//------------------------------//
// Comforting? 
// Story: Tickling Somepony's Fancypants 
// by TheTalentlessPony 
//------------------------------//

	"Is something bothering you?"

Rarity jerked her head up to Fancypants, looking confused suddenly. "H-huh?" The two had just been on their way back to the mansion, and the sophisticated stallion hadn't spoken until now.

"You're quiet," he muttered, gazing ahead with a rather guilty expression on his face.

"Oh. Um... yes. I suppose I am," Rarity said, gazing at the ground below as she walked. "I was just thinking about Spike at home."

"Spike," Fancypants repeated, letting the name roll off of his tongue for a moment. "That's your little dragon assistant, right?"

Rarity smiled at him. Though looking all... well, fancy, on the outside, he always seemed to slip out of it a bit whenever they were alone. "Yes. That's right."

"Anything wrong with him?" Fancypants asked. Rarity scrunched up her snout and giggled a bit in response.

Aren't we nosy all of a sudden~

"Well, not really," she replied. "I was just thinking about how he was doing. He's watching over my Boutique while I'm gone after all."

"Ah. I see..."

Fancypants went silent after that. Not wanting to say nothing for the entire walk, Rarity tried pushing the conversation onward.

"H-he has a crush on me you know!"

Admittedly, she jumped a bit at her own words; she hadn't meant to say that of all things.

Fancypants didn't verbally respond, despite stiffening up somewhat.

"Y-yeah... he..." Rarity drew her gaze to the ground once more.

Well, the words are already out...

"He's a sweet little guy. Honestly, he's helped me out more times than I could ever count! He would even abandon Twilight just to rush over and lend me a... um, claw." She didn't even bother to check if Fancypants was still listening; she was too into her story at this point.

"The whole time, I knew he had an infatuation with me. I knew that he was absolutely enamored with me. But... the fact is, it's not what he thinks it is." She let out a sigh.

"The first time he looked at me, I knew; it was lust, not love. He had fallen for me even before we had looked into each other's eyes. He fell for me for what I was; not who I am."

"It's been years since then..." Fancypants suddenly spoke. "Do you think those feelings have changed?"

Rarity frowned slightly at the stallion's words; not because of the words themselves, but how he had said them.

He seems conflicted... I wonder why?

She decided to continue regardless though; it would've been rude not to answer. "I do. They have. However, they haven't changed much. He's fallen a bit more for what I really am, but in the end, it's still my body that he's in love with." Her expression showed that of hurt as she continued. She hadn't though that just telling such a story would be so painful.

"Don't get me wrong. He's an excellent helper, and I appreciate everything he does! But..." Another sigh escaped her lips. "Sometimes, I wish he wouldn't come by. He serves as a reminder."

"Reminder?" Fancypants asked, raising a brow.

"Yes. That, despite all my talk about true love and romance, there will still be ponies who lust for me; craving me only for my body, and nothing else."

It was Fancypants' turn to sigh. He averted his gaze from her, then noticeably frowned.

"I...I apologize for tonight."

Rarity was quick to react. "No no! Fancy, please don't feel like this is your fault! You couldn't of known!"

"Perhaps we share a similar dilemma..."

Rarity blinked at the stallion. He had always been so positive, but his smile had been faltering throughout the day. And what did he mean by 'sharing a similar dilemma'?

"A-ah. There it is!"

She was brought out of her thoughts as Fancypants directed a hoof towards his mansion in the distance. "Let's get inside, shall we?"

Rarity followed hastily as he practically rushed inside.

The stallion hadn't bothered to call his servants, choosing instead to lead Rarity into the living room and offer her a seat on the couch.

"Um... thank you," she mumbled awkwardly, trying to get comfortable with her dress on.

"Feel free to take it off if you're uncomfortable. Set it on the table and I'll have it picked up for you," he told her.

"O-oh, wait!" Rarity called, but Fancypants had already left.

Mmm. Well, he's probably coming back.

She then shrugged before shifting again to remove her dress. Upon setting it down on the table, she turned her head to see Fancypants return, though she gasped somewhat as he did.

"F-Fancy... your suit!"

"Yes?"

"You're not wearing it! You don't even have your monocle!"

Fancypants deadpanned for a moment, then chuckled. "I don't need to wear them all the time, do I?"

Rarity put a hoof to her mouth. It wasn't that; most certainly not. It just seemed so odd when he wasn't wearing anything.

"W-well, I suppose not."

He smiled at her, and she returned it. However, that smile suddenly faded as he pulled out a box that had been resting on his back.

"Is that..." Rarity paused, leaning towards the stallion to get a better look. "...a box of puzzle pieces?"

Fancypants nodded, setting it on the table. "I know how much you like to organize; I thought you'd have some fun with it."

"Oh, absolutely!" she exclaimed. "I love puzzles! Let's have a go at it!"

He blinked obliviously at her. "Y-you mean... together?"

"Of course! Take a seat and we'll each complete a side!" She was insistent, using her magic to sit him next to her.

"A-alright then!" Fancypants said as he opened the box up and tilted it over. The puzzle pieces scattered across the table and made all sorts of noise, but Rarity was already sorting through them to find her side.

"I'll take the right if you take the left," she told him, cautiously eyeing the picture on the box to confirm what the final piece looked like. He nodded hesitantly and joined her in sorting the pieces.

After clicking a few pieces together, the two were already too caught up to notice one of Fancypants' servants come in. As the straight-faced pony placed a small batch of cookies on the table though, Rarity turned her attention to it.

"What are those?" she questioned, her hooves still mindlessly fumbling with a few of the puzzle pieces.

"A-ah. Well, t-they're oat and honeysuckle cookies," Fancypants responded, his tone somewhat shaky.

"Honeysuckle!? Those are my absolute favorite!" Rarity gasped. She then looked at the cookies more closely, raising a brow despite her earlier excitement. Some of the cookies were burnt at the edge, while others were a little deformed.

Cautiously, she lifted one from the plate and took a small bite; just enough to get a proper taste.

"Mmpf..." she mumbled as she chewed it. Fancypants was giving her an anxious look, but she tried not to stare at it for too long.

She then swallowed, smiling sweetly. It wasn't prepared well, but she still enjoyed it nonetheless; she could taste the love put into it.

"Who prepared it? I'll have to thank them," she told him.

"W-who?" Fancypants stuttered. Upon thinking for a moment, he gave a light shrug. "I-I have far too many servants to remember names properly, so I'm not really sure!"

"Oh? That's too bad..." she said with a frown. She brightened up quickly however and stared at him. "I'll just have to thank you then!" she exclaimed. "Thanks a lot~"

Fancypants opened his mouth to say something, but found that he couldn't. Rarity didn't seem to notice though, as she had already returned to putting her side of the puzzle together, the rest of the cookie sticking out of her mouth.

He got back to his own side as well, but was surprised as he actually finished before her.

The reason became evident quickly however. Rarity scanned under the table frantically as she swallowed her cookie, but sighed when she couldn't find what she was looking for.

"It seems like we're missing a piece," she said sadly.

"Seems so..." Fancypants muttered, sharing her expression. "I suppose you technically won though. You were done with all the pieces you had before me after all."

"I suppose." Rarity placed a hoof to her cheek in mild frustration. Being a bit obsessive, it was somewhat irritating that she couldn't finish properly.

He noticed and placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll find it," he promised. "Be it today or tomorrow, I'll find it."

She gazed at his curiously. He had sounded so determined. Sure, she was upset at the incomplete puzzle, but in the end, it wasn't that big of a deal.

"Well... alright. If you're sure," she told him, not wanting to reject his determined statement.

He smiled at her, then relaxed against the back of the couch.

"Wonderful. But for now, let's relax, shall we?"

Rarity nodded, copying his pose with great accuracy. She gently lifted another cookie to her mouth and bit into it before letting out a sigh.

"Fancy?"

"Hm?" He jerked his head to her, instantly noticing her suddenly-sad tone.

"...What if I never..." She paused, staring at the ceiling. Someone had come in and dimmed the lights, but she paid whoever it was no mind.

"Never what?" Fancypants questioned.

"What if I never find him?" she asked. He didn't have to wonder who 'him' was. He was sure.

"Why the sudden doubt?"

"It was hard; sitting through those dates... a-and don't be sorry! It's not your fault! But... it did make me realize some things. One was the fact that it wouldn't be as easy as I made it out to be. I was living a fantasy because I was so hyped-up. I dove in head-first like Rainbow Dash, more excited than Pinkie Pie, but I forgot to be realistic like Applejack, or as calculating as Twilight. Fluttershy would've wanted me to wait for him to come to me, but I simply couldn't stand the thought of being alone for much longer."

She hadn't even bothered to finish her cookie at this point. She set it back on the plate, looking sad that her stomach was no longer in the mood for such a treat. Fancypants looked at her sympathetically, but didn't know how to properly respond. As such, he asked a question that had been on his mind instead.

"Rarity... does it get lonely down there in Ponyville?"

She straightened up suddenly, ready to yell out "Of course not!" or "How could you say that!? I have my friends!", but something stopped her. She pondered the question for a moment before replying.

"It does. It really truly does. I know I shouldn't say it, but it's the truth. Regardless of how often my friends are there for me, they can't be with me like a husband can. They can't hold me like he can. They can tell me that I should wait, but I feel like I'll go crazy if I just sit around and wait for years upon end."

Fancypants was silent, biting his bottom lip as though holding back a statement.

"...Is that my problem, Fancy?"

He jumped slightly, not expecting Rarity to ask him such a question.

"Am I too greedy? Am I too impatient? I've been searching for someone to match me for so long; someone perfect for me. Is it my fault that I can't find him?"

He reacted much faster this time. "A-absolutely not!"

He quickly pulled the mare close to him, his forelegs resting on her back. Rarity didn't respond verbally, but her body stiffened to his touch.

"...Do you want to know my opinion?" he questioned. She was quiet at first, then nodded.

He frowned. He hadn't actually meant to ask that; but it was too late. He had already said it, and was already opening his mouth to say something even more.

"Someone to match you perfectly; you won't find him," he told her. He heard her gasp slightly, but just tightened his grip. "You won't find him because you're too perfect. You're too kind, too generous. No stallion could possibly match the greatness that you have. You're a rarity; one that can't be equaled to another."

She was silent suddenly, and he feared that he had said too much. Eventually though, he felt her forelegs come around his waist as she embraced him.

"Thank you," she whispered. He nodded.

"And look; if you're still concerned about finding someone, then I'll tell you what. There's a special ball tomorrow. Even some non-Canterlot ponies will be there. I'll have Fleur De Lis take you; I'll even give you my invitation. You might find someone there," he explained.

"Would you really do that? For me?"

Fancypants hesitated at his response.

"...Yes. We are friends, after all."

"Then I'd love to. It sounds... sounds..."

He blinked. Was she drifting off?

"...nice," she uttered before falling asleep right then and there. The last thing she felt was a pair of strong forelegs holding her, and a large blanket being draped around her.