Dusk arrived in Manhattan, almost overcome with excitement. He had been eagerly waiting to arrive at this spot in his journey; Before he left Ponyville, his marefriend Dazzle had revealed that she had accepted a modelling contract in this very city. It had been so long since Dusk had seen her, almost feeling like an eternity. He couldn't wait to hold her in his hooves once more, and look upon her gorgeous face.

As he walked down the streets, Dusk saw a poster of Dazzle, dressed in a beautiful evening gown on a wall, a clear indicator of her success as a model. He sighed deeply. No piece of paper could do justice to the real Dazzle's beauty. At that moment, Dusk saw Dazzle appear from around a corner. For a instant, he was awestruck. As amazing as it seemed, she looked even more beautiful then he remembered.

Smiling mischievously, Dusk snuck up behind Dazzle and gently put his hooves over her eyes.

"Guess who?" He whispered.

"Dusk?" Dazzle gasped. Turning around, she gazed at Dusk's grinning face. "Dusk!"

Dazzle tackled Dusk to the ground (His backpack taking the brunt of the impact), and showered him with kisses.

"Oh, I missed you so much!" She squealed.

"I missed you too, Daz." Dusk smiled. "Um, do you think you could let me up? We're kinda drawing a crowd here."

Sure enough, they were being watched by a group of bemused onlookers.

"Oh, right." Dazzle blushed as she stood up. "So, how's your journey been?"

"Pretty good." Dusk nodded as he got to his hooves. "What's it like being a top model?"

"It's wonderful." Dazzle smiled. "There's really nothing like life in the big city. The lights, the company... I still miss home, though."

"Me too." Dusk nodded. "So, what do you say we get reacquainted?"

"I can't right now." Dazzle shook her head. "I have a photo shoot to get to."

"Mind if I come with you?" Dusk asked. "I've never been to a photo shoot before. It could be very... informative."

"Riiiight." Dazzle tittered, not fooled in the slight. "Feel free to follow me."

"With pleasure." Dusk chuckled.

The fashion studio was only a few blocks away. A mare with a brownish coat and a short pink mane was waiting for Dazzle. Her cutie mark was of a trio of seeds.

"There ya are!" She huffed. "Took ya long enough!"

"Sorry, Babs." Dazzle apologised. "I ran into an acquaintance."

"So I see." Babs looked Dusk up and down.

"Dusk, this is my agent, Babs Seed." Dazzle introduced him. "Babs, this is-"

"I know who he is." Babs snorted. "Even if he weren't th' prince, my cousin Crab told me all about 'im."

"Oh, yeah." Dusk suddenly realised. "Crab told me he had a cousin around these parts. Nice to finally meet you."

"Same here." Babs nodded. "Love to chat more, but Dazz has work to do. Changin' room, Dazz, if ya please."

"With pleasure." Dazzle nodded, giving Dusk a wink.

"You can sit over there, princey." Babs pointed to a chair.

Dusk sat down, and waited. Moments later, Dazzle emerged, wearing a beautiful silk dress. She posed gracefully while the photographers snapped away. She then returned to the changing room, emerging in another dress, and so on. Dusk watched the whole thing, smiling dreamily the whole time, and marvelling at his marefriend's beauty. Soon enough, it was all over.

"That's a wrap, folks!" Babs called.

After changing out of her last outfit, Dazzle returned to Dusk.

"Enjoy the show?" She asked.

"You know I did." Dusk smiled. "Now, what do you say we get some dinner? My treat."

"Oh, no." Dazzle shook her head. "I'll pay. Being a model is rather lucrative, you know."

"If you insist." Dusk chuckled.

Dazzle took Dusk to a fancy looking resturant, The Silver Stable. At a glance, it was clear the place was far above Dusk's travel budget.

"Pretty fancy." Dusk noted.

"Only the best for you, my love." Dazzle pecked him on the cheek.

As they went inside, Dusk spotted a stage at the far end of the room. After they'd taken their seats and ordered their food, a light emerald-coated Earth Pony with blue eyes, short curly brown mane and tail, and clarinet cutie mark walked on stage.

"Ooh, I was hoping she'd be here tonight!" Dazzle beamed.

"Who's that?" Dusk asked.

"Classic "Classy" Symphony." Dazzle smiled. "She runs a music emporium downtown, Renaissance Music and More. It's been in her family for years. Every so often, she performs here."

Classy cleared her throat, and began to sing.

Love under the moonlight
You know it feels just right
There's no need to fight
I'll love you all through the night

All throughout the day
Even when things seem gray
You hear me when I say
I'll love you, come what may

I love you and how
My love is just wow
My heart, it goes pow
I'll say it right now

You hear me when I say
I'll love you, come what may

The diners applauded, Dusk and Dazzle even more so.

"Thank you, everypony!" Classy waved. "Don't forget to stop by Renaissance Music and More, for all your musical needs!"

As Classy stepped off the stage, she spotted Dazzle.

"Hi, Dazz." She smiled. She then laid eyes on Dusk. "Oh, could this be..."

"My coltfriend, prince Dusk Glow?" Dazzle chuckled. "It could indeed."

"So nice to meet you, your highness." Classy bowed.

"The same to you." Dusk nodded. "And, er, you can call me Dusk."

"As you wish... Dusk." Classy tittered, as if she had said something rude. "You weren't kidding about him being handsome, Dazz. Good for you!"

"I am a lucky mare." Dazzle sighed, nuzzling about Dusk.

"I gotta get back to the stage." Classy noted. "You two have fun!"

"Oh, we will." Dusk smirked.

After they had eaten their (quite expensive) food, Dazzle showed Dusk around Manehattan, finishing the tour with her penthouse apartment.

"Whoa." Dusk whistled. "Swan-ky."

"Care to join me on the couch?" Dazzle purred. "We've got a lot of lost cuddle-time to make up for."

"And how." Dusk smiled. He eased beside Dazzle on the couch, wrapping a wing around her and kissing her cheek.

The two ponies snuggled and kissed each other; They had missed each other's company so much that they retained their position for the rest of the night. As they awoke the next morning, Dazzle nuzzled against her coltfriend once more.

"Good morning." She whispered.

"It sure is." Dusk wrapped his hooves around her.

After breakfast, Dusk prepared to return to his travels.

"How time flies." Dazzle sighed dolefully.

"Hey, it's okay." Dusk placed a hoof under her chin. "I'll be back home before you know it."

"And my current contract expires in a few months." Dazzle added. "So I'll be waiting for you, back in Ponyville. I'll give you the biggest 'welcome home' kiss you can imagine, and that's a promise."

"How about a 'goodbye' kiss in the meantime?" Dusk cooed.

"Coming right up." Dazzle whispered.

The young couple pressed their lips against each other, for quitea while. They eventually parted, breathless but happy.

"Have a good journey, Dusk." Dazzle smiled. "Be safe."

"I will." Dusk beamed. "Love you."

"Love you too." Dazzle gave her coltfriend one last nuzzle. "See you soon."

"You know it." Dusk nuzzled her back..

As Dusk departed Manehattan, he remembered the old saying, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," and acknowledged it's accuracy. It was hard, being apart from Dazzle. But the knowledge that she loved him, and would be waiting to embrace him again, was enough to keep him going as his journey continued.