//------------------------------// // Change // Story: The Life of a Trophy Wife // by dei-dei //------------------------------// Fleur looked around the room more closely as she started to calm down, noticing a door hidden slightly between a stack of books and papers. She shoved the books out of the way, creating more of a mess in the room then there already was, and opened the door. It was a closet, filled with old coats and boxes. She shuffled through the coats, thinking she might be able to find some more information about her husband she didn't know. Fleur discovered a large safe in the corner of the closet, hidden away by a stack of boxes. She shoved the boxes out of the way to get a closer look, struggling, trying to lift the safe with her magic. It wouldn't budge, the safe was much too heavy. I’m sure I can open this at least. Fleur thought. The safe was locked with a dial, Fleur put her head close to the safe and started to turn the dial with her magic. *click *click *ching! It opened. Fleur clapped hooves, being pleased with herself, then her eyes widened as she noticed the contents of the safe. Thousands and thousands of golden bits and gems! Oh my, this extravagant! Fleur thought to herself as she gazed at the stash, looking through the bits to find any sort of documentation. This is completely illegal, having a secret stash hidden from the banks! This is all too much for one pony, I have to get out of here. Fleur raised herself out of the mess, looking around for some sort of bag. She found a large satchel in the closet and started floating bits and gems inside. Like hell I'm going to leave empty handed, Fleur thought as she looked around the room some more. She stared at the photographs she threw on the floor and sighed, floating them to her, taking a closer look. I have to keep these, it's the only evidence I have...She thought to herself as she put those into the satchel as well. As the safe emptied, Fleur started heading towards the door. I must leave as quickly as possible, she thought as she floated the satchel to her, ready to leave. I hope nopony sees me as I leave. Fleur slowly opened the door, thinking the worst as she peeked outside. Nopony. Thank Celestia, she thought to herself, relieved. She dashed out the door with a floating satchel behind her. Fleur had never been in a situation where she was doing something wrong in her own home, but right now everything seemed to be turned upside down. She went to her bedroom first, floating down her suitcases as she started stuffing them with her best clothes. A sleeping Bastien awoke from such a rush of movement; he yipped annoyingly trying to get in Fleur's way. “Oh, not now Bastien! Mommy's in a hurry!” Fleur said as she grabbed and stuffed things every which way. I can't take everything, Fleur thought with a sigh as she stuffed her second suitcase, in fact I probably don't need anything except this satchel. Fleur stopped for a moment, trying to calm down and think. She knew she couldn't stay here any longer, and she knew Fancy could be home at any time. Fleur felt like a criminal knowing all this new information about her husband, having illegal secret stashes of money and a mistress from Ponyville, it was all too much for her to bear. She put the two suitcases aside and floated a small purse towards her. Fleur went into her bathroom and put inside the essentials, then floated a smaller suitcase onto her bed where she laid the satchel and a couple pairs of clothes. That's much better, Fleur thought to herself as she looked at her new luggage. She floated a large sun hat and sun glasses towards her, putting them on. Fleur looked at herself in the mirror, I hope this is discrete enough for nopony to recognize me immediately; I don't need any attention as I leave. Fleur looked at her purse and suitcase, satisfied, then gazed around the room to see if she missed anything. She was startled by a small bark from Bastien, who had been sitting on her bed, waiting. “Ohhh I mustn't leave you Bastien, you're my precious angel” She cooed as she kissed his head and put him inside her purse. Fleur then looked at her nightstand near her bed, opening a small drawer underneath, revealing a diamond horn ring. She lifted the ring into the air, staring at it. It was the ring Fleur received when Fancy and her were wed. “I guess…I won't be needing this.” She said to herself as she continued to stare at it, wishing things could've gone differently. A knock at Fleur's door snapped her back into reality; she dropped the ring onto the floor and quickly floated a blanket over her luggage, opening it. Fleur relaxed as she saw that it was only the servant pony from earlier. “My lady, Mr. Fancy has called, he wishes to tell you that he won't be home until tomorrow morning and that he hopes you're preparing for your next shoot.” said the servant in a very serious manner. “Well, tell my hus- Mr. Fancy that I have a different set of plans for myself,” Fleur said as she floated her purse and suitcase to her, walking out the door, “If he calls again tell him I'm going on a trip.” “Yes my lady,” the servant said with a bow, “Will you need any help carrying your luggage?” “No thank you, I can take care of myself.” Fleur kept her luggage close as she walked the streets of Canterlot. It was a much different scene at night, almost nopony was out and about, it made Fleur feel on edge. She wore a trench coat, her hat, and sunglasses, looking very suspicious as she trotted with her purse and suitcase. The streets were dark with dimly lit light posts laid out across each street, only a few houses could be seen with lights on. The cool night air felt nice as Fleur trotted quickly to the train station, there were no taxis running this late at night. She entered the station, surprised at how beautiful it looked at night. The glass ceiling with its crystal chandeliers hanging truly made the area feel special. Too bad there were only two ponies to be seen this late at night, a janitor earth pony who was mopping the train station floor and a colt running the ticket booth. “How many tickets?” the ticket booth colt asked in a very monotone sort of way. “Just one, here” Fleur gave the colt a gold bit for the ticket. “Where to lady?” “Ponyville” Fleur took her seat on the train, looking around to see if anypony was near. The train was completely bare from what she could tell. She petted Bastien as she looked out her window, thinking hard about the situation she was now in. Fancy is going to be furious Fleur thought as she gave Bastien a biscuit. First things first, I must confront Rarity, no matter what. Maybe not immediately though, I want to see what Fancy is going to do with me gone. She giggled to herself, this is an awful situation I'm in, but nothing has been this exciting in a while. Fleur's face then turned serious, I'm probably never going to see that house again, or Canterlot, or my friends....she looked down and sighed, I'm a soon to be criminal once Fancy finds out that I’m gone. He is never going to forgive me. Fleur then started to cry, she had never been on her own except for those days as a filly. Fancy had meant the world to her, and despite using her for the wrong reasons he still made her successful and (to Fleur) beautiful. What am I doing....this is a mis- “Excuse me, miss lady,” A young filly whispered confidently as she poked Fleur on the shoulder, the fillies eyes widened as she saw that Fleur was crying. Fleur wiped her face with her hoof and looked at the filly. “Oh umm...I'm sorry lady, it's just I noticed you from my seat. I'm Diamond Tiara and I’m going to be pretty, just like you!” Fleur looked at the filly in astonishment as she continued, “I met you at one of my daddy's parties a few weeks ago, we were just coming back home from a trip to Canterlot, my Dad is a very important business stallion.” “I see, well I'm glad to see you agai-” “My daddy is going to be super happy you're here, he probably has tons of important things to talk to you about, I should go get him.” Diamond interrupted as she started to dart towards the other corridor. “NO!” Fleur grabbed the fillies shoulder fast, stopping her. “No, that won't be necessary. Tell me, why do you want to be like me?” Diamond looked at Fleur with her large violet eyes and took a seat next to her, ready to answer. “Because you're the most beautiful mare in the world and I want to be a model, just like you.”