The Incantation

Solar Flare was busy reading one of his many ancient scrolls when Dark Storm came by, knocking hesitantly on the front door.

Flare calmly rolled up the scroll and set it aside on his study desk in the living room and went to answer the door.

"Sorry to bother you on such short notice, but I came to inform you on the progress of the mission. Is now a good time?" Storm asked when the door swung open.

Flare waved him in. "Of course! Come in, make yourself at home."

Storm walked in and gawked at the collection of artifacts before him. The whole room was layered in an abundance of artifacts from many different eras, some of which Storm couldn't even identify. There were masks, pottery, crowns, swords, shields, clothing, scrolls, and various other objects around the room. It was quite the collection.

"Impressive, yes?" Flare asked him, coming up beside him.

"Words cannot describe," Storm agreed, still looking around the room. "How long have you been collecting?"

Flare retrieved a mug of some kind of steaming beverage from atop his desk and sipped it. "Many years. Since before you were even born." He set the mug down. "Most of my collection is about 3,000 years old. Some are older. some are newer, up to the last hundred years or so. I have a particular interest in artifacts from royalty. I have more than three-hundred crowns, grails, and other items from castles and other kingdoms." He was pacing the room, but he stopped and smiled at Storm. "Ever heard of Excalibur?"

He shrugged. "I have, but I don't know much about it, except that it's a sword."

"A king's powerful sword. A thing of legend," Flare said proudly, pointing to a golden-hilted double-edged sword hanging on the wall above the marble fireplace.

Storm glanced at it with genuine admiration. "It's quite nice."

"Among other things in my collection," he replied before frowning. "Or were in my collection."

"I assume you're hinting at the stolen crown in Emerald's possession?"

Flare sat down at his desk. "Indefinitely," he replied languidly, unraveling a scroll. "Which is the most important item in my entire collection. I need it to pair with another item. Without one or the other, they are useless."

Storm frowned. "Pair it?"

Flare was quiet for a few moments. Then he spoke. "Nothing more than a complete collection. A set, if you will. It's something we collectors do."

"I see."

Flare chuckled. "I'm sure you do." He took another sip of his drink. "And I still need one other thing,

besides the crown."

The comment piqued Storm's interest. "Something I could obtain for you?" he asked with a glimmer of hope.

"Oh, I very much doubt it," he said honestly. "It's in another pony's possession. I have been trying to purchase it from him for quite some time now, without much luck. Perhaps maybe recently he's changed his mind. I should pay him a visit." He grinned furtively.

Storm shrugged. "Well, in any case, I hope you complete your collection."

"I have not a doubt in my mind that I will."

Storm shifted uncomfortably. Something about Flare's surety was unsettling. "Ahem - well, on to the reason for my being here..."

"Mmhm?"

Storm continued. "Emerald has befriended quite a few ponies, hooked up with one, and altered his appearance. He was injured by one of my men, but he managed to escape. It shouldn't be long before we apprehend him and obtain your crown."

Flare rolled up the scroll with a sharp snap. "Have you any idea if he actually still has my crown?" he asked.

"Well, no, I don't. But wherever it is, I will find it. you have my word." Storm placed his right hoof on his chest.

"Sure, sure." Flare stood up, turning to face Storm. The benign carefree attitude he before possessed was all but gone - and instead replaced with what seemed to be as boiling rage seething just beneath the surface. He gave Storm a haughty gaze. "Tomorrow I'm leaving to hopefully purchase that other item I need from one of my colleagues. When I return, I expect you to have my crown. If not, the results will be - rather distasteful."

Storm was completely caught off guard by his sudden brashness. "I - well - okay. Your wish is my command."

Flare snorted. "As if your word ever meant anything to me in the first place. Your service is taking too long, and my patience is wearing thin. With each passing day, the possibility of my crown falling into the wrong hooves grows ever greater. Have my crown by my return."

"My apologies. I will double my efforts," Storm said, nonplussed.

Flare used his magic to open his front door and push Storm out. "I hope so, for your sake."

The door slammed behind Storm, who was completely lost by Flare's sudden anger. He shook his head and moved off to the train station.

I woke up with golden rays of sunlight streaming through the windows and the smell of some delicious breakfast foods assaulting my nose.

"Good morning, Sunshine!" said a cheery voice.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes before looking around. Fluttershy stood beside the bed with a huge grin on her face. On the bed was a breakfast fit for a king.

"Wow...uh, this is nice. Thanks, Flutters," Before I dug in, I added, "do you want some?"

She shook her head. Her mane was all tangled, but it didn't make her look unattractive at all. "Oh, no This is strictly for you. I already ate."

I was starving for some reason. Fluttershy sat on the bed beside me, watching me as I ravenously consumed the food. I stopped mid-bite and looked at her. "Are you okay?" I asked her.

She nodded. "I'm fine. I'm just happy you like what I made you for breakfast. I've been up all morning making it. I didn't sleep very long, and when I woke up, I immediately thought of breakfast. I'm still...really tired."

"All morning? Since when? We went to sleep at dawn."

"That's about when I got up..."

I took a sip of some orange juice. "You didn't have to do all this, you know," I said. "You're not my slave. In fact - I should have made you breakfast this morning."

"I know," she replied shyly. "I did it because I wanted to..."

I smiled warmly. "I know you did, you sweetheart."

"Thanks..."

It didn't take me long to finish everything. It was like every bite was better than the last. I don't know how she does it, but the food she cooks is always amazing.

When I was done, I hopped out of bed and helped her bring all the dishes down into the kitchen to be washed. I saw a large group of small  mammals feasting on a mound of food in the middle of the living room floor.

"They're worse than I am," I said, and Fluttershy laughed.

As I aided her in washing the dishes, Twilight and Applejack showed up.

"What're y'all folks up to this mornin'?" AJ asked cordially as she and Twilight, with Spike on her back, came into the kitchen.

"Dishes," I said shortly, nearly dropping a soapy glass on the floor.

"Well, besides that," Twilight said, slightly reprimanding me. Spike hopped off her back onto the floor and stood by her, looking around.

Fluttershy finished drying off the rest of the clean dishes. "Oh, well, nothing much then. We just woke up and ate. Did you three eat yet? If not, I can make you something, if you'd like."

"Oh, no thanks, Sugarcube. We ate," AJ confirmed.

"Not enough," Spike muttered, earning look from Twilight.

I balanced a plate on a glass on the counter. "Ha. That's not the case for me," I said. "Ate like a king."

Fluttershy dismantled my tower and began putting the dishes away.

"Sure used a lot of dishes," AJ noticed, watching me and Fluttershy stack dishes in the cabinets. I handed the stuff to her, while she put them up. Team effort.

"I was hungry," I explained. "Anyway, why'd you guys decided to join us this morning?"

"Well, I wanted to talk to you two about a particular subject that was brought to my attention," Twilight said, looking slightly embarrassed, "but recently something far more important came up, so we'll talk about both."

Fluttershy finished putting up dishes. "Like what?"

Twilight scratched her head nervously. "Well...it's not hard to see what's going on between you two."

I snorted. "Really? We're just friends, as far as you know."

"That's the thing," AJ said, eying me. "We do know."

"So?"

"We just want to help." Twilight and AJ looked at each other and back at me. "In light of recent circumstances, we think that Fluttershy might be in danger from whoever attacked her at the gala."

I trotted past them into the living room and found the couch. "She's not in danger. I'm with her all the time," I told them as they all followed me. They didn't look at all convinced. "If anypony tries anything, I'll deal with them myself."

"They nearly shish kebabed ya, Emerald. Ya nearly died."

Fluttershy sat by me. "Isn't the Princess looking for the suspect?"

"That's no excuse to push away help," Twilight admonished us, particularly Fluttershy. "Everypony is still worried about another attack, so our conclusion is to keep you two under constant supervision."

"No way," I said flatly.

Twilight sighed and shook her head disapprovingly. AJ said, "Now, hold yer protests til we're dun. Hear us out an' ya might change yer mind."

"When pigs fly," I said sharply. "There's this whole privacy thing..."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Nopony's going to violate your privacy rights, Emerald. When you're home, you two can be alone. When you're out and about, however, we'll all be keeping you under watch equally."

"That doesn't sound too unreasonable," Fluttershy said quietly.

"Who's side are you on?" I asked, half joking. She shrugged as I gaped at her.

"Look Emerald," Twilight said impatiently, "this isn't a debate. You're arguing with the wrong ponies. Besides, even Princess Celestia agreed with our idea. Isn't that enough?"

I shook my head. "I didn't hear her say that."

Twilight and AJ gave exasperated sighs.

"Emerald," Fluttershy said softly.

I looked at her, seeing a pleading look in her eyes. "Alright, fine. But the first time your supervision makes me feel uncomfortable, you stop."

"Okay, but that doesn't mean say you feel that way just to get rid of us," Twilight told me.

I gave a sly grin. "Wouldn't think of it."

Twilight turned to AJ. "Okay, so now that we got that settled...We deal with the other thing."

AJ nodded. "Emerald - we don't know ya all that well, but we understand ya dun hooked up with our friend Fluttershy. So long as you treat her right, we don't mind."

I held a hoof up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa...that, is a subject best left alone."

"I'm sorry, but it's a concern of ours," Twilight admitted. "But so far you've been trustworthy, plus, you did kind of save her life. Just know we will defend her if it comes down to something."

I rolled my eyes. "You say that like you're expecting something."

"No, but there better not be something," she retorted defensively.

I folded my arms across my chest. "There most certainly is not."

AJ and Twilight turned back toward the front door. "Good. Now what is it you said you wanted earlier, AJ?" Twilight asked the they went out the front door. They closed it quietly behind them.

A few minutes later, with me and Fluttershy just sitting on the couch beside each other, she spoke up.

"I'm tired. You don't mind if I get some rest, do you?" she asked me.

I put a hoof under her chin and lifted it. "No, of course not. You get some rest. I have a few errands to run today."

She laid down, resting her head on her arm. "Okay."

I stayed put until she dozed off a few minutes later.

I went and grabbed the crown, loaded it in my saddlebag, threw it on, and stepped out the front door to a beautiful day.