If there is one aspect of Equestrian society that transcends social class it would undoubtedly be the love ponies have for festivities of kinds. Be it a fair, rodeo, or just a spontaneous party, ponies love an excuse to celebrate. The social elite of Canterlot were no exception to this and as such their social calendars were inevitably awash with balls, soirees and dinner parties aplenty. Of course, like almost everything else the members of Canterlot’s high society engaged in parties were seen as a way to one up their fellows. As such, there was a never-ending effort to host the most elaborate party with the most exclusive and important guests in attendance. One such pony named High Hat had succeeded in drawing a particularly impressive assortment of guests to his Spring Fling Ball, largely thanks to his managing to arrange for the Wonderbolts to perform. A feat which several guest could hardly believe even after seeing the performance.
“Basically, this High Hat gut called in a favor General Bomb Cyclone owed him,” Rainbow Dash explained. “And when one of the highest ranking pegasus in the guard tells the Wonderbolts to do a show, we do a show. On the plus side, have you seen the buffet table they have here? They’ve got like six different kinds of mushrooms!”
“I must admit, High Hat really has gone to rather extravagant lengths for this little soiree of his,” Rarity replied. “To be honest, I’m afraid it almost crosses the line into becoming gauche. Still, parties like this always drive up demand for my formal gowns so I suppose I shouldn’t complain too much.”
“Heh. Anyway, it’ll be nice to go to one of these things without having to deal with somepony trying to get me kicked out of the Wonderbolts.” The two friends shared a laugh as they worked their way across the ballroom floor.
Unfortunately, what had otherwise been a pleasant if uneventful evening came to a screeching halt as Rarity overhead a voice she had hoped she’d never run into again. “-so I told Starry Night ‘maybe you should have him throw himself out a window too!’” Uneasily, Rarity turned her head to see Prince Blueblood laughing at his own joke, surrounded by a number of other high society ponies doing likewise. Rarity noted, however, that many of Prince Blueblood’s hangers on would roll their eyes on give him looks of disgust whenever he wasn’t looking.
“Rainbow Dash, perhaps we could head outside? Or anywhere else that isn’t right here,” Rarity pleaded as she tried to steer her friend away from Prince Blueblood’s group.
“Hey, isn’t that the jerk you were trying to get all romance novel with the first time we went to the Grand Galloping Gala?” Rainbow Dash asked as they passed by, just loudly enough to catch Prince Blueblood’s attention.
“Is that…my word, Rarity, is that you?” Prince Blueblood called out. “I’m surprised to see you here of all ponies. High Hat must really have invited everypony in Canterlot if you’re here.” As Prince Blueblood spoke, his gang of sycophants began to slowly back away, as if they wanted to distance themselves from the rapidly approaching confrontation.
Rarity, however, was not about to allow herself to be cowed by a pompous idiot like Prince Blueblood. While Rarity would have preferred to avoid a confrontation, if Prince Blueblood wanted a fight then he would have one. “Why Prince Blueblood, how nice it is to see you. I mean, I must have missed you at Fancy Pants’ last dinner party…and Haute Monde’s charity auction…and at the delightful garden party Smart Set hosted. Surely you must have been invited to at least one of those little soirees,” Rarity added with a note of mock innocence. In truth, Rarity knew for a fact that the general perception of Prince Blueblood as a self-absorbed oaf kept him off the guest lists to quite a few gatherings.
“Yes, well, a pony of my social standing does have to pick and choose which events he attends,” Prince Blueblood quickly retorted. “Though clearly that isn’t a problem you need to contend with. I will say, though, you seem to have done quite well for yourself, all things considered. Where was it that you’re from, again? Ponyville, wasn’t it?” Prince Blueblood asked with a sneer.
Rarity opened her mouth to remind Prince Blueblood how much prestige Ponyville had acquired as of late (along with an admonishment to keep up with current events). Before Rarity could get a word out, however, she found herself cut off by an angered Rainbow Dash. “You got a problem with Ponyville?” Rainbow Dash snarled.
“Oh, not at all,” Prince Blueblood replied with a smirk, glad to have a new, less articulate target. “After all, farming communities are the very foundation of Equestria. It’s just that the ponies from those places would normally be more at home at a ‘hoedown’ than a…more cultured event. Take that scruffy farm pony that set up a food cart at the Grand Galloping Gala a few years ago, for example. I mean, it’s gauche enough to try selling food at the Gala on its own, but to offer common carnival fare?” Prince Blueblood snorted derisively. “For the life of me I can’t fathom how a common rube like that even managed to acquire a ticket to the Gala in the first place.” While Rainbow Dash said nothing in response, there was mounting rage clearly building in her eyes. “Then again, as a Wonderbolt I’m sure you’re no stranger to having to deal with outrageous behavior. I don’t mean you and the other Wonderbolts, of course,” Prince Blueblood quickly added. “I have nothing but respect for the Wonderbolts themselves. But the way your fans sometimes behave is just beyond the pale. The absolute worst were a pair of buffoons I saw attending a show at the Canterlot arena not too long ago. I’m certain you’d remember those two, they were dressed like clowns and shooting off fireworks. Personally, I can’t even believe a pair of graceless simpletons like that were even –“
Blueblood’s rant was abruptly cut off as Rainbow Dash delivered a vicious uppercut to his chin. Rainbow Dash had been growing increasingly incensed at Blueblood’s behavior already and his insulting of her parents had proven to be the last straw. “If you think I’m just gonna sit there while you make fun of my parents then you’ve got another thing coming!” Rainbow Dash yelled as the dazed Blueblood lay on the floor.
“Alright then, I think that’s quite enough for one night,” a Trottingham-accented voice quickly interjected. Moments later, the owner of the voice was revealed to be to none other than Fancy Pants, who interposed himself between Rainbow Dash and Blueblood. “Miss Rarity, I think perhaps it would be best if you and your friend accompany me to the veranda so everypony has a chance to calm themselves.”
Rarity said nothing, only quietly nodding her head in response. Inwardly, however, Rarity’s mind was racing in a blind panic. “Oh dear Celestia, I’m ruined! Once word gets out that one of my friends punched out Prince Blueblood I’ll be a complete pariah! Darn it, Rainbow Dash, what in Equestria were you thinking?” Rarity continued to silently panicking as Fancy Pants led her and Rainbow Dash outside. Fancy Pants himself remained quiet until they were all safely outside.
“Rainbow Dash, isn’t it?” Fancy Pants began as he levitated the doors behind them shut. “Now that we’re alone, I just have to say jolly good show laying out that embarrassment to Canterlot!”
“Wait, what?” Rarity exclaimed as her brain struggled to process what she was hearing.
“I didn’t catch what led up to Miss Dash’s blow, but I know that preening imbecile Blueblood well enough to gather that he rightly deserved what he got. To be quite honest I found your knocking him on his rump to be rather cathartic and I suspect that quite a few of my peers felt likewise.”
“So, you’re not angry about any of this?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Hmph, if I’m upset about anything it’s at how Prince Blueblood continues to perpetuate the stereotype that we unicorns of Canterlot are nothing more than pompous idiots,” Fancy Pants replied irritably. “Rest assured, Miss Dash, there’s no need for you to worry about my being upset over what just happened. Unfortunately, though, I can’t guarantee that everypony concerned feels the same way,” Fancy Pants added as he glanced up at the sky.
“Crash! You wanna tell me what the hay just happened?” Spitfire yelled as she descended on the group from the sky. “Somepony just told me that you knocked Prince Blueblood on his rump. I should not have to tell you that you do not assault VIPs as a Wonderbolt!”
“I’m sure that ‘assault’ would be the correct term to use in this particular instance,” Fancy Pants interjected. “I witnessed the exchange and I can assure you that Miss Dash was quite provoked. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that her reaction was rather justified.”
Spitfire calmed slightly at this, apparently somewhat mollified by Fancy Pants’ assurances. “Huh, is that so? Well, if you’re willing to vouch for her then I guess that changes the situation a little.” Spitfire turned back to Rainbow Dash. “Alright, Crash, since Fancy Pants here is willing to back you up then I’m willing to let you off easy. This time,” Spitfire added with an angry glare. “You’re still on probation for the next two months and you do not want me to catch you pulling a stunt like this again. Is that understood?”
“Yes ma’am,” Rainbow Dash replied as she swallowed nervously.
*********
“So what happened then?” Applejack asked.
“Me and Rarity went back in and the rest of the night pretty much went by like nothing happened. I didn’t even see Blueblood at all, either,” Rainbow Dash added. “That jerk was probably off somewhere hiding from me.”
“Either that, or he was planning some sort of retribution,” Rarity cautioned. Several days had passed since the events of the party, and Rarity had finally calmed down enough to join Rainbow Dash and Applejack for lunch and discuss what had happened. “I’m still not convinced that we’ve heard the last of Prince Blueblood over what happened.”
“Come on, Rarity, what’s that loser going to actually do? He’s just some stuck up blowhard who acts like a jerk to everypony around him,” Rainbow Dash said confidently. “There’s no way he’d ever actually work up the nerve to really try something.”
Even as Rainbow Dash spoke, however, Pinkie Pie came bouncing up to her friends. “Hey, Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie Pie called out as she came to a halt at her friend’s table with a look on her face that said she had some sort of exciting news that she was eager to share. “I’ve been looking all over for you. You’re never going to guess what happened; I was at the train station to get some inspiration for my National Locomotive Day party next week and this really fancy-looking stallion got off the train and started asking about where he could find you.”
“A ‘fancy-looking stallion’?” Rainbow Dash asked uneasily. “Pinkie, was this guy a unicorn with a white coat and blonde mane?”
“Ooh, so you do know him!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed happily.
Rainbow Dash, however, was no longer paying any attention. “Aw crud, what the hay am I gonna do? I’m already in enough trouble with Spitfire as it is because of what happened. If Blueblood starts something while I’m on probation it could be really bad for me.”
“Whatever are you going to do, darling?” Rarity asked.
“Well I can tell you what I’m not going to do, and that’s let myself get suckered into a fight while I’m still on probation. Running away really isn’t normally my thing, but –“
“Y’all don’t need to explain anythin’, RD,” Applejack assured her friend. “We’ll take care of keepin’ Blueblood from makin’ things any worse fer y’ while y’all skedaddle.”
“Agreed, although I think it might be best if I find Twilight,” Rarity added. “Prince Blueblood clearly holds a fair bit of animosity towards me as a result of our first encounter, so I rather doubt I’ll be able to dissuade him from whatever it is he’s planning. Twilight, on the other hoof, is somepony that Prince Blueblood will have to listen to.”
“Thanks, you guys are the best,” Rainbow Dash said as she took to the air. “I’m going to head over to Twilight’s and hide out there until this whole thing blows over.” With that, Rainbow Dash rocketed off in the direction of Twilight’s castle.
“Can’t say Ah blame her under the circumstances,” Applejack sighed as she watched Rainbow Dash vanish from sight. “This Blueblood fella seems like he’d be a pain to deal with under the best of circumstances, and what with RD bein’ on probation and all…”
“It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if that is the precise reason for Prince Blueblood’s visit – to provoke Rainbow Dash into doing something that could ruin her position with the Wonderbolts,” Rarity said. “In any event, I think it would be best if we dealt with this quickly for Rainbow Dash’s sake.”
*********
Luckily for Applejack, it didn’t take long for her to track down Prince Blueblood, especially with Pinkie Pie’s assistance. Even in a town as increasingly diverse as Ponyville, the snobbish prince managed to draw attention to himself. “Ugh, this town is so backwards that it’s positively primitive! I mean, dirt roads? Does nopony here understand what proper paving material is? My coat is going to be positively filthy after trudging through all this.”
“Well if y’all think it’s so horrible then why the hay didn’t y’ stay in Canterlot?” Applejack grumbled to herself as she approached Prince Blueblood. “Pardon me, uh, yer highness,” Applejack called out uncertainly as she approached Prince Blueblood.
“Finally, somepony who at least knows how to properly address me,” Prince Blueblood snorted with a note of approval. “Now, I’m currently very busy looking for somepony at the moment, so unless you know where I can find a pegasus mare named ‘Rainbow Dash’…”
“Actually, that’s exactly what Ah wanted to talk to y’all about,” Applejack replied.
“Ah, so you know where I can find her then! Excellent, lead on.”
“Now hold on there, Ah didn’t say Ah was plannin’ on takin’ y’all to her. Rainbow Dash is a good friend of mine and Ah was hopin’ that y’all’d be willin’ to talk things out before –“
“Hmph, well if you don’t intend to make yourself useful and help me then I’ll have to ask you step aside,” Prince Blueblood snorted haughtily. “My time is far too valuable to waste it explaining myself to some random peasant.”
“Some random…? Just who the hay do y’all think y’ are?” Applejack demanded angrily.
“Who I am is one of the most important members of the unicorn nobility, able to trace my linage back to the very founding of Equestria. Now, why don’t you run off and go dig in the dirt like a good little farm pony?” Prince Blueblood said with a sneer. “Really, I’d think commoners would know better than to interfere with the affairs of their betters, but I suppose that’s what poor breeding will get you.”
Pinkie Pie, who had been remaining uncharacteristically quiet throughout the exchange, was now forced to grab hold of Applejack and physically restrain her. “You low-down, puffed-up spoiled geldin’! Ah’ve got half a mind to buck yer worthless hide all the way back to Canterlot!”
“Oh, I haven’t seen Applejack this upset since Mayor Mare declared strawberries as the official town fruit,” Pinkie Pie moaned as she strained to keep Applejack from doing something she’d inevitably regret.
“Alright, that’s enough!” Pinkie Pie breathed an audible sigh of relief as Twilight’s voice rang out. At the same time both Prince Blueblood and Applejack found themselves enveloped in a sparkling magenta light and pulled away from one another. “I want both of you to calm down right now!” Twilight commanded as she descended down to the street. “Now, Applejack, I want you to take a few deep breaths and settle down. I’ll take care of things from here, alright?”
“But did y’all hear what that condescendin’…” Applejack’s rant rapidly died on her lips as she saw the irritated glare on Twilight’s features. “Fine, Ah’ll leave the prince to y’all, Twilight,” Applejack grumbled before backing off, continuing to mutter oaths under her breath as she did so.
“Well done, Princess Twilight, I see you truly have a knack for managing the members of the lower classes,” Prince Blueblood remarked approvingly.
“That ‘member of the lower classes’ happens to be one of my closest friends,” Twilight said with an unmistakable edge in her voice. “And I sincerely doubt Applejack would have reacted like that if you had shown her some basic courtesy, which from what I’ve heard is a recurring problem with you.”
Prince Blueblood winced slightly at Twilight’s comment. “Yes, well I do admit I’ve never had much success dealing with commoners. In any event, I can only assume that you learned of my visit to this…quaint little village and have come to greet me. While I do sincerely appreciate the honor of your taking the time to see me, I would like to humbly request that we dispense with the usual ceremony involved in a royal visit. You see, I’ve actually come here to resolve a rather…personal issue and I’d rather resolve it on my own.”
“To be honest, I’ve already heard about what happened from Rainbow Dash herself, who also is a very good friend of mine,” Twilight said in a level tone. “Now, I can understand how you feel given what happened at that party, but here are better ways to go about resolving all this.”
“If you’re trying to talk me out of seeking out Miss Rainbow Dash then I’m afraid you’re wasting your time, your highness,” Blueblood replied with a surprising amount of conviction. “My feelings regarding this Rainbow Dash are simply too powerful for me to ignore them. I’ve come to Ponyville to find her and Celestia as my witness I intend to do just that!”
Twilight took a deep breath before attempting a different approach. “Alright, obviously you feel very strongly about this situation, but do you really think that behaving like this is appropriate form a member of the nobility?”
Prince Blueblood actually paused for a moment as he seemed to consider what Twilight had just said. “I suppose you may have a point there. In which case, what do you propose I do?”
Inwardly, Twilight breathed a sigh of relief at Prince Blueblood’s response. At the very least, it seemed as though appealing to Prince Blueblood’s overblown pride appeared to have gotten his attention. Before Twilight could capitalize on this and voice a suggestion that Prince Blueblood allow her to mediate a peaceful resolution to the whole debacle, however, a voice called out from above that ruined Twilight’s plans. “Hey! Blueblood! I heard you were looking for me!” A dumbstruck Twilight looked up to see Rainbow Dash descend out of the sky until she was hovering just overhead.
“Rainbow, what in Celestia’s name are you doing?” Twilight asked as she recovered from the stuck of Rainbow Dash’s sudden appearance.
“I was thinking about what I was doing while I was waiting in your castle and I realized that sitting around letting my friends deal with my problems just wasn’t me. This is my mess and I need to deal with it myself.” Rainbow Dash turned to Prince Blueblood. “So what do you have to say to me that’s so important that you followed me all the way to my hometown?”
“Ever since our encounter at High Hat’s party I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” Prince Blueblood began, a surprising amount of conviction in his voice. “I’ve replayed that exchange over and over again in my mind, night and day without a moment’s respite. I’m ashamed, honestly, that it’s taken me this long to realize what all of this means.”
Rainbow Dash regarded Prince Blueblood uneasily. “What exactly are you –“
“I’m in love with you!” Prince Blueblood declared, falling to his knees as he did so. “Oh, rainbow-maned Amarezonian goddess, your fiery passion has ensnared my very soul. Tell me you’ll permit me to be your stallion, your prisoner of love.”
Several seconds ticked by in silence as Rainbow Dash processed her reaction to this revelation. Eventually, Rainbow Dash hit upon a response which perfectly encapsulated her emotions at that moment. “WHAT?”
*********
While Rainbow Dash was facing a declaration of love from the second most undesirable stallion to ever show interest in her, another pony from Rainbow Dash’s past landed at the edge of Ponyville. “Get ready, Rainbow Dash,” the cloaked figure snarled as she looked down at Ponyville. “You’re going to pay for everything you’ve taken from me!”