//------------------------------// // The Gift + Not Another Rival // Story: Clash of the Beauties // by DiamondandIce //------------------------------// It was already the last week of school, the most exciting part for everyone. Ardee and Rarity arrived at Canterlot High to see on your way to your first class students greeting Rarity about her in a fashion magazine. They arrive at the classroom to see it hasn't started yet with Ms. Cherilee not here yet. But they see that Twilight Sparkle is also in this class who is on her seat next to Rarity’s while holding another copy of those magazines those students they pass by earlier have. “Good morning,” Twilight greeted them as Rarity sat on her seat. “I think you already know that everyone is talking about your debut for modeling.” “Oh that.” Rarity just brushed her hair away while taking pride in her own beauty. “Not to brag but the real reason is that they need a replacement model for the shoot.” Her expression changed to being sour. “A certain someone was also there to woo- flirt with my boyfriend.” “Let me guess, it’s Fleur?” Twilight asked only to easily tell based on her friend’s facial expression. She showed her one of the pictures of her rival in her bikini. “I mean no matter what swimsuit Fleur with that body she has, she could make any man fall heads over heels for her. You and Ardee may have a problem." "Are you sure about that," Ardee said. “Why don’t you take a look at Rarity’s picture and judge if she’ll have a problem.”  The bookworm turned to the next page to see what Ardee meant, much to her surprise that her cheeks turned red to see Rarity in her swimwear. “I take it back. Ardee is the one who will be in big trouble because he had two ladies and will be the root cause for any man to be jealous.” What actually bothered Ardee are not men being jealous or women going after him for he does have both looks and his inner beauty which is his trump card, but the fact that any male may start hitting on his girlfriend and like hell he will let them lay a finger on his little marshmallow. "Ardee?" Rarity got her boyfriend's attention as she gave him a concerned look as she gestures to his left arm that slowly starts to be consumed by his ice powers as he quickly unfreezes it. “You don’t have to worry nothing will happen to me.” That is what Rarity said but she knew what she said wasn't enough to convince Ardee. It was until Ms. Cherilee arrived and everyone went back to their seats. “Sorry if I’m late, everyone.” Ms. Cherilee said until she turned her attention to Ardee who asked him to come over to her as she handed him what looked like a gift. “A male student from Crystal Prep Academy was here earlier and handed this to me to give to you.” Just as Ardee took the gift from his teacher, Rarity stood up from her seat and immediately rushed over to her special someone taking it away from him. She sees a note attached to it as she and Ardee read it. Ardee, about what happened the other day, I know you can’t be able to accept my love and have a three way relationship. But try and reconsider it because I really have feelings towards you and I’m very grateful when you helped me. I am not going to give up on you just like that and this gift is a little something of my display of affection to you. I also left my number at the bottom of this note, call me! Fleur de lis 💋 (XXX) XXX-XXXX Just reading the note made Rarity want to puke and Ardee has no words on what to say next as she looks at the mystery gift. “I better see what’s inside?” Ardee said as he started to unwrap it. “DON’T DO IT, I’M NOT MENTALLY PREPARED JUST YET!” Rarity stopped him for a moment as she needed to take a moment. So many things start to buzz inside the fashionista’s head on what crazy idea Fleur had in store to give him. She began to have second thoughts about opening it and she and Ardee have already gone this far. “OKAY OPEN IT NOW!” Ardee just simply complied as he opened his gift. He took out what’s inside to see the most odd thing anyone could receive, naughty lingerie. Ardee begins to question why in the world Fleur would give him something like this since this wouldn’t fit on him. But on the other hand, Rarity’s cheek went red and was about to shriek at what in the world was her rival thinking of giving her boyfriend her own lingerie. The two were so focused on the gift that they forgot they were in class and everyone were eyewitnesses. “Mr. Ardee.”  Ardee was still confused about the situation until he hears Ms. Cherilee gets his attention as he and Rarity look to see she is ready to give him one good scolding while her left eye twitches in anger. Before Ardee could even protest- “PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE NOW!!” **************************************************************************** At the school cafeteria… “Wow Rarity you look under the weather today.” Pinkie said while eating her lunch. Rarity was with her friends at a table and still couldn’t forget about what happened earlier which Twilight saw everything but kept her mouth shut. It didn’t take long she screamed in agony to let out all that pent up stress. “Just let it all out Sugarcube.” Applejack put her arm on her best friend comforting her as she rubbed Rarity’ shoulder. “Besides, ya'll can do better than her.” “I WOULD NEVER DO SUCH THING!” Rarity protested then regained her composure. “Sorry, I meant to say if it means to play dirty like her and of course I would never give my boyfriend my own underwear. He won’t even have any use of it.” Until she rethinks about it. “I really don’t mind though.” “Or maybe he could-” Rainbow Dash was about to say something only for Rarity to give her a death glare which made the athlete swallow her words. “Nevermind.” “I’m just so relieved that Principal Celestia didn’t give him detention. I almost forgot something.” Rarity stood up from her seat and approached Ardee who was at another table with Flash Sentry. “Ardee, you don’t mind if I borrow your phone for a bit, please?” Meanwhile at Crystal Prep Academy… “Seriously girl, you asked Saber to drop by Canterlot High just to hand your lingerie over to Ardee?” Cold Forecast said after closing her locker. “I mean, I have a good feeling Ardee will be weirded out by your gift.” “Oh don’t be such a pessimist.” Fleur de lis replies while looking at her phone. “Yes he may get second thoughts about my underwear, but that doesn’t mean I will give up on him.” It was then her phone began ringing as she guessed it's her beloved calling on the other line as she shushes her friend. “Hello Ardee.” “DON’T YOU HELLO ARDEE ME, BECAUSE YOU AIN’T SPEAKING WITH HIM!”  Fleur just moved her phone away from her ear only for her moment to be ruined by her rival who was the one on the other line instead of Ardee. After hearing nothing but silence she placed her phone again back to her ear. “Well it's a pleasant to hear you again Rarity,” Fleur sarcastically said. “Now where is Ardee, I want to speak with him not with you!” “Well hate to say this but I have his phone with me, so too bad so sad for you darling,” Rarity said who shushed Ardee from nearby. “Oh and about your dirty underwear, I am giving this back to you.” “Excuse me, but that lingerie is clean. If you smell it and of course I mean Ardee smells it you can easily tell it's clean from the fabric softener.” “Are you crazy?! Because if you think Ardee or even me will do such an uncouth thing, guess again. Once we meet up, I am so going to shove this thing into your mouth and if you try another attempt to seduce my boyfriend you and I will end up rolling over the floor and I will be pulling your hair.” “Didn’t you say that a lady never does anything that’s uncouth? If you really want to pick a fight with me, you might regret saying that. Anyway I need to get to class , talk to you again.” Fleur ended the call leaving Rarity just huffing and puffing in anger. Before she explodes she feels someone touch her shoulder to see her special someone with the rest of the members of the Rainbooms concerned as she slowly calms herself down as their lunch break is now over. **************************************************************************** After the last class of the day, Rarity left the classroom to go look for Ardee. She was about to go through the next corner until she heard a familiar voice. “You need to break up with Rarity, she’s a better match with me than you!” Rarity peeked to see if that is who it really was. Her guess was correct, the man whom she dreamed of as a prince, who was not chivalrous as she expected but was only self-centered to himself was none other than Blueblood. That same man who is now talking to her own boyfriend, face to face. “Why? Because first of all I am not breaking up with her and I do recall how you treated her before.” Ardee replies with his arms now crossed. “Whatever your deal is with Rarity, you should be looking for her, not me.” “This only occurred to me just now and since I couldn’t find her, speaking with you will have to do.” The fashionista didn’t like where this was going. The fact that a fight may be started but what concerns her is that Blueblood won’t stand a chance once Ardee is provoked. She decides to face him personally after taking a deep breath and approaches them. “Hello Blueblood.” Rarity greeted getting his attention. “R-Rarity, i-it’s you!” Blueblood stuttered. “I hope you’re not here to cause any trouble because from the way it looks like you are.” “Of course not!” He protested back but then calmed himself down. “I am sorry for my rudeness. I know this is late but I am actually here to apologize after what I did to you before.” Rarity wasn’t expecting an apology from the guy who was rude to her. She was relieved that he did that rather than the opposite. The conversation wasn’t over yet though. “The other reason is that I want to make up for last time and go out with you. Then I heard from the guys I hang out with that you are now dating Ardee.” Blueblood turns his attention to Rarity’s lover who’s just listening quietly to their conversation for a brief moment and switches back to Rarity. “I mean, why Ardee?” “Since you asked, answer this question. Is there another thing you wanted to say to me with the fact that you tried forcing my own boyfriend to dump me?” “I mean you know how plain he is. That there are better ones-” “In what way is Ardee plain?” Rarity interrupted and the only thing she heard was silence from Blueblood. “I ask again what part of him is he plain, if you don’t mind explaining it more clearly?” “He is just out of your league and the way he looks-” Blueblood stopped after seeing Rarity pinched the bridge of her nose while slowly moving her head left to right. She did not like to hear that last part but still provided her answer after interrupting him. “So you only care about how a person looks rather than who they are, who you will be with?” And again no response from Blueblood on how he could interact with that, so Rarity continues. “Because the real matter here is that you are unqualified to judge whom I can be with or for whatever reason that will come from that mouth of yours.” The fashionista covered her mouth and realized she was a bit too harsh. Blueblood was taken aback, even Ardee was shocked. “I do apologize for my words, let me rephrase what I said. I don’t know what made you think Ardee isn’t good looking because he has many followers online, mostly women. Which is the reason why I’m being territorial if any woman decides to go near him. His main feature though is his inner beauty that he is a nice individual and generously helps anyone whenever they need my specialty in clothing. We may have different tastes, since he is more on designing costumes while I design clothes and fashion, but that doesn’t mean he is willing to give up some of his time to help me with my work which makes him a true gentleman. He doesn’t like fighting like I do, which is the reason why I’m here to prevent that because the last man who was about to ruin my image, he got him arrested. That is the reason why I fell for him. Was there anything else you needed to say?” “N-No there isn’t.” Blueblood was about to walk away and almost forgot the reason why he was looking for Rarity. “But I do hope you can still forgive me about what happened before.” “Darling, of course I forgave. It is bad to hold a grudge against someone and I did get over it, until now. Also if you would have sought me out sooner, I would have gone out with you. But now I can’t, now that I’m with Ardee.” “It’s alright and thanks for accepting my apology. I won’t bother you again.” Just like that, Blueblood simply left them. Rarity was relieved that the conversation ended peacefully as she looked over to her lover whose eyesight is still focused on the direction where Blueblood went and his seriousness hasn’t left yet. She placed her hand on his arm which got his attention. “Don’t worry about him, my love. He will be fine.” “I guess you’re right. That means I won’t need this anymore.” Ardee uncrossed his arms and in his right hand was a chunk of ice which he made disappear. He saw his girlfriend’s eyes were wide which made him confused. “Are you okay?” “Please tell me you weren’t planning on-” Rarity just simply face-palmed herself and just as she expected, Ardee used his powers while his arms were crossed to create that ice chunk if Blueblood did try and retaliate. Lucky that Rarity showed up if not then both of the boys would be in big trouble, mostly Blueblood will regret it the most. After calming herself down, she wrapped her arm around her boyfriend’s as they began to leave. “You know that wasn’t really necessary.” “Trust me.”