The Canterlot Garden Party
Sweat dripped down her forehead as she focused on fusing diamonds to a platinum ring. The diamonds where tiny, and there was no room for any mistakes. Even with her unicorn magic, Gleaming Gem had trouble with the diamonds. She attempted to fuse the diamonds to the ring many times, but she was not able to get more than a few diamonds to stick.
She rarely had a problem like that, but every instance was linked to anxiety. This day, Jet Set requested a platinum ring decorated with diamonds. Gleaming Gem didn't want to disappoint him and possibly lose here career, so she wanted to make sure everything was perfect. If she made any mistake, no matter how small, she was doomed! She just knew it!
"Relax!" She told herself as most of the diamonds feel off the ring, again. The only way she was going to keep the diamonds on the ring was to relax. Her stress made it nearly impossible to focus enough to fuse the diamonds with her magic. She took a deep breath and tried the fusion spell one last time. Finally! the diamonds where perfectly fused to the ring.
"Mister Jet Set, your ring is ready! The platinum base is decorated with some of the finest diamonds in Canterlot. Each diamond was placed strategically to compliment the shiny of the others. Your total will be 500 bits!" Gleaming Gem explained.
"My, it is rather spectacular!" Jet Set marveled as he gave the bits to the mare. "I wish to personally invite you to the Canterlot Garden Party. A mare like yourself is just what it has been missing."
The Canterlot Garden Party?! Gleaming Gem could barely contain her excitement. She was acquainted with many of the high society ponies, but she the only extravagant she has been invited to previously was the Grand Galloping Gala. It was a dream come true for her. She was able to contain herself to accept the invention, but she jumped up and down like a little filly as soon as he left.
From the moment she got the invitation to the day of the party, she couldn't stop worrying about how she would look. She wanted to wear a deep violet dress and an amethyst necklace, but she worried that it wasn't good enough. The dress had an elegant style which accented her curves, and the silk exterior simmered in the light. The interior was made with cashmere, a very expensive wool well known for its softness. Anypony who gazed upon the dress knew it was made by a pony of exquisite taste. No one knew it was made in Ponyville c though. The very thought of something being from Ponyville made many of the high society members turn their muzzles up in disgust, but Gleaming Gem loved the dress. It was both comfortable and fashionable, unlike her other dresses which lacked comfort. At the last minute, she went with that dress and refused to tell anypony its origin.
The Canterlot Castle, where the garden party was held, was a short ways from her house, so she decided to walk there. There was no reason to wait for a carriage to take her. When she got there, she was greeted by Jet Set and Upper Crust, who complimented her dress and necklace. She enjoyed talking to them, but there were more high society ponies to chat with. She excused herself and went to the table to get some hors d'oeuvres to eat. That was when her day changed.
"That necklace is so amazing!" A mare unicorn compliment
"She's a fine jeweler!" Another pony, a unicorn stallion, replied.
Both ponies, a stallion and a mare, walked up to her and asked for her to make them rings. She politely declined, but she felt bad. She never turned down a customer. She went to the party hoping that she could leave her work behind. She loved her job, but as they say, there's a time and place for everything.
She made her way towards the exit without saying a word. She had enough with ponies bombarding her with requests. She want at work, and there was no reason she should spend her day off working. Before she reached the exit, she was stopped by Fancy Pants.
"My, you look marvelous today!" Fancy Pants complimented.
"I'm not taking any requests, sir," Gleaming Gem replied almost instinctively.
"Why would anypony make demands on this lovely day?" Fancy Pants asked, confused.
"I certainly do no know, but..." Gleaming Gem began to answer.
She was interrupted by more ponies who wanted her to make jewelry for them. She barely understood their requests as they spoke simultaneously, but she wasn't going to make jewelry for anyone, anyways.
"Ladies, gentlecolts, please give this fine mare some space. As you can see, she is taking a day off from her work to be here," Fancy Pants explained as he gestured for other ponies to get back.
"But she's a jeweler!" A mare shouted from the crowd.
"Indeed she is," Fancy Pants responded, "She is the finest jeweler in Canterlot, but her entire life does not revolve around making jewelry. Please, let her have her day off."
The crowd apologized to her and quickly dispersed. She thanked Fancy Pants and promised him a free piece of jewelry when he comes by the jewelry shop. It was the least she could do for him. She spent the rest of her day mingling about whatever topic was on hand.
The party reached its end, and the crowd grew shorter until she was able to spot Jet Set. She thanked him for the invitation before heading home. She looked forward to the next social event, the Grand Galloping Gala. The she looked at the ticket which sat on her night stand before she removed her dress and necklace and climbed into bed.
