//------------------------------// // 68. Sweet & Elite - Part 3 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// “...and then I said, ‘Puh-lease, that isn’t a hat, darling’,” Rarity joked to the socialites, “‘that’s a natural disaster that somehow landed atop your head’!” The socialites all laughed at her joke, perhaps a little too hard, as Blueblood was certain they were motivated to be in his and Rarity’s good graces because of Fancy Pants. That’s the way it was among the upper-class. Who you know, who knows you, and one’s perspective of another could so very easily sway the balance in or out of one’s favor. But far be it from the honorary prince than to deflate his fillyfriend’s delight in garnering her new reputation. “Oh you are a delight, Rarity,” complimented Silver Frames, “an absolute delight! You and Prince Blueblood simply must attend my art gallery opening this evening!” “Oh, I’d love to but-” Rarity spoke but then a unicorn stallion socialite, Golden Gavel, spoke up. “And Prince Blueblood, I hope you and your lovely lady will not forget my charity auction tomorrow morning.” “Well, that sounds wonderful, but we-” Blueblood tried to decline but then another of the socialites, Swan Song, cut in. “And of course I would welcome you as the honored couple of my dinner party tomorrow night!” “Well, we’re flattered, really!” Blueblood spoke up, his tone making the socialites gape in nervousness. “It's just that I have a project I really must get started on-” Rarity tried to explained. “Ohh, but Rarity!” cried Silver Frames, “I may as well close the whole gallery, if you can’t attend!” “And my auction is for charity, Your Excellency,” Golden Gavel nervously reminded them, “For charity!” “And my dinner party would be a disaster if the honored guests didn't come,” despaired Swan Song. Blueblood and Rarity shared a nervous look and felt the bane of peer-pressure worsened by the fact the peers were the upper-crust. “…Of course we’ll be there,” Rarity conceded, much to the socialites’ reliefs and Blueblood’s sighing chagrin. But he couldn’t really blame her for submitting. Rarity, however sophisticated and elegant she was, was inexperienced in the world of the social-elite for she was truly a young mare from a small town. Regardless of her having Fancy Pants’ favor, Rarity’s reputation was built upon being connected to other important ponies, not from social accomplishments that the socialites were more familiar with and interested in. Being an honorary prince and adoptive nephew of Princess Celestia, Blueblood could have declined their invites without batting an eye. Even so, he decided to indulge Rarity’s decision as they made their way back to the castle. “I’m so sorry, Blueblood,” Rarity hoped her coltfriend was not cross with her. Through their letters, she’d learned more of the relationships he’d had the misfortune of being in, and how badly they turned out. She didn’t want Blueblood to start thinking she was just like those mares he’d gone out with previously. “I really didn’t want to oblige their invitations, but-” “Calm down, dear,” Blueblood assured her, “I went through exactly the same thing when I was younger.” “You?” Rarity was surprised. “Of course! You don’t think there was a lack of waves among the Canterlot Elite when Auntie Celestia made me an honorary prince and her nephew, do you?” Blueblood smirked, taking a guilty satisfaction in the duped look on his fillyfriend’s face. “I was born to House Polaris, which is of lesser nobility, and my parents were invited to the Gala when I was a little colt. They brought me along as well, and during the event, I wandered off from my mother and bumped into Princess Celestia.” “Really?” Rarity had never actually heard of how Celestia made Blueblood her nephew. “What happened?” “Mind you, I was only five,” Blueblood chuckled. “I met the princess for the first time that night, and when she looked down to me, I said ‘Wow, you’re sooooo big!’” Rarity chuckled with him and gestured for him to continue his story. “My mother appeared and scolded me for wandering away from her and bothering royalty,” Blueblood went on. “But Celestia assured her I hadn’t been a bother at all, and she called me a cute little colt. In response to that, I said ‘I’m not little, I just turned five’! She laughed and said, ‘Alright, a big colt, then,’ and I said ‘That’s better’.” Rarity laughed more, picturing the idea of a five year-old Blueblood giving the princess the business as only a five year-old colt could. “After that night, Celestia started inviting my parents and I into the castle,” Blueblood proceeding snapped his mare out of her little reverie. “On my seventh birthday, Celestia’s present to me was the honorary title of ‘prince’ and the status as her nephew, even though we are only distantly related. But that was the beginning of a hard journey for me.” “You don’t say,” Rarity was becoming more and more intrigued. “I do say,” Blueblood confirmed. “My parents enrolled me into my aunt’s School for Gifted Unicorns and the teachers were hard on me, saying as Her Majesty’s nephew and a prince, even an honorary one, a great much was expected of me. My aunt helped make my education more bearable, but she couldn’t completely solve my social problems. Other students bullied me or they refused to be my friend, because they thought I was some spoiled brat who would brag of having such favor from the princess.” “But that wasn’t fair,” Rarity was appalled. “She made you her nephew clearly because she loves you!” “She does,” Blueblood agreed. “and I love her very much as well. She became a second mother to me after my parents passed away. When they were gone, I locked myself up in my room in the castle and refused to talk to anyone, and spent so long crying and wishing I had them back. Heh, I even threw a book at my aunt the first time she tried to comfort me. I felt bad for doing that and tried to avoid her but it got to the point where she forced a conversation between us, and she finally helped me begin my road to recovery.” Rarity blinked away the tears before they could escape her ducts. “From then on, I sought to become a prince she could be proud of,” Blueblood went on. “I studied hard and made friends. Or rather, I made suck-ups. No matter how hard I tried, all the ponies I tried to befriend weren’t what you would call sincere. They would either turn me down, snub my offering hoof, or they sucked up to me, hoping to gain favor. “ “And the fact those mares you dated weren't sincere didn’t help,” Rarity realized. “But that changed that night at the gala, Rarity,” Blueblood assured her. “I still feel a twinge of guilt for the way I initially acted towards you, but I felt as though somepony was telling me that if I gave up on romance and didn’t take the risk of looking for it, I’d never find it. I am so very glad I took that risk, and that it was for you.” This time, Rarity didn’t hold back as a tear went down her smiling face and she nuzzled against her prince, Blueblood resting his chin on top of her head as they stood in the threshold of the castle, not caring if anypony saw them. Rarity insisted Blueblood joined her in her suite, where Opalescence was just waking from a catnap. “Looks like we’ll be spending a few more days here, Opalescence,” Rarity spoke to her cat as she levitated a pink scarf onto the mannequin and looked through her jewelry box. “It turns out that bumping into Fancy Pants like that was the-” She stopped herself and gave Blueblood a loving look, “The second best thing that’s ever happened to me.” “I hope you won’t forget the promise you made to Twilight, my dear,” Blueblood reminded her with a teasing smirk while noticing Opal rubbing against the mannequin. “Of course not, darling,” Rarity in a blasé tone, “it remains my top priority. You know, I’m quite certain Twilight would appreciate you attending her birthday as well, give you a chance to catch up.” “Oh I wouldn’t want to impose,” Blueblood honestly did find the notion appealing as he entertained the thought. “Just as I wouldn’t want to disappoint the Canterlot elite by rejecting their invitations,” Rarity added, Blueblood double-taking at her statement. And just like that, Rarity immersed herself further into the world of high society, with her coltfriend as her guide. They attended Silver Frames’ art gallery where one positive critique by Rarity made the mare’s night. The next morning, Golden Gavel began his charity auction with a lovely oriental pottery piece, whereupon Blueblood’s first bid sparked an explosion of bids that caused the auctioneer to drop his gavel in overwhelmed surprise. When they attended Swan Song’s dinner party that night, Rarity and Blueblood easily noticed how the dinner partygoers hung on every word they spoke, ever watchful for their approving glances, such as when Rarity chose a particular among the vittles that the others chose the same thing. They caught an opera-show, attended Fancy Pant’s party on his personal aerial yacht, all the while becoming the talk of all of Canterlot. Despite the whirlwind experience, the couple enjoyed their time together more than the outings themselves, that Blueblood gave the christening of his latest airship to Rarity. But a teensy-weensy, yet-ever-so-crucial little tiny detail escaped them both: Rarity had yet to get a serious start on Twilight’s birthday dress. Blueblood sighed as he looked through the paperwork of his company, taking a sip of his morning coffee. He’d received several employee requests, was already starting the building blocks of his next airship design, and Rarity was going home today, and she’d convinced him to come with her to Twilight’s birthday. He just wanted to get as much of this out of the way as he could before the time of departure. Oftentimes when Blueblood left Canterlot, he was often called back, if not by his company then by his aunt, for reasons involving business or politics. He didn’t want to leave and get a message requesting his presence back just a day after. He looked to the clock and flinched at the time. I have to hurry…! I’d at the very least like to purchase a birthday present for Miss Twilight before I meet Rarity at the station! “Your Highness.” He acknowledged his personal assistant as she levitated a note to him, and what he read astounded him! “You wrote Twilight that your cat is ill so you could go to the Canterlot Garden party instead of her birthday?!” “But Blueblood dear!” Rarity whined, “It’s such a big event, were I to decline it could very well ruin my new reputation as a very important pony!” Blueblood sighed in frustration. “Rarity, I expected better of you! I’ve just now recalled how you’ve procrastinated in the dress you promised Twilight for her birthday.” He looked to the mannequin and frowned that the only addition made to it was the yellow basic outfit, with the pink scarf encircling the shoulders and resting upon the back. “It blows my mind that you would put those snobs before your friends!” “Blueblood, please,” Rarity honestly looked regretful now. “I-I’ve just gotten so caught up in- Please understand, it’s always been my dream to be a Canterlot pony of high society, since I started my career as a fashion-designer! I know that it’s been made possible because of who I know, but now I have a solid reputation, and I am so grateful to you for helping me!” Seeing the look on his fillyfriend’s face, Blueblood sighed. “Rarity, I can understand if what you’re doing is for the pursuit of your dreams… but I will not accompany you to that party.” “What?! Blueblood…!” Rarity looked on the verge of collapse. “Are you… breaking up with me?!” “No, my dear,” Blueblood assured her as he nuzzled her. “But I am leaving you with some food for thought – Who would you rather give of yourself to, those ponies who love you, who care for you, and will always appreciate you for you, or those who want to say they are friends with you to make themselves look good?” And without waiting for her response, Blueblood left the suite. Blueblood sighed, hoping Rarity wouldn’t mistake his words and believe it was a break-up, as he made his way to his aunt’s private chambers. He needed some advice. Knocking on the door, he waited a moment before they opened and she said, “Come in.” He entered and saw his aunt apparently reading a scroll. “Oh, nephew, I’m glad you’re here. Twilight just sent me a message that Rarity would not be able to attend her birthday in Ponyville. Do you know why?” “…I do, Auntie,” he sighed, Celestia quickly noticing his mood. “What's the matter, Blueblood?” she invited him to sit on a cushion near her, and he obliged. “Aunt Celestia, have you ever felt that somepony you care for has… misplaced priorities?” Blueblood asked. “Hmm, you could say that,” Celestia nodded. “You are aware that when I was still young, my sister and I were under the tutelage of Star Swirl the Bearded?” “Of course,” Blueblood nodded, “Everypony’s heard of the great wizard Star Swirl, you even have a whole wing named after him in the royal library!” “Understand, nephew, Star Swirl was good and wise, and an encouraging teacher to me and my sister,” Celestia explained. “But… he was lacking in some ways, as everypony is. For Star Swirl, it was his belief that the needs of the few were inconsequential next to the needs of the many, and while in certain cases that is true, he was less than sympathetic at times when my sister and I were daunted by our royal duties and for what we wished. During my teenage years… I fell in love, but due to a tangled mess of problems, Star Swirl would soon advise me to end the relationship. At the time, I was not the calm, cool, and collected princess everypony knows me as today, and in my foolishness, I heeded his advice. I regret that decision to this day.” “What happened?” Blueblood was intrigued, as his aunt spoke so little of her foalhood. “I’m afraid I am not ready to share that story,” Celestia answered, Blueblood inwardly groaning in disappointment. “But after the work done to attempt to resolve the outcome, my relationship with Star Swirl afterwards was never the same. I continue to regard him with respect as my old mentor, but my opinion of him has never been as it once was. In retrospect, my dear nephew, I realized I did not trust myself to make my own decisions nor did I attempt to try and sway Star Swirl’s principles, a lesson I have since regarded as an important one and a costly one. What I am saying, Blueblood, is if you do not try to remind those you care about of the right path the outcome of such indecision can haunt you for the rest of your life. Would this query have to do with Rarity?” “…Yes, it does,” Blueblood admitted. “She has chosen to attend the Canterlot Garden Party over Miss Twilight’s birthday, and she fibbed that her cat is ill as an excuse.” “Hmm,” Celestia regarded this revelation, Blueblood looking on in hopefulness his aunt would have the solution. “I think I have an idea. Twilight also informed me she is moving the party here to Canterlot, intending to surprise Rarity so she won’t have to miss out.” Blueblood’s eyes widened as he started to see where this was going.