Starlight's Weekend Off

The afternoon sun continued it's slow journey towards the western horizon as Sunburst led a blindfolded Starlight through one of the outer boroughs of the Crystal Empire. Out here, buildings were fewer, crystal formations dotted the landscape, and it was mostly open farmland.

"What's wrong? Couldn't put it in a box this time?" Starlight teased him, smirking. Sunburst chuckled.

"I just know how clever you are, and I didn't want to spoil the surprise." He replied.

Up ahead was a passenger wagon, pulled by two of the Crystal Empire's Equestria Games competitors.

"Everything good to go?" Sunburst asked them, the pair stepping up to the rear of the wagon.

"We're all set. Just have to strap in." The stallion on the left told him.

Underneath her blindfold, Starlight raised an eyebrow. Strap in?

Sunburst carefully helped his currently visually-challenged marefriend into the back of the wagon, and helped her step over a folded and rolled tarp. He sat her down at the simple wooden bench that had been built into the front half of the wagon.

"Alright, hold your front legs out." Sunburst told her, his horn lighting up.

Starlight did as she was told, and felt a leather harness being strapped and fastened around her torso. A minute later, she was set, and then Sunburst took a seat next to her, and did the same for his harness. He double checked everything, and gave the nod to the stallions in the wagon harnesses, and they were off.

Once they were at a good trotting pace, Sunburst began to undo Starlight's blindfold.

"Alright, don't look behind you." He told her, and she nodded. Her blindfold came undone, and Sunburst pocketed it inside his cloak. Starlight looked down slightly to look at the harness she was in as the wagon continued to pick up speed.

"So what are these for, so we don't fall out?" She asked.

"Not exactly..." He replied at a louder volume to speak over the speed of the wheels and hooves hitting the ground.

Thirty seconds later, the stallions were at a full gallop, and the wind was whipping at their manes.

"Alright, we're at top speed! Whenever you're ready, pull!" The stallion runner on the right yelled back to Sunburst.

"Pull...?" Starlight wondered. In her peripheral vision, she saw Sunburst lean down and pull a rope, and she heard the tarp behind them unfurl. Starlight heard nothing but wind hitting fabric as she was positively yanked out of her seat on the bench, and she let out a scream as she looked behind her to prepare to hit the ground.

But she didn't. She felt herself continue to be pulled up, up, and up. She looked over at Sunburst, right next to her, gripping his harness, and he motioned for her to look up. She craned her neck up, and saw a massive parasail above them carry them higher and higher. They peaked at 500 feet, and she let out a gasp as the took in the breathtaking aerial view of the Crystal Empire below them. They were even higher than the highest tip of the Crystal Castle in the distance. As she looked beyond the boundaries of the Empire to the north, she saw the peak of Mount Everhoof, the highest peak on the continent, as well as several peaks of the Yaket Range to the east. The view was indescribable, and it made her feel immeasurably small.

"Whoo!!!" She screamed out as the wagon hundreds of feet below made a slight turn to the left, resulting in something of a lurch to the right all the way up here.

"I thought you might like to see what it feels like to be the kite!" Sunburst shouted to her from over the wind. He looked over, and saw the absolute happiness and bliss on her face, her mane and tail whipping in the wind. Likewise, Starlight looked over and saw Sunburst's cloak flapping wildly.

The stallions pulling the wagon on the ground below were able to keep their pace for an impressive fifteen minutes, enough time to get around nearly a third of the outer farm roads of the Empire. Once they slowed, the duo's para-sail began to steadily descend. Forty-five seconds later, they hit the ground running, and skidded to a halt along with the wagon. As soon as the pair were out of their harnesses, Starlight threw her arms around Sunburst, hugging him tightly.

"That was... So amazing! Thank you so much!" She enthusiastically thanked him for one of the best thrill rides of her life.

"I'm so happy you enjoyed it." Sunburst replied, hugging her back.

The two of them assisted the two wagon runners in gathering up, folding, and rolling the para-sail for transport, and got it all under the tarp which sat on the back of the wagon. When everything was set, Sunburst happily tipped the duo, and they made their way back towards the downtown area of the Empire. By the time they neared the castle, the sun was nearly touching the westernmost peaks of the Crystal Mountains, the range that separated the Crystal Empire from the forests of northern Equestria.

"I don't know about you, but I'm famished. I take it you've got something in mind for dinner?" Starlight asked.

"Oh, do I ever." He replied as they walked in the main entrance, once again making their way up the stairs. They returned to Sunburst's personal quarters, where they both ran combs through their manes, and got into evening wear; Starlight had brought her favorite dress; the black silk gown that Rarity had made for her, and Sunburst made sure his cloak was in order.

"Shall we?" Sunburst asked, offering her his hoof. She smiled, and together, they walked down the hall, and Starlight was surprised when they passed the dining hall.

"Still haven't found your way around here? I can relate to that." She teased.

"No, it's not that. I just arranged for a place with a better view tonight."

With that, they came to a set of double doors, and Sunburst opened them to reveal the south balcony, overlooking the city. It was here where they had carried out Flurry's crystalling. Except now, a small table for two had been set up near the railing.

Starlight had a feeling this was going to be quite the meal...