"How did we get roped into this?" Scootaloo asked. She and the rest of the CMC were currently modeling some dresses that Rarity had created. Rumble couldn't believe his poor luck when his size made it possible for a dress to fit him as well.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Rumble replied "I just hope Thunderlane doesn't find about out this, or I'll never live it down."
"You just had to drag us along to see your sister, didn't you?" Apple Bloom complained to Sweetie Belle.
"Hey, how was I suppose to know she was gonna do this to us?" Sweetie Belle asked "Besides, I think you look good in a dress."
"Are you kidding me? The only time I've ever worn anything so fru-fru was for that school dance a few months ago." Apple Bloom complained.
"I sure hope that this doesn't turn out to be our special talent." Scootaloo said outloud "If it is, then I'm going to hate myself for the rest of my life. Assuming I don't die of embarassment first."
"Are you all still hung up on that whole cutie mark thing?" Rarity asked the CMC.
"Of course, have you been living under a rock for the past half a year?" Sweetie Belle complained "Most of the colts and fillies in our class already have theirs."
"I know how you all must feel." Fancy Pants sympathized "For the longest time, my cutie mark evaded me even while all my classmates earned theirs. I never actually formed a secret society like you four did, but I did do some rather crazy things to try and get my cutie mark. Nothing I tried worked however, and I thought I was going to be a blank flank for the rest of my life."
"So, when did that change?" Rumble asked, eyeing Fancy Pants' clearly visible cutie mark.
"It's quite an interesting story actually." Fancy Pants explained "It all has to do with Miss. Rarity, and why she and I have been business partners for so long."
"I thought you said you were a co-owner of this place?" Sweetie Belle said, clearly confused.
"Indeed I am. But that isn't the whole truth." Fancy Pants admitted "The truth is, I've known Miss. Rarity since before I met my much loved wife Fleur."
"Oh Fancy Pants, are you really going to tell them that story?" Rarity asked.
"You bet I am Miss. Rarity." Fancy Pants replied "I can't say no to such eager little ponies after they've been so co-operative. Besides, Sweetie Belle was bound to find out sooner or later."
"What are you talking about?" Sweetie Belle demanded "Were you and Miss. Rarity-" she paused for a moment, as if considering the implications of what she was about to say "special someponies?" she blurted out.
Fancy Pants stared, then he laughed "Oh don't be silly, my relationship with Miss. Rarity has been always been a friendship of the professional level, since we first met. But Miss. Rarity has been running Carousel Boutique, for far longer than you might think."
"Oh good, I can't stand mushy love stories." Scootaloo cringed "I don't understand what it is my folks see in those romance novels that I see them reading all the time."
"As I was saying." Fancy Pants said seriously "Miss. Rarity has been running this place for quite some time. In fact, she's been in charge of it since you were in diapers, Sweetie Belle. I must admit, you were quite the mischevious foal. Always running around, getting into trouble. Anyway, my story begins in Canterlot. Make no mistake, growing up in Equestria's capital city was quite difficult for a colt like me. From day one, you have high expectations placed on you by everyone. And if you fail to live up to those expectations, things are anything but easy for you."
Fancy Pants was right about Canterlot. Being born into a wealthy family had its privelages, none the least of which was access to the finest things money could buy. But it also carried great risks, due to the high expectations that would be placed on you. Even if it wasn't your fault, not living up to those expectations could make life very difficult for you. It didn't matter whether you weren't potty trained fast enough, or were a slow learner in class, or even one of the last in your class to earn your cutie mark. If the rich and famous had any reason to believe you wouldn't amount to anything, they would see to it that your life would be filled with hardship. And it would take a lot to change that impression.
Such was the society that Fancy Pants was raised in. And as each of his classmates got their cutie marks one by one, while he remained a blank flank, it was quick to turn its back on him. He still had some friends, none the least of whom was the future heir to Barnyard Bargains, Filthy Rich Tiara. But their support did little good against bullies such as Prince Blueblood, and Jet Set and Upper Crust, who would become Fancy Pants' rivals in business.
"Maybe I should just move to Ponyville and make a fresh start." Fancy Pants thought to himself, as he made his way home from another day of school. His best friend (and fellow blank flank) Filthy Rich, had gotten his cutie mark. And the whole school had been overjoyed. This made it even harder on Fancy Pants, because now he was the only colt in his class that had yet to earn his cutie mark. That would undoubtly be used against him by Prince Blueblood. "What I wouldn't give to punch his lights out." Fancy Pants thought angrily.
When Fancy Pants got home, his father had important news for him. It was customary for colts Fancy Pants' age to start learning about business and how to manage it. When one is born into privelage, it is expected that they continue the legacy of those that raised them. The Pants family were bankers of the highest rank. It was said that Fancy Pants' great grandfather had served as head of The Royal Treasury. Needless to say, such a reputation put great pressure on the young colt.
"Remember son." his father told him "You must invest your bits wisely. If you do, then by the time you are my age you will have access to a wealth that few would dare to dream of. But I also want you to consider what you wish to symbolize when you make your investment. For the business that you invest in will undoubtly see you as a backer, and your reputation will be tied directly to the reputation of said business. If you invest poorly, then you will bring shame and humilation to the Pants family line. Do you understand?"
"Yes father." Fancy Pants replied nervously, as he and his father boarded the train to Ponyville. Mr. Pants had read an article in the newspaper about how Ponyville was becoming a major center for business. It was speculated that it would be The place for the next generation of business tycoons to get their start. Naturally, Mr. Pants was convinced that Ponyville would be the perfect place for his son to make his first investment.
It didn't take long for Fancy Pants to find a place where he wanted to invest to his bits. A local merchant that ponies visited frequently showed great promise. "If only I had a few more bits, I could upgrade my shop into a full blown store." the merchant stated "I could offer products from all over Equestria, at a great price! Ponies would come from all around to buy my goods! I'd be rich!"
"Well, I guess he'll make an okay first investment." Fancy Pants thought to himself "It's practically risk free. And if he gets as many customers as he has today, he'll probably have the foundations of a trade empire at his hooves. Father will be pleased."
But as Fancy Pants prepared to fork over his bits to the merchant, there was a sudden burst of violet-pink magic. The shockwave blew through town, knocking unsuspecting ponies off their hooves. It did more than that for Fancy Pants however, who had the bits he had intended to use scattered onto the ground.
"Oh my, are you alright darling?" an unfamiliar voice asked, as Fancy Pants bent down to pick up his investment money.
"I'm quite fine, as you can clearly see." Fancy Pants said, as he used his magic to start collecting some of his bits.
"Here, let me help you with that." the unfamiliar voice asked. Suddenly, a light blue aura surrounded the bits that Fancy Pants had yet to pick up. When Fancy Pants looked up, he was greeted with the sight of a unicorn filly with a coat as white as winter snow. Her curly indigo mane and tail were only surpassed in beauty by her blue eyes, which sparkled like diamonds. On her flank was a cutie mark consisting of three gems.
Fancy Pants had never seen a unicorn like this before, and he had to admit that she looked gorgeous. Alas, his heart already belonged to another. "Thank you for your help." he said kindly, as he retrieved his bits from the filly "I don't believe I caught your name. What is it?"
"I am Rarity." the filly replied "I must say, you are absolutely stunning. A true gentlecolt if I ever saw one."
"I appreciate the compliment Miss. Rarity." Fancy Pants said honestly "Since you told me your name, it is only fair that I tell you mine. I am Fancy Pants. My father brought me here so I could make my first official investment into a business."
"A business you say?" Rarity asked "I believe I know of the perfect place. Come with me, and I will show it to you." Before Fancy Pants could reply, Rarity grabbed him by the hoof and escorted him away. They arrived a short time later at a building that had seen better days. The sign read "Carousel Boutique, Now under new management." Looking at the exterior, it was quite easy to see where the building had gotten its name. It looked like a worn down version of a carousel ride one might expect to see at a carnival or amusement park.
"Why have you brought me to this place Miss. Rarity?" Fancy Pants asked "I hate to be captain obvious, but this place is quite clearly falling apart. Whoever is in charge of it must have their work cut out for them."
"It's funny you should mention that." Rarity said, blushing slightly "The thing is, I am the new mangement that the sign is talking about."
Fancy Pants was quite surprised "But you're just a filly. How could you possibly be running a business at your age?" he asked.
"I might be a filly, but I assure you that I am old enough to manage my own business." Rarity explained "I'm going to be moving into high school next year. My parents bought me this as a birthday present."
"I see." Fancy Pants stated, turning his attention back to the unattractive sight in front of him. Rarity quickly took notice.
"Not that I mean to call mother and father's judgement into question, especially now that they have my baby sister Sweetie Belle to take care of, but it's quite obvious that this place is far from the best present a filly could get." Rarity explained "But I cannot bring myself to sell this place to somepony else, not after mother and father worked so hard to buy it for me. I just wish I had enough bits to cover the cost of renovation."
"Is that why you brought me here?" Fancy Pants asked.
Rarity shook her head "I am above taking advantage of the generosity of strangers." she said firmly "There is a much better place to invest in just across the street. A clockmaker called Time Turner has moved into town, and already he is looking to expand his shop so he can build a new clocktower. I have already donated quite a lot of bits to him, but he still needs more. I believe that your bits could be just the ticket."
Fancy Pants looked at Time Turner's shop. It seemed rather humble, and the clocks seemed to be of the highest quality possible. But he found that he couldn't get his mind off of the run down Carousel Boutique. It was quite obvious that, even if Rarity herself didn't think so, her business would benefit more from his bits. And so he made the choice to invest into Carousel Boutique, he even expressed his intent to become a permanet financial backer.
Rarity was quite surprised "I couldn't ask you to do that for me Fancy Pants." she insisted.
But Fancy Pants was insitant, and he refused to change hs mind. "I am firmly convinced that you posses the know how to turn this place around and turn it into something great." he explained, as he filled out the necessary paperwork to make his investment official.
Just after he did so, Rarity gasped. "Fancy Pants, look at your flank!" she exclaimed.
"Whatever do you mean?" Fancy Pants asked.
"Just look!" Rarity insisted.
Fancy Pants did so, and when he did he was shocked at what he saw. His previously blank flank now had three yellow crowns with jewels in their centers. He had gotten his cutie mark! He couldbarely believe it! "After all these years, I finally have my cutie mark!" he said happily "And I owe it all to you Miss. Rarity."
"Oh, you're just saying that." Rarity replied "I'm sure that even if I hadn't shown up when I did, you still would've gotten your cutie mark."
"Maybe so, but I hope I never have to find out." Fancy Pants said seriously "I don't want to imagine a world where the two of us are not business partners, or even friends."
"You want to be my friend?" Rarity asked.
"Why of course I do." Fancy Pants replied "After all, if I'm going to constantly be investing into Carousel Boutique, I should make it a habbit to get to know the owner."
"Oh Fancy Pants, thank you! Thank you so much!" Rarity said happily.
"And since that day, Miss. Rarity and I have been the closest of business partners, and the best of friends." Fancy Pants explained to the CMC "I realized that my cutie mark symbolized my ability to spread my wealth to those who needed it most, as well as my ability to turn failing business into thriving companies."
"And it was thanks to this business that Fancy Pants was able to meet Fleur." Rarity added "I even got to be best mare at his wedding."
"Well, that's great. But I think I've had enough of fashion and business for one day." Scootaloo shrugged.
"Don't tell me you didn't like the story." Rumble stated.
"It was okay." Scootaloo said with a shrug.
"Okay? Okay?! That was a wonderful story, and you know it!" Apple Bloom said seriously.
"I quite liked the part where Rarity and Fancy Pants met." Sweetie Belle added.
"Well that's because one of them is your sister, and the other is your sister's boss." Scootaloo explained "Not to mention, your foalsitter."
"Fancy Pants is a wonderful foalsitter." Sweetie Belle replied "He's always so nice to me."
"Can we please just go back to looking for Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo pleaded with her fellow CMC.
"If it's Rainbow Dash you're looking for young mare, then might I suggest you go to Sugarcube Corner?" Fancy Pants suggested "Even if she isn't there, Pinkie Pie will surely know where to find her."
"Sounds great!" Scootaloo said happily, and pushed Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Rumble, out the door "Come on guys, let's go find Rainbow Dash!"