Love squares

~Part One~

Rarity squealed with delight as her pale blue eyes scanned the article. She squirmed in her seat as she rapidly turned the page of the newspaper with her horn. Cereal dribbled down her chin as she giggled with delight. Across the breakfast table, Sweetie Belle looked at her stylish older sister with confusion. Little oat circles started to drown in a pool of milk on the table as Rarity drooled over the article.

"Sis?" Sweetie Belle asked. "What is happening."

With her own pale green magic, she pulled The Manehattan Tribune away from her sister. Rarity squeaked at her sister and grabbed the newspaper back with a newly shined white hoof.

"MINE!" Rarity said with finality as she stepped back from the table.

"Whatever you say, sis." Sweetie Belle said as she picked up a mop and magicked the pool of milk and cereal away. A yellow blob caught her attention at the window and in a minute, the CMC had united outside.

Rarity sighed and returned to her room. Scanning her surroundings, Rarity dove under her bed and grabbed her special box. It was adorned with patterns in varying shades of brown, green, and orange. Her trendy box. With a hopeless sigh, Rarity pulled off the lid and melted into her special stallion's special face. Trenderhoof smiled his prize-winning, farm-loving smile at her through newspaper cutouts, posters, and postcards. She mooned over his perfect fashion-forward features as she slipped into a trance of absolute adoration. Then, she summoned the latest copy of the Manehattan Tribune and flipped through it until she found the article.

Most interesting pony in all of Equestria strikes again!
Trenderhooves, the star of fashion journalism, will be visiting the island of Manehattan for the Hoofington Society fundraiser gala in Manehattan's famed Manefair Stadium. Be there on July 10th to see Trenderhoof and support the Hoofington Society at this high-class gala event. Buy your tickets in Manehattan today!

Rarity practically fainted with delight as she placed the article with Trend's beautiful face on it in her box. She had to be there. There was no way she was going to miss out on seeing Trend again. She just had to find a way to buy tickets before they were all sold out. Of course, she would need a plus one for the gala. She could bring Sweetie Belle, but she would then want to bring the Crusaders with her. That wasn't going to happen. She thought about this all the way down the stairs and outside to her mailbox. Inside, she found the usual mix of magazines and orders. But today, a lovely little scroll sat inside as well. It was tied with a rainbow ribbon and had a Manehattan post seal on it. Curious, Rarity pulled it out and lifted the ribbon off with her pale blue magic.

Dear Rarity, Hello! It's me, Coco Pommel. It hasn't been too long since I've seen you but I just wanted to ask how you were doing. Also, you've probably heard of the Hoofington Society charity gala in Manehattan and I was wondering if you were planning on going or needed a friend to go with. If you will be attending I have an extra ticket. I assume you have one, but if you wanted one for a plus one consider the extra one yours. Much love, Coco Pommel.

Rarity smiled at the kind note and her eyes lit up as she saw the "extra ticket" part. Of course! She could ask Coco to be her plus one. That way, if they went as friends, she wouldn't have to worry about breaking some stallion's heart if she left him for Trend. Smiling to herself, she scribbled down a letter and practiced the letter sending spell Twilight and Spike had taught her. A little risky, but she wanted that ticket.

Coco was startled when a letter appeared on her bedside table in a puff of blue smoke. She put down her book and went to read it.

Dear Coco, Oh darling I am doing wonderfully! I do so hope that you are thriving in your splendid city as well.
Pertaining to that extra ticket; could I have it. It is ever so kind of you to offer me such a precious piece of friendship.
In return, if you aren't already going with someone, could I use that ticket for us to go as friends? I do hope you'll consider this. If not, I do so want to see you at the Gala. With much gratitude, Rarity

Coco's heart leaped in her throat when she read the letter. Rarity wanted to go with her? To a gala. Sure, she had said as "a friend" but still, Rarity! Without a hesitation, she zipped down the blue carpeted stairs of her Manehattan suite and dashed down the escalator into the lobby.

"Dearest Brickshine, could you put this letter in for a one-day delivery?" The red-brown mail manager of the complex flashed his old but familiar smile at the young mare as he took her envelope and put in in his hat.

"One-day delivery it is ma dear!" He said sweetly. "What's it got that's so important? And to Miss Rarity no less." He said rubbing his head.

"Very precious cargo," Coco said with calm finality. Brickshine had been in this building for quite a few years, and in the few months that she'd lived here, she'd grown to love the kind old stallion. He was quick-witted and humble. The only problem was, being a mailpony had taught him to be incredibly nosey. He flashed a nosy smile and trotted out a golden door on the far left of the lobby.

Coco sighed and trotted through another golden doorway out of the velvet-clad lobby where the boring old desk manager sat every day tallying who knows what on his old black typewriter. The lights shone brightly from their diamond draped golden chandelier and cast an elegant glow on the magenta cushions of the multiple fainting couches and loungers that lined the deep maroon walls. Coco decided to take the stairs instead of the house-sized elevator that played waltz music and had a pale purple mare manning it. The stairs were no less elegant. They were a shimmering bronze color and were carpeted with deep scarlet shag. On each landing, there was a window that took up the space of a wall. Each floor gave a new breathtaking view of the city and once she got to her floor, her hooves and eyes were exhausted.

It was a relief to turn the key and enter her pastel apartment. Really, it was a penthouse, but the colors suited her simpler tastes. For a minute, she imagined living somewhere much better. Somewhere with cleaner air and orchards. Somewhere where at night you could lay in a field with someone you love and stare up at the stars. Somewhere elegant but a different elegance than the scarlet and gold kind her her complex. A place with Rarity.

Ever since Coco had gotten more than enough fame for designing costumes on Bridleway, she had gotten moved to this penthouse. But now, she saw how unnecessary all of this was. She just wanted to get away from the lights and be with someone she loved. Someone like Rarity.

A single golden ticket fell into Rarity's snowy white hooves as she squealed with delight. Not only would she get to go to Manehattan and see Coco, but she would get to see Trenderhoof! Trenderhoof the stallion of her dreams would be there waiting.