//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: Pride and Prejudice and Ponies 
// by arglefumph 
//------------------------------//

The welcoming party at Sweet Apple Acres took place the following Saturday night. About thirty mares and seven stallions were invited, including a few of Big Macintosh's relatives. Mrs. Bennet was not very happy with that particular mare-to-stallion ration; Mr. Bennet remarked that the stallions probably had no problems with the situation.

Big Macintosh Bingley was there to personally greet the Bennets, when they arrived. Big Macintosh was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy manners that were charmingly rustic.

"Howdy," Big Macintosh said to Mr. Bennet. "This must be your family."

The girls all lined up, and Mr. Bennet introduced them in turn. Big Macintosh nodded at each of the girls, then frowned slightly when Mr. Bennet ended by introducing his wife. "What about the one with the pink mane?" he asked.

"YAY!" Pinkie Pie said, jumping forward. "I'm Pinkie Pie! I'm the cutest!"

Big Macintosh seemed a bit rattled by Pinkie's enthusiasm. "No, I mean...the mare behind Rainbow Dash."

"Oh," Rainbow Dash said. She stepped aside to reveal Fluttershy, who had been trying to hide behind her sister. Fluttershy took a small step forward, her head hanging low and her hair over her face.

"That's Fluttershy," Mr. Bennet said. "She's the eldest. Stand up straight, dear."

Fluttershy lifted up her head and looked at Big Macintosh. She let out a small gasp of surprise when he smiled at her.

"Miss Fluttershy," Big Macintosh said, holding out his hoof to her. "Will you do me the honor of giving me your first dance of the evening?"

Fluttershy let out a small squeak.

"What was that?" Big Macintosh frowned.

"I said—"

"Big Mac! There you are!" a voice shouted. Two seconds later, an angry-looking orange mare with an unfashionable Stetson hat stepped forward. "Stop getting flirty with the guests and get ta work! You gotta finish takin' out all the chairs!"

"Ah, Applejack!" Big Macintosh said. He gestured towards the Bennets. "Everypony, this is my sister Applejack. Applejack, this is the Bennet family."

"Pleased to meet you, Applejack," Rarity said graciously. "My name is—"

"Whatever," Applejack said. "Just get movin', Big Mac. This is your party, so you gotta take care of it!"

"Please, excuse me," Big Macintosh said. "It was a pleasure meeting you all."

"YES!" Fluttershy shouted.

Everypony looked at Fluttershy, and she turned beet red. "Yes, I'll save my first dance for you," she said.

Big Macintosh smiled widely, as his sister pushed him out of the way. Mrs. Bennet immediately rounded on Fluttershy and gave her a barrage of advice that didn't end until Mr. Bennet dragged her away. The Bennets then broke off into little groups; Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash went off together, while Sweetie Belle went in search of somepony her own age. As for Rarity, she decided to speak with some of the ponies she didn't know.

Big Macintosh and his sisters were the highlight of the party, but there was one stallion in particular who gathered a good deal of attention on his own. He was an elegant unicorn named Mr. Darcy, with a fancy little mustache and high society manners. The fact that he owned an estate up in Derbyshire, worth about ten thousand bits a year, did not hurt his popularity in the slightest.

No, what ruined Mr. Darcy's popular was his foul attitude towards anypony besides the Apples. It was clear he did not wanted to attend this party, and he dismissed all who came to talk to him. Indeed, when Pinkie Pie tried to introduce herself, he abruptly sneered and walked away.

Dancing started about a half-hour into the party. Due to the lack of stallions in attendance, Rarity was obliged to sit down for the first several dances. She decided to amuse herself by getting a drink at the refreshments table. When Big Macintosh tried to convince his standoffish friend to join in the festivities, Rarity was close enough to overhear the entire conversation.

"Come on, Darcy," said Big Macintosh, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance."

"I certainly shall not," Mr. Darcy said. "You know how much I detest dancing with complete strangers. Dancing with one of the mares here would be more of a punishment than an enjoyment."

"A punishment?" Big Macintosh laughed. "If you got off your high horse and actually talked to a mare, you'd see they're not so bad. In fact, in my whole life, I've never met so many pleasant mares as I have this evening!"

"Common folk are always simple-minded," Mr. Darcy said. "I would much rather be back at Canterlot."

"They may be common folk, but the mares are uncommonly pretty," Big Mac said, nudging his friend. "Even you can't deny that."

"Easy for you to say!" said Mr. Darcy, looking at Fluttershy. "You are dancing with the only beautiful girl in the room."

Big Macintosh blushed slightly. "She is the most beautiful creature I've ever seen," she said. "But if I were you, I wouldn't be so quick to judge. Why, there's one of her sisters getting a drink just behind you. She seems rather agreeable. I can ask Fluttershy to introduce you."

"Hm? Who do you mean?" Mr. Darcy asked. He turned to look at Rarity, who quickly turned her head away to make it seem like she had not been spying on them. Knowing that the best-looking stallion in the area was watching her, Rarity smiled charmingly and struck a pose which showed off her dress.



"She is tolerable, but not pretty enough to tempt me," said Mr. Darcy disdainfully, looking away after a second.

Rarity's jaw dropped.

"I am in not in the mood to humor young ladies, who are not good enough to get dance partners of their own. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."

"Hmph!" Rarity said to herself. "The only waste of time here would be talking with such a rude stallion!"

Rarity marched off, intent on finding some friends and telling them what had just happened. Mr. Darcy's behavior called for a round of immediate, severe mocking. Rarity quickly found her best friend, Twilight Sparkle, conversing with Rainbow Dash and Mr. Bennet.

"I just heard the most ridiculous thing!" Rarity said, as she stepped towards them.

"Oh, dear," Mr. Bennet said. "Don't tell me you also have been talking about the town's newest dancing champion!"

"What?" Rarity asked.

"Big Macintosh," Rainbow Dash explained. "He and Fluttershy shared two dances in a row."

"Really?" Rarity asked. She turned her gaze to the dance floor. "It looks like he's dancing with Pinkie Pie now."

"Well, he danced with me first," Twilight said.

Mr. Bennet let out a loud, fake groan. "I can't keep track of all of his dancing!" he said. "If only he had sprained his ankle! Then my life would be complete!"

"I am sure he is just being polite and dancing with all the mares here, so nopony is left out," Rarity said. "However, his friend Mr. Darcy is not polite! He said I was not pretty enough to dance with him!"

Twilight gasped in horror, while Mr. Bennet pretended to faint.

"Ouch," Rainbow Dash said. "Want me to beat him up for you?"

"Perhaps," Rarity said. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Which one is Mr. Darcy?" Twilight asked.

Rarity pointed him out. "He's the unicorn, standing next to the barn, doing nothing and looking absolutely bored. Of course, that's what he should be doing, seeing as he turned down the best entertainment of the night."

"You're starting to sound like your mother," Mr. Bennet said. "Celestia help us."

The four of them continued to chat, until Big Macintosh interrupted.

"Pardon me, Miss Bennet," Big Macintosh said. "Would you care to dance?"

"Yeah, it'd—" Rainbow began to say.

"I'd love to," Rarity said, interrupted, stepping in front of her sister. "As long as it's not here. I'd prefer to dance by the barn."