Generosity's Wakfu

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over Canterlot, Twilight Velvet sat in her cozy study, surrounded by the gentle hum of magic. Her horn shimmered with a soft lavender light, meticulously organizing a stack of papers into a neat folder. The final touches on her latest manuscript were complete, and she let out a satisfied sigh.

Her study was a haven of tranquility, filled with the rich scent of aged books and the faint aroma of freshly brewed tea. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with tomes of every size and color, their spines worn from years of eager hooves and magic. A large window overlooked the bustling city below, the lights twinkling like stars against the dusky sky.

It was days like this that Velvet always loved, where the world felt still and full of promise. As she closed the folder with a sense of accomplishment, she heard a soft rapping at her door. She sighed, looking back to find none other then Princess Celesita standing at her doorway, an apologetic smile formed on her face.

“Is this a bad time, Velvet?” The princess of the sun asked.

The white mare smiled graciously, stepping aside to make way for Celestia to enter her home. Her mind was already racing—this likely wasn’t a casual social visit, not with that look on the princess's face. Twilight Velvet could sense the weight of something more than the usual pleasantries hanging in the air.

"Please, come in, Princess," Velvet said softly, motioning toward the sitting area by the fire, her voice warm but knowing. "I take it this isn’t just a simple chat about the weather?"

Celestia chuckled lightly, though the sound didn’t reach her eyes. She stepped inside, her regal figure seeming almost too grand for the cozy study, yet somehow, she fit right in, as if the gentle warmth of the room embraced her just like it would anypony else.

"You always could see right through me, Velvet," Celestia admitted. She glanced at the comforting surroundings before settling into one of the plush chairs. "No, I’m afraid tonight, I need your ear for something more serious."

Velvet closed the door gently and moved to sit across from her guest, "Whatever it is, you know you can always talk to me," Velvet said softly. "You are, after all, like an older sister I wish I had. Plus you've always done right by Twilight and Shining...So. What's on your mind."

"It's about Daring Do."

Twilight Velvet blinked, her warm expression instantly morphing into a deadpan stare. "Daring Do?" she repeated, the words heavy with a mix of exasperation and disbelief. She could already feel a familiar headache forming at the back of her mind. What in Equestria had that crazy mare gotten herself into this time?

"Indeed, Daring Do," The princess confirmed. "She contacted me about a temple that—according to her—appeared out of nowhere. It wasn’t on any of our maps, and naturally, she took it upon herself to investigate."

Twilight Velvet rubbed her temple. "Of course she did," she muttered under her breath. "So, what exactly did she want? Your blessing or just… to be Daring Do?"

Celestia offered a wry smile. "I suspect it was more of the latter. She had already been headed towards her destination by the time the letter came to me so…”

Twilight Velvet leaned back in her chair, her hoof still resting on her temple as she processed this. "Let me guess," she said, voice dripping with dry humor, "the letter wasn’t asking for permission. It was more like, 'By the way, I’m off to poke around in an ancient, magical death trap. Don’t worry, I’ve got this.'"

Celestia chuckled softly, but the concern never left her eyes. "More or less. Daring Do has always been... proactive, to put it mildly."

Velvet sighed deeply, shaking her head. "Proactive? That’s a very polite way of saying 'recklessly diving headfirst into mortal danger on a regular basis.'"

“If I didn't know any better, I feel as though you are missing such a life.” Celestia teased.

Twilight Velvet rolled her eyes, though there was a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Of course I miss it sometimes," she admitted, her tone playful but tinged with the wisdom of experience. "But I’m not as young as I used to be, Celestia. And, believe me, after having two foals to raise and a loving husband to dote on, I’m more than happy to let Daring Do take over the adventuring business."

Celestia’s smile grew a little wider, a glint of understanding in her eyes. "I imagine raising Twilight and Shining Armor was its own kind of adventure."

Velvet chuckled, a soft laugh escaping her. "Oh, you have no idea. With Twilight’s curiosity and Shining’s... well, everything, every day felt like I was navigating through my own little temple of traps." She leaned forward slightly. "And to be fair, the stakes were much higher when it came to bedtime negotiations."

The two shared a quiet laugh, a brief moment of levity cutting through the concern. Velvet glanced over at Celestia, her gaze softening as she added, "Honestly, though, I’m grateful for mares like Daring. She’s got the spirit for it—bold, a bit reckless, but with a good heart. Even if she sometimes makes me want to pull my mane out. Gosh she’s like the third child I never had.” She shakes her head. “So…what did that girl find this time?”

Celestia's smile softened, though the glint of amusement lingered in her eyes as she shifted in her chair. "She found something that caught even my attention," the princess admitted, her tone growing more serious. "Daring described it as an ancient egg—glowing with a magical energy she had never seen before. From her description, it sounds like something akin to a dragon’s egg, but far older."

Twilight Velvet raised an eyebrow, the playfulness draining from her face as she leaned forward. "A dragon’s egg?" she repeated. "In a temple? Celestia, that doesn’t sound like the sort of thing you just stumble upon."

Celestia nodded, her expression shifting to one of quiet seriousness. "You’re right, Velvet. It’s not the sort of thing you just stumble upon. Daring is planning to make her way here to Canterlot Proper with the egg soon, and I thought..." She paused, as if carefully considering her next words, before continuing with a gentle smile. "Perhaps you might want to join me when she arrives. I could use your expertise, after all."

Twilight Velvet blinked, surprised by the offer. "My expertise? Celestia, you’re not suggesting I get back into adventuring, are you?"

Celestia chuckled softly, though the concern in her eyes remained. "Not exactly. But having somepony with your experience and insight could be invaluable. You’ve dealt with magical artifacts before—ones with mysterious origins. And besides..." Celestia gave her a more playful look. "I thought you might enjoy one last brush with danger. Even if it’s from the comfort of the castle."

Velvet smirked, shaking her head. "You’re really trying to tempt me, aren’t you?”

"Perhaps," Celestia said, her smile widening slightly. "But I promise, no jumping into ancient temples or dodging traps. This time, at least."

Twilight Velvet leaned back, contemplating for a moment. She did miss the thrill of discovery, the rush of uncovering something forgotten by time. And if Daring Do had found something as dangerous as a dragon's egg, it wouldn’t hurt to have another set of eyes on it—especially if those eyes belonged to somepony who had seen her fair share of magical mishaps.

"Alright," Velvet finally said with a sigh, though there was a glimmer of excitement in her voice. "I’ll join you. But, if I end up running from a dragon again, I’m blaming you."

Celestia laughed softly, her tone light but grateful. "I’ll take full responsibility, of course.”

~~~

The early morning sun filtered through the windows of Carousel Boutique, casting a soft golden glow over the room. Rarity hummed to herself, concentrating as she carefully worked a brush through Yugo's unruly mane, doing her utmost to avoid the two shimmering wings of light sprouting from the top of his head.

“Hold still, darling,” Rarity said with a sigh, expertly maneuvering the comb around the wings, her horn glowing with the precision of years spent working with delicate fabrics and intricate details. “Honestly, Yugo, I don’t know what you’ve been doing, but your hair is an absolute disaster this morning.”

Yugo squirmed slightly in the chair, his young face scrunching in mild discomfort as the comb tugged at a particularly stubborn knot. "Sorry, Rarity," he muttered. "I kinda slept weird last night."

Rarity gave a light, indulgent laugh. “Slept weird is quite the understatement. Your mane looks like it’s been through a windstorm.” She pulled the comb through his mane again, carefully avoiding the ethereal wings that shimmered gently with each movement.

Yugo shifted slightly in his seat, glancing up at Rarity with a questioning look. "Do I even have to get my hair done, though? I mean, I’m just gonna have my hat on the whole time anyway."

Rarity paused, her brush hovering in midair as she gave him a dramatic look of disbelief. "Oh, darling," she exclaimed, her voice full of mock horror. "One does not simply hide a beautiful mane under a hat! Even if no one else sees it, you’ll know it’s there, and we simply cannot allow you to walk around with a mess beneath that lovely headwear of yours."

Yugo chuckled at her exaggerated reaction but shrugged. "It’s just hair, Rarity. Nopony’s gonna notice."

Rarity gasped, placing a hoof to her chest as if truly wounded by his casual dismissal. “Just hair? My dear Yugo, you have so much to learn. Hair is an expression of one's inner self. Even if it's hidden, it deserves care and attention.”

Yugo rolled his eyes playfully but couldn’t help smiling. "If you say so."

“I do say so,” Rarity replied with a wink, continuing her careful work. “And trust me, darling, it’s always worth the extra effort. Besides, you’ll feel fabulous knowing that even under your hat, your mane is nothing short of perfection.” She smiles.

Rarity continued with a satisfied smile as she gave Yugo’s mane a final, gentle brush. "Now, darling, I trust you won’t get too dirty playing with my little sister and her friends today. Honestly, those three are a whirlwind of chaos wherever they go."

Yugo grinned sheepishly. "I’ll do my best. But you know how the Sweetie and the others are…"

Rarity sighed with a mixture of fondness and exasperation. "Oh, don’t I ever. Just try to keep your lovely mane intact for at least part of the day, won’t you?"

Yugo nodded, laughing. "I’ll try, Rarity."

She smiled warmly, then glanced toward the clock, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "And if you don’t see me back by the time you return, will you be alright fixing yourself something this evening? I wouldn’t want you to go hungry."

Yugo looked up at her with a nod of assurance. "Yep. Might go with that new recipe I got from Pinkie Pie’s cook book.” He paused, thinking. “Guessing you’re going out with that stallion from the store? Mr Quill and Sofa?”

Rarity chuckled softly, shaking her head with an amused smile. "His name is Davenport, darling," she corrected with a playful roll of her eyes. "But yes, that is the reason I’ll be out late this evening."

Yugo grinned knowingly. "I knew it. Mr. Quill and Sofa, huh?"

"Don’t be cheeky, now," Rarity teased, though her tone was lighthearted. She gave Yugo’s mane a final once-over before stepping back to admire her work. "But yes, Davenport has invited me out for dinner, and I simply couldn’t say no to such a gentlecoltly offer."

“This is your second time right?” He asked, turning to face her.

Rarity’s smile grew a bit softer, though a slight blush colored her cheeks as she nodded. “Yes, it is, actually,” she admitted, her tone casual but with a hint of excitement. “Davenport was quite the gentlecolt last time, and I have to say, it’s nice to have somepony appreciate good conversation over a lovely dinner.”

Yugo raised an eyebrow, his mischievous grin returning. “Sounds like you’re having a good time with him.”

Rarity gently bonked Yugo on the top of his head with her brush, a playful smile on her lips. "No teasing your elders, darling," she chided lightly, though her tone was full of warmth.

Yugo chuckled, rubbing the spot where she had tapped him. "Alright, alright, no teasing. But I’m just saying, sounds like he’s really won you over.”

Rarity huffed softly but didn’t deny it. "He’s certainly charming, and it’s been refreshing to spend time with somepony so thoughtful." Her eyes sparkled for a moment before she quickly added, “But that’s enough of my business. Off you go, Yugo. Sweetie Belle and her friends are waiting to wreak havoc, I’m sure.”

Yugo grinned, hopping off the chair. “Fine, I’ll leave you to your date prep, Miss Rarity.”

Rarity gave an exaggerated huff and chased after Yugo as he bolted toward the door, his laughter echoing through the boutique. "Out, out, you little rascal!"

Yugo darted through the doorway, his laughter echoing as he glanced back at her. "Haha! Later Rarity!"

With a fond shake of her head, she closed the door and turned back inside, a content sigh escaping her. “I swear…I’m already missing when he was a proper little well behaved colt,” she muttered, though a smile escaped her lips. “Guess that just means he’ll fit right into pony society.”

Rarity stood for a moment in the quiet of her boutique, the soft ticking of the clock the only sound in the room as she mulled over the memory of her conversation with Celestia the day before. The princess's words had been cryptic, yet carried an air of urgency that Rarity couldn’t shake off.

"A temple that appeared out of nowhere... a mysterious dragon's egg..." she mused aloud, her reflection staring back at her from a nearby mirror. She had, of course, asked the obvious questions when Celestia had mentioned it over tea: Why tell me? Why not somepony like Twilight?

The mare was confused but what could she do? All the princess had said in response to her questions was just to keep doing what she is doing.

Rarity shook her head, patting both of her cheeks lightly to clear her mind. "No, no, focus, Rarity!" she muttered to herself, straightening her posture. "There will be time to unravel Celestia’s cryptic messages later. Right now, it’s Rarity time, and that means a little self-care before my date." She tapped a hoof to her chin. "Now then...what to wear..."

~~~

Yugo made his way down the dirt roads of Ponyville, the morning sun shining warmly on his back as he trotted along, feeling the faint breeze ruffle his freshly combed mane. The familiar hustle and bustle of the small town buzzed around him—the sound of ponies chatting, vendors setting up stalls, and the occasional bird chirping in the distance.

Scootaloo balanced expertly on top of a sturdy branch, her wings fluttering slightly as she kept her gaze focused on the path that wound through White Tail Woods. The rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds were the only sounds around her as she stood watch, scanning the area with a determined look on her face.

From her high vantage point, she could see everything—the sprawling trees, the winding dirt path, and, more importantly, the figure of a young colt making his way toward them. She squinted for a moment before grinning widely, recognizing the unmistakable form of Yugo.

"Hey, there he is!" she called down to Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, who were gathered near the base of the tree. "Yugo’s finally here!"

Sweetie Belle perked up immediately, waving her hoof energetically. "Yugo! Over here!"

Yugo rubbed the back of his head as he approached the girls, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Hey, sorry I’m late," he said, his wings of light twitching slightly as he glanced between the trio. "Rarity was on a mission to tame my mane. You know how she gets."

Sweetie Belle giggled, her eyes twinkling. "Oh, I can imagine. She’s probably still talking about how you better not mess it up."

"She’s always like that," Scootaloo chimed in, leaping down from the tree branch with an effortless glide, her wings fluttering. "But don’t worry, Yugo, we’ll get you back to your usual messy self in no time. Especially after this adventure!"

Apple Bloom smirked, adjusting the rope she had slung over her shoulder. "Yup! We’re headin’ to that cave in White Tail Woods. Sweetie Belle’s got a good feeling about it, and if we’re lucky, we might just find somethin’ awesome."

Yugo raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "A cave? If it's in White Tail Woods, wouldn’t ponies have already explored it by now?"

Apple Bloom smirked, clearly enjoying the build-up to her revelation. "That’s just it, Yugo. We’ve been all over White Tail Woods more times than Ah can count, and there’s never been a cave in the spot we found it."

Sweetie Belle nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with excitement. "Yeah! It wasn’t there before, but suddenly it just... appeared. We were checking out our usual spots when we stumbled across it."

Scootaloo flared her wings, her excitement bubbling over. "Exactly! Which means it’s gotta be something big. Nopony’s ever seen it before, so whatever’s inside is totally uncharted territory!"

Yugo tilted his head, intrigued by the mystery. "Wait, so you’re saying this cave just... appeared out of nowhere?"

Apple Bloom gave him a determined look, her voice filled with conviction. "That’s exactly what we’re sayin’. And we’re gonna be the first ponies to explore it. Who knows what could be inside!"

A better part of Yugo’s brain screamed at him that this wasn't a good idea. Caves that suddenly appeared out of nowhere? That sounded like the beginning of one of those adventure stories where things go wrong very quickly. His wings of light twitched uneasily, but seeing the eager and determined faces of his friends, he hesitated.

"Uh, guys," Yugo began slowly, rubbing the back of his head. "You sure this is a good idea? I mean, caves that just… appear? That sounds kinda dangerous."

Scootaloo scoffed playfully, waving a hoof dismissively. "Oh, come on, Yugo. Dangerous is practically our middle name!"

"Yeah," Sweetie Belle chimed in, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "We’ve handled plenty of weird stuff before. What’s one mysterious cave?"

Apple Bloom stepped forward confidently, her rope slung over her shoulder like a badge of honor. "Besides, it’s just a cave, Yugo. We’ve got our gear, and we’ve got each other. What could go wrong?"

Yugo’s better judgment nagged at him, but seeing the Crusaders’ enthusiasm, he sighed and nodded. "Alright, but if anything seems off in there, we’re turning back, deal?"

The three fillies exchanged glances before grinning. "Deal!" they chorused, clearly not worried about anything going wrong.

Sweetie Belle zipped over to Yugo, wrapping a foreleg around his own before he could even blink. "If we split up, I'm totally going with Yugo this time!" she declared, looking towards the colt.

Scootaloo groaned in protest, her wings fluttering with indignation. "That’s not fair! You got to hang out with him last time we split up!" she exclaimed, crossing her hooves.

Sweetie Belle stuck out her tongue playfully. "Well, this time, it's my turn again!"

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes, clearly used to this back-and-forth. "We ain't even in the cave yet, and y’all are already bickerin' over who’s stickin' with who."

Yugo, caught in the middle, laughed nervously. "Uh, I don’t mind, really. We’ll probably be safer if we all stick together this time anyway, right?" He wasn’t particularly keen on the idea of splitting up in a mysterious cave anyway.

Scootaloo sighed dramatically, flopping onto the ground with an exaggerated pout. "Fine. But next time, I get first dibs!"

Sweetie Belle giggled, still clinging to Yugo’s foreleg. "Deal!"

Apple Bloom gave Yugo a knowing look. "Reckon yer gonna need all that patience o' yours for today, Yugo."

"Maybe you're right," Yugo replied to Apple Bloom with a half-smile. "They do seem a little more wound up than usual."

Apple Bloom chuckled, adjusting her saddlebag as the group started moving again, heading toward the woods. "Ah reckon they just want the adventure to start already. Speaking of. You ready for this?"

"As ready as I’ll ever be," Yugo replied, managing a confident smile despite the unease stirring within him.

Just...what is this feeling?