Chapter 4: A New Flavor
“Wow. Who knew starting a record label would be that hard?” sighed Scootaloo as she rested her cheek on her hoof.
“Don’t worry; we still got a whole itinerary of stuff to try out.” Applebloom replied.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders sat in their clubhouse after recuperating from another failed attempt at finding their special talents. Applebloom and Scootaloo sat at a table while Sweetie Belle only stood at the window hanging her head in grief. Applebloom noticed her gloominess.
“What’s wrong, Sweetie Belle?” she asked. “You’ve been mopin’ for a while now.”
“I feel kind of bad.” Sweetie Belle responded. “This morning, Caramel told me a secret, and I went ahead and blurted it to Rarity. And she really blew her top when I told her. Now, I’m afraid Caramel’s going to hate me for spilling. I feel guilty.”
“Ah, you shouldn’t feel bad, Sweetie Belle,” said Scootaloo. “Caramel’s a real nice pony. I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“Yeah, what was it he didn’t want you tellin’ anyways?” added Applebloom.
“Oh no, I’m not letting my big mouth loose again.”
“Come on, you can tell us.” Scootaloo urged. “We won’t tell a soul, or else we’re not honest Crusaders.”
Sweetie Belle sighed. “Okay, I’ll tell you.” She leaned closer as if there were others present. “Caramel is dating a new mare.”
“A new mare?” copied Applebloom with surprise. “After all that talk about still bein’ in love with Sassaflash? Ah can’t believe he would move on that fast.”
“I say good for him.” Scootaloo smiled. “At least he’s finally pulled himself out of that lonely funk. So who’s the lucky mare anyway?”
“Well, he didn’t tell me. But whoever it is, she must be a real trophy for him to not tell anypony about…except me of course. I have a feeling Rarity is still going to be peeved when I get home tonight. Poor Caramel. She’ll probably have his hide.”
“How come she’s mad at him anyway?” asked Applebloom.
“She thinks that he’s betraying Sassaflash. I guess I can’t blame her, since I was surprised to fine out too. But I’m sure Caramel has every reason to start dating again. I think whoever the lucky mare is, she must be really nice.”
“Well that’s good to hear.” Applebloom replied. “Now what do ya say we get back to business? Here’s what Ah’m thinkin’: Cutie Mark Crusader Ferry Service!”
Caramel and Fleur de Lis stood in line in front of the newly added ice cream stand at Sugarcube Corner. The line had grown a considerable length for the icy confection, but the couple had managed to beat the rush. Fleur de Lis laughed as the line moved up.
“A shamrock? That’s actually how it happened?” she tittered.
“True story.” Caramel replied. “Lucky would probably throw a fit if he heard me busting his chops.”
“You have the funniest stories, Caramel. You must really be the life of the party.”
“Heh heh, I guess.”
They finally got to the front and were greeted by Pinkie Pie running the stand.
“Hiya Caramel!” the pink earth mare waved. “How’ve you been doing lately?”
Caramel smiled at his date and turned back. “A lot better, Pinkie. A whole lot better.”
“Super! By the way, you didn’t happen to see Rarity at all today, have you? I said hello to her, but she just kept walking off all grumpy and dumpy.”
He bit his lip thinking back to the incident in the restaurant bathroom. “Uh, nope, haven’t seen her.”
“Oh well.” Pinkie replied. “At least one of my friends is feeling better. Now what can I get ya?”
“Hmm, I think I’ll have a couple scoops of mint chip.” He answered.
“Yummy! And for you, ma’am?”
Fleur de Lis paused to think, then gave a smirk. “I will have two scoops of vanilla with…caramel swirl.”
Caramel cocked an eyebrow at her, and she simply gave him a flirting wink.
“Hey, what a cowinky-dink,” beamed Pinkie. “That’s Caramel’s name! Two coming up!”
“So…I guess you like caramel then?” Caramel asked Fleur de Lis as Pinkie turned away.
“Truth be told, I’ve never really tried it before.” She looked at him softly.
Caramel smiled and rubbed the back of his head, taking in this moment.
“Here you go!” Pinkie then interrupted the moment by sticking two ice cream cones between their faces. “Mint chip and caramel,…Caramel.”
“Uh, thanks, Pinkie.” Caramel said taking his cone. “Have a good night.”
“I already am!” she waved the two off. “Okay, who’s next?”
From there, Caramel and Fleur de Lis strolled around Ponyville with ice cream in hoof. The next couple hours were spent with more charming conversation and discrete smitten glances. Eventually, Fleur de Lis led her escort to the Stable Inn, a cozy bed and breakfast popular for visitors.
“This is where I’m staying while I’m in Ponyville.” Fleur de Lis said. “It looks like the other guests are turning in, so we can have the living room to ourselves.”
“Sounds nice.” Caramel replied. “You sure you don’t want to stay at a fancier hotel?”
“Like I said, I prefer the quaint country lifestyle. Well, let’s go in.”
They entered the B&B and went in the homey living room where they sat together on a soft couch. The décor of the inn seemed to be just what Fleur de Lis was looking for in country living; the furniture was similar to that owned by everypony’s grandmother and there was even a crackling fireplace in front of the couch. Caramel and Fleur de Lis got closer next to each other and chatted a bit more, with the only light in the first floor coming from the fireplace.
“You know, uh, I wouldn’t mind seeing a copy of you in Unicorn Vogue.” Caramel said.
“Maybe you should come visit me in Canterlot some time. Then you could really watch me at work.”
He smiled. “I’d like that, Fleur de Lis.”
“Actually, you can just call me Fleur. All my good friends do.” A few seconds of silence fell before Fleur de Lis continued. “Caramel, I want to be honest with you. Last night when you saved me from that mugger was one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen anypony do.”
“Well, I wasn’t going to let a pretty thing like you be hassled by that some criminal.”
“I mean really; most ponies would just call the police and some might just walk away and ignore it. But you went out of your way just for me. I’m always socializing with some pretty snobby high class types in Canterlot, so you’re one of the sweetest ponies I’ve ever met.” She gently laid one hoof on his shoulder and another on his knee. “I can’t thank you enough fro what you did last night.”
Caramel blushed as she touched him. Then, his mind suddenly went back to his heated argument with Rarity earlier. Her words about Sassaflash were now hitting him hard and the feeling of Fleur de Lis’s touch reminded him of his dearly departed ex. Caramel frowned and spoke again.
“I think I should be honest too.” He sighed. “Fleur, I just came out of a relationship a couple months ago.”
“Really?” she frowned and took her hooves away. “Oh, I’m not making this awkward for you, am I?”
“No, it’s fine. The thing is, this mare really meant a lot to me. But she had to move away, and we decided a long distance relationship wouldn’t work out. Ever since she left, I’ve just been a complete wreck. Nothing seemed fun to me anymore, and all my friends were really concerned for me. I thought I would never be happy again. But when I met you, all that depression seemed to disappear. You’re beautiful and smart and lively; I don’t even care that you’re a celebrity. I guess what I’m saying is…you made me feel alive again.”
Fleur de Lis looked at him sweetly and touched his chin. But the moment was halted when Caramel glanced at the clock above the fireplace, which read after midnight.
“Oh jeez, is that the time?” he gasped. “I completely lost track. I guess should be heading on home.”
“Are you sure?” asked Fleur de Lis as he got up. “You don’t want to stay longer?”
He walked up to the front door. “It’s okay. I really should get home. Applejack might need me in the morning.”
“You live next to Rarity don’t you? That’s almost on the other side of town from here. And you don’t want to walk through the rain, do you?”
“Rain?”
Caramel opened the door and peeked outside. Sure enough, a torrent of heavy drops pelted the pavement on the slick street. He immediately closed the door and sulked.
“Nice one, Rainbow Dash.” He muttered annoyed.
“I don’t want you to catch a cold out there.” Fleur de Lis said getting up from the couch. “Why don’t you stay here for the night?”
Caramel perked up his ears and turned around. “You mean…with you?”
“Well, who else? I’ll show you to my room.”
“Are you sure?” he asked nervously.
“Of course, I don’t mind. Come on.”
Fleur de Lis then strode toward a flight of stairs leading up. It seemed too good to be true for Caramel. As if it wasn’t enough that he took the most famous model in Canterlot out on a date; now he was about sleep overnight with her. A smile crept across his face as he followed her upstairs. Reaching the second floor, he noticed Fleur de Lis’s swinging flank as she walked down the hall; her tail swayed like a pink curtain in a breeze. A knot seemed to tighten in his throat. A few doors down, she entered a room on the right and Caramel followed suit. He stepped in and looked around the darkened room at more of the cozy interior design; there was a queen sized bed on the far side of the room. Fleur de Lis walked into a conjoining bathroom.
“I’m just going to brush my teeth.” She called. “Make yourself comfortable.”
Without a response, Caramel looked around feeling awkward. He noticed a whicker chair in a corner by the large window, which was the only other article of furniture other than the bed. Slowly, he proceeded over to sit in the chair and wait for his mare. A few minutes of sitting uncomfortably later, he saw her step out of the bathroom. Fleur de Lis chuckled when she saw him.
“Um, I meant the bed.” She said.
Caramel suddenly began to feel hot again. “Oh, uh, okay.”
She then climbed into the bed and lied down on her side in an inviting pose. Lowering her eyelids, she patted the bed surface offering him to sit by her left side. With a quick exhale, Caramel approached the bed and cautiously slid next to her lying down. He rested his head on the pillow and stared up at the ceiling, not sure what to do next. Then, he felt something warm rub across his torso. He looked to his right and saw Fleur de Lis nuzzling against him with her eyes closed and her forelegs wrapped around his chest. She rubbed her face against his shoulder.
“Mm, you feel really warm.” She spoke in almost a whisper. “Do you mind if I snuggle with you?”
Caramel felt a wave of nervous heat as he felt her cool breath brush down his neck. And yet, he felt rather relaxed having her being this close to him. He looked back her and smiled.
“Not at all.”
As she snuggled and moaned another time, Caramel carefully extended his hoof behind her back and held her close. It was then that his eyelids began to feel heavy. Finally, he whispered before dozing off.
“Good night, Fleur.”
“Good night, my hero.” She responded.
They both drifted off to sleep.
…
The sound of a carriage parking was heard outside as the morning light shined through the window in Fleur de Lis’s room. The slender white unicorn fluttered her eyes open and saw that she had happily slept in the same position next to Caramel. Her stallion companion was still asleep; she smiled and sat up on the bed. With a quiet yawn, she stretched her forelegs out readying herself for a new day. As she fluffed her mane, a knock on the door was heard with the voice of one of the bellcolts of the inn from outside.
“Uh, ma’am? Sorry for disturbing ya, but somepony outside asked for your name. He said that you would be awake at this time. Um, he’s waiting for ya by his carriage out front. He said his name is, um, Mr. Fancypants? Uh, just thought I’d let ya know. Have a good day.”
As soon as the bellhop left, Caramel began to stir awake. He opened his eyes and smiled as he saw his date, then sat up with a stretch.
“Ah, morning, beautiful.” He said. “How’d you sleep?”
Fleur de Lis sat there in the bed with a look of shock frozen on her face. After a brief period of silence, she sprang up from the bed and to the window.
“Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!” she repeated.
“Fleur? Are you okay?” asked Caramel concerned.
Fleur de Lis stared out the window. Below was a black limo carriage parked out front with a pair of pegasi chauffeurs pulling it. In front of the carriage, a white unicorn stallion with a teal mane stood wearing a dress coat and a monocle. He stood in wait as he stared at a golden pocket watch. Fleur de Lis gasped.
“OH NO!”
“Hey, is that Fancypants?” asked Caramel after getting up and joining her at the window. “That pony is one of the biggest millionaires in Equestria. Is he a friend of yours?”
She looked at him with worried eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh Caramel I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.” She said to him frantically. “I was too nervous. I thought you would be mad at me.”
“Just tell me.”
“I didn’t think he’d show up this early. I completely forgot all about him. Oh what am I going to do now?!”
“Fleur de Lis, what’s going on?”
“Fancypants is my fiancée!”
Caramel stood with a blank expression. Then, after standing for a moment, he slowly leaned forward, collapsed to the floor and fainted.