Rarity was flitting about in the air, still marveling at the flight power Luna's magical custard had granted her, as she and Con Mane made their way to the rendezvous point on the shores of Mareay.

"So, she looked normal?" Con Mane asked.

"Yes, she did. I'm sure you heard our conversation, she seemed like a normal pony to me," Rarity said.

"Yes, she sounded a little nervous at first," Con Mane sighed. "Just like most ponies would when a stranger barged in on them. And you couldn't see her cutie mark?"

"Correct, her rear was underwater," Rarity replied. "Under bubbles I should say."

Con Mane held his wrist wizard up to his mouth. "Mayday, plan A is a bust. Plan B is green lit. Repeat, plan B is a go."

"Plan B?" Rarity asked.

Con Mane smiled. "Since subterfuge didn't reveal any dark secrets, my partner here is going to just straight up ask her what is going on."

Like a ghost, an all black airship silently descended out of the night sky onto the beach. It was a special CIA issue Spectre-class airship built for stealth. The propeller made almost no noise as it began to wind down as Mayday landed the craft.

It was the first time Rarity had seen Mayday without the stealth suit she had been wearing earlier. The pegasus mare's wings were both wrapped in bandages and her cutie mark was of a winged sword. She saw Rarity hovering above the ground and sneered. "The bloody unicorn gets to fly on her own? Not fair!"

Con Mane rolled his eyes. "Ever deal with a grounded pegasi, Rarity? They become insufferable."

Rarity sheepishly set down on the beach. "Oh, yes. My friend Rainbow Dash-"

Mayday interrupted her. "Rainbow Dash? Oh my gosh, I was trying to cover her on her run at the dark cloud. That mare is fast!"

Rarity beamed. "She sure is! Dash is one of my best friends."

The pegasus spy put her leg around Rarity's shoulders. "You have got to introduce me to her sometime, once all this craziness has calmed down."

Rarity laughed. "Oh, I'm sure that can be arranged. Dash always loves meeting her adoring fans. It would be my pleasure to get something set up for you."

Mayday smiled. "That would rock!"

"Ahem. Socialize later, ladies. Mayday, you have a job to do," Con Mane coldly said.

The pegasus saluted. "Right. On it."

Con Mane watched his partner go, then turned to Rarity. "That's the most cheerful she's been since the battle."

Rarity was pouting.

"What's wrong?" Con Mane asked.

"Oh, the usual. I was there too, yet Rainbow gets all the attention. My friend Twilight Sparkle and I played a crucial role - we cut off the Unliving Queen's reinforcements - but it's hard to beat blowing up a giant death cloud," Rarity moaned. When the Unliving Queen had attacked Canterlot, she had brought her forces on a giant cloud. Rarity and Twilight had assisted Princess Celestia in sealing the Queen's undead summoning portals, but Rainbow Dash had scored the 'kill shot' on the cloud, earning her much more attention than the heroic unicorns.

"And yet I chose you for this operation. Think upon that, Miss Rarity," Con Mane said.

Rarity smiled. "I suppose you did. Well, since it seems my role has ended, what about those gems you promised me?"

Con Mane chuckled. "We'll get them in a bit." He opened a hatch on the CIA airship. "Come on inside, we can observe Mayday from here."

* * *

Mayday knocked on the doors of In Hoc Signo Vinces' castle and was greeted by a robed monk. "I would like an audience with her highness, if it is not too late," Mayday said.

"I believe she is still awake, follow me," the monk said. Mayday followed him back into the castle and they stopped in a small chamber.

"Who shall I say is calling?" the monk asked.

"Special Agent Mayday, Canterlot Intelligence Agency," Mayday said.

The monk raised his eyebrow, then left into the adjoining room. He returned a short while later. "The princess will see you now, Agent Mayday."

The monk had brought her to a small reading room. Winny, wearing her armor once more, sat by a fireplace perusing a tome. She glanced at her visitor's bandaged wings and gasped. "Oh dear, did we run out of moon's milk?" She turned to the monk. "Brother, fetch us a glass of milk, please. Agent Mayday, was it? Please, join me."

The pegasus sat in a chair opposite the princess. "Sorry to interrupt your reading, your highness. We at the company have a few questions we would like to ask you about the wedding."

"My wedding? What interest is that of yours?" Winny asked, concerned.

"Your wedding? Um, sorry, uh, I meant the marriage of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor." Mayday explained. "Congratulations to you, though."

"Thank you. What do you want to ask me about their wedding? I don't really know them all that well," Winny said.

"Yes, that is what we wanted to talk to you about. Nopony really knows you, yet you have an invitation," Mayday said.

"Is there something wrong with that?" Winny asked. "The only outsider ponies I really know are those who attend the Feast of the New Moon. I rarely leave the isle. It was my uncle who invited me to the wedding, if you must know."

"I see. There have been some unfortunate events surrounding this wedding, so when we saw a relatively unknown pony, who turned out to be very mysterious, I might add, show up on the guest list, we had our concerns," Mayday explained.

Winny sighed. "If you don't want me there, I guess I won't go..."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings over the matter, it's a matter of national security. Out here, you might not know just how bad things have been back home. We just really didn't want any more trouble," Mayday said. "Who is your uncle?"

"Star Swirl the Bearded," Winny said.

"Really?" Mayday asked. "The Star Swirl?"

"Yes. Uncle knew I was engaged to be married and so he thought I should attend their wedding, to see how things went and if there were any elements that I might wish to replicate at my own," Winny explained.

"I see. Who is the lucky groom, if you don't mind my asking?" Mayday said.

"Prince Proudmane of Bridleberg Isle. It's only a click or so off Mareay's northern shore. I met him when I was but a filly. We used to watch the dolphins together," Winny said.

"Aww," Mayday cooed. "How sweet. When's your wedding?"

"Not for a few months, we're waiting for the dolphin pod to return," Winny said.

The monk returned with a glass of milk and set it on the table by the princess. She pulled out the moon wand and pointed it towards the milk. A moonbeam engulfed it and transformed it into the magical moon's milk. She used her magic to pass it to the pegasus. "Eat this, you'll feel better."

Mayday sniffed at the moon's milk, then upended the glass, smiled delightedly, and licked the glass clean. Her eyes went wide as she felt a strange sensation in her wings. She shouted "Yes!" as she stretched out her wings which had been healed by the miraculous moon's milk.

"Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, thank you so much, your highness!" Mayday said as she gleefully hovered in the air.

"You're welcome, Agent Mayday. Luna's gift is for everypony," Winny said.

The pegasus eyed the wand. "You can make this stuff whenever you want?"

Winny shook her head. "Only on this night. The wand belonged to one of the ancient unicorn kings. We've tried to use it on other nights, other new moons, but it has decided it only wants to work for the festival."

Mayday frowned. "Shame. It would be incredibly useful and help a lot of ponies if we could get a supply of this custard stuff. So, if you don't mind my asking, what's the deal with the armor?"

Winny sighed. "I prefer ponies not looking at me. The armor also serves a dual purpose in not only concealing my appearance, but allowing me to project a sense of mystery. If I did not wear it, there would be no mystery... and your wings would likely still be injured as you would not have been sent to investigate me. So I think you will agree it's a good thing I wear it."

"Very true. Very true. In that case, I am most grateful that you do wear it," Mayday said with a grin. "You've got my curiosity piqued though. Why would a filly wish to hide her appearance?"

Winny pulled off her helmet, revealing the same illusory appearance that Rarity had seen. "I am not a monster, I am just like any other pony as you can see. I just... don't like my looks, and I don't want ponies to see me."

Mayday frowned. "Aww, I'm sorry to hear that. You're a cutie. Well, I can see you are not the second coming of evil that my colleagues back in Canterlot thought you might have been. I should let you get back to your affairs. Thank you for indulging my curiosity, and especially for fixing up my wings."

The pegasus set down on the ground next to the princess and extended her hoof. "I hope we'll be seeing you at the wedding then, perhaps without any fancy armor?"

Winny smiled and shook hooves. "Perhaps. Good night, Agent Mayday."