Octavia burst into the ballroom just ahead of the wave of animals. “Stampede!” she cried.
The band stopped mid note and all heads turned towards the new arrival. Then the horde of creatures poured into the room and chaos reigned as ponies ran in all directions screaming in panic.
“Wait!” cried Blueblood then suddenly he disappeared as he and several nearby ponies were encased in a glowing yellow sphere.
Ponies fleeing from its path the bear stomped towards the tables containing the remainder of the buffet. The rabbit had asked him to try and find Fluttershy but he was sure one of the other animals could do that without his help. The tantalising smells drew him on. He reared up ready a gobble down the treats when suddenly a blue pony in a black dress leapt onto the table in front of him and grabbed a tray quickly placing it on her back, “Back! Back!” she snarled clutching a loaf of prench bread as a weapon, “By Cadence and Ponyville you will have neither me nor the Pâté.”
The bear was so surprised he staggered back almost falling head over heels. For a second he turned to run then he remembered that he was a bear and the pony was a pony and about a quarter of his size. Letting out a fierce roar he turned back to the table.
“I warned you,” cried Bluenote thrusting with her loaf. Her aim was true and she caught the bear in his midriff, unfortunately as her weapon was made of bread it simply fell apart.
Both the pony and the bear looked at the bread for a second before with a growl the bear swiped at his foe.
“You’ll not have my precious,” cried Bluenote leaping off the table and fleeing into the crowd with the bear in pursuit.
Nearby Octavia was similarly running with a record held loosely in her mouth while a pack of dogs chased after her wanting to play fetch.
“I’m sorry Rarity, I’m sorry,” apologised Fluttershy, “I shouldn’t have done that to your dress.”
“Oh, all my hard work ruined,” the unicorn sobbed staggering around the room clutching the coats and scarves lining its walls.
“Maybe I can help you to fix it or something?”
“It’s ruined, ruined. Hum, actually,” suddenly Rarity calmed down and with a few flickers of magic undid various straps on her outfit and casually stepped out of it.
Fluttershy looked on in astonishment at the white unicorn’s sudden change of behaviour and the ease with which she took off the complicated dress.
Nothing the expression on the pegasus’s face Rarity explained, “Oh, I made it especially for this ball and Blueblood, I er.. made it very quick to get out of,” she blushed at the expression on the pegasus’s face, “In case he wanted to examine my work, of course.”
The unicorn walked over to a particular coat on a rack and removed a small case from it. “My portable sewing kit, I never leave home without it,” she explained before turning to her dress.
To Fluttershy’s astonishment it only took the fashionista a few minutes to make the dress look almost as good as new and to crawl back into the construction. “Now I suppose I should do something about yours as well,” said Rarity.
Fluttershy looked down at her own ruined dress, she had forgotten it had been ripped as well. The white unicorn walked over to the pegasus and began to work on her outfit, “Ow!” cried Fluttershy as she was jabbed with a needle.
“Sorry,” said Rarity insincerely, “I slipped. This dress is rather nice, not as good as mine of course, but not bad. Did you make it yourself?”
“Yes, I learned how to sew from my mother, she makes all of my father’s clothes.”
“This stitching is rather interesting.”
“Oh, I based that on the honeycombs in my bee friends hives.”
“Honey comb,” mumbled the unicorn, “I think I could work with that. Anyway I’m finished.” She stood back and examined her work, “There it’s like this horribleness never happened.”
“I’m sorry,” apologised Fluttershy again, “I don’t know what came over me.”
“I think we might be taking this whole Blueblood thing a little too far,” said Rarity in a conciliatory tone.
“Agreed. Can we call a truce?” asked Fluttershy, “We can both tell Blueblood about our causes and he can decide what he wants to support. Agreed?” she expended a hoof to her rival
Rarity hesitated for a moment then shook the pegasus’s outstretched limb. “Agreed. However, try not to get to upset when he supports the orphanage darling.” She strode towards the door head held high. To her surprise it did not open and she bumped her muzzle. She tried the door with her aura again but it remained shut. “We’re locked in,” she gasped.
Within the ballroom chaos still ruled. Ponies fled from the animals and animals fled from the ponies. All were running here and there knocking over tables, lots and instruments. Screams of panic filled the air. In one corner an old unicorn mare was trying to pull a scarf from the mouth of a dog which was playfully tugging it away from her while elsewhere Moonblossom was trying to remove several mice from her husband’s mane while he let out a series of high pitched shrieks.
“...So I can actually do something,” yelled Blueblood as the bubble around him disappeared, “Finally,” he sighed. Looking around the room he quickly trotted for the stage ignoring the chaos around him his bodyguards in tow. He detoured around a group of cats licking at a spilled bowl of punch and leapt onto the stage.
“Everypony stop!” he yelled his voice amplified by magic.
The whole crowd and many of the animals froze in place at his command.
“They’re just animals, most of them are more afraid of you than you are of them. Just calm down and let the servants gather them all up. If all the guests can line up against that wall,“ he pointed to his left, “And the animals can be corralled into one of the rooms on the right, put some of the food with them and they should be happy.”
“You may take my life, but you will never take my pâté,” came a cry from a blue pony rushing across the floor chased by a bear.
Blueblood massaged his head with a hoof for a second, “Find something else for the bear to eat and somepony, please, get me a martini.”
“I think I’ve got it,” announced Rarity trying to peer through the keyhole her horn glowing brightly. With a ping the key was ejected from the far side of the lock and fell to the ground, “I haven't got it.” She had spent the last ten minutes trying to use her magic to open the door without success.
“So we’re trapped in here?” asked Fluttershy.
“For the moment, just us and,” Rarity picked up one of the coats from the walls, “One of the ugliest coats in Equestria. What was the owner thinking? Polka Dots!” She shuddered in revulsion.
“So it doesn’t look like either of us will be able to ask Blueblood for a donation then?”
“No. No money for the orphan’s or your animals or whatever you were trying to collect for today. Thanks to you.” she grumbled.
The two mares slumped down at opposite sides of the room, glaring at each other. Fluttershy was the first to speak. “What is so important about that particular orphanage? I feel for the poor foals, really I do, but there are so many others that could use the money. It’s in Canterlot, other foals in different areas have it much worse.”
“It is important to me,” the white unicorn drawing herself up to her full height as if to challenge her inquisitor, “Because I have seen the conditions there first hoof.”
Fluttershy was taken aback, “You’re an orphan?”
“No, both of my parents are both, thankfully, alive and well. But when I was younger they considered adopting another foal. A sports injury,” Rarity reddened, “Meant that Father was unlikely to sire any more children. They took me to the orphanage with them and it was so drab, all grey walls, it frightened me. Then I saw the foals, most of them were younger than me and they had so little,” her eyes started to mist, “I thought about all the dolls and toys and clothes I had and they didn’t even have parents. I got particularly close to a filly called Lemon Drops. For a time I thought she was going to be my sister. However, it was somewhat of a surprise to both me and my parents when Sweetie Bell was conceived.” Rarity started to pace back and forth for a moment, “My parents could not afford a third child but I made sure we sent presents to the orphanage each Hearth’s Warming and when I was old enough I started to provide whatever aid I could, I visit most weekends to help out and raise money when I can. I do understand there are other orphanages out there, probably worse ones but I don’t have the same connection to them and you should see it now, it’s so colourful and the foals are so happy, and well dressed.”
“You get them clothes?” asked Fluttershy hesitantly, “Wouldn’t food or other necessities be better?”
“I provide what I can for the basics. I know they don’t really need clothes but you should see them. Some of the little ones have never had anything of their own. A dress or a coat made just for makes them feel special, shows that somepony loves them. That I love them. The same with paint or toys it’s bad enough that they’re orphans but at least I can make the place they live a little brighter.”
“I didn’t realise Rarity, I’m sorry. I just thought you were helping the orphanage because it was in Canterlot. Oh, I shouldn’t have judged you in that way. I’m a bad pony, is there something I can do to help the orphans?”
“Do you think you would have the time, you always have so many other causes to work on. What is it at the moment, an animal shelter? Yokohamare? I don’t know how you manage so many, do you really make a difference?”
“I.. I like to think I do. Maybe I don’t do much to help each cause but I can show others what they could do. It’s hard because there’s so many bad things in the world so many ponies and animals and dragons and things that need help but, as my father says, as long as you have something you can give it to someone less fortunate, even if it’s just time or effort or love.”
“Oh, Fluttershy, we’re not all like you,” said Rarity approaching the pegasus and gently taping her on the chest, “Your heart is as big as the world, maybe even bigger, Equestria would be a better place if we were all like you. But most of us have difficulty empathizing with ponies we haven't met. I’ve seen the orphanage, I’ve seen how bad it can be, I even consider some of the children my friends, I feel for them. But I’ve never even been to Neighpon, I don’t feel the same way about them.”
“But if I tell other ponies about them and show them what they can do then some of them will feel for them and will do something.”
“I do wish it would work that way.” The two of them sat in thoughtful silence for a few minutes.
“Rarity?” asked Fluttershy timidly, “Why didn’t you tell Octavia about the bad thing I did. You could have told her or any pony about my shame and they’d all hate me so you could get everything you’d need for the orphans.”
“Darling, like I told Lady Octavia, I have no idea what you are talking about. I’ve never known you to do anything wrong in my life, what is this dark secret you think I know?” her eyes glimmered with interest.
“You don’t remember the dress?”
“The one I sold you last year? The green and yellow one? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear it, did I mess up the sizing? I thought the barrel might be a little loose but not many ponies are as svelte as you.”
“No it fit perfectly and it looked so good on me but it was very expensive.”
“Well, I suppose so, but not overly so, that green braid didn’t come cheap and it took a long time to get those ribbons to hang correctly.”
“I couldn’t normally afford it, but I’d just sold a rare animal, a meep, to Mr Rich for his daughter’s birthday and he gave me quite a bit of money for it. I was just heading home to decide what to donate it to when I saw the dress in your window and it was just so beautiful. I can be so vain sometimes you see, I tried to fight myself but I just knew I had to have it so before I could stop myself I went in and bought it from you. It took almost half of the money I’d made. I could have used it to help other ponies but instead I wasted it on myself. I’m such a bad pony, I even go to the spa each week just to make myself look good.” She began to sob quietly.
“Darling,” cried Rarity, rushing over and hugging the butter coloured mare. “You can’t think that way, you’re the best pony I know, but you have to consider your own needs sometimes. You keep some money to buy yourself food right?”
Fluttershy nodded, “Well I grow some of my own but, yes, I buy most of it.”
“You have to buy food so you can eat and stay strong and healthy to help other ponies and you have to feel good about yourself so you can make others feel good about themselves,”
Fluttershy looked away “My father doesn’t need to wear expensive clothes or get pampered to help others.”
“Darling, you're not your father.”
“Oh, I know he’s so much better than I am.”
“That’s not what I meant. You’re a different pony to him, maybe he doesn’t need a hooficure or a full body shampoo to relax but you do. I have different likes to my parents,” Rarity shuddered, “Very different likes. But that doesn’t make me a bad pony and it doesn’t mean I don’t love them dearly.”
“I suppose so,” mumbled Fluttershy drawing patterns on the floor with her hoof.
Rarity sighed, “If you really feel this strongly, you can return the dress, I’ll give you a full refund. It is a shame, you do look so good in it, it highlights your hair so well.”
“You really think so?” said Fluttershy looking up.
“Darling would I lie to you? Just try it on again, I’m sure you’ll look stunning. Why there probably isn’t a stallion alive who could resist donating to one of your causes if you wore it.”
The animals had finally been brought under control and had been herded into one of the mansions other rooms where they could be safely contained until it was decided what would be done with them.
The band had started up again and under Blueblood’s influence the guests were starting to talk and laugh with each other again. It was surprising how quickly the events of the near disaster had started to fade. The one exception was the food, much of it had been spoiled or used to get the animals under control and Ram Sea was refusing to make anything more while the animals were still on the premises, quoting health regulations.
With the bear finally under control Bluenote slumped down in a corner and removed her precious cargo from her back. Much of the pâté had fallen to the ground as she had been running but enough of it remained for a meal. Sighing she took a deep breath feeling the odour seep into her nostrils, then she paused, something was wrong. She stared at the treat and noticed it was moving, suddenly a pair of inquisitive noses burst free of it as two mice gnawed their way through the delicacy.
Bluenote stared at the rodents for a moment, “How does it taste?” she asked before breaking down in tears.
Angel peered out from behind a vase. The other animals seemed to have gone but so too had the ponies herding them away from the huge room. He wasn’t sure where his plan had gone wrong. The bear had been happy enough to help transport the slower animals once Angel had reminded him how Fluttershy had helped deliver his cubs and the party had made good time following Fluttershy’s scent. It was only once they had reached the big building that things had started to go wrong. The bear and some of the other animals had caught scent of the food and had decided to forsake Fluttershy, the traitors! Instead they started to think only of their own stomachs. Then there had been ponies running here and there and that had scared many of the animals and that had resulted in more ponies running about and so on. He had quickly found himself alone in his search for his mistress. Still he could do it by himself if he had to, it was the least he could do for his savour.
His nose was not as sensitive as the dogs he had brought along with him but he could still smell his owner. She had been galloping around the building enough that tracking where she was now had proved difficult. His task was made that much harder when the ponies had started to gather up animals, some of them had been the pointy headed ponies who used their horrible glows to drag animals away. Angel had been forced to hide away lest they catch him to. He wouldn’t let that happen to him again, he couldn’t.
Still holding his mistress’s scroll in his mouth he tracked her scent to a door near the entrance to the building. Pressing his large ears to it he could just about make out the sound of Fluttershy’s voice from the other side. His heart rose, he had found her! He kicked out at the door but it didn’t budge an inch, how was he going to get to Fluttershy? He hadn’t come all this way just to be stopped by a door.
Snuffling around the floor he found a lump of metal which after a bit of thought he recognised as one of the devices that ponies used to open doors. He didn’t know how to use it himself but Fluttershy did, if he could only get it to her she could use it to open the door and get out. Using his front paws he grabbed the object, it was large and heavy but he would not be stopped. He sniffed around a bit more and noticed that Fluttershy’s scent was coming from a grating near the ceiling as well as from the door.
He quavered for a second, it was a long way up, but he was doing this for Fluttershy! Using all of the strength in his rear legs he leapt for a cupboard high on the wall. He only just made it, weighed down as he was by both of his precious items, his rear legs scrambled for a moment before he got his balance. The vent in front of him was blocked by a grill but it did not last long against his teeth and he was soon inside a ventilation duct. His mistress's scent was strong here and he quickly crawled towards it.
“How long do you think we’ll be trapped in here?” Rarity asked for what seemed like the fiftieth time.
“I don’t know I guess somepony has to come and get all these coats sooner or later, I don’t think it’ll be much longer,” replied Fluttershy trying to sound reassuring. She let her gaze pass around the room and suddenly saw movement up hear the ceiling. Was that a rabbit sticking its head out from a small grill in the roof? And not just any rabbit Angel!
“Angel? What are you doing here?” she asked in surprise. “Get down here, you could hurt yourself. I’ll catch you.”
Without hesitation the rabbit let himself fall from the ceiling into Fluttershy’s gentle grasp. She nuzzled him gratefully, he happily returned the sentiment.
“Fluttershy, how did your rabbit get to the party?” asked Rarity in surprise.
“I don’t know.” The rabbit held out the slightly battered scroll in his arms. “Is that for me?” she put down the rabbit and opened the scroll, “Oh, it’s my list of good causes. You brought this all the way here for me? Thank you.” She patted the rabbit on the head.
Angel made some squeaking sounds and a series of rapid gestures.
“You and the rest of the animals came to help me? That’s very nice of you all but it could have been dangerous. Where are the rest of them? Captured? Oh dear this isn’t good. What happened to Cat?”
Angel looked awkward for a moment then slowly mimed a reply, “You tied her up! Oh Angel that’s awful, how could you?”
“Why does that rabbit have a key with him?” asked Rarity grabbing it in her aura, Angel staggered back in fear.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop by dozens of degrees, “Please don’t use magic around Angel, he doesn’t like it,” said Fluttershy softly but with steel in her voice.
Rarity gulped at the sudden change in the pegasus, “Of course darling,” she said nervously while backing away. She quickly turned and took the key in her mouth using it to open the door, “Thanks to your pet, we might have the time to talk to Blueblood before he leaves.”
The two of them walked out into the hall to see the place in a mess, several servants were cleaning the area and they blinked in surprise as the two mare’s walked out of the cloakroom.
“What were the two of you doing in there?” asked a green coated stallion a smirk starting to crawl along his face.
“Oh, nothing,” mumbled Fluttershy turning red.
Suddenly Angel was engulfed in a green aura as the servant scooped him up. The rabbit squealed in shock and struggled helplessly against the magic containing him.
“Sorry about this Ladies,” said the servant moving the squirming rabbit away, “One must has gotten past us.”
“Put him down this instant,” roared Fluttershy rushing to her pet’s aid.
“But... Vermin..” stuttered the stallion cowering back from the enraged Pegasus.
“He! Is! Not! Vermin!” yelled Fluttershy. Her eyes seemed to grow huge and the servant thought he saw his death in them, and worse. He flashed back to a time when as a foal he’d broken one of his mother's favourite vases and tried to blame it on his sister, when she found out his mother hadn’t been angry, hadn’t shouted, she’d just looked disappointed and that had been so much worse. Fluttershy had the same look in her eyes.
The unicorn’s aura cut out and Angel dropped to the ground. With a squeak the rabbit, shaking violently, attached himself to Fluttershy’s foreleg, she gently nuzzled the traumatised bunny. “He is my assistant and one of my best friends.” She looked up at the unicorn, “Now apologize to him.”
“I’m sorry Mr Rabbit.” said the servant shamefaced.
Angel scurried up Fluttershy’s leg and into her mane where he proceeded to bury himself so that only he eyes and ears were visible. “His name is Angel Bunny,” she corrected softly.
“I’m sorry Mr Bunny?”
“That’s better, now go away. And don’t torment any more innocent animals,” the servant slinked away like a whipped dog. “I’m sorry Angel, the nasty pony is gone now,” she said gently.
“What’s wrong with him,” asked Rarity quietly.
“I met Angel when I was training to be a vet, one of the other students was restraining him with his magic while giving Angel a shot. He wasn’t very gentle and it took her several attempts to get it right. It’s left Angel with a bit of a phobia about magic. Don’t worry Angel, I’ll never let anyone hurt you again,” she cooed, stroking him gently. The rabbit slowly started to relax.
Rarity shuffled uncomfortably remembering the rabbit’s reaction to her own magic earlier. “I guess we should go back to the party to see how things are going.”
Octavia found Bluenote staring morosely at an empty plate near the entrance to the kitchens.
“Bluenote,” she said, “It’s almost time for the auction. Remember to bid on me.”
“I know, with your money and mine and Rarity’s help and the Count I can go as high as seventeen thousand bits,” she replied woodenly.
“What is wrong with you?” asked Octavia noticing her friend’s mood.
“Food all gone, so hungry,” she muttered and looked up staring at Octavia as if she was a plate of hayfries.
“I’m sorry about that but you can probably get something back at Ponyville, you can leave once the auctions finished.”
“So hungry,” she intoned again.
“I do really appreciate this, that slimy looking stallion has been trying to talk to me all night I’ve only just been able to avoid him. I will do your chores for you when you get home for this favour.”
The blue pony cheered up a bit, “I suppose there is that. Have you seen Rarity or Fluttershy recently?” she said changing the subject.
“No, not since the stampede. I wonder where they got to?” Before she could say anything further a servant came sidling up to her and whispered in her ear. “Ah, the auction is starting, we can look for them later.”
Octavia trotted towards the stage to take her place.
The band came to the end of another piece and Count Glitter took his place on the stage. “Thank you all for remaining here despite the unfortunate invasion earlier. I guess if the twin tyrants couldn’t break our spirits then a few animals can’t either,” he giggled nervously while the crowd remained silent.
“Anyway it’s time for the auction,” he gestured down at the lots below him. By some miracle, all had remained intact despite the earlier events. “So I’ll pass you all over to Prince Blueblood’s capable hooves.”
On the dance floor Blueblood tossed back another drink and clambered up onto the stage. “Ok, time for everypony to reach deeply into their wallets or purses, apart from me of course. I don’t carry money I have somepony to do that for me so she can reach into my wallet instead. Now on to the first lot, the use of this very house for a future social event, I don’t think the animals will come with it though. What am I bid? Five thousand Bits?”
Behind the Prince Octavia tried to tune out as much of the auction as possible. She felt a stab of pain when the recording she had been interested in was sold for eight thousand bits. The next item was a large hamper of food and she saw Bluenote glaring at her from the stage, the earth pony’s hoof seemed to quaver for a bit as the bidding started but she didn’t take part in the auction and a look of resignation passed over her face as it was sold for a few thousand bits. The athlete that Bluenote had had her eye on sold for four thousand.
“And now for the last lot of tonight,” announced Blueblood, “The ravishing Octavia,”
Pulled back to reality by the use of her name the mare took a step forwards and bowed to the crowd.
“Now Octavia is not only a skilled performer and the daughter of a Duchess she is also one of the elements of harmony themselves and a national hero. As such I have no doubt she will be one of the most expensive items here tonight. If fact I will start the bidding myself at ten thousand bits. I’m sure we could make beautiful music together.”
Looking out into the crowd she saw Bluenote’s hoof shoot up, “Twelve thousand bits,” she called.
To her horror Octavia saw the rumpled stallion raise his hoof, “Fifteen thousand.”
A mare in the crowd raised her hoof, Octavia recognised her as the conductor of a major orchestra, “Sixteen thousand.”
“Seventeen thousand,” called the stallion.
“Eighteen thousand,” called Bluenote. Octavia stared in surprise, even with help her friend could not afford that. ‘Don’t worry,’ mouthed Buenote.
“Nineteen thousand,” called the stallion after a short pause.
“Nineteen thousand,” repeated Blueblood, “Come on ponies, a national hero is worth more than this. Do I hear twenty? Twenty?”
“Twenty thousand,” called Bluenote receiving a round at applause.
At once both panic and calm passed through Octavia, there was no way the stallion could top that, but how was Bluenote going to pay?
“Twenty thousand going once, going twice,” chanted Blueblood.
“Fifty thousand,” announced the stallion calmly. The crowd gasped.
Octavia’s eyes bulged, she thought for a second that she had misheard.
“Thank you. Fifty thousand bits, going once, going twice.”
Bluenote looked at Octavia with pity and shrugged.
“Sold to the stallion at the back for fifty thousand bits. I hope you enjoy your purchase.” announced Blueblood.
Octavia felt a horrible sinking feeling in her stomach. She tried not to think about the degrading things the stallion could ask of her, she was sure he would be an obnoxious jerk. Her certainly looked like one.
Mechanically she climbed off the stage and through the crowds towards her new owner.
“It seems that you ‘own’ me Mr?” said Octavia trying to hide her uncomfortableness.
“Gates,” said the stallion, “Open Gates. It truly is an honour to meet you. Oh the things we can do together,” he effused, “This is going to be so fun.”
“I’m sure it will be,” she said with a slight scowl. ”When do you want to meet up?”
“I’m free tomorrow, how about you?”
Octavia considered for a second, she saw the benefit of getting the unpleasant task over as quickly as possible, like ripping off plaster, “Very well.”
“Good,” the stallion passed her a business card with an address in Canterlot on it, “Meet me here at about 11? Bring your cello. That should give you some time to get a good night’s sleep, I wouldn’t want you to get tired out too quickly when we play.”
Octavia shudder at the kind of games he could be proposing. “I thank you for your consideration,” she said woodenly.
The party was starting to wind down by the time that Fluttershy and Rarity made it back to the dance floor although the band was still playing and many ponies were still dancing.
Fluttershy made a beeline straight to the host to explain about her animals and to her surprise Rarity went with her rather than taking the opportunity to monopolize Blueblood’s time.
“And I’m afraid that Angel and my friends decided that I needed the scroll rather urgently and decided to bring it here themselves. Once they got here they smelled the food and it was just all so good that they just had to try some and well all the ponies here panicked and that scared the animals and I’m so sorry that I ruined your party, if there’s anything I can do to make amends.”
“Amends, Amends!” bellowed Moonblossom, “You ruined our party, Glitter will be the laughing stock of the court.”
“Now, now calm down honey,” said Count Glitter trying to placate his wife.
“I’ll calm down when this menace is thrown out of our house.” Moonblossom stepped forwards raising a hoof. Fluttershy backed away and Angel hopped into position in front of her, ready to protect her to the best of his ability.
To everybody’s surprise Rarity slipped between the angry mare and Fluttershy. “I might have a suggestion which would be amicable to both parties.”
“I’m listening,” hissed Moonblossom.
“Well this is certainly unique,” announced Blueblood accepting a drink from a tray supported by a dozen white mice.
Around the ballroom animals and ponies were working together. A number of birds were singing along with the band, rodents were carrying trays of drinks while cats and dogs helped to tidy up the mess that had been made earlier. The bear was sitting in a corner looking rather hard done by as several foals crawled over him . A particularly young filly staggered over and hugged one of its huge furry legs, her forearms only just able to encircle the limbs girth. “Teddy!” the foal giggled. A wide dopey grin spread over the bears face and it reached down with its huge claws and began to gently tickle the foals belly causing her to roll around and scream with laughter.
“Well once I talked to them most of the animals were really sorry for what they had done,” said Fluttershy, “And wanted to do their best to help.”
“And they have indeed helped, this is turning into one of the best parties I’ve been to all season. Now I understand that you mares wanted to talk to me,” he gestured to Rarity and Fluttershy.
“Well yes your Highness,” started Rarity, “We were looking for your support in our charitable endeavours.”
“And you thought the best way to do that was to flatter me.”
“Umm, well yes,” said Rarity somewhat taken aback.
“I get that every day, you’d do better to just ask me, like you friend here,” he nodded to Fluttershy. “However, both of you then decided to start fighting like school fillies. Now that was amusing I admit, but it didn’t help your causes did it? Plus I am not the only wealthy pony here, did either of you think of asking anypony else to support you?”
The two mares looked at each other in shame, “I’m sorry,” muttered Fluttershy, “I just got fixated on you and sort of wanted to beat Rarity. I’m sorry.”
“As am I,” said Rarity
“Very good, now, tell me what you have in mind?” Blueblood pointed at Fluttershy.
The yellow and pink mare started to talk about several donation drives reading her notes from the scroll Angel had brought her. She started off hesitantly but quickly warmed to her topic and talked passionately about the good that Blueblood could do.
“Interesting,” noted Blueblood when she came to a halt, “Those sound very worthy although my country is already sending aid to the Yokohamare disaster but maybe I should provide more personal support. Now how about you Miss Rarity?”
Rarity in turn talked about her personal connection to the orphanage and the good that Blueblood could do for its inhabitants. She even mentioned several of the foals by name.
When she had finished Blueblood lent back in a chair and considered for a moment. “You have both suggested some worthy causes.” With a glow of his horn two business cards materialised and fluttered down to the mares. “Bring these to the Monacolt embassy in Canterlot and I’ll have one of my assistants sort out donations for you.”
Fluttershy gave out a small squeal of excitement, “Oh thank you! Thank you!”
Rarity was likewise overjoyed, “Thank you, but I did hope we could maybe discuss this matter further personally, maybe over dinner.... or breakfast.” She batted her eyelashes.
A large blue coated muscular pegasus stallion rushed over to the group and kissed Blueblood on the lips, “Bluie,” he cried, “I managed to get away early.”
“Star,” replied Blueblood returning the kiss, “How was your show?”
“I, as always, was excellent, and the rest of the cast wasn’t bad either.”
“Modest as always then,” noted Blueblood with a grin. “Ah, how rude of me. This is Rising Star my coltfriend.”
“Pleased ta meet ’cha,” noted the large stallion nodding at the two mares.
“It’s about time for Star and I take to my chambers. Would you lovely ladies care to join us? I’m afraid mares do nothing for me personally but Star has been known to occasionally ‘dip his wick’ so to speak. If nothing else I’m sure you could amuse each other.” The Prince raised an eyebrow at the mares.
With a squeak of embarrassment Fluttershy backed away shaking her head, cheeks glowing red and her tail tucked firmly between her legs. Rarity looked intrigued and paused for a few seconds before shaking her head too, "Maybe next time your highness." she curtsied.
“Fair enough,” said Blueblood, “Come Star, maybe our handsome host and his ravishing wife will be interested in joining us tonight.” He and his coltfrend cantered off into the crowds.
“Well that was a wasted opportunity then,” said Rarity hanging her head. Then she perked up as another pony passed by her, “Ah, Lord Lucra can I talk to you for a minute about a charity I’m supporting, I have a proposition for you.”