//------------------------------//
// Chapter 15 
// Story: Pride and Prejudice and Ponies 
// by arglefumph 
//------------------------------//

To Rarity's delight, Mr. Blueblood returned to town, a week after his disappearance. His first course of action was visiting Carousel Boutique.

"Hello, Miss Rarity," Blueblood said. "I am very glad to see that you have recovered from your illness."

"Illness?" Rarity asked.

"You...had the pony pox, did you not?" Mr. Blueblood asked. "It said so in the letter that you sent."

"I have been perfectly healthy as of late," Rarity said. "Fluttershy was sick a few weeks ago, but that was before we first met you."

"I...there must be some mistake," Blueblood said. "I received a letter saying that you were too sick to attend the Netherfield Ball. It was signed by a Dr. Spike Collins."

Rarity's jaw dropped. "You didn't go to Netherfield, because of Spike?" she asked. "But...I..."

"That and I feared the evening would not be enjoyable without your presence, Miss Rarity," Blueblood said. "Was I incorrect in assuming so? Perhaps one of your sisters was free."

He cast a side glance at Pinkie Pie, who had gotten a brush stuck in her mane. She was trying to pull it out, but she kept crying in pain and letting go because it hurt. Blueblood shook his head slightly and returned his focus to Rarity.

"I am afraid you have been deceived," Rarity said. "I did attend the ball, and your presence was greatly missed."

"A thousand apologies," Blueblood said, smiling dashingly. "Perhaps I can make it up to you, with dinner tonight? After I meet your parents, of course."

Rarity's parents approved of Mr. Blueblood as a worthy suitor. Mr. Bennet had some reserves about his past, but Mrs. Bennet said that he was Spike's superior in every way. She especially liked his gracious manners, which were of excellent caliber.

Privately, Blueblood admitted that he had taken Mr. Darcy into consideration. Namely, he avoided the event, in part, to prevent the creation of an unpleasant scene which would disturb all in attendance. Rarity complimented him on his forbearance, and he responded by complimenting her in turn.



The date with Blueblood was a pleasant affair. Rarity considered herself to be too intelligent to fall in love with a stallion without getting to know him first, but she knew that the feelings she had could one day develop into love. He was good-looking, a charming speaker, and he seemed rather taken with her, and that was more than sufficient in this stage of their relationship.

That, and he was an excellent kisser. But you never heard Rarity say that.

Before returning home, Rarity stopped by her friend Twilight's house. To Rarity's surprise and displeasure, Spike opened the door.

"Oh...Rarity," Spike said. He scratched his head awkwardly. "What brings you here?"

"You changed the letter I wrote to Blueblood," Rarity said, narrowing her eyes angrily. "You told him I was sick."

"Heh heh...funny thing about that..."

"Playing with my emotions is funny to you?!" Rarity snapped.

"Who is it?" Twilight called from inside.

"It's, uh...it's Rarity Bennet!" Spike said.

"Show her in," Twilight said. "Then go back to making dinner."

"Uh, right!" Spike said. He turned around and waddled into the kitchen as quickly as his chubby legs could take him. As Rarity walked inside, Twilight came downstairs from the upper floor.

"Hi, Rarity!" she said. "How are you doing?"

"I am well, thank you," Rarity said. "I didn't know Spike was living with you."

"Yes, he's here until he has to leave later this week," Twilight said. "I've been training him to do chores for me. He's so sweet! It's almost like he's my personal assistant."

"I can see that," Rarity said. Perhaps the marriage between Twilight and Spike would work out after all. "Does your mother approve of him staying here?"

"It was her idea, actually. She said him staying here would 'fan the flames of love'..." Twilight said. She sighed lightly. "I'm not sure sure what she's hoping for. I have no illusions that Spike and I have a great romance, like Roameo and Juliet."

"Seeing as they killed themselves, that's probably for the best," Rarity said. "Where is your mother, anyway?"

Twilight tilted her head to the side. "She's at your house. Didn't you come from there?"

"No, I just came from a dinner date with Mr. Blueblood."

"Ooooo!" Twilight said. "Tell me what happened!"



"Shining Armor and Cadance are having a Canterlot wedding?" gasped Mrs. Bennet.

"Lady Chrysalis insisted on it," Lady Luna said. "She's also going to pay for Twilight's wedding! It's such a boon for us to be marrying into her family!"

"Technically, Twilight isn't marrying into the de Bourgh family," Mr. Bennet said. "Lady Chrysalis is merely Spike's patroness."

"Either way, we get to inherit Carousel Boutique when you die," Lady Luna said. She looked around at the room, appraising it. "This is a nice place...I wouldn't mind moving in here once you kick the bucket...By the way, how old are you, Sir? Feeling healthy?"

Mrs. Bennet practically spit fury. "I beg your pardon! My husband will be healthy for years to come, so you can keep your greedy hooves off of our house!"

Lady Luna laughed loudly. " 'Tis a joke!" she announced. "We like you, Bennets! That's why you're invited to the wedding!"

Mrs. Bennet took the joke better than one would expect. "Well, I'm glad there are no hard feelings between friends!" she said. "I thought you would be upset with us, because Spike proposed to my daughter first."

Lady Luna's face fell. "He what?" she asked.

"Heh heh heh..."

"Rarity turned down Spike's marriage proposals," Mr. Bennet said. "All three of them. Or was it four? I forget."

Lady Luna was slowly turning purple with rage.

"Oh, dear," Mr. Bennet. "You look sick. How old are you, Madam? Feeling healthy?"



The Bennets all wanted to go to Canterlot for Shining Armor's wedding, but there were two reasons why they could not. First, the wedding was the same week as Pinkie Pie's eighteenth birthday, on April First. They did not want to interfere with Pinkie's birthday plans, which had been in place for a long time. Second, the Bennets did not have enough money for all seven of them to take an extended vacation.

It was decided that the three unicorns would attend the wedding, namely, Mr. Bennet, Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Mrs. Bennet would stay at home and watch over Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Poor Fluttershy could have used the diversion of a trip to Canterlot, as she was still mopey and sad about Mr. Macintosh, even though a month had transpired since he left.

Rarity could sympathize with her sister, but she had a fantastic month before the trip to Canterlot. Mr. Blueblood Wickham had called on her, at least one a week, and Rarity would be lying is she said that she didn't enjoy the attention. Mrs. Bennet soon championed the cause of Blueblood and Rarity, declaring that there would be a marriage proposal within another month.

It was Rarity's first trip to Canterlot, and she was practically glowing with excitement at all of the glamour around her. Sadly, the Bennets were not staying in the city proper; they were staying inside a small cottage on a farming community, close to Spike's residence. The cottage had not been used in some time, but it was comfortable enough for a temporary living space.

A frilly yellow envelope was lying on the floor, waiting for them as they entered. Mr. Bennet picked it up and read it aloud with some difficulty, given the overly fancy and flowing script. It said that the three of them were invited to dine that night, with Twilight Sparkle and Spike. Rarity was excited about the idea of having a formal Canterlot dinner with her friend Twilight, until she learned that the hosts were Lady Chrysalis de Bourgh and her nephew, Fancypants Darcy.