//------------------------------// // Chapter Eleven // Story: Heart of Diamonds // by APoeticHeart //------------------------------// As we approach the castle and about to go in, I feel the little arms of Connor wrap around my foreleg, and I look down at him. He starts shaking, looking up at me with a deeply nervous expression on his face. I look to see the other with worried looks, and I gently reach around with my free foreleg to gently hug him back. I let out a soft sigh as I look at them “It’s okay girls, go on ahead inside. We’ll be in there in a minute.” I give them a soft smile and they return me one and turn to trot inside. I look back down at the small child, rubbing at his back soothingly with my free hoof, and give him a warm smile. “Connor darling, is something the matter?” I reach up to stroke at his mane. He looks up at me with his little lips quivering. “Ms. Rarity, I never been to a place like this before. What if I embarrass you?” I see a single tear roll down his cheek and it breaks my heart. Before I speak to him I look to see some ponies trot pass us with what appears to be looks of concern, yet there are a couple who huff at the little darling. I shake my head at them as I turn back to Connor, stroking along his back. “Now listen to me sweetheart, you aren’t going to embarrass me, I promise.” I give him a reassuring smile. He sniffles and I decide to levitate a tissue that I brought with me, wiping away his tears. He looks up at me with the softest of smiles “Okay Ms. Rarity.” I pat his back as we turn to trot inside of the castle. Upon arriving inside, there are ponies who are conversing with one another, while others are greeting Princess Celestia by shaking hooves with her majesty. I’ll just wait until it’s just me and the girls to let Princess Celestia meet Connor. I look down beside me at him “Well sweetheart, what do you think of Cantlerlot Castle?” He looks up at me with a light smile “It’s very nice Ms. Rarity.” He gently lightly grasps my foreleg as he looks around the main hall. I can see a look of wonder a spread across his face as he notices the finely painted stained glass windows of the palace. “Well good evening Madame Rarity.” I can hear the distinct and dignified voice of Fancy Pants from behind. I turn around to see him standing proud as he always does, dressed as the refined stallion he truly is, and I give him a nod of my head. “Good evening to you as well Sir Fancy Pants.” I look over to see him accompanied by Fleur Dis Lee, a sophisticated mare whose well-known around Canterlot. I let out a soft sigh “And good evening to you Lady Fleur Dis Lee. How are you two doing on this fine evening?” I suddenly feel the little arms of Connor wrap around my foreleg and I look down to see him with a nervous look on his face. “We are doing quite well Madame Rarity.” Fancy Pants gives me a warm smile, and then looks down at the small child. “Well…well…well, and who might this strapping young lad be?” He gives Connor the same warm smile. I clear my throat. “Oh, please pardon my rudeness Sir Fancy Pants.” I let out a light giggle and blush, gently placing my foreleg around Connor’s shoulders, and carefully bring him in front of me. “Sir Fancy Pants and Lady Fleur Dis Lee, I would like to introduce you both to Connor.” I look down at him, rubbing at his shoulders comfortably. “Connor darling, I would like to introduce you to Sir Fancy Pants, and his companion Lady Fleur Dis Lee.” Connor smiles up at both of them, bowing his head, and showing the same respect and politeness he had shown to me and my friends. “Hello Mr. Fancy Pants Sir and Ms. Fleur Dis Lee Ma’am. It is good to meet you.” My heart melts at his show of class for him to be hurt as bad as he has, he is still able to let his heart show through his kindness. Fancy Pants gives the little darling a smile, bowing his head to him. “Well it is a pleasure to meet you as well Connor. You sure are a very respectful little colt, isn’t he Fleur?” He turns to Fleur who gives Connor a warm smile. She bows her head to him, giving him a bright smile. “Yes you are and a very cute little colt if I may add.” She blushes and reaches out a hoof, tenderly grabbing at his little hand. She used her other hoof to gently pat the top of his hand. “It is certainly a pleasure of mine as well to meet you Connor. We hope you enjoy your time here at the gala.” I look down at him, blushing as he looks up at her. “Thank you Ms. Fleur Dis Le and Mr. Fancy Pants.” He bowed his head one last time at the two and stood up against my forelegs. “You are very welcome my good lad.” Fancy Pants nods to him and looks at me. “You two enjoy yourselves tonight Madame Rarity. Fleur and I are going to take a stroll through the palace gardens.” I give them both a nod. “Thank you Sir Fancy Pants and Lady Fleur Dis Lee, may you two have an enjoyable evening as well.” They give me and Connor a nod, and then trot off. “They were very nice Ms. Rarity.” I look down, giving him a warm smile, and rub at his shoulders gently. “Yes they were darling.” I let out a soft sigh. “Now, what do you say we go enjoy ourselves Connor?” He gives me a light smile, nodding. “Yes Ma’am.” As we trek through the main hall, we arrive at the ballroom where there are even more ponies enjoying themselves, while music is being played. I look down to see Connor looking over at the ponies playing. One was the classical cellist Octavia Melody, who was playing her cello beautifully. There are three other ponies playing different instruments; one is playing a piano, one is playing a tuba, and the other one is playing a harp. “That is very pretty music they are playing Ms. Rarity.” Connor looks up at me with a soft smile and I stroke at his mane gently with a hoof. “Yes it is sweetheart.” I continue to gently stroke his mane and along his back. “I know what Connor. How about you take a seat at one of these tables and I’ll go get us some refreshments?” He looks up at me with a soft smile, nodding lightly. “Yes Ma’am.” I pat his back and trot with him to a vacant table, helping him into the chair with my magic. “I’ll be right back, okay darling?” I give him a warm smile as I gently hold his little hand in my hoof. He gives me a light nod. “Okay Ms. Rarity.” He smiles softly as I carefully turn to trot over to the refreshments table. Oh, this is going to be a hard decision. I sure do hope Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will tell me if it’s the right one though. Oh no, you aren’t thinking about doing what I think you’re going to do, are you? Oh, you again! Listen, I’ve had just about enough out of you! Connor needs a home, some pony to care for him, love him, and let him that everything will be alright. If Princess Celestia and Princess Luna feel that this is the right decision, along with my friends, then I will be that some pony for him! Approaching the refreshments table, I start to pour some punch into two glasses. “Good evening Lady Rarity.” I swallow deeply, yet my brows furrow with annoyance. Oh no, please tell me that it isn’t… my thoughts are cut off once I turn around to see Prince Blueblood. I place mine and Connor’s glasses of punch on the table. “Good evening Blueblood, why may I ask are you here talking to me? I thought I told you last time that you were a royal pain, and I didn’t want to ever see your arrogant, pompous self again.” I let out a heavy sigh. “I know I was a bit overdramatic last time here, but I personally wanted to apologize for my behavior. I want to apologize for how I acted toward your friends, but especially to you Lady Rarity. Also, I would like to request for your time to tour the royal gardens.” He bows his head to me. I give a light smile. “That is truly sincere of you Blueblood and I accept your apology. However my good fellow, I already have a prior engagement for tonight, so I will have to politely decline your offer. So I would like to bid you a good evening Prince Blueblood.” I levitate the glasses, trotting to the table. I see Connor giving me a soft smile as I approach the table. “Here go you sweetheart, this is some of the best punch in all of Equestria.” I levitate his glass over to him. “Thank you Ms. Rarity.” He gives me a nod, taking a sip of his punch. “Mm… that is good Ms. Rarity. I’ve never had punch before. Sir only gave me wate to drink.” He lowers his head looking at his lap, causing me to frown. I reach a hoof out to him, gently rubbing at one of his hands, and give him a soft smile. “Well, you don’t have to worry about only drinking water. We have all sorts of nutritious, healthy, and delicious beverages here in Equestria.” He smiles softly at me as I sip at my punch. I hear hoof steps approaching and turn to see Prince Blueblood trotting toward us. “Listen Lady Rarity I…” A look of shock immediately came upon his face as he sees Connor. He trots to the side of the table. He points a hoof at the child “Is this the prior engagement you have, this thing?!” I look over at the poor little boy suddenly start to shake at Blueblood’s tone and rudeness. A scowl of anger creeps across my face. I close eyes though, inhaling a deep breath, and then exhale deeply. “Connor, let’s go outside and I will show you around the royal gardens, okay darling?” He gives me a light nod “Yes Ma’am.” I smile softly at him as he climbs off his chair carefully with his glass. I turn to Blueblood with a frustrated look. “Now if you would excuse us, I’m taking my…gah!” I am suddenly splashed with something wet. I turn to see Connor holding his glass, but trembling as I can tell it’s his punch that spilt on me. I see a look of fear in his eyes as I reach a hoof out to him. He backs away with tears rolling down his cheeks. “I…I’m sorry Ms. Rarity…it was an accident. I…I…” He whimpers, turning around, and runs to leave. “Connor…wait!” I call out to him, but he keeps running until he exits the ballroom. I frown as I can hear that arrogant, no good excuse for a prince start laughing. “You made him spill his punch on me, didn’t you?!” I stomp my hoof on the floor staring daggers at him. He stops laughing. “You got to admit Lady Rarity it was pretty…” I cut him off with a hard smack across the face with a hoof. “I was wrong last time Prince Blueblood.” I let out a heavy sigh. “You aren’t only a royal pain, but you are royal scum for embarrassing that precious little boy! Don’t you dare try to speak to me every again, you pompous, pathetic excuse for a prince!” I flick my mane with a huff and turn to gallop outside to see I can find Connor. I arrive outside in the royal gardens. “Connor, are you out here precious?” I call out only to hear silence. I continue to trot through the gardens until I can hear a weeping sound. Oh no, the poor dear. I got to find him and comfort him. I keep trotting, coming upon a tree, and I see him sitting up against the base. His little legs are folded up to his chest, his buried in his lap, and he is shuddering with sobs. A deep swallow makes its way down my throat as I very carefully take a step. He snaps his head up, looking up at me with true fear in his eyes, and trembles harder. “Ms. Rarity, I…I’m so sorry. I…I didn’t mean to spill my drink on you. Mr. Blueblood tripped me with his hoof. Please Ms. Rarity, don’t hurt me.” He cries hard as I see his little lips quivering. “Oh sweetheart,” I speak just above a whisper feeling tears sting the corners of my eyes as I very carefully use my magic to bring him towards me. I wrap my forelegs around him warmly, cradling him to the warmth of my chest. I lower my head down to his mane, making light shushing sounds. “Shh… no darling, I would never hurt you….Shh.” I rub along his side soothingly and just cradle him close. He looks up at me with tear-stained eyes. “What about your pretty dress Ms. Rarity? I…I ruined it.” I continue to rub at his side soothingly, leaning my head down, and giving him a tender kiss on the forehead. I give him a reassuring smile. “This old thing, I can get this washed easily darling.” I let out a soft giggle as I start to rock him in my forelegs. I start to hum my favorite lullaby, Hush Now, Quiet Now softly to comfort him. I look up at Princess Luna’s moon with one lone single tear rolling down my cheek. After a couple more minutes of rocking the little on in my forelegs, I look down to see him peacefully sleeping, and it brings a warm smile to my face. I carefully levitate him onto my back so not to disturb him, and I turn to trot back inside the castle. “Good evening to you my friend and Element of Generosity, Rarity.” I hear a soft voice speak from behind me. I turn around to see the princess of the night herself, Princess Luna giving me a warm smile. She quietly trotted up to me, bowing her head, and then looking at the sleeping child. “And this must be the special little one spoken of in my sister’s letter, is he not?” I smile warmly at Connor, and then back at Luna, giving her a nod. “Yes your highness, this is Connor.” I look to see his chest slowly rise and fall with each breath he takes. I look at Luna “Princess Luna, would it be okay if I take Connor to one of the palace bedrooms and tuck him in?” She gives me a nod, smiling warmly. “Oh of course my friend, and after you get done meet my sister and I, along with your friends in the palace ballroom.” I give her a nod, bowing my head, and turn to trot back into the castle. I trot through the corridors until I find a good, quiet bedroom to put Connor. I trot inside, heading over to the bed. I use my magic to pull back the covers, carefully levitating the child off my back, and gently place him on the bed. My heart melts as he curls up on the bed with his head on the pillow. I levitate the covers over his small form, tucking them in snugged against his sides, and I lean to give him a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Sweet dreams Connor, you precious, precious little boy.” I reach a hoof up to stroke at his side through the covers before I quietly turn to trot out of the bedroom. I leave the door slightly ajar so I can hear if something happens with him. This is going to be difficult, I understand, but I feel this is the right decision. I trot through the corridors until I come upon the ballroom. The gala ended sooner than I would have thought. As I enter I see the princesses conversing with the girls, but I also see another guest, causing my jaw to drop. Discord?!