//------------------------------// // Ch. 5 Is This It? // Story: What You Know // by Closer-To-The-Sun //------------------------------// Chapter 5: Is This It? Two days had past since Rarity and Prince Blueblood went to dinner for Blueblood to apologize for his behavior. Fluttershy was given the details of the date by Rarity, who admitted that she actually had a pretty good time with the prince. She never thought that the same prince that used Rarity as a shield against flying cake would be quite the genltecolt as she imagined as a filly. While she spent most of her free time working on the dresses for her client, Rarity gave some thought to what the two would do for their next meeting. She had a few ideas in store and was admittedly eager for Blueblood to arrive. A few minutes before four in the afternoon, Rarity heard a knock at the door. Quickly making her way to the door, she opened it to find two royal guards at the door with Prince Blueblood behind them. "Miss Rarity? Prince Blueblood is here for the scheduled date," one of the guards, a unicorn, stated. Blueblood's cheeks blushed a slight pink at his guard's words. "Oh, wonderful," Rarity said happily. She peered between the guards and saw that Blueblood was dressed formally, just slightly less than the last time she saw him, "Oh, now this will not do. Good heavens, we aren't attending the gala tonight." "I beg your pardon, madam?" the other guard asked with a raised eyebrow. "Well, the prince shouldn't look like he's going to do something formal when he's not. It's just not how things are done! Come, come. I'll fix you up quickly, dear." Rarity walked outside and pushed Blueblood inside of the Carousel Boutique. "W-Wait!" Blueblood was visibly shaken at what was going on. The guards stood outside, puzzled and not sure what to make of what just happened. Inside, Rarity pushed Blueblood to the center pedestal where all of her clients would stand to be fitted. Rarity examined him from a far before taking his formal attire quickly. "Now, I believe you are about the same size as Applejack's brother, so I should be able to get something done quite quickly for you, dahling." Rarity used her magic, moving fabric, needles, threads, and scissors to Blueblood's location and she worked swiftly. "Just a little more….and done!" Blueblood turned to look at himself in the mirror. Gasping, he couldn't believe that the reflection was his own. "I….don't believe it. It looks wonderful, Miss Rarity!" Blueblood said joyfully. He admired his new wardrobe, a blue collared shirt with thin yellow stripes to accent his mane. "I do know it's not what you are used to wearing, but formal attire is not something you should wear for today," Rarity spoke. Blueblood continued to admire his new shirt, "It's so simple, yet so lovely, Rarity. Thank you so very much. It just feels so natural and relaxed." "It was nothing. Now, shall we away?" Rarity asked. "Of course, lead the way." Rarity and Blueblood exited the shop, the royal guards still waiting. As they started to trot toward the town, the guards followed behind closely. "Oh, dears, you don't need to come with us tonight," Rarity informed them. "But our orders are to protect Prince Blueblood from any hazard whatsoever," the pegasus spoke. "Hazard? Dear, this is Ponyville. I'm sure everything will be just fine," "But-" The other began to speak. "No buts! I would actually prefer it if both of you would relax tonight as well. Why don't the two of you take a spa day?" The guards looked at each other before looking toward the prince for their orders, "Sir?" Blueblood was a bit hesitant, "Well, you guys have been working quite hard lately, and I think it will be good if you took a break. I'll be fine." The guards nodded, also a bit nervous of having the unusual order. "Excellent. Now then, let us away, shall we?" Rarity led the way again, Blueblood following right next to her. The unicorn guard looked to his comrade, "So, shall we try that spa thing Miss Rarity recommended?" The pegasus shrugged, "Sure, I'll try anything once." The white mare led the prince through Ponyville square, among the merchants and the commoners. It was an alien place for the prince, causing him to be a bit on edge. Rarity turned to see that the unicorn colt was shaken in the crowded place, quickly looking around at everything. "Oh dear, are you alright? Would you like to have a seat?" Rarity offered, placing a hoof on his back. "No, no. It's okay. I guess I'm just not used to being in such a place with so many ponies before," Blueblood admitted to Rarity. "If you say so. Well, just remember you can tell me if there is something wrong," the mare reassured him. "Thank you," Blueblood gave a small smile before he got the smell of something, "What is that wonderful aroma?" "Aroma?" Rarity took a sniff of the air. A smile came across her face as she knew what it was that had caught the prince's attention, "Ah, yes, I know what that is." Rarity led Prince Blueblood to a merchant cart surrounded by buckets of apples. Before Blueblood could question about what exactly the aroma was, an orange mare's head popped up behind the stall. "Howdy ya'll! This here is the Sweet Apple Acre's apple cart! What will it be?" Applejack quoted her sales pitch from memory before seeing it was a familiar face in front of her. "Well, hello there Rarity! An' evening to ya t- you!" Her expression completely changed from a welcoming merchant to that of a prosecutor in a courtroom, pointing a hoof at Blueblood. "Me?" Blueblood was frozen in terror of what he might have done. "You were the pony that called mah apple fritters garbage at the gala! What the hay are ya doin' here now?" Applejack was vengeful and on the offensive, almost looking like she was ready to jump on Blueblood and beat him to a pulp. "Applejack! Please calm down! Yes, it is the prince, but please, don't be angry with him," Rarity tried her best to calm her friend. "Angry? Oh-ho, that doesn't even begin to describe it, Rarity," Applejack glared to the colt who was still fearful for his life. "Please! He's just curious of what the smell was, and if I'm correct, that smell is a fresh batch of apple fritters." Applejack, who took pride her cooking, brought them out from within the cart, "Well, you are quite correct there, Rarity. A fresh batch of my famous apple fritters. I was just about to get them out to display." Blueblood snapped out of his frozen state and saw the source of the wonderful aroma, "Apple fritters? I've never seen such a type of food before." "Yes, ya have. You insulted them at the gala!" the orange mare's voice was bitter. Blueblood examined one of the pastries before using his magic to grab one and take a bite. Applejack was about to object, but Rarity stopped her. The expression on the prince's face was one of shock and awe. "By Celestia, this is a marvelous treat! So sweet and tangy. Madam, I apologize for my previous behavior and insulting your wonderful delicacy," Blueblood bowed to Applejack. Applejack was feeling a bit awkward, "Eh, thanks there, Prince. But ah'm still not completely happy with ya, got it?" Rarity giggled to herself at Applejack's reaction. She paid for their fresh fritters (which she insisted that she would do since the previous date was his treat) and the two sat on a bench in the town's square, watching the Celestia's sun descend in the distance. The two talked aimlessly and told each other stories about when they were little. Blueblood even asked about how Rarity and Applejack met, a story which made Rarity laugh the entire way though. As Luna's moon rose to give a light in the darkened world, Rarity and Blueblood slowly made their way back toward her home. "Thank you for the wonderful evening, Rarity," the prince spoke, "I never thought that I would have such a magnificent time doing something so…." "Common?" Rarity asked, laughing a bit, "Just because we are commoners doesn't mean we don't have superb ways to spend our time." Blueblood smiled, "Well, nevertheless, thank you again." "Of course, dahling." The two saw the guards awaiting the prince's return outside Rarity's home. As they drew near, Blueblood stopped in his steps and took a deep breath. Rarity turned to see the colt had stopped, "Blueblood, is everything alright?" The prince was shaking as he spoke, "Rarity, I know this is sudden and all, but I really would just like to know. You don't have to answer right this second but….would you possibly like to….be my marefriend?" Rarity was quite surprised at the question the prince had asked. However, she was also astonished at the fact that while Prince Blueblood seemed to be like a noble prince on the outside, he seemed very much like a young school colt who was admitting his feelings to a pony he had a crush on. This was a side of the prince that Rarity would not think existed. "I'm flattered, Prince Blueblood, but I'm not sure what to say," the mare confessed her uncertainty. "I am aware that you would be as such. I didn't except a response right away," Blueblood looked away for a moment before turning his attention back to the mare, "I just want you to know that these last two dates have been wonderful for me and that I really am quite fond of you." Rarity felt she should speak, yet she no idea what to say to the prince. Blueblood spoke one last time, "I shall not hold it against you if you refuse. If you could write back to me after you think about it, I would very much appreciate it," he quickly hugged Rarity before heading to his guards, "thank you for a wonderful time." As she saw the prince walk away, Rarity felt a great amount confusion building up inside of her head. Most of all, she felt her younger self wanting her prince.