Prologue

Twilight ran doggedly through the streets of the Crystal Empire after Rarity. “What's the rush? Wait!” she shouted.

“Nothing, nothing.” And yet, Rarity didn't stop running. Her freshly-crystallized coat glinted and glistened in the sunlight. “I just want to get back to Ponyville as quickly as possible.”

“But what about...” Twilight was falling too far behind, so she just teleported in front of Rarity. “But what about the party?” she asked as Rarity rushed by. “Flurry Heart's just been crystalled – don't you want to stay and congratulate Cadance and Shining Armor?”

Rarity didn't even break her stride. “I'm afraid it's very time sensitive!”

For a long moment, Twilight just stayed right where she was, staring at her galloping friend. Finally, she shrugged and flashed up in front of her again. “Rarity, I don't know why you're in such a hurry, but would it help if—” she teleported again to keep up “—if I teleported you back to Ponyville?”

That stopped Rarity in her tracks. “You could do that?”

“If it's that important to you...” Twilight walked up to her easily now that Rarity had stopped. “But I wish you could tell me what the crisis is all the sudden. Is there something wrong? Do you have some dress order you're behind on because you came out to the Crystal Empire with us?”

“No, no. None of that.”

Twilight quirked an eyebrow. “Then what?”

“I'm afraid it's personal. I couldn’t dare to say it.”

“Alright, fine.” Twilight shook her head. “I'll always help a friend if I can – even a strangely secretive friend. Are you ready?”

Rarity nodded. “Thank you, Twilight. This is going to make somepony very happy.”

“Okay, here goes nothing...” Twilight's horn lit, and she grunted with the effort of the massively long-distance teleportation. But Rarity wasn't concerned – Twilight had always been particularly gifted in magic, and since becoming an alicorn, her powers had only grown.

There was a blinding flash, and then Rarity found herself in the middle of her boutique back in Ponyville. A quick glance down at her hooves confirmed that she was still crystallized. She could see the slight pattern in the carpet through her hooves. Perfect!

Now she just had to find Thunderlane before the crystal effect wore off.

This was going to be an amazing treat for the big lug of a stallion. Not that he particularly deserved it – he wasn't the most faithful or the most devoted of special someponies, and to be perfectly honest, she was more or less just toying with him while she waited for Mister Right to come along and sweep her off her feet. A lady does have needs, after all. And to be even more perfectly honest, well, being able to see him inside was going to be a treat for herself as well. She didn't see the need to be quite that honest with herself, though – she was the element of generosity, not honesty – so she headed for the door to find her special somepony and give him a special treat.

And who should she happen to see in the street the moment she opened the door, but the dark grey stallion himself! Perfect!

Author's Note

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