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// Diamonds  
// Story: Caring For A Certain Stallion 
// by runeplay2 
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“Oh, and that was when he suggested that I should bring some friends along! And I couldn’t think of anyone better to take!” Rarity continued to drone on about the fancy dinner that she was invited to, but Big Macintosh just couldn’t pay attention. There were only so many hours that even HE could listen to a mare drone on and on… and boy, could she monologue. While he was grateful to her for inviting him along, he was mainly here because Fluttershy had suggested that they could call it a “date”.
Granted, he still wasn’t too excited about that. He had actually planned on having a nice, quiet picnic with just her, alone, nice and quiet. But, as was his philosophy, “whatever the mare wants, the mare gets.” 
As Rarity continued to chirp about this, that, and the other thing, Big Macintosh decided that now would be a good time to continue his reading. 
When Rarity had initially told him about the last “favor”, he had decided that making sure it didn’t go bad would be a good thing. So, he had actually made a few trips to the Golden Oaks library to find something that might be useful in a conversation—and something to read on the trip to Canterlot.
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“Oh, hey Big Macintosh, you here for our weekly game of chess?” Twilight, over Big Macintosh’s recovery, had on her part tried to keep his mind busy as well.
“Nope. Ah’m here for some actual reading.”
“Oh!” Twilight practically leapt off of her library’s ladder with joy. “don’t tell me! Let me guess first!”
“Of course, your highness.” Big Macintosh hid his smirk with a bow. Even though Twilight had been made a Princess, she still chose to spend the majority of her time at the same old library. So far, quite a few of her decrees had involved libraries—from commissioning a book finder enchantment to increasing the national wage of librarians—that some had even jokingly dubbed her “Princess Dewhoof.”
“Hmm…” Twilight scrunched her face as she tried to read what was going through Big Macintosh’s mind.
“Actually,” She admitted after a few moments, “I’m drawing a blank.”
“Ah’m here to see if you have any newspaper articles on a certain pony?”
“Who do you have in mind?”
“Some Canterlot feller’ with the name ‘Autumn Leaf’.”
Twilight directed her own bookfinder, which she had taken to calling “Glyph” to gather all the relevant newspapers possible for Big Macintosh, which were located in the renovated basement. Another benefit of Twilight’s becoming a princess was that she had been given permission to make copies of most of the Royal Archive’s contents, and store them in her basement. She had at some point explained that she had used an “undetectable expansion charm” from a Harry Plotter book, but it had all flown straight over his head. Big Macintosh tried to understand as much as he could, but unicorn magic was straight out.
As Glyph came back with a rather sizable stack of newspapers, Big Macintosh knew he had a lot of reading ahead of him.
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“Darling,” Rarity interrupted her almost endless stream of words to turn her attention to him, “what is it that has your attention so pre-occupied? Or are you just sleeping?”
“Ah’m certain Ah got enough rest last night.”
“Oh, well good,” Rarity immediately perked up again at his response, “So, what is it that has you so enthralled?”
“You know that Leaf had a daughter once?”
“Yes, I had heard of that. Poor dear was so hurt when he heard she had gone missing at flight camp. He eventually gave up, and had a unicorn wipe his memory of her away. Best not to mention it, yes?”
“Eeyup.”
“Anyway, as I was saying, after our little soiree with Mr. Fancypants, we shall be done for the night, and you two will be free to do as you please.”
“Oh, that sounds absolutely wonderful, Rarity! I can’t believe that Fancypants was able to get you such a nice deal with him!”
“Oh,” Rarity chuckled, “It still hasn’t been sealed just yet. I still need to speak with Mr. Leaf first. He will need to see that my accouterments are up to par, which is why I am going to ask you both to be careful with your outfits at the party. If he sees any stains, he is likely to be…  displeased.”
They each nodded their agreement, and looked over to the outfits that were hanging from the overhead baggage rack. For Big Macintosh, she had actually decided that in lieu of a sport jacket, a sleek vest that matched Fluttershy’s coat would be much better, with a white dress shirt and a turquoise tie, for somewhat of a retro style. Fluttershy’s dress was a turquoise chiffon, with an orange hem. Rarity’s dress had yet to be seen, but he was certain it would be something to wow.
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“Well,” Fancy Pants called as Rarity and co. entered his suite, “Is that Miss Rarity I see gracing us with her presence, or Princess Luna?” Rarity’s dress was an opalescent purple, with diamonds stitched into so that it sparkled like the night sky, with a black strap that reached around to her chest, a small purple jewel that matched her cutie mark in front*. 
“Oh Fancy, you are too kind. But yes, I have finally arrived. Celestia knows it was absolutely nerve wracking trying to get these outfits here in pristine condition.”
“And I do say, you look fabulous in spite of it.” Fancy Pants and Rarity continued to exchange their pleasantries, Fleur trot over to introduce herself to Big Macintosh and Fluttershy. 
“Bonour, mon ami!” 
“Bonjour, Fleur. Nous n'avons pas été entièrement mis en place, avons-nous?”
Well, there goes any hopes of me getting in a word. Not like I had anything to say anyway. They’re speaking Prench, and I barely remember any of those lessons Miss Rarity gave me other than saying ‘I don’t speak Prench.’ Might as well—
“Big Macintosh, would you be a dear and come here please?”
Nevermind.
“Fancy Pants, this is Big Macintosh. Big Macintosh, this is Fancy Pants.”
“Pleasure to meet you, my good fellow.” Fancy offered a hoof, with Big Macintosh happily obliged. 
“Pleasure to meet you, sir. Glad to see not everypony ‘round here is too “high and mighty” to shake hooves.”
“Quite. In any moment, I believe that we—“
“Sir Fancy Pants! I didn’t know you were getting in on the modeling business!” An aged, sand-yellow stallion in a crisply ironed suit from just outside the door chided**. As he strolled into the suite, Big Macintosh noticed something oddly… familiar.
“Ah! Autumn! I’m quite certain you are mistaken!”
“Really,” Autumn Leaf chuckled, “Then why is it that you have such a beautiful mare in such a gorgeous dress with you?” He strolled over to kiss Rarity’s hoof.
“Such a flirt like always, Autumn. You see, this is Rarity, the mare you were supposed to meet?”
“Come now, I’m allowed a little joking at my age. In any case, I can already tell that your work is far higher caliber than expected, so consider our business done. Now then, who is your other company?”
“This is Big Macintosh,” Fancy had begun to introduce him, “and he is one of—Macintosh, what exactly are you doing?”
Big Macintosh had gone silent, studying every aspect he could of Autumn Leaf. There was something that he just could not pinpoint, but he had seen it before.
“Big Macintosh,” Rarity hissed in his ear,” if you would please stop, I would be most grateful.”
“Oh, goodness! Big Macintosh, what are you doing?” Fluttershy called as she came back in with Fleur.
Big Macintosh’s silence was finally broken when he heard Fluttershy. He swung around, and started to stare at her in the same fashion he had Autumn Leaf, but only for a brief second. Without saying a word, he shoved Fluttershy right next to Autumn.
“Y’all see what Ah see?”
“Well,” Rarity, who had become quite steamed by the time he had finally spoken up scoffed, “all I’m seeing is a ruffian who-“ Rarity broke off mid-sentence, “who… oh my stars, you’re right!”
Fluttershy and Autumn stare at each other in confusion as the rest of the room began to go into a collective “oh my gosh” fest.
“Would somepony please tell us what is going on?” Fluttershy stomped her hoof angrily, and also rather loudly.
“Sugarcube, ya don’t recognize him?”
“No… why? Should I?”
“Ah would reckon you would recognize your own father.”