Fifth Stitch: A Very Important Announcement

[sailorgenerous]

[The video clicks on to show Rarity looking rather serious. Anyone who knows her will notice something different - namely that she now sports a golden choker-style necklace with a purple diamond-shaped gem set in the center. If you've been paying attention to the network, it should look familiar.]

As I'm sure you can see, my Element of Harmony appeared! And I do mean appeared, right out of nowhere. It was very odd, even for the Elements.

Pinkie, have you found yours yet? Has anypony else had any luck?

Oh! I almost forgot - I can't seem to take it out of Ponyville. It simply disappears when I go anywhere else, and it only reappears when I come back. It's certainly never done that before.

Comments

[statisticallyterrible]

when

[sailorgenerous]

Just the other day. I've been trying to figure it out ever since.

[statisticallyterrible]

what did you do "from your heart"?

[she'd like to know what that even means, you know right you're a pony]

[4letters4ninja]

Hmmm.

So they are probably all in your world. I wonder why it appeared when it did...

[sailorgenerous]

Well, the Elements are originally from Equestria, so it does make sense.

I'm not entirely sure. I was helping Amaterasu, but that's not anything out of the ordinary for me. [Painting a design on the only friendly Timberwolf in town? Must be Tuesday.]

[4letters4ninja]

I apologize if this has been asked, but your Element, it represents what? [Puzzle pieces, trying to fit them together and all that.]

[sailorlaughter]

Nope, not yet! Maybe I should spend some more time there! We could have a sleepover! Or a camping trip!

[sailorgenerous]

I think a sleepover would be lovely. Of course, you'd need quite a bit of space - do you know where you'll hold it?

[She can't say she's on board with a camping trip, on account of nature.]

[sailorlaughter]

Anywhere! It's not like anypony's using any of the buildings HERE. [Gasp!] Maybe we could take over Town Hall! And hang streamers from the top like a giant maypole! I've always wanted to do that!

[audio]

[juniorganymedian]

[It is the unicorn he's seen in the archives. Well, at least Jeeves has managed to mentally prepare himself for talking to her and the other ponies. And her hair is not moving on its own as if possessed.]

Good day, Ms. Rarity, my name is Jeeves. Might I inquire as to the precise set of circumstances in your day prior to the appearance of your element? Did you have any form of revelation about your purpose or place in the world, however small?

[Someone has been investigating the Elements of Harmony and their disappearance in the archives. That clue of searching where your heart lies has got to be metaphorical.]

[sailorgenerous]

[He addressed her as Miss Rarity. Without being prompted, even! She is immediately and utterly charmed.]

Lovely to meet you, Mr. Jeeves.

Oh, no, nothing quite so...life-changing. I was just helping Amaterasu - she becomes a Timberwolf in Ponyville, you see - it can be a bit intimidating. I was helping her wth paint to look a little less scary, and when we were done, my Element simply appeared out of nowhere!

[juniorganymedian]

An act of generosity from a generous mare, then, miss. [He can do charm when he wants or needs to.] How very curious. One might only assume your exceptional character has manifested previous to this, though.

Why this particular act, I wonder? Have you assisted Ms. Amaterasu before?

[seasaltkeys]

So, those are the things we're looking for?

[No he wasn't really paying attention.]

What do the others look like?

[sailorgenerous]

Yes, they are. [Roxas, honey, where have you been?]

Most of them look like this, though with different jewels. One looks like a tiara, though. Do let me know if you see them, please.

[seasaltkeys]

[Moping. Where else?]

Yeah, I will. It's a bit easier now that I know what I'm looking for.

[And then there was a raid on all the jewelry shops in ponyville]

[defrostedpride]

More to the point, how? Did you do anything unusual at the time?

Perhaps it might be best if you remain in Ponyvilla for the time being. If as it seems these necklaces are critical to the world's strength and can't be taken away from it, it would be best to keep an eye on them.

[sailorgenerous]

Nothing out of the ordinary, no. Well, not that painting designs on a timberwolf is ordinary, but helping a friend certainly is.

[She looks mildly affronted at the suggestion and does her best to hide it.] My Element disappears when I leave and reappears on my neck when I come back. I hardly think it will go walking off without me.

[defrostedpride]

I'm not saying it would go anywhere on its own, but unless you know where it disappears to, who's to say someone less altruistically inclined won't find a method of acquiring it while it's there?

...And why were you painting a timberwolf?

[realmenknitplushies]

Huh. [Kanji pauses to add-] Okay, it's pretty.

I've heard people talkin' about these Elements but... didn't get what they were. What's it for? What's goin' on?

[sailorgenerous]

Why, thank you! [A compliment is still a compliment, and flattery will get you just about everywhere with Rarity.]

Well, the Elements of Harmony happen to be the most powerful magical items in all of Equestria...and they're all missing. Except for this one, of course.

[realmenknitplushies]

[He looks a little surprised.]

Damn. No wonder everyone's stressin' about the things.

[letteropener]

And were you being generous at the time?

[Celestia smiles, because she knows. She'd predicted this when they found the note.]

[sailorgenerous]

Well, yes, but no more than usual.

[letteropener]

[Ah, her dear subjects. Her dear ponies. A thousand years of rule and more, and she has never stopped delighting in them.]

Rarity, while I am glad you are modest, the 'normal' of the bearer of the Element of Generosity is, by definition, enough for the Element's purpose.

[whoseesbynight]

Is that what they're supawsed to look like?

[sailorgenerous]

It is, yes! Though the other Elements have different jewels, and one of them is a tiara.

[whoseesbynight]

It's really a tiara?

[lessabrasive]

[ Well, this IS progress! Lin looks faintly relieved, if mildly vexed - though that's hardly Rarity's fault. It does sound like Eraqus' thought of specific acts might have been on the money, too. ]

So that's one down at least. Well done.

Where were you when it appeared?

[voice]

[battleborndr]

Call me new, but what's this Element of Harmony thing?

voice

[fatemeter]

Then you're one of the - ah - ponies familiar with the original artefacts? Have you noticed anything else unusual about this duplicate?