"G'bye!" Sub waved energetically with his little paw. Sure, the paw was an illusion. He was not actually a cat, but he looked like one, and the big feline smile on his face revealed he was thrilled with the opportunity.
Competing had a more comported face on. "I look forward to news, of the date, but also to be kept abreast. Dear, tell us." She leaned forward a little towards Blue, one brow raising subtly. "You're leading a fascinating life. You can't tease me with that and not keep me updated."
Blue colored just faintly. "Of course, mother dear. Oh! A mirror. You really must get one."
Competing squinted at that. "I have no few number of them already."
Fancy chuckled softly. "She is referring to the talking mirrors, ma'am. They allow one to speak to another at a distance. Quite remarkable devices."
"I thought those were just an idea!" She raised a hoof to her cheek briefly. "How much are they?"
Blue quoted what she had seen them for. "A not inconsiderable sum, but worth every bit involved. Then I can call you any day, and you I, without having to plan out an entire visit."
Fire's smile was quite smug. "Because you didn't have one, Fancy's parents found out about this before you."
Competing slapped down a hoof with a scowl. "That will be addressed," she promised in cold tones. "Now off with you, all of you."
With goodbyes said and promises made, the two families parted ways. Fancy was the one to offer Blue a hoof onto the cart, and snuck a kiss on her hoof on the way. Blue settled in her seat, lightly colored. It felt so naughty, such things with her long time friend. But... also kinda nice.
Fire thumped down last, her long tail drawing the door shut behind her. "One disaster down. And not a single life lost. Wasn't so bad, eh?"
Fancy inclined his head faintly. "It was a trying time, but we all made it through. I hope I was sufficiently supportive?"
"You were perfect," quickly assured Blue, setting a hoof against his side on one of his legs. "You even knew when not to speak, and that is a trick many ponies do not have."
Fancy quirked a little smile at that, the cart shaking under them as it moved through the city. "I had wanted to say so much more, but there are proprieties."
"Then tell them to me now." Blue nodded confidently. "It's only us."
"Yeah, only us," echoed Fire with more a malign grin. "Tell us."
Fancy glanced between the two mares flanking him. "I do not think they grasped how much you have grown, my dear baroness. They are looking for specific accomplishments, which you have also managed. But, I dare say, even had you none of them, you, as a pony, have grown considerably." He raised a hoof to his chest. "There may be a time when I miss my old compatriot. We had good times, immature times. You were like a pressure valve I could safely release with."
Blue's ears danced atop her head. "I'm not that anymore?"
"I should say not." He shook his head slowly. "You are not a spoiled colt, poking fun and giggling. Don't get me wrong, I happened to enjoy the company of that colt."
Blue's coloring grew deeper, unsure how to take that. "But... now?"
"But now you are a mare, a caring mare. A..." He paused, trailing off. "A... You've gone from foalish to mothering, over night. It is a magical thing to consider, but one I am proud to associate with."
Blue threw up a hoof, but it came down almost as quickly in a limp motion. "I do not feel like a mother, nor am I certain what that would feel like. I... Well... I... suppose that is a possibility, now." Her cheeks darkened. "But that does not mean I am used to the idea."
"Go on," encouraged Fire without hesitation. "You like him. He likes you. Do what nature commands." Her brows waggled salaciously. "It'll feel good, promise." That had both of them coloring. "Don't be like that. You're both chomping on that bit."
Blue glared at her testing servant. "Propriety demands that such be delayed until after a proper wedding."
"I thought you didn't like lying." Fire crossed her arms, sneering at Blue.
Fancy inclined his head. "Pardon? In what fashion is Blue Belle lying?"
Fire rolled a hoof. "Unless I missed it, you're not a virgin, Bluey, but you've also never married. Gee, wonder how that works..."
Blue began to color brightly. "That was different!" she gasped out in almost a sputter.
"A colt." Both looked to Fancy. "She was a colt, fascinated with foalish things. I am glad to hear she has grown out of that. We will do things properly, in the correct order."
"Yes." She nodded firmly, but then it hit her what she had just agreed to, later. She began to worry her hooves together, thinking about that. Fire just snickered, also clearly hearing, but not rubbing it in more than she already had.
"Do..." Blue licked over her lips lightly. "Do you see yourself as a father?"
"I do not." He inclined his head. "But I also am not one, yet. I will endeavor to be a good husband first."
Blue pawed at him, brushing her hooves against his shoulders. "I can't even imagine how you'd be better than you already are!"
"You flatter me." He was not blushing. "But I am your betrothed, not your husband just yet. Speaking of that, we really should start that planning."
"When we get out of this cart," agreed Blue, and no argument came. They would enjoy the ride back home.
A greenish pony smiled brightly at Fancy Pants. "I hear you want to have a wedding at the castle. Ooo, that's so exciting." She sat and raised her hooves in a merry little clopping. "I know just who to call!"
"That will not be necessary," calmly assured Fancy.
"Huh?" Lemon Hearts inclined her head with obvious confusion. "This is going to be a big event. The terror of the castle, getting married?! I have to make this the best wedding ever!"
"Princess Celestia... I can handle my own wedding, ma'am."
Lemon raised a brow at the proper stallion. "Look, you know how to follow the rules, I get that. You're super useful to have around, especially for some things, but I'm the event manager for the castle." She pointed at herself. "And this is an event." She pointed to the ground. "At the castle!"
Fancy had not been entirely truthful about his role, or Lemon's, with Blue's parents. "Be that as it may, this is my wedding, Miss Hearts. I must see that it is without imperfection."
"You think I don't know how to do a wedding?" Lemon stuck out her tongue at the idea. "Been there, bucko. You sit back and worry about being a groom. That's worry enough. Let me handle the rest."
Fancy sat there quietly, watching the incensed mare. "This is not the first event I oversaw."
"No." She angled her ears towards Fancy. "But this is literally an event for you. You're, by every possible definition, kinda involved. I will not let a friend drown themselves like that." She reached suddenly, thumping him on the chest. "Just be a groom. I swear, I'll do it right."
His teeth set, a sign of extreme distress on his part. "Will you not reconsider?"
"I will not." She stuck her tongue out at him. "Putting my hooves down on this. I will make this a perfect wedding, uh, barring sudden changeling invasion. I can't really stop that."
"I should imagine not," he chuckled softly. "Though I can envision your valiant attempt to do so." He let out a soft huff. "Miss Hearts."
"Yeah?" Lemon cocked an ear at him.
"I have a very specific list of demands." His glowing horn produced a scroll from a pocket, unfurling before her. "I would be ashamed to be 'that' sort of pony, but you are bringing this on yourself. These are not negotiable needs."
Lemon's magic took hold of the scroll, the color shifting to her hue as she took the scroll. "I'm on the case." She sprang up to all fours and turned in the same motion, landing in the right facing. "You just worry about your part. You're getting married! That's a big enough deal."
Before she could flee, Fancy set a hoof before her, cutting off her retreat. "Yeah?"
"I apologize," he tipped his head as he said it. "But what do you think?"
"Of...?" But it seemed to click. "Oh, of you and Bluey?! It's adorable." She began to clop her hooves anew. "I hope you two are super happy together. Still blows my mind a bit. I remember what she used to be, and look, like. But she's a good pony, and you're a good pony, so you'll be super great together, right?" She flashed a bright grin. "Now, I have a wedding to plan!"
He let her escape off towards that task. He had just been stripped of his plans for the day. "I say..." Focus on being a groom? What exactly did that entail, specifically? Fancy did not like admitting that he wasn't entirely sure. A groom spent time with the bride? Surely that was part of it. He trotted towards Blue's room.
"Fancy!" There came Jet Set with a confident little smile. "There's a stallion with places to be."
His wife, Upper Crust, tittered softly. "Fancy is always doing something, dear. Usually something worth knowing about."
"Precisely why I want to know." Jet Set nodded at Fancy. "What has such a perk in your steps, good pony?"
Fancy had not yet told them, or much anypony else. The date remained unset. His notes included that it required at least a moon of such time, but that was it. He had planned to work that out just that day, in fact, until Lemon had dropped right on him and kicked him off the task.
"Is this a bad time?" Jet Set was watching him, taking measure of his souring expression. "It must be difficult, being the pony everypony must know."
Upper laughed at the idea. "As if he regrets it. You absolutely devour it." She chomped once at the air for emphasis. "And we love you for it. Now, really, put my dear to rest and tell him what you're up to."
But that didn't mean he couldn't start. "Jet Set, Upper Crust, I am about to tell you something very few ponies are aware of yet." Oh, the way their eyes sparkled. This was exactly the kind of gossip they were hoping to hear. He was making their day, and their joy was a little infectious. Yes, it was news. It was important news. Ponies should be excited to hear it! "I, Fancy Pants, am now formally engaged. The event is being planned, and formal invitations will be sent as soon as appropriate."
Upper Crust sat, hooves up to quiver. "Oh, my, Celestia! Are you joking?! As if you'd ever joke about something like that. Congratulations! Now, you simply must tell us who the other pony is. Who's the lucky mare?"
"It doesn't have to be a mare," noted Jet. "Fancy is forward thinking enough to follow the call of his heart, I imagine."
Fancy cleared his throat softly. "A well meaning but awkward thought, that. They are a mare. A baroness." Both of the nobles oooed and leaned in, hungry for details. "You've met her before." They both nodded, silently bidding he continue. "Good friends, in fact."
Upper set a hoof on her chin. "I don't remember any close friends that are baronesses... Jet?"
"Nor I," he admitted. "You are teasing us, Fancy Pants. Stop with the torture and tell us! Who is this mystery mare?"
"Yes, tell us," joined Upper, almost vibrating with excitement. "You can't leave us without knowing!"
Well, he was far too far into it to not tell them without coming off as rude, which was a thing he labored to avoid. "Baroness Blue Belle, of Sire's Hollow."
"Baroness Blue..." Upper's big smile soured into quite the scowl. "Blueblood?! You..."
Jet inclined his head. "I say, chap... You could have any mare in Canterlot. You could likely steal mine away." That got a titter from Upper Crust, not denying it exactly. "And you go for the one that was a stallion? I must confess, I don't understand it."
"You're joking. I said you wouldn't, and you took it as a challenge, didn't you dear?" Upper Crust was nodding, so confident in her reasoning. "Is this revenge for when we chewed up that royal upstart before? We are sorry for making a mess of your shindig, dear, but this joke is precisely at its end. Now, truly, who is it you're to be wed to?"
"Yes, yes, please tell us." Jet Set easily fell into his wife's logic. Surely that was just a jest. Ha ha, all too funny. "You've had us in suspense long enough."
Fancy remembered their rough denial of Blue's coming out. He had forgotten, perhaps overwhelmed with the enormity of what was to come... "I have spoken the truth." He stepped forward towards them, looming over them a little. "Do you mean to turn your sharp tongues on me?"
It was quite the risk, to try to take a shot at Fancy Pants. Jet swallowed audibly. "Of course not! We wouldn't do that." Not if he wanted to be involved in anything worth being involved in. "I.... just don't understand. Give me that, at least?"
"That I will." Fancy smiled a little. "This whole affair has been very confusing to many of the ponies involved. All I ask is that you show some bit of tact, old bean. If you can promise that, I will see you are invited."
Upper shook her head slowly. "I trust you, Fancy, but I imagine Blue will be holding quite the grudge, and their wedding is just the right time to get it."
"I will not stand for it." Fancy stood all the taller. "Any pony that means to secure my hoof aught know that impropriety will not be accepted. Treat me and mine with courtesy, and it will be returned. Now... I really should be off. Will I see you there?"
Jet flashed a bright smile. "Wouldn't miss it for the world. We'll be on the lookout for our invitations."
"Jolly good." He dipped his head at the couple and resumed his trip further into the castle.
Upper leaned in, whispering, "I really thought he'd get somepony better."
"The heart can be blind to quality," chuckled Jet Set. "Still, Fancy's involved. It should be a good and proper wedding."
"True!" And off they trotted together, apparently satisfied enough with the status of the world and their place in it.
"Ugh."
Blue Belle glanced up from her papers to see Fire Paradox on her back, on the bed, hooves cycling. "Something bothering you?"
"Yes." She flopped over to her belly. "You said I should be honest, right?"
"Yes." Blue nodded. "Please. Speak plainly."
"Well, alright." She rose to her hooves and pointed with her heart shaped tail, forming a nice arrow, right at... well, where the tail came from. "Being with you has been a lot of fun in a lot of ways, but I am lonely. Not the 'I want a friend' kinda lonely. I haven't had a chance to mash sensitive parts with anything in too long." She turned a hoof on herself, her disguise fraying enough to allow the hoof to be seen as cloven. "I am a demon of passion and I happen to very much like the physical kind, which you do not provide."
Blue processed that a moment. "I... see..." She almost wished she didn't see it. "It is not considered appropriate for employers to provide, or expect, that manner of release from their employed. Is... it different where you come from?"
Fire flopped down to her belly, tail swaying agitatedly. "Ugh, yes. Especially when a demon like me is involved. Now, normally, I could talk the one involved into some debaucheress fun, but you're mostly immune to that, so that's a no go." She pointed her tail at Blue. "You're all... pure. You can barely think about being topped by your stallion, let alone doing a thing with me."
"We're both mares," Blue defended as if it was obviously a perfect line of logic. "I can't provide what you're looking for."
"Fires take me." Fire set a hoof on her forehead. "Look, news flash. You take any two things that can think about it, put them together, and they can have fun. Any two things. Any. I am not exaggerating, not even a little. Just because you are a pure and innocent muffin doesn't mean the rest of the universe abides your rules. If I didn't think it would get me thrown to Luna, I'd show you personally."
"How improper." Blue frowned at her servant. "Still... It was at my hooves that you were invited here, to where such things were improper... It would seem to me--" A firm knock at the door interrupted her. "--Hold that thought." Her horn opened the door. "Who--Oh! Fancy Pants." She smiled brightly at the sight of him. "What brings you around?"
Fancy inclined his head faintly, looking between Blue and Fire. "Good day, ladies. The task of planning our wedding was... usurped, leaving my schedule for the day sadly barren..."
"Aw." Blue came right up and pressed her nose into his cheek. "That must have burned. I know you were looking forward to that so very much."
"I really was," he admitted, deflating a little. "Lemon Hearts insisted I 'focus on being the groom'."
Fire grinned at the two. "Well, don't let me stop you. Go on, make a mare out of her."
Blue heaved a great sigh, gesturing at the demon she had accepted. "Perhaps you could help me with a problem, Fancy dear."
"If I can? What is the problem?" Neither had reacted to Fire's improper suggestion, ignoring it entirely.
Blue turned to Fire. "Apparently, where she comes from, some amount of... carnality is expected. This is not a thing I can assist with. I was thinking..."
"You wish to find her a friend?"
"A friend?!" Fire sat up on her haunches. "Better be a friend with perks, with what I'm thinking."
Blue coughed into a hoof lightly. "Well, yes. An associate, closer to her own level. As much as I am trying to be a guide, I am up here." She raised a hoof high. "And she is down here." Down went the hoof. "I value her dearly, but she deserves someone she can look eye to eye. That's only fair, is it not?"
"I see..." Fancy frowned with thought, his magic plucking free his monocle to polish it clean. "I admit, my circle of lower class ponies is a bit narrow, but I know just the pony to approach for advice, and you already have a reason to do so."
"Do I?" Blue smiled brightly, hope building. "Who is this mystery pony?"
It was a good day for ponies to want to know who he was thinking about. "Rarity. She is a lower class pony, elevated through successful mercantilism skill. She knows quite a number of ponies that would fit the bill. And, if I recall properly, you owe her sister a visit."
"Too right!" Blue brought her hooves together in a sharp clap. "Two birds from one egg. Brilliant. You've saved the day entirely."
"Does my vote have any sway on this?" Fire eyed the two, somehow not surprised that they were still ignoring her for the moment.
"One thing." Fancy gestured with his head at the door. "Jet Set and Upper Crust will be at the party. Be a dear and forgive them."
Blue began to color, not one of shame, but anger. "They were--"
"--wrong," cut in Fancy. "But two wrongs does not a right manufacture. We will be the larger ponies."
Blue danced in place with a few angry snorts. "Is this a test, Fancy dear? I won't fail that easily." She turned away, nose held up high. "If they can mind their manners, they are welcome."
"That is all that I would ask." A faint frown showed. "If they cannot mind their manners, you will be hard pressed to eject them before I do."
That got a press of her nose into his cheek, rubbing softly. "My brave and proper knight," she sighed out in admiring tones. "I was silly to think anycreature could hope to bother me on that day with you there beside me."
"I will do my utmost." He looked to Fire. "As for you, we will see if Rarity knows some ponies that would work well, preferably some that live close at hoof."
Fire bobbed her head at that. "I'm not looking for a pen pal." She leveled a cloven hoof at the mirror in the corner. "And whispering sweet nothings through the glass would only be fun for a little while. I want a friend I can wrap my arms around, is that too much?"
Blue inclined her head. "Are you seeking a spouse? That's adorable, Fancy. She's grown jealous of me." Blue chortled aristocratically at the idea, clearly amused with a kind smile.
A kind smile Fire did not appreciate. "Stuff it, boss. I'm not looking for a husband or a wife; husband preferred. I just want someone to play with." She rolled over slowly and stretched out along her side, her fore hooves dangling off the bed in the mighty motion. "I don't think that's much to ask, really."
"That is her way of saying 'thank you for your consideration.'" Fancy nodded confidently. "She does not have a mirror." Fancy inclined his head at the mirror there. "But I know where she lives."
"Well..." Blue flashed a smile. "It seems to me you were taken off the project you wished to do. Perhaps, instead... you could accompany Fire and I. We have a little town to visit, perhaps you've heard of it."
"It would be an honor." He dipped his head briefly before moving in. They embraced warmly, arms about one another.
Fire rolled her eyes at the display. "All the sweet hugs, and none of the passion. At least we get to go on a trip. I'll get dressed." She threw herself to the floor, trotting off towards the wardrobe to select one of her outfits with disgruntled mutters. She would not admit she kinda wanted to go on that trip.