic to land in the soup bowls and wide eyes turned to him. He lifted his own spoon to his lips, keeping his calm expression in place. "Then who exactly are you taking, Son?" Ship's eyes narrowed just enough to show his displeasure. "Upper Crust," Jet Set replied between sips. Diadem gawked. Her horn lit up and she snatched the bottle from the serving pony's hooves, waved a hoof to dismiss him, and began pouring herself a glass. Ship steepled his hooves. "That isn't part of the plan, Son. You need a respectable wife if you plan to join and, eventually, take over the company." "Well." Jet Set lowered his spoon to rest on the edge of his bowl and lifted his gaze to meet his father's. "Then I suppose the plan is changing." "Go to your room," Ship snarled with ice in his voice. "Your mother and I need to talk." Jet Set shook his head as he stood, his chair screeching as it scraped against the ground from his sudden movement. "I'm not a child, Father. You're going to discuss my inheritance. I'll save you the time. I'm not interested." Diadem poured another glass and tossed it back. She rubbed her forehead, then stared at her son, eyes narrowed. "Jet Set, what has gotten into your head? You have an extraordinary opportunity to live how every pony dreams and few ponies achieve!" Jet Set shrugged on his way out of the dining room. His ears flicked at the sound of his mother yelling after him, but he kept walking, each step shedding off a weight he had been carrying all his life. All of their expectations, demands, and restrictions suddenly no longer felt so necessary to follow. He smiled at the servant that opened one of the two front doors for him. "Thank you, Penny Worth." The old stallion nodded respectfully. "Have a good day, sir." Jet Set paused and looked up at Penny Worth. "No, Penny Worth." He smiled when Worth lowered his gaze to make direct, curious eye contact. "I sincerely mean it. Thank you." The stallion who had practically raised him blinked, then returned the smile, the wrinkles around the corners of his eyes becoming more pronounced from the kind expression. "You're welcome, sir. It has always been my pleasure." The door opened no less than five seconds after he knocked. Instead of Upper Crust's mother or father, the mare herself answered the door and hurriedly stepped outside. "Hello." She glanced behind her, then back up at him. "Are you ready to go?" Jet Set blinked, once at the nonstandard greeting, twice at how she looked. It was a gown fit for the Grand Galloping Gala, not a simple school gala. Satin, lace, and gilded ribbons were woven together into an extraordinary dress that made her the single most beautiful mare he had ever seen. After a few more blinks, he finally smiled. "Yes, I am." He offered the crook of his foreleg. "Shall we, Miss Crust?" "Please," she said while accepting his offer, "call me anything but that." They started to walk away while he mulled over his options. "You look lovely tonight, beautiful." Her grip on his foreleg tightened and out of the corner of his eye, he saw her ears perk and face flush, and he smiled. He'd had several marefriends before and they had all been the same: eyelash fluttering, giggling, gossiping creatures that couldn't express a sincere emotion. Upper Crust was different and he liked that. He liked that a lot. How They Met — Upper Crust and Jet Set — "Perfect"When they walked into the gymnasium, Upper Crust felt the most wonderful sensation: all eyes were on her. She was finally a somepony, thanks to the handsome stallion to her left. She turned her head to gaze up at him, smiling. "Shall I get us some punch?" Jet Set offered, returning her smile. "If you wouldn't mind, that would be wonderful." Upper Crust went back to surveying the room while Jet Set walked away. There was Lyrica Lilac, clinging to the foreleg of Fancy Pants. He had some dream of running a modeling company. Upper Crust rolled her eyes, but feigned a smile when Lyrica waved to her. For the first time in four years, Upper Crust was finally the one ahead. Victory tasted so sweet. A cup floated into her vision. "Here you are," Jet Set said. Upper Crust took a sip, then inclined her head at just the right angle and felt the barely satisfactory lighting hit her eyes. It was a simple trick that she had picked up when she was young from the other fillies, and it seemed to work, because he suddenly held out his hoof toward her. "I would very much like to dance with you." He chuckled and added, "If you're done with your punch, of course." Her magic set the cup down on the nearest surface and she took his hoof, her heart starting to flutter, not with excitement, but with panic. She didn't have proper training for this! Sure, she had practiced by herself, but that didn't calm her nerves one bit. "That would be wonderful." As he led her out onto the floor, she started to contemplate her options. She could trip and claim a sprained ankle. However, the moment he turned to face her and their eyes met again, the fears were washed away. He brushed their necks together and hooked his foreleg around one of hers, then swayed with her to the soft music that played. Oh. This was the kind of dancing he meant. She had to admit she was a little disappointed at first, but their closeness more than made up for it. She cracked one eye open to look around and smiled. All eyes were on her. Two songs and a punch break later, the music died down and the principal walked onto the stage. "I hope you're all having a wonderful time!" He smiled, levitating an envelope beside him. "The results are in for this year's Fall Formal King and Queen. Who's ready to hear this year's winners?" The ponies stomped, cheered, and whistled. Upper Crust remained stoic until Jet Set reached over to give her hoof a small squeeze. She glanced down at their joined hooves, then looked up at him. His gaze was focused on her and, when their eyes met, he smiled. "Don't be nervous," he said. "I'm sure we've won." Upper Crust's brow quirked. "Who said I was nervous?" She snubbed her nose at him. "I certainly didn't." Jet Set blinked a few times, then laughed softly, shaking his head. "All right, fillies and gentlecolts," the principal said while his magic slowly opened the envelope. "This year, the Fall Formal King and Queen are..." He paused for dramatic effect, then exclaimed, "Jet Set and Upper Crust!" The gymnasium erupted in cheers and Jet Set waved to their peers while he walked alongside Upper Crust toward the stage. As they were crowned and Upper Crust was handed a bouquet of roses, Jet Set leaned over and whispered, "You make a perfect queen, beautiful." Upper Crust's breath caught in her throat and while Jet Set turned his attention on the crowd of ponies cheering for them, she stared at him. A few flashes of camera illuminated the stage, but she forgot to pose. All she could do was stare at him, warmth spreading from her chest to the very tips of her ears, and she smiled so much that it hurt. "Darling, I could really use your help," Upper Crust called from the bathroom, frowning at her reflection. Jet Set poked his head into the room. "What's wrong, dear?" She turned to face him, a white gold earring on one ear and a single large pearl on the other. "I can't decide which of these will be the most effective at Lyrica's foal shower." She rolled her eyes. "It's all she's talked about since she found out she was pregnant, and I'm so awfully tired of hearing about it. Honestly, does she not realize—" An odd choking sound caught in the back of her throat. "Oh." She raised a hoof to cover her mouth. "Oh, darling, I feel awful." Jet Set rushed all the way into the room and put a hoof on her shoulder, worry seeping into his every word as he asked, "Awful? What's wrong? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Upper Crust remained perfectly still, her eyes clenched shut until the sudden bout of nausea passed. She blinked her eyes open and frowned up at him. "No, it was just a moment of feeling ill at ease. I'm perfectly fine." She turned back to her reflection. "As I was saying, does she not realize what pregnancy does to a mare's body? She's already looking rotund. It's absolutely dreadful." "Dear..." He hesitated, then sighed, smiled, and said, "I think the pearls suits you best." She nodded. Her magic removed the white gold earring and replaced it with the matching pearl stud. "Perfect. Thank you, darling. Well, then, I'm off." She placed a quick peck of a kiss on his cheek, smiling up at him. "I'll see you this evening." As she walked down the stairs, her stomach knotted up and she grabbed onto the railing with one hoof, the other clamped over her mouth. "Nngh..." "Honey!" Jet Set hurried down the stairs and stood on the step beneath her to ensure she didn't fall. "Forget the foal shower. We need to get you to a hospital." Upper Crust shook her head. "I'm fine," she hissed. "I just need a quick sip of ginger ale." Jet Set's face hardened as he grabbed her hoof. "Don't be stubborn. It's unbecoming." At his words, her ears perked up, then folded back. She finally relented with a nod and allowed him to lead her the rest of the way down the stairs. "I'm... pregnant?" Upper Crust said the word as if the doctor had given her a death sentence, her face going pale. "No, no no, that can't be. We, I, we..." She looked to Jet Set. "Darling, wipe that look off your face and tell the stallion." Jet Set cleared his throat, the smile still holding firm onto his lips. "We take proper precautions, dear, but you know it's not a guarantee." He tried to hold her hoof, but she swatted him away and rolled over to face her back to him. The smile finally fell. "Dear, this is good news!" "Says you," she whispered with her face buried in her hooves to hide the tears. "Both of you, please, leave." "Dear—" "Leave," she snarled. Jet Set lingered a moment longer, then followed the doctor out. When the door shut behind them, Upper Crust bolted upright and threw the nearest object across the room. The pillow hit the wall and landed with an anticlimactic, gentle fwump. Her gaze darted about for something more substantial and she grabbed the lamp. This time, after she threw it, there was a very satisfying crash and shatter effect. Her breathing was ragged and her heart was racing. She was going to get fat. Jet Set would leave her. Tears streamed down her face and she wept freely. There was no need to keep up an act anymore; a divorce would ruin everything. That one simple, horrible word—pregnant—was going to take away her perfect life. Upper Crust glanced over at Jet Set, who slept in the chair beside the hospital bed. The stupid stallion she called husband had decided to stay by her side throughout the whole ordeal, all eleven months of it, which he had been happy about from the very beginning. He had fainted halfway through the birth itself, however, which she thought was rather unfair, as she had no such option. The pain was already starting to fade away in her memory, though, and now all she was left with was a foal squirming in her embrace. Upper Crust sighed and looked down at the filly with a frown. "I hope you're happy with yourself," she muttered. "Do you see what you've done to me?" Her mane was a mess, sweat matted her coat, and she could hardly keep her eyes open from total exhaustion. She was an absolutely dreadful sight, all thanks to the foal. The newborn stopped squirming at the sound of Upper Crust's voice, then blinked and looked up at her, revealing a pair of hazel orbs that stopped her heart for a moment. Suddenly, every feeling vanished from her tired mind except love. This foal, her Crystal Wishes, was the most perfect thing she had ever seen. She had never felt so much love for anypony or anything before, and it brought a smile to her face. At that moment, Upper Crust knew she had the most important role of her life ahead of her: to protect this sweet, innocent little filly from the cruel and fickle world she had been born into. Upper Crust leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her foal's forehead, mumbling softly, "I promise, darling, you will never want for anything." Lovey Dovey and the Mirror Pool — "Double"The Everfree Forest is not a place suitable for most ponies, which makes it the most well-suited place for ponies to wander into haphazardly. Strange how that works, isn't it? Lovey Dovey, matchmaker extraordinaire, was enjoying a leisurely stroll through her old home of Ponyville. It had been a while since she had been by, as most of her time lately was spent in Manehattan with her very special somepony, Magnate. He was away on a business trip, however, which meant she had time for herself and she chose to spend that time seeing if anything back home had changed. Little had, so her stroll didn't take very long. "Well," she murmured to herself, frowning, "now what do I do?" After she circled the town for the third time, she stopped on the side just at the edge of the Everfree Forest. She stared into the ominous darkness that clouded the timberland, making it difficult to see past the first line of trees. There was a path, however, that she could clearly make out against the barbed thicket. Lovey tilted her head one way, then the other, then smiled. "A road never travelled is an opportunity never found, they say! Or, at least, I think that's what they say?" She trotted forward, right past the sign that warned against venturing into the forest. "Only one way to find out!" She hummed a merry little tune as she followed the path. Her over-the-top pink appearance contrasted so greatly with her dark surroundings that the creatures lurking in the bushes and trees could do nothing but stare in confusion. "How does that lullaby go?" She stopped and tapped on her chin, her nose scrunched up in thought until the melody hit her first and she started to hum. Slowly, the words formed in her mind and she sang them aloud. "A gentle breeze from the Unicorn Range Softly blows o’er the Everfree It echoes in the cavern beneath it Waiting for another who would be." Her hooves guided her through the bramble thicket somewhat aimlessly until she stumbled on a clearing, small rays of sunlight filtering through the thick foliage to illuminate the entrance to a cavern. She squealed with delight and continued the lullaby as she trotted toward it. "It isn’t far to Everfree Forest Where a lake waits below for thee The pool of change so softly reflecting Soon it will take you to become we." A path led her down into the cave, and when she reached the bottom, she discovered a pool so perfectly still that it looked like glass. Though she was deep underground, the walls seemed to radiate enough light that it reflected off the surface of the pool. Lovey giggled and walked to the edge, finishing the last verse, her tone cracking with excitement at her discovery. "So close your eyes in Everfree Forest Step on through and you will appear And watch yourself in Everfree Forest Sail far away into the Mirror." "Sail far away into the mirror?" she repeated, staring down at her reflection, then gasped. "Step on through and I will appear? Appear where? Oh, you've come this far, Lovey! You can't stop now!" Taking a deep breath and holding it, she dipped one hoof into the water. It was cold and sent a shiver down her spine, but her determination moved her to drop the other hoof in. Her head broke through the surface and she blinked when she found herself above water rather than beneath. "Huh?" She looked down at the water she was in, brow furrowed and lips pursed. "Hello!" a sugary sweet voice squealed and a pink hoof was lowered into her view. "I'm Lovey Dovey!" Lovey raised her gaze to follow the hoof and looked up at a mare. Not just any more. It was herself! "Oh!" She took the hoof and the mare helped her out of the water. "I'm Lovey Dovey, too!" Lovey—or perhaps she would be Dovey, so that Lovey wouldn't get confused—squealed and jumped into the air, her wings fluttering too quickly to actually keep her afloat. "Oh my gosh! Really?! I mean, we look so similar, but we have the same name, too?!" She trotted in place. "We're like twins!" "We are!" Lovey beamed at Dovey. "Did you come here because of a lullaby, too?" "Huh?" Dovey blinked, then shook her head. "Nope! What lullaby?" Her eyes widened. "Is it a lullaby about love?! I love love!" Lovey giggled. "I love love, too! But no, it was a lullaby about—" Dovey took a sharp intake of air and started to run for the ramp that led out of the cave. "Hey! Where are you going?" "It's an emergency!" Dovey's wings fluttered to help her move more quickly, her hooves barely touching the ground as she ran. "A love line emergency!" "Huh?" Lovey followed behind her. "An emergency? I didn't feel any emergency." Dovey broke out into a full gallop and called over her shoulder, "You wouldn't understand!" Lovey stopped to frown at the pink mare running into the darkness. "Of course I'd understand! I just don't agree!" She jumped into the air, spread her wings, and sailed after her twin. "Are you talking about that little twitch? Those happen all the time!" Dovey gasped. She said nothing further, weaving haphazardly through the bramble thicket until she found the path and saw the dim light ahead. "It's horrible! A disaster! What if I don't make it in time? What if I fail true love?!" "You're overreacting!" A breeze caught under Lovey's wings and propelled her forward enough that she could fly directly above Dovey. "By the time we get there, it'll already be resolved!" "How can you know that for certain?!" Dovey glared up at her. "It's my job to ensure that everypony finds their somepony!" Lovey swooped down and landed on the other mare's back, but the added weight didn't seem to slow her down any. "Well, my job is to help ponies with their love emergencies, and this is definitely not one of those." Light poured on them as they crossed the threshold of darkness and Lovey squinted to adjust to the light. Dovey continued onward toward the house nearest the edge of the Everfree Forest. "Dovey." Lovey blinked. "Dovey, stop!" She jumped off her back and hovered in the air, watching with wide eyes as Dovey broke down the front door. "Oh my gosh, Dovey!" She landed just inside the foyer to see Dovey, a mare, and a stallion, all staring at one another. "Lovey?!" Cheerilee squeaked, pushing Big Mac away. When she saw the second Lovey Dovey in the doorway, she blinked. "And... Lovey?" "She's Dovey, I'm Lovey," she corrected, though that did little to help the situation. Dovey stomped toward them and grabbed them by the shoulders. "You two are meant to be in love!" She pushed on their shoulders to force their faces together and bump noses awkwardly. "Now kiss and make up!" Cheerilee peered at Dovey out of the corner of her eye. "Lovey—" "She's Dovey," Lovey corrected again. "—sorry. Dovey." Cheerilee tried to smile. "I appreciate what you... and... you are trying to do, but it's fine. We just had a small fight, that's all." Lovey waved her hooves. "I have nothing to do with this!" Dovey blinked a few times. "Huh?" She let go of her shoulders. "But... You had a love line emergency!" Cheerilee broke into small giggles. "A love line emergency? Well, I don't know about that! We just couldn't decide what to have for dinner, and I'm afraid I got a little upset because he never makes a decision, and—" "There it is!" Dovey shrieked, grabbing their shoulders and bumping their noses together again. "No, no, no, no!" Lovey finally intervened. She jumped forward, grabbed Dovey by the tail, and gave it just enough of a tug to force her away from the exceptionally confused and somewhat concerned couple. "Okay, that's it! I'm sorry, Cheerilee and Big Mac. I'm just going to take this little filly outside and talk to her about the difference between emergencies and twitches, okay?" Big Mac just nodded while Cheerilee laughed, albeit with an awkward hitch. "All right, you two. Goodbye Lovey and... Dovey?" "And I'm really, really sorry about your door!" Lovey called just as she dragged the fidgeting and squirming Dovey out of their home. Once they were a few, safe paces away, Lovey whirled around and frowned at the other. "You can't just do that! Ponies have to figure some things out on their own!" Dovey scowled up at her and tried to yank her tail free. "But love is the most important thing in all of Equestria!" "Oh, what am I going to do with you?" Lovey started to rub her temples, then gasped and stared at her forehooves. That was exactly the kind of reaction he would have! A smile lit up her face. "Don't worry, Dovey! I know somepony who can help us." In an instant, Dovey's demeanor changed, much like Lovey's own feelings. The thought of Magnate gave her a surge of blissful excitement that seemed to be reflected on Dovey's face. "Who? Who is it?!" Lovey puffed out her chest with pride. "My very special somepony, Magnate." "Ooh! How funny!" Dovey snorted in the middle of giggling. "That's the name of my very special somepony!" Lovey Dovey and the Mirror Pool — "Trouble"Lovey groaned and wrapped her forelegs around Dovey's middle. "I'm so sorry!" She tried to smile at the couple sharing the train car with them. "She's just, um, really excited by your relationship!" Dovey squealed and squirmed. "They're super duper lovey dovey and I just want to bask in how much they love each other!" The couple glanced at each other, politely excused themselves, and fled into the next car. "Aww..." Dovey went limp in Lovey's hold. "You scared them off!" "I scared them off?!" Lovey let go of her. The feathers on her wings started to ruffle and she felt her hackles raising. "You bothered every occupant until now we're all alone! That was all your doing!" Dovey slumped down into a seat, turning away from Lovey with a huff. "Your lack of love-itude drove them away, not me!" "My lack of..." Lovey gawked. One hoof stomped, one ear flicked, and one eye twitched. "I'm the most love-ituded pony I know!" Dovey glared at her. "Well I would beg to differ!" Lovey stormed to the opposite side of the car to sit in a different booth. The two pink mares faced away from one another until Dovey squealed over something she saw outside. Lovey didn't have the energy or capacity of thought to pay her much mind. She had too much on her mind to sell it to the crazy mare! What was wrong with her? Why wasn't she excited over the love lives of other ponies? She sighed and looked over her shoulder at Dovey. Dovey was a much better Lovey Dovey than she was. Perhaps she wasn't Lovey at all, but she was actually Dovey? Oh, she wished the train would move faster. Magnate would make sense of all of it. She just hoped he could. By the time Lovey and Dovey reached Eminence Tower, Dovey had made thirty-seven matches. Of course, they were all ponies who were about to meet on their own and had very strong love lines, but Lovey was impressed nonetheless. Dovey was dedicated to her craft. Lovey had to wonder, why wasn't she? The building was mostly empty at that hour of the night, which meant Dovey only wandered away from Lovey's side a few times before they finally reached Magnate's office. As always whenever she was away—or, in this case, supposed to be away—his light was on and he was hunkered over his desk. "Magnate!" Dovey squealed as she nearly shattered the glass door when she shoved it open. "Magnate, I missed you so much!" Magnate jolted upright and stared at the double vision of pink in front of him with wide eyes. While Dovey snuggled up to him, Lovey lingered in the doorway. He turned his head to look at Dovey, then over at Lovey. "What's going on?" Lovey pawed at the ground with a hoof. "I, or, well, one of us cloned ourselves and now there's two of us." Her ears drooped. "I'm sorry, Magny." Magnate remained still while Dovey giggled and purred against him. Slowly, he put his hooves on her forelegs, carefully extracted himself from her embrace, and set her on the floor. "I see." He steepled his hooves. "And I suppose you both think you're Lovey Dovey." "Yes!" Dovey chirped and Lovey just nodded. "I see." He slipped his glasses off, folded them neatly, and set them down on his desk before he stood. "All right, then, Lovey." When both mares looked at him, he raised a hoof to block Dovey from his vision. "My Lovey." Dovey blinked a few times. "Huh? But I—" "She must be Lovey," Lovey interrupted, taking a step back. "I'm the clone. I must be!" "I see." His brow raised, but a small smile started to pull at his lips. "And why do you think that?" Dovey's wings fluttered and she circled the desk to land beside Lovey. "Because I'm Lovey Dovey!" Magnate continued to stare at Lovey, so she mumbled, "Because I'm not Lovey Dovey. I can't be! Dovey—I mean Lovey—I mean she has been running around making matches and all I've done is tried to stop her!" She dropped on to her hind legs to free her forehooves, into which she buried her face. "I'm a terrible Lovey Dovey!" Dovey nodded. "Exactly!" "I see." Lovey jerked her head up and glared. "Is that all you have to say, Magny? 'I see' over and over?" She rose to her hooves, her wings fluttering just enough to lift her off the ground a few inches. "Well, what are you going to do about me?" Magnate stood and walked around the desk to approach her, a serious look on his face. "Lovey." Lovey flinched when her ears twitched at the sound of her name, if it was even her name at all. "Yes?" "Do you trust me?" He stopped just in front of her. Dovey glanced between them and, slowly, her ears started to droop. "Oh." Lovey didn't notice, nodding instead. "Of course, Magny!" A full, sincere smile lit up Magnate's face. "You're Lovey Dovey." Dovey sighed. "About that—" "But I have a terrible love-itude!" Lovey shook her head with frantic fervor. "I can't be the real Lovey Dovey!" "If you'd just—" Dovey started, but Magnate talked over her. "I think I can tell my Lovey from..." He trailed off, his gaze briefly flickering to Dovey. "From Dovey." Lovey puffed out her cheeks. "But—" "Hey! Listen!" Dovey yelled and stomped both front hooves. Both Magnate and Lovey turned their heads to look at the mare, noting her sad eyes. "Lovey, you have a love line," Dovey whispered, a small hitch in her voice. Lovey blinked a few times. Her brow furrowed, then raised as realization set in. "And you don't..." Silence settled on them for a while until Magnate cleared his throat. "So, then, why don't you explain to me how this happened and we'll figure it out from there?" "Well, you see, there was this lake that looked like a mirror and was at the bottom of a cave in the dark forest near the town of Ponyville..." The train ride back to Ponyville was much less eventful than the one to Manehattan. Dovey seemed completely void of the exuberant cheer she had exuded before the discovery. Lovey's own joy at realizing she was, in fact, not a clone was stripped away at the fear of what would happen to Dovey. Magnate looped a foreleg around Lovey's shoulder and pulled her closer, placing a soft kiss on her temple. "Don't worry. I think I have a plan." Lovey glanced between him and Dovey. "But what's going to happen to her?" she whispered. Magnate shrugged. "I don't know, but I'm sure you're not the first pony who's wandered into lakes in caves in dark forests." One brow raised. "And perhaps in the future you'll be more careful?" Lovey gave a quick nod of her head. "I will, Magny, I promise! I'm sorry." Magnate raised his voice as he said, "Dovey, what do you remember?" "Huh?" Dovey looked up from her twiddling hooves. "Oh, Magny, I remember you, I think." Her brow furrowed. "My memory's all fuzzy-wuzzy." "Do you love me?" Lovey's ears shot up and Dovey replied with total conviction, "Absolutely!" Magnate clicked his tongue, his gaze shifting to look out the window. "I see." Lovey pursed her lips but tried to relax against him. She just had to trust that he had a plan, because she certainly didn't have one. "So," Magnate started, staring at himself perfectly reflected in the serene, placid waters, "you recited a poem and stepped through?" Lovey giggled. "No, not a poem! A lullaby! But yes." Magnate glanced over his shoulder at her. "What was the lullaby?" "Well, the important part is, I think, the last part." Lovey tapped her chin. "So close your eyes in Everfree Forest. Step on through and you will appear. And watch yourself in Everfree Forest. Sail far away into the Mirror." She blinked when she heard the sound of water moving and looked over to see Magnate's hind hooves slipping beneath the surface. "Magnate?!" she and Dovey cried at the same time, rushing over to the lake's edge. A brown hoof shot out of the water, prompting the mares to squeak in surprise. They backed away to watch Magnate climb out of the water, blink at them, then turn and reach down to help a second Magnate onto land. "Magnate, you," Lovey started. "Cloned yourself?" Dovey finished. One of the Magnates shrugged. "It seemed logical." His muscles tensed as he made eye contact with Dovey. "Are she and I... ?" Dovey tilted her head, her gaze lowering to his chest. Slowly, she followed what she saw and smiled, though the sadness returned to her eyes. "Yup, you're the real Magny, and she's the real Lovey!" Lovey looked at the second Magnate, who was busy straightening his glasses and mane. A gasp escaped her and she squealed, "He has a love line!" Her gaze darted to Dovey. "And it leads to you! I mean, it's faint, and it needs work, but—but—" Magnate smiled and nosed Lovey's cheek, then looked at his doppelganger. "We'll need to find you a job, perhaps in Baltimare. I don't think we can work in the same city together." The second Magnate raised one brow. "Excuse me? You want me to give up my job?" Dovey pawed at the air toward him. "Oh, no, that's Magnate's job!" "I see." Magnate the Second sighed and looked between them all. "Fine. But I don't want to delay. Baltimare, you said?" He started walking toward the exit. "I'll start looking for a job now." "I'll come with you!" Dovey chirped and jumped into the air to follow after him. Lovey and Magnate remained where they were, standing side-by-side in tentative silence, watching their doppelgangers leave. "Do you think they'll be okay?" Lovey asked and nuzzled her face against Magnate's neck. "They aren't normal, after all!" Magnate chuckled, raised a hoof, and gently booped her nose. "You're not normal, Lovey, and we're just fine." Lovey gasped in mock offense. She pulled away from him, her eyes wide and lips parted in exaggerated surprise. "I'm the one that's not normal? Oh, perhaps I would be better off with your clone!" "Then go after him." He shrugged. "But that would be disobeying your love line, and you wouldn't want to violate your ethics as a matchmaker, now, would you?" He looked down his snout at her, but a small grin betrayed his playful intent. "That is a good point." Her wings fluttered and she hopped up to kiss his cheek. "Can we just go home now and pretend this never happened?" Magnate smiled. "Of course, dear." How They Met — Upper Crust and Jet Set — "Ordinary"Upper Crust sighed at her reflection: a geeky, awkward young mare with braces the size of Equestria strapped to her teeth. All she ever wanted was to be beautiful, but it seemed fate had another plan in mind. She was plain. Ordinary. A forgettable face in the crowd. After hours of primping herself to what she deemed a passable state of appearance, she finally left the ordinary house of her ordinary parents to head out for another ordinary day of school. Perhaps today she'd have the courage to speak to her ultimate crush of three years, the wonderful and extraordinary Jet Set. He was in the running for class valedictorian and captain of the polo team, though a stallion named Buck Withers had lately caught the attention of most mares in her class and was vying for the captain position. Jet Set was the only one in her eyes, however. The only problem was getting him to notice her. On the way to school, Lyrica Lilac caught up with her. "Hey, Uppa!" Her voice was, unsurprisingly, perfectly melodic. Lyrica was destined to sing opera and chase greatness. She was also the closest thing Upper Crust had to a friend, which wasn't saying much. "There's only a few months left until the Fall Formal," Lyrica said, beaming. "How many stallions do you have asking for your hoof?" Upper Crust kept her eyes forward. "Zero." Lyrica gasped. "Zero? But Uppa, that's impossible!" "Clearly it is not," she grumbled in reply and quickened her pace. "Well, I have four suitors, so I'll simply mention your name when I let down the ones I'm not interested in." Lyrica smiled with utmost innocence. "I'll see you in History!" Upper Crust snorted after they parted ways. Lyrica was beautiful, with lusciously curly blonde mane that always seemed to be perfectly maintained without a hint of frizz. It was annoying to be around her and all the ponies that sidled up to her because of her family's wealth, but she was the only pony who would be friends with a mare of no social significance. Whether it was pity, genuine, or something more deceitful that motivated Lyrica was unclear, and Upper Crust didn't really care to know the truth. Homeroom was the usual bore of announcements for the day, and then finally, Upper Crust arrived at her favorite club: flag corps. It was dorky, she knew, and certainly not the way to popularity, but it was something she enjoyed. She felt competent. She felt at ease. While she twirled her flag and marched in time with the beat set forth by the band club, her mind wandered to the Fall Formal. Her braces wouldn't come off until long after. The ease vanished and she fumbled with the flag, glaring at her hooves. Why did it have to be hooves? Why was it her fault that earth ponies and pegasi were at a disadvantage? She sighed and fell back into sync with the others. The Fall Formal was her last chance and it was out of reach. This was it, then? This was her life? She would get an ordinary job like her parents and never rise to join her peers in the high class world of her dreams? Then she would accept her lot in life with dignity and grace. Holding her head even higher, tossing her pale indigo and light grey mane over her shoulder, and placing a smile on her face, she spun the flag with one hoof and passed it to the other. After the blue and yellow flag fluttered across her line of sight, she gasped when she saw him. Jet Set had wandered onto the field and was watching them. It felt like he was watching her. Of course, that was impossible, but she put on the best smile just in case. If he was going to be watching the flag corps, then she wasn't going to let something like nerves get in her way. Nerves were a reminder that one hadn't truly conquered fear and had to try harder. "All right, ladies!" the instructor yelled and the band's music came to an abrupt stop. "That's enough for now. Take a break, get some water, then we'll take it from the top." Just as they started to file toward the water fountain, Jet Set and his stallions approached. The mares twittered in excitement and giggled to one another, but Upper Crust held her nose high and kept walking. She would not betray her true feelings and make a fool of herself by melting into a puddle so he could walk right over her to the mare he was actually after. "Hey!" His voice was like spearmint gum: cool, refreshing, and with a hint of a brisk thrill. "Wait up!" Her peripheral vision was empty. There were no mares to her sides, and certainly none in front of her. Finally, she turned her head with a flutter of hope in her chest. "Hmm?" He was walking toward her. His eyes were locked on her. Her. She stopped and turned to face him completely. Jet Set smiled and tilted his head. "What's your name?" "Upper Crust," she said as quickly as she could without sounding rushed, but without flashing her braces more than necessary. His head bobbed in a small nod. "I see. Do you have a date to the Fall Formal, Miss Crust?" She absolutely loathed her name, especially when it was shortened, but he could shorten or lengthen it however he liked. She responded with a small shake of her head. "Would you like one?" He flashed a charming smile. Behind him, the two stallions that always followed at his heels gasped and glanced at one another, muttering something. As unladylike as it was to think, her inner voice spat Buck them and she smiled. "Yes, if it's you." His ears perked in surprise. Honestly, she was surprised at herself; an ordinary mare like her being asked to the Fall Formal by a wonderful, handsome, rich stallion like him should be screaming and squealing and blushing and all sorts of things opposite from her current outward reaction. There would be time for those feelings later when she told her diary all about it. For now, she maintained her cool composure. This was her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and she was most certainly not going to waste it.
How They Met — Upper Crust and Jet Set — "Extraordinary"Soft orchestral music drifted out of the record player, just loud enough to mask the clinking of silverware against bowls. Jet Set and his parents were only halfway through the appetizer course and the air was already so tense they could serve it for the main course. "So, then, you are not taking Fine Line to the Fall Formal Gala tonight?" Jet Ship glanced over at his son. "Are you sure that is wise?" Jet Set opened his mouth, but Diadem interrupted. "To be fair, Fine Line's family is only moderately successful. He could do better." Ship raised his brow, quietly sipped his soup, then asked, "And what of Lyrica Lilac? She has potential." After a glance at his mother, who seemed preoccupied with straightening her hair, Jet Set said, "I am taking none of the mares you listed for me, Father." Spoons fell from magic to land in the soup bowls and wide eyes turned to him. He lifted his own spoon to his lips, keeping his calm expression in place. "Then who exactly are you taking, Son?" Ship's eyes narrowed just enough to show his displeasure. "Upper Crust," Jet Set replied between sips. Diadem gawked. Her horn lit up and she snatched the bottle from the serving pony's hooves, waved a hoof to dismiss him, and began pouring herself a glass. Ship steepled his hooves. "That isn't part of the plan, Son. You need a respectable wife if you plan to join and, eventually, take over the company." "Well." Jet Set lowered his spoon to rest on the edge of his bowl and lifted his gaze to meet his father's. "Then I suppose the plan is changing." "Go to your room," Ship snarled with ice in his voice. "Your mother and I need to talk." Jet Set shook his head as he stood, his chair screeching as it scraped against the ground from his sudden movement. "I'm not a child, Father. You're going to discuss my inheritance. I'll save you the time. I'm not interested." Diadem poured another glass and tossed it back. She rubbed her forehead, then stared at her son, eyes narrowed. "Jet Set, what has gotten into your head? You have an extraordinary opportunity to live how every pony dreams and few ponies achieve!" Jet Set shrugged on his way out of the dining room. His ears flicked at the sound of his mother yelling after him, but he kept walking, each step shedding off a weight he had been carrying all his life. All of their expectations, demands, and restrictions suddenly no longer felt so necessary to follow. He smiled at the servant that opened one of the two front doors for him. "Thank you, Penny Worth." The old stallion nodded respectfully. "Have a good day, sir." Jet Set paused and looked up at Penny Worth. "No, Penny Worth." He smiled when Worth lowered his gaze to make direct, curious eye contact. "I sincerely mean it. Thank you." The stallion who had practically raised him blinked, then returned the smile, the wrinkles around the corners of his eyes becoming more pronounced from the kind expression. "You're welcome, sir. It has always been my pleasure." The door opened no less than five seconds after he knocked. Instead of Upper Crust's mother or father, the mare herself answered the door and hurriedly stepped outside. "Hello." She glanced behind her, then back up at him. "Are you ready to go?" Jet Set blinked, once at the nonstandard greeting, twice at how she looked. It was a gown fit for the Grand Galloping Gala, not a simple school gala. Satin, lace, and gilded ribbons were woven together into an extraordinary dress that made her the single most beautiful mare he had ever seen. After a few more blinks, he finally smiled. "Yes, I am." He offered the crook of his foreleg. "Shall we, Miss Crust?" "Please," she said while accepting his offer, "call me anything but that." They started to walk away while he mulled over his options. "You look lovely tonight, beautiful." Her grip on his foreleg tightened and out of the corner of his eye, he saw her ears perk and face flush, and he smiled. He'd had several marefriends before and they had all been the same: eyelash fluttering, giggling, gossiping creatures that couldn't express a sincere emotion. Upper Crust was different and he liked that. He liked that a lot.
How They Met — Upper Crust and Jet Set — "Perfect"When they walked into the gymnasium, Upper Crust felt the most wonderful sensation: all eyes were on her. She was finally a somepony, thanks to the handsome stallion to her left. She turned her head to gaze up at him, smiling. "Shall I get us some punch?" Jet Set offered, returning her smile. "If you wouldn't mind, that would be wonderful." Upper Crust went back to surveying the room while Jet Set walked away. There was Lyrica Lilac, clinging to the foreleg of Fancy Pants. He had some dream of running a modeling company. Upper Crust rolled her eyes, but feigned a smile when Lyrica waved to her. For the first time in four years, Upper Crust was finally the one ahead. Victory tasted so sweet. A cup floated into her vision. "Here you are," Jet Set said. Upper Crust took a sip, then inclined her head at just the right angle and felt the barely satisfactory lighting hit her eyes. It was a simple trick that she had picked up when she was young from the other fillies, and it seemed to work, because he suddenly held out his hoof toward her. "I would very much like to dance with you." He chuckled and added, "If you're done with your punch, of course." Her magic set the cup down on the nearest surface and she took his hoof, her heart starting to flutter, not with excitement, but with panic. She didn't have proper training for this! Sure, she had practiced by herself, but that didn't calm her nerves one bit. "That would be wonderful." As he led her out onto the floor, she started to contemplate her options. She could trip and claim a sprained ankle. However, the moment he turned to face her and their eyes met again, the fears were washed away. He brushed their necks together and hooked his foreleg around one of hers, then swayed with her to the soft music that played. Oh. This was the kind of dancing he meant. She had to admit she was a little disappointed at first, but their closeness more than made up for it. She cracked one eye open to look around and smiled. All eyes were on her. Two songs and a punch break later, the music died down and the principal walked onto the stage. "I hope you're all having a wonderful time!" He smiled, levitating an envelope beside him. "The results are in for this year's Fall Formal King and Queen. Who's ready to hear this year's winners?" The ponies stomped, cheered, and whistled. Upper Crust remained stoic until Jet Set reached over to give her hoof a small squeeze. She glanced down at their joined hooves, then looked up at him. His gaze was focused on her and, when their eyes met, he smiled. "Don't be nervous," he said. "I'm sure we've won." Upper Crust's brow quirked. "Who said I was nervous?" She snubbed her nose at him. "I certainly didn't." Jet Set blinked a few times, then laughed softly, shaking his head. "All right, fillies and gentlecolts," the principal said while his magic slowly opened the envelope. "This year, the Fall Formal King and Queen are..." He paused for dramatic effect, then exclaimed, "Jet Set and Upper Crust!" The gymnasium erupted in cheers and Jet Set waved to their peers while he walked alongside Upper Crust toward the stage. As they were crowned and Upper Crust was handed a bouquet of roses, Jet Set leaned over and whispered, "You make a perfect queen, beautiful." Upper Crust's breath caught in her throat and while Jet Set turned his attention on the crowd of ponies cheering for them, she stared at him. A few flashes of camera illuminated the stage, but she forgot to pose. All she could do was stare at him, warmth spreading from her chest to the very tips of her ears, and she smiled so much that it hurt. "Darling, I could really use your help," Upper Crust called from the bathroom, frowning at her reflection. Jet Set poked his head into the room. "What's wrong, dear?" She turned to face him, a white gold earring on one ear and a single large pearl on the other. "I can't decide which of these will be the most effective at Lyrica's foal shower." She rolled her eyes. "It's all she's talked about since she found out she was pregnant, and I'm so awfully tired of hearing about it. Honestly, does she not realize—" An odd choking sound caught in the back of her throat. "Oh." She raised a hoof to cover her mouth. "Oh, darling, I feel awful." Jet Set rushed all the way into the room and put a hoof on her shoulder, worry seeping into his every word as he asked, "Awful? What's wrong? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Upper Crust remained perfectly still, her eyes clenched shut until the sudden bout of nausea passed. She blinked her eyes open and frowned up at him. "No, it was just a moment of feeling ill at ease. I'm perfectly fine." She turned back to her reflection. "As I was saying, does she not realize what pregnancy does to a mare's body? She's already looking rotund. It's absolutely dreadful." "Dear..." He hesitated, then sighed, smiled, and said, "I think the pearls suits you best." She nodded. Her magic removed the white gold earring and replaced it with the matching pearl stud. "Perfect. Thank you, darling. Well, then, I'm off." She placed a quick peck of a kiss on his cheek, smiling up at him. "I'll see you this evening." As she walked down the stairs, her stomach knotted up and she grabbed onto the railing with one hoof, the other clamped over her mouth. "Nngh..." "Honey!" Jet Set hurried down the stairs and stood on the step beneath her to ensure she didn't fall. "Forget the foal shower. We need to get you to a hospital." Upper Crust shook her head. "I'm fine," she hissed. "I just need a quick sip of ginger ale." Jet Set's face hardened as he grabbed her hoof. "Don't be stubborn. It's unbecoming." At his words, her ears perked up, then folded back. She finally relented with a nod and allowed him to lead her the rest of the way down the stairs. "I'm... pregnant?" Upper Crust said the word as if the doctor had given her a death sentence, her face going pale. "No, no no, that can't be. We, I, we..." She looked to Jet Set. "Darling, wipe that look off your face and tell the stallion." Jet Set cleared his throat, the smile still holding firm onto his lips. "We take proper precautions, dear, but you know it's not a guarantee." He tried to hold her hoof, but she swatted him away and rolled over to face her back to him. The smile finally fell. "Dear, this is good news!" "Says you," she whispered with her face buried in her hooves to hide the tears. "Both of you, please, leave." "Dear—" "Leave," she snarled. Jet Set lingered a moment longer, then followed the doctor out. When the door shut behind them, Upper Crust bolted upright and threw the nearest object across the room. The pillow hit the wall and landed with an anticlimactic, gentle fwump. Her gaze darted about for something more substantial and she grabbed the lamp. This time, after she threw it, there was a very satisfying crash and shatter effect. Her breathing was ragged and her heart was racing. She was going to get fat. Jet Set would leave her. Tears streamed down her face and she wept freely. There was no need to keep up an act anymore; a divorce would ruin everything. That one simple, horrible word—pregnant—was going to take away her perfect life. Upper Crust glanced over at Jet Set, who slept in the chair beside the hospital bed. The stupid stallion she called husband had decided to stay by her side throughout the whole ordeal, all eleven months of it, which he had been happy about from the very beginning. He had fainted halfway through the birth itself, however, which she thought was rather unfair, as she had no such option. The pain was already starting to fade away in her memory, though, and now all she was left with was a foal squirming in her embrace. Upper Crust sighed and looked down at the filly with a frown. "I hope you're happy with yourself," she muttered. "Do you see what you've done to me?" Her mane was a mess, sweat matted her coat, and she could hardly keep her eyes open from total exhaustion. She was an absolutely dreadful sight, all thanks to the foal. The newborn stopped squirming at the sound of Upper Crust's voice, then blinked and looked up at her, revealing a pair of hazel orbs that stopped her heart for a moment. Suddenly, every feeling vanished from her tired mind except love. This foal, her Crystal Wishes, was the most perfect thing she had ever seen. She had never felt so much love for anypony or anything before, and it brought a smile to her face. At that moment, Upper Crust knew she had the most important role of her life ahead of her: to protect this sweet, innocent little filly from the cruel and fickle world she had been born into. Upper Crust leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her foal's forehead, mumbling softly, "I promise, darling, you will never want for anything."
Lovey Dovey and the Mirror Pool — "Double"The Everfree Forest is not a place suitable for most ponies, which makes it the most well-suited place for ponies to wander into haphazardly. Strange how that works, isn't it? Lovey Dovey, matchmaker extraordinaire, was enjoying a leisurely stroll through her old home of Ponyville. It had been a while since she had been by, as most of her time lately was spent in Manehattan with her very special somepony, Magnate. He was away on a business trip, however, which meant she had time for herself and she chose to spend that time seeing if anything back home had changed. Little had, so her stroll didn't take very long. "Well," she murmured to herself, frowning, "now what do I do?" After she circled the town for the third time, she stopped on the side just at the edge of the Everfree Forest. She stared into the ominous darkness that clouded the timberland, making it difficult to see past the first line of trees. There was a path, however, that she could clearly make out against the barbed thicket. Lovey tilted her head one way, then the other, then smiled. "A road never travelled is an opportunity never found, they say! Or, at least, I think that's what they say?" She trotted forward, right past the sign that warned against venturing into the forest. "Only one way to find out!" She hummed a merry little tune as she followed the path. Her over-the-top pink appearance contrasted so greatly with her dark surroundings that the creatures lurking in the bushes and trees could do nothing but stare in confusion. "How does that lullaby go?" She stopped and tapped on her chin, her nose scrunched up in thought until the melody hit her first and she started to hum. Slowly, the words formed in her mind and she sang them aloud. "A gentle breeze from the Unicorn Range Softly blows o’er the Everfree It echoes in the cavern beneath it Waiting for another who would be." Her hooves guided her through the bramble thicket somewhat aimlessly until she stumbled on a clearing, small rays of sunlight filtering through the thick foliage to illuminate the entrance to a cavern. She squealed with delight and continued the lullaby as she trotted toward it. "It isn’t far to Everfree Forest Where a lake waits below for thee The pool of change so softly reflecting Soon it will take you to become we." A path led her down into the cave, and when she reached the bottom, she discovered a pool so perfectly still that it looked like glass. Though she was deep underground, the walls seemed to radiate enough light that it reflected off the surface of the pool. Lovey giggled and walked to the edge, finishing the last verse, her tone cracking with excitement at her discovery. "So close your eyes in Everfree Forest Step on through and you will appear And watch yourself in Everfree Forest Sail far away into the Mirror." "Sail far away into the mirror?" she repeated, staring down at her reflection, then gasped. "Step on through and I will appear? Appear where? Oh, you've come this far, Lovey! You can't stop now!" Taking a deep breath and holding it, she dipped one hoof into the water. It was cold and sent a shiver down her spine, but her determination moved her to drop the other hoof in. Her head broke through the surface and she blinked when she found herself above water rather than beneath. "Huh?" She looked down at the water she was in, brow furrowed and lips pursed. "Hello!" a sugary sweet voice squealed and a pink hoof was lowered into her view. "I'm Lovey Dovey!" Lovey raised her gaze to follow the hoof and looked up at a mare. Not just any more. It was herself! "Oh!" She took the hoof and the mare helped her out of the water. "I'm Lovey Dovey, too!" Lovey—or perhaps she would be Dovey, so that Lovey wouldn't get confused—squealed and jumped into the air, her wings fluttering too quickly to actually keep her afloat. "Oh my gosh! Really?! I mean, we look so similar, but we have the same name, too?!" She trotted in place. "We're like twins!" "We are!" Lovey beamed at Dovey. "Did you come here because of a lullaby, too?" "Huh?" Dovey blinked, then shook her head. "Nope! What lullaby?" Her eyes widened. "Is it a lullaby about love?! I love love!" Lovey giggled. "I love love, too! But no, it was a lullaby about—" Dovey took a sharp intake of air and started to run for the ramp that led out of the cave. "Hey! Where are you going?" "It's an emergency!" Dovey's wings fluttered to help her move more quickly, her hooves barely touching the ground as she ran. "A love line emergency!" "Huh?" Lovey followed behind her. "An emergency? I didn't feel any emergency." Dovey broke out into a full gallop and called over her shoulder, "You wouldn't understand!" Lovey stopped to frown at the pink mare running into the darkness. "Of course I'd understand! I just don't agree!" She jumped into the air, spread her wings, and sailed after her twin. "Are you talking about that little twitch? Those happen all the time!" Dovey gasped. She said nothing further, weaving haphazardly through the bramble thicket until she found the path and saw the dim light ahead. "It's horrible! A disaster! What if I don't make it in time? What if I fail true love?!" "You're overreacting!" A breeze caught under Lovey's wings and propelled her forward enough that she could fly directly above Dovey. "By the time we get there, it'll already be resolved!" "How can you know that for certain?!" Dovey glared up at her. "It's my job to ensure that everypony finds their somepony!" Lovey swooped down and landed on the other mare's back, but the added weight didn't seem to slow her down any. "Well, my job is to help ponies with their love emergencies, and this is definitely not one of those." Light poured on them as they crossed the threshold of darkness and Lovey squinted to adjust to the light. Dovey continued onward toward the house nearest the edge of the Everfree Forest. "Dovey." Lovey blinked. "Dovey, stop!" She jumped off her back and hovered in the air, watching with wide eyes as Dovey broke down the front door. "Oh my gosh, Dovey!" She landed just inside the foyer to see Dovey, a mare, and a stallion, all staring at one another. "Lovey?!" Cheerilee squeaked, pushing Big Mac away. When she saw the second Lovey Dovey in the doorway, she blinked. "And... Lovey?" "She's Dovey, I'm Lovey," she corrected, though that did little to help the situation. Dovey stomped toward them and grabbed them by the shoulders. "You two are meant to be in love!" She pushed on their shoulders to force their faces together and bump noses awkwardly. "Now kiss and make up!" Cheerilee peered at Dovey out of the corner of her eye. "Lovey—" "She's Dovey," Lovey corrected again. "—sorry. Dovey." Cheerilee tried to smile. "I appreciate what you... and... you are trying to do, but it's fine. We just had a small fight, that's all." Lovey waved her hooves. "I have nothing to do with this!" Dovey blinked a few times. "Huh?" She let go of her shoulders. "But... You had a love line emergency!" Cheerilee broke into small giggles. "A love line emergency? Well, I don't know about that! We just couldn't decide what to have for dinner, and I'm afraid I got a little upset because he never makes a decision, and—" "There it is!" Dovey shrieked, grabbing their shoulders and bumping their noses together again. "No, no, no, no!" Lovey finally intervened. She jumped forward, grabbed Dovey by the tail, and gave it just enough of a tug to force her away from the exceptionally confused and somewhat concerned couple. "Okay, that's it! I'm sorry, Cheerilee and Big Mac. I'm just going to take this little filly outside and talk to her about the difference between emergencies and twitches, okay?" Big Mac just nodded while Cheerilee laughed, albeit with an awkward hitch. "All right, you two. Goodbye Lovey and... Dovey?" "And I'm really, really sorry about your door!" Lovey called just as she dragged the fidgeting and squirming Dovey out of their home. Once they were a few, safe paces away, Lovey whirled around and frowned at the other. "You can't just do that! Ponies have to figure some things out on their own!" Dovey scowled up at her and tried to yank her tail free. "But love is the most important thing in all of Equestria!" "Oh, what am I going to do with you?" Lovey started to rub her temples, then gasped and stared at her forehooves. That was exactly the kind of reaction he would have! A smile lit up her face. "Don't worry, Dovey! I know somepony who can help us." In an instant, Dovey's demeanor changed, much like Lovey's own feelings. The thought of Magnate gave her a surge of blissful excitement that seemed to be reflected on Dovey's face. "Who? Who is it?!" Lovey puffed out her chest with pride. "My very special somepony, Magnate." "Ooh! How funny!" Dovey snorted in the middle of giggling. "That's the name of my very special somepony!"
Lovey Dovey and the Mirror Pool — "Trouble"Lovey groaned and wrapped her forelegs around Dovey's middle. "I'm so sorry!" She tried to smile at the couple sharing the train car with them. "She's just, um, really excited by your relationship!" Dovey squealed and squirmed. "They're super duper lovey dovey and I just want to bask in how much they love each other!" The couple glanced at each other, politely excused themselves, and fled into the next car. "Aww..." Dovey went limp in Lovey's hold. "You scared them off!" "I scared them off?!" Lovey let go of her. The feathers on her wings started to ruffle and she felt her hackles raising. "You bothered every occupant until now we're all alone! That was all your doing!" Dovey slumped down into a seat, turning away from Lovey with a huff. "Your lack of love-itude drove them away, not me!" "My lack of..." Lovey gawked. One hoof stomped, one ear flicked, and one eye twitched. "I'm the most love-ituded pony I know!" Dovey glared at her. "Well I would beg to differ!" Lovey stormed to the opposite side of the car to sit in a different booth. The two pink mares faced away from one another until Dovey squealed over something she saw outside. Lovey didn't have the energy or capacity of thought to pay her much mind. She had too much on her mind to sell it to the crazy mare! What was wrong with her? Why wasn't she excited over the love lives of other ponies? She sighed and looked over her shoulder at Dovey. Dovey was a much better Lovey Dovey than she was. Perhaps she wasn't Lovey at all, but she was actually Dovey? Oh, she wished the train would move faster. Magnate would make sense of all of it. She just hoped he could. By the time Lovey and Dovey reached Eminence Tower, Dovey had made thirty-seven matches. Of course, they were all ponies who were about to meet on their own and had very strong love lines, but Lovey was impressed nonetheless. Dovey was dedicated to her craft. Lovey had to wonder, why wasn't she? The building was mostly empty at that hour of the night, which meant Dovey only wandered away from Lovey's side a few times before they finally reached Magnate's office. As always whenever she was away—or, in this case, supposed to be away—his light was on and he was hunkered over his desk. "Magnate!" Dovey squealed as she nearly shattered the glass door when she shoved it open. "Magnate, I missed you so much!" Magnate jolted upright and stared at the double vision of pink in front of him with wide eyes. While Dovey snuggled up to him, Lovey lingered in the doorway. He turned his head to look at Dovey, then over at Lovey. "What's going on?" Lovey pawed at the ground with a hoof. "I, or, well, one of us cloned ourselves and now there's two of us." Her ears drooped. "I'm sorry, Magny." Magnate remained still while Dovey giggled and purred against him. Slowly, he put his hooves on her forelegs, carefully extracted himself from her embrace, and set her on the floor. "I see." He steepled his hooves. "And I suppose you both think you're Lovey Dovey." "Yes!" Dovey chirped and Lovey just nodded. "I see." He slipped his glasses off, folded them neatly, and set them down on his desk before he stood. "All right, then, Lovey." When both mares looked at him, he raised a hoof to block Dovey from his vision. "My Lovey." Dovey blinked a few times. "Huh? But I—" "She must be Lovey," Lovey interrupted, taking a step back. "I'm the clone. I must be!" "I see." His brow raised, but a small smile started to pull at his lips. "And why do you think that?" Dovey's wings fluttered and she circled the desk to land beside Lovey. "Because I'm Lovey Dovey!" Magnate continued to stare at Lovey, so she mumbled, "Because I'm not Lovey Dovey. I can't be! Dovey—I mean Lovey—I mean she has been running around making matches and all I've done is tried to stop her!" She dropped on to her hind legs to free her forehooves, into which she buried her face. "I'm a terrible Lovey Dovey!" Dovey nodded. "Exactly!" "I see." Lovey jerked her head up and glared. "Is that all you have to say, Magny? 'I see' over and over?" She rose to her hooves, her wings fluttering just enough to lift her off the ground a few inches. "Well, what are you going to do about me?" Magnate stood and walked around the desk to approach her, a serious look on his face. "Lovey." Lovey flinched when her ears twitched at the sound of her name, if it was even her name at all. "Yes?" "Do you trust me?" He stopped just in front of her. Dovey glanced between them and, slowly, her ears started to droop. "Oh." Lovey didn't notice, nodding instead. "Of course, Magny!" A full, sincere smile lit up Magnate's face. "You're Lovey Dovey." Dovey sighed. "About that—" "But I have a terrible love-itude!" Lovey shook her head with frantic fervor. "I can't be the real Lovey Dovey!" "If you'd just—" Dovey started, but Magnate talked over her. "I think I can tell my Lovey from..." He trailed off, his gaze briefly flickering to Dovey. "From Dovey." Lovey puffed out her cheeks. "But—" "Hey! Listen!" Dovey yelled and stomped both front hooves. Both Magnate and Lovey turned their heads to look at the mare, noting her sad eyes. "Lovey, you have a love line," Dovey whispered, a small hitch in her voice. Lovey blinked a few times. Her brow furrowed, then raised as realization set in. "And you don't..." Silence settled on them for a while until Magnate cleared his throat. "So, then, why don't you explain to me how this happened and we'll figure it out from there?" "Well, you see, there was this lake that looked like a mirror and was at the bottom of a cave in the dark forest near the town of Ponyville..." The train ride back to Ponyville was much less eventful than the one to Manehattan. Dovey seemed completely void of the exuberant cheer she had exuded before the discovery. Lovey's own joy at realizing she was, in fact, not a clone was stripped away at the fear of what would happen to Dovey. Magnate looped a foreleg around Lovey's shoulder and pulled her closer, placing a soft kiss on her temple. "Don't worry. I think I have a plan." Lovey glanced between him and Dovey. "But what's going to happen to her?" she whispered. Magnate shrugged. "I don't know, but I'm sure you're not the first pony who's wandered into lakes in caves in dark forests." One brow raised. "And perhaps in the future you'll be more careful?" Lovey gave a quick nod of her head. "I will, Magny, I promise! I'm sorry." Magnate raised his voice as he said, "Dovey, what do you remember?" "Huh?" Dovey looked up from her twiddling hooves. "Oh, Magny, I remember you, I think." Her brow furrowed. "My memory's all fuzzy-wuzzy." "Do you love me?" Lovey's ears shot up and Dovey replied with total conviction, "Absolutely!" Magnate clicked his tongue, his gaze shifting to look out the window. "I see." Lovey pursed her lips but tried to relax against him. She just had to trust that he had a plan, because she certainly didn't have one. "So," Magnate started, staring at himself perfectly reflected in the serene, placid waters, "you recited a poem and stepped through?" Lovey giggled. "No, not a poem! A lullaby! But yes." Magnate glanced over his shoulder at her. "What was the lullaby?" "Well, the important part is, I think, the last part." Lovey tapped her chin. "So close your eyes in Everfree Forest. Step on through and you will appear. And watch yourself in Everfree Forest. Sail far away into the Mirror." She blinked when she heard the sound of water moving and looked over to see Magnate's hind hooves slipping beneath the surface. "Magnate?!" she and Dovey cried at the same time, rushing over to the lake's edge. A brown hoof shot out of the water, prompting the mares to squeak in surprise. They backed away to watch Magnate climb out of the water, blink at them, then turn and reach down to help a second Magnate onto land. "Magnate, you," Lovey started. "Cloned yourself?" Dovey finished. One of the Magnates shrugged. "It seemed logical." His muscles tensed as he made eye contact with Dovey. "Are she and I... ?" Dovey tilted her head, her gaze lowering to his chest. Slowly, she followed what she saw and smiled, though the sadness returned to her eyes. "Yup, you're the real Magny, and she's the real Lovey!" Lovey looked at the second Magnate, who was busy straightening his glasses and mane. A gasp escaped her and she squealed, "He has a love line!" Her gaze darted to Dovey. "And it leads to you! I mean, it's faint, and it needs work, but—but—" Magnate smiled and nosed Lovey's cheek, then looked at his doppelganger. "We'll need to find you a job, perhaps in Baltimare. I don't think we can work in the same city together." The second Magnate raised one brow. "Excuse me? You want me to give up my job?" Dovey pawed at the air toward him. "Oh, no, that's Magnate's job!" "I see." Magnate the Second sighed and looked between them all. "Fine. But I don't want to delay. Baltimare, you said?" He started walking toward the exit. "I'll start looking for a job now." "I'll come with you!" Dovey chirped and jumped into the air to follow after him. Lovey and Magnate remained where they were, standing side-by-side in tentative silence, watching their doppelgangers leave. "Do you think they'll be okay?" Lovey asked and nuzzled her face against Magnate's neck. "They aren't normal, after all!" Magnate chuckled, raised a hoof, and gently booped her nose. "You're not normal, Lovey, and we're just fine." Lovey gasped in mock offense. She pulled away from him, her eyes wide and lips parted in exaggerated surprise. "I'm the one that's not normal? Oh, perhaps I would be better off with your clone!" "Then go after him." He shrugged. "But that would be disobeying your love line, and you wouldn't want to violate your ethics as a matchmaker, now, would you?" He looked down his snout at her, but a small grin betrayed his playful intent. "That is a good point." Her wings fluttered and she hopped up to kiss his cheek. "Can we just go home now and pretend this never happened?" Magnate smiled. "Of course, dear."
How They Met — Upper Crust and Jet Set — "Ordinary"Upper Crust sighed at her reflection: a geeky, awkward young mare with braces the size of Equestria strapped to her teeth. All she ever wanted was to be beautiful, but it seemed fate had another plan in mind. She was plain. Ordinary. A forgettable face in the crowd. After hours of primping herself to what she deemed a passable state of appearance, she finally left the ordinary house of her ordinary parents to head out for another ordinary day of school. Perhaps today she'd have the courage to speak to her ultimate crush of three years, the wonderful and extraordinary Jet Set. He was in the running for class valedictorian and captain of the polo team, though a stallion named Buck Withers had lately caught the attention of most mares in her class and was vying for the captain position. Jet Set was the only one in her eyes, however. The only problem was getting him to notice her. On the way to school, Lyrica Lilac caught up with her. "Hey, Uppa!" Her voice was, unsurprisingly, perfectly melodic. Lyrica was destined to sing opera and chase greatness. She was also the closest thing Upper Crust had to a friend, which wasn't saying much. "There's only a few months left until the Fall Formal," Lyrica said, beaming. "How many stallions do you have asking for your hoof?" Upper Crust kept her eyes forward. "Zero." Lyrica gasped. "Zero? But Uppa, that's impossible!" "Clearly it is not," she grumbled in reply and quickened her pace. "Well, I have four suitors, so I'll simply mention your name when I let down the ones I'm not interested in." Lyrica smiled with utmost innocence. "I'll see you in History!" Upper Crust snorted after they parted ways. Lyrica was beautiful, with lusciously curly blonde mane that always seemed to be perfectly maintained without a hint of frizz. It was annoying to be around her and all the ponies that sidled up to her because of her family's wealth, but she was the only pony who would be friends with a mare of no social significance. Whether it was pity, genuine, or something more deceitful that motivated Lyrica was unclear, and Upper Crust didn't really care to know the truth. Homeroom was the usual bore of announcements for the day, and then finally, Upper Crust arrived at her favorite club: flag corps. It was dorky, she knew, and certainly not the way to popularity, but it was something she enjoyed. She felt competent. She felt at ease. While she twirled her flag and marched in time with the beat set forth by the band club, her mind wandered to the Fall Formal. Her braces wouldn't come off until long after. The ease vanished and she fumbled with the flag, glaring at her hooves. Why did it have to be hooves? Why was it her fault that earth ponies and pegasi were at a disadvantage? She sighed and fell back into sync with the others. The Fall Formal was her last chance and it was out of reach. This was it, then? This was her life? She would get an ordinary job like her parents and never rise to join her peers in the high class world of her dreams? Then she would accept her lot in life with dignity and grace. Holding her head even higher, tossing her pale indigo and light grey mane over her shoulder, and placing a smile on her face, she spun the flag with one hoof and passed it to the other. After the blue and yellow flag fluttered across her line of sight, she gasped when she saw him. Jet Set had wandered onto the field and was watching them. It felt like he was watching her. Of course, that was impossible, but she put on the best smile just in case. If he was going to be watching the flag corps, then she wasn't going to let something like nerves get in her way. Nerves were a reminder that one hadn't truly conquered fear and had to try harder. "All right, ladies!" the instructor yelled and the band's music came to an abrupt stop. "That's enough for now. Take a break, get some water, then we'll take it from the top." Just as they started to file toward the water fountain, Jet Set and his stallions approached. The mares twittered in excitement and giggled to one another, but Upper Crust held her nose high and kept walking. She would not betray her true feelings and make a fool of herself by melting into a puddle so he could walk right over her to the mare he was actually after. "Hey!" His voice was like spearmint gum: cool, refreshing, and with a hint of a brisk thrill. "Wait up!" Her peripheral vision was empty. There were no mares to her sides, and certainly none in front of her. Finally, she turned her head with a flutter of hope in her chest. "Hmm?" He was walking toward her. His eyes were locked on her. Her. She stopped and turned to face him completely. Jet Set smiled and tilted his head. "What's your name?" "Upper Crust," she said as quickly as she could without sounding rushed, but without flashing her braces more than necessary. His head bobbed in a small nod. "I see. Do you have a date to the Fall Formal, Miss Crust?" She absolutely loathed her name, especially when it was shortened, but he could shorten or lengthen it however he liked. She responded with a small shake of her head. "Would you like one?" He flashed a charming smile. Behind him, the two stallions that always followed at his heels gasped and glanced at one another, muttering something. As unladylike as it was to think, her inner voice spat Buck them and she smiled. "Yes, if it's you." His ears perked in surprise. Honestly, she was surprised at herself; an ordinary mare like her being asked to the Fall Formal by a wonderful, handsome, rich stallion like him should be screaming and squealing and blushing and all sorts of things opposite from her current outward reaction. There would be time for those feelings later when she told her diary all about it. For now, she maintained her cool composure. This was her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and she was most certainly not going to waste it.
