//------------------------------// // Prompt #29: Gallery // Story: Ponywatching // by ThunderTempest //------------------------------// “Don’t you think that this painting is divine?” asked Upper Crust. Fancy Pants frowned and almost tilted his head to try and make sense of the mindless swirls and whorls of colour on the canvas. “It’s supposed to represent our own mortality and the futility of life,” said Upper Crust, sidling closer to Fancy Pants as the two stood in the art gallery. He was well aware of what the mare was attempting. If she could get him to agree with her, she would be seen as somepony, and thus she would move up in the social ladder. Out of the corner of his monocle, Fancy could see Rarity, who he considered something of a friend, also looking at the painting. He watched as Rarity’s eyes narrowed, and then she tilted her head to her left. With a frown, she tilted it to the right, as if that would make it make sense. To his other side, he could feel Upper Crust waiting for his response. He could probably bluff something non-commital. He wasn’t a big painting aficionado, and he didn’t really like Upper Crust that much anyway. “I must confess,” said Rarity, derailing Fancy’s train of thought, “I do not care for this style. It’s far too abstract for my tastes.” Fancy could practically hear Upper Crust grinding her teeth. For some reason, she had fixated on Rarity, and had been attempting to beat her at everything since practically the first day that Rarity had begun to market her wares to the Canterlot elite. Truth be told, Fancy was inclined to agree with Rarity. He generally disliked things such as this, that required in-depth analysis to be understood, or that ponies tried to impose meaning where there was none. Fancy made up his mind. “I agree with miss Rarity, my dear,” said Fancy Pants, as Upper Crust appeared to swallow an entire lemon, “It is not quite to my tastes. You, however, are welcome to enjoy whatever you wish.” With his piece said, Fancy Pants trotted over to where Rarity was admiring a set of landscapes. “I do hope that I managed to save you from the horrors of Upper Crust’s attempt at cozing up to you,” said Rarity, “and really, that painting was rather awful.” “Oh, you didn’t have to, miss Rarity. I would have extracted myself sooner or later. Really, behaviour like Upper Crust’s is the sort that I personally find rather distasteful, and her personality leaves much to be desired too.” “Not so loud,” hissed Rarity, drawing a look from Fancy Pants, “she may hear you, and then her ego will deflate to merely half the size of the Canterhorn.” Fancy Pants smiled, and Rarity pulled ahead in the race of popularity.