> 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.
	
> Show 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Fancy Pants barely registered the Fashion Week contest as it played out before him, Fleur, and all the other ponies who were in attendance. His ears briefly paid attention when Suri’s name was called, but he paid her no more mind once the first model wearing ‘her’ design stepped forward. 
No, Fancy Pants was focused on something much more fascinating. Down in the very front row, a row reserved for very important ponies, there was a gap in the crowd. A very large gap, one that looked as though a small group of ponies had failed to arrive. To miss such an event when one had a ticket to it was baffling, but for an entire group, with prime seats, to miss this event was beyond reason. 
Although, the same thing had happened last night at the musical. There had been a rather large gap in the audience, right near the front, and Fancy Pants was certain that those seats were the ones he had given to Rarity for her friends. So he believed it was safe to assume that the missing ponies for Fashion Week were the same as the ones from the musical, but that only raised more questions.
Rarity had been fiercely devoted to her friends when Fancy Pants had first met them, and he had seen her come in to the theater earlier today with her new outfits, but she had been alone.  And that only made the question of why a group of ponies, especially friends, would miss such an important event all the more curious.
Fancy Pants hoped the reason was not because Manehattan was starting to get to Rarity as it had to so many other ponies. That would be a true waste.
“Ugh, what a dreadful mare,” Fleur said from beside him, tilting her head so that it rested on his overcoat. “The beauty of those outfits is wasted on me, I fear. Knowing the truth about them just puts me in a sour mood.”
Fancy Pants looked to the stage and saw that Suri’s (Coco’s) outfits were still being paraded in front of adoring fans. The crowd was going wild over the outfits, and for the second time in as many days, Fancy Pants found himself growing worried. He did not dislike the designs himself, but Fleur had the right of it; the truth behind them ruined them. However, other ponies did not know the truth, and without that tint, the outfits were marvelous. Rarity would need to bring something beyond imagining if she hoped to win.
“And now, Rarity from Ponyville, with her new line—and I mean brand new—Hotel Chic.”
The curtain pulled back to reveal a pony with…was that a lampshade on her head? Fancy Pants stared at first in confusion, but he felt Fleur light up next to him at the sight of the model. While her outfit was a bid odd, he had to admit that it worked. The next pony walked out, wearing what appeared to be curtains sown together in such a way as to appear to be a plated dress with a military-style overcoat. The crowd gasped in awe, and then broke into applause as more and more of Rarity’s outfits made their way onstage. 
But Fancy Pants was no longer looking at the outfits. He was looking at the white unicorn who was peering around the curtain in the back. It was fascinating watching her. Her eyes lit up at the sound of the applause, and for a moment, she appeared to be the happiest pony in all of Equestria, but then her eyes found the empty hole in the stands, and her expression suddenly looked dreadful. So, that spot had belonged to her friends. Now, it was just a matter of what Rarity would—
Rarity bolted down the runway, knocking one of the models over as she leapt off the stage. Everypony gasped, expect for Fancy Pants, who merely smiled, and Prim called after Rarity, but the unicorn did not look back.
“What ever was that about do you think?” Fleur asked as she, like so many others, watched Rarity dash out the door. 
“Oh, nothing too worrisome I suspect,” Fancy Pants said. “Just a mare remembering who she is, and what she truly values.”
“You don’t say,” Fleur said, gazing at Fancy Pants for a moment before returning her attention to the fashion show. “A pity. I believe she stood a good chance of winning too.”
Fancy Pants let out a small chuckle. “My dear Fleur, she has already won.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Look at the judges.” Fancy pants nodded to his left, indicating three of the biggest fashion ponies in Equestria: Hoity Toity, Sapphire Shores, and Photo Finish. “Judges are supposed to be unbiased, and I am certain all three of them will claim to be so, but do you honestly believe they were here for any other pony besides Rarity?”
“I’m afraid I do not follow,” Fleur said as the crowd began to recover from Rarity’s shocking display. Prim was on stage trying to reign the show back in for the closing ceremony.
“Allow me to explain,” Fancy Pants said as he straightened his monocle again and Fleur rested her head on his shoulder. “Hoity Toity is the pony who discovered Rarity. He could not stop talking about her dress designs when he returned to Canterlot after his little excursion to Ponyville. Sapphire Shores wanted to see this new marvel for herself, and you know what she is like when she hears about so-called new talent.”
“She likes to test it for herself,” Fleur said with a soft smile.
“Precisely. How Miss Rarity managed to find so many gems for those…shall we say, tasteful, outfits of Sapphire’s I will never understand, but Sapphire was impressed as well.”
“That leaves Photo Finish, and you know as well as I do that she is not as easily impressed as the others,” Fleur said, a frown crossing her elegant face. Photo Finish had pushed her in ways she’d never been pushed when she had first started her modeling career. 
“Indeed you are correct, my dear,” Fancy Pants said, rubbing her head gently to calm her. “Photo Finish was not impressed with Rarity’s designs in the slightest. She had seen them all before—she claims, anyway—and there was nothing new about them. However, she does owe Rarity for something else, though she will never admit it.”
“What is that?”
“Fluttershy.”
“That lovely pegasus model who left the business almost as soon as she got started?” Fleur asked. Leave it to her to remember Fluttershy right away. Fleur remembered every model that became nearly as famous as she did.
“Yes. Photo Finish wasn’t impressed with Rarity’s outfit, but she was impressed with Rarity’s eye for quality. Photo will claim that she is the one who discovered Fluttershy, but she knows the truth of it. Rarity is the one who brought Fluttershy to Photo Finish’s attention, and in doing so, made Photo Finish realize that Rarity did indeed have a future ahead of herself. Again, she’ll never admit to any of that in public, but she knows that Rarity has an eye for ‘ze magicz’! Judging by her reaction, I think it is safe to say that Rarity did not disappoint her.”
Fleur giggled at Fancy Pants’ impression of the photo pony, and at that moment, Photo Finish stood and walked to the stage. She gave Prim a small piece of paper, then turned—with precision that rivaled even Fleur’s best spin—and returned to her seat.
“Attention Ladies and Gentlecolts,” Prim said, raising her voice slightly so that the rest of the crowd fell silent. “This year’s winner, by way of our judges, is…Rarity from Ponyville!” The crowd erupted into cheers and stomping hooves, so much so that Fancy Pants felt his seat shaking beneath himself. He smiled when he saw Fleur whistle with glee, something she rarely did.
“Now, if she was actually here,” Prim said, rolling her eyes. “Honestly, that pony has no sense of presence or timing. Well everypony, thank you for coming. I’m afraid we may have to cut the award ceremony a bit short, but please feel free to ask questions of any of our designers and—has anypony seen Suri? Please do not tell me she’s missing too. Oh, how dreadful…”
“Come my dear,” Fancy Pants said, rising and offering his hoof to Fleur. “I think it is time for us to take our leave. Perhaps we should go find Miss Rarity and inform her of the good news.”
“Of course, darling.” Fleur rose and the two of them walked out of the theater. They entered the lobby, and their good moods were immediately soured as they heard a familiar voice.
“Got it?” Suri was saying as Fancy Pants and Fleur entered the lobby. “That’s the story we’re sticking to. Her friends just asked about her, and we told them she lost and left in a huff. If we’re lucky, they’ll let it slip that Rarity lost and she’ll be so crushed that she won’t show up for her prize, and it will be mine!”
“But what about—?” Coco started, but Suri silenced her with a look. With that, the two of them turned and walked away, no doubt heading backstage to bask in false praise.
“Ugh, I cannot stand her!” Fleur said. “When are you going to do something about her? Surely with your influence you could do something.”
“Indeed I could,” Fancy Pants said as dozens of ideas flowed through his mind. “But that would make me no better than her, would it? Using lies and underhanded tactics to get what I want.”
“I suppose you have a point,” Fleur said, a hint of disappointment sounding in her voice. 
“Now come along, we really must find Miss Rarity,” Fancy Pants said. As he headed for a door, a thought began to form in his head. He looked back in the direction Coco had gone. As far as he knew, that was the first time Coco had ever tried to stand up to Suri. Perhaps the time was getting near. “Fleur, my dear, might I ask something of you?”
“Certainly,” Fleur said in that wispy voice she used whenever she knew Fancy Pants needed something from her.
“When we do find Miss Rarity, would you be kind enough to not mention her winning?”
Fleur gave him a puzzled look, but then she smiled. “This is another one of your little schemes, isn’t it?”
“Quite so, I’m afraid,” he replied with a grin. He looked back the way Coco had gone, hoping that perhaps something was about to happen that he had been waiting on for a long time. “And if it works, Coco will benefit the most.”
“Oh, that would be marvelous,” Fleur said as they exited the building. They did not need to walk far in search of Rarity. The rounded a corner on the street and, just as when Fancy Pants had first met the unicorn, she bumped right into him.
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t—oh! Fancy Pants! Miss Fleur!” Rarity said with a polite nod to each. “A-A pleasure to see you both again so soon. Fancy Pants, I really must thank you again for giving me those tickets.”
“Think nothing of it, my dear,” Fancy Pants said. “Though, I fear your friends were absent from the showing.”
Rarity’s face drooped even lower than Fancy Pants thought possible. So, her friends’ absence was her doing after all. “I’m…afraid that was my fault. And now I fear I may have lost them for good.”
“Now now, my dear,” Fancy Pants said and he lifted Rarity’s chin. “I am certain your friends will forgive you if you’re sincere. Wouldn’t you agree, Fleur?”
“Most certainly,” Fleur said. Then, with a grin, she added, “Although, a little apology gift would not harm the matter.”
“Splendid idea!” Fancy Pants said, and indeed it was, as the idea came into his mind. “How about you take your friends to a private, exclusive showing of Hinny of the Hills? I can have the cast ready to perform again this afternoon.”
“Oh, but I couldn’t ask you to do that,” Rarity said. “I-I mean, how will the actors get paid? I can’t ask them to work for free just for my friends.”
“Hm, you make an excellent point,” Fancy Pants said, pretending to think as he scratched his chin. “Ah! I know. How about you make all the costumes for my next show? You do such marvelous work, and I’m certain the exposure would only help your blossoming career. Why, just think! You could live here in Manehattan while you worked! It would be a splendid opportunity for you to immerse yourself in the culture here.”
Rarity made a face at that remark, and Fancy Pants had to make sure to keep the smile off his face. Good. Manehattan hadn’t gotten to her in the wrong way. The idea of staying in the city for an extended time was dreadful to her, but could she put that aside for her friends?
“I…I would be delighted, Fancy Pants,” Rarity said with a forced smile. “My friends, assuming they’re still my friends anyway, will be thrilled to see the show. I just hope I can convince them to come back. If I’m lucky, maybe their train to Ponyville hasn’t left yet. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go speak with Prim before I go! Thank you again!” 
Fancy Pants and Fleur stepped aside and Rarity dashed past, rounding the corner and vanishing from sight. “Dear, what if her friends really have left for Ponyville?” Fleur asked. “I doubt they could get back here in time for the musical.”
“Oh, I think it’s safe to say that they are still very much in Manehattan,” Fancy Pants said as a familiar group of rustic ponies—painfully out of place in the big city—came around another corner and began walking toward him and Fleur.
“Princess Sparkle,” Fancy Pants said as the group approached. He and Fleur bowed, and Fancy Pants smiled when he saw Twilight recoil slightly at the praise and display. The power had not gone to her head, it seemed. That was good. “And friends! A pleasure to see you all again,” he said as he stood back up. 
“Um…th-thank you, sir,” Twilight said, blushing and looking at the ground. “Nice to see you and Fleur again too, Fancy Pants. We were just—”
“Have you seen Rarity?” the pink pony, Pinkie Pie, asked suddenly, putting her head between Applejack’s and Twilight’s heads. “We missed her show and then we heard she lost and then she stormed off and we’ve been looking everywhere trying to find her and we’re starting to get worried that she went back home and is locked in her room again and is becoming a crazy cat pony all over again!”
How in Equestria did Pinkie Pie talk so fast? Fancy Pants blinked once and cleaned his monocle again to allow his brain to catch up. “Why yes, as a matter of fact, you just missed her,” he said.
“She was returning to the theater,” Fleur said. “She said she needed to speak to Prim before she left for Ponyville. She was trying to find all of you.”
“Ponyville?” Applejack said.
“Oh no, we gotta stop her! Come on!” Rainbow Dash said and bolted around the corner.
“Oh…oh my,” Fluttershy said. Fleur smiled at her and the yellow pegasus blushed, then followed her friend.
“We need to hurry,” Pinkie Pie said, tugging on Applejack’s mane with her teeth. 
“Hurry up, Twi,” Applejack said, breaking into a run.
“Um, excuse us,” Twilight said with a quick bow. “Thank you for your help!” And with that, she was gone with the others.
“Still a lively bunch, are they not?” Fleur asked with a smile.
“Indeed. Now, you and I are needed at the musical theater. We have to get the actors ready for one more show, and if I have played my cards correctly, I believe we’ll be seeing something very special.”
	
> Fulfillment of a Wish
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“So, I hope you aren’t upset about this,” Rarity said sheepishly. “I’m not trying to back out of our deal, honest. It’s just…I feel that Coco here deserves this opportunity more than I do. She has wonderful talent with sewing and design. And I’m certain she’s more than capable of filling in for me. Now that she’s out of Suri’s shadow, I feel she needs a chance to shine. Just once, and then she’ll be amazing. And this seemed like the perfect opportunity for her.”
Fancy Pants frowned, but on the inside he was smiling. Rarity’s generosity had worked flawlessly, and because of that, Fleur and Fancy Pants had finally managed to get what they had been hoping for. 
“Hm…you do seem to have confidence in her,” Fancy Pants said, looking Coco over. She was as stiff as a statue, and her eyes were focused straight ahead. Sweat was starting to form on her brow. “But what if I insist on having you?”
“Then…then I will stay, of course,” Rarity said, trying to hide her disappointment. “It’s just, I think Coco would benefit from this more than I would.”
“That’s very generous of you, Miss Rarity,” Fleur said. “Are you certain though, that Coco can handle this responsibility? She did, after all, work for that dreadful mare before. I am not so certain her heart will be in the right place.”
“Oh, I am positive she can fill in for me,” Rarity said, turning and smiling at Coco, who was still looking ahead, terrified. “Manehattan seems to have finally rubbed off on her in the right way.”
“Very well then,” Fancy Pants said. “You take care now, Miss Rarity. Have a safe trip home. Miss Coco, a moment of your time, if you please.”
Rarity waved goodbye and left the room. It was only then that Coco moved.
“Uncle, what’s this about?” she asked. “You never told me that Rarity was the costume designer! If I had known you were the friend, I don’t think I would have taken the job.”
“And why not, my dear?” Fancy Pants asked as he rubbed his niece’s head. “You have a marvelous talent, and this is the perfect opportunity to test it.”
“It’s just…I wanted to make it on my own,” she said, looking down at the floor. “I didn’t want other ponies to think I was getting special treatment because of you and Auntie Fleur.”
“My dear little Hot Coco,” Fleur said and she wrapped her forelegs around Coco’s neck. “You have done an excellent job of keeping your family ties secret, and far be it from use to spoil your ruse now.”
“And we’re not giving you anything,” Fancy Pants said. “You earned this. Rarity may not seem like it, but soon she will be well known throughout the fashion world. The fact that she picked you to fill her shoes is a great honor. It speaks volumes of your talent if Rarity thinks you are good enough to take over. You must have impressed her with those…designs.”
“Um, yes,” Coco hung her head and kicked the floor “about those…I didn’t—”
“We know, my dear,” Fleur said. Coco stopped kicking the floor and just hung her head.
“And yet, Rarity still showed you a kindness,” Fancy Pants said after a moment, hoping the lesson was sinking in. “Manehattan does not have to be the type of city Suri made it out to be. You do not have to be the pony Suri was trying to make you into. You can be yourself in Manehattan; the kind, caring pony we know you are. And are very happy to have back.”
Coco looked up and smiled, tears coming to her eyes. “Thank you, Uncle. I’ll do my best to honor Rarity’s gift, and remember what she taught me.”
“I would expect nothing less,” Fancy Pants said. 
“I even gave her a present as a thank you gift,” Coco said, her eyes brightening as she spoke. “That rainbow thread you gave me when I first started out. It…seemed like the right thing to do. I don’t know why though.”
“Interesting,” Fancy Pants said, and this time he meant it.  That spool of thread had been a puzzle to him for many a year. When Coco had first discovered her talent in fashion, he had thought she was meant to have it. But she had never used it much, saying that it didn’t feel ‘right’ when she did. Fancy Pants had told her to hold onto it until the time was right, though he had been halfway joking when he had said that.
Now though, he wasn’t so sure.  He wondered if Coco had just set some unseen event in motion.
“Dear, you have that look again,” Fleur said, snapping Fancy Pants out of his thoughts.
“Right, terribly sorry,” he said. “Well then, shall we get started? Fleur and I have come up with some lovely concepts, and we would love to have your input on what you think will work. You have a lot of work ahead of you, dear.”
“I won’t let you down,” Coco said, smiling a smile that Fancy Pants and Fleur had not seen in a long time. “I promise.”