//------------------------------// // A Marvelous Idea… // Story: Rarity's Hearts and Hooves Daysaster // by Jatheus //------------------------------// Despite her best efforts, the rest of Rarity’s morning turned out to be completely fruitless. Hope was beginning to fade by the time hunger got the better of her, and the now continually rejected unicorn found herself getting a hayburger. It was incredibly baffling to the beautiful mare that every eligible bachelor in Ponyville had already secured a date or was on vacation. Perhaps this was simply the result of getting too wrapped up in her work and not planning ahead. The sorrow of despair was beginning to overcome her when she overheard the mares at the next table. “No luck finding a date for tonight?” a mint colored unicorn asked. “None, Lyra,” a beige earth pony replied. She set her head down on the table, her pink streaked blue mane nearly falling in her plate. “It’ll be okay, Bon Bon,” Lyra comforted her friend. Bon Bon looked up sharply and said, “We don’t have dates on Hearts and Hooves Day! Tell me, just how is that okay?” Lyra’s shoulders slumped. Bon Bon continued, “We already rented our dresses; we’re committed. That means we’ll be the only two mares at a dance without a special somepony.” Lyra shrugged and replied, “Well, who cares what everypony else thinks?” “I’m not worried about what everypony else thinks, I’m worried about what I think!” she said before putting her head down again. Selfishly, it was a little comforting to Rarity that she wasn’t the only one having trouble. The two friends sat there quietly for a moment while Lyra took a sip of her drink. She set it back on the table decisively, a serious look in her golden eyes. “Bon Bon, I want you to go to the dance with me,” the mint unicorn proclaimed. The earth pony looked up, a sheen of skepticism on her face. “Look, if you don’t care what everypony else thinks, I don’t either. We don’t have dates; so what? We don’t need them. That’s no reason we can’t get dressed up and go out.” A smile slowly crept across Bon Bon’s face, “You know, that actually does make me feel better. Thanks, Lyra. You’re a good friend.” This exchange gave Rarity an idea. She quickly finished her hayburger, in a less than ladylike fashion, and got up to leave. “Thanks,” she said to Lyra and Bon Bon, who returned a confused look as the white unicorn exited the restaurant. She walked quickly in the cold afternoon air, bound for Fluttershy’s cottage. It would be the perfect solution: Fluttershy normally wouldn’t go to a function like this because she was so timid. Parties were one thing, but this was the sort of event where one was expected to have a date. Fluttershy wouldn’t ask anypony to go, and even though she often was asked herself, she was just so shy that she usually declined. If Rarity could talk her into going together, she at least wouldn’t be alone. The sun shone brightly across the clear blue sky, helping to balance warmth against the cold and making for a pleasant day to be out and about, and even if her best hopes had not come to fruition, Rarity was just glad to have found an acceptable fall back plan. She crossed the bridge that led toward the small cottage on the edge of town and ultimately up the small pathway. Rarity knocked on the door and waited. “Hello?” Fluttershy’s timid voice came from the inside of the house a few moments later. “Fluttershy! It’s me, Rarity,” the unicorn sang. The door opened slightly, just enough for a pony to see, and then much wider. “It is you,” Fluttershy replied sweetly. “Would you like to come in? We’re having tea.” Behind the beautifully dainty yellow pegasus, Rarity could see the table was set, and several ponies were sitting around it having small cakes and tea. Among them were Junebug, Gizmo, and Bulk Biceps, an odd group, but the unicorn thought nothing of it. Rarity graciously declined, “I’m afraid I just ate, and I wouldn’t want to intrude. I just dropped by to see if you had a date to the Hearts and Hooves social tonight. If not, I thought we could go together, just the two of us girls.” “Oh, gosh,” Fluttershy began cowering. “I’m sorry, Rarity, but I’ve already been asked to go, and… I’m afraid… I said yes.”
 “You have?” Rarity was surprised. “Yes, well, you see,” Fluttershy seemed to shrink even smaller, “Maybe.” Recovering her feign repose, Rarity said, “Well that’s fantastic, darling! Whoever are you going with?” “Oh, yes, I’m… I’m… I’m going with…” Fluttershy began to mumble inaudibly. “I’m sorry, dear, but I’m afraid I didn’t catch that,” Rarity replied. “I’m going with…” Fluttershy mumbled again. “Do be so kind as to tell me one more time, please,” Rarity said patiently. “Bulk Biceps,” Fluttershy finally said loud enough to be understood. “Bulk Biceps?” Rarity, in a state of shock blurted out. “Bulk Biceps?” “YEAH!” the stallion shouted from the table, startling the other guests into spilling their tea. Rarity stood a moment, completely baffled, then closed her mouth as soon as she realized it was hanging open. “You see,” Fluttershy started to explain, “We’ve been getting to know each other better ever since we did the relay with Rainbow Dash for the Equestria games. He didn’t have a date for tonight, and I just felt awful for him. So, he asked if I would go with him, just as a friend, and I said yes.” Rarity put up a hoof, “No explanation is needed, dear! I was just trying to be thoughtful in case you wanted to go. However, I see that you’ve already taken care of it yourself.” “Please don’t be mad,” Fluttershy said fearfully. Rarity let out a fake giggle, “Don’t be silly, darling! Whatever would I be mad for? You go back to your guests now.” “Oh, good,” the yellow pegasus said, clearly relieved. “See you at the social.” “Till then, darling!” Fluttershy smiled before closing the door, having accepted Rarity’s facade. The white unicorn found herself scowling at the now shut entrance to the cottage as she thought for a moment. With Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash having already made plans, not to mention Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and the rest of her family out of town, there was only one close friend left to which she could turn. Rarity took a deep breath and turned to walk back into town toward the Castle of Friendship where Twilight Sparkle lived.