//------------------------------// // Ponyville's Elite // Story: The Flame Prince // by Schlat //------------------------------// Myself along with Fire and Delilah had just left our meeting with Mayor Mare. However, before I could get settled in I still had to actually pay for the house. As the good mayor couldn't just accept a rare gem as payment... apparently. It seemed that I still evidently had quite a bit to learn about Equestria. Thankfully however she had an alternate solution. They're was a wealthy family in town whose stallion seemed to like collecting rare and expensive things, but then again what stallion didn't. Regardless the mayor had said I could get a good amount of bits for the gem and use that towards the payment for our new property. So after obtaining his address from her we went to exchange my gem for money. However, along the way I couldn't help but be concerned about her reaction to the fire ruby. She seemed to know quite a bit about it. What I didn't know was if it was a coincidence or if she knew a bit about the Badlands and by extension the Firelands as well. Either or it seemed I'd have to investigate that matter further, just to be safe. I at least knew the probability of her knowing about the Fire Wars and by extension the kingdom we're very unlikely, considering I found zero mention of them during my study session with Twilight the night of Nightmare Moon's return. "Ugh..." I shuddered. I really didn't like thinking about that mare. Regardless I knew we would still have to be careful during our stay here. But at least obtaining this stallion's money should be fairly easy. His name was apparently Filthy Rich, which was a rather odd name for a pony if you asked me, but oh well. If he had the money to pay for the house me and my squad of guardsmares would be living in for the next few weeks then my opinion of his name didn't matter. He lived on the northeast side of Ponyville close to the river which ran between the town and a well kept forested area with several paths. Which meant it was a bit of a trot to get to him but nothing compared to some of the marches I'd participated in my life. Nevertheless we made good time, especially without the town's female population constantly pestering me now thanks to Delilah and Fire's menacing looks they gave any mare who got too close, and so we arrived at the stallion's mansion within fifteen minutes. It was a very nice property, with a big wall of finely cut stone and metal gate surrounding it. The house seemed to be made of some type of wood with a stone foundation. While trees and plants of all types surrounded it beautifully. All in all I was very impressed. "Woah". Evidently I seemed not to be the only one. Both Delilah and Fire Strike looked to be just as enraptured by the house's construction as I was, it was huge. It had to be at least three stories tall. With a small fountain of constantly spewing water infront of the front door. "This has to be one of the nicest houses I've ever seen". "Well, let's uh, hop to it" I said and trotted towards the gate, both mares followed after me. Thankfully the gate was unlocked and we simply walked into the compound. Here we also noticed the quaint plots of smaller plants and flowers dotted around the fountain. It had to have been the nicest mansion I had ever seen. Sure the homes of the Ashen nobility we're vibrant and well constructed, but in a dark and almost depressing way. In fact much of Ashen's construction was like that of Ponyville. Well made and nicely decorated, but what I was beginning to notice was that where Ponyville really seemed to shine was in the amenities area. Even me and Delilah's medical room looked nicer than my own one back home. Never mind that she had to sleep in the barrack - ow! "And I just trotted straight into their front door because I wasn't paying attention, ...well done". Two hooves to my withers showed that Fire and Delilah we're both silently asking if I was okay. "I'm okay, just... deep in thought" I nodded sheepishly. They both smiled and nodded while the front door opened. "Hello, how can I help you" said an earth pony mare as she opened the door. She was wearing a black and white outfit which I found odd, but other than that she looked like a regular pony. "Yes erm, good morning my name is Night Storm. We we're hoping to see a stallion by the name of Filthy Rich, is he here?" I asked. "Yes, does he know you?" the mare replied. "No, in fact we only just got into town. I would like to see about selling him something" I answered. "Sell him what exactly?" the mare narrowed her eyes. "A rare gem, I need the money to pay for a house here" I replied. At that she softened her gaze. "Very well, give me a moment" with that she retreated and closed the door on us. We then had to wait about two minutes before the same mare opened the door again. "He's interested, please come on in. But remember to wipe your hooves" she said. If I wasn't a royal and not trained extensively in etiquette I would've rolled my eyes at that commared. But unfortunately that was one of the very few male expectant things of my youth that I hadn't been able to escape, so I just smiled and walked inside. Though that smile soon disappeared. The inside of the house seemed just as if not even more luxurious than the exterior. The walls, floor, and doors we're made of smooth, polished wood while various types of furniture we're placed well... everywhere! Where somepony in Ashen would be lucky to have a chair at a dinner table there we're at least three chairs and a bench in one hallway alone! A glance at Delilah and Fire showed both mares we're just as in awe as I was. They even had an entire vanity in the same hallway as well, why! What was even the point of putting one here of all places! Did they even use it!? How wealthy are these ponies!? Seemingly oblivious to our culture shock the mare continued leading us through the mansion until we came to a room I believed to be close to the structure's rear, before opening a set of wooden ebony double doors to what seemed like a sitting room. Like the rest of the house it had polished wooden walls and floor, along with a glass door that led outside to the opposite side of the house. There was also a lot of furniture in the room as well. From multiple couches and chairs, tables, there was even a chandelier that looked far grander than any I'd ever seen back in Ashen. Inside the room we're three ponies. The first was a light brown stallion with a slicked back black mane wearing... what looked to be a suit of sorts. The second was a peach colored mare with a lavender colored mane, and the third was a young pink filly with a two-tone purple and white mane and tail. All three we're earth ponies and sitting on a couch or chair. "Hello there" the stallion began. "My name is Filthy Rich and this is my beautiful wife and wonderful daughter, Spoiled Rich and Diamond Tiara" he said. The mare smiled while the filly simply stared. "Good morrow you three, my name is Night Storm and these are two of my acquittances. Delilah Evadne and Fire Strike" I replied. "Nice to meet you, please have a seat" the stallion replied, and pointed to an unoccupied couch opposite to where they we're all sitting. Once we we're seated he continued. "So Tea Kettle tells me that you want to sell me a rare gem" he said while gesturing to the mare who'd brought us in, now standing attentively at the door. "Indeed, we we're looking to purchase a house here in Ponyville but lack the funds to do so. I was hoping I could acquire them here" I replied. "All right, lets see the gem" the stallion said. Nodding I turned and pulled out the ruby once more, and once the stallion saw it his eyes went as wide as dinner plates. "Y, you... you have a fire ruby!" he near shrieked. The mares didn't emulate his enthusiasm. "Um... yes" I replied. "I... Night, you do understand - I do, Mayor Mare already went through this with us" I interrupted him. "Ah, oh... okay" he calmed down. "How... how much did you want for it?" he asked a moment later. "Well the mayor said the house was going to cost around ten thousand bits so lets call it at fifteen in case of any required maintenance" I answered. In truth I just wanted the extra cash. But thanks to my lack of knowledge in the equestrian economy I really didn't know how much this thing went for, and I doubted even a herd this well off could just drop that kind of money anyway. This wasn't Canterlot after all. "May I see it?" he asked. I responded by lightly tossing it to him, and after he had a near panic attack trying to catch it and then examining it he turned back to face me. "Maybe I'm really underestimating this things worth". "Fifteen thousand bits for this gem, right here right now?" he asked. "Yes" I replied. "Done" he said immediately. We then both got up and shook hooves. "Tea Kettle" he called. "Y, yes sir" she squeaked. "Please write Mr. Storm a check for sixteen thousand bits" he said. "R, right away sir" she said. "Richie, can I talk to you for a second please?" Spoiled Rich asked. "Oh, certainly Spoiled. Just a moment please you three" he said. "Take your time" I replied. "Richie, know that I love you very much. But what the buck are you doing!?" the mare hissed. "Do you know how much that thing's worth Spoiled!" It was a bit awkward listening to the couple argue literally right infront of us, and probably even moreso for the poor filly. Though as we waited I couldn't help but notice that her gaze seemed to linger on me, a lot. Intrigued and with nothing better to do while her parents continued arguing I stared back. Usually foals displayed shyness when directly confronted by an adult, however she only continued to stare. Concerned that my necklace or Delilah's disguise spell on Fire may be failing I looked over myself but found no flaw, then towards Fire but found the same result. Which raised the mildly concerning question of why this foal continued staring at me. Just before I was about to ask the filly her reason for staring me down her parents finished their little argument. "Sorry about that Mr. Storm, me and my wife just needed to discuss a few things is all. Now about your payment... Tea Kettle". "Oh, right here sir. Just show this to Mr. Time Turner, he's the town's notary. Since Ponyville doesn't have a bank he also handles all deposits and withdraws from the town hall itself" the presumptive maid said and hoofed me the check. "Thank you, though if I may ask, why sixteen thousand when I asked for only fifteen?" I asked. "Well... you said you're new to Ponyville and need the money to by a house and get settled in. Think of it as a welcome to Ponyville present. Not to mention the steal this is" he muttered. "Oh, well... thank you sir, that's very kind" I replied. "Think nothing of it. Now Time Turner usually only stays till three and it's currently two o'clock, so if I we're you I'd hurry back to town hall" he warned. "Indeed, thanks again. Have a good day" I said. "You as well" he replied. With that the three of us stood up to leave, with Tea Kettle once more showing us to the door. Though it seemed that the filly wasn't done with me yet. "Hey Mr. Night Storm" she called out as she ran up. "Oh, hi, can I help you with something?" I asked. "Well no... I just wanted to say... have a good day to you" she said. "Oh well, thank you very much miss..." I smiled. "Oh, Diamond Tiara sir, Miss Diamond Tiara" she said and puffed out her chest. "Hah... cute foals, my one weakness" I thought. It was obvious she had a foalhood crush on me, and though I was sick of the constant flirting with the mares that inhabited this town I wasn't a monster, I'd let her down easy. That and she hadn't just made weird sentences and reasons why should go with her instead of another mare, so bonus points to her. "Well a very good day to you as well Miss Tiara" I smiled. She reciprocated and hearing chuckling we both looked up and behind her to see both Tea Kettle and her parents smiling at the situation she'd put us in. Now blushing enough to match molten steel she smiled nervously at me one last time before running off behind her father. I nodded once more and the three of us turned to leave, though just as we walked out the door Diamond Tiara would utter one final sentence that I would partially be in earshot for. "Hey dad why isn't he wearing a -" though before she could finish that sentence the door closed. Forever robbing me of whatever she was going to say. Though I put it out of mind quite quickly, I had to get back to town hall after all.