All That Glitters

2 months after Twilight's coronation, the "new alicorn princess" commotion had quieted down to the usual pony gossip. Twilight was allowed to continue living in the Golden Oak Library in Ponyville to continue studying the magic of friendship. It was a day like any other, except that Spike was on holiday in the Crystal Empire, leaving Equestria's newest princess on break. Since Spike wasn't around, Twi didn't have to worry about getting letters from the princesses for a week. Of course Twilight had insisted on informing the Canterlot princesses a whole month before Spike's holiday.

Twilight woke up at the same time everyday, and today was no different. She got up and made her bed while preening her bed-feathers and brushing her mane. She then teleported downstairs(walking down was hard with her wings sticking out) and got out her favorite cereal, Cheerilee-O's with happy smiling flowers. While magically pouring the milk, Twilight's horn began to itch and something in her logical, organized mind clicked. She NEEDED to find something. Something of EXTREME IMPORTANCE. Something....shiny. The alicorn dropped the milk, mentally promising to clean it up later. She rushed about her book-filled home looking for something that sparkled the way her cutie mark did. Finding nothing, for her crown was already on her head and out of sight, the obsessed pony teleported to Carosel Boutique and began scavenging for gems. As Twilight searched, she heard the sound of two ponies still peacefully asleep.

Opening a chest labelled "Rarity's gems, *KEEP OUT SWEETIE BELLE!!!!***", Twilight seized a medium-sized jewel, closed the lid, and teleported back to the library.

Once Twilight stashed her new item in a bookshelf, she went back to her cereal and cleaned up the spilled milk. All urges to find shiny objects had vanished the moment she held that gem in her magical grip. Making a mental note to pay Rarity back for that glittery stone, Twilight continued her day as if nothing had happened, never once taking this strange ordeal to mind.

That night, Twilight received a letter from Spike.

Dear Twilight,

I am really enjoying the first day of my holiday, it's great! The Crystal Empire is exceptionally bright at this time of year.

I bought you a shiny snowglobe with a mini bookshelf inside and will deliver it shortly.

Princess Cadence and Shining Armor let me stay in any guest room I chose, and it was great! The bed was really bouncy and soft, and reminded me of my bed back home. I'll see you soon, ok Twi?

Wish you could be here with me,

Spike

P.S. Don't do anything dangerous while I'm absent, ok? I get worried.

Smiling as she read the wobbly-written letter, Twilight made sure to fluff up Spike's bed before going to sleep with a half-finished book covering her face and a jewel-encrusted crown on her bedside.

The rest of the week passed by without any disturbances pr problems, apart from needing to touch a shiny item every day at breakfast.

On the final day of Spike's holiday he sent an urgent letter telling Twilight that there was an outbreak of crystal flu and everypony in the whole of the Crystal Empire was on lockdown until Princess Cadence could heal the sick ponies. He also added that there was a book in Golden Oaks Library telling about all the different crystal pony diseases and their cures. The book was called A Crystal Sickness.

After reading the new letter, Twilight found A Crystal Sickness and flipped to the correct page for crystal flu. She read the page and placed the book back on its shelf, writing a letter to Princess Celestia and Luna.

When the alicorn finished composing her letter, she used a small bottle of dragon flames to send it quickly on its way the Canterlot.

In Princess Celestia's study, a small puff of dragon smoke appeared in front of the Princess's eyes. When the smoke cleared Celestia magically held the letter in place as she read it. Once she'd finished she called her sister in to share the news with.