Sunny trotted towards the ice rink with a hopeful smile on her muzzle, Zipp following behind. "I hope she's been getting along. I don't want her to feel like we're spying on her. We're not, but—"

"But she's literally an evil mind-controlling kitty." Zipp smirked as she followed along. "I think checking in on things isn't all that strange. If they're all having a good time, we're not here to mess things up."

Zipp fell in a step beside Sunny. "I bet she'll be here, looking annoyed that we even showed up."

"Maybe." Sunny gave a light shrug. "Maybe she'll be having the time of her life." She waved over the rink and up at the sun. "Or, maybe, she'll be home sleeping considering it's the middle of the day."

Zipp snickered. "You know, I hadn't even thought about that." She gave a light shrug. "I hope she's here, just so we can see how she's fitting in."

They both arrived at the rink. Other ponies were coming and going with smiles on their faces and a pep in their steps. Sunny nodded at the traffic. "Well, that's a good sign."

They went inside to see ponies playing a game of hockey out on the ice. One team appeared to be unicorns in white, and the opposing team was a mixed group of pegasi and earth ponies. "Hm." Sunny nodded at the play, but her eyes went to the front desk. "Let's ask the ponies that work here."

They headed over to find a single pegasus working at the counter. He gave them both a wave. "Hey. Are you here for hockey practice, or do you wanna book the ice for a private event?"

Sunny raised a hoof to her chin. "You can rent the whole thing? Neat, but I actually wanted to ask how Allura is doing. She a big, um, help, or she still adjusting to things?"

"Ah." His ears pricked up, wings spreading. "You came to check on her, huh? I thought some ponies might. I'm glad! I know she looks scary, but she's a real sweetheart."

He waved to a wall where Employee of the Month awards were. Though most had gone to a middle aged earth pony, they started being awarded to Allura for the past two months. "See? She's keeping all the machines really humming. We haven't had to have a single day of downtime since she joined the crew."

Sunny and Zipp looked surprised at that, glancing among themselves. "She's really been doing such a good job?" Sunny tilted her head with clear amazement on her face. "I mean, that's great! I just, wow."

Zipp went in closer. "She's huge! Nothing against her, but how does she even reach all the little parts and stuff?"

He rubbed the back of his head. "I dunno. She gets the job done." He shrugged. "I mean, you'd have to ask her." With that he jerked a hoof towards a hallway that led further in. "Oh! She has an assistant." He held up two hooves close. "Twitch? They say he's a creature, but I can't understand him."

"We know them." Sunny smiled and nodded. "Actually, I think I'll take you up on the invitation. We'll go talk to her."

"Alright, if there's trouble, give us a call!" The pegasus waved a wing at the two as they wandered off.

They found Allura easily, but she wasn't scheming, or sleeping. She was reading some thick book. "Now found the small red lever." Some gibbers echoed to her in the wall. "Grab it and turn it clockwise until it clicks."

More chirping. "Yes, yes! I hear it too. It is working again, good. We have fixed another machine today, Twitch." The bunny gave a happy squeal, then emerged from under a panel. Twitch saw Sunny and Zipp there with their surprised expressions. He pointed them both out with new noises as he rapidly took his place atop Allura.

Allura turned her head, the rest of her sitting down. "Oh, you two. What did you want?"

Sunny trotted forward a few steps. "Just seeing how you've been doing."

"I see. And if I was doing poorly, would you kick me out of this city?" Her tone was more tired than accusing, but she didn't give them space to answer before continuing. "I do not wish to leave, or to be thrown out. This is a good city."

Zipp flew up to the large kitty. "That's awesome! I hear you're doing great." She pointed down at the book Allura had just been reading. "That the manual for this thing? I'm impressed." She twirled in the air to face the vast apparatus that kept things cool. "Awesome. Wow, that thing is huge, and you keep it going? Alone? Or with Twitch."

Allura chuckled softly. "You have not changed, young pony. Curious, and a little wild, but you mean well." She stood and stretched. "Twitch and I are doing fine, I believe. He is my assistant, reaching where my size works against me." Twitch made a sound that was perhaps agreeing. "He can get to parts even a pony would struggle to reach. Together, we get this job done rather well." There was pride in her words, and a low purr of satisfaction.

"That's great!" Sunny put her front hooves together, beaming at Allura and Twitch. "So, are you enjoying yourself here? Not causing any problems for other ponies?"

Allura gave a little huff at that. "Who has time to mess with the ponies here when I'm keeping this thing where it needs to be? I'm not paid to 'cause problems'." She rolled her eyes at that. "I can do that when I'm off the clock, Sunny."

Sunny laughed awkwardly at that. "That makes sense." She was quiet a moment. "Are you doing that off clock then?"

"That was a joke." Allura poked Sunny gently. "This job will not get me home, but it has improved my, mm, comforts. I can afford some things. I don't feel like I'm just surviving at the edge of the city." She flopped in place. "It's not a bad feeling."

"Well, I'm happy for you." Zipp smiled and nodded. "Come on, Sunny. I don't think she needs us breathing down her neck."

"Sorry, sorry. It's good to know you're doing well." Sunny reached out, brushing one of Allura's legs with a hoof. "If we can help, just let us know. You still have my number, right?"

"I do." Allura nodded her head. "I will call you, if I need you." She smiled at Sunny. "Thank you, for giving me a chance. Forgive me if I don't believe I deserve it."

Sunny was ready to head back but hesitated at Allura's words. "Of course you deserve it."

Zipp spread her hooves, hovering as she was. "Sure, you may have caused some trouble in the past."

"But that doesn't define who you are." Sunny lightly tapped the ground, echoing off the tiles. "We all make mistakes. I, at least, am delighted that you're finding a place. We'll get you home, I promise."

Allura looked away for a moment. "Thank you, but I cannot trust that promise."

Sunny nodded at that. "That's fair. You can trust we're trying." She tapped her chin. "Actually, there's somecreature we haven't really pressed that may have a clue or two."

Allura perked an ear at that. "Really? Who?"

"Comforting. She was a spirit of chaos, and that meant she could observe the world in a way that other ponies just couldn't. Maybe she knew something." Sunny nodded with confidence. "If we can get her to talk. She can be secretive about some things."

Zipp flew over in front of Allura. "Can't hurt to ask. We'll go give her a prod and let you know how it turns out, alright?"

"Please do." Allura gave a slow nod, ears up. "Thank you." She rose up, looking down at the both of them. "I won't forget this kindness." She fell quiet, struggling for words. "I won't forget you silly things, if I get home."

"Good to hear." Sunny beamed. "We'll be back to check in. You keep on being that employee of the month!"

The two headed out, looking pleased with how things went.

***

"Why would I tell you that?" Comforting was organizing the books on the second floor, making them fly about as she directed the orchestra of literature with waves of her fingers. "That'd be giving away the whole game!"

Sunny frowned. "We're not talking about a game here, Comforting! I'm worried about her. She deserves to go home. Can't you see that?" She looked around the room, watching the books fly to new shelves. "Can't you give a hint at least? Point us in the right direction?"

Comforting stopped moving books to rub her chin thoughtfully, eyes wandering to the side. "I'm a chaos spirit. We thrive on change. I can't help you bring things back to the way they were." She wriggled a bit in place, tail lashing. "On the other hand, she's been away for so long, maybe going back would count as a change at this point." She mumbled softly, thoughts of how that would play out. "Could be interesting."

Sunny frowned. "Comforting, please. She misses her home."

Comforting stopped, books around her suddenly falling to the ground. "Fine! Fine." She gestured sharply at the air, and a book slipped off a shelf into her hand. "She wasn't always cold." She clapped her hands together. "She used to be quite warm, but brave, too brave. Given the chance to see where a portal led, she took it."

"Can you tell us how to make a portal, then?" Sunny asked hopefully.

Comforting shook her head. "I don't know the first thing. It sounds fun, though. I'd like to go through a portal." She snickered softly. "Just kidding. Making portals isn't all that hard when you get the hang of it. But you aren't a chaos spirit." She poked Sunny on her snout, making it wrinkle. "You ran away with something that made portals once, didn't you?"

Sunny's eyes went wide. "Yes, I did! When we were with the auoracorns. But it..." She trailed off, pacing in circles. "It, oh." She brought a hoof to her chin, eyes sparkling. "Comforting! Thank you!" She hugged the large creature. "I know where to look!"

Comforting chuckled lowly, patting Sunny on the back. "You're welcome, you adorable little thing." She pushed Sunny back and away, looking her over. "You know what to do now?"

"I hope so, but at least you've pointed me in the right direction. Thank you." She dipped her head and fled away, breaking the no running rule of the library in the process. Not that Comforting had the heart to bring that up in the heat of the moment.

***

It was a good day for a creature to look for crystals in the boardtrot. For once, it wasn't Allura. Sunny flew around on her temporary alicorn wings, inspecting the place critically. "This is going to be difficult."

Zipp lowered aside her, matching her speed. "What will be?"

"I think the crystals that power this place may be the same ones that could get Allura back home!" Sunny waved at the boardtrot. "But I don't want to take everypony's fun away!"

Zipp smirked. "You don't want to steal a bunch of crystals, you mean?" She chuckled at Sunny's blush and slight frown. "Hey, hey, just a joke. Look, if we get it all together and send Allura home, can't we put it back in the boardtrot afterwards?"

"I'm not sure." Sunny rubbed her chin, frowning down at the park. "It's not easy to get these things. Can we even get enough for Allura to go home? Can we be sure they're coming back?"

Zipp shrugged with an unsure noise. "The crystals didn't stop being there the last time we used them. One of us can open the portal and hold it as she goes on through. Everypony wins!"

Sunny considered that a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Let's try it. We'll have to gather a lot of crystals." She sighed softly. "Ponies are gonna miss the boardtrot."

Zipp moved in, bumping Sunny lightly. "They'll miss it, sure, but we'll have good news when we put it back together. It'll just be a little bit, then we'll be back open for business."

Sunny chuckled, smiling at Zipp. "Thanks for having my back."

They flew down towards the nearest booth. A game where the goal was to land a small disc in holes along the sides of the wall. "Let's get gathering."

Zipp saluted. "You got it. I'll get the ones in the air. You get the ones on the ground."

Sunny nodded, and Zipp kicked off the floor. With speed that could have won her races, Zipp began to gather all the crystals she could find and set them aside. Sunny trotted about, picking up crystals and putting them into her saddlebag. The hunt was on to gather those crystals.

Author's Note

The mane ponies get in on the act, and they don't need to be sneaky about it.

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