//------------------------------// // Planning? // Story: Tickling Somepony's Fancypants // by TheTalentlessPony //------------------------------// "Rarity..." "..." "She's not waking up, Miss Fleur De Lis." "She's more exhausted than I thought. Perhaps we should have someone carry her in?" "Do you think she'd approve? She might complain that we didn't try waking her hard enough." "Mmm... she might be a bit pouty about it at first, but I think she'll calm down once she has some lunch." "Are you sure?" "No." "..." "Well, I can't be completely positive all the time, sir. Now please, if you'd just-" "Is there a problem?" Rarity stirred. ...Fancypants...? The seat beneath the purple-haired mare creaked slightly as she pushed against it, groggily sitting up and looking around. Glancing outside the door, she noticed the driver and Fleur De Lis, with Fancypants standing not too far away. After blinking for a short moment, Rarity realized what was going on and gasped, quickly leaping out of the carriage. "I-I, um... sorry!" She grinned sheepishly, blushing in embarrassment; how tired had she been anyway? "It's fine, Rarity," Fleur De Lis assured with a smile. "We all have those days where we just can't seem to wake up." "Indeed," Fancypants agreed, promptly turning to the driver. "As for you; your pay..." The sophisticated stallion reached back and pulled out a hefty bag of bits; Rarity nearly gasped at the size of it. "Thank you, sir," the driver said, taking the bag from Fancypants before heading off with the carriage. Fleur De Lis smiled, then turned to Rarity and extended her hoof outwards. "Well, welcome to Canterlot!" she exclaimed. Rarity squealed a bit at the sight. Canterlot was just as nice as she had remembered! "The city for the highest class of ponies! Marvelous!" she cheered. Remembering how she had just been sleeping though, her hooves suddenly went upwards, frantically rubbing against her mane. "Ah! I don't have a horrid case of bedhead, do I? I simply must look proper for my future love, whoever or wherever he may be!" Fancypants chuckled. "Now now. No need for that," he told her. "You look absolutely lovely, as always." Rarity didn't seem so sure. "W-well, yes, for Ponyville maybe, but this is Canterlot! I need to get my hair done! I need to redo my makeup! I need- "There will be time for all that after we've had lunch," he told her. "L...lunch?" she questioned, calming down somewhat as she stared at him. Fancypants nodded. "Yes, lunch. My chefs have prepared a wonderful meal for all of us, so I hope you'll at least come inside and eat a little before charging out like you do so often." "Um... well, of course," Rarity said, though still sounding a bit nervous. "Lunch sounds... lovely!" Fancypants and Fleur De Lis smiled at each other, then turned to a mansion behind them and began to walk towards it. Rarity was a bit overwhelmed though, walking a little slower than they were as she gazed up at the vast palace. "T-this is where you live?" she asked. "Yes. I've just upgraded recently," Fancypants explained. "Hopefully it pleases you?" "O-oh, yes! V-very much so!" Rarity quickly chased after the two as she realized that she was lagging behind. It was difficult adjusting to the gigantic buildings of Canterlot when the houses of Ponyville were always so... average. Getting inside, Fancypants raised a hoof, and at least five servants suddenly rushed to him. Rarity's jaw dropped slightly. Not just because of how fast they had been, but Fancypants had looked as though this was a daily occurrence. "She's here. Bring her to the table immediately, if you'd please," he told them. The servants nodded, obeying with great haste as they brought Rarity into the dining room. "W-whoa!" She was sat down almost immediately, sitting in front of a delicious-looking plate of food. Fancypants sat next to her, while Fleur De Lis seemed to disappear to who-knows-where. "Eat up," Fancypants told her. She scrunched her snout slightly. Odd for someone so high-class to say something like that. Nevertheless though, she turned to her plate and ate at it. It was probably the most delicious thing she'd eaten in forever, but she refrained from absolutely freaking out over how good it was; it wouldn't be lady-like. "Now... Rarity." Her head jerked up to stare at him. His tone sounded strange; a mixture between nervous and serious. "I know you would've prefer to do this kind of thing yourself, but I wanted to help you," he began to tell her. "What did you do?" she asked, growing a bit concerned over what the stallion could've planned. "I've gotten some of my closest friends-" Rarity had to wonder about his tone there. "-together and invited them to have dinner with you tonight," He must've noticed Rarity tense up, because he quickly added, "J-just a single meal. They were all pleased to give their assistance, as they were looking for someone themselves." "So... like a blind date?" she questioned. Ugh. It sounded so desperate... "I suppose," Fancypants looked up from his plate and stared at her, almost apologetically. "I-if you'd rather not go, I could always-" "No no no!" Rarity leaned forward, her right hoof supporting her while her left hoof stretched out to Fancypants. "I appreciate it, a lot! Really, I do! It must've been so much trouble to ask all of them to do this, so I'm positively ecstatic to give it a try!" she assured. It wasn't a complete lie, but 'ecstatic' wasn't exactly the word she had wanted. "O-oh," Fancypants uttered before gazing back down to his plate. "Wonderful. I'll have Fleur find you a wonderful outfit to wear when the time arises." "Lovely," was all Rarity responded with. Truthfully, she was drifting off slightly. Not because she wasn't interested; she was. But, when Fancypants had spoke those words to her, he was sounding so uncertain. His tone was one that she couldn't recognize; on him anyway. She had heard it come from other ponies before, but Fancypants? Never. She didn't mention it though, only staring at the plate's reflection of her face. The tone had been subtle; nearly unnoticable. Only a true friend would've noticed it. He sounded more than nervous. He sounded scared. Fancy... is there something you're not telling me?