"Rares. Rares!" Bright tapped at her from above, riding her down the Manehattan street. "This is... progress? But there's no way your friends are gonna be happy about this."

Rarity turned an ear back at Bright. "What are you talking about, darling? This is a perfect compromise."

"They didn't strike me as the compromising kinda people..." Bright cringed, thinking of that dark room of moody vampires. "And you're telling them they have to stick to specific parts of the city? Will that fly?"

Rarity snorted softly. "They hardly have much of a choice... Besides, this helps protect Manehattan."

"Yeah... not so much." Bright flared out his wings. "They could send some folks less nice than we are to wreck the hell out of the sewers and turn it all off. Buildings collapse, vampires gets to do what they want. Problem solved, for them."

Rarity paused in her walking. "They wouldn't... They would." She slumped, realizing just how likely such a thing could be. "We haven't fixed anything..."

"That's what I'm saying." But he did rub gently at her ear. "Points for the effort!"

Rarity leaned into Bright's calming ear rubs. She realized cheerfully confirming the magic conduit issue overlooked political tensions with the wider vampire community now facing the magically drawing effects from below.

Would the regional vampire authorities take aggressive destructive actions in response? She fretted anxiously. Had her efforts somehow worsened relations by validating factions' worst assumptions?

Rarity bit her lip, uncertain how to reconcile groups without risks escalating from fear and dismissal between diurnal and nocturnal cultures.

She met Bright's eyes with fresh determination. "We must change prejudiced perspectives before this standoff sparks real harm. Help me shift ignorant hearts above through nonviolent activism?"

"If it helps." Bright clung to her as she hastened. "We did prove the lights aren't the problem. That means any pony town that isn't huge and tall, not the problem. Ponyville will be safe for ages."

"Small consolations." Rarity paused at a corner, waiting for her turn to cross the street. "But will that be enough to placate my erstwhile peers?"

"Won't know until we try." Bright shrugged with a chuckle. "Technically, we were sent to deal with the lights. Dealt with! Not a threat. And what is a problem isn't spreading like a plague across the lands... Maybe... Maybe they'll just write the cities off?"

Rarity sighed wistfully at Bright's naive yet endearing optimism. "If only such pragmatic acceptance endured eternally..." She shook her head, morosely watching the bustling crowds sweep past near their isolated corner island. "Regrettably for all the vaunted pony 'friendliness' of our realms, tribal instincts oft override our empathetic angels."

Glittering skyscrapers loomed above them, ambition's monuments obscuring more stars by the season. Rarity traced constellations nearly faded from familiar fillyhood skies and wondered - did stoic Luna weep alone viewing night's timeless sentinels blink out one by one? Or did numbness eventually eclipse even immortal grief?

"So many affronts dismissible until their sum no longer suffers silence..." Rarity whispered almost inaudibly. "When darkness' creeping feels more threat than comfort, ponies perish seeking false security from harsh illumination." She glanced sidelong at earnest Bright, hybrid hope against dour predictions.

"But you speak rightly, dear heart. This puzzle's solution needn't imperil peace in smaller blissful boroughs." Resolve firmed her delicate jawline as she raised a hoof skyward towards waiting spires ballot stuffing the moon's ancient hegemony. "We shall simply school supercilious unicorn capitalists on sustainable growth mindful of larger costs!"

A terse honking snapped Rarity's attention back to the crosswalk signal finally permitting passage. Wheeling towards their towering tribunal, freshly inspired vampire and familiar marched forth to credential night's heritage once more against the gleaming threat of progress ever encroaching.

"Woah, Rares." Bright laughed as they charged through the city. "Fighting capitalism, as a thing, is a mighty tall order."

An idea hit him. "Wait..." They slowed, Rarity peeking over her shoulder. "This is just not our problem."

Rarity frowned at that. "Darling! I didn't expect you to just... give up."

"I'm not giving up." He put a hand on a hip. "I'm just admitting this isn't our problem. This is Celestia's problem. She could do something about this. That, or whoever's mayor of this whole city, but they don't know us. We have a link with Celestia. I say reach for that!"

Rarity considered Bright's idea thoughtfully. Appealing to Princess Celestia's authority rather than tackling private crusades against unchecked industrialization made strategic sense. Powerful allies could accomplish wider goals if egos stepped back from the spotlight.

"You speak wisely as ever, dear heart." Rarity smiled, checking her grandstanding instincts. "I concede my independent streak chafes a bit yielding this round's struggles to heavier hooves."

She nuzzled Bright gratefully. "But harmony has larger weavings than we two can mend overnight. To Canterlot's solar steward we defer dilemmas surpassing fresh agents overmatched."

Rarity winked playfully. "We'll rout residual unrest after Celestia's stellar settlements. But first, stern corrections for those shortsighted city council stuff shirts! Then to plead our fascinating case before Equestria's radiant figurehead!"

"To Canterlot!" Bright looked around, towering skyscrapers all around them. "I have no idea which way that is. Are we taking a train?"

Rarity sighed, some of her steam robbed. "Yes... Come now."

So they made their way to the train station and hopped aboard a ride towards Canterlot.

Though they expected a long and uneventful trip, it was not to be. A pony sat beside them. "You're returning with a report?" Their face was masked by an unfolded newspaper.

Rarity's ears twitched before returning to careful neutrality. "Yes, darling, and we're taking action to see it's resolved in the long term."

"Long term?" They flipped to the next page. "Long term on what timeline?"

Bright thrust a finger at their new 'guest'. "Long term on Celestia's timeline. How's that?"

Things went quiet for a moment save for the gentle trundle of the train beneath them.

The stranger's hoof falls quietly on the headline photograph of recently renovated skyscrapers ribbon-cut beneath Celestia's beaming grin. Rarity glimpses a flash of fangs behind a skeptical half-smirk. "Ah yes, Luna's elder sister..."

"Well placed to resolve irregularities given limitless access and influence one might imagine..." The mare's sarcasm sharpens slightly as Bright and Rarity share an uneasy glance. Abruptly the paper lowers, revealing features matronly yet severe surveying them shrewdly.

"...Save for one intangible yet priceless possession lost amid prestige and privilege - a nocturnal perspective." She taps her curved horn meaningfully while arching a manicured brow Rarity feels prickling defensiveness. "Might that oversight factor in your forthcoming counsels for the crisis threatening your own kind's habitat and ways?"

Bright bristles while Rarity lays a calming hoof subtly restraining impulsiveness. Skilled orator meets veiled hostility in polite cadence, feeling her opponent's pulse.

"Indeed, lack of darkness dwellers in daylight debates doubtless fosters this blindspot presently bruising delicate balances." Gesturing to the bustling metropolis scrolling outside, she continues carefully. "But in teaching tolerance for all tribes under harmony, we nurture seeds of wisdom blooming empathy from ignorance until coexistence comes naturally."

A tiny smile cracks the stranger's stony expression. "Perhaps so. Luna certainly clings to hope's ideals..." The train slows into Canterlot station as their confronter rises abruptly, trappings falling away to reveal much grander than ordinary passenger. "We all do in our youth I suppose."

The lights of the carriage blink to darkness, ponies yelping in surprise. When they return, the stranger is gone, off into the night.

Bright snapped fingers of both hands. "That feels like a win."

Rarity slid to her hooves and grabbed Bright with her magic. "I do hope so... Come, let's see if we can catch Princess Celestia as she stirs."

Bright grabbed Rarity the moment he was over her, taking his riding position. "Lead the way, my fabulous steed!"

Rarity snorted at the title. "I hate most that you are, technically, correct, dear." She fought it no further, trotting through Canterlot with purpose.

Rarity hastened towards resplendent spires piercing pink-stained clouds as dawn encroached. Trotting beneath glittering towers, Bright and Rarity soon stood in gem-inlaid antechambers scenting faintly of sunflowers.

Princess Celestia turned with a gracious smile that flickered noticing Rarity's vampiric condition before recovering cordial composure. "Greetings visitors - to what do I owe this unexpected early pleasure?" Mild amusement lilted subtly.

Rarity touched snout to floor deferentially despite the friendly informality. "Forgive intruding unannounced Your Highness. But a night-cloaked crisis creeps requiring your wisdom balancing scales barely tilting unity's way still..."

Celestia inclined her head solemnly. "Please rise friends and share what's requiring such urgency." Piercing yet patient gaze settled knowingly upon Rarity.

Bright reached out, poking one of Rarity's wings with a soft hiss. He'd already hidden his own, looking like 'just' a rabbit/kangaroo combination. Even his fangs were tucked away. Nothing to see there!

Rarity started with confusion. "Dear?" She looked back at him, then at her wing, and it dawned on her. "Oh!" With a puff, she dismissed her vampiric attributes. "Terribly sorry, darling..."

Celestia smiled patiently even as she moved for one of her sitting rooms. "Luna has told me of you, Rarity. She mentioned she had... interesting... agents. And one that wasn't. I can safely assume you two are the interesting ones."

She sat beside a low table, burdened with sweets and teas, teasing scents wafting. She took a cup of tea and sipped gently. "Sit, relax, and tell me all that's on your minds."

Rarity and Bright settled onto plush cushions across from calmly regal Celestia. Steam curled gently from ornate porcelain cups as the matriarch examined them patiently.

"First, what brings such urgent distress into these halls this dawn?" Gentle yet unswaying gaze lingered upon the two emissaries.

Rarity took a steadying breath, choosing words with care. "Forgive the abrupt visit, Your Highness, but anxieties amplify among Equestria's nocturnal citizens regarding rapid expansions in major cities."

Bright hopped up, standing on Rarity. "The ponies in Manehattan are using crazy magic to keep their tallest buildings from collapsing as they build higher and higher." He squinted. "Not a pro, but they really should just build the buildings better! The magic's making vampires cranky, and other creatures too, I bet."

"Oh dear." Celestia inclined her head. "I would never have guessed two very different things could collide like that... Or that the ponies would use magic like that." She tapped at her chin. "Not very sustainable."

Rarity perked at that, sitting up, which tossed Bright to the ground. "Sustainable, dear?"

Celestia nodded with a hum. "Sustainable, yes. If their work requires draining night creatures, and they either leave or rebel, eventually, they'll stop working, one way or the other."

Rarity nodded eagerly at Celestia's diplomatic segue, grasping the wise framing. "Well said, Highness! Draining realms risks backlash unless dialogue increases." She showed survey data on infrastructure threatening older communities.

Bright popped up indignantly. "Yeah shiny new towers wrecking night vibes? Super uncool!" He wilted under gazes. "...respectfully."

Rarity smiled affectionately. "Dear Bright conveys the anxieties vividly. We come respectfully seeking your assistance brokering cooperation before tensions worsen..."

Celestia closed contemplative eyes. Flickers glowed beneath translucent lids as the solar ruler turned proposals over silently. Rarity watched hopefully... wisdom informed by centuries of experience might achieve what their two hearts alone could not swiftly reconcile.

"I will have to speak with them." Celestia gestured over the table. "Eat and refresh yourself. You look like you've had quite the day."

Bright grabbed a long biscuit to crunch into. "Mmm... But who are you talking to, your royal sun-butt'ness?"

Celestia started. "Royal sun-butt?" She glanced towards her posterior and its sun mark. "Technically correct... But I'd ask you to not use that title again." She snorted, but her smile revealed she didn't take too much ire in it. "The mayor of Manehattan, of course. I set laws for Equestria, but it is they that do so for their city."

Rarity gently swatted at Bright. "Of course, dear. It's how Princess Celestia keeps things, how they say, Dextrous. If Equestria had to wait for a royal decree from Celestia with every move, we'd be in trouble whenever something came up requiring immediate action, hm?"

Bright fired a double thumbs up, chewing the last of that biscuit. "Awesome. Thanks for handling it, Sunny."

That term got less of a confused response.

Author's Note

That is a far improved resolution, I think. 19/29

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