Well, here it is, the new chapter. Sorry for the long wait, but many technical problems, mainly with my internet, slowed me down, as well as le unexpected lack of enthusiasm. Thanks for the patience.
Confusion. Confusion and movement everywhere around her. Everything had to change, everything had to shift. Nothing could stay constant at any time. A free space? That was gone in an instant, occupied by yet another pony in the haphazard throng that was Canterlot.
She probably should have seen it coming really.
Oddly enough, the huge city hadn’t seemed like that at first glance. The train had been approaching, the movement slowing. A train station was easily visible from outside the city, but anything within the walls was completely hidden from sight. She could see the tops of the buildings, but the ponies themselves were out of her view. That shouldn’t be a problem, she had thought, there can’t be that many ponies in Canterlot, it is the capital after all, only the fanciest go there...
She might have skimped on the forethought a bit there. A capital city of anywhere should be crowded and busy, that’s just how things work. Sadly, she had only figured that out after she was within the confines of Equestria’s biggest market.
The instant the train was berthed at the station she was off, leaping out of the apple carriage and darting across the steam-smothered platform, partially hidden by the drifting fog produced by the train. She had seen the half-visible images of workers and other conductors as they went about their regular business, a few times almost bumping into them and being discovered. Amazingly she hadn’t been seen at all, and the moment the platform’s exit came into view, a heavenly object, she jumped through. She really should have looked before she leaped through.
As it quickly turned out, Canterlot’s station was adjacent to the marketplace, the Canterlot Bazaar, whatever you wanted to call it. It didn’t matter the language or the pony, one thing could be agreed the moment you say it.
It. Was. Huge.
And that was no no understatement. The whole place could have been a quarter of the size of Ponyville from first glance, and there wasn’t a single free space in it. Absolutely every nook, every cranny was taken up by a pony that was searching for wares, arguing, bartering, chatting, loitering, laughing, jumping, and just... doing stuff.
And, of course, she hadn’t even looked, nor hesitated, before jumping right into that...
**
WHAM!
Yet another hoof shot out of nowhere and connected with her back, pushing her forward, right out of the crowd and into one of the many small shops that littered the streets. She turned around to catch a glimpse of whoever it was this time, but the pony was already gone, eaten up by the ever-changing crowd. She almost walked back into the throng, and her hoof hovered just away from the edge of the crowd, but the sea of bodies angrily pulsed so close to her, and she retracted the appendage hastily. She sat down on the hard floor, letting her body sag in defeat as she contemplated jumping back into the mosh pit again.
“...I said, are you gonna buy anything?!”
A voice made her turn around to face inside of the small tent-like shop she was standing at the entrance of. The shopkeeper was impatiently tapping his hoof on the surface of his counter in the recesses of the shop, beating out a staccato rhythm. He had a dark brown coat, accompanied by a darker vest and black hat. He looked more than a bit dapper, out of place in the rapidly moving market. Her eyes darted around, wondering what he was talking about. “Buy anything?”
His snorted in derision. “Yeah, buy something. Or are you just gonna stand there all day and waste my time. C’mon c’mon, we ain’t got all year to make up our minds here missy. Just get something and bugger off, I’ve got ponies waiting y’know?”
She looked behind her but couldn’t see anypony bar the constant crowd. In fact, the only ponies in the tiny bubble of peace were her and the shopkeeper, who was still eyeing her impatiently. She turned back to him and looked into his store. In the few moments that she’d been standing there she hadn’t even bothered to actually look, only thinking about how the hay she would get out of the market.
...And she had absolutely no idea what he was selling still, even as she looked around. Small bottles with labels, all covered in fancy script, were sitting on velvet cushions around the stall. Each of the bottles looked like it was being treasured on a shrine for no particular reason. What was more, each bottle looked to contain only a tiny amount of liquid.
She turned back to the keeper to see him watching her like a hawk, waiting to see her response.
She didn’t want to disappoint. “The bottles look... nice?”
The shopkeeper looked like he was about to explode. “Nice?! The bottles?! Heck lady, the bottles do look nice, but what do you think of the fragrances?! Come on! Do you have any idea who you’re talkin’ to here?!”
She shook her head slowly, but he didn’t even seem to be paying attention to her anymore. “You, my dear, are in the presence of the number one perfume dealer in Canterlot. No, scratch that, Equestria! I am the one and only Mr. Aroma! You don’t get anything better than the stuff I sell!” She could almost see the bits of foam that shot out of his mouth during the frenzy of self-compliments.
“And the only thing that you can tell me, is that the bottles look nice?!” He gave her a look that could shatter bones. Reaching under the counter, he brought an absolutely tiny bottle out that looked to be comprised of crystal, a tiny stopped jammed in the top. He beckoned her to lean in. “Listen girl,” he said to her quietly, “do you see this? This little gem here, is a one-in-a-million beut’. It is literally priceless. You can’t even get it anywhere else. Do you understand me?”
She nodded slowly and he drew back from her ear. “Good, good. Now, I’ll ask one more time. Are you going. To buy anything?” With that he settled back into his raised seat with a smile on his face.
“...I don’t have any money...”
Smile gone. Simple as that. The shopkeeper, Mr. Aroma, pointed a hoof at the entrance to the tent. “Out,” he said, “don’t take strays here. No money, no sale. Get back on the streets and get some cash to pay me before you walk into my store of the one and only-”
“Pungent Aroma, I do hope that you weren’t planning on sending out this nice young mare here, she happens to be a friend of mine that is waiting for me. I do hope that you wouldn’t be against letting her stay, hmmmm?”
Mr Aroma’s - or rather Pungent’s - jaw dropped to the tabletop when he heard the voice. She turned around to see the newcomer and her jaw almost dropped too.
The stallion that had walked into the store could have been a prince, or at least some sort of royalty. His outfit made Pungent’s look like something from a second hoof store. For clowns. Did they have second hoof store for clowns?
Hmmmm, I’ll have to look into that...
The newcomer was dressed in an immaculate tuxedo, a monocle perched precariously on one eye. His cutie mark showed three golden crowns, gems inlaid. He casually waved aside a stray hair as he strolled across the floor towards the stuttering Pungent, who was still trying to come to terms with the new arrival.
“F-F-Fancy... Fancy...” he mumbled, “you’re... you’re here! Ah, yes, as I was just telling this lovely young mare,” he shot her a cautious glance, “I only serve the best fragrances, and my customer service is unmatched anywhere.”
Pungent practically pranced past the counter and attached himself to the new stallion’s side like a leech. “Might I interest you in some of my new stock? Anything take your fancy?” He chuckled for a moment and tried to direct the stallion away from her and over to some of the far walls, but for every move that Pungent made the stallion would casually and expertly maneuver both of them back towards the counter. She managed to catch a look at Pungent’s cutie mark; a dirty diamond inside a sharp maw of teeth.
The stallion cut Pungent off mid sentence as they made another pass of her. “Actually Pungent, I’m here for that order I placed a while ago, you wouldn’t happen to have it in stock now, would you?”
The shopkeeper sighed softly in defeat and walked behind the counter, retrieving the very same incredibly small crystal bottle that he had produced for her earlier. He passed it over the counter and the stallion inspected it with an approving eye. “Ahh, brilliant my fine chap, I knew that you would live up to expectations, as always.” He winked casually, and Pungent grinned weakly. “I’m sure that this will be everything that Fleur wanted.”
“Anything else?” Pungent asked hopefully. “I just got a new shipm-”
Fancy cut him off gently. “I’m sorry. As I said before my friend, that will be all for today.” He turned to leave, but paused momentarily. “And this young mare will be accompanying me, I hope,” he called out, “I would be delighted if you chose to follow me, I am ever so fond of company on days like this.”
Her head whipped around as the stallion called out to her, and without waiting she dashed after him. It didn’t matter if he was secretly a danger to her, or if he was planning to hand her over, as long as he could get her out of the labyrinthine markets she would follow. Just as she left the shop she cast a look back at Pungent, who was eyeing her with barely contained hatred. She gulped and hurried into the crowd.
For a second she thought that she’d lost him in the confusion, but a loud whistle made her turn to face the stallion, who was standing in a gloriously clear spot in the crowd. He beckoned her over and she fell into step beside him as he walked along. It seemed that wherever he wanted to go a small pocket would open up in the crowd to let him pass, and she stayed close enough that she too would be able to sneak through in the brief respite.
As they walked along he started talking.
“So, Pinkie was it? Whatever brings you to the fine city of Canterlot my dear, the last time I saw you was the wedding, and that was a good couple of weeks ago. You visiting somepony? Or is this just a casual vacation, soak in the sights and sounds, that sort of thing, you know?”
“Oh, but first, I must apologize for the behavior of Mister Pungent in there, I knew he was bad but I had no idea that he would stoop to the levels of mistreating such a lovely young mare as yourself. Although, what would bring you to the Canterlot markets, and his shop in particular?”
He peered down at her from behind his monocle, and the casually bouncing moustache of his.
Before she had a chance to answer, a gasp cut her off. A pony wearing one of the most ridiculous outfits that she had ever seen had stumbled out of the crowd and almost right into her. The mare’s ensemble made her look almost exactly as if she’d been swallowed up by a pie, bits of frill and lace making up the perfect crust.
It took her a moment to realise that she wasn’t actually wearing a pie, and another to wipe away the drool that had filled her mouth the moment her stomach had taken over. The only part of her costume that didn’t look like it had come from a bakery was the giant orange feather that stuck out from her hat.
“Fancy Pants,” the mare yelled, “what a surprise to meet you here. Oh, I do hope you remember me, Crème de la Crème? Oh, it is so good to see you again.” The mare completely ignored her, standing next to the stallion, or rather Fancy Pants.
Fancy smiled at the mare. “I do believe that I can recall your face. Hmm, let me think...” His face scrunched up for a moment. “The 50th Anniversary of the Canterlot Botanic?”
The mare gasped and almost fainted from the look on her face. Fancy Pants continued unaware. “Yes, that was a very fun day for all involved, I do hope that you had as much fun as I.” He started walking again. “I’m sorry that I can’t stay to chat now Miss Crème, I do have errands to run and guests to entertain, maybe later.”
Just before the mare vanished from sight she tried to chase after Fancy, but the crowd closed up around her, leaving only an enormous feather sticking out from above the crowd. The pink pony turned back and scurried after the well dressed stallion, who was watching her with curiosity.
“So,” he started, “I guess that this is your first time in the markets eh? They seem to have this effect on the newly... initiated.” He smiled at a memory. “I can remember the first time I came here...”
He trailed off and chuckled quietly. “I can guarantee you however that you’ll get used to it soon my dear, it is all a matter of practice.” He caught sight of a mare gawking at him for a moment through a gap in the sea of ponies as it parted around him.
That grin appeared on his face again. “But it doesn’t hurt to be me sometimes, I do tend to have a bit of an effect on ponies.”
She made to talk again but she was interrupted. Again. But it wasn’t a pony this time. Some sort of ravenous animal had decided to make its home in her belly, and made its presence known just then. She blushed and giggled as Fancy looked at her. He waved a hoof. “No need to say anything my dear, I can tell what you are focused on at the moment. Come, let us find somewhere nice and quiet to chat.”
Fancy turned and strode off in a slightly different direction, once again the ponies parting around him. He abruptly veered to the right and snuck through a street hidden in a section of wall, a small thing that wouldn’t have been obvious to somepony that hadn’t trod the streets a million times before. She followed him and a few moments later the two of them had emerged in a completely different section of the city. The noises of the market were still audible, but they were separated from the throng by at least a few buildings.
Fancy kept walking and soon stopped next to a small cafe. It was a classic thing, tables with umbrellas sitting out the front, only a few customers. Fancy Pants sat down at one of the tables and she sat down with him.
“I love this place,” he said, “one of the places that I came to as a colt, marvelous food and great service. Ah, here comes a waiter now...”
The next few minutes were a blur of weird sounding names for food and incredibly snooty waiters prancing around, even at something like lunchtime in a small outside restaurant. However, Fancy managed to blast through the strange syllables and emerge from the other side victorious. Sitting in front of her was a salad. That was all.
And a muffin. Glorious.
And then there were only crumbs.
What? She was hungry! Couldn’t a pony eat a good muffin when they needed it?
Fancy’s mouth hung open slightly as she scarfed down the entire muffin in one quick gulp, leaving only the sad remnants of its family to try and live on. “I... take it that you were very hungry then?”
She tried to say something around the lump of muffin in her mouth and only managed a muffled noise. Swallow and repeat. “Ahh, yeah, just a little...”
He smiled again. How was he able to smile so much? This stallion was a GOD! “No problem at all, as I’ve said before, food is sustenance, you were simply very hungry. It’s not a crime you know.” He laughed richly, a deep tenor thing. “Now, what brings you to Canterlot? I never did get an answer to that.”
She swallowed nervously. “Ummm, nothing at all really. I just... felt like getting away from it all. Felt like I was being... chased. Hehe.”
He raised an eyebrow. “That’s definitely interesting, I wasn’t aware that a town like Ponyville was so... intense.” Fancy put a hoof to his chin. “Then again, I wouldn’t have thought that a brilliant designer like that Rarity,” he rolled the sound across his tongue like a fine wine, “could come from there either. It really is full of surprises, no?”
There was a brief pause as he took a bite from his own muffin. “So,” he said eventually, “is there anything that you really want to do here? Anything fun, exciting? Actually, there is the most amazing display at the Houvre at the moment that you simply must see.” He chuckled. “I do have a bit of a soft spot for certain cultural things, I must admit.”
She started tapping her hoof against the table nervously. “Actually, I was hoping that I might be able to have an... audience with the Princesses?”
There are only a few ways to get a pony to stop mid bite and freeze. For someone like Fancy Pants it is even more rare.
Asking to see the Princesses is definitely one way to make him do that.
“The Princesses you say?” He looked thoughtful as he placed his muffin back on the plate. “Why ever would you need to have an audience with them? Is something wrong? Dare I say it, is Ponyville in danger?” He paused. “Again?” he amended.
“What? No!” she shouted. “I mean, no,” she corrected when she saw Fancy flinch slightly. “I just need to see them. It’s rather... personal, and important to me,” she pleaded.
Fancy’s expression melted when she said those words. “Say no more my dear, you have already proven yourself to be worthy last time we met - the wedding? - and I dare say that you knowing the Princesses already wouldn’t hurt.”
He sighed softly. “It won’t be difficult, but at the same time it won’t be easy. You know that’s you don’t just ask to have an audience with the sisters, you have to wait...”
“That doesn’t matter, I just need to see them.”
Fancy nodded. “Okay, that’s good. I do know some ponies, so I should be able to get them to see you soon. ust let me finish up here, I’ll try to talk to somepony that can get the word in. Just wait until I’ve finished up here,” he said, motioning to his muffin.
She settled down to wait...
**
“Wow.”
“Yes, it does seem to have that effect on ponies.”
“No, I mean...
“It’s huge.”
“If I had a bit for every time I’ve heard that.”
“How does it stay up?! I mean, it looks like it should just fall over, but... it just stays there!”
“Are you going to stand there gawking all day or must I do something drastic, hmm?” Fancy Pants smirked at her expression as she marvelled at his...
...really big mansion. The huge structure was situated in what must have been the best spot in the whole of Canterlot, ranked only beneath the Palace itself. Pants Mansion was incredibly prestigious, easily realised when she saw the huge wrought gold gates that barred the entrance off.
And they were always open. As Fancy said:
“What reason would I have to close them? Nopony wants anything from me that I wouldn’t donate by myself, and the items that I don’t donate have a personal value to me. They are only of aesthetic nature, I didn’t even want them there in the first place, but you know Fleur...”
Fancy Pants chuckled as he walked and talked. It had only taken half an hour or so to go from the cafe to his mansion, situated in a quiet section of the city. The lawn, a perfect green thing, stretched around the building and made it look like an oasis in a green sea. But the building...
It was enormous. Big would have been an understatement, and massively-ginormous-hugerific would have been just a little too big, so enormous fitted pretty well. The generous stallion placed a hoof against the large oaken double-door and pushed forward. The door swung open on well-oiled hinges, revealing an impeccable marble foyer, a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling lighting the area. A curved staircase hugged the wall, leading away to another level of the mansion.
Her jaw dropped to the floor. Well, it didn’t actually, it just felt like it to her.
Can a jaw drop to the floor? Science is needed...
Fancy gestured around him. “Welcome to the Mansion my dear. This was passed down to me from my father, and him from his father, and so on so forth. You know, inheritance and all that.” He leaned closer and whispered to her, “I do think it’s a bit over the top, but some ponies just won’t listen. Besides, at least when I’m around I can keep a close eye on it, keep it in good condition. It is one of the oldest buildings in Canterlot, it’s the least I can do to keep it in good condition.”
He looked away for a moment and tapped a hoof against the marble floor. “Polished? Are you there?”
She looked at him curiously, wondering who he was talking to. Her question was answered a moment later as a side door opened, revealing an old, but impeccably dressed stallion. His coat was incredibly dark, borderlining complete black, and his mane was only a few shades lighter. His cutie mark was a rag dipped in a bottle of something silvery. The stallion walked towards them and acknowledged the two with a small bow.
“Pinkie Pie, may I introduce you to the retainer, Polished Mantle.”
Polished nodded his head and winked. “Pleasure to meet you miss, not often that Fancy brings along the odd mare.”
She tilted her head in confusion. Why had he winked? Fancy just rolled his eyes and sighed. “Polished, not everypony has a dirty mind like you.” He snorted, “Oh, the irony in that statement.”
He walked over to Polished and draped an arm around the stallion. “Anyway, Pinkie, this is kind pony is the current retainer. He has been here for quite a while now, I expect that you will get along very well.” He turned to Polished. “Now, would you be kind enough to escort Pinkie here to one of the guest rooms? I expect that she will be staying for dinner, would that be alright miss Pie?”
She started when she realised that he was talking to her. “Uhh, yes? I mean, I guess that would be alright, if I need to. I just want to meet with the Princesses as soon as possible...”
Fancy nodded. “Right you are my dear, but I will need to talk to some ponies to arrange that, and I expect that you will need somewhere to stay in the interim. Feel free to make yourself at home. As my father used to say, my home is your home.”
Polished started walking up the curving staircase, and beckoned for her to follow. Fancy Pants watched them leave and turned to walk out another door. He paused for a moment. “Polished?” he said, “make sure that you lay out one more for dinner, will you?” With that said he walked through the door and vanished.
Polished shook his head and kept walking, humming to himself softly. They walked in silence, but it was a comfortable silence, and she found herself bouncing along to the beat of Polished’s tune. The whole lengthy corridor was decorated with all manner of pieces of art and little knick knacks, and she couldn’t stop herself from gazing at each one as she passed. That might have been the reason why she bounced right into the door.
Scratch that, it was the reason. Stupid humming, stupid artwork...
She picked herself off the floor, still rubbing the sore spot on her head. Polished was watching her chuckling softly to himself. “Well,” he said, “here we are. This is one of the guest rooms here, so feel free to get comfy, I don’t think that Fancy would have anything against that.” Saying that, he unlatched the door and pushed it open, revealing a lavishly decorated bedroom. A four-poster master bed sat in one corner, while a fireplace, an actual FIREPLACE, sat in another, surrounded by all manner of furniture. A doorway lead off to an en suite, and a balcony overlooked the main portion of Canterlot, including the palace itself.
She immediately made her way over to that, waving her thanks to Polished, who acknowledged it with a small nod before closing the door and walking away down the corridor. As she stood on the balcony a cool breeze picked up, chilling her slightly as she stood there. But it didn’t matter, and she stood there anyway.
She gazed at the palace, wishing that she could just be there, talking to the Princesses to get the whole ordeal finished. But no, she had to wait, and wait. The sun was on the decline towards the horizon, and it was going behind the mountain that Canterlot was on, so light was fading fast. It may have been the breeze, or the scenery, or just the comfortable balcony, but she couldn’t resist sneaking back inside, grabbing a blanket and settling down back to watch the surroundings.
A yawn burst from her throat. Come to think of it, her eyes were getting slightly heavier too...
Couldn’t hurt, she thought. Maybe Fancy Pants will wake me up for din-
Darkness.