//------------------------------// // Encounter // Story: Tiempo de Vals // by FALG //------------------------------// Some days later, the Gala was officially being celebrated. I went with both my dad and brother in the carriage he rented, it was roofless, so we had the breeze of the night keeping us fresh. Well, maybe only me, because I was the one using a full suit. Dad only had a neckwear like mine, he took off his favorite blue jacket this day; Plaid on the other hoof did come to the Gala with the vest Rarity made for him, adding the bow before mentioned. It was a silent trip, both the way in the carriage and the walking to the castle. When we got there, there was a big row greeting the Princess and entering the gala. "Hey Flare." my brother called me. "Yea what's up?" "Remember when we got here last year, that an assistant greeted us, next to Princess Celestia?" he asked. "Yeah, what about it?" "Well, I was thinking, isn't that assistant actually that librarian friend of yours?" "Who, Twilight?" "Yeah, that one." "Well, I don't know. She COULD be, after all she is the princess' protégé." I theorized. "The princess' what?" "Let's just keep it at 'personal student'." I suggested "Yeah that makes more sense." Plaid agreed. The row moved from time to time, sometimes it took seconds to move again, and in others it barely stopped. When we were reaching the top of the stairs, I tried to look at the assistant next to the Princess, and when we finally were the first in the row I finally saw that purple unicorn. I first bowed to the Princess, and then shook the hoof of Twilight who was wearing a dress filled with stars. "So it was you that I greeted last year." I told her. "Hehe, yeah. It's strange that I didn't recognize you when you arrived to Ponyville, not everypony has scars like yours Flare." she said smiling. "Let's keep talking later once you are finished with greeting the guests." I said. "Sure, absolutely." Then my dad, brother and I entered the castle, into the Grand Galloping Gala. A few changes were made from last year, the orchestra was now much bigger. Its platform was completely filled with new members including those that played last year. There were other changes I can't recall now, so I'll just keep telling the story. I looked around to see if I found anypony that I knew, but none of them was at first sight; I separated from my dad and my brother to "explore", like I always called it. I only found these high-class ponies that were always invited to the gala, some of them were familiar to me, because of renown or because they were friends of my family. Some time passed, and a tall stallion with light blue mane and moustache came to greet me. He adjusted his monocle as he looked me up and down. "Hello Mr. Fancypants." I greeted "Hello there Flare. Boy have you grown quite a bunch." he greeted back. Fancypants is the most important pony in all Canterlot besides the Princesses. He and my dad are old friends, they met during his time as Captain. Fancypants asked my dad for help about something very serious, I don't what it was because he never told me. But after that, Fancy proclaimed that he would be in eternal debt with my father; so I can only assume it had to do with something too important. I never asked again about the subject. I haven't seen the stallion in a few years, he did knew I moved to Ponyville though, because my dad told him. "Well thanks mister." I replied. "What's going on in your life, now that you moved to Ponyville?" he asked. "Well, I have become friends with a group of mares, they are all very friendly back there in Ponyville. One of them is the one that greets the guests upon arrival." I pointed. "Oh yes, Twilight Sparkle, quite a pony she is." "Do you know her?" "Of course, I met her friends too this last year at the Canterlot garden party I was hosting. Well, I only invited one of them to begin with, but I assume that if you know that group of friends, you know who was the one I invited." "I could guess it was miss Rarity?" "Exactly" Fancypants paused looking behind me "Speaking of the queen of Rome, there she is!" I looked back and saw Rarity with a stunning dark pink and yellow stripes on the edges, with a golden tiara. "Hello Mr Fancypants." she greeted the stallion and then looked at me "Well hi Flare, mighty nice to see you here!" "Likewise Rarity." "So tell me, how do you two know each other?" Rarity asked us both. "Well, his father helped me with something very important some years ago." Fancy replied. "Wait, didn't you tell me your father was in the army?" Rarity asked. "He was the Captain of the Royal Guard back then." I explained. "Oh I see, looks like your father was a very thoughtful stallion." she complimented. "It was his duty, then again, he was always happy to help in any way, pretty much like me." I said. "I can see that." Rarity replied. "Do you know where your father is? I'd like to greet him." Fancy asked me. "I really don't know, but if you look around you'll surely find him." I answered. "I will do that, I'll be right back." he said while walking away. I turned to Rarity: "I should have been the one to say 'mighty nice to see you' to you." I joked. "I didn't know you were coming to the gala." "Oh I just started coming last year, Twilight had invitations for all of us." she explained. "Wow great, being the Princess' personal student does have some benefits." "Indeed, I was excited about how the gala could be. But it wasn't much as I expected it." "You're talking about last year right?" "Of course, however, I hope tonight gives a better impression." "You and me both." I pointed. "Wait, 'all of you'?" I remembered. "What about that?" she asked back. "Is Fluttershy here too?!" I asked impatient, grabbing Rarity by the shoulders. "Easy Flare! Please let go first." she said, and I obeyed "Much obliged." "I'm sorry." "Don't worry Flare, I understand your situation with Fluttershy. She told me much about you." My ears perked up. "She did? What did she say?" "I promised to keep that a secret Flare, sorry. Besides it's not right that you ask me what she said, ask her instead." "You think it's worth it? I mean, we haven't dismissed properly the last time we saw each other." "I am aware of that, and I'm sure she is willing to make things up too." Rarity paused thinking "But how did that happen?" "Well I told her that I'd be going to Canterlot, and write to her from there, and she told me I'd waste my time. I am sure I pissed her after insisting too much." "Anything else?" "She was uncomfortable, taking into account how she said it." Rarity thought for a while. "Well, you should know by now her personality; she is shy above belief, so she will feel uncomfortable when pressured too much. But I'm absolutely sure she doesn't hate you." "You think?" "I know Fluttershy, she wouldn't hate nopony." she assured. "Well, thanks, you make me feel better." "Nonetheless, you should still search for her, you two need to talk." "Definitely. Thanks a lot Rarity!" I said while trotting away. She just smiled. On the way, I ran into Fancypants again. "Oh Flare, I was about to come again with you." "I'm deeply sorry Mr. Fancypants, but there is somepony I have to find!" I said behind me while going away. Leaving a confused stallion.