//------------------------------//
// Dinner Date 
// Story: The Other Mare 
// by twilycorn 
//------------------------------//

After we left the train station, I took Fancy Pants on a quick tour of Ponyville on our way to the restaurant. I gestured him towards the more exquisite parts, such as the spa and the theater, but he enjoyed seeing the lives of ordinary ponies as well. He went on about how life in Canterlot could get repetitive and boring, and said I was the perfect mix of Canterlot dignity and Ponyville humility. He wooed me all the way to the restaurant. 

"Reservation under 'Rarity', sir?" As the waiter got us a table, I bragged to Fancy Pants "This is the best restaurant in Ponyville, but not quite as uppity as those star-studded Canterlot eateries." 

"Sounds perfect." 

He sounded strangely distant. "Is something the matter, love?"

"Oh, nothing. I just always worry about the paparazzi. As you know, my nobility extends beyond Canterlot. That's partially why I didn't want to have our date there." He was walking in front of me, covering his face with his hat. "Those reporters, they love to pry into one's love life."
"Oh. That makes sense."

We sat down and chatted. He complimented my hair and outfit, and I complimented his long tuxedo and hat- "It's not your usual wear." He reminded me how he needed to stay incognito- the tux was long enough to conceal his cutie mark, and the hat helped conceal his face. I was taken aback at how serious he was that no one recognized him. 

"I didn't realize how attacked you are by the paparazzi, poor thing," I said. "The Ponyville news doesn't cover enough Canterlot affairs; I only know what's going on with you by your letters, really."

He exhaled. "Good. The media is full of deceit, but I would never lie to your face." (Well, to be fair, he didn't just lie to my face- he had been lying over his letters as well.) He changed the subject quickly. "I may want to try these hay fries." He smirked. "Anything here is good- I just 
would like to have a meal that weighs more than two ounces." 

I started laughing, which garnered attention, and possibly whispers if they noticed who Fancy Pants was. No one came up to say anything about it, though. 

Fancy must have sensed this risk. "Do you need to wash up? I'll order your food if the waiter comes."
"Oh, yes, that is a good idea." I got out of my seat and headed towards the restroom. "You can just get me some of that rigatoni pasta and salad, maybe with a little wine? Red wine!" 

Once I left the ladies' room, I ran into Lyra Heartstrings, an acquaintance of mine. "Oh, hey, Rarity!" she said when she noticed me. "Nice to see you here. Bon Bon and I are on our monthly dinner date tonight, but I need to hit the can first. Finished my first drink a little too quickly." (TMI, darling, TMI.)

I couldn't help myself. I was so happy and so in love and so proud, and keeping secrets wouldn't hurt anyone. And if it did get out to the press, so what? They deserved to know how much of a sweet stallion Fancy Pants was to me. I didn't think it would get to that point by telling one pony, though.

So I took a chance: "I'm actually on a date with Fancy Pants!"

Lyra's mouth dropped. "No way! The Fancy Pants?? The rich pony from Canterlot??" She rolled her eyes. "I don't believe you." I gestured subtly to my date, who was ordering our food from the waiter, chatting away. The waiter seemed to recognize him, too. Even the ponies sitting behind him recognized him. He talked freely with them all. He seemed fine being out in the open without me there. 

Lyra looked like she could explode. "OMG!" she attempted to whisper. "He really...whoa! And a Ponyville mare, no less." She seemed more to be talking to herself out loud than to me. I couldn't catch everything she was mumbling, as I was still looking out at Fancy, but I really wish I had paid better attention to her now. Then she smiled at me, but her smile had a touch of nervousness in it. "He is quite the catch, I'll 
admit that- but how daring! Never thought you were that kind of mare." 

"What kind?" I questioned her. 
"You know, the kind who dates stallions with-" The bathroom door opened then. "Ooh, finally! Good luck!" She rushed in. I shrugged, assuming she was referring to his money and status, and walked back to the table. The waiter and the ponies sitting behind him were gone. 

The food was delicious, and the wine was relaxing. Fancy Pants, having no idea of what I'd told Lyra, showed no signs of overt affection towards me, besides quiet flirty comments. And I, having no idea of why he was truly so secret tonight, gushed over him. He insisted on paying the whole bill, but I insisted we go dutch. He let me have my way. He even let me put my hoof around him as we left the restaurant. I remember hearing someone's camera snap when we left, but didn't think anything of it at the time.