Twilight awoke to a wall comprising of a million regrets from the day before. Above her bed was a square hole in the rock wall from which spilled a pale light that Twilight recognised as early morning. Rising, she noticed Sombre lying in the same bed, his body bare of clothing and his eyes shut, his back to her.

A memory slammed against her. King Sombre had once again threatened to force her to sleep in the same bed as him when she had refused. Of course, he had had to include a little persuasion by locking the door and locking her to the bed.

However, she woke with the door open slightly and the locks gone. Rising, she made sure Sombre didn't wake up before trotting down the corridor, glancing through doorways until she found the kitchen. This was the only room she knew of including awake ponies. The cook was a rather large Pegasus pony with a Cutie Mark for her enchanting salad dressing. She was rather old and had a powder blue coat with a dulling sapphire mane.

"Ah, Twilight my dear!" the cook cried, turning and smiling largely. "Is his Highness awake yet?"

"No, not yet, Cook," Twilight replied steadily. "Do you have any of those biscuits from last night? I could do with some sugar in my system."

"Why of course, of course!" Cook cried, flying up to a high shelf and opening the cupboard. She took out a plate and glided down to give it to Twilight, who took a vanilla biscuit and ate it greedily. "You seem hungry. Then again, you didn't have dinner, did you? His kiss make you ill?" At Twilight's desperate nod she chuckled. "Trust me when I say this, my dear, he's had his eye on you. I've seen him in the mirror. He really loves you, my dear, I promise you that. You just got to unlock his heart, he's real nice usually, dearie."

"I hope you're right," Twilight grumbled, nodding at the full length magic mirror leant against the wall at the far end of the never-ending kitchen. In it, she could see Sombre marching up the corridor, heading towards them. "Because he's coming!"

The door swung open and Twilight saw Sombre, stood slightly to the side, his head turned to look at them, and felt her heart clench.

"Good morning, my Queen!"

---

Rainbow Dash, although she didn't show it, was suffering the worst. Her boldness and stubborn attitude meant that no pony ever suspected her of grief – not even herself. So when she leapt into bed on the last day after a heroic show for the Crystal ponies with the Crystal Flyers and tears tumbled from her eyes it took a moment for her to realise they were for Twilight. However, she let them fall and she barely heard the door open when one of the male Crystal Flyers walked in.

"Err, Rainbow Dash?" he murmured, trotting worriedly up to her side. When she didn't reply he stroked her multi-coloured mane reassuringly until she stopped crying.

"What is it, Rapid Cloud?" Rainbow choked, the tears gradually drying on her electric blue cheeks.

"I just wanted to say you were incredible and I wished that your friend could have been there to see you perform," Rapid replied hesitantly.

"Thanks," Rainbow mumbled as she wiped her eyes clean. "How's Willow Storm?"

"She's great," Rapid smiled softly and winced at Rainbow's jealous face. "What's wrong, Rainbow?"

Rainbow bit her lip. She had seen the way Storm huddled close to Rapid and snuggled her pale pink head into his denim blue mane and pressed her muzzle to his cheek.

Did Rainbow truly have a crush on Rapid? They had hung out and Rapid had laughed with her and been with her when she grieved. He knew that she was crushed about Twilight's kidnapping.

"I don't know," Rainbow replied true fully. "I've never felt… jealous of any pony like this before…"

Rapid suddenly understood and his eyes sparkled with regret. "You know, I don't have feelings for Stormy, she's just all over me all the time."

Rainbow looked hopefully at Rapid and he laughed. "You're the only pony I've even taken a fancy for!"

Suddenly, the Pegasus stallion's amber hoof flew to his mouth, realising what he had said. Rainbow blushed but turned her head towards him and rubbed her snout against his cheek.

"You really mean that?" Rainbow murmured.

"With all my heart," Rapid whispered, his breath warm on Rainbow's ear.

And like that their mouths slotted together, as if made for each other, and their kiss began. It ended almost two minutes later when Rainbow broke away, panting but beaming widely at her new boyfriend. She shuffled back and patted the space next to her, smiling mischievously.

"There's room for two," she said, her voice slick and encouraging.

"How can I refuse?" Rapid asked as he slid into the bed and wrapped his arms around her.

Rainbow welcomed a longer, more desperate kiss and felt warm spreading throughout her. And for that moment she forgot about Twilight's disappearance and her grief. For that moment, it was just her and her boyfriend. Rainbow Dash and Rapid Cloud. Together, forever.

---

Rarity awoke and stretched, the morning sunlight streaming through the window and onto her bed. She climbed into her white dressing gown and fumbled about under her bed until she found her slippers.

Pulling them out, she frowned. This thing in her hooves was not her cosy white slippers but a velvet rose red box and as she lifted the lid she broke into a grin, lifting the folded golden necklace and attaching it around her neck, her purple hair bouncing.

Once the necklace had been lifted, Rarity saw a small card with fancy writing on it which read 'To Rarity. Meet me at nine o'clock by the library.' and then ended. Glancing at the grand clock by her door, Rarity gasped. It was eight-thirty already.

She kicked off her gown and climbed into a flowing purple dress with golden folds and a golden tiara with it. As soon as nine o'clock came, she hurried out of the palace and almost sprinted to the library.

On the steps was a handsome Unicorn, his golden eyes glowing softly and his flowing yellow mane matching them. His fur was a pale yellow and his hooves were chocolate brown. At Rarity's approach he descended the steps and stood with his nose inches from hers.

"Did you leave the message, good sir?" Rarity whispered.

"I did in deed," his voice was silken and Rarity recognised him from somewhere. "We met at the art gallery and I showed you my artwork."

"Ah yes, now I remember!" Rarity cried. "You're Oblong Riches, am I right?"

"My friends call me Oblong," Mr Riches replied, putting a hoof around her shoulders and pulling her closer. "And I just couldn't let an angel slip from my hooves."

Rarity was so shocked but delighted that when Oblong dove towards her mouth she closed her eyes and savoured the twenty second moment as Crystal ponies trotted by, barely noticing.

"When I'm with you, Rarity, I am complete," Oblong insisted. "When I'm with you, Rarity, my heart thunders!"

"I feel the same," Rarity lied, leaning into his chest.

"I've never felt like this before, Rarity!" Oblong continued.

"Me neither," Rarity fibbed again, eager for this moment to last. "When I'm with you the truth spills out."

"I'm glad we feel the same," Oblong said, diving in again. "You, me, tonight. Meet me at 17 Rabbit Street at one o'clock today. I'll be waiting."

Rarity nodded, eyes drooping with happiness, before trotting away, grinning widely.

---

Applejack threw out her legs, knocking down a bushel of Crystal apples instantly whilst a few stallions did so to. Watching carefully, Applejack realised they had a smoother way which was why they were so sleek and soft.

The stallions stood on their hind legs, forelegs pressed to the trunk, and they whistled softly, watching as beautiful white doves floated through the branches and apples fell into the buckets.

One stallion, dappled grey with a slicked back mane and short, messy tail, approached Applejack with remarkable calmness. He dipped his head politely; sweat glistening on his forehead despite barely doing anything. Applejack stole a glance at his Cutie Mark and saw three apples, almost identical to her own except these ones were pale green like the Crystal apples.

"Name's Orange Berry," he said, sticking out a hoof.

Despite his playful hairdo he seemed very country like Applejack. Applejack held out her hoof and he shook it gently.

"Applejack," Applejack replied, frowning at an odd thought she received when she looked at Orange Berry. For some reason she felt an urge to kiss him but she knew that would be unusual and let her ears fall back, her cheeks blushing dimly.

"Ya'll from Ponyville, right?" Orange Berry asked, meaning Applejack and her friends.

"Yes, we're…" she gulped. "Well, nearly all of us are going home today."

"Oh," Orange Berry muttered. "Ah well, tell me your address and I'll swing by, ya hear?"

"Sure," Applejack shrugged. "I live in Ponyville at Sweet Apple Acres."

"I'll swing by sometime next month, kay?" Orange Berry said before trotting off to help his pals, snatching a Crystal apple juice just before and having a drink.

---

Pinkie Pie snorted and giggled as she bounced along the hallway, head high and smile wide. When she knocked on Rainbow Dash's door, however, she froze. Use to opening it as soon as she had knocked, Pinkie pushed open the door and saw Rainbow lying on her back and a stallion lying on his side next to her, facing her.

"Dashy!" Pinkie cried, charging the bed. "There's a stallion in your bed!"

She pounced and the stallion's eyes flew open as she shook him, anger waving through her.

Rainbow woke with a start and gasped, shoving Pinkie off Rapid Cloud.

"Oh my gosh, Pinkie, get off my boyfriend!" Rainbow cried as she stood and pressed her side against her best friend. Pinkie let go and they both rolled onto the floor.

"Boyfriend!" Pinkie cried, eyes wide open. Then her eyes bulged and her lips pulled into a grin. "Oh my gosh, Dashy, we so need to throw you an "I Found My True Love" party!"

"Yeah, yeah, we'll do that later," Rainbow groaned as she pulled herself to her feet. "By the way, can you tell the others I've decided to stay at the Crystal Empire?"

"What?" Pinkie whimpered, tears bubbling in her eyes. "You're leaving Ponyville?"

"Pinks, stop with the begging eyes, I'm starting to feel bad," Rainbow said, her voice strained.

"Hello, Miss Pie," Rapid called from the bed as he scrambled to the floor, his wings were opening and closing one after the other. "I'm Rapid Cloud."

"Oh my gosh!" Pinkie cried. "You're brother sat next to me in the stands during the performance! He is so in awe of you!"

"Oh," Rapid mumbled, rubbing his ear. "I… didn't know that."

"Oh sure, he wishes he could fly and do tricks and…"