This had been a fantastic idea! After Twilight and Rarity had arrived at the Crystal Kingdom station late in the afternoon, they’d found a coach waiting for them to take wherever they wanted in the city for the day. Twilight spent a little time in the library, Rarity got to tour some of the city’s iconic works of art, and they both got together in the evening to go on a massive shopping spree. It was largely for Rarity’s benefit, as most of the goods were various dresses and suits that she would be taking home to serve as inspiration, but they had stopped in at a legendary astronomer’s store to improve on Twilight’s personal observatory in Ponyville, and Rarity went out of her way to find several pieces of jewelry for Twilight to wear during Princess functions. She had turned down most of them, but Rarity was delighted when Twilight accepted the silver earring with sapphires cut to look like glittering stars in a night sky. Rarity had to admit, watching her blush at all the proffered gifts was helping take her mind off Sp- thoughts on the upcoming party! Yes, that was her main worry right now. Nothing else.
Those earrings were the only thing right with Twilight’s dress this evening. The purpose of the visit was ostensibly to introduce the new member of the royal family to the existing ones, and a few high-profile ponies from both the Kingdom and Equestria were in attendance. Rarity had successfully made small talk with the gathered power players in high society when Twilight had been escorted in to greet Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor. Her dress was picked prior to their arrival, and some capricious god had decided it would be in orange and green. Rarity had fortunately been spared from having to endure such atrocious coloring for long, as after a short formal speech from Twilight greeting Cadence and Cadence welcoming Twilight into the royal family, all three royal members had gone off into a separate area to converse among themselves. The rest of the party was just an excuse for the gathered ponies to rub shoulders for a while, and Rarity used the opportunity to further her business
As she set her sherry down on her impromptu table, another pony came from the crowd to speak with her. He was a fairly well built Earth Pony with fiery red coloring and a positively glowing blue mane. If you unfocused your eyes, he’d be easy to mistake for a moving flame. As he came closer, she took note of his cutie mark; a pick axe. A miner, perhaps? She could find and cut her own gems, but the gems mined in the the Crystal Kingdom were a step above those found anywhere else, so knowing a distributor in the area would be beneficial for her high-profile works. Figuring the playful approach would work best, she put on her best coquettish smile.
“Stopping by so late in the party, only after speaking with everyone else? You wound me, good sir.”
The stallion stood a couple feet away from her and let out a powerful laugh, causing her wine glass to move slightly. A few ponies glanced their way, but everyone was used to it by now. In a more reasonable level of volume, he responded, “I’m certain you know, m’lady, that the best is always saved for last. Might I be correct in believing you are the lovely Miss Rarity, proprietor of Carousel Boutique and superb fashion designer?”
He was better than most of the ponies she had spoken to tonight. He was more relaxed than the ponies that had approached her so far, and “m’lady” wasn’t something she had heard from anyone else. If this was simply an affection he used, he was good at hiding that fact. “You would be correct sir, and I must admit you have me at a disadvantage. May I know the name of the stallion that flatters me so?”
The stallion gave a broad smile as he offered his left hoof. “My name is Ruby Red, Miss Rarity, miner and cutter for the best gems you’ll find anywhere in the world.”
Rarity lightly tapped his hoof with hers. “A tall claim, Mister Red. Who has enough time to ensure they’re really the best in the world?”
Red gave a guffaw in response. “Simple. Anyone in the world will tell you the best gems come from the Crystal Kingdom. Anyone here will tell you I find and fashion the best gems. I stand by my statement. Though, I admit, I do have a problem concerning my work that I was hoping you could help remedy.”
This is quite enjoyable, Rarity thought to herself. If only all her business could proceed like this. “If I may hazard a guess, it is that not enough ponies know what you’ve just told me?”
Another laugh. The stallion sure was cheery. “Shaper than the diamonds I cut! A beautiful thing in a mare. Yes, Miss Rarity, that is indeed the case, as I simply haven’t had the time to start expanding my business in Equestria. I know your dresses reach a lot of important ponies over there, and I’m sure with your expertise you can highlight the quality of my work so that they’ll start reaching out to me instead of the other way around. Would you be generous enough to help a businesspony in need, Miss Rarity?”
Laying it on a bit thick at the end there, Rarity thought, but he easily took the title of best pony for tonight. Decent stallion, he was probably right about the quality of his work, she had been on his radar long before the party, and he could be charming without becoming overbearing. She’d find reasons to work closely with him in the near future. “I don’t any reason why I couldn’t, Mister Red. We’ll work out the details of both the work and the payment at a later date. This is hardly the proper place to conduct business such as that. I don’t suppose you’d be willing to stay and chat for a bit?”
This time there wasn’t a laugh. Instead, he gave a long, mournful shake of the head and let out a sigh. “I’m afraid I can’t, Miss Rarity. I said I’d saved the best for last, and I meant it. I need to be up bright and early for my work tomorrow, so I’ll be heading out at this point.” At this, the stallion looked uncomfortable for the first time tonight, and doubt flickered in his eyes as he debated something internally.
“Was there something else?” Rarity waited patiently, giving no sign she was standing on edge. Is he going to be the first to ask? Can she finally move to the second part of the game?
After a few moments more, the stallion shook his head, blue mane jumping everywhere. “It’s not that important, Miss Rarity. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Rats. “I wish the same for you, Mister Red.” As he left the party, Rarity picked up the wine glass and sipped at the sherry. Eight mares, three stallions, one she couldn’t figure out, and not a single one asked. She supposed that her rising status made it difficult for anyone to broach the topic, but bringing it up herself would only ruin the mystery she was trying to build. After all, a mare doesn’t just give herself away.
Swirling around the fluid in the glass for a moment, she set it back down on Tom while she awaited the next guest. Maybe the next one will ask.