One thing I learned throughout all my years being a Gentleman was that the job was a neverending study. Getting a customer was tricky enough, but to keep her was another ball game, especially when you have quite a few of them. You would need to remember their likes and dislikes, interests, passions, and at times, learn to play around it. The last was always tricky as you needed a solid understanding of the mare to know when you were going too far.

Basically, more art than science.

For example, Rarity was a mare with high-class tastes. Every date we’d had was always rather, well, blue-blooded. We’d visited expensive restaurants, which contributed to my extra spending on more formal clothing. A part of me even had wondered if this was some sort of plan Rarity had in mind. However, knowing her personally (and adding a bit of common sense), I came to a conclusion it was just a part of her core personality and nothing quite sinister.

We did have simpler dates, but I could count all of them with just one hand. I preferred those as they were the more intimate ones I’d had with her, which allowed me to learn about her in a more personal manner—like the fact that she truly is, as much as she’d want to deny it, a traditional mare, but was no less of a great pony in spite of it.

“You’re wearing your thinking face again,” Rarity said, snapping me out of my reverie.

I smiled at her. “Sorry, I was just thinking of an amazing mare, and how lucky I am to be in her presence.”

She blushed slightly, but returned the smile. “I am amazing, aren’t I?”

“Quite modest, too.”

She giggled. “Oh hush, darling.” She magically grabbed a spoon to scoop some ice cream from her bowl, and daintily ate it. “How do you find Canterlot, Wingman?”

I looked around for a moment. The city was almost impossible to not notice in Equestria since it was in the middle of a high mountain overlooking the whole country. A large part of the city was one situated inside an opulent castle, with some parts of it carved out of the mountain itself. Everything gleamed with white walls, gold accents, gemstones situated here and there, and watched over by pony gargoyles.

The culture here was the very opposite of the simple life of its closest town, Ponyville. In fact, it was an interesting contrast. Both towns were relatively the same size, with Canterlot winning out because of the Royal Sisters’ castle extending outwards. Shops had no salesperson in front, trying to convince customers to patronise. There was also a distinct lack of fresh selections. If I could compare, Ponyville’s commerce felt like a farmer’s market. In Canterlot, it felt like a mall.

The ponies too were a contrast. There was some sort of curt professionalism in the air. Manners were very formal, yet lacking in warmth. Ponies passed each other, greeting, going on their own way without even chatting. The clothing too was another example. In Ponyville, they were more or less unclothed. While Manehattan and other bigger cities did have ponies in clothing, they were more practical than the frippery the ponies in Canterlot wore. I’d seen ponies wearing high-quality shirts, gilded shoes, collars and jewelry, and even saw mares wear rather unpractical saddles that seemed to double as skirts.

“Different,” I finally answered.

“Is that good or bad?”

“Just different,” I said with a shrug.

Rarity looked at me for a moment. “You’re not very impressed by it, are you?”

I studied her. “No,” I said, gauging her reaction. She still looked neutral. “My parents taught me to live within my means, to be satisfied with what I have yet always plan for the future. If I tried to live here with what I earn, I’m probably going to find myself pretty miserable soon.”

“If you had the means to be able to live here, though, would you?” Rarity asked.

I looked around again, imagining myself here. I shook my head. “Most likely no. Probably because I enjoy the simpler life a bit more. Or maybe I’d rather be with more social ponies. And besides, I’d look pretty stupid with a saddle-skirt.”

Rarity broke into a wide smile and giggled. Somehow, I think I just passed a test without knowing it. “As much as I enjoy Canterlot’s scene, I agree with you. I tried living here for a while, but I just… couldn’t. Even if I could, I probably wouldn’t leave Ponyville.”

“Shame,” I said.

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Oh, and why is that, Wingman?”

“Because I think you’d look pretty good with a saddle-skirt.”

Rarity leaned in, crossing her forelegs in the table. “Maybe we can arrange that,” she said, smiling rather seductively.

I showed my appreciation by caressing both her forelegs with my hands. We looked into each other’s eyes for a moment, with me studying the different shades of her blue eyes. I gently lifted her hoof, and she turned her head slightly, blushing as I kissed her hoof without breaking eye-contact.

“That would be lovely,” I replied. She smiled wickedly, licking her lips subtly. I would squeeze her foreleg a little harder, just to silently tell her I was ready to launch myself after her.

“I can’t wait for later,” Rarity whispered. “It has been a while.”

“We can always check in the hotel early,” I said. “I am yours for the whole day.”

She shivered. “Oh, I do like that.” Then, she shook her head. “However, business first, dear.”

“Hmph. Tease.”

When we got out of the restaurant, I stuck close to her, touching her barrel and shoulders gently. In turn, she would flick her tail to give ghost touches to my thighs, and she would send gentle kisses along my arm once in a while. It was the game we usually played. She was a pony who loved the attention a stallion (or me, in this case) would give her. In turn, she would do her utmost to make sure that she was the forefront of their minds.

All proper by Equestrian standards, of course. As I said, Rarity was a classy lady.

We spent a few minutes with idle talk, backed with some subtle hints on what we’d probably do to each other in the hotel, when we finally arrived at our destination—a building with white marble walls, gilded windows, and a red carpet to welcome us. Royal Guards were on standby, gleaming armor and spear standing tall. We approached what looked like registration booths, and the stallion attendant seemed to go bug-eyed when he saw Rarity.

“Shall I register us?” I asked my unicorn companion.

“Oh, please do,” she replied.

It was really a quick procedure, especially since the attendant was a little too starstruck. I put Rarity’s name first, then my call-sign, and when I turned back, I blinked as multiple flashes of light seemed to erupt around me.

“Miss Rarity! Miss Rarity! Over here, please!” one unicorn called.

Rarity smiled dazzlingly as she posed for one of the cameraponies, before facing another with another pose. I chuckled, shaking my head and gave her some space. After her fifth pose, she seemed to be done, and began walking towards me. They still followed her, though, their cameras clicking and flashing.

When she was near, she mouthed at me to ‘smile’. I felt a little uncomfortable; this was the first time I had my picture taken, especially with a client. It was normal, of course, especially if the client was a public face. Even Sal had to face that when he was with Gilded Spiral. So, when she stood by my side and faced the cameras, I tried to act naturally, imagining myself with Eve and that we were taking photo booth pictures.

I absently found myself putting my arm around her. The cameras went absolutely wild—it was almost blinding.

“Miss Rarity! Who is your companion?”

“I’m sorry, but we must get inside,” she replied easily, then gently bit my hand and led me inside the building. Camera flashes still followed us, but I saw the Royal Guard moving towards us, intercepting the cameraponies. One stayed behind to open the door for us, and closed it when we got inside the antechamber. When the door went completely shut, the chaos of the outside seemed to mute, as if it gone far away.

Rarity looked around for a moment, and when she was sure we were alone, nodded to me appreciatively. “Very nice, Harry. You’re a natural.”

“I don’t know about that,” I replied. I looked at the closed door again. “Is that normal?” When she looked at me, I clarified, “The press?”

“It is the annual convention of the latest human-pony technology in the heart of Equestria,” she began, “and hosted by the rather prestigious Fancy Pants. I’d be more surprised if they didn’t show up.”

“Well, if you put it that way,” I said.

We walked through the door leading into the main hall. There were only two words to describe it: huge and bright. Walls were of a warmer color, decorated with gemstones and silver lines. The window curtains were drawn to a close, allowing the chandeliers, which filled the expansive ceiling, provide the lighting. They were all arranged in a way that light would be refracted and sparkle with flashes of color from the countless gems hanging down from it.

The whole place was packed with tents and podiums arranged into separate blocks, yet spaced far enough to allow ponies and humans to go between them with ease. Each block had some sort of item or machine on display, with quite a collection of different models showcasing the said products. They had women in beautiful short dresses and men in casual shirts and slacks, joined by mares in more saddle skirts and stallions with fancy tops. It was definitely a convention, in every sense of the word, reminding me of similar ones back on Earth. Well, except for the rather obvious difference of the male models outnumbering the female ones.

It was an odd, yet familiar sight.

“Miss Rarity,” one mare greeted. Rarity smiled and motioned me to follow as we both approached her. “Fancy seeing you here. Oh, and who is your companion?”

“His name is Wingman,” Rarity replied. “Wingman, may I introduce you to Rose Tint? She oversees a spectacles company, and has been expanding her business to Earth.”

I bowed a bit, and she in turn curtsied slightly. “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” I said.

“Charmed, I’m sure,” Rose returned, then proceeded to ignore me in favor of Rarity. I didn’t mind, really. It gave me time to look around, watching ponies seemingly at awe with some items.

There was a pony advertising the new fridge models, allowing others to approach and open the door, to feel the frigid air it produced. Then there was a tent that showcased different types of light bulbs; I recognized some of them as using LEDs, or at least, the pony counterpart thereof. There were other simpler-looking machines, like the one being advertised by what looked like twin unicorn stallions, complete with striped shirts, bow-ties, and boater hats. They were singing a song, and from what I could tell, they were selling a portable cider-maker.

Then, Rarity’s conversation with Rose Tint grabbed my attention as the latter began talking about a certain machine.

“I have tried it out, just once, and I am very impressed with it,” Rose said. “I think it could change the world.”

“Really?” Rarity asked. “From what I heard of the others, it seemed to be just a fancy toy.”

“Ignore that prattle, Miss Rarity,” Rose replied. “While they seem basic to the ones used by the businesses on Earth, these new toys will change our world. Or at least, make our lives a bit easier.”

“That is actually the reason why we’re here,” Rarity said, patting my thigh with her hoof. I looked at her and Rose Tint, and smiled. “Do you know where they are displaying it?”

“The center,” Rose replied. “It’s the showcase of this convention.”

“Thank you, Rose,” Rarity said and curtsied, which signaled the end of their conversation. I followed up with a slight bow. Rose replied back with her curtsy.

“Nice meeting you, Miss Rose Tint,” I said, just as she was about to leave. She looked at me for a moment, then gave me a warm smile before turning away.

“I’m sorry that she ignored you,” Rarity said when Rose had gone out of audible range. “She was not being rude, you have to understand. She just doesn’t take well to strangers.”

I shook my head. “I don’t mind,” I honestly replied. “It gave me the chance to look around.” I pointed towards where the identical-looking unicorns were. “Did you know there’s a cider-making machine there?”

Rarity, who had been acknowledging a few ponies that approached her, blinked, then looked where I was pointing before she made a face. “Oh, Flim and Flam,” she said with some level of disdain.

I blinked. “Let me guess… you’re not a fan?”

“My friends and I first met them when they brought their cider-making machine to Ponyville years ago,” Rarity replied. “They called it The Super… Something Cider Maker Six-Thousand.”

I looked at the banner. “Super Speedy Cider Squeezy?”

“Yes, that.”

“It must have made quite a terrible cider if you can’t even remember the name,” I said.

“Oh, no.” Rarity shook her head, then began walking. I followed. “The cider they made was quite good. Almost comparable to what Applejack makes—good afternoon,” she greeted another pony. She turned back to me. “The problem is when they made a business proposal with the Apple Family, and wanted to split the profits with a ridiculous cut in their favor. And when Applejack rightly refused, they tried to instigate a competition, the winner being who would make the most cider.”

“Of course, Applejack ignored that, right?” I asked.

“Well,” Rarity smiled slightly, “remember when I said Applejack is hard-headed?”

I looked at her, and said, “No!”

She giggled. “They maneuvered her to respond with her pride, and she fell for it. She was losing at first, of course. She didn’t have the fancy machine Flim and Flam had, and did most of her cider by hoof. Flim and Flam were making at least five barrels every time Applejack made one.”

“That was pretty lopsided,” I commented.

“I know!” Rarity said, her tone taking a more dramatic effect, another part of her personality which entertained me a lot. “Of course, as a friend, I convinced Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie to help out. As we steadily caught up with them, the brothers panicked, and began to make cider faster, but at the cost of making it taste absolutely horrid. In the end, they won.”

“But no one would buy their cider,” I concluded, nodding in understanding.

“Quite right,” she said. Another pony greeted her, and she gave him a small smile and continued, “With dissatisfied customers, they left Ponyville.”

“Same on Earth in a way. Even when we mass produce, there’s quality control and return policies that help customers when they get a faulty product.” I looked back at where the brothers were. “I hope they have the same with this new machine of theirs.”

“If they are here at Fancy Pants’ invitation, I think so,” Rarity replied. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t be here.” She paused. “I have to say, I’m a little impressed how far they have come. Their next venture to business after that Cider Squeezy incident was their rather successful fake miracle tonic, until Applejack exposed them.”

“Successful? They must be brilliant salesponies.”

“Unfortunately. Then again, I guess that’s what keeps them in business.”

I thought back of other companies on Earth that relied heavily on convincing people that their products were worth the money by spending large amounts of capital in advertisement. It was almost similar, in a way. I chuckled internally, wondering how the brothers would cope on bringing their business to Earth, before I realized they might not fare so badly.

Bumping into Rarity brought me back to reality, and I looked questioningly at the suddenly still unicorn. She seemed to be staring at someone in the crowd, and gasped in surprise, “Twilight?”

Princess Sparkle was here? I looked at the crowd, trying to find a purple alicorn, when Rarity began to trot in a certain direction. I followed her at the same pace, and we both stopped in front of a purple unicorn mare. I blinked, then checked the mare’s other details like her mane, eyes, and cutie mark. I blinked again when I realized that other than the absence of wings, mane style, and size difference, the unicorn in front of us was indeed Princess Sparkle.

So there I was, standing beside an Element of Harmony, in front of her best friend, a Princess. I’d never personally met Royalty before, and I was a little curious and maybe a little excited to hear what a Princess would say.

Princess Sparkle smiled at Rarity, and said, simply, “Oh hey, Rarity. Surprised to see you here.”

Author's Note

My usual thanks to shira, coandco, permanent temporary, GIULIO, Denim_Blue, TownCrier, AJ_Aficionado, and Firesight. Enjoy.