//------------------------------//
// Chapter 22 
// Story: Pride and Prejudice and Ponies 
// by arglefumph 
//------------------------------//

The Bennets wanted to return to Ponyville immediately, but they knew that they couldn't afford to buy last-minute train tickets. It was decided that Mr. Bennet would travel alone, while Rarity and Sweetie Belle stayed for the wedding. Much was it to their surprise, therefore, to find that three one-way tickets to Ponyville had already been purchased in their name.

"Tickets from an anonymous donor," Mr. Bennet commented. "Somepony must like us."

"Either that, they they wanted to get rid of us," Rarity said darkly, thinking of Lady Chrysalis and Trixie. "Who else knows about Pinkie Pie?"

"Um...everypony," Spike said. "I kind of...interrupted the wedding rehearsal when the letter came on."

Rarity rolled her eyes and groaned. So much for keeping the family's problems a secret...



The situation at Ponyville was worse than Rarity expected. Pinkie Pie and Blueblood were both missing, and they could not be found anywhere in Ponyville. Blueblood seemed to have no close friends who could give news about his whereabouts, and considering the wretched state of his own finances, there was a very powerful motive for secrecy.

The only piece of information they had was a copy of Pinkie Pie and Blueblood's marriage certificate and an attached note from Blueblood, saying that the newlywed couple was quite happy, and that they would return after the honeymoon. Blueblood requested that five hundred bits of Pinkie Pie's dowry be given to his creditors, the Brothers Flim and Flam, while he would return at a later date to collect the remainder of the dowry.

Mrs. Bennet was distraught at the loss of her daughter, and she would not cease crying. Rainbow Dash blamed the entire incident on herself, because she wasted time getting her mother, instead of stopping Blueblood the instant she saw him kiss Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy was so upset that she stopped talking altogether.

Fluttershy broke her silence when Rarity told her about Big Macintosh and his desire to return to Ponyville, but the brief moment of joy was gone, all too soon. Fluttershy hid in her bed and spent the remainder of the day, petting her bunny. Occasionally, she muttered softly, but nopony could hear her words.

The sadness and weariness of the house was broken, when Mr. Bennet returned, shortly after nine o'clock. The heavy look on his face betrayed the fact that his actions had been unsuccessful.

"Did you find—?"

"No," Mr. Bennet said. "I talked with everypony in the Royal Guard, and they helped with the search. Wherever they are, they aren't in Ponyville."

"NOOOOOO!" Mrs. Bennet wailed. "He has taken my baby Pinkie away from me! If only I hadn't encouraged Pinkie's flighty behavior!"

"If only I had learned about his true nature sooner..." Rarity said. "We could have banned him from the house!"

"I have a meeting tomorrow with Flim and Flam," Mr. Bennet said. "I hope they can give us a clue as to Blueblood's whereabouts. In the meantime..."

Mr. Bennet used magic to open his saddlebag, where he pulled out a small sack and dropped it on the ground. "There were forty-seven train tickets purchased yesterday. These are the receipts. What time did they leave?"

"After seven," Rainbow Dash said.

"Thank you, Rainbow," Mr. Bennet said. "Could you go through the tickets and look for a pair with that timestamp? I'm exhausted from the trip and the search today. I need my rest."

"But Darling, you skipped your dinner," Mrs. Bennet said. "Have some food before going to sleep."

"I'm not hungry. I don't think I'll be hungry for a long time," Mr. Bennet said. "That's all. Line up, girls!"

The Bennet girls stood in a row, and he went down the line, kissing them all good night.

"Fluttershy, I have the Apple Family's address. Remind me to give it to you, so you can write to Big Macintosh."

"Oh...okay."

"Rainbow Dash, you will sort those tickets. I'm trusting you to find the right pair. Don't let me down."

"Yessir!"

"I apologize for taking you home early, Rarity. I know you wanted to be mare who catches the bouquet at the Canterlot wedding."

"It's perfectly all right. I understand."

"And you, Sweetie Belle. Now that Pinkie Pie is an adult, I suppose this means you're my only daughter who is still a foal."

"Uh huh."

"Well, since you're our last chance at happiness, we're not making any mistakes with you! No, I've got plenty of new rules for you to follow. No stallions are allowed to visit, balls are absolute prohibited, and you are never to stir out of doors unless both your mother and I are present."

"But Daddy!" Sweetie protested.

"Do not make yourself unhappy. If you are a good girl for the next ten years, we can review these conditions."

Mr. Bennet kissed his wife, and the two of them left for their bedroom, talking in low voices.



The next day's search yielded no tangible results. The Flim Flam Brothers could not do anything to help, besides for singing a song to cheer up Mr. Bennet's spirits.

Following the trail of tickets was a difficult task. It seemed that Blueblood tried very hard not to be found, as he and Pinkie switched trains four times over the course of their journey. After going to Trotsdale, Codsgallop, Whinnyworth, and Cleveland, the two of them arrived at Manehattan, a city far too distant and large to be searched. Undoubtedly, that was the reason Blueblood had picked the place.

Big Macintosh's letter for Fluttershy arrived that day. He apologized most profusely for leaving her, explained the circumstances of his departure, and begged her to agree to see him again when he returned. She wrote a lengthy response, which she refused to let anypony see. There could be no doubt as to the nature of her reply, though, as Big Macintosh arrived in Ponyville three days later, and the two of them were nigh-inseparable afterwards.

Meanwhile, the letter Rarity received about Blueblood's past actions was shared with the rest of the family. This led to a discussion of Rarity's fight with Mr. Darcy and all that had happened to Rosings. Mrs. Bennet was so upset over what happened to Pinkie Pie that she completely forgot to scold Rarity for turning down the richest stallion she had ever met.

Mr. Bennet kept the search going for two more days before ending it. There was nothing to do, but wait for the couple to return. That they did on April 8th, a week afterwards.