//------------------------------// // Fleur de Lis // Story: Lost Opportunities // by Mewrilah //------------------------------// Honestly, the two of you shouldn’t have been in the same room together, let alone a “couple”, as she liked to refer to the both of you. There were no similarities between yourself and the alabaster mare with the cotton candy pink mane. You let out a sigh as you were dragged along to yet another “important” meeting. You should’ve known better when she approached you at that one party you attended and asked to dance. While it seemed odd that she would take interest in you, it was a welcome change in pace. . Most ponies, after getting over the initial shock of seeing you didn’t really socialize with you much. You figured since you were in the capitol, the nobles wouldn’t really be as friendly and due to the orders of Princess Celestia, you weren’t really allowed to stray far from the castle. Fleur de Lis, was your saving grace, or so it seemed. The thing was, Fleur wasn’t a bad pony. She wasn’t what you would think of the stereotypical super model. Her “snobbiness” was just a front for all the other nobles to invite her to their parties. When the both of you returned home, it was her insistence that after a few months of “dating” you move in together  and honestly, it wasn’t a bad arrangement. As the both of you sat on her sofa or lay in her bed, you’d listen to how her day went, helping her with her problems, or just simply giving her real affection she couldn’t get from her “fans”. That was the problem though. The problem was that it was always about her. Not that you could blame her, her job and hence lifestyle had all revolved around her, so that’s all she knew. You were simply a … pet to her. She paraded you among the nobles, who felt they were obligated to give their opinion about your looks or intellect. There were times you wanted to lash out at the pompous pony, but held your tongue for her sake. At home she used you to make herself feel better. But it never seemed like she took into account your feelings. You’d tell her how’d you felt about her not stopping all the ridicule and that you didn’t say anything so she wouldn’t get in trouble.  Her response was always the same: she would nod, apologize for how they treated you, promised to fix it, but nothing ever changed. So here you were again, stuck at a table with a whole bunch of pompous ponies. At least they were decent enough to let you sit with them. You graciously sipped your tea, which was actually tasty, and tuned out their “business affairs”. More like gossip in your opinion. You looked to your… marefriend and saw that she was more enraptured with the ponies at the table than you. Rolling your eyes and sighing, you slightly slouched in your seat. This however was a mistake. “Speaking of relationships,” a purple pegasus turned his attention to Fleur while looking at you. “Whatever in Equestria made you decide to court this… hideous, hairless ape, my dear? You could have any colt you wanted to. It is more like a pet. Aren’t you worried what other ponies would think?” Your blood started to warm. Sure you had been insulted several times in the past, but for some reason you finally decided that this was enough. If Fleur was not going to stand up for you, you would. “He’s not as bad as you think, Two Bit,” Fleur replied, looking at you as well. “Although you could straighten up a bit. Slouching isn’t really good for your posture.” “That’s not the only thing he needs to fix,” Bit scanned over you. “Does it even know how to talk? Or bathe? Or do you have to do those for him Fleur? Honestly he shouldn’t even be at this table, more like on the floor where he belongs.” Blood heavily boiling. “He does know how to do those things,” Fleur replied. “And I thought everypony was fine with him joining us. He is trained.” Trained, really? Most of the ponies had uneasy looks about them, save the pegasus that started all of this. Getting the hint, Fleur leaned over to you. “Do you mind stepping outside for a bit? I don’t really want everypony here to feel uncomfortable.” “Yeah that’s where he belongs, outside,” Bit sneered. “So he can run and chase his imaginary tail.” Some of the ponies snickered at that. “That’s it,” you finally found your voice and stood up. Being the average height for a human, you practically towered over the ponies, which worked to your favor. They all looked pretty intimidated. “Just because I’m not from here, doesn’t give you lot the right to insult me. Period. Not behind my back, and especially not in front of my face. You know why I kept quiet all this time? So that I wouldn’t make my supposed ‘marefriend’ look bad. But even she doesn’t have the nerve to stand up for me, so I gotta do it myself.” You narrowed your eyes on the instigator of this entire thing. “Listen up here you winged rat. I may not have wealth, or status like you or your cohorts have, but I am very much a sentient being just like the rest of you. I have thoughts, emotions and can understand every insult you’ve thrown my way. And I don’t appreciate it! So fine, I’ll go outside. Better yet, I’ll just leave! So you don’t have to be with a ‘hideous ape’! Buck off, you pompous, wimpy little coltfooler!” Pushing in your chair, you weren’t uncivilized, you left the dining hall and headed “home”. Probably not for long with what you just pulled, but this was a long time coming. When you did reach Ms. de Lis’ place, you started to pack up what meager belongings you had. You had heard a lot about a little town called Ponyville right outside this horrid city. You heard the door open, and were actually curious. Had Fleur actually seen how she went wrong. “How could you???” you heard her cry out. She appeared in the doorway, definitely upset, but not for the reason you hoped for. “Do you know how much explaining and apologizing I had to do just so they wouldn’t be upset?” “And that’s more important than my feelings right?” you replied coldly. “What?” she paused, not used to you talking this way. “How do you think we’re able to live here? It’s because I have to make those ponies happy. Yes Mr. Bit was a bit rude, but you never had issues before.” “Did you not listen to my speech back there?” you asked, definitely seeing how this was going to end. “Yes, I did. But you usually tell me those things when we get home, not in front of important clientele!” You sigh. “So that’s how you want to do it.” “Do what?” “Goodbye Fleur,” you picked up your bag and walked past her. As you got to the living room, you could hear her call your name, asking you to come back. You shook your head, and continued out the door, closing it and never looking back.