Two days went by after the fateful night that both parties remembered most vividly.  Twilight told her friends of her meeting with Jareth the previous night and was regarded with slight skepticism.  Celestia on the other hoof was lost in thought as she regarded the crystal on her desk for the fortieth time that day with a mystified expression.  For hours she was trying to crack the secret behind the object but so far her results were minor in abundance.  What perplexed her most about the whole situation was the frequency of the letter she received days ago from Twilight.  It claimed that Jareth was a Fae and that he was supposedly The Goblin King from a fable of old.  Celestia was abuzz with curiosity; this mysterious stallion that had appeared no sooner than a few days ago and he already was stirring up weirdness of the highest caliber.  She gave a groan of annoyance and turned away from the crystal and headed down to the dining hall for lunch.

Upon entering the hall her eyes widened.  Sitting at the table were Luna and Cadence, but sitting at the far end of the table was a smiling Jareth.  He was dressed in a white gentle colt shirt which was open at the front and had a black dress vest over the shirt.  His medallion hung around his neck and could be visibly seen from the open shirt.

Celestia stood mouth agape as Luna chuckled at the reaction, “Sister if you keep that up a bird will fly in there.”

Jareth gave a small smile as he gestured for her to sit in her usual spot, “Please do join us.  I must say that this meal is positively scrumptious.”

Celestia slowly sat down and addressed the elephant in the room, “What brings you here Jareth? Didn’t you say you had business to attend to back in your kingdom?”

Cadence smiled, “He did but he finished them with ease.”

Jareth’s cup raised itself as he nodded in agreement with a straight face, “And minimal effort.” He then sipped his tea.

Celestia was astounded at this, “But that still doesn’t answer my question.”

Jareth sighed, “I suppose your right,” he placed his cup down, “I was going to Ponyville to look around and mingle with the locals, so I thought I would pop by and say hello since I was about.”

Luna nodded, “Indeed he did.  But the cook informed us that he had made extra by mistake.”

Cadence smiled, “So we invited him to eat with us before he continues on his way.”

Jareth gave an innocent expression, “I was merely accepting an invitation, nothing more.”

Celestia rolled her eyes then sipped her tea, “Well I don’t mind, but it would be nice if you two tell me something like this is going to happen next time.”

Luna nodded, “Apologies dear sister.”

Jareth then finished off the last of his meal and stood, “Ah, truly a meal fit for royalty.”

Cadence looked to him, “Leaving so soon?”

Jareth half smiled in a mischievous way, “Is that pleading I hear?”

Cadence shook her head, “I’m afraid I am married.”

Jareth pouted, “Shame, he is a very lucky pony.”

Jareth then leapt out the window and flew off

Celestia stood up after she finished and entered her room once more and stared at the crystal.  She knew Jareth was in every aspect mysterious and sophisticated, but he also seemed to have a good sense of humour like she does.  What bugged her most was when her mind wandered why she could not stop seeing his face or hearing his voice.  Most of all, why just now when she saw him at her table did her heart suddenly flutter.

Celestia looked away from the crystal and at her full length mirror, “Why do I feel this way? Maybe those dreams are trying to tell me something and for once I don’t have the answer.”

*

Jareth landed outside of Ponyville and shifted into his barn owl form and then proceeded into town.  He perched on a sign post and glanced around the quaint little town with a mixture of interest and curiousness.  In truth, Jareth had not ventured far in his life as ruler.  There had been the occasional times he would depart to a city or town for business or to merely ease boredom but never had he ventured into Equestria and seen its sights.  One thing that he found quite interesting was the present royals.  Like him they were in good spirits and ruled their respective kingdoms well.  But what vexed him was the one known as Princess Celestia, it wasn’t her entirely.  It was the fact that he couldn’t think straight as of late because he kept seeing those…eyes of hers in his mind.  

He shook his head when he noticed Twilight Sparkle walking with five other ponies which he knew were her friends, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie respectively.  What he never told either Rarity or Celestia was that his crystals could be used for more than just decoration.  He always used them as parts of his magic or to see things far away without leaving Labyrinth.  He fluttered down into a nearby alleyway and shifted back to normal and still wore his casual attire from the lunch he had, he didn’t always have to dress extravagantly.  Sometimes even the simplest of things can be beautiful.  

Jareth calmly walked forward into the light surprising everypony but Rarity and Twilight, “Good afternoon.”

Fluttershy cowered behind Twilight who bowed, “Your highness.”

Rarity did the same as Jareth chuckled, “Now tell me I’m pretty.”

Twilight stood but now looked confused, “What brings you here.”

Jareth tilted his head, “Do you not recall me saying I may come for a non-business visit?”

Applejack stepped forward, “Yer the one called Jareth?”

Jareth nodded while glancing at the ponies he was meeting for the first time, “I think you know the answer to that.”

Fluttershy looked at Jareth who noticed her in turn, “Tis alright my dear, there is no need to fear me.”

Pinkie Pie bounced around him as she looked him up and down, “Wowie! You are a Fae!”

Jareth was surprised and impressed at the pony’s perceptiveness, “Indeed I am Miss Pie, and how do you know of the name?”

Pinkie Pie rolled her eyes, “Duh, my Granny Pie told me about them when I was little itty bitty twinkie Pinkie.”

Jareth pursed his lips, “I see.”

Rainbow Dash zoomed up to him, “So what can you do?”

Jareth raised an eyebrow, “Pardon?”

Rainbow landed, “Twilight says that you can do magic, if all you can do is summon those crystals I’m not impressed.”

Jareth was slightly offended but smiled none the less as he raise an eyebrow, “Oh, I do not impress you Miss Dash? Well I apologise.”

Jareth turned his head to the Ponyville clock tower and pointed his hoof at the clock and spun it in mid-air.  What happened next surprised everypony, the clock hands began to spin in the direction he was rotating his hoof in and soon it was eight o-clock at night and the moon had risen.  

Dash’s jaw was on the floor as Jareth flashed a snide grin, “How’s that for impressive?”

Twilight was in utter shock and awe, “How? What?”

Jareth waved his hoof casually as the clock spun back to its original position and night turned to day, “Re-ordering time is such a trivial matter I really think nothing of it.”

The six ponies followed him immediately as he inspected some vegetables much to the slight nervousness of the vendor at his mere presence.  Twilight and her friends insisted that if he was serious about visiting that they show him around since he couldn’t navigate the town.  As the day progressed, Jareth was indeed pleased with this new village and its inhabitant in terms of hospitality.  Jareth also seemed a natural with animals, when he encountered angel bunny they both merely regarded each other and Jareth gave him a carrot which he took and hopped off with.

Soon the grand tour ended at the school as the last bell rang to signify the end of the day.  All the students ran out but stopped when they noticed Jareth standing with the six not looking at the school in question.

Somepony tugged on his tail gently as he turned his head and noticed Rarity’s little sister known as Sweetie Belle, “Excuse me, are you related to the princesses?”

Jareth smiled kindly, “No, why would you say that young one?”

Sweetie Belle looked him up and down, “Well I mean you’re as tall as one of them.”

Jareth nodded, “True.”

A pony that could only be her teacher approached, “Sweetie Belle you know you shouldn’t…”

Jareth stopped her, “The filly was merely asking me a question which I corrected her upon, I must say your care for the student’s well-being is quite admirable.”

Cheerilee blushed at the compliment, “Oh, why thank you.”

Jareth nodded and offered his hoof, “I am Jareth and you are?”

The teacher shook his hoof, “Cheerilee.”

Jareth half grinned, “A pleasure Miss Cheerilee.”

Sweetie Belle perked up, “Wait you said your names Jareth?”

Jareth nodded, “Yes I believe I did.”

Sweetie Belle’s eyes lit up, “Is it true you can do magic without a horn? My sis said you could.”

Jareth side glanced at the unicorn in question, “She did, did she?”

Rarity blushed in embarrassment at being ratted out, “I may have said a few things.”

Jareth shook his head, “No matter,” he leaned down to Sweetie’s eye level, “Do you want to see it for yourself?”

Sweetie Belle bounced in place, “Yes! Please!”

Jareth chuckled as he made a crystal and dropped it on the ground much to the surrounding pony’s amazement and disappointment, “Stop, wait.”

The crystal then began to bounce on its own as Jareth smiled in satisfaction.  Soon it merely levitated in mid-air and was slowly rotating.  Cheerilee poked it and it split into two separate crystal orbs which began to quickly multiply.  Soon there were ten in total which were suspended in the air, Jareth stuck his hoof out and a lone crystal landed upon it.  All the crystal’s then merged back together in the blink of an eye and he threw it into the air and it exploded into silver and white lights like a firework.  

Jareth smiled as he placed both hooves together and produced another crystal when they were pulled apart.  He then tilted his hoof at an angle and the crystal transformed into a red silk scarf which he threw at Sweetie Belle.  She caught it and looked at it in wonderment.

Jareth gestured to the scarf, “It’s yours, enjoy it.”

Sweetie Belle thanked him and ran off to show everypony.  The six smiled at his kind action which he took no notice of as he continued down a path leading back to town.  The rest of the day went by until nightfall was upon the town.  Jareth had bid the ponies fair well and walked with Pinkie Pie to Sugarcube Corner for some of her famous Butter Tarts, she claimed they weren’t famous yet but she was working on it.  As Jareth sat stood behind a table and waited patiently he felt something on his tail and looked down, a small orange manned foal was sitting on it staring at him with wonder.  Jareth half smiled at the small pony when two full grown ponies ran over and lifted the foal from Jareth’s tail.

Pinkie Pie popped her head out of the kitchen, “Hiya Mr. and Mrs. Cake, this is Jareth.  He’s visiting Ponyville today and I thought I would treat him to some of my butter tarts.”

The one known as Mrs. Cake smiled apologetically at Jareth, “It so nice to meet you and I apologise if Pumpkin Cake bothered you.”

Jareth raised his hoof in an easing fashion, “It is no trouble, the little one was merely curious of me.”

Mr. Cake turned to Pinkie Pie, “Pinkie, I know this is last minute but we need to go to Canterlot to deliver a shipment of muffins so could you please watch the twins until tomorrow?”

Pinkie saluted, “Will do Mrs. Cake.”

*

Celestia was fuming while she paced her room; Luna and Cadence were staring at her with worry.

Celestia stopped, “How dare him!”

Luna raised an eyebrow, “How dare him what?”

Celestia looked at Luna, “Jareth interfered with the flow of time and changed it from night to day.”

Cadence was slightly nervous, “How do you know it was him?”

Celestia continued, “He’s the only one who could have done it!”

Luna stared at her sister with a calm expression, “Don’t you think you’re over reacting a little?”

Celestia shook her head, “He could have upset the natural order of things without thinking and you think I’m over reacting?”

Cadence reflected on this for a moment, “Well when you put it that way.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes and left the room, “Him and I are going to have a little chat.”

Luna looked at Cadence, “I don’t know what worries me more, the fact that he has that much power or the fact my sister is possibly hiding something.”

*

Pumpkin and Pound cake were laughing in happiness as they both floated around the air atop of couch cushions chasing Jareth’s crystals like a game of tag.  Jareth and Pinkie Pie watched on with smiles as Jareth took a bite of the butter tart he had been given.

Jareth looked at Pinkie, “You simply must give me the recipe for these.”

Pinkie wagged her hoof, “Nuh uh, it’s a secret.”

Jareth leaned forward, “You would be surprised at the lengths I go too to get what I want.”

Pinkie Pie smiled, “Many greater stallions then you have tried.”

Jareth was about to retort until the door opened to reveal an angered Celestia, “You. Outside.”

Jareth rose as he slowly let the foals down, “A moment Miss Pie.”

He walked outside as Celestia confronted him, “You have no right to meddle with the natural flow.”

Jareth stared straight into her eyes, “I will do as I wish, you have no power over me,” he made a crystal in his hoof.

Celestia gritted her teeth, “Don’t trifle with me Goblin King.”

Jareth took on a warning tone, “Celestia,” he made the crystal into a snake which coiled around his leg, “Do not defy ME.”

Both ponies stared at each other in livid fury at the other for potentially threating the other.  Jareth however broke his stare and leaned back as the snake disintegrated.

He smiled, “Did you know in this light you look rather divine.”

Celestia blushed at the compliment but regained herself, “Don’t think your compliments can divert the issue.”

Jareth grinned as he raised his eyebrow, “So you take it as a compliment?”

Celestia then got flustered, “I…Uh...”

Jareth walked around her, “Tell you what, as recompense for what I did this day and for the meal I was given.  I shall treat you to dinner at my kingdom tomorrow.”

Celestia didn’t know what to say but she found herself automatically respond, “Okay.”

Jareth smiled, “Good, I shall see you tomorrow.”

Jareth then walked back inside Sugarcube corner leaving a dumbfounded Celestia to leave in silence.