Rarity and Blueblood's Adventures in Parenting

This could all blow up in our faces...

What did that even mean?

Blueblood knew it obviously had to have something to do with his daughter. After all, the letter was dated mid-last week, while she was with him.

It could just as easily have been a work letter, but the way it had been haphazardly tucked away as far from view as possible made it seem as if it were more likely to be about a certain unicorn foal.

Finally, a lead.

Even better, a lead that he could get behind.

It made sense for it to be him. After all, the two of them had never gotten along. Not to mention, he seemed to be around at all the wrong times.

This letter could be the incriminating evidence he needed to prove to Rarity that the theory she thought was insane, was indeed true. Fancypants played some kind of role in the foalnapping.

It had to be Fancypants, for the prince's sanity, if nothing else.

Of course, before he said anything to Rarity, the prince planned on confronting him. It would be the first time in his life thus far that he would be able to hold something over the stallion's head. Besides, he wanted to hear the explanation for himself before she got involved. She would likely try to intervene and make him out to be a good guy, or worse, she might cry.

It was best for both parties if he got involved first, as long as the stallion was able to lead him to his daughter, he might go easy on him. Instead of the death sentence, he might only get lifetime imprisonment and he would give Fancypants the opportunity to leave the party without having to explain everything to Rarity.

Blueblood was, after all, a very generous prince.

Blueblood started for the door, giddy with excitement at the confrontation that was about to occur, before remembering that the reason he was hiding in this room, was because his illusion had been broken earlier. Not to mention, leaving this solitude to return to the busy party right after Fancy's little display would be a task in itself. There would be no way to be able to leave the office without being noticed for who he really was, but he wasn't about the squander this perfect opportunity.

Sacrifices would have to be made, for the sake of the Blueblood family.

Besides, he was sure this would make a lovely follow-up story for the papers tomorrow, and he never passed up a good photo opportunity.

The white stallion took a step outside the office and closed the door behind him making sure it was almost exactly as he left it, in case the host was the kind of stallion, who could tell, under all that mess that somepony had moved something.

He strutted down into the main ballroom, taking notice out of the corner of his eyes that with every step he took, more and more eyes turned to him. He could feel the excitement in the room, the whispers and baited breaths, it did nothing, but make his smile grow wider. These ponies wanted a scandal and he planned on giving the crowd exactly what they wanted.

He didn't stop moving until he was directly beside the new couple, and at that point, almost everypony in the ballroom had stopped what they were doing to see the scandal unfold. Both Rarity, and Fancypants, looked over at the prince, wide-eyed, not expecting him to have come over to them during the party. Much less looking the way he did.

“Fancypants, a word, if you please?” Blueblood demanded.

“What are you doing here? What happened to your illusion?” Rarity whispered through gritted teeth.

“I just wanted to stop by and talk to my two favorite ponies,” he announced, loudly.

Rarity glanced around the room and felt herself blush when she took note that everypony in the room was staring right at the three of them, a few of the party guests even had the audacity to snicker loudly. Rarity frowned, obviously uncomfortable with the negative reactions from so many ponies in the room, but the reaction from the crowd just served to fuel the prince. His cocky grin grew wider as he continued, “Of course, I would like to speak with Fancypants about a very important matter. So, if you don't mind...”

“I do mind,” Rarity huffed.

“Miss Rarity, I was not speaking to you, was I?” Blueblood whispered harshly back. He then turned to face Fancypants, who looked up at the prince and gave a curt nod.

“Very sorry my dear,” he responded, not tearing his line of sight away from the prince. “I assume this is a matter of great importance.”

“Oh, I assure you, it is.”

“Of course,” he responded tersely, before turning back to Rarity. Fancypants shot her an apologetic look. “I am sure you will find the company of the other guests adequate while I am away.”

Rarity didn't respond. She just nodded her head lightly before turning back towards the couple that she and Fancypants had previously been conversing with, while the two unicorn stallions walked out of the ballroom.

The prince led Fancypants into an unlocked room not far-off from the main ballroom, away from the prying eyes of the public. As the other stallion got acclimated to the new conditions, the prince took in a deep breath and glared the elite unicorn straight in the eyes.

“You lied to me, Fancypants.”

“Lie is such a harsh word. But no, I was not entirely truthful to you when I said I would not go after Rarity. I only said that because I didn't want to hear your objections.”

“No, that isn't what I planned to speak to you about, not that your topic isn't frustrating as well. What I mean is that you had said that you hadn't spoken with Gamesome Gallant recently.”

“Yes, I did say that,” Fancypants replied slowly.

“I am now aware that claim was a lie. You see, I ended up in his study,” Blueblood paused as Fancypants narrowed his eyes, then he quickly added, “by pure accident, of course.”

“I believe we agreed that while Rarity and I were gathering information, you would not do anything like this behind of our backs.” Fancypants stated.

“I thought we also agreed that you would not to go after Rarity. So, we are even,” Blueblood stated. “Now, is there something you would like to explain to me? Possibly a series of letters that were sent back and forth between you and Mr. Gallant the week you were away with Rarity?”

“Well... I...”

“I wouldn't lie to me again, Fancypants. I have a letter you sent to Mr. Gallant during the time you were supposedly 'on vacation,' stating 'it could all blow up in our faces' and I demand you tell me what that means!” Blueblood argued as he held up the note for Fancypants to see. The monocled unicorn knocked the letter out of the princes hoof before he had the opportunity to make any more snide remarks.

“Why in Celestia's name would I come all the way out to Manehattan with you, if I had something to do with this?”

“You are evading the question! Just tell me what I want to know!”

“There is nothing to know,” Fancypants responded calmly.

“That is manure and you know it! You expect me to believe that you had a work related reason to message a lawyer that has nothing to do with your line of work whatsoever. I've seen the documents in his office, his expertise lies in family court. What use do you have for that?”

Neither unicorns say anything to one another, the prince stood there, eagerly awaiting to hear the other stallions perfectly tailored answer. While his companion struggled to find the right words to end the silence. Finally, Fancypants sighed, using his magic to pull a folded up piece of paper out of his jacket pocket.

“I had hoped that I could speak to you and Rarity about this together, but if you want an explanation now, I will be happy to oblige.”

He unfolded the papers and levitated them over in Blueblood's direction. The prince took hold of it and briefly glanced at the paper. He rolled his eyes and snorted before attempting to give the papers back to the other unicorn.

“Rarity and I already have a custody agreement, but thank you for your concern, Fancypants,” he said briskly.

“Au contraire, your highness. I had Gamesome Gallant check. You haven't filed any custody papers with the courts.”

“Of course not, those records could be leaked by anypony with a gripe against me! We wanted to keep this quiet as long as possible and to do so, we decided against filing papers for now.”

“Well, now that privacy is no longer an option, perhaps you two would reconsider your agreement and legally file these papers with the Equestrian courts.”

Blueblood looked back at the papers he had been given and this time, he decided to take a moment to completely read them over. He furrowed his brows as he perused further down the page, before ultimately lowering the papers to look directly at Fancypants. His demeanor had changed entirely in the time it took for him to read the two pages he had been given.

“You... want me to give up my parental rights?” he asked quietly

“Indeed I do. You see, you and Rarity have never been subtle about Ivory Lace. I found out about her long before she even told me, thanks to some of the letters that you sent her. Honestly, I understand you were under a lot of stress, but did you have to be so rude?”

“You read our letters?” Blueblood asked dumbfoundedly.

“Only a few of them. I caught a glance of them by accident during an unplanned visit. I am currently in possession of one of those letters. Would you like to see it?”

“No!” Blueblood said quickly, Fancypants smirked. The prince quickly composed himself before evenly adding, “what I said then were the ramblings of an angry and terrified stallion.”

“So you didn't mean it when you told her that you would pay her to give up your daughter?”

“That is not a fair question! At the time, I did mean it, but just because I felt that way then, does not mean I feel the same way now.” He paused for a moment. “But I hardly have any idea what this has to do with giving up my rights.”

“I plan on helping you out of a situation you never wanted to be in. I have been in contact with Gamesome Gallant, whose expertise, as you now know, lies in family law. I care about Miss Rarity, and personally, I think it could be for the best if I helped her raise her daughter and gave you some... other opportunities.”

“So you just brought us down here to sign some crummy papers instead of helping us find her?”

“You asked if I knew the last remaining descendant of the Earth pony royal family. It just so happens that said pony is Gamesome Gallant's son. I did not plan on speaking with either of you about it until she was safe, but I thought it would be a nice start if you both got acquainted with him before we start anything.”

“Rarity would never agree to this, after all those months she spent making sure I owned up to my...” Blueblood paused, and looked at the beaming Fancypants. The prince shook his head in disbelief. “Well, what do you plan to do, convince everypony she's yours and the newspaper was wrong?”

“Rarity wants her to be safe and I could guarantee her safety better than you could. The details don't matter,” Fancypants responded, waving his hoof. “Besides, you have been out of the picture for several months now. Rarity told me you preferred it that way.”

“Yes, before I met my daughter, I did prefer it that way, but it turned out to be in her benefit. She was safer that way.”

“That wasn't why you chose that option. You chose it because it was the easiest way out, and I am here to support that decision by making it even easier for you.”

“Okay,” the prince started slowly. “But what does any of this have to do with that note I found?”

“I took Miss Rarity on that cruise to give her a place where she would finally feel comfortable telling me about your daughter. I was, admittedly, worried about the outcome and chose to give her space after she admitted everything. I didn't want it to seem as if I was rushing her into anything, of course. I still feared that, despite everything, something would pop up and this whole plan would be for naught.”

“Like a foalnapping?” Blueblood asked.

“Rarity isn't like most mares in Canterlot,” Fancypants finally piped up, ignoring the prince's previous question. “And I think we can both agree that the two of you hate each other. Raising Ivory Lace in an environment like that... where you openly hate one another like that, it isn't good for her.”

“I understand your fears, but I can't sign this.”

“Ah, I understand. Please think about it, and by all means, discuss it with Rarity. If—” Fancypants paused, and gave the prince a thoughtful look. “After you find Ivory Lace, what do you plan on doing? According to Rarity, a week ago you were willing to do this without the legal paperwork.”

“Yes, but–”

“Yes, yes, I understand. You didn't feel like a father then because you had never had any interaction with her, but what are you going to do when Ivory Lace is safe? Obviously you do not plan on living with Rarity and Ivory Lace, but sending her back and forth would just make things difficult, don't you think?”

“I hadn't thought that far in advance...” Blueblood admitted.

“Precisely what I thought. I've thought about it in great detail. I can assure you, she would be well taken care of.”

“Well, I would like to speak with Rarity about this before you make any rash decisions about my life,” Blueblood retorted as he opened the door back into the hallway, which had become crowded with ponies who wished to hear about what was happening behind the closed door. They ignored the ponies who had begun to come up to both of them asking questions. While they were making their trek back towards the ballroom, Rarity and Twilight came barreling down the hallway and herded the two stallions back into the room they had just exited.

“Is everything okay? Was anypony following you?” Blueblood asked the girls. Neither responded at first, Rarity cozied up to Fancypants while Twilight began to pace the room nervously. After a few moments of silence, Blueblood finally spoke up again. “What happened to you two?”

“It's not true, is it?” Twilight piped up.

“What are you talking about?” Blueblood asked, raising his eyebrow.

“I got a message from Princess Celestia...” Twilight began, before drifting off, unsure of how to continue.

“About?”

“Ivory Lace.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I just got a letter from the Princess about your daughter.”

“Yes, I thought I heard you say that, but that is impossible. Even if the papers mentioned it, she most likely hasn't had the opportunity to look it over this quickly. Especially since, compared to other things, it is not exactly front-page news.”

“Actually... I told Princess Celestia about Ivory Lace the other day,” Twilight admitted.

Blueblood blinked in surprise. “You told... my aunt... about the foal...”

“Yea, I sent her a message when we first found out about the Silver Guard. I wanted to know if she had any helpful information.”

“What did she say?” Blueblood asked, already afraid of the answer he had received.

“Well, nothing useful for me, but your note... well, just read it yourself.”

My dearest nephew,

I wish that you felt comfortable enough to come to me when you found out you were going to be a father. I wouldn't have been angry with you. Disappointed, yes, but not angry.

I had hoped that, unlike past relatives of yours, when you became disillusioned that you wouldn't do something destructive as a result. I believed that you had been taught about the Silver Guard one way or another. I thought that you had been lectured about the harm that they could cause you if you gave them the chance.

Now, not only do they have your daughter, but they will stop at nothing to take over your throne. For that, you can thank one of your long deceased relatives, who asked that this be added to Equestrian Law:
Unless a legitimate heir is produced, the eldest illegitimate child via the current prince or princess, will ascend to the throne, regardless of the child's prior status. If the reigning royal should die before the eldest receives a cutie mark, then the foal is to be raised by member of the upper class. Said member of the upper class, hoof chosen by the princess, will be required to teach the foal everything the foal will need to know in order to ascend to the throne once the child receives his or her cutie mark. During this education period, and this education period only, the guardian of the foal would be the interim ruler.

The Silver Guard has used that law to their advantage since it first appeared on the books. Since we know very little about them, with the exception of the seal that they 'borrowed' from the group that had once been made up of only members of the royal family. We can only speculate that they have targeted the Blueblood family for either revenge against them due to past and/or present grievances, or they are members of the elite who are plotting to take over your throne.

Because of this law, and because of your mindless decision to have a child out of wedlock, you have just handed them an offer on a silver platter. If they are successful in killing you, Ivory Lace is considered next in line for the throne, and her foalnappers will make it their duty to be the most likely candidates to take over as her guardians until Ivory Lace receives her cutie mark.

Possibly longer depending on the circumstances.

Unfortunately, there is no way I can help you fix this. This law has been around since before even I took the throne; that makes it difficult to repeal in such a short period of time. Not to mention, if something should happen to you, I have no way of knowing what ponies are a part of the Silver Guard. So, I cannot protect your daughter against being raised by one of them.

I believe that you are strong enough to survive this and find a way to put an end to the Silver Guard for good. There is always a way.

Your beloved aunt,
Princess Celestia.

P.S – Once this is all over, please take note that I do plan on discussing your lifestyle with you.

“She tried to tell me, but I didn't listen...” Rarity whispered.

The prince's ears perked up prompting him to walk over to the whimpering unicorn mare.

“What are you talking about?” he asked, she turned her head away from her coltfriend and closed her eyes.

“Your mother... before I left, when she was giving me a 'tour' of your suite,” she began. “She told me that if I really loved my daughter, then I would marry you, otherwise I should just give her up to you now.”

“She knew about this?” Twilight asked. “Should we talk to her?”

Rarity shook her head, “I was once certain she was a part of this, but I don't think she has anything to gain from this.”

“But she knew about the Silver Guard.” Twilight pointed out. She paused, putting her hoof to her chin in thought, before adding, “of course, it's entirely possible that she has had interactions with them in the past.”

“I believe she was warning me, but I was too stubborn to listen. She knew this would happen,” Rarity said quietly.

“Does nopony have faith in me? Even my own mother expects that I'm going to die and that my daughter will be raised by the Silver Guard,” Blueblood responded, rolling his eyes.

“Well, to be fair, it does seem to be going in that direction,” Fancypants stated. “I am not sure how safe either of you two were this morning when his highness decided a mustache was a suitable enough disguise.”

Rarity and Blueblood glanced at each other sheepishly, then looked away.

“Rarity, you know these plans only go into effect if they kill me,” Blueblood said quietly.

“Oh come on, Blueblood!” Twilight said aloud, breaking the silence that had started to fall over the room. “You said it yourself, the plans we have come up with are doomed. This letter completely threw off my concentration! I wasn't even able to keep up your illusion, and you obviously don't have the magical capabilities to keep it up yourself! Who knows who could have seen you?! You could die, and if that happens, Ivory Lace will be gone forever.”

“It won't end like that,” Blueblood said defiantly. “I refuse to let that happen.” He stopped and took a step closer to Rarity, who was still standing with Fancypants. “You were right, I can no longer stand idly by and wait for other ponies to come in and fix things. I refuse to die like this and I know that we can find a way out of that idiotic plan in case something does happen to me. Our daughter will not be raised by thieves.”

“So then, what do you plan on doing?” Rarity asked, taking a step back from the golden maned unicorn. “Do you plan on just going on like this and hope you survive by pure luck? There have already been two close calls...”

“Personally, if I may,” Fancypants interjected, “I may have a solution to your little dilemma.”

Blueblood groaned. “Here we go again.”

“Do you have something to say, Blueblood?” Rarity asked, obviously annoyed.

“Yes, actually. I found a certain letter in Mr. Gallant's office. A note from your precious Fancypants.”

“Pertaining to?”

“Our daughter, obviously. I found what I had assumed to be a letter speaking intricately about his plan to take her.”

“May I see it?”

“Of course,” Blueblood responded as he levitated the note over to her. Rarity looked it over and passed it back.

“This does not 'speak intricately' of it. It could be about anything!” she exclaimed, shooting him a venomous look.

“Now, if his highness pleases, I would like to explain our conversation to Rarity and Miss Sparkle. I believe it will go along with the papers Miss Sparkle received a few moments ago,” Fancypants insisted.

The prince mumbled some unintelligible words as Fancypants levitated the custody papers over to Rarity.

“That was why I was so busy during the week of our trip,” Fancypants explained. “I had been in contact with Gamesome Gallant about these papers. I apologize for lying to you and keeping this from you, but at the time, I thought this was the best route.”

“I...”

“As you can see, she agrees that this is a terrible idea,” the prince stepped in.

“I never said that,” she responded hastily. Before Blueblood could respond, she brought the papers away from her face and frowned. “They have been fairly accurate about knowing your whereabouts. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they were watching us right now. Especially after your shameful display at Hoity Toity's shop and then again here at this event.” Rarity sighed and shook her head slightly. “I hate to say it, but maybe you should consider signing...”

“Don't finish that sentence!” Blueblood growled. “Why bother spending all that time begging me to do more and then take it all away from me once I do? I wouldn't trek all over Equestria if I wanted nothing to do with her. We'll get past this and...”

“Excuse me, but you didn't even want to come with me!” Rarity interrupted. “It took a lot of convincing to even get you to consider 'trekking all over Equestria' to find her!”

“Not because I didn't want to, I just thought your plan was idiotic! I would have much preferred that you and I would be alive and in one piece when our daughter was returned to us. I want to be there for her, I want to help raise her.”

“Why would you want custody of a foal whose name you have never uttered in your lifetime?”

“Excuse me?”

“Blueblood, you've never even called our daughter by her real name. You and I are obviously not ready to work together if you can't respect me enough to call her by the name I gave her!”

“That is irrelevant.”

“No, it's not!” she responded, stamping her hoof against the ground. “What you are asking for requires us to get along, at least get along enough to agree on her name.”

“All I ever asked of you was to name her Blue Belle, I apologize that I can't stand the name you gave her.”

“If you had stayed, even just a few minutes longer, maybe I would have considered it.”

“You and I both know I couldn't stay even if I wanted to, I had business to attend to.”

“You're lying, Blueblood! I know for a fact that you didn't leave Ponyville right after she was born. You just didn't want anything to do with her. You never did! Why should I give her a name that is so similar to your own?”

“If I had to live with the shame of knowing she exists just a few short hours away, you should have had to live with the shame of being reminded every day, that without me your filly wouldn't exist.”

She paused, taking a step away from the prince, whose eyes had grown wide. Throughout their argument, they had gotten closer together until they had nearly been screaming in each others faces. Nopony knew how to respond.

Finally, Rarity looked back over at him and quietly responded, “even without the name Blue Belle, I was always reminded that you were her father. It was difficult not to, she looks so much like you... and all that time we spent together because you didn't believe me made it that much harder to forget.”

“It wasn't that I didn't believe you, I just found it highly unlikely that one short alcohol induced night together could lead to that,” Blueblood said as he took a step towards her. She glared at him. “Although, I doubt you were complaining. Time in the castle, having every whim catered to you every time you set hoof into said castle... not to mention I paid all of your medical bills during that period.”

“I never said I was complaining!” She responded, raising her voice. “I am merely stating that there is a lot about your decision making skills that has left most ponies, me especially, confused.”

“Name one time.”

“How about the time we were about to have a foal and you kicked the doctor out of the room!”

“Why would you use an earth pony physician anyway? Anypony with a horn could have done a better job,” Blueblood scoffed.

“What was your excuse then?”

“We are not talking about this. We have more pressing matters to discuss, like why you are forcing this half-baked plan on me.”

“Because you have been nothing but rude to me and everypony else involved since we found out! Criticizing everything I said and did, as well as spending most of her life calling her 'your mistake.' You don't deserve her!”

“I deserved her last week. You were begging me to watch her,” he pointed out.

“Yes, as a babysitter. Something my little sister could have probably done better than you!”

“I read those letters in the little scrapbook you packed. Obviously you wanted me around much more than you let on.”

“Quiet!” Twilight yelled. The squabbling unicorns immediately ceased and looked over at her, wide-eyed. “I'm sorry, but could we please get back to the situation at hoof? The two of you arguing isn't helping anypony, especially not Ivory Lace,” Twilight stated.

Rarity and Blueblood continued to glare at each other, but neither of them said a word to the other.

“Now, can we discuss, like civilized ponies, what can be done now?” Twilight asked, exasperated.

“Right, well, there seems to be only two options,” Blueblood began. He turned back to face Rarity. “We could make Ivory Lace a legitimate part of the royal family, or you could try to force me to give up everything you worked on in the past year by giving up my custody to you and him over there.”

“Legitimate? You mean marriage? Really?” Rarity snorted. “You must be joking. You couldn't even manage a decent proposal. An actual marriage would just be a disaster.”

“I'm serious! If we do... this... and something happens to me, then you would have a say in our daughter's studies and her decisions as a ruler until she receives her cutie mark. You are the last person I want to do this with, but it would render everything the Silver Guard is doing obsolete.”

“One short newspaper article caused our 'truce' to break. If that was able to happen so quickly, then there is no possible way that we would ever be able to make a marriage work. Even if we did it for Ivory Lace.”

“Royal marriages have been based on less in the past.”

“I can't agree to this.”

“And why not?”

“We just spent the past few minutes arguing! Blueblood, you just told me you wanted me to be ashamed of myself because we had a foal together! I know you said that just to hurt me, and I know I've done the same to you in the past; that isn't a healthy relationship. I can't, in good conscience, agree to be in a loveless marriage, even if it is for Lacey.”

“But, if something happens to me, then whatever happens to our daughter would be your fault.”

“Not if you give up your parental rights,” Rarity snapped back. “Then she would no longer be considered a part of the royal family, not even illegitimately, and the Silver Guard would have no reason to keep her hostage.”

“I am not signing those papers.”

“Then if something happens to you, it will be your own fault.”

“Isn't there a way for both of you to win? He doesn't have to sign the papers and you don't have to marry him? You know, kind of along the lines of what you are doing right now. Is that possible?” Twilight asked, trying to ease the tension in the room.

“He could survive, but we aren't really trusting him to do that, are we?” Rarity snorted.

“So, you would prefer to put your trust into somepony who lied to you, came up with a crazy scheme to be a part of your life, and ignored you for a short time,” Blueblood remarked. “While I, on the other hoof, have been there for you and her since you informed me of your pregnancy.”

“Oh yes, of course, how silly of me. How did I not I realize that all those times you begged me to reconsider my decision to keep her, you were really just supporting her and I? That makes perfect sense!”

“This isn't exactly what I meant before,” Twilight said. “I meant that we could come to a logical conclusion if we all just talked it out.”

“I don't think we will come to a conclusion any time soon. Especially if I have to spend any more time with her!” Blueblood barked. “Honestly, I feel I have reached my breaking point.”

“Then, in all honesty, your highness, feel free to leave. You do not serve a valuable purpose here,” Rarity shot back.

“Fine, I will, but just think about this. Think about everything that has happened in the past few weeks. Every letter, every conversation, every piece of information, and then tell me that you would rather he be the one to raise her. Really think about it, Rarity.”

Rarity paused, her expression softened as she looked up at the prince.

“Bl...”

“No, nothing you say or do will change my mind on this matter.”

Before anypony else was able to get a word in, he was already out the door. He let it close behind him with a loud bang.

Twilight looked at the door, shaking her head.

“I get the feeling that this could have gone a little better...”