Chapter 5: Affair Fight
Sweetie Belle carefully opened the door to Carousel Boutique and slowly stepped inside. She tried to make as little noise as possible as she tiphoofed through the main room. But she stopped at the shrill sound of her sister.
“Sweetie Belle!” scolded Rarity. “Where the Discord have you been all night?”
Sweetie Belle shrugged. “Oh, uh, I spent the night at Applebloom’s. Applejack said it was okay.”
Rarity stared at her sister for a bit, but then proceeded over to a sewing table. “Oh, whatever. I am much too steamed to worry about anything else.”
“Are you still mad at Caramel?”
“You bet your flank I am.” She began to assemble a sash using her magic at the table. “Confound him for casting aside Sassaflash like that!”
“Look, sis, maybe you shouldn’t be so hard on him. I mean, he’s been really depressed lately. So, maybe this new mare is just what he needs.”
“Oh, so you’re telling me it’s good for him to be involved in an affair?”
“Exactly…wait, what do you mean an affair?”
“Did Caramel even tell you who he’s dating?” asked rarity looking up from her sewing.
“Now that you mention it, he didn’t.”
“He was going out with Fleur de Lis!”
The filly gasped. “The Fleur de Lis?! You mean you’re model friend from Canterlot?”
“Well who else?”
“But why would Caramel want to date a mare who’s engaged?”
“That’s the thing; he doesn’t even know he’s having an affair.”
“So didn’t you tell him?”
“I tried, but he just wouldn’t let me get a word in. It’s like he doesn’t even care about Sassaflash anymore. Well if he won’t listen to reason, then don’t bother hearing anything from me.”
“But Rarity, this is Caramel we’re talking about. He’s our neighbor and he’s help us plenty of times before. He has to know that he’s in danger.”
“Hey, I told him he was making a mistake, but he’s just too stubborn. If Caramel wants to run off with a betrothed mare, then by all means let him.”
“Fine. If you won’t help him, then I will.”
With that, Sweetie Belle exited the boutique and slammed the door shut. Then, she pondered to herself before walking off.
“Hmm, if Caramel won’t listen to Rarity, there’s no way he’ll let me get a word in. Oh this is bad. What am I going to do to get him out of this jam? This looks like a job for the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”
She cantered off into town with a look of purpose on her face.
“Caramel…Caramel, are you alright? …Wake up, Caramel.”
Consciousness came rushing back to Caramel as his eyes shot open. He gazed up at Fleur de Lis who stared at him concerned as he lay on the floor. Instantly, the memory of what had happened before his passing out struck him. Caramel scurried backward away from her.
“You’re engaged?!” he exclaimed.
Fleur de Lis walked over to him. “I hope you’re not too mad.”
“Mad?! I’ve been sleeping with a betrothed mare and I shouldn’t be mad?!”
“I don’t blame you if you are.”
“That’s Fancy-freaking-pants out there! Do you realize what he’ll do to me if he finds out I’ve been with you?!”
Then, Fleur de Lis grabbed Caramel in a tight hug, pressing his face into her warm chest. She stroked his brown mane as she spoke.
“Oh Caramel, darling, I’m so sorry. I was going to tell you at some point, but I just couldn’t bring myself to. I was having the time of my life with you last night.”
“Why did you go out with me if you’re engaged?” he asked, muffled by her bosom.
“Well, I was sort of happy to be marrying Fancypants. But when you saved me from the robber, I was suddenly overcome and I immediately started to feel affection toward you. Fancypants is charming, but he can be such a snob. He never wants to do anything fun with me; always busying himself with his other mogul friends. And he never takes any time to talk with me. He just sees me as some trophy to parade around Canterlot with.”
Caramel became flustered being pressed into her soft embrace. But he snapped out of the comfort and pulled away from her.
“If he’s such a stiff, then why did you agree to marry him in the first place?” he queried.
Fleur de Lis looked down with shame. “It was because of the money. Fancypants is one of the wealthiest shareholders in Equestria; he’s invested in some of the biggest industries in both Canterlot and Manehattan. I knew that if I accepted his marriage proposal, our combined fortunes would be tremendous. But I was a foal for thinking that money meant more than love. And you proved me wrong, Caramel.”
“What do you mean?”
“You risked yourself just to retrieve my saddlebag. When you left that night, I suddenly felt silly holding that bag. I realized then that there’s more to life than just bits; there’s kind and caring ponies like you. In fact, I instantly gave away most of the money in that bag to charity, and saved the rest for our date.”
Caramel darted his eyes in thought. “So…you’re saying that being with me made you want to cheat on Fancypants?”
“I know that seems extreme. And I am so, so, so, so sorry for dragging you into this. You’re the sweetest stallion I’ve ever met, after being with so many of the spoiled rich class. But I guess I guess that makes me a hypocrite. How can you ever forgive me?” She shielded her eyes with a hoof to hide her embarrassment.
Then, Caramel touched her shoulder. “Fleur, I don’t blame you for wanting to change you life. You’re a really nice mare, and I had a blast with you. But I think you should just set things straight with Fancypants; I don’t want him getting suspicious. Besides, I think he’s pretty lucky to have somepony like you.”
Fleur de Lis looked up with tears welling in her eyes, and saw that he was smiling with sympathy at her. With a pause, she smiled as well and hugged him.
“Thank you so much, Caramel.” She said softly. “You’ve turned me around. And you’re right; I should set things straight with Fancypants. I know just what to say to him.”
Outside the inn, Fancypants tapped the ground as he patiently waited for his fiancée. He twiddled his moustache as he stared at his pocket watch and sulked.
“I say, where in Celestia’s name is that mare?” he muttered to himself. “It’s not like her to be running late.”
Just then, he noticed one of the top windows of the inn open. Standing looking out was Fleur de Lis with a seductive look on her face.
“Oh Fancypants!” she called in a pleasant tone.
Fancypants adjusted his monocle and smiled. “Ah, Fleur de Lis my sweet, there you are. Well, come along now, dear; we don’t want to keep the investors at General Magic waiting.”
Fleur de Lis responded by tossing something tiny out the window. Fancypants squinted to see a small metallic trinket fly through the air toward him. As it approached his face, he recognized it as the gold engagement ring he had given her recently. The ring landed around his horn, and he looked up in confusion.
“The wedding is off!” Fleur de Lis shouted with a devious smile and shut the window.
Fancypants kept staring up with a bewildered expression.
“Fleur de Lis?!” he whimpered as the ring sat around his horn.
Caramel stared at her with shock, as she cheerily stepped away from the window.
“What the hay are you doing?!” he blurted.
Fleur de Lis grabbed him in another tight hug.
“I did it, Caramel,” she said. “I called it off with Fancypants. I’m finally free!”
“That’s not what I meant by setting him straight!”
“But now we can be together; just you and me, baby! We’ll run away together so that snob won’t be able to bother us.”
“What?!” Caramel pulled away and became stern. “Now just wait a minute! This doesn’t solve anything. If ponies find you and me together I’ll never hear the end of it. I mean, as far as I’m concerned, you’re still betrothed to Fancypants.”
“No way. I refuse to share my life with any stallion but you. You’re the only one for me now, and I’ll be a wreck without you. Please Caramel, run away with me.”
“Lady, you’ve got to be out of your mind if you think I’m going to-”
Before he could finish, Fleur de Lis wrapped her hooves behind his head and pressed her lips against his. Caramel’s eyes widened and his head started to boil as she held him in a long passionate kiss. Then after several seconds, she parted and looked at him with big pupils in glimmering eyes. It was then that Caramel realized that her desperation and trust in him was real; he hadn’t felt such a wave of compassion since Sassaflash. Something in the back of his distracted mind reminded him that he had honest feelings for Fleur de Lis, despite the present situation. And so, without another moment of staring, Caramel smiled at her.
“Let’s get out of here.” He said.
A broad grin stretched across Fleur de Lis’s face. Immediately, the two bolted out of the room and down the hall. They cantered down the stairs and past the other guests in the lobby before heading toward the back door. Attracting surprised stares from others, they burst out through the door and into the lush backyard. Fearing that Fancypants would be on their tail, Caramel stopped to look back for the estranged mogul. But Fleur de Lis pulled him out of his pause and gestured to the wooden fence that stood in their path. With a nod, Caramel followed her and leaped over the fence. Suddenly, he felt a rush of adrenaline as he galloped onward with his beautiful companion by his side. It was a feeling he hadn’t felt in months and he loved every second of it. After a few more minutes of galloping, the couple stopped amidst a grassy meadow and panted out of breath. Then, Caramel noticed Fleur de Lis starting to laugh, and he couldn’t help at joining in. They both burst out in laughter after seeing that they had ran a good distance away from Ponyville. Caramel even fell to the ground, unable to catch his breath as he guffawed with joy. Fleur de Lis then fell to her knees as well and crouched next to him, laying her hooves on his chest. The two continued chuckling until all their energy had completely drained. At that moment, they stared into each other’s eyes with soft smiles. Then, Fleur de Lis lowered her head and laid a light smooch on his forehead. Caramel responded by wrapping his hooves around her and pulling her close enough for him to kiss her lips. They held close for a bit with their eyes shut before parting again and staring back at each other. Fleur de Lis rubbed his cheek as she spoke.
“Caramel…I love you.”
Caramel saw a tear well up in her eye. “I love you too, Fleur de Lis.”
She rested her head on his chest. “I told you…just call me Fleur.”
Caramel tightened his grip around her and looked up at the bright blue sky. He caught a glimpse of a multicolored streak passing rapidly through the sparse clouds. Somehow, he couldn’t help at feel that he wouldn’t have ended up in the company of Fleur de Lis in that moment, if not for the pegasus that left that rainbow streak.
“I should probably thank her later.” Caramel whispered to himself before laying his head back, rubbing Fleur de Lis’s back.