A white unicorn mare with an elegantly curled, night-like mane sat at an outdoor table of a cafe, sipping at a tea cup. Sitting across from her was a unicorn stallion, who she kept throwing concerned at.

The stallion was regal, lacking the typical broad and muscular features of most stallions. His coat was a matching color to the mare's own, with a near identically curled mane and tail that was just as white as his coat.

This unicorn is Argent Clarity, often called Clarity by everypony. Jack of All Trades and master glass maker. Clarity made sure to not let his near-invisible cutie mark define him and had learned a vast variety of skills and talents.

Ultimately, his nigh-invisible cutie mark gave him the unique talent working with glass. But he does not just work with glass, he also acts as a tailor on occasion, a wood craftspony on others, and even a white smith.

However, as of late, Clarity's regal appearance has been marred by darkness around his green eyes with bags under them. His mane and tail lacked the matching curl, instead ending straight and unkempt. Rarity couldn't help but be concerned about her cousin.

"Clarity, are you alright, you look dreadful," said Rarity, worry etched into her face.

Clarity looked at Rarity and gave her a drained smile. "I'm fine, Rarity," he said. "I've just had to commit to some all-nighters as of recent." he rolled his hoof in the air. "I've been getting more stained glass commissions from Canterlot recently." Clarity stated, his slight swaying would have been missed by an untrained eye.

Rarity heaved a sigh, of course that was the reason. "I know what you mean," Rarity said, exasperated. "There are just some orders that need to be done with such haste that you don't have room to sleep or to even look after one's self properly!" Rarity huffed, pulling her tea cup up and taking a sip from it, finishing it off.

Rarity watched as Clarity pulled his pocket watch from his black saddle bags. With a sigh he levitated the time-teller back into his bag. "It appears my time is up," he said drearily. "I must get back to the workshop." He hopped off the seat, leaving ten bits on the table to pay for both him and Rarity. "Take care, Rarity," Clarity called as his slowly walked away to his shop.

Rarity climbed off her seat a moment later and watched her cousin march into the distance. "I do hope he's alright..." Rarity began walking back to the Carousal Boutique, as she had some orders herself to complete.

(Next Weekend)

He looked a little better, but somehow even worse the following weekend. Clarity's eye sockets may as well have been endless pits. His bags had faded too a degree, so Rarity assumed he had been getting some manner of sleep. His mane had been brushed, but was not curled.

Clarity gave Rarity a weak smile before he took a sip from his tea. "Clarity..." Rarity looked unsure of how to proceed. "Um, are you sure you're well? You look even worse than last weekend," Rarity said, her tone laced with concern like a hated king's meal.

Clarity looked away from the Equestria National Paper, levitating it off to the side a little. "I will admit," he sounded as exhausted as he looked. "I'm quite exhausted, but luckily, I was able to finish the last of the stained glass windows last night." he gave a smile. "I'll be able to have a break this week." he seemed to taste the word 'break' on his tongue. "That feels strange to say." he shortly closed his eyes and with a content smile, shook his head.

Rarity lightly laughed at her cousin's antics and gave him a smile before taking a sip form her own tea.

(Next Weekend)

Rarity looked at Clarity with a smile. The faint bags under his eyes had faded completely and his dark eye sockets had significantly lightened up since the last weekend, he had also curled his mane and tail. "Clarity, you look exquisite compared to when we met last week!" Rarity said as she examined the condition of her cousin cheerfully.

"I certainly hope I do," Clarity said, turning to look at Rarity. "Otherwise I shouldn't have taken all week off of work." Clarity gave his sister a small smile as he brought his coconut tea to his lips. Rarity took a sip from her own tea.

When she glanced back at her brother, she noticed that his face had became pensive as he stared at the newspaper.

"Is something the matter, Clarity?" Rarity inquired, curious as to what he could be reading in the newspaper.

Clarity looked away from his paper and at Rarity. "It's the disappearances that have been happening lately." Clarity gazed back at the newspaper, his expression grim. "I want you and Sweetie Belle to be careful," Clarity spoke grimly, fixing Rarity with a hard stare.

"Don't worry, Clarity -" Rarity brought a hoof to her chest "- I won't let anything happen to Sweetie Belle," Rarity said confidently. She got an amused smirk out of Clarity. With ease, Rarity steadily steered the conversation away from a such a morbid topic, instead starting to talk about her most recent dress order from Stalliongrad.

With one last sip, Clarity finished off his tea, laid down the cup and placed two bits on the table to pay for his tea. "Have a good afternoon, Clarity, and be safe," Clarity said as he hopped off the seat and left.

Rarity watched Clarity trot down the street to his workshop. The white unicorn mare turned back to her nearly finished tea. Bringing it up to her lips, she took a glance at Clarity's newspaper that he left on the table.

The headline she saw unnerved her.

Ponies Missing From Ponyville!

As of late, a few ponies have seemingly vanished from Ponyville. Many suggest that they may have just left unannounced on important business, while few have suggested that their disappearances could be linked to the many missing cases in other cities and towns such as Manehatten and Fillydelphia.

The chief of Ponyville Police, Steel Blanket, has made a statement on the disappearances and their possible connections to the missing cases. "I don't think [the disappearances] are linked to the missing cases and it's unlikely that the cause will come out to our humble town." Chief Blanket pauses. "But it's still a possible threat, and as such, I would appreciate it if everypony could lock their doors and windows during the night and when going on outings."

While it was unlikely that the cause of the disappearances in Ponyville could be the same as the missing cases, Rarity couldn't not help worrying for the safety of her friends and family.

The fashionista finished her tea and left two bits on the table. She left shortly after, leaving the newspaper behind.

Author's Note

There's probably a grammar error in there somewhere...

Yes, Argent Clarity is essentially a male-Rarity. But that's the character I envisioned.