It didn't take me long to re-trace my steps back to the cafe where I had left Rarity. Sure enough, she was still there. Now she was seated in the cafe, surrounded by a silent crowd. She appeared to be telling a story of some sort. It would have been impossible for me to sneak up on her had the crowd still been following me, but once they discovered a wolf among them a while back they all took off, screaming at me to kill it. I had taken the chance to run off again and lose them. I crept up quietly to the back of the crowd. The cafe had an outdoor seating area, and that's where Rarity was sitting. I was able to hear her story from the back of the crowd, but it seemed to almost be over.

"That's when the evil copy of Sharky almost killed the real one! I levitated his leg out from under him, knocking him into the mud! After that, he knocked me unconscious magically, but--"

"With that move, she saved my life and allowed me to start beating on the evil copy." I interrupted. The entire crowd, including Rarity turned to me in shock. "If Rarity hadn't done that, I'd be dead and she'd have nopony to take her out tonight!" The crowd all seemed too shocked to move for a moment, so I took the chance to shock them even more. "Also, meet my pet wolf. Fang?" He charged away from my side, snarling and snapping like a mad dog. The ponies all screamed and ran in fear. As soon as they were gone, Fang quieted back down and nonchalantly came back to my side. "Good boy. Hey Rarity! How are you?" I walked up to the cafe where she was seated. She hit my chest with a hoof. "Ow?"

"You left me! Abandoned me to drown in the sea of ruffians!" She wailed dramatically. I rolled my eyes.

"Well, I'm sorry, but I had to go."

"What could possibly distract you from the glamor that is Rarity?" Wow, the attention must have swelled her head a little.

"A foalnapping. Just had to go save a filly's life. How was your time with the 'sea of ruffians'?" She flinched.

"Oh, I'm sorry dear, I didn't realize it was that kind of thing... I thought you just left because you didn't want to be around me..."

"Nonsense! I love being around 'the glamor that is Rarity'!" She flinched again.

"Oh... did I truly say that? I apologize, the attention must've gone to my head a little." I smiled.

"No worries. So, seriously, how did you enjoy your time with the crowd?"

"Oh, it was simply fabulous! They all wanted me to design for them!"

"Wow, all of them? That's fantastic! You did tell them you work in Ponyville right?"

"Why of course dear! I can't expect them to purchase my designs if they don't know where to go!"

"Right, silly me. Well, how did you end up telling them that story?"

"Well, one of them asked me to tell them about one of your adventures! For some reason, they all believe I'm your marefriend and I know all about you." I flinched this time.

"Yeah, I had to tell them something to get them to leave me alone. Sorry about that."

"Oh, it's no trouble dear. I don't mind being called your marefriend..."

"Oh, no need to flatter me. I know it was problably a burden on you to have to pretend that."

"... Well... A burden to pretend anyway..."

"Right, that's what I said. Wow, did he really not pick that up? I caught it. Anyway, let's get that mane fixed, shall we?"

"... Steven? You understand?"

"Why are you talking to Steven? I thought we agreed to ignore him... Of course! Damn, he must be denser than a brick..." Rarity nodded.

"Sadly, he is. Could you explain it to him? I'm not allowed to say it myself."

"Are you still talking to Steven? I can't talk to him directly unless he's asleep. Even if I could, I wouldn't. This is too damn funny." Rarity narrowed her eyes.

"Well... how rude."

"What? Did Steven insult you? I told you not to talk to him."

"... No. He did not insult me." She let out a deep sigh. "Let's just... try to enjoy the rest of the evening together, ok?" I smiled.

"Sure thing! Now, did you ever find out where we can find a nice mane salon?"

"Why, yes I did! One of the fans was happy to point me to the nearest salon in exchange for the story! It's right this way dear." She pointed down the right side of the street. I nodded and picked her up in my right arm.

"Ok! C'mon Fang!" He jogged beside me happily as I took off in the direction of the mane salon.

"Yes, I've been meaning to ask, how is Fang here, and why? Not that I don't enjoy his crowd-clearing prowess..."

"Oh, Fang got here because I asked Luna to help me bring him here to help me find the foal-nappers. Oh, and that's why he's here, the foal-nappers. The crowd-clearing was just a bonus."

"Oh, I see. Well, how did it go anyway? The rescue."

"Eh, it was fairly easy, I just followed their possible trail until Fang picked up their scent. Then I just beat the living hell out of 'em disabled them and recovered the filly."

"Wow, how brave of you!"

"BWAHAHAHA!! Rarity, I killed a demon snowman that could breathe fire and tried to impale me with icicles of death earlier today. A couple of low-life earth ponies that are cowardly enough to steal a baby were no problem."

"Oh... that does throw it into perspective I suppose... Still, saving a filly like that..."

"Please don't make a big deal of it... Oh, here's the salon!" We had arrived at a large fancy building that looked like a mane being styled. Litterally, from the ground up, it looked like a giant mane. It was purple and there were scissors cutting it at the very top, and some gel being applied to it in the middle above the door. All fake and only there to look cool... I assume. I pushed open the door and walked in. The door jingled, signaling that there was a new customer.

"Hey! Can't you read!? The sign says-- Hey! You're the hero!" A light blue pegasus mare with a curly white mane with darker streaks through it had been behind a small podium at the front, and she seemed ecstatic to see me.

"Yeah, hero. Whatever." I still didn't like being called a hero, but I figured it was no use fighting back any more.

"Well... We're supposed to be closed right now..."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just trying to find a place to fix my friend's hair." I took off Rarity's hat and the mare gasped. "You see, she had an unfortunate run in with... I'll just go with dragon."

"This is an emergency! Nevermind about us being closed! Girls!" She called out and a bunch of mares showed up out of nowhere. "We have a mane emergency here! Get right on it!" I placed Rarity on the ground, and she was swept away by the sudden mob of mares.

"Wow, thanks!"

"Oh, anything for a friend of the hero! Say, what's it like?" She leaned on the podium with her... elbows? Well, she was using the joint on her forelegs to prop up her head. She was staring at me with intrest.

"What's what like?"

"Being a hero of course! You know, fighting monsters, saving lives, it all sounds very charming!"

"Oh, it's not what it sounds li--"

"WOLF!! Get it hero!" I guess she finally noticed Fang by my side. She jumped away from the podium and was cowereing next to a flowerpot.

"Oh, that's my pet. He's kinda my sidekick... or companion... nah, let's go with sidekick. It sounds cooler."

"Y-your pet is a w-wolf?"

"Well yeah. What did you expect a monster hunter to have, a bunny?"

"Oh... Well, when you put it that way it sounds kinda obvious..." She crept back away from her flower pot and resumed her position on the podium. "Now... what were we talking about?"

"Something about being a hero..."

"Oh yes, you were saying what it was like!"

"Right, well, it's not what you'd expect at all I suppose. You get the tar beaten out of you more than anything."

"It's worth it for the fame and fortune right?"

"To be honest, I hate the fame. I get mobbed everywhere recently. It certainly doesn't help me with fighting when ponies come to watch and I have to save them."

"Oh... I guess that makes sense. Well, the money's good right?"

"Well, to be honest, I can never seem to find a use for the money, so I usually spend it on my friends or give it away..." My eyes widened as I realized I had given away all my bits. "Oh crud! I just gave all my bits to that filly's family! I'm sorry, I can't pay today... Lemme grab Rarity and I'll come back next time I have bits."

"Oh no, it's on the house for the hero. Now, what filly is this?"

"Are you sure? I really don't want to just walk out without having paid you... Oh, and the filly is Strawberry. I had to save her from some foalnappers a few minutes ago." Her eyes got really wide.

"You saved a filly only a few minutes ago!? Tell me about it! Oh, I've got an idea, tell me the story for payment! How's that sound?" I thought for a moment.

"Well... I still feel like I should actually pay you... but I suppose a story will have to do for now. I'll just come and pay you next time I get some bits. Anyway, it goes like this. I had just gotten here and I went to ask for directions..."

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"Voila! She is done!" I turned my haed as on of the mares brought out Rarity. Her mane appeared to be back to normal, and it was styled the same was as it had been before it had burnt off. Now that she was back to normal and didn't need her hat, she looked much better. Coupled with her dress... she looked pretty dang good.

"Holy crow! Rarity, you look amazing! Great job girls!" They beamed at me and bowed in thanks a few times. Rarity blushed and looked away from me. I blushed at the bowing. "C'mon girls, there's no need for that..." They straightened back up.

"Yes hero!" One of them said humbly. I facepalmed.

"No, I'm not giving you orders! Please don't act like that..."

"What do you want us to act like hero?" I facepalmed again.

"Thanks for the help, Glad you liked the story. Bye." I turned and pulled Rarity out of the salon.

"Wait! You forgot to pay them dear!" Rarity reminded me.

"Nah, I traded a story for the job today. I'll pay them when I have some bits."

"What happened to the rest of your bits?"

"I gave them to the filly I rescued's family."

"Well... how charitable."

"No, it was the right thing to do. We should get back home now, it's really late... I wanted to take you to dinner, but that'll have to wait until after my next mission."

"Oh, you didn't have to do that dear!"

"Well, I want to. Next time I have money, we'll come back, pay the nice mares in the salon, then go out to dinner. Sound good?"

"Fabulous dear, it's a date."

"Yes. Wait, not a date date, but a date... you know what, I'm gonna stop talking. Finally!" I pulled out my phone again and hit Luna's call button. She picked up on the third ring.

"Thou again Sharky? What doth thou need?"

"Hi Luna. I'm very sorry to bug you so much!"

"Oh, it's no trouble."

"Well, all the same, I'm sorry I called so many times today. This is the last one, I promise. I'm just finally ready to go back to Ponyville."

"Very well, did you enjoy your time in Canterlot?"

"Yes, it was fantastic! Other than the foalnappers and crazy fan crowds... other than that it was great though."

"What delightful news! We... I drift away from the subject at hoof however, teleporting now." I grabbed Rarity and Fang as we disappeared in a flash of black light.

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"Thanks Luna!" I was in the library again, Twilight was no longer in her corner. Fang walked away from my side and curled up in a corner to sleep.

"Tis no trouble Sharky. Farewell!"

"Bye!" Luna hung up. "Well, let's get you home Rarity."

"Yes, home sounds *yawn* Oh, excuse me! Home sounds nice..."

"Wow, tired huh? Guess dinner would've been a bad idea anyway. Well, lets go." I started out of the library with Rarity. Soon we were at the boutique. I ran upstairs and placed Rarity in her bedroom. "Bye Rarity!"

"Goodbye Sharky. I had a great time tonight..."

"So did I. Well, I should get home..." I turned and walked back downstairs. Then I stepped outside and realized how paralyzingly dark it was outside, and I was all alone. Buck. I walked back upstairs and knocked on Rarity's bedroom door.

"Sharky? Is that you?"

"Yeah, it is... Hey, you don't mind if I spend the night, do you?"

"No, of course not!"

"Cool, where can I sleep?" She pulled open the bedroom door. She had taken off the dress.

"Well, you'll be taking my bed of course!"

"Oh, no way!"

"Yes you will. I'm not letting you sleep on the floor or in a chair, that would be unlady-like of me!"

"Ugh... Will you please take it? A gentleman doesn't let a lady sleep on the floor either!"

"Fair point, but I am the host, therefore it would be twice as rude if I let you sleep anywhere but in the bed!"

"Gah! ... Share?"

"Yes... that could work..."

"Ok... well... how do I keep ending up like this? Do you want to get in the bed first or shall I?"

"Oh please, you first."

"Fine." I walked over to Rarity's bed and laid down on the right side facing the middle of the bed. Rarity jumped on the left side of the bed and pulled the covers up to her neck. She was facing me.

"Aren't you going to get under the blanket dear?"

"Nah, I like to be cold when I sleep."

"Oh... interesting. Well... goodnight."

"Goodnight... I'm really sorry about this Rarity. Thanks for being a good friend." Rarity narrowed her eyes.

"... Goodnight."