Reporters lined the lawns outside the mansion home of Twilight Sparkle. They have been told today was going to be big and to be prepared for a long night after this press conference was over. After nearly losing two of their own to nerves about what the grand mage could be revealing through her assistant today they made note of the presence of both princesses, the expected dragon, and the up and coming star of enchanting and gem craft, Rarity. Also noticeable to all gathered was the empty space at the podium set up to make an announcement.

“No way.” The first to see what was coming was a particularly eagle eyed pegasus photographer by the name of Polaroid. As his colleagues began to look around for what he had seen they saw the doors to the mansion open. Out into the light of day strode Twilight Sparkle herself for the first time in nearly five years. All about her form were bits of metal, gem, and in some cases bone and all were catching the light as she approached to the podium. A few earrings in either ear, bangles and bracelets about her legs, choker about her neck, a netting of some delicate metal about her horn, and doubtlessly some horse shoes that they could not make out caught attention from the assembled. Here and there on what bits of her bare flesh they could see were tattooed symbols of no doubt arcane significance in a color not unlike those of her friend’s eyes. An interesting meeting indeed.

“It is with a happy heart I am here to share some news with you all. Thanks to the efforts of several friends and allies I can finally set hoof outside my rooms within the mansion. We are happy to tell you that the primary danger has passed and that I will be taking a more active role in the fields once more. The accouterments you see upon me are equalizing my ability to store my magic to that of my ability to generate it. The whole rig represents some of our best advancements in the fields relating to magical containment, restraint, enchanting, and a few more besides.” Twilight smiled for the benefit of the reporters. “Now then, are there any questions?”

A female unicorn waved a hoof for attention and asked her question once Twilight nodded to her. “Ma’am, if we understand everything correctly does this mean we will be seeing more of you in town?”

“Not yet I’m afraid. What we have rigged here is but the initial stage. It works well enough that I can leave my room and enjoy the grounds here but it could fail if I am upset enough. In such cases I have to be near my home so I can get into the sealed room in case something happens. No worries though for our friends, the dragons, have offered to help us get the metals we will need to create something that can withstand the results of my burning raw mana when upset.”

A male unicorn writing for the paper at the Princesses’ School is the next to get Twilight’s attention. “Does this mean we need to be investing in heart medicine for the staff of those over in the research labs at the school?”

Twilight began to laugh before she started to answer him.

The poor stallion was not happy. His boss had sent him here to the section of Canterlot best described as squalid in his mind. He approached a seemingly random ally and waited for something to happen.

A multi-toned voice spoke to the stallion from the shadows of the alley resulting in him turning to see what had snuck upon him. “So you are the one hiring, yes?” The stallion's eyes could make out green eyes on a tall unicorn. He assumed it was a mare from the voice.

“Yes. There is a thorn that needs to be removed in this city. Have you ever heard of a mare named Rarity?”

The eyes light up in amusement even as the voice from the alley responds. “Oh yes we have. It is understood she is an up and comer in several fields. You do realize the price will be high for such a target, yes?”

“We are prepared to pay any price you ask.”

“Excellent.”

Rarity sighed in exhaustion as she gazed upon her creation. She had to borrow a dress form from a friend in order to plot out all the pieces and their places but she was almost done. As such she was currently in the middle of her shop working since there was not that much room in Twilight’s chambers left. The metal the dragons had provided could stand up not only to Twilight’s occasional temper flare ups but also proved to be some of the best mana guides they had ever acquired. After all this was over arrangements were going to be made to get more and put it to use wiring up the city.

The entire assemblage that Twilight would need was almost ready with most of it being similar to what she had worn merely three months ago at the press conference. A jeweled head dress would sweep before her hair and hanging from it was a net of all sorts of jewels all micro-engraved to alter the flow of energy around the one who wore it. A similar netting was prepared that would drape over Twilight’s tail as well. It was going to be beautiful once it was finished. Rarity just knew it needed one final thing. The great thing was that their studies indicated that not only would this thing protect Twilight from her own power but it would turn her into a veritable walking fortress. Something that Rarity began to worry about as time progressed in the presence of her friend was that she would make quite a few enemies among those who preferred her bound where she could not look into what they were doing. ‘Well this thing just needs to have Twilight charge it up and we can take it for a spin.’

In spite of everything there was still a problem Rarity knew needed to be address. This whole thing was just one giant enchantment housing with no intelligence to it. It would always work at its full strength which was not necessarily what was desired as there would need to be times it could adjust to fluctuations in environment or Twilight herself. Another is that there was just something missing in the looks of the whole thing. Perhaps she could finish the whole thing out with a bit of flair.

As Rarity was busy creating a bezel setting for that fragment of tourmaline she had been keeping since the day she got her cutie mark she failed to notice the buzz that accompanied a green magic aura lifting a window in the back of her shop. As she used some filament of mythril to attach it to the head dress piece so that it would dangle from it just below Twilight’s horn she did not register the sound of gossamer wings flying above her. After a moment she stepped back to observe what she had made just in time to hear a spell and see a flash of green. In her next moment the world was agony as something pierced her through her barrel.

She never heard her assassin approach to steal her creation as she fell to the floor bleeding. 'No! So close. I almost had it finished. I can’t let it end here. I have to see my friend finally free.’

“You angered some powerful ponies helping that purple terror. Don’t worry though, I’m sure my boss would love to look over your pretty creation here. Why, we could advance our own magic knowledge by at least a dozen magnitudes just studying what has been done to this.” The hooves of her attacker being all Rarity could make out of them in the dark. They had holes through a dark coat near as she could tell.

‘Not going to let you take it. If I charge it the thing will protect itself from anyone other than Twilight or Spike. No time to waste. I’ll have to do it. I just hope Spike can get it to Twilight tomorrow morning.’ “Not happening.” Rarity with all the will and energy she possessed in her currently dying body attempted to charge the creation. Her eyes turned red and green and her magic began to reach into herself to pluck out what made her unique and then shoved it into the gem she had just attached to the assemblage.

The sudden flash of magic confused the aggressor and made him step back. When his vision cleared the dying unicorn was missing. He knew that was not a teleportation spell as there was no signature such spells left behind. Taking it for a last desperate attempt to stop him that failed, he sent his magic to snatch up as much of the creation as he could in his magic. As soon as his magic touched it he felt it begin to seep away from him. Failing to take it with magic he tried to remove it with his hooves only to find he could get no purchase on it. Realizing that the flash of light would attract attention he finally gave the thing up for a failure and left.

From inside the newly mounted tourmaline gem a small spot of blue could be seen. If one knew how to listen they would hear the voice of a particular unicorn sighing in relief. “Oh dear, I think I might have made a hasty decision.”

The next morning Spike arrived at the shop to find Rarity’s creation for Twilight assembled and looking more alive in the light of the room than it had the last time he had seen it. Figuring that it had something to do with the tricks of artistry the unicorn had applied in the final touches he began to box it up to bring to Twilight. He really hoped Rarity would be here but thankfully she had left him a key to the store in case she was ever out and he needed to get something for her or even a quick snack depending on the situation. Seeing no sign of the mare or struggle, he assumed she had gotten involved in something with a client and had to step out. He would deliver the goods to Twilight and they would wait until the evening when Rarity came home to place it upon their friend.

When Rarity did not show up that evening Twilight was rather distraught. "Someone must have done something to her, Spike."

"Well Twilight, our best choice is to look into this ourselves. I doubt they could hide anything from your magic after all."

"But I can't go running about the city myself."

"You can now." Spike pointed out the box containing the assemblage.

Twilight realized what he was trying to tell her. Nodding her head she began to get dressed up as she had come to think of putting on the odd things Rarity had made for her. Just before she finished she noticed the odd blue spot in the gem that would hang below her horn. "That is kind of odd. I don't think I've ever seen that before." Once everything was in place Twilight noticed something was wrong. "Spike, this thing is already active."

"That can't be possible. Only you or the princesses could charge the thing."

"I can explain that dears." A voice the two recognized spoke up. After a moment a white figure with purple hair and some markings about its form began to appear before the two.

Author's Note

Ahem, do not hate me please. Do note this is neither a sad tale nor a tragedy. Heh, heh.