In the museum hallway, Fancy Pants, and the other members of the board named Jet Set, Claude, Fashion Plate, and Trenderhoof had stepped out of the confrence room. "I swear, that young Dusk Shine gets crazier every year!" Claude said talking about Dusk Shine. "If I ever hear the words Crystal Empire again, I'll step in front of a carriage!" Jet Set said. Claude laughed, pushed him, and said "I'll push you!" The members of the board laughed, and they heard a voice that said "Mr. Fancy Pants!" They looked at the end of the hallway in horror to see Dusk Shine running towards them while carrying his material with his magic. "Good lord, there he is!" Trenderhoof said in horror. "Members of the board, uh, wait!" Dusk Shine called out as he ran towards them. "How did you find us?! Fancy Pants asked as he and the other members of the board ran for their lives. "Mr. Fancy Pants, wait!" Dusk Shine called out. "Head for the hills!" Fashion Plate said as he ran to a room, and locked the door. "Where is a guard when you need him?!" Claude wondered as he ran to a room, and locked the door. As Jet Set and Trenderhoof ran to their rooms and locked the doors, Dusk Shine said "Mr. Fancy Pants, you got to listen to me sir!" Fancy Pants hid behind a plant as Dusk Shine approached him, and said "Uh, sir?" When he removed the plant, Fancy Pants faked a smile, and used his umbrella to push him away. He then began to run off with Dusk Shine chasing him.

As they ran to the exit, Dusk Shine said "Wait! Mr. Fancy Pants! Sir, I-I have new evidence that.." Fancy Pants got into the carriage that was waiting for him as Dusk Shine said "Please, Mr. Fancy Pants! Stop!" He gave Fancy Pants his material as he said "Sir, if you...could you hold...thank you very much." He held up one of his scrolls, and said "Look at..." Fancy Pants gave Dusk Shine his material back as he said "This museum funds scientific expeditions based on facts! Not legends and folklore! Besides, we need you here. We depend on you." "You do?" Dusk Shine asked as he smiled. Fancy Pants nodded, and said "Yes. What with winter coming, that boiler's going to need a lot of attention." "Boiler?!" Dusk Shine asked in dismay. "Onward, driver!" Fancy Pants said as the driver began to drive away. Dusk Shine ran to catch up the carriage as he showed the map of Flillydelphia to Fancy Pants, and said "But there-there's a journal! It's in Flillydelphia! I'm sure of it this time! Fancy Pants just ignored him, and pulled the window curtain. Suddenly, Dusk Shine jumped on the carriage, took out his letter of resignation he made earlier, and said "Sir, I really hoped it wouldn't have come to this, but this is a letter of resignation. If you reject my proposal, I'll-whoa!" Th driver swayed, and threw Dusk Shine off the carriage. He got up, and said "I'll quit!"

When the driver heard him, he backed up to where Dusk Shine was standing. Fancy Pants looked at Dusk Shine who started to say "I mean it, sir. If you refuse to fund my proposal-." "You'll what?" Fancy Pants asked stopping Dusk Shine from talking. "Flush your career down the toilet just like your grandfather? You have a lot of potential, Dusk Shine. Don't throw it all away chasing fairy tales." "But I can prove that the Crystal Empire exists!" Dusk Shine said. Fancy Pants tossed him a bit as he said "You want to go on an expedition? Here, Take the train to Ponyville, and jump in a lake. Maybe the cold water will clear your head." He closed the window curtain, and said "Driver!" The driver drove away, splashing water in Dusk Shine's face and mane. He coughed and sneezed from the water. Later that day, Dusk Shine made it to his apartment as it started to rain outside. He went inside as he said "I'm home!" He started calling for his cat named Opalescence as he said "Opal? Here kitty. He tried to turn on the light, but the light wouldn't come on. He looked over to see a unicorn pony with a moderate purple mane with a lighter purple and pale light grayish aquamarine streaks, moderate persian blue eyes, and a purple and whtie star with a teal and light teal tail on it for her cutie mark named Starlight Glimmer standing there with a sly smile on her face. "Dusk Shine?" Starlight Glimmer asked hoping she found the stallion she was looking for. Dusk Shine looked at her in shock and said "Who are you, and how did you get in here?!"

Starllight Glimmer sat down on a chair, and said "I came down the chimney. Ho, ho, ho. My name is Starlight Glimmer. I'm acting on behalf of my employer who has a most intriguing proposition for you. Are you interested?" "That depends." Dusk Shine said. "On what?" Starlight Glimmer asked. "On who your employer is." Dusk Shine said. "So who's your employer?" "If you want to know, then you'll come with me." Starlight Glimmer said as she got up from her seat and walked to the door. Dusk Shine followed her to her carriage. They got in, and they took off to the place where Starlight Glimmer's employer lives.