Blueblood's mane stood on end. Flashbacks of the catastrophe that was the gala filled his mind; flashbacks of cake—huge, messy, sloppy cake—splashing all over his pristine coat and meticulously groomed mane—

"So?" Rarity glared at him. "Are you here to give me your grooming bill?"

"Pardon?" Blueblood took a step back. Of all the mares in Equestria, why did I have to bump into her? What are the odds?

"Are you here to mock me again?" She squinted, glaring at him as if he were a pile of undercooked thistles.

Blueblood swallowed. Sweat trickled down his face in torrents as he desperately looked around in search of any means of escape. "A compliment" Flash had said, but at present neither he, nor anything remotely suitable was in sight. There was the jewelry store—too cliche and insignificant—the muddy street, a few village houses, and a rusty lamppost. Comparing Rarity to any was a certain hoof in the muzzle.

"It's a pleasure to see you in this quaint little town." He coughed the words out, barely stringing them into a sentence. That didn't sound too bad. The corners of his mouth curved in a content smile. Actually, I did quite well, if I say so myself.

"Why, of all the..." Rarity snorted, her face coming so close to his that her muzzle was almost touching his chin. "Wasn't what you put me through at the gala enough, that you now have to mock my home?!"

"Y-y-your home?" Ears down, Blueblood started backing away.

"Yes!" Rarity stomped forward, pushing him back as she did so. "My home!" She took another few steps, each with enough force to crack the ground under her. "A charming—if slightly rustic—place which was perfectly fine before you showed up!"

"Umm... and you definitely make it shine." Blueblood offered an apologetic smile. "Like a star in the morning sky?"

There was a sudden pause. Rarity stopped in her tracks, eyes becoming wide as teacups.

"Did you just say that my beauty is fading away?" Rarity gasped, equal parts shocked and enraged.

"What? No! Nothing of the sort!" Flash, if I survive this, I'm going to tear your mane off! Of all the places in Equestria, you had to pick the one in which my ex lives! "I meant—"

"You know what?" The mare turned her head away, chin held high. "I don't even care. I don't expect a rude, despicably pompous excuse of an oaf to understand!" She strode past him in earnest.

The action caught Blueblood by surprise, causing him to stumble to the side, trip, and splat in the middle of the road. Ever since Flash had convinced him to go on this "adventure" he had feared precisely this, and now that it had happened he felt ten times worse. His beautiful coat was utterly filthy with dirt! Celestia knows how many hours he would need to wash the grime off!

"Oh, Tartarus!" he sniffled as Rarity trotted away. Crashing into the closest thing he had to an ex was among the worst things that could have happened, especially since she was fetching in a minor-bourgeois type of way. "I should have commented on the Galucci," he sighed. At least it was all over. Finally, I can get back the palace and—

"What did you say?"

The question reactivated Blueblood's fight or flight instinct, abruptly bringing him to his hooves again. With the flexibility of an unwilling marionette, he looked up. Rarity was several steps away, staring him intently over her shoulder.

Stars! Blueblood swallowed. What did I say?!

"Did you just comment I was wearing Galucci horseshoes?" Rarity halved the distance between them. "Do you even know what a Galucci is?" A skeptical glint flashed in her eye.

"The second best hoofware fashion house in Equestria?" He asked. Rarity's eyes narrowed. "But first for mares!" Blueblood hurriedly added.

The clarification seemed to have an effect, for the mare's expression softened. The aggression she projected melted away, making her appear, for the first time since the gala, like an actual mare.

"I mean, there's no compromise regarding materials, and the designs are made exclusively to add a degree of beauty and sophistication, but the angle of elevation of the rear shoes stresses the ankle and ruins the posture." Blueblood started without thinking. "You wear them quite well, despite the constant pain they're causing you."

"What?" Rarity glanced at her hind legs, then back at Blueblood. "There's no such thing!" She insisted, her ears perking up.

"You're good at hiding it, but it's obvious." Blueblood let out a smug snort. "The way you twist your hind legs and extend your neck as you walk." Rarity pouted, giving him a warning glare. "Not that you have to. Your derrière and posture are perfect without you having to resort to high heels."

"I'll have you know that—" the mare suddenly stopped, as if struck by lightning. The faintest of tints covered her cheeks. "Is that so? Please go on, darling?"

"You've chosen a good colour combination—though I'd go for a darker shade of amethysts—but if you want to walk normally you really need to make some adjustments." Without warning, Blueblood took hold of Rarity's left hind leg and lifted it up. The mare trembled from the sudden experience, but didn't resist his efforts. "The problem is with the heel." The Prince continued in stride. His horn flashed in blue, picking up the expensive looking horseshoe from the ground. "Great for events in catwalks and the stage, but quite useless for if you have to walk for more than a few hours."

A ray of light emerged from Blueblood's horn, falling right on the horseshoe.

"But, but..." Rarity's face twisted in pain and horror as she watched one of her favourite accessories be warped into something different. "That was a designer horse—"

"Don't worry," Blueblood smiled, his focus on the horseshoe. "I watched Cadence do this all the time." A hole formed on the sole of the horseshoe and started slowly growing. "She did that all the time, when we were growing up. You won't believe the amount of shoes she ruined when she was dating Shining. She reached three sets per week at one point before Auntie put her hoof down and forbid her to buy any more."

The horseshoe had lost most of its lower half, comparable to a common piece of hoofware but still fashionably brilliant. Rarity didn't say anything, but the nervous smile on her face indicated she was still going through her options: politely understanding, or furiously enraged.

"I expect it'll be noticed if you go to a ball." Blueblood levitated the horseshoe in front of his face, giving it a critical lookover. "But only if a pony is focused on it. And, from personal experience, I can guarantee that won't be the case.

"Really, darling?" Rarity's blush spread to other parts of her face.

"Undoubtedly." The horseshoe spun a few times as Blueblood did the final few changes he saw fit. A small edge that had to be smoothened here, a bump that had to be taken care of there. "Most would have their eyes glued to your flank and tail. Those, with a grain of sophistication and good manners, would be lost in your eyes."

"Well, now..." Rarity smiled, for the first time at a genuine loss of words, it would seem. "Are you talking from personal experience as well?"

"Oh, absolutely," Blueblood replied without thinking. "That's why I invited you. The dating book I used though was an utter disaster." He levitated the horseshoe on the ground and gently placed her hoof in it. "I've no idea how Cadence managed to get Shining with it. How does that feel?"

There was a moment of silence. Rarity's leg moved a bit, getting used to the new sensation. Her rump and back muscles visibly relaxed, as if the weight of a mountain had been taken off them.

"It feels..." Rarity began. Her muzzle changed several expressions, as if searching for the words capable of expressing her thoughts. "It feels absolutely magnificent, sweetie. Although, maybe you might let go of my leg now?"

Blueblood's ears shot up. He looked down at his foreleg... which was still holding Rarity's. In this light, her fur seemed more brilliant than his by far—a gentle white, almost incandescent glow surpassing anything he had seen before. Did I just...? His glance moved up slowly, eager to confirm that his mind wasn't playing tricks on him. I'm holding Rarity's hoof... which is attached to Rarity's leg, which is attached to Rarity's rump—

"Stars!" Blueblood let go, a splash of pink appearing on his own face. I'm dead! "I didn't mean anything by that!" He backed away, his mouth spewing words faster than he could articulate. "What I..." Blueblood started gesticulating. "The horseshoe! And then the pose. Galas are important, so I—"

"Shh," Rarity said gently, placing the tip of her hoof on his lips. "Don't ruin the moment with such horrible sounds." She then brushed a lock of his hair behind his ear. "A casual Canterlot accent suits you astoundingly better."

"A-all right," Blueblood stammered, incapable of thought.

"You're quite nice when you want to be," Rarity whispered in his ear. "My prince," she added, then kissed him on the cheek. Blueblood's mind exploded. It was as if he had gone out expecting a gentle breeze, only to be snatched by a level five hurricane. "Unfortunately, I have a few errands to take care of, but would love it if you come by the boutique later today. Day for afternoon tea. I still have three more horseshoes that need fixing." The mare winked then trotted away, leaving the Prince dumbfounded.

For nearly a minute, Blueblood just stood there incapable of movement, staring at the empty spot in which Rarity had stood. For some reason, he felt like he had been run over by a sky of thunderclouds. Then, a single thought popped into existence.

What in Equestria just happened?!

Author's Note

Chapter 1 Blue, you got this!
Chapter 2 Rarity
Chapter 3 ???
Chapter 4 ???
Chapter 5 ???
Chapter 6 ???
Chapter 7 ???