The Incantation

Princess Celestia was sitting on her throne when both Armor Wing and Thundercloud rushed up to her.

"Your Majesty!" Thundercloud said breathlessly, both he and the sergeant bowed before continuing. "We have important news regarding the infamous thief!"

"What is it, lieutenant?" Her curiosity was only partially employed. Her soldiers tended to overreact to crime, but not always.

"He has committed murder!" Thundercloud said, exasperated. "Twice! He was confronted by some brave citizens aboard a train, of which two he savagely threw overboard into the forest. He jumped out with them. He is no longer in Canterlot! We've lost him!"

Princess Celestia stood up, outraged. Thievery was petty, but murder would not be tolerated, and was worth her attention. "I want your efforts to find him doubled, lieutenant! Send armed guards to Ponyville, Appleoosa, Las Pegasus, Baltimare, and Manehattan to search for him. Start with the outermost cities and work your way inward. And I want a bounty placed on him for 100,000 bits - dead or alive!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The two soldiers bowed before making a hasty retreat to carry out their new orders.

Celestia pulled out a scroll and quill to write a letter to Princess Twilight in Ponyville and Princess Cadence in the Crystal Empire.

"Rainbow Dash! Are you up there? I need to talk to you about something," Fluttershy called up to the cloud she supposed her friend was resting on.

Fluttershy had went looking for the blue pegasus who had stood up for her in flight camp. When Fluttershy was being bullied, Rainbow Dash had jumped in to defend her, even having a race with the bullies. Ever since, they'd been close friends.

Rainbow peeked her head over the edge of the cloud. "What's up?"

Fluttershy put up a hoof to shield her eyes from the sun. "Oh, um, I was hoping you could come down here to talk, but it's okay if you don't want to..."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Hold on, I'm coming." She leapt off the cloud and soared down to the shy mare that awaited her. "Okay sooo...what's up girl?"

Fluttershy gave her a slight smile. "Oh, I just wanted to talk to you about somepony I met."

Rainbow was confused as to why Fluttershy would want to talk to her about somepony like that, but she relented anyway. "Alright, do I know them? Are they a guy or a girl? What's up?" She put a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder like a concerned parent.

Fluttershy looked a bit sheepish and replied, "Um...well, he's somepony I met recently..."

"And do I know him?"

Fluttershy shrugged. "I'm not sure. His name is Emerald Mist. He just moved here from Canterlot a few days ago."

Rainbow shook her head. "Nah. Don't know him. Anyway, what's wrong with him? Is he being mean to you to you? 'Cause if he is, I'll teach him a lesson if you want me to, no questions asked - "

"No, it's nothing like that," Fluttershy interrupted her, talking softly. "He's my newest friend, and he was homeless, so I let him stay at my place - "

"What?! You let a total stranger stay at your house one night?" Rainbow demanded. Fluttershy's kindness knew no bounds, and it often got her into unpleasant situations.

She swallowed. "Um, well, I kinda told him he could, you know, stay until he got back on his hooves..."

Rainbow face-hooved. "Ugh. Fluttershy, you hardly know the guy. What if he's a serial killer? Or a thief? Or an imposter?"

"I'm sorry...he just seems so...nice." She lowered her voice to an almost inaudible whisper. "And I kinda might like him a little..."

Rainbow's ear twitched. "You what now?"

Fluttershy let her mane fall in front of her face, nearly concealing it, something she did intentionally when she was feeling shy. "Um...I-I might have a slight crush...on him..."

Rainbow tried to be mad, but couldn't. It was actually a relief to see Fluttershy come out of her shell. If she liked the guy, and he was a good guy, then Rainbow was willing to do whatever it took to help out. Fluttershy had never dated anypony, so Rainbow was determined to assist her friend into getting a coltfriend for the first time.

"Alright, that's good," Rainbow said quietly. "I'm glad you came to me for help." She paused. "That is why you came to me...right?"

Fluttershy smiled faintly. "Of course."

"Good." She started walking, prompting Fluttershy to follow. "So tell me - what's this guy like? What's he look like?"

Fluttershy considered this as they walked down the path back towards Ponyville, since they were on the outskirts. "Well, he's a white pegasus with a black mane and really pretty green eyes. He's really sweet and flattering, really chivalrous and helpful. He's funny, too. And smart. And he loves animals like me."

"Sounds like a perfect match," Rainbow observed, allowing a hint of jealousy into her voice.

Fluttershy looked off into the sky and whispered, "Yeah..."

"But you know what they say," Rainbow went on. "Opposites attract, hehe."

Fluttershy looked over at her, not getting it. "What do you mean? Do you think that he...doesn't like me?"

Rainbow smiled and shook her head. "I didn't say that, and I don't know, either. I'd have to check him out, then I'd know for sure. Does he act like he likes you?"

"Well, he's awfully nice to me all the time..."

"Alright," Rainbow said. "The gala is coming up soon. I'd ask him to go to the gala with you."

"But he's already going," Fluttershy told her.

Rainbow sighed. "No - I mean with you. As your date."

Fluttershy blushed and looked away. "Oh, I-I don't know if I can ask him out like that..."

Rainbow laughed and put her arm around her friend's shoulders. "Come on, I'll help you."

"So...you want to meet him?"

Rainbow nodded. "Yep. I'll be able to help you find out if he likes you at all, plus help you figure out a what to ask him out."

Fluttershy hugged her friend gratefully. "Oh...thank you so much for helping me, Dashie."

"Don't mention it," Rainbow said. "Now - where is this guy?"