//------------------------------// // Shining Armor Dumps on Rarity // Story: Fluttershocked // by Gregory the Mighty //------------------------------// Rarity tossed her mane as she trotted down main street of Ponyville. It had been an exhausting day. First, she had to convince Spike to take out the garbage for her. Second, she charmed Snips and Snails into moving some heavy boxes of fabric. Lastly, she got Big McIntosh to deliver a cart full of dresses. But now it was her time, she had agreed to greet Fluttershy at the train station. Fluttershy had been at the Equestria Animal Rescue convention in Appleloosa. After a few minutes of waiting the train pulled in. It seemed to have a few extra cars on it than usual. A few minutes more and Fluttershy appeared, brandishing not only her normal travel bag, but a steamer trunk full of swag she had picked up from the various tables at the expo. Rarity greeted her friend, but was not enthused about carrying that trunk. She began to look around the platform for eligible stallions. At the end of the platform, getting out of a private car was a handsome white unicorn with a light blue mane. He had a mare with him in a black suit and sunglasses. Someone with a personal guard and a personal train car could only be a VIP from Canterlot--perhaps royalty! “Rarity, do you think you could help me carry this trunk to the shipping station? I need to have it shipped up to Cloudsdale.” asked Fluttershy meekly. “Oh, just wait a minute, dear. I’ll have a strapping stallion to carry it in a moment.” Rarity said with a squee. Rarity trotted over to the handsome piece of plot, but she was cut off by the mare in black. “Please step away from Mr. Shining Armor! I will have to check you for weapons!” “But I’m naked.” Rarity protested, but to no avail. The mare in black gave her a pat down anyway. She was a white earth pony, very strong and well groomed. Her bright red mane was braided tightly, as was her tail. A red snake was the cutie mark on her cream coat. The pat down seemed to be going on for a bit too long when the stallion pulled her back. “You’ll have to forgive my bodyguard, Cinnamon Viper. She takes her job very seriously.” Rarity was a bit embarrassed. “Oh, are you two a couple?” “I’m a lesbian!” She belted. Rarity was taken back. Shining Armor gave her a playful nudge. “There you go. Want me to put in a good word for you?” Rarity blushed, “Oh, no that’s alright. I was just going to ask you if wanted a tour of Ponyville, you’re new here?” “As a matter of fact, yes. Could you direct me to the library? I heard there are some excellent books there.” “My. I’d love to. It’s right this way. I must say I didn’t expect such a handsome pony as yourself to be into books.” Rarity cooed. “Why, thank you. I must say, you look particularly illiterate as well.” Rarity was frozen by the sharp back-hoofed compliment. She pointed down Main Street and gave him directions down to the library, after which he politely turned his back and trotted away with his bodyguard. Rarity could not believe what had happened. She reviewed the events in her mind, which for some reason were animated in felt; 1. Walk up to a stallion. Check. 2. Flatter him. Check. 3. He will do whatever I ask of him. Not Check. Rarity nearly fainted. It was as if the fabric of the world had fallen apart. She was not going take this lying down! As Celestia as her witness, she was going to have that stallion as hers! Fluttershy poked her head out from the station exit. “Um, about my bag?” “Not now, Fluttershy! I need time to think!” Thinking is just what Rarity did. She concocted a plan to get back in the stallion’s good graces. Halfway to the library, she had Opal marooned on a tree branch. Soon enough, the stallion and his bodyguard came walking by. It was time to begin the performance. Rarity got into position. “Oh, my! Opal! How did you get up there? Won’t someone help me! Oh! Why it’s you again. Won’t you be a dear and get my poor kitty out of that tree.” Shining Armor stopped and walked over to the tree. “Well if you insist.” His bodyguard had other ideas. “I don’t like the looks of this.” Cinnamon Viper subjected Rarity to another body search. This was starting to make the white unicorn a little uncomfortable, but she was willing to endure if it meant another chance with that hunk of a stallion. He grabbed the cat with his magic force and placed it gently on Rarity’s back. “Thank you! I just don’t know what I would have done without you! Opal was just terrified, were you not?” Opal had had enough of this. She slashed a claw against Rarity’s face and then darted away. “Ow! You ungrateful feline!” The stallion magically grabbed a handkerchief from his bodyguard’s breast pocket. A process she seemed to enjoy a little too much. He proceeded to dab away the blood from her face. “Looks like you didn’t think your plan all the way through.” Rarity made her pouting face. “Am I that transparent?” “Yes. But it’s not all bad. I don’t see anything too nasty in there. Just a mare who needs to find the right someone to make her happy.” He finished with the handkerchief and gave her a wink. He then proceeded once again in the direction the library. Rarity had never been put in her place like that before. The wink was particularly painful, as she knew it didn’t mean he wanted her. She crumbled onto her haunches. The stallion proceeded down the street toward the library. Rarity was at a total loss, but begged him to let her tag along to the library. For some reason, this required another pat down, but she was beyond caring about that. Rarity followed the stallion, crestfallen. They stepped through the door of the library. Twilight Sparkle’s head popped up from her book with a start. The two immediately greeted each other with a kiss. Rarity collapsed in the floor. She felt a choking sensation in her throat, like she had tried to swallow a whole apple in one gulp. How could this be? While she was wasting time with lesser stallions, Twilight had snagged herself a massive hunk? The egghead had been playing coy this whole time? It was because of her connection with the Princess! Back in Canterlot, the nobles must have been lined up at her door. All she had to do was pick one! “Rarity. Good to see you! I want you to meet my brother, Shining Armor!” Rarity could suddenly breath. The world was starting to shift back into alignment. “Yes, oh, yes. Good to meet you!” “Oh, we met on the way here. Rarity was nice enough to give me directions. She is truly a lady.” said Shining Armor. There was hope. He now felt guilty for what he said to one of his sister’s friends! Yes, there might still be a chance with him. Shining Armor continued. “I came here to tell my sister some very important news. My girlfriend and I are getting married. And she wants you and your friends to be in the wedding party!” Rarity collapsed down to the ground again. It was as if she had been hit in the stomach with a sledgehammer. But perhaps there was a way to some salvage something from the situation. “Well, if you’re going to be having a wedding, perhaps I can make the dresses!” Rarity interjected. Shining Armor gave a small laugh. “Oh, don’t worry about that. This is a royal wedding! We can afford real dresses.” And then Rarity had her first heart attack.