The Red Ribbon (A Halloween Story)
Fancy Pants trotted through the snowbound wonderland that was Canterlot Parkway. Hoof prints littered the parkway path and little squabbles with patches of grass showed where foals had strayed from the path to play. He whistled as he walked, a wedding ring bouncing freely inside his pocket. “Today’s the day,” he said happily as he trotted along.
There she was, waiting for him like he had asked. Fleur de Lis sat quietly waiting for him on the bench where they had first met. It was a special place the two of them shared. The bench sat facing away from the parkway and was roughly twenty-five feet from the edge of the mountains cliff. From this bench, a pony could see for miles out over Equestria. Tranquility flourished here as if everything could just melt away like the world does while you look out over it.
Fancy strayed away from the path towards his mare sitting on that bench. She heard him coming and turned to give a look. Seeing his approach she smiled, “Is there any reason you’ve asked to meet like this?”
“Yes,” he smiled and withdrew the ring, bowing before her, he placed the jewel-studded gold ring on top of the snow. “Will you be my wife? Will you marry me?” he asked with a smile.
He felt a hoof touch his shoulder, “Yes, Fancy, I’ll marry you!”
He scooped the ring up off the snow and placed it on her horn. Gazing at her beauty and the glorious ring she now wore, he couldn’t help but wonder about the light pink silk bow she wore around her neck. It’s been around her neck for as long as he could remember.
“Why do you wear that pink bow?” he asked, cocking his head to the right with curiosity.
She smiled sadly at him, “I can not remove this bow.” She said, touching the small knot centered just below her chin.
He nodded, leaving the ribbon be. He smiled up at her, “Come with me, I’ve reserved us some seats at a certain restaurant you may remember.”
The two of them stood and began walking side by side through the winter wonderland.
Late into the following Spring, the day of their marriage finally came! Fancy wore the most expensive suit he could have made, his wife-to-be had found herself a gorgeous dress though he had yet to lay eyes on it. She kept telling him he’d have to wait until the day came. His excitement and anticipations were through the roof at this point, though he held a calm and collected expression.
The wedding was to take place in the royal gardens, with the royals of the land being present. His dearest friend, Rarity, had offered to make his suit for him but he declined. She was a brilliant seamstress and produced the most beautiful of dresses and the most handsome of suits, but she was already working on Fleur’s dress. He couldn’t help but let her give that his full concentration.
Using his magic, he quickly readjusted his black bow tie for the nine millionth time. His Groomsman had been waiting just outside the door of the palace. Hoity Toity stuck his head into the door just then, “Come on, it’s time to go.” He said with a smile, his glasses reflecting the light from a window in the next room.
“Alright, alright, calm your mane, Toity,” he said with a chuckle. He gave himself one last inspection to make sure everything was perfect before turning and leaving. Once in the living room him and Toity turned and left the room, two guards had met them outside the door.
“This way, gentlecolts.” said the orange pegasus. They followed the guards through the maze of corridors and rooms until finally they came to the royal garden at the heart of the castle.
The guards opened the doors and stepped aside, holding the doors open. Hoity Toity and Fancy Pants began walking along the red carpet that had been laid down on the path. Mares and Stallions alike were sitting in pues that had been placed on both sides. Along the outside of the gardens were so many more ponies gathered for this event. But there at the end of the carpet was Fleur de Lis and Sparkleshine. Both smiling as they neared them.
Fleur’s dress was a light rose pink to match her mane and bow. His smile faltered slightly as he wondered why she would wear that old thing to an event like this. What was it’s purpose? He shook his head and smiled once more. “Hello my dearest queen,” he said as he arrived at the altar at the base of the statues depicting Celestia and Luna raising the sun and moon. The statues had levitation enchantments so none of the four stones were actually touching anything. Simply hovering over their bases.
Fleur smiled in return. “Hello, my king.”
As the ceremony began and ended, the two couldn’t take their eyes off each others, until finally they heard the magic words, “You may kiss your bride.” He nodded before stepping closer to her and kissing her softly on the lips. They held their kiss for a moment or two before they broke and she threw her bouquet into the crowd. Photo Finish captured it before it hit her camera and landed in her lap.
a few ponies nearby laughed and looked over at the photographer who appeared to be speechless.
Fleur and Fancy smiled to one another, Fleur noticed Fancy’s gaze drop to her bow, “I’m sorry, but I can’t take it off. Don’t even ask!” She giggled before picking him up in her magic and carrying him out of the garden.
As the years passed, Fancy never questioned Fleur’s ribbon, but it frustrated him that he could never get her to take it off. Eventually, the day came where Fleur was due to give birth to their first foal. On the day she entered the hospital, Fleur begged him to tell the doctors and nurses not to remove the pink bow on her neck.
He nodded and reassured her she and her bow were in safe, capable hooves. That night the foal was born. Fancy Pants entered the room they had been placed in for recovery. The foal had Fleur’s smaller lean body and a light blue mane and tail to match that of her father. She was a beautiful little foal, even though she slept cradled in her mother's hooves. “What should we name her?” Fleur asked softly.
Fancy smiled as he walked up to her bed. Touching his nose the sleeping foals, “Sky Lily.”
She smiled, “That’s a wonderful name, Fancy. Reminds me of the blue flowers we found up in the mountains, near the stream.” Her voice was cheerful but she was exhausted. “Do you want to hold her?”
“Of course,” he said calmly. She passed little Sky Lily to him using her magic. After he had taken careful hold of little Lily he began rocking back and forth to help comfort her. Fleur had laid down and watched the two of them quietly. Fancy did enjoy the silence that lingered in that warm hospital room.
As he sat there cradling his child, watching her little nose wrinkle as she slept. her little toothless maw opened with a yawn and she blinked her eyes open for a moment, they matched Fleur’s beautiful amethyst jeweled eyes. After a moment or two the baby’s eyes closed and she fell back to sleep. “My beautiful little girl,” he said, smiling over to see that Fleur had also fallen asleep.
Lily was now old enough to start attending school. Fancy and Fleur had decided to move to Ponyville where they could provide their daughter with a happier childhood. The house they had chosen to live in was new, two stories and a basement, full kitchen with an island and two bedrooms on the upper floor.
Fancy pants entered the living room to see his girls playing, Fleur held the little fillies toy just outta reach of the bouncing baby unicorn, "C'mon Lily, you can do it, try using your magic."
"Mom! Just give her back!" Sky Lily protested, her little hooves reaching into the air. Lily's hoof had brushed against Fleur's pink ribbon causing her to drop you and embrace the child's hoof before she had a chance to pull at it.
"Mom!" She whined as the toy bounced off her back.
Fleur let Lily have her hoof back and smiled down at her, "Sorry baby, mommy didn't mean to hurt you..."
"You didn't hurt me, by what's with the bow?" She asked curiously looking at it.
Fancy stepped forward as Fleur simply looked away. "Mommy can never take her bow off, Lily."
"But why?!" She asked turning to look at him, her lavender eyes filled with curiosity.
"Not sure, but it's special to her so please leave it alone." He said sternly before smiling. The filly had lowered her head as if she were in trouble. "Now, who's going to help me prepare the Nightmare Night treats?" He asked crouching down to nuzzle her cheek.
Lily looked up at him than at Fleur, "She is! I wanna be the taster!"
He chuckled, "Alright, well I guess it's a good thing that they're already done. Now isn't it?" He watched as Sky Lily rushed jot the kitchen completely forgetting about the toy they had been playing with.
He looked over at Fleur who smiled softly. "So what is it with that ribbon. We promised we wouldn't keep secrets, you know."
"It belonged to my mother. She passed away when I was young, so I always wear it, just like she did." She said with a sorrow-filled smile, "C'mon, we got treats to protect," she said pressing her cheek against his before she walked passed him and into the kitchen.
Fancy Pants hurried to set the table, it was their anniversary night. It was incredible how quickly twenty years had passed them by. Tonight was the night he'd get her to finally take off that old ragged piece of ribbon.
He finished setting the table by placing two bottles of very old wines in its center. Just then, Fleur opened the door and walked in. The joy she expressed, seeing the love-struck romantic she had married standing behind the candle lit dining room table. Fancy had just finished placing the spaghetti sauce on the pasta he had prepared. Pulling a chair out, he offered it to her. “Please,” he said with a smile.
“The pleasure’s all mine.” she laughed as she took her seat. “I’m surprised you remembered,” she said as he took his seat across from her.
“How could I have forgotten!” he protested before taking a small bite of his pasta.
She laughed and began eating, “Thank you for the foods.” she smiled and childishly winked at him.
He nodded and cleared his throat, he levitated a box out from behind her and moved it to set just above her plate on the table. She removed its ribbons and opened it. Inside was a diamond studded necklace, a very valuable piece from a high-class place in upper Canterlot.
Fleur looked up at him in surprise, “It’s beautiful, Fancy, I’ll treasure it always.”
“Well, go on, put it on.” he said waving his hoof, “I’m sure it will match you much better than that old bow. I mean I understand that it’s for your mother, but what’s the harm in taking it off for at least one dinner?” His question simply earned him a tear and a glance to the floor. “I’m sorry, but I must never remove this bow… No matter how much I’d like to sometimes.”
She stood from the table, “I’m going to go to bed now,” she kissed his cheek and left him in silence.
Fancy proceeded to drink the wine. Both bottles.
Before he knew it several hours had passed and both bottles were left empty on the table. One glass untouched and left alone, the other having held more than just a few drinks. He went upstairs. Walked into their bedroom to see her sleeping, that bow gleamed with the light from the cracked door. “We’ve been together for twenty years and yet you insist on wearing that bow day and night. I can understand grievances, but everypony has got to move on. It’s time that bow came off.”
Using his magic he slowly loosened the knot of the bow around her neck. as the knot loosened a darkness gnawed at his stomach, causing it to churn unpleasantly. He ignored the feeling and pulled the knot free.
Fleur’s head rolled from the pillow and onto the floor. Caught in the light of the moon, her eyes were open and focused on him.
One large tear fell to the floor, “I warned you… Why….”
