//------------------------------// // 67. Sweet & Elite - Part 2 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Blueblood slowed to catch his breath as he started climbing the stairs up the tower atop which was Rarity’s suite. As he climbed, Blueblood was feeling nervous. I hope Miss Rarity isn’t cross with me for being late. Perhaps she isn’t back yet? No, that meeting went on for an unfortunate two hours and that extra hour I spent in Soarin’s good company… He knew he was probably fretting over nothing but he still felt nervous about the off-chance Rarity might in fact be cross. Sighing as he approached the doors, he politely reached up to knock when the doors flew open (inwardly, thankfully) and Rarity gasped to see Blueblood. “Oh, Blueblood darling, forgive me, I-” “Rarity, is something wrong?” Blueblood could just feel Rarity’s tension, and she looked like she was going out again, as she had her cat in her carrier. “Oh it’s nothing dear,” Rarity assured him but then she looked miffed. “Just some unsavory sorts I had the misfortune of meeting today.” “Hmm,” Blueblood had an idea of what was going on. “Well, why don’t I accompany you and you can tell me all about it.” In the shopping district, Rarity went through store after store, purchasing fabrics, accessories, and other aesthetics, obviously preparing to make a new ensemble. Blueblood had offered to buy them for her but Rarity would not hear of it while he heard from her just what had rattled her cage. “And then they called my hat unworthy of Canterlot! Ooh, those- Those- Ooh!” she growled, unsure of what to say without sounding unladylike. “It’s quite alright, Rarity,” Blueblood said as he levitated her shopping bags. “I have been a repeated victim of such uncouth behavior from various ponies amongst the Canterlot Elite. As for these two ponies you met, Jet Set and Upper Crust, I know them well.” “Do you?” Rarity was intrigued. “Jet Set is actually my biggest competitor in the airship business,” Blueblood explained. “While I still outshine him he is determined to knock me off my pedestal as the top pony in the airship industry. As for his wife, Upper Crust is even more unsavory than her husband, and likes to show off her social status by throwing the Canterlot Garden Party.” “She is the pony who hosts for the Canterlot Garden Party?!” Rarity was aghast. “Why, next to the Grand Galloping Gala, that is the premiere event in Canterlot!” “Don’t let the reputation fool you, Rarity,” Blueblood waved it off. “It’s just a gathering of the most snobbiest amongst the Canterlot Elite where they subtly and indirectly insult and try to one-up each other and show off examples of their wealth, success, and fame. I went once a few years ago and it so unpleasant an experience that I never attended another.” “Hmm,” the more Rarity heard of the glamorous life in Canterlot the more she realized how not-so-glamorous it really was. “Anyway, what exactly is this shopping spree for?” Blueblood asked. “Oh! Well, after what those two said about my chapeau,” Rarity explained, “I decided I would show them something worthy of Canterlot… by designing for my good friend, Twilight Sparkle, a fabulous new dress for her birthday next week!” “Ah, Twilight Sparkle's birthday is coming up? How is she, by the way?” Blueblood inquired. “You two know each other?” Rarity was surprised. “Of course we know each other,” Blueblood affirmed with a shrugging smile, “How could I not be acquainted with my auntie’s personal protégée? We met in my aunt’s School for Gifted Unicorns and even shared some of the same classes. We worked together on a project once for our alchemy class.” “Sounds to me you two were good friends,” Rarity said with a smile. “Eh... not exactly,” Blueblood admitted with a look of light bewilderment. “Twilight and I were on good terms but she was so obsessed with being the best student she could be for my aunt and we just grew apart. To tell you the truth, Rarity, before Twilight moved to Ponyville, I just came to the conclusion that she was more interested in books than friends.” “Well, I can tell you without a doubt that is no longer the case,” Rarity assured him, “and I am positive that she will find what I have in store for her to be fabulous!” After making one more purchase, Rarity moved at a brisk trot, carrying some of the bags, Blueblood following as Rarity said, “Now that I have everything I need, we must get back to the castle. This new outfit is quite ambitious and I’ve already written to Twilight promising she’d have something beyond fabulous to wear to her-” “Rarity, look out!” Blueblood called out.. *OOF/CRASH* “Too late…” he muttered and saw that Rarity had dropped her bags, her purchases spilling out all over, and the pony she’d bumped into had one of the bags over his head. But then Blueblood noticed the pony behind him, a svelte-figured unicorn mare, white in coat, blossom pink in mane, her cutie-mark a trio of fleur-de-liss symbols. “Fleur?” He jolted as he realized, Then that means that pony is…! Fleur pulled the bag off the pony’s head revealing a very handsome unicorn stallion, also white in coat, his light azure mane in a wavy style, a small but attractive moustache adorning his upper lip, and a monocle over his left eye, connecting toe the suit he wore, the coat-tails designed so as not to hide his cutie-mark, a trio of three-pointed crowns, each centered with a purple jewel. He was tall and sturdy in barrel with somewhat of a paunch so he was thicker than Blueblood's own slender musculature. “Fancy Pants!”[Rarity gasped. "Oh no..." Blueblood muttered to himself. “I say, that’s one way to make an introduction,” Fancy Pants said in a posh accent, his wife helping him dust off. “Oh goodness, I am so sorry! I didn’t see you there,” Rarity gushed as she started recollecting her purchases. “I’ve just got so many bags and I was in a hurry to get back to my suite at the castle and-” “You’re… staying at the castle?” Fancy Pants inquired when he noticed Blueblood. “Ah, Your Excellency, this is a surprise. Would you and this mare know each other?” “Yes,” Blueblood said, secretly uncomfortable and wanting to move on. “Miss Rarity and I were just on our way back to the castle and we were… careless.” “Ah, so am I to assume this is another of your… escorts?” Fancy Pants asked with a very subtle tone of condescending. “No, as a matter of fact,” Blueblood replied, his eyes narrowing, “Miss Rarity and I are good friends and I invited her to the castle when I heard she was coming to Canterlot for a visit.” “Wait, you two know each other?” Rarity asked. “Miss Rarity, just collect your things and let’s move on,” Blueblood pressed but Fancy Pants spoke up. “Do we know each other?” he chuckled. “Why, up until a few years ago, I was Canterlot’s most renowned bachelor, and the duke here kept to his awkward self with his airships. However, I reached that age where I was no longer... eligible for that title. So I wed my beloved while the duke stepped out with some leg-candy and claimed the title himself!” Blueblood glared at Fancy Pants and Rarity could feel a not-so-friendly vibe coming off of him but then Fancy Pant’s wife, Fleur spoke up as she levitated one of Rarity’s bags. “Mmm, a pony of expensive tastes I see!” “Oh, it’s for an ensemble I’m making for a friend,” Rarity explained, accepting the bag back. “Her birthday is in a few days.” “Why how generous,” Fancy Pants complimented her, ignoring the glare Blueblood gave him. “Listen, I have a VIP box reserved for the Wonderbolts derby this afternoon. Perhaps, if you are not too busy, you might concede to join me and a few of my companions.” “Miss Rarity just told you, she has a project to get started for her friend,” Blueblood interjected. “Rarity, please, let’s just move along.” “We’d love to see you there, Miss Rarity, is it?” Fancy Pants invited. Between these two stallions, Rarity was at a loss for words. On one hoof, she did want to get started on her project and didn’t want to draw Blueblood into an uncomfortable situation, on the other Fancy Pants was acting like such a gentlecolt and had graciously offered to her such an opportunity! “Well, I’m- Uh, ah, no- Sure!” “Jolly good, and you’re welcome to attend as well, Blueblood, my good fellow,” Fancy Pants invited as he gestured to his wife to come along. At the castle, Rarity felt conflicted as she and Blueblood spoke. “Blueblood, I am so sorry, I just felt put on the spot…!” “It’s alright,” Blueblood sighed, “It’s just that… Well, let's just say, Fancy Pants and I do not get along.” “Well, not to take sides or anything, Blueblood dear,” Rarity brought up, “but aside a derisive remark of two, he was quite a gentlecolt.” “You haven’t known him as long as I have, Rarity,” Blueblood reminded her, “nor as well as I do. Fancy Pants admittedly is among the few more… approachable ponies among the Canterlot Elite. But he is no less unscrupulous in climbing the social ladder. …Are you going to attend the derby?” “Well, seeing the derby from the VIP box is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Rarity considered. “Not unless you can watch the derby from the royal box,” Blueblood countered with a smirk. “Not to mention, attending the derby cuts into the time I have to make Twilight’s dress,” Rarity agreed. “However… Next to the royal family, Fancy Pants is the most important pony in Canterlot. His stamp of approval could mean big things for me here.” “Well, Rarity, while perhaps Twilight’s birthday isn’t quite the posh event as the derby,” Blueblood reasoned, “you know your friends will appreciate your work more than anypony!” “I would hate to let them down…” Rarity conceded, looking conflicted as she looked at the sketch of the dress she intended to design and the mannequin her suite had come with. “…And I won’t.” Blueblood nodded proudly as Rarity stepped into the walk-in closet… “Blueblood, I am going to the Wonderbolts Derby as a guest of Fancy Pants!” He gaped at her as she squealed all giddy, topped with another stylish chapeau, and sighed as he decided to accompany her. Making their way through the seats, the two unicorns approached the sectioned off entryway to the VIP box, stationed by a Royal Guard. “We were invited by Fancy Pants, let us through,” Blueblood ordered, the guard obliging while Blueblood took a moment to enjoy the stunned looks of disbelief coming from two certain unicorns amongst the general audience. As they made their way into the box, they were met by Fancy Pants. “Rarity, Blueblood, jolly good to see you, so glad you could make it.” But at that moment, they were mobbed by other Canterlot socialites, chattering away, some of them greeting Blueblood, others kissing up to Fancy Pants, when Blueblood announced, “Everypony, I’d like you to meet my fillyfriend, Rarity.” They all stopped talking and gave the fashionista a look, much to her discomfort as they started talking amongst themselves. Blueblood would have to have been deaf to not hear some of the things they said. “Who is she?” “Never heard of her.” “Probably a nopony.” “Another piece of leg-candy for the prince…” Before Blueblood could say anything the announcer got everypony’s attention. “Fillies & gentlecolts, welcome to the Wonderbolts Derby! The competitors are taking their places at the starting line thus the race shall begin momentarily!” “I’ll be rooting for Rapidfire, of course,” Fancy Pants stated, “He’s sure to take home the grand prize.” Blueblood rolled his eyes as the socialites all nodded and agreed with Fancy Pant’s opinion. “Psst, Blueblood,” Rarity whispered something into his ear, making him nod. “Are you sure?” he asked. “Trust me!” She gave him a wink. Nodding, Blueblood spoke aloud, “I don’t think he has a chance against Fleetfoot!” The socialites were surprised by Blueblood being of a different opinion “In fact, if you’re willing, Fancy, perhaps you’d like to place a wager…” “Oh?” Fancy raised a brow in intrigue. “Very well then, if Rapidfire wins, I get the first of your upcoming new line of airships, for free.” “And if Fleetfoot wins, I get ownership of that new restaurant of yours,” Blueblood responded, “Chez la Prance, no?” “And in the event neither Fleetfoot nor Rapidfire wins, we call it a draw,” Fancy Pants amended. “Sounds fair.” The ponies present were in awe of this wager but before anypony could comment on it, the bugle sounded the race was about to begin and everypony peered to watched the race. The ref raised the checkered flag… and they were off! The racers consisted of Spitfire, Soarin, Fleetfoot, Cloud Nine, and Rapidfire. Considering the size of the track, the race ended all too quickly as the announcer called, “And it’s Fleetfoot by a nose...!” “WHOO-HOO!” Blueblood whooped, not caring how uncharacteristic it was for a prince, Rarity cheering with him. “Bravo, Your Highness,” Fancy Pants was honestly impressed. “I say, how did you know Fleetfoot would be victorious?” “Because I have my own lady luck right here,” Blueblood declared as he gave Rarity a kiss on the brow, making her blush. “My friend Rainbow Dash speaks of Fleetfoot all the time,” she admitted. “She says what Fleetfoot lacks in size she makes up for in speed.” “And who is this… Rainbow Dash?” asked Silver Frames, a middle-aged socialite earth pony mare, and the question invoked a pregnant pause as everypony looked expectantly at Rarity, making her nervous. “Why, she’s only the most recent winner of the Best Young Flier’s Competition,” Blueblood came to his mare’s rescue. “Not to mention, a favorite candidate to join the Wonderbolts, personally favored by my aunt, Princess Celestia, and the pony who represents the Element of Loyalty.” “Ooh!” the socialites awed. “The pony who stole our good Prince Blueblood’s heart, and among the ponies who represent the Elements of Harmony!" Fancy Pants noted in an admiring tone, "I told you all this is a very important pony!” Blueblood frowned as Fancy Pants held Rarity’s hoof in his own, declaring, “Three cheers for Rarity and His Royal Highness, Prince Blueblood, my new favorite party-guests!” The socialites all did the customary three ‘hip-hip-hoorays, Blueblood smiling at his fillyfriend, grateful to her for helping him get one over his rival and glad she was starting to get the reputation she desired.