In the Background of the City

by Zeck

Arrival

Manehattan was so similar to Canterlot that often times, Fancy Pants felt as if he had never left the capital of Equestria. Ponies dressed in fashion, carried themselves with pride—or arrogance in many cases—and the city was home to many a famous and talented pony.

But Manehattan was also very different from Canterlot. In Canterlot, the game was always being played, but there were rules to it. Unspoken rules. Rules that Fancy Pants took no small delight in bending or twisting in order to remind certain ponies about what was truly important. But he, and every other mainstay pony in Canterlot, never outright broke the rules. It was like constantly playing a game of chess, positioning one’s self to be at the right moment to get the right amount of attention from the right pony at the right time. It was rather tiring, and there were days where he simply did not want to play, and thus he would take a trip.

A trip to wherever he pleased, or in many cases, wherever Fleur Dis Lee pleased, but this time the trip had been his choice. He had chosen Manehattan, not only because of the upcoming Fashion Week contest, but also because of some personal business.

If it weren’t for the personal business, he and Fleur would have certainly picked another destination. Canterlot had its game and its rules, and while they were tiresome, at least they stayed in place. Manehattan had its own version of the game, with one major difference.

A pony followed the rules here until the rules were no longer useful. Then the rules were broken. As such, the game in Manehattan was even more taxing. Fancy Pants had seen many good ponies become lost in the game, and it had torn them apart. Good, decent folk had been turned into vicious shells of their former selves, and were simply unpleasant to be around.

Fancy Pants himself had almost ended up that way when he had lived her. Fleur had managed to save him from himself, and for that, he would be forever grateful.

“You have that look again,” came that soft, angelic voice.

“I beg your pardon?” Fancy Pants asked, stopping his stroll down the street and blinking once to clear his head. “Oh, I was just remembering our time in this city from before.”

“Oh yes,” Fleur said, placing her front hooves on Fancy Pants’ back, as she tended to do. “It was a rather…dreadful experience, was it not?”

“Indeed.” Fancy Pants brushed the memory from his mind and straightened his monocle with his magic. “But we are not here to dwell on such unpleasant things. Come. I do believe I promised you a glimpse at upcoming fashions.”

Fleur batted her long eyelashes twice and smiled. “And…?”

“But of course I agreed to buy you your favorite, my dear,” Fancy Pants added as Fleur got down from his back. “Now, here we are. Come inside. The show should be starting any moment, I believe.”

Fancy Pants opened the door to the theater and Fleur gracefully walked in, smiling at him as she passed. He followed her in and the two of them walked into the main theater.

The house was completely empty, save for a few ponies on stage. And that did no surprise him in the slightest. He knew the hostess for Fashion Week, and as such, he had been able to easily secure a private showing for himself and Fleur. Of course, it wouldn’t be nearly as thrilling as the live show tomorrow, but one of the benefits of seeing the private showing was that he and Fleur would be able to see all the gowns and outfits back stage, and Fleur could take all the time she wanted to admire them and pick one.

“Hm, now that is odd,” Fleur said, a slight question in her voice. Fleur often appeared to be…what was that charming phrase a pony had called her once? Airheaded? Yes, that was it. She often appeared to be airheaded, but Fancy Pants knew better. She had a keen head on her shoulders. She simply did not notice something if she didn’t think it concerned her or him. So when she had a question, Fancy Pants knew it was important.

“What’s that, my dear?” he asked.

“One of the designers is not here. See?”

Fancy Pants looked to the stage. He counted six ponies. That was how many designers had entered the contest, but as soon as she saw the pink mane and tail, he knew that Fleur was correct. There should have been seven ponies present, including Prim Hemline, but Fancy Pants only counted six. That was interesting.

“Well, everypony, that is it for today,” Prim was saying, her voice taking on that familiar all-business tone that she used when organizing her events. “Please head back stage and place your outfits in the proper area. I expect to see all of you tomorrow. At least those of you that bothered to show up.”

Oh dear. That was unexpected. Ponies tried very hard to be featured in one of Prim’s showings. To miss a practice the day before the show was treason in her eyes. Whatever the pony’s reasons were for missing, Fancy Pants hoped they were worth it.

“Well my dear, we seem to have just missed the showing, but we can at least head backstage and take a look at the outfits,” Fancy Pants said, standing and holding his hoof out to help Fleur to her hooves.

“That would be lovely,” she said as she stood, her pink mane spilling down her neck and shoulders in a lovely waterfall. “I do not care to listen to ponies talk about their designs too much anyway. I prefer to see them and feel them.”

Fancy Pants and Fleur made their way backstage. As they neared the curtain, a pair of familiar voices came to Fancy Pants’ ears.

“This coffee is cold! How do you ‘spect me to drink cold coffee! Get me ‘nother one. Now!”

“R-Right away, Suri!”

“An’ bring it to my room, ‘kay. We’re leaving!”

“Y-Yes ma’am.”

Fancy Pants poked his head around the purple curtain and a moment later felt a slight tickling sensation as Fleur stuck her head under his to peek as well.

Just as Fancy Pants expected. He saw poor Coco hurrying out the backstage door so quickly that she nearly tripped. Her mentor—and Fancy Pants used the most generous interpretation of that word that he could think of—Suri glared at her as she left, the flipped her hair and walked out the door as well. All the other ponies, including Prim, watched her leave, varying levels of disgust and horror on their faces.

“Dear, I thought you said you would talk to Hot Coco about her,” Fleur said, tilting her head so she was looking up at Fancy Pants.

“I did, my dear Fleur,” Fancy Pants said. “Unfortunately, she is the type of pony who must want to do something for herself. All the talking in the world will not change her mind. She feels she owes a debt to Suri for taking her under her wing, so to speak.”

“A debt? To that dreadful mare?” Fleur asked, contempt dripping from her soft voice.

“Nonetheless, until Coco realizes that she owes no such debt, I fear that even a speech from Princess Celestia herself will not change her mind about leaving Suri. But come, let us take a look around, shall we?” Fancy Pants walked around the curtain and cleared his throat once, letting everypony know that he and Fleur had entered. He did not want to shock them by suddenly walking in on them.

There were several gasps of awe, and he thought he heard a small squeal of delight, but he merely stood still and smiled as Fleur rounded the curtain and joined him. “Good afternoon, everypony,” he said, nodding to each designer still present. “I hope you do not mind if Fleur Dis Lee takes a look at your marvelous designs. I promised to buy her whichever one caught her eye.” He heard Prim clear her throat in that not-so-charming-way. “After the Fashion Week contest, of course,” he quickly added.

“Very well,” Prim said with a huff. “Just make sure all the garments are returned before you leave.”

“But of course,” Fleur said with a slight tilt of the head and a graceful smile. She began to slowly walk among the garments, moving as though she was made of a flowing breeze. Her grace, even when she was not walking down a runway, was so engraved in her soul that it was impossible for her to turn it off.

Not that Fancy Pants minded in the slightest.

“Oooooo,” Fleur said suddenly, her eyes falling on a rack of purple garments. Fancy Pants walked over to the rack she stood in front of and had to admit that he was impressed. The outfits were nice to be sure, but the fabric itself was what caught his eye. It seemed to be flowing in the light, much as Fleur seemed to flow across the ground. Fancy Pants had truly never seen anything like it.

“Yes, these ones caught my eye as well,” Prim said, walking forward with a rare smile on her face. “A good showing, to be certain, though I won’t say it’s a positive win for Suri just yet.”

“Suri made these?” Fleur asked, hiding her contempt for the mare flawlessly behind her flowing voice.

“Indeed,” Prim said, then she turned to another of the fashion designers and walked over to talk to her about her positioning in tomorrow’s show.

“So, we are not looking at Suri’s work,” Fleur said, sadness seeping into her voice as she ran the fabric over her soft hoof.

“I fear not, my dear,” Fancy Pants said. “I believe it is safe to say that we are looking at poor Coco’s work, which is once again being credited to Suri.”

“I do not like that mare,” Fleur said. “Who does she think she is, treating Hot Coco like that? Why, I bet she did not even design these outfits. Coco most likely did.”

“Most likely,” Fancy Pants said, taking a closer look at the fabric. “But I feel there is more here than we are seeing. Something about this fabric…I say, Ms. Hemline? A moment, if you could.”

“Yes, what is it?” Prim said as she walked up. Fancy Pants smiled at the low, quiet growl Fleur let out at the way Prim had spoken.

“What happened to the other designer? I was under the impression there would be six, yet I only saw five present.”

Prim’s eyes narrowed even more than they normally were. It was an unsettling look, to be certain. “Pah. Rarity up and ran out in the middle of practice. I honestly do not see why the fashion world is abuzz with that mare. First she’s late, then—”

“Did you say Rarity?” Fancy Pants asked. “White unicorn, purple mane?”

“Yes, that’s her. She left her outfits here, but I did not want to waste my time on them. If she cannot be bothered to stay for practice, then I will simply disqualify her from the event.”

“Where is her collection?” Fancy Pants asked, a horrible realization beginning to form in his mind.

“Over there, still sealed in the garment bags.” Prim waved a hoof toward a rack in the back. Fancy Pants and Fleur went over and carefully unzipped one of the bags and a familiar sight spilled out.

Fleur let out a small gasp. “No…Do you think Coco knew?”

“I’m afraid she must have, my dear,” Fancy Pants said as he stared at the fabric of Rarity’s outfit. “Coco is a budding flower in the fashion industry, but Rarity is nearly in full bloom. As skilled as Coco is, I highly doubt she has the talent yet to create such an amazing fabric on her own.”

“But…but why?” Fleur asked, and Fancy Pants was not surprised to see a small tear forming in the model’s eye. Coco meant a great deal to her.

“Why else?” he said. “Suri. Manehattan is a dangerous place for ponies. It can change you, and that change is not always for the better, as you and I both well know. But come, it may not be too late to save our little Hot Coco.” Fancy Pants zipped up Rarity’s garment bag and then called to Prim again.

“What is it this time, Fancy Pants?” she asked, more annoyed now.

“Mr. Hemline, I must ask a favor of you. Would you be ever so kind as to not disqualify Miss Rarity from the contest? She told me that she was struck with inspiration and needed to get back to her room to work on touching up some designs. She promises to be here tomorrow, bright and early.”

Prim’s eyes narrowed to slits, and for a terrifying moment, Fancy Pants thought she would not honor his request, but she eventually relented. “Very well. But for her sake, these new designs had best be beyond fabulous. And the only reason I’m allowing it is because you asked.”

“Naturally,” Fancy Pants said, bowing slightly. “I would never dream of taking advantage of your generous nature. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to take our leave. We have tickets to Hinny of the Hills, and it will be starting soon.”

Before Prim could say another word, Fancy Pants escorted Fleur out from behind the stage and into the hallway. Once the door closed behind them, she turned to look at him with a puzzled expression.

“How can you think about your musical production now?” she asked. “Shouldn’t we be trying to find poor Coco, or Miss Rarity for that matter?”

“Coco, no,” Fancy Pants said. “As I said before, this is a lesson she needs to learn herself. But Miss Rarity, I could not agree with you more, my dear. Which is why we are heading to Hinny of the Hills. Rarity asked me for tickets for her friends in exchange for designing some costumes for me. And since we have no idea where Miss Rarity is in this city…”

“But we do know where her friends will be, so we can simply ask them,” Fleur said as she caught on to the idea. “You are brilliant, my dear.”

“I do try to impress on most occasions,” Fancy Pants said, striking a pose that he knew Fleur liked. She giggled once and then the two of them headed off for the musical.

Author's Note:

Chapter one. I didn't want to do a story about Rarity, Coco, or Suri because I'm sure those are going to be done to death. However, I couldn't think of a good story about a character being changed by the city that didn't involve at least one of those characters. So I thought, why not make it so the story is about Coco's change, but have it be about other ponies wanting her to change for her own benefit? Next, I needed two ponies who were fashionable and important, yet kind enough to deeply care about the fate of Coco. Thus, Fancy Pants and Fleur came to mind. Imagine my delight when I re-watched the episode (several times actually, to make sure I wasn't messing with the timeline of the show) and saw those two! Perfect!
It drove me nuts that Rarity kept referring to her friend in this episode, but never actually named him. Nor was he ever revealed (and yes, she does say it is a he). So that also went into choosing Fancy Pants. I thought, 'Who could be important enough and wealthy enough to put on a musical show, knows Rarity on a familiar basis, and is kind enough to offer her such a deal for such an important show?' Fancy Pants was the only one who fit the bill.
Oh, and thank you EQD for extending the word count beyond 1500. This was much easier.

Comments

[OmniFox]

The fancy couple that is Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee.