//------------------------------// // Fancy Pants Party // Story: A Day in Canterlot // by TheNorthernT //------------------------------// Rarity walked back and forth in the suite she had been given at the castle, levitating fabric, scissors, tread and needles to wherever she needed them. The dress was coming together exactly as she had planned it and it would surely make an impression, even though the design wasn’t as original as some of the dresses she had considered bringing with her. With a glance out of the window she could see that the sun was about to disappear from the horizon. “You better hurry up Rarity, you don’t want to be late to this party,” her habit if talking to herself shone through again. “But you cannot let it affect the result of the dress, it has to be perfect.” Everything in the room started to move faster and she had to duck to avoid a small number of needles that passed right over her head, before they began to work on the final touches of her creation. ** A door opened and a collective gasp when through the crowd of ponies in the Canterlot Gardens. The sun had set some time ago and the stars were shining clearly, accompanied in the skies by the full moon. “It is wonderful to see you Rarity; you really should come to Canterlot more often. And might I add that you look astonishing. Did you make it yourself?” “Rarity, there is someone I would like you to meet. Could you possibly make time in your schedule tomorrow, preferably before noon?” “Rarity, what can I expect to see in your boutique in the future? I have some designs I am sure you would love to see. It is only to give you some inspiration, naturally.” Just as she had entered many of the ponies had made their way over to her, bombarding her with questions and suggestions, or just complimenting her on her dress. “Rarity,” a voice she hadn’t heard in a long time cut through the noise from the others, silencing almost all conversation instantly. “It is wonderful to see you. And I must say I do not regret covering your expenses; your dress is clearly the finest here.” Rarity felt her chest swell as Fancy Pants complimented her. “Thank you, though this wouldn’t have been possible without your help. I had planned on bringing one of my other dresses for this, but you see how that went.” “Yes, it seems you thought it was not up to your usual standard and decided to make something that would surely impress me. And you succeeded. Now, why don’t we go and get some punch?” As the two unicorns moved away from the most crowded parts of the gardens and over to the buffet, conversations among the other ponies started to emerge again. “Now, as you know I had hoped to introduce you to a friend of mine, but alas I fear he hasn’t arrived,” Fancy Pants filled a couple of glasses and gave one of them to Rarity. “Really a missed opportunity, he has many connections in Manehatten.” “Oh, that is okay,” she replied, trying to hide the disappointed tone in her voice. “I am quite content with my Boutique as it is, and-“ “Fancy Pants, it has been too long,” Rarity was suddenly cut off by someone. Annoyed she threw a glance over her shoulder at whoever had started to talk, and she felt her mouth fall open. “This is Rarity then? I thought that might be the case. Why was it that you wanted me to meet her?” the pony came up to them and stopped next to Fancy Pants. The stallion she had run into several times during the day was standing in front of her, now dressed in a simple tuxedo. “Did I not explain that in my letter to you?” Fancy Pants looked a bit unsure for a moment. “My apologies; I wanted to introduce you because Rarity here is a very skilled designer and I had heard you were looking to expand into fashion.” With a raised eyebrow the beige stallion looked right at his friend. “And I am starting to become concerned how you know about the plans I make, especially since they aren’t exactly public. But I get ahead of myself,” he turned to the mare. “Allow me to formally introduce myself; Golden Heart, how can I be of service?” “But you…” she had trouble forming a sentence, being split between wanting to ask what he had been doing that day, and to make a good impression. “… dress up in clothing that allows me to blend in and help parents around the city by watching their children while they are working?” Rarity could see Fancy Pants smiling in the corner of her eye as Golden Heart spoke. “And that I happened to turn up several times during the day, seemingly without a purpose.” “Why, yes I would like an explanation for that.” “I have two quite simple reasons, really,” he smiled at her. “One; I had heard about you, but I wanted to see what I could learn about you before I met you here.” Rarity raised an eyebrow. “And the second reason?” “And secondly,” he continued, still with a smile on his lips. “I am a young, rich and eccentric stallion. Why shouldn’t I have some fun?”