Everypony shook their heads, but then asked collectively “What are we picking up?”

“Group one you will locate the wolfram and cobalt and due to the volume of the request you will have six royal guards assigned to you. Group two you will get the aurum and, due to Rarity’s spell, the gems; the specific gems are included with the map. Group three you will need to find quicksilver and the meteor. I wish you all good luck and I know I can count on you.” At that the ponies dispersed to grab their bags and went on their separate ways. AJ and Pinkie to the frozen mountains in the crystal north. Rarity, Spike and Fluttershy to the cities of Vanhoover and Manehatten. Finally, Rainbow and Twilight to Canterlot, to see the Princesses and the alchemists. Crimson began his journey after the others had left, slowly making his way to the ancient forges of the Two Sisters.

As Crimson stood on the threshold of the Everfree Forest he sighed, the natural beauty of the forest was too good for him. He had long resigned to facilitate the beauty of the world, but to never truly indulge in its splendor. Beginning once again, he trudged through the mulch covered and overgrown path not that it mattered if he could follow the path he had long memorized it. The air was thick and heavy, filled with magical purpose it seemed, it energized Crimson as he entered into the depths of the forest. He began to hike through the forest at a much brisker pace, almost floating above the ground, taking huge strides until he decided that he was alone enough and the invisible and ethereal outline of wings unfurled to their full extent. He soared into the forest canopy dodging large branches and tree trunks, the thrill of a daring course barely exciting his heart. His rare flights were a freedom he took solemnly, their primordial enjoyment and liberty harkened back to his long gone and much more carefree days. It served as a double-edged reminder of what he has to redeem.

Crimson continued his midnight flight through the treetops until he arrived at the clearing surrounding the castle. He approached the aged structure, still strong but in need of fixing, and placed his right hoof and head against the wall. He stood there a minute in silence and motionless in memory of the history the stones had seen. He, at last, relented his connection to the wall and delved into its many basement layers until he came upon the forge. A corridor ringed the whole structure, separated into several rooms and each had an opening from which to observe the forge. The forge was deep underground, a consequence of it being hewn out of the living rock, its floor was composed of thousands of embedded crystals making the floor twinkle like the night sky. Its roof never ended, the roof was open sky and the perfectly circular barrel of the room was inviting light to flow down into the forge. Bricks of dazzling alabaster and depthless obsidian composed the barrel, the pattern they were in focused light onto the forge. The forge occupied the room in a horseshoe shape and at its center it bulged to form a circle. The bellows were located in the corners formed by the bulge. From the center and the two ends extended sculpted hooves holding an oculus above the center. The forge bed was dark and cold a reward won by its lack of necessity after the Banishing of Luna, but it was not broken or damaged instead it felt ready to burst into flames again always ready to defend its kingdom. Crimson was more than prepared to oblige its wish and began his ritual.

The relighting of the forge was a ceremonial process so Crimson abstained from using any magical abilities and his incendiary technology. He retrieved a small glass sculpture upon a circular glass stand, this he fit into the oculus, and began to clean the forge before placing logs of magic crystalline wood into the troughs. By the time he was finished the sun was at the cusp of noon and the reflected rays of sunlight were beginning to tighten together and move toward the oculus, so he began working the bellows in preparation for the ignition. The minutes slowly yielded and soon the sun reached its zenith and then the glass sculpture began to glow a blinding white and suddenly three beams shot out and ignited the three sections of the forge and soon the fires were roaring and the coals were burning. Crimson stopped working the bellows and left the forge as it began to heat up to its maximum temperature. He made his way to a small room located in the same corridor as the forge, inside was a bed and an escape ladder for quick access to the ground floor; more importantly a large wooden writing desk, larger than the bed, stood on one half of the room. Crimson retrieved several large sheets of paper and laid them upon the writing desk. For two days these room were his life, the papers became filled with elaborate equations and alien designs. The adjoining empty rooms became filled with perplexing prototypes that served as proofs of concept and as practice for Crimson. The forge burned with zealous impunity. The flames of the fervent furnace danced in time with the ring of a relentless hammer. The flames of war were released once again.

As the forge’s heart burned bright, other fires took their first breaths. Far to the north in the frozen lands around the Crystal Empire two ponies having taken shelter from an unexpected, world-wiping afternoon blizzard. They sat a comfortable distance away from a meek but fierce fire. Applejack was checking the map while Pinkie was preparing an early dinner, a simple cabbage stew not appealing but hearty option.

“How’s dinner coming along there, Pinkie?” Applejack inquired, having finished fiddling with the map.

“It’s going A-Okay AJ, here have some,” Pinkie’s voice trailed off, “but I don’t think my tummy is going to be okay.”

Applejack gave an amused smile, “Pinkie sometimes it’s better to eat the simple foods instead of those fancy sweets you’re so fond of. Besides in weather like this it’s good to get some heat in your belly.”

“I guess you’re right,” Pinkie admitted dejectedly, “but I still wish I could eat something else.”

“I think I might do you some good if you stopped talkin’ about food and thought about something else.”

“Well what else am I supposed to think about? We’re stuck in this dang cave until the storm blows over and I’m not like my sister, I can’t talk to rocks. Do you have any ideas?”

“Well I got one thing on my mind.”

“Ooh what is it? Let me guess, is it about apples? Is it about The Apples? Ooh…ooh are you thinking about how to expand your apple distributers and gain more prominence in bigger cities.”

“None of that stuff Pinkie, although you bring up a good point anyway, it is about that guy, Crimson. I mean we barely know him, he calls us together, tells us that he and Twilight are going on a dangerous mission, and asks us to do this. Why?”

“Why…what?”

“Welp, why are we doing this? Why is Twilight going with him and without us? It doesn’t seem right.”

“The answer to the first one is easy, it is because we’re her friends and would do anything for her.”

“I guess that makes sense.”
“The second one thought is a real brain teaser…maybe because Celestia sent them on a secret spy mission, or maybe a date. Rarity said that ever since Shining got married and Twilight became an Alicorn that there has been pressure for her to find the stallion of her dreams.”

“Pfft, as if, how does Rarity know anyway? I don’t think so. Even though he seems really happy I can’t shake a feeling that he is trouble.”

“Now you’re the one making the crazy theories.”

“It’s not crazy…what do you think then?”

Pinkie opened her mouth and raised her right foreleg but stopped, “I…don’t know. I just know he is super cool and won’t let anything bad happen to Twilight.”

Applejack started at the opening of the cave, “I hope so…I really hope so. Wait a second the blizzard is gone. The town on the map is only a few miles from this cave, if we hurry we can make before nightfall. Let’s get those materials, Crimson can’t make Twilight armor without them, right?”

Pinkie put a determined look on her faced and raised her hoof again, “Right! Let’s go!”

The two mare strapped on their saddlebags and raced across the white, flat expanse that had formed in the aftermath of the storm.

AJ’s shouts and hollers filled the air for miles around. The two mares galloped at breakneck speed, sliding on snow dunes and ramping off their lips. The sky was aglow with cool, calm pastels as the town came into sight. The streaks grew longer and thinner until a deep lapis lazuli color dominated the celestial stage. When they reached the town they both were awestruck as they saw the players enter the stage, long snaking lines of otherworldly light. The aurora borealis.

They stood motionless for minutes, forgetting the weariness in their hides and the cold of the night. It wasn’t until a gruff voice from the open door of the tavern beckoned them inside, into the warmth of a fire. They quickly ran inside getting one last view of the sky before disappearing into the tavern. In the tavern, to Pinkie’s joy, they secured barley cakes, berry crostatas, spiced cider, and a warm bed. They also got information about their material needs. After finishing their food, almost too beyond bloated, they retired to the room, an add-on to the tavern, to discover that there was only one bed.

“Pinkie you should take the bed, I’ve slept plenty of cold nights in the barn this will be no different,” Applejack said adamantly.

“AJ you’re being silly. There is plenty of room in the bed for the two of us, come on.” Pinkie hopped into bed and beckoned for Applejack to join her.

Applejack was beyond reluctant, “Fine if you insist.” She dropped her saddlebags and got into the bed, her back to Pinkie. Pinkie prepared for Applejack’s reluctance quickly tugged on the sheets turning Applejack over, she turned bright red. “Hey, what was that for?”
“We’re going to freeze if we don’t snuggle, even under all these covers” Pinkie lay in the bed on the interior of Applejack and whispered, almost into the covers, “You can wrap your hooves around me…if you want,” her tone wasn’t one of passion, it was caring. This made Applejack turn scarlet, but after a moment of hesitation she complied and they both closed their eyes, smiles on their faces. The comforting warmth of each other cut through the arctic cold, a fire through the night.

A long way away a single candle burned releasing a soothing scent throughout the room it lone light high above the city’s glow. Rarity stood in the middle of her high-rise penthouse and looked out upon the city, its symmetrical arrangements of street lights creating a maze network in Rarity’s eyes. She looked up into the sky and, due to Luna’s magic, saw the stars in their seemingly disorderly fashion, but soon the constellations Rarity knew by heart began to pop out at her. She put her hands on the glass wishing to be among the stars, but remembering her unfortunate accident was glad she was on the ground. Rarity began unpacking her suitcase, she had only brought one small one at Crimson’s recommendation. It had been a long day, they had gone to Vanhoover first and had secured a half of their shipment of aurum and had taken a train to Manehatten dropping off the shipment in Ponyville and also searched for the gems while the train arrived. Rarity and Fluttershy had left Spike in Ponyville to help coordinate with the delivery of the goods. They had arrived in Manehatten to order the shipment today so they went to Rarity’s private penthouse, courtesy of Photo-Finish. Rarity was snapped out of her train of thought by Fluttershy, who had returned from dinner. She had ordered a desert. Rarity hadn’t the desire for desert tonight so she retired to the room early.

“Oh Fluttershy, good to see you. Wasn’t that desert absolutely scrumptious? I’m sorry I couldn’t stay, but I wanted to see the city at nightfall. It just inspires me.”

Fluttershy slowly made her way over to the window, “yes, thank you. The desert was really good. It’s okay you couldn’t stay, it is a pretty sight.”

“Fluttershy I know you will enjoy this, come here.” Rarity pulled out a small knitting circle and showed it Fluttershy. It was a picture of Fluttershy and Discord enjoying a fictional tea party. Despite its static nature the picture seemed to move, Discord was in the middle of offering sandwiches while simultaneously tickling Fluttershy causing her to spread her wings, you could almost hear Fluttershy laughing.

“Rarity, you didn’t have to do this, I should probably make you something.”

“Fluttershy…Fluttershy look at me, you don’t have to anything in return. It’s just a gift, now I’m off to the washroom to enjoy a wonderful and well-earned bath. Today has been a frightfully labor-intensive day and I don’t think I could take one more minute of it today. Now do feel free to join me, the bath is plenty big and I need someone to wash my back.”

“Okay, I just prepare my bed and join you then, if you want of course.”
“Fluttershy, I would most enjoy, it will be like our biweekly spa day, which we missed due to this royal task.” Rarity made her way across the penthouse and into the bathroom.

The bathroom seemed larger than the main bedroom and was covered in luminous alabaster, whiter than Rarity’s coat, with complex and elegant silver chandeliers with hundreds of crystal teardrops suspended beneath casting a rainbow upon the polished walls. The light was warm as was the air, as Rarity made her way towards the tub a perfectly subtly and pleasing scent of lavender filled her breath. In the center of the room rose a large tub inset into the stone, it was the size of a swimming pool, and the water was milky with added minerals and perfumes. Rarity prepared a small floating bowl with various shampoos, conditioners, and soaps and sent it sailing in the flat waters. She sat on the deck of the massive bath and slowly lowered herself into the tranquil waters. Her legs went first, testing the waters, and finding that the water was perfectly warm she quickened her descent and soon she was floating on her back gazing at the endless plane of white above and around her. Her mane flowed in a perfect arc around her giving her head a violet corona. As she floated on the surface of the water she could feel the exhaustion of the day slowly melt away and be replaced by the invigorating lethargy of night. Rarity stood upright in the water, her mane flowing down like a cloak, and searched for the flotilla of floating toiletries. She saw Fluttershy on the deck, trepidation on her face like a two best friends.

“Fluttershy what’s the matter, just slide right in the water is simply divine. I could do with your company, there are a few things on my mind.”

“That sounds like fun,” Fluttershy approached the edge with her usual trepidation before placing her hooves into the water. Her diminutive form almost slipped beneath the surface, her head tilted to the ceiling, surprised by the waters hidden depths. Rarity gracefully glided through the water to reach her side and lifted her out of the water.

Rarity cracked a smile, “Fluttershy, dear, you will have to be careful now let’s talk. Today has absolutely drained my strength and now my mind has gotten so skittish.”

Fluttershy picked up the soaps and began to help Rarity clean off the dust, mud, and grim of the day. “Well what should we talk about?”

“I have a few ideas, but what about you? I’m sure you’ve much more interesting topics.”

“No…not really”

“Really, dearie? In that case I’ll start. Now as you know the day has been tasking, but I despite the task I always returned to one thing.”

“What is it?”

“I can’t keep my mind off Crimson, he after all is near enough the sole reason we had this little planned excursion. I hold nothing against, but he is quite the mysterious type. I’m sure he has good intentions, but I just…I guess I’m a little jealous of and intrigued by his abilities.”
“He seemed really nice and knowledgeable, but what abilities does he have? He didn’t seem so amazing, but I guess he was really friendly.”
“Oh Fluttershy you should have been there, when Twilight and Crimson visited. Sweetie was practicing her singing in the side room and he had joined her in singing a marvelous duet which I didn’t notice until its final flourish. I at first was angry at Sweetie Belle for bringing a colt into the house. Imagine my surprise to see the great stallion towering over me, my face was quite red. Now that I think back on it his singing was of better quality than any I’ve heard here in Manehatten, it was absolutely heavenly.”

“That sounds nice, I hope he sings when we get back.”

“That would be most enjoyable, speaking of back, come here Fluttershy its time I return the favor.”

“It’s quite okay I can handle it.”

“Not on my watch, I will wash your wings and back whether you like it or not.” Rarity had quite a bit of experience with feathered wings despite her lack of them, her colorful roster of varied celebrities had kept her well informed on proper wing preening as well as the two’s spa trips. “Now doesn’t that feel nice?” Rarity tickled Fluttershy on her down feathers, making her go into a laughing fit. Rarity quit her shenanigans after Fluttershy recovered and finished their mutual bath. Feeling all squeaky clean Fluttershy and Rarity retired to their respective beds sleeping under the warm covers on the cold Manehattan night. “Fluttershy, despite the absolutely trying trip, I’m glad that we did it. Good night Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy gave a warm smile, “I’m glad too, good night Rarity.” Rarity magically extinguished the scented candle before closing her eyes for the day.

Author's Note

It gets real ship-tastic and I'm almost sorry