//------------------------------//
// Episode 9: Generous Potential 
// Story: Elements of Heroism: Season 2 
// by Bahamut0 
//------------------------------//

	Inferno sighed as he boarded the train with Rarity. Rarity noticed the displeased look on Inferno's face. "Now darling. I know you're not too pleased with our destination. But I assure you. The reason we are going makes this all worth it!" Rarity said with a smile.

"Rarity? You're the only reason I'm putting up with Canterlot." Inferno said with a frown.

Rarity put a hand on Inferno's shoulder. "I must admit. I share your sentiment in some regards Inferno. Especially after my infernal encounter with a certain less-than-charming price. I'm still greatly appreciative of you teaching him a lesson, I might add. Still. I can't help but deny that Canterlot takes my breath away just by me thinking about it.

Inferno gave Rarity a small smile as he put a hand on her shoulder. "Well, I guess the place will be more bearable with you by my side. Plus, if any snooty nobles talk bad about you, I'll slug 'em just like that brat Blueblood!" Inferno flexed his right arm to prove the point. "I'm always there with you Rarity. Never forget that." Rarity smiled as the two of them boarded the train. They soon arrived at Canterlot Station, and Inferno helped Rarity with her luggage. "Good thing my dragon lineage abilities give me enhanced strength." Inferno took note of all the bags he was carrying that were Rarity's. "I'd hate to be the bellhop that's gotta carry them."

Rarity giggled at hearing Inferno's musings. "Well I hope you've plenty of stamina. We'll be staying at the castle!"

Inferno blinked before cracking a smile. "Heh! The benefits of being Twilight's friend, right?" The two soon arrived at the castle, and Princess Celestia herself showed them to their room. Rarity was in awe at how beautiful it was.

"Here? I get to stay here?" Rarity asked with wide eyes.

Celestia smiled and nodded. "Twilight said you were coming to Canterlot for a visit and asked if I might accomodate you."

"I'd say you've gone above and beyond there your highness." Inferno said as he looked around the room. 

"Thank you so much Princess." Rarity said with a grateful smile.

"You're welcome." Celestia said with a serene smile. Rarity then fell to her knees.

"No, really! This is so nice of you!"

Celestia had an embarrassed smile on her face at seeing Rarity's position. "It's nothing really."

Rarity was about to protest when Inferno stepped in. "All the same, thanks princess. By the way, Burst's gonna be coming to Canterlot too. Just thought you'd like to know when your boyfriend's dropping in!" 

Celestia blushed lightly at hearing this. "I'll...leave you to get settled. Enjoy your stay." And with that, Princess Celestia left the two to get their belongings sorted out. As soon as they were unpacked, Rarity slipped on a hat.

"Might as well see some of the city while we're here. You up for a little walk darling?" Rarity asked in a playful tone.

Inferno smiled. "We've tangled with nightmare creatures and Discord. A little extra walking's not gonna hurt." As the couple walked the streets of Canterlot, Inferno took note of how highly the people carried themselves. Snob central up in here. I can almost taste it in the air here. Inferno then smiled when he looked at Rarity carrying Opal. Heh. That cat would fit right in here. Rarity soon stopped by a cafe to rest a bit, and Inferno grabbed a seat as well.

"Inferno? Opalesence? Do you know what I love about Canterlot?" Rarity asked.

Inferno shook his head while Opal simply licked away at her milk dish. "No. But do tell."

Rarity giggled before taking a sip of her tea. "Everything! I may have been born in Ponyville, but I am a Canterlot woman at heart! Now I know that we're here only to pick up some fabrics for the shop. But Twilight was such a dear to get us that suite at the castle I simply MUST make her something to express my gratitude!"

"You wouldn't be you if you didn't." Inferno said with a loving smile. "So have you got any ideas?"

Rarity surveyed her surroundings, and an idea came to her! "Aha! A new outfit for her birthday party this weekend! It's perfect! Oh, don't you just love it here?" Inferno was about to speak when he and Rarity noticed the shadows of a rich couple of magi standing over them.

"Please excuse our interruption." The man said. "I'm Jet Set and this is wife Upper Crust. We saw you from across the cafe, and just had to find out.."

"Where DID you get that simply marvelous, hat?" Upper Crust finished.

"Oh, this old thing?" Rarity asked. "Oh, it's just something I-" Rarity was soon interrupted by a window washer who mentioned an encounter that he had with her back in Ponyville. Instantly, the rich couple was revolted by Rarity simply talking to the poor guy.

"You're from Ponyville?" Jet Set asked with disgust. He instantly recoiled when Inferno got in his face.

"You got a problem with that?" Inferno asked calmly. However, he still kept his eyes an inch from Jet Set's face.

Upper Crust's eyes went wide. "Wait. You're that delinquent who knocked poor Blublood out cold at the gala!"

"I wouldn't call a creep like him poor." Inferno shot back. "He treated my girlfriend badly, so I taught him a lesson."

Jet Set simply scoffed before replying. "It figures a Ponyville low-life would date a delinquent." The two huffed and were on their way.

Inferno scowled at the couple as they left before turning to Rarity. "Come on Rarity. Let's head back to our suite. I'll fly us there." Inferno scooped Rarity into his arms, and soon took off. Landing at the door to their suite shortly. He also took note of Rarity's distress. "Rarity, don't let what they say get to you. Maybe you're just not cut-out for a place like this." However, Inferno's words didn't even reach Rarity's ears as she walked over to her drawing board.

"'Too country...'" Rarity muttered. "..Not something you can get in Canterlot..." Rarity slipped on her glasses and set to work sketching a new design. "I'll show them something worthy of Canterlot!" Inferno and Opal looked on with concerned looks on their faces. Later, Rarity had Inferno come along on a material run. Rarity was carrying a good portion of the materials she'd bought in her magic. She was going on about how the design would look ambitious and grand. However, she soon bumped into a man because she was so caught up in her rambling. Inferno frowned when he saw that it was yet another high-class couple they'd bump into. Rarity on the other hand, was awed at who she'd bumped into. "Fancy Pants..." Inferno took in the man's appearance. He wore a standard black suit and tie, a monocle, and his blue hair was styled like a gentleman. But what put Inferno off was his manners.

"I say, that's one way to make an introduction." Fancy Pants said with a smile as he dusted himself off.

"Oh goodness! I am so sorry! I-I didn't see you there!" Rarity apologized. "I've just got so many bags, and I was trying to get back to my suite at the castle, and..."

This bit piques Fancy's interest. "You're..staying at the castle?"

"Well, the princess invited me and my boyfriend to stay in one of the suites." Rarity answered as Inferno helped her pick up some of the scattered materials. 

"You know the princess?" Fancy asked.

Inferno nodded. "She is the Element of Generosity." Inferno was soon put off by Fancy looking him over. 

"You. You're the young man who struck Prince Blueblood at the gala, correct?" Fancy asked.

Inferno narrowed his eyes. "You got a problem with me doing that too?"

Fancy smiled. "My good man. You have NO idea how long I've waited to see someone do that. Good show."

Inferno's frown instantly turned into a smile. "You're cool. Name's Inferno Flare."

"It certainly reflects your fiery attitude." Fancy said with a polite smile.

Rarity smiled nervously. "Yes, well, I'm making an ensemble for a friend of mine. Her birthday's this weekend and I really must be going! Sorry I bumped into you!" Rarity had all the materials levitating in her magic's blue aura, and soon was on her way.

"I'm not." Fancy said with a good-natured chuckle. "You are obviously somebody worth bumping into." Rarity was in awe of Fancy's kind words. "Listen. I've a VIP box reserved at the Wonder Bolts Derby this afternoon. Would you be so kind as to join me and a few of my companions?"

"Me?" Rarity asked.

"Well of course my dear. You and your special someone." Fancy said with a smile.

"Eh. As long as it doesn't get in the way of Twilight's outfit being made." Inferno said with a shrug.

"We'd love to see you there miss..?"

"Rarity." Rarity answered. As soon as Fancy left, Inferno took note of how in awe Rarity was. Rarity and Inferno went back to their suite, and Rarity began pacing listing the pros and cons of the Fancy Pants' generous offer. "Pro: Going to the derby is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Con: Going to the derby cuts into the amount of time I have to finish Twilight's outfit. Pro: Fancy Pants is the most important person in Canterlot. His stamp of approval could mean big things for me here. Con: Twilight's party might not be as sophisticated as the derby. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't put all of my energy into creating her birthday ensemble. My Ponyville friends will appreciate my hard work more than anybody." Rarity paused. "I'd hate to let them down."

Inferno took a deep breath as he walked up to Rarity and put his arms around her. "Rarity? This might seem like an odd time to bring it up, but do you remember the incident with the gala dresses?"

Rarity blinked. "Well...yes darling. You really saved my career that day with your plan. Why?"

"Let me tell you a little story from my old performing days. When my band was on tour, we always aimed to play our best no matter what. Surely enough, we got pretty famous. Lots of people liked our music."

"Well, it sounds like you made a lot of people happy." Rarity said with a smile.

Inferno took a deep breath. "That was the problem. While fans loved us, and casual listeners rocked out, critics hated us. They said our music was part of a dying era. And they were relentless." Rarity's face saddened at hearing this. "But we didn't care. Their opinions didn't matter to us. So long as out listeners liked us, that was all that counted. But that didn't mean we debated ourselves on whether to appease the critics. In some cases, it was a lot like how you were so desperate to please your friends when you made those disaster dresses." Inferno looked Rarity in the eyes. "The point is, you can't make everyone happy. But what you can do is make the people who matter most to you smile. So I want to ask you: Who do you want to see smile more, and who's really important to you?"

Rarity stood deep in thought for a moment. Seriously contemplating what to do, and who she'd rather see happy. She then took a deep breath. "I've made my decision." Rarity took a piece of paper and started writing a letter. "Dear Fancy Pants. I must regret to inform you that I will not be able to make it to the derby. My friend's gift is a most pressing engagement, and one that will require my full attention. Sincerely, Rarity." Rarity summoned a messenger, and had the letter sent to Fancy Pants. She then breathed a sigh of relief before looking at Inferno. "Thank you darling. I needed that."

Inferno smiled. "No problem. Just living up to my potential. Now let's take a look at that dress design. I don't really see Twilight going around in something so over-the-top." 

Rarity took a quick look at her design. "Hmm. You're right. Well, it's a good thing she's got simple tastes." Rarity's thoughts then turned to Fancy Pants. "I do hope he's not upset that we couldn't make it."

Inferno put a hand on Rarity's shoulder. "Hey. If he's even half the gentleman he seems, he'd understand the importance of what this means to you. Now come on. Let's get this dress more in line with Twilight's style." Rarity smiled lovingly and the two set to work redesigning Twilight's outfit. The finished product was a simple pink and yellow dress was proudly displayed. "There. That's more towards Twilight's style."

Rarity smiled and nodded. "And we've finished with plenty of time to spare." Rarity then saw a letter come in through the suite's mail slot. She went over in a hurry, and eagerly opened the letter. "Dear Rarity. No need to apologize. I admire a person who has their priorities straight. If I may suggest a more opportune time, might you and Inferno join me at the Canterlot Garden Party? Sincerely, Fancy Pants."

"See? I told you he'd understand." Inferno said with a cheerful smile.

However, Rarity wasn't as elated. "Yes. It's nice that he understands darling. But I'm afraid that brings up another problem. The garden party is the same day as Twilight's birthday." Rarity sighed. "It looks like once again I must decline a high society event. But if anything, you've taught me to value the thoughts of the people important to me. The ones I really can't afford to let down."

Inferno scratched his head in thought. "Gee. Now I kinda feel bad about that. I know you love Canterlot Rarity. I know you were hoping to make your name here. Now it looks like I might've messed that up." Inferno's head drooped in shame. Rarity took notice, and cupped Inferno's face.

"Don't you DARE say that darling." Rarity said with a scolding tone. "You told me what I needed to hear. Much like back at the gala. You've more than lived up to your potential as an excellent boyfriend because you're the man I need in my life. Not the one I want. And while you can be blunt, it does serve as a good way to keep sight of what matters." Rarity then pulled Inferno into a tight hug. "And I can't say thank you enough times to cement that." Rarity smiled lovingly at Inferno. "I'll simply inform Fancy Pants that once again, we won't be able to attend. This time, I won't hesitate to proudly state where I'm from." Rarity wrote the letter, and summoned for the messenger to deliver it. "My friends are the most important people I know. I guess it helps that you reminded me of that. Now come! We'd better pack if we wish to arrive in Ponyville early!" The two set to work packing their bags, and were back in Ponyville by nightfall. 

Twilight's Birthday. The next day

Rarity smiled when she saw how happy Twilight was with her new outfit. "Once again. Another satisfied wearer." Rarity said with a nod. Inferno walked over and gave offered her a glass of punch. "Thank you darling." 

Inferno smiled before noticing someone coming into Sugarcube Corner. "Hey. I think there's someone who wants to see you." Inferno motioned to Fancy Pants walking through the doors.

"F-Fancy Pants?!" Rarity exclaimed. "W-Well I certainly didn't expect you to drop in here!"

Fancy Pants smiled. "A pleasure to see you as well Rarity." Fancy said with a small bow. "I simply wanted to meet the friends who mean so much to you. Would you do the honor of introducing me to them?"

Rarity smiled. "With pleasure." Rarity introduced Fancy Pants to all her friends.

"I must say Twilight. Your ensemble is beautiful." Fancy Pants said with a smile.

"Of course it is! Rarity made it!" Twilight said with a proud smile.

"I dare say it should be recommended to every lady in Canterlot!" Fancy Pants said proudly. "In fact, I think I'll do just that when I return. But sadly, I must bid you farewell. Until we meet again!" Rarity and Inferno smiled.

"You know? This turned out better than I thought." Rarity said with a content sigh.

Inferno shared a kiss with her. "Here's hoping that made it better." And the two shared a tight embrace.