Rarity and Blueblood's Adventures in Parenting

The library was a complete disaster area. Between Pinkie's constant bouncing, the hooded ponies making a mess of the library, and the rest of the group trying to get as far away from them as possible, the place had seen better days. During this state of disarray, Prince Blueblood could think of nothing, except how much better things would have been if he had just told her that he wouldn't babysit.

All of this running and screaming could have been avoided if he had just said no.

“Rarity, a few months ago, you asked me how I could want absolutely nothing. This. This is why,” Blueblood said as he backed up towards the large window.

“Obviously, when I said that, this was not what I was thinking. Besides, they would have gone after you with or without Ivory Lace!” She shot back.

“Are ya sure now is the time to fight about this?” Applejack asked.

“Quiet everypony, I have a plan,” Twilight said as she stepped forward.

She focused all her energy and power towards her horn and put up a force field around her room. While her defensive powers weren't as strong as her brother's, it would keep everypony in the room safe and it bought her time to come up with a plan. She wasn't sure what to do about Pinkie though, she fell outside the bounds of the barrier and she wasn't sure how powerful those ponies were or how long Pinkie would last out there.

Pinkie, on the other hoof, wasn't worried about the other ponies' power or strength at all. She was, of course, concerned about those other ponies. She couldn't really see their faces, but she knew they weren't smiling.

“I can't believe they want to kill somepony, just 'cuz the prince isn't a very nice pony, doesn't mean he should die! That's crazy talk! Those ponies just need a smile, and a party would definitely do the job! It could be a “Get-To-Know-You” party, those ponies and the prince could talk everything out and then everypony would be happy! It's the perfect plan!” she thought, gasping loudly. It truly was the best plan ever!

“Hi!” she called out to the covered ponies who had entered the library. They stopped their searching for a moment and looked at her in pure surprise. They hadn't expected to see a pink earth pony come bounding towards them at full speed.

“I'm Pinkie Pie! What are your names?”

The ponies did not respond, but instead, each of the three ponies sent a blast of magic barreling towards Pinkie. She bounced around as if oblivious to the magic barrage that was scorching the library walls around her.

“That was a nice try guys! Or are you mares? I can't really tell, isn't it funny? The only real difference between a mare and a stallion is the shape of the muzzle and eyelashes....oh and the parts too! Could you imagine if I was a stallion? That would be hilarious cuz I'd be pink! Who ever heard of a pink stallion?” Pinkie laughed. “Now, can we talk about this super awesome party idea I have? It'll be great! Aaand you can invite anypony you want!”

From inside Twilight's room, the group could hear the blasts of magic pounding into the walls of the library and the side of Twilight's barrier, followed by Pinkie's unmistakable giggle.

“How long do you think she can keep this going?” Blueblood wondered out loud.

“I bet ya five bits the library'll fall apart before they even nick her,” Rainbow Dash responded.

Twilight glanced around nervously. She noticed that around Pinkie some parts of the library looked like they could give out any minute. This could not wait any longer. It was absurd to begin with, but now that her home was starting to crumble around her, and her friends were in danger, she wouldn't stand for it any longer.

“I don't plan on waiting that long,” Twilight said as she started trotting around her room anxiously. There weren't any books around, at least none that would help in this situation. Unless she wanted to risk her life by leaving the barrier, she had no forms of reference whatsoever.

Today she was going to have to go by what she could remember.

“Think, Twilight, think,” she whispered to herself as she trotted back and forth.

The seconds ticked on like minutes, her friends conversed in the background, trying to come up with some kind of plan, but Twilight didn't want to waste time with a plan that might not work. Pinkie giggled again as three more blasts missed her. This gave Twilight an idea. It might not be her smartest move in a crisis, but it was a better option than hiding in a barrier for hours on end.

She carefully let her shield down and prepared her magical focus on getting those ponies out of her library. Unfortunately for her, her plan took an unforeseen deviation when Rainbow Dash barreled out from the corner and grabbed Pinkie from the hooded ponies. She flew back into the room and out Twilight's bedroom window, shattering it into pieces that fell loudly to the ground. As soon as the window was broken, Applejack lassoed her rope around one of Twilight's bed posts and let the end of the rope fall out the window.

“What's going on?!” Twilight screeched.

“We're escaping,” Blueblood stated matter of factly.

“There are better ways of escaping! I was gonna use magic to get them out of here! You didn't have to help destroy my library!” Twilight yelled as her friends hoisted themselves down the rope.

“Sorry Twilight! We'll fix it up and throw you a we-fixed-your-house party!” Pinkie smiled.

Twilight sighed and teleported herself out of the library and joined her friends in running away from the library as fast as they could.

“You know, you could have just opened the window,” she said.

“No time for that!” Pinkie responded as she pulled a shard of glass out of her mane.

The hooded ponies in the library watched as they ran off, they aimed at the runners with the intent to shoot them while their guard was down, but they were stopped.

“Cease fire.” a disembodied voice rang out. The hooded ponies stopped in their tracks and waited for further instructions. “I expect at least one of you to trail behind them, and at your next opportunity, I would hope that you don't act as foalish as you did this time. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes ma'am.” The hooded ponies nodded, then made their way out of the slightly scarred library.

The group of ponies and Spike continued away from the library as fast as they can. They didn't look back and they didn't speak to each other until they were able to hide in the Apple family's new barn. It was as far away from the library as they could get without completely wearing themselves out.

“Why in Celestia's name did they just ransack the library in the middle of the day?” Fancypants finally asked.

“Well the library is a public place, I guess nopony would suspect a group coming in here,” Twilight mused.

“I told you this was dangerous, Rarity. Now do you believe me? They almost killed your friend Pink Cupcake!”

“My name's Pinkie Pie! Oooo, but wouldn't it be so cool if it was Pink Cupcake? Do you think I would still throw parties? Now that would be interest–”

“Sorry to interrupt you, Pinkie, but this is a little more important than what your life would be like if you had a different name.” Pinkie quieted down and Rarity turned back towards the prince. “Look, I understand where you're coming from, but I do not care to abide by what you're saying. I refuse to just stop and go home.”

“Yep, and we'll be right behind you,” Rainbow Dash said proudly as the other four girls smiled behind her.

“No... girls, he's right. It is dangerous, but with a group of us this big we are more likely to be noticed. If that happens, I wouldn't want anypony to get hurt. It is for the best if you keep watch here. Blueblood and I will go by ourselves, with Fancypants as our escort.”

“Rare, with all due respect, we ain’t just gonna let you two do it yourselves, that's crazy talk!” Applejack responded.

“Girls, I cannot in good conscience let all of you come with me. I'm not sure where things are headed.”

“Personally, I would feel much more comfortable if you girls didn't accompany us,” Blueblood said. “In fact, right now, I would feel much more comfortable if we just let the Royal Guard take it from here. I personally don't think I will be able to withstand any more of this terror.”

“But..” Rarity began.

“Before you say anything, could you and I speak about this in private? No arguments. I promise. Just a peaceful conversation about why I don't want anypony to get killed anytime soon.”

“Fine,” Rarity huffed. She looked back at her friends and smiled sweetly. “We will be right back, everypony.”

Rarity and Blueblood left the barn together and walked outside. They took cover under the many apple trees that grew on the farm to stay hidden from any pursuers.

“Now Blueblood, what is it that you wish to talk about?”

Rarity, please understand that our daughter does mean a lot to me. I do love her, but I can't do this anymore! There are ponies out there who are trying to kill me, Rarity! And today they got very close on two instances!”

“I understand, Blueblood, but I can't give up, not now. I do not think I would be able to return home without her. I need to see this through to the end.”

“I wish you would reconsider. The guards are trained to do this, after all, and with the information we have, they could get this situation resolved much faster.”

“Didn't you tell me that at one point, you had enrolled in the...”

“That was a long time ago,” Blueblood interrupted harshly. “It was for tradition, not because I wanted to make a career of it, and I would prefer it if you did not bring that up.”

“Ok, I understand... but I think that we should be able to talk about some things; after all, we have a foal together...”

“That should mean that the only thing you and I need to speak about is our daughter. Nopony says either of us must speak about our history, just the only thing we have in common.”

“Yes, and it seems to be a topic you never wish to speak about, especially before she was born.”

“I promised you that I wouldn't argue with you, I planned on keeping this peaceful for once, do not make it difficult to keep that promise.”

“Please, arguing, flirting and being a jerk seem to be the only things you know how to do. So far, you have proven yourself to be nothing but the unchivalrous failure I have always known you to be.”

The two of them glared at each other stoically, as if waiting for the other to strike first in their back and forth. Instead, Blueblood shook his head and started to walk away from her.

“Put yourself in my horseshoes.”

“Excuse me?” She asked.

“Imagine you are the sole non-alicorn member of the royal family, save for your mother who is not considered to be royalty. The other members of your family will live forever, they have always been loved and reveled, while you, on the other hoof, have been scrutinized ever since you took on the role of prince. Imagine that nopony believes you'll ever be as strong as he was. Now imagine you grow up trying to prove them wrong, as soon as possible, you follow the Blueblood family tradition in joining the guard and on the guard you make good friends, but after several years together all the ponies you befriended are killed because of a mistake you were blamed for.”

“Oh... Blueblood...”

“I haven't finished Rarity. Now, imagine yourself alone, both physically and emotionally. How would you fill that void? How would you feel? I for one, did not feel happy. I slept around thinking that would help and I continued to perform royal duties not out of pleasure, but for obligation. And finally, imagine all those mares coming up to me with intentions of marrying me to become a princess. Sounds depressing doesn't it?”

The two of them are silent, and after several moments of complete silence Rarity looked up at the prince.

“Prove everypony wrong,” she said.

“Excuse me?”

“Use this as an opportunity to prove to everypony that you are strong. You have already evaded death twice, and with me by your side there is no doubt you can do it again.”

“What makes you so sure of that?”

“I am one of the Elements of Harmony, after all. I have helped to defeat Nightmare Moon and Discord, not to mention I personally had a hoof in defeating several changelings without chipping my hooficure.”

He looked up at her and smiled. “You do make a convincing argument.”

“So, what do you say? Will you accompany me to Manehattan tonight? We have an important gala to attend tomorrow.”

“It would be my honor, Miss Rarity.”

They started towards the barn once again when Blueblood put his forehoof out to stop her.

“For the record, this doesn't mean our banter is ending. You and I have a temporary alliance only. Our public relationship has not changed.”

Rarity smiled. “Agreed, and as for what we will be telling the rest of them?”

“That, Miss Rarity, is up to you.”

The two of them went back to the barn, where the rest of them had been waiting impatiently for their return. At the sight of them, unharmed and smiling, the group of ponies and the dragon relaxed slightly.

“Well?” Twilight asked expectantly.

“Tonight, Blueblood and I are heading to Manehattan. If any of you would like to come along you are welcome to join, but personally I would like for somepony to stay here in Ponyville and keep watch.”

* * *

That evening, Blueblood and Rarity sat next to each other on the train, with Fancypants and Twilight across from them. They had boarded the first train to Manehattan after splitting up with the rest of the group, who had stayed behind as the eyes and ears in Ponyville. The attack on the library was still fresh in their minds, but nopony wanted to be the one to bring it up. Instead, they stuck to safer topics, or in Twilight's case, topics such as an article written in a local paper about the history of the ladder. Anything to keep their minds off the attack.

“Fancypants darling, is there anything you can tell us about Mr. Gamesome? Perhaps a few quirks about him that we should know about before we meet him?” Rarity asked, finally breaking the string of awkward small talk. The other three ponies in the car looked at her with a mixture of confusion and surprise. “Please, you didn't really expect that we would spend this entire trip making small talk, did you?”

“The history of the ladder is a very important part of our lives, Rarity. You should remember that,” Twilight said, frowning.

“Of course, darling, but I personally would prefer to hear about the stallion that we will be speaking with tomorrow night. I am sure there will be time for that another time.”

“Yes, another time, far far away from now,” Blueblood muttered under his breath.

“So Fancypants, pray tell, when was the last time you spoke with Mr Gamesome?” Rarity asked, ignoring Blueblood's comment.

“Well, I spoke with him the other day in order to receive extra tickets to his event, but aside from that, I am not completely sure. Perhaps a month or two ago. We haven't done business together in a while.”

“Is there anything we should be aware of?” Rarity asked, “is there anything about this mysterious stallion that we should know before we introduce ourselves?”

“He is a bit of an odd fellow...” Fancypants started, but Twilight interrupted him.

“There is one bit of information you should know before we get to the event tomorrow.”

“And what could that be?” Rarity asked still leaning in towards the monocled stallion.

“The two of you cannot walk in together or be anywhere near each other. Everypony in Canterlot knows that the two of you don't get along. We have to assume that ponies in Manehattan also know this information.”

“Very true. After all, we do not need a repeat of what happened the last time you two were publicly linked together,” Fancypants said with a wink.

“What happened last time?” Twilight asked.

“Perhaps, we should talk about the present, not the past,” Blueblood answered quickly.

“Yes, instead we should focus on the gala tomorrow evening, I must find the perfect ensemble for it,” Rarity beamed.