Chapter 5;
Rarity ran between her closets, checking for what she felt was the perfect dress for the occasion. Sweetie Bell was sitting on her sister’s bed, watching her run back and forth, comparing the various dresses she had accumulated over the years. Placing some of them on the bed, and some in another pile, Sweetie Bell could not figure out the pattern.
Sweetie Bell asked, “So, he just asked you out. Just like that?”
Rarity continued to be flustered by her decision to make. Searching in her various closets, and various dressers, searching for what she felt like would be the perfect dress to impress the prince. “What? Oh yeah, he did.” Rarity’s search continued.
Sweetie Bell was not happy with that answer. “Well, did he at least mention where he was going to be taking you? Maybe he is taking your to some poor restaurant.”
Rarity did not stop her search. “Prince’s do not go to poor restaurants. They go to fancy places, with fancy ponies, and fancy food.” She briefly paused her search. “And he said we were going to La restoracio en la fino de la universo.”
Sweetie Bell returned of look of confusion. “What does that mean? Is that some kind of fancy person language?”
Rarity continued her search. “I’m not sure. And I simply do not have the time to look it up.” Rarity paused. “Ah, here we go.” She pulled out a fancy glittering black dress. It was simple, but it got the point across.
Sweetie Bell smiled. “That’s a very nice dress Rarity. I’m sure you will.” She paused for effect, “Bedazzle him.”
Rarity smiled. “Oh Sweetie Bell. Princes to not get bedazzled by Ponies like me. So that is why I have to try extra hard to impress him.”
Sweetie Bell grew a coy look on her face, and walked over to her sister. “You like him don’t you? You want to date him, don’t you?” Sweetie Bell raise an eyebrow, in a somewhat mocking fashion.
Rarity answered calmly. “Perhaps sister. But he is a prince, and deserves to be treated like one.” He patted Sweetie Bell’s head. Sweetie Bell was not expecting that answer. She expected more flustering, and stammering. Rarity had just slipped the dress over her head, when there was a knock at the door. Rarity jumped a bit. She looked at the clock, and saw that it was getting rather close to the time they agreed to meet. Rarity rushed down the stairs, and opened the door.
On the other side of the door were two ponies. One was Prince Lightning, wearing a tux, and his still worn out cloak. (Rarity had yet to patch it up). Along with some black shoes, and a top hat. The second pony was dressed only in a black sweater, and had a bag on his back. He was a slightly older pony, with a slightly graying mane. He looked distinguished, in a world worn kind of way.
Lightning asked, “Ready my dear?” Rarity could only leave her mouth agape, and nod a meek yes.
She was about to walk out when she said, “Oh, but wait, my foal sitter has not arrived yet.”
Lightning smiled. “Not to worry my dear. That is what my associate Watson is here for.” He pointed to the now smirking colt behind him.
Watson walked in, and said to Sweetie Bell in a sinister sounding voice, “We are going to have so much fun.” Sweetie Bell had a concerned look on her face as Rarity left.
Rarity asked, “Is she going to be fine with him? He sounds sinister.”
Lightning smiled, “Yeah, he’s like that.”
As they left the house, Rarity could hear Watson ask in a more normal voice, “Who wants to play a board game?”
The two ponies walked down the street. It was late in the evening, but there were still some ponies walking down the street. Some would stop, and look at the two nicely dressed ponies, or quietly mutter something about how nice the two looked. Rarity smiled at the comments, but Lightning was rather stoic about the situation, looking straight ahead, and not really smiling.
Before Rarity knew it, they had arrived at the restaurant. There was a certain hustle and bustle inside. The outside was rather plane, as a simple brick building with the name ‘La restoracio en la fino de la universo’ written in a fancy script. Lightning opened the door for Rarity to walk in. It sure was a fancy restaurant. The seats looked nice, and the waiters were dressed in completely black pants and shirt, giving them a sleek look. Lightning walked up to the head waiter.
“Table for two, my good sir.”
The waiter did not look up from what he was looking at. “Sorry, we are fully booked tonight. Please come back another night.”
Lightning spoke with a more authoritative tone. “I said, table for two, my good SIR.”
The waiter looked up, “And I said we are fully booked tonight.” There was a pause. “Do I need to get the manager, sir?” The response was snooty.
Lightning smiled, “I think you do.” The waiter sighed, and left.
Rarity looked at Lightning, sad. “We don’t have to if they are….” Lightning held up a hoof to stop Rarity.
Just then a chubby pony came out from somewhere. He was dressed also in all black, but had a white tie on. He approached with a big smile on his face. “Lightning! My good colt! How are you doing?” His voice gave a feeling of warmth, and friendship. He hugged Lightning, creating an audible crunch sound from the prince. Lightning grimaced at the hug.
The chubby pony released Lightning. “It’s been a while! How have you been? Who is this? Your filly friend?”
Lighting cleared his throat. “Rarity, meet Silver Apple, the manager and chef of this fine establishment.”
Rarity smiled. She had heard about Silver Apple, but had never dreamed of meeting him in person. Silver picked up Rarity’s hoof, and kissed it. “It is lovely to meet you my dear.” Rarity blushed. Turning his attention to Lightning, Apple asked, “So, a table for two?” Lightning nodded. Silver Apple led the two to their table. They were lead to one of the tables set aside from the rest of the tables, overlooking them all. Lighting pulled out the chair for Rarity, and she giggled a bit as she sat down. Silver Apple handed the two their menu’s, and left them to chat, and made their dining choice.
Rarity examined the menu. “What delectable sounding food they have here.”
Lightning smiled. “I thought you might like it here. This is a place of class, and culture. A place only outshined by my lovely date.” He smiled to Rarity. Rarity was looking around at the magnificent decor. It took a few seconds for her to figure out that he was referring to her, which promptly caused her to blush and hide behind the menu.
The decor was sleek. It was dimly lit, giving it a very romantic feeling. There were marble pillars, and vines growing around the place, giving it just enough rustic feeling to make it feel romantic, but not enough to make it feel like you were camping. The various ponies sitting at their various tables, eating their food. The place was packed, creating a light buzz at the location. There was some music playing over some speakers, but it was very quiet, and could barely be heard over the light buzz. The ponies were all very well dressed. Many of the colts wearing top hats, and some just nice suits. The fillies were all wearing nice dresses.
Rarity looked up from her menu after she felt her blushing died down. “So, how do you know Silver Apple?”
Lightning set his menu down and smiled contently. “Many years ago, someone attempted to hold his restaurant up. It was not this one, but a simple soup restaurant. One I frequented though. He made great soup. I stopped the unicorn, and he garnered a lot of press because a prince frequented his soup hut, and even risked his life to save the owner. That allowed him to expand, and get a bigger restaurant. He said he was successful because of me, I said it was because his food was, and still is, amazing.” Lightning smiled at the end of his story. Rarity basked is Lightning’s slight glow.
A colt waiter appeared beside the table. The colt was a young one, but looked college age. He smiled, and asked, “Anything I can get for you two yet?” He smiled.
Rarity snapped out of her minor stupor, and examined the menu with all haste. “Um….” Rarity continued to search.
Lightning asked, “Need more time, my Dear?”
Rarity continued to examine the menu. “Um.” She paused examining the menu closer. “I think I will have the Spaghetti and Daffodils, please.” She said with a smile, handing the waiter the menu.
The waiter turned to Lightning. “And you, sir?” He asked with a smile.
Lightning replied, “I will have the same.” He handed the menu back to the waiter, who left to the direction of the kitchen.
Rarity put her hooves together, and rested her head on them, looking at Lighting. She smiled. “So, tell me about yourself. What do you like? What is it like being a spy?”
Lighting appears uncomfortable with the question. Just then a pony comes around, and offers the couple a bottle of fine wine. “Wine, Colt and Filly?”
Lighting quickly agrees, and the unicorn pours some wine into Rarity’s and Lightning’s respected glasses. Lightning takes a quick swing form the glass, and smiles at Rarity.
Rarity repeated her inquiry. “So, tell me about yourself.” Lighting leans back in this chair, and looks calmly at Rarity, but does not respond? Rarity raises an eyebrow. “You ok over there?”
Lightning clears his throat. “I’m not very good at talking about myself.”
Rarity smiles. “Ok then. Tell me about one of your missions then.”
Lighting through about this. He did not enjoy talking about himself, but figured that since Rarity had one of the elements that she would be authorized to hear one of his stories. Lighting learned forward in his chair. “Very well my dear.”