"Rags to Riches"

Chapter 1: "Dad"

Canterlot is well-known for its multicultural environment. Or at least, its attempts at doing so through commercialism to provide some exotic "flair" in the lives of the posh nobles and businessponies in the nation's capitals, as well as to accommodate foreign dignitaries visiting the nation's capital. When it came to restaurants, they were very hit and miss when it came to the authenticity of the food to the standards of the nationalities which many restaurants were themed.

Roseanna's Cucina was one of the most highly regarded authentic Bitalian restaurants. And as Fancy Pants and Fleur De Lis casually entered the threshold of the restaurant, Fancy Pants couldn't help but smile to himself. It was only fitting for this "meeting" to be held here. After all, he owned the place. This place and many establishments throughout Canterlot and Equestria. But as he gazed upon the luxurious red carpets, the expensive oak desks and the white marble ceilings where golden chandeliers hung above candlelit tables, it was not the ownership or even the success of this particular establishment that brought him joy, but the smell of the always-fresh Bitalian food, and the music of Octavia Melody performed live (a usual once a month event here). Memories of home... he thought to himself.

His thoughts were interrupted as a waiter adorned in a uniform tux approached him. "Will it be your usual table, sir?"

"Why of course, Quickstep!"

The other stallion began to turn to attend to other business, when Fancy Pants suddenly remembered one crucial detail for the staff. "Oh by the way, Quickstep!" He turned towards Fancy Pants unexpectedly; curious.

"I may have forgotten to mention something er... special about this evening."

"Yes...?"

"Princess Twilight Sparkle will be joining Fleur and I for dinner. Would you be so kind as to prepare the table for three?"

Quickstep swallowed, taking a moment to maintain his composure. "Yes, sir, right away!"

And with that, the waiter quickly trotted away towards the kitchen, likely to alert the manager of the dire news. 'Dire'... Fancy thought as the couple trotted towards the VIP table. This place is always at its finest.

"You didn't tell them?"

Fancy looked down at Fleur, her words and exotic Prench accent catching him by surprise. She looked up at him with surprise but also in an almost scolding manner. "Come now, dear. We never announce when we come here. There's no need, what with the way Roseanna's is maintained."

The small Prench mare's gaze softened as she took a deep breath. "You're right. Still, they are all going to be so nervous; this is royalty we're inviting!"

"And it wouldn't be the first time they've had royalty. Albeit a rare occasion, but still. If we've impressed Princess Luna, we'll certainly amaze Twilight Sparkle."

§

"Wow, this place is... it's just... sweet Celestia!"

Twilight Sparkle still couldn't help but take in the sights of this restaurant. It was so modern but classical, so shiny with the polished tables and floors and ceilings, but also dark with the lights at the perfect setting for romantic candlelit evenings. This wasn't even just the kind of place ordinary stallions would impress mares to propose, this was the kind of place nobles proposed at. She just couldn't believe it. While being uncomfortable with many of the newfound "perks" of royalty, this was something she certainly could get used to. And sitting elevated above the crowd, at a round VIP table with a diamond chandelier, marble pillars, leather seating and a polished oakwood table... it was all just so much at once.

Fancy Pants and Fleur De Lis chuckled. Fancy dipped some garlic bread into the olive oil mixture of dipping sauce, holding the warm oven-baked bread with a hoof. He loved the familiar feel of the bread on his hooves, even though magic may be much more practical. It was all out of nostalgia. "I take it you enjoy my little restaurant?" he rhetorically inquired before taking a bite.

"I... I love it! How many bits are invested in this place? You've clearly put a lot of effort into making it top-notch." Sudden realization hit Twilight. "Or... be honest, is it because I'm here?"

Fleur almost scoffed in amusement at Twilight's analysis. "Please, you had very little effect. The staff was unaware until we arrived. This place is his baby..."

Fancy Pants cleared his throat upon hearing the final word. "There's more story to this place than you'd think. Before, it was a simple four-star restaurant, The Mario Colts. I decided to take ownership and dedicate it to my mother, Roseanna.

Twilight leaned forward with interest as she swallowed her bread. "Really? You know, not too many ponies know about you and your life before Canterlot. But it seems like everypony's in awe of you. I mean, you treat me like any other pony!"

The stallion couldn't contain his laughter at that remark. "Don't worry, your majesty, I understand. We all know you so very well up here with your achievements since moving to Ponyville. And, being used to the spotlight myself, I understand your need for normalcy."

The Alicorn sighed in relief. It was nice being able to simply relax in the company of another pony who understood the feelings of fame-related stress, and without the centuries of experience to become numb to it. "So, tell me about your mother."

"I'll have to tell the waiters to take their time. The story of my mother is very much tied to the story of my life. Why, if it weren't for her, I wouldn't be where I am today."

§

I think the most important part of my story is as just a foal. The day when everything began, at five years old. At our little house on the outskirts of ManeHatten. Coltpaque. It might be a nice neighborhood now with larger houses and expensive chariots though for most of my youth it was, for lack of better terms, a dump.

I was playing outside with my brother, InkGreen. Just a simple game of passing a soccer ball in the backyard of our shack of a house, in the tall and rarely mowed grass. The feeling of the hard ground beneath my hooves as we kicked the ball back and forth. With him being only four, I had to go easy on him, but he was rather quick for his age.

With a well-placed buck, solely out of reflex, I'd sent the ball into an empty lot, where grass taller than we were at the time densely populated the tiny square. To us, the lot was a tiny jungle with its thick blades and muddied ground. "It's on your side, Inkie! You gotta get it!"

"But Faaancy, I don't wanna go in there!"

"It didn't go too far, I swear! Don't be a baby and go get it!"

So off the dejected colt went, trotting off into the 'wliderness' that lay before him. That was when I heard my oldest brother, Alfonso, yell.

"What do you mean you're 'going'!?"

I moved up to the side of the house, carefully placing an ear to the window to hear the conversation. Taking a quick second to peer, I saw my parents and Alfonso. My mother's coat was a creamy manilla, her hair red as roses and eyes green as emeralds. Very Bitalian. As was my father, with his dark grey coat, brown eyes, back mane and blue eyes. Alfonso's coat was white with a brownish mane. He stared angrily into my father's eyes. "Going where!?"

Father backpedaled nervously. I had no way of really telling at the time, but he was afraid of not only his own son, but my mother. She wasn't so angry like my brother, instead her eyes just seemed fixated on the dusty floors. "I don't know, son, I just... I need to figure things out."

"Don't bullshit, dad. I've heard you talking. We need you here if we're going to feed ten mouths! And with grandma moving in that makes eleven of us!"

He just stood there, looking for an answer. "I'll see you around, son." He said as he turned away, walking towards the front door. Alfonso looked ready to pounce, but mom stopped him. What's going on? Was all I could think. I rant to the front porch. I could hear InkGreen calling my name but I didn't care, I had to know where Dad was going.

As he opened the front door I quickly jumped in front of him. On the street behind me, a taxi carriage much like that you'd still find in Manehatten today pulled up. "Daddy! Daddy! Where are you going? Why's Alfie so mad?"

He sat on his haunches, gingerly tussling my mane. "I'm going on a vacation, Fancy. Don't worry, Alfie's just mad I'm not taking him. It's kind of for business as well." My father stood up, trotting away to the carriage. As he got in, he yelled something in Bitalian (I hardly speak the language anymore) to the driver, and he took off.

I ran to the curb of the horribly cracked sidewalk as I energetically wove a hoof. "Goodbye!" I shouted. I fully expected a 'See you later, alligator!' or some similar farewell in return, but it never came. No, instead I watched as the cab sped to the end of the street, making a right turn. Vanishing behind the next house. I would never see that cab come back around that turn ever again.

With the cab, and without a goodbye, father was gone. I couldn't possibly know that, all I knew was that I could hear mom beginning to sob from the house. Didn't she know he was just going on vacation?