The Gift of Giving
by
SFC Ponycron
Twilight looked at the finely-scripted letter with disbelief.
Lady Twilight Sparkle,
It has come to my attention from our mutual friend Rarity that Hearts & Hooves Day is upon us once more, and, if you’ll permit me to be blunt, that you and her, as well as your other friends, are still single mares. Each year, I hold a Hearts & Hooves ball at my residence in Canterlot, and I would be most honored if you graced my ball with your presence.
I have taken the liberty of inviting Miss Rarity and your other friends to my ball as well. It would be extremely rude of me not to, and if I may be honest, I don’t believe any functions that I have held (save my Garden Party last year) have been properly graced with Miss Pinkie Pie’s most lively presence, and, after how much of a spectacular time I had at your brother’s wedding, I should hope that my own function is as enjoyable.
I do hope that you are able to attend. I assure you that it will be night that you will never forget.
Sincerely,
Fancy Pants
His name was signed with a flourish. She was tempted to decline, but the prospect of another night alone on Hearts & Hooves Day either stargazing or sipping apple-cinnamon tea mixed with Discordronno while reading another racy novel by Amaretto Quill immediately dispelled her doubts.
“Sorry, Amaretto Quill,” she said, glancing at her nightstand and the shelf of small paperback novels. “I think I’ll live a little this year.”
*-----*-----*-----*-----*
“Enjoying yourself, milady?” Fancy Pants asked. Twilight set her martini glass on the table as she watched Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy dance.
“Mm, yes, thank you,” she replied with a genuine smile. “And please, Mister Fancy Pants…”
“Just call me ‘Fancy’, milady,” he said with a grin.
“Fancy, then,” she continued. “Just call me ‘Twilight’. I may be the sister of a Prince, but I’m still just a scholar and librarian.”
He smiled warmly and nodded slowly. “If you so wish, mila…er, Twilight,” he corrected himself. She chuckled, and he followed suit.
“Darling?”
Fancy Pants turned to see Fleur-de-Lis and another slender unicorn mare, her coat a light russet and her ponytailed mane and braided tail cinnamon red.
“Yes, Cinnamon Hearts?”
“The airship is ready.”
He smiled broadly. “Ahh, excellent!” He strode up to the two unicorn mares and each gave them a kiss on the cheek. “If you would gather the others up for me and have them board, please?”
“Yes, dear,” the light russet unicorn said with a smile. The two unicorn mares turned and disappeared into the party.
“What’s going on?”
“It was supposed to be a surprise to you and your friends this evening,” he said. “I’m giving you all a midnight ride on my private airship, the ‘Ventus Piscis’. Rarity herself christened her.”
Twilight blushed. “Oh! You shouldn’t have…!”
He gently waved away her modesty. “I’ll have none of it, Twilight. It’s the least I can do for my friends who happen to have saved Equestria three times within the span of two years.” He bowed and offered her a forehoof. “Allow me to have the pleasure of escorting the fine Lady Twilight Sparkle to my private airship."
Twilight could faintly hear a female voice, one that she recognized as Fleur-de-Lis, laugh lightly.
“Flatterer,” she heard.
*-----*-----*-----*-----*
“Isn’t it just marvelous, Twilight?” Rarity asked.
Twilight nodded. “Mm-hmm! I’ve never seen the New Yoke City nightscape before! It’s so beautiful, and so lively, even at night!”
“Believe me, mila…Twilight,” Fancy Pants corrected himself once more, “the Las Pegasus cityscape is the only one that beats this, and Los Pegasi’s nightlife is three times as lively.”
“Lady Twilight, Miss Rarity?”
The two unicorn mares turned to see Cinnamon Hearts emerge from below deck. “The sitting room has been prepared. Miss Fluttershy, Miss Pinkie Pie and Miss Applejack are already there.”
“Thank you, Miss Hearts,” Rarity said with a nod.
“Cinnamon, please,” the light russet unicorn returned with a smile.
“Come, Twilight,” Rarity said gently. The two politely stepped past Cinnamon Hearts, who bowed at them with a knowing smile.
The sitting room was a casual affair with lush red carpeting, soft, elegant lighting, and three red sofas set in a triangle around a white coffee table. A sideboard with all manner of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, as well as trays of hors d’oeuvres and other bite-size snacks, sat along the far wall. Twilight noticed Applejack, Pinkie and Fluttershy waiting patiently, Applejack taking a small sip of water from a glass in her hoof.
“You okay, Applejack?” Twilight asked as she and Rarity reached the couches and sat down.
“Jus’ a little queasy from bein’ up in the air,” she replied. “Other than that, Ah should be fine.”
“That’s good,” Fluttershy piped up as Rainbow Dash entered the sitting room.
“So, what’s up?” the sky-blue pegasus asked as she flopped onto the couch beside Pinkie Pie. “I was riding a nice current when that unicorn Cinnamon Hearts called me over.” She turned to Rarity. “What’s the deal with her and Fancy Pants, anyway? I thought he was with that other unicorn, Fleur-de-Something.”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Fancy Pants and Fleur aren’t married, Rainbow. Fancy Pants, Fleur-de-Lis, and Cinnamon Hearts are all in a relationship together.”
All eyes turned to her in surprise.
“Is that even legal?”
“They’re all adults, Rainbow, and the three of them are happy,” Rarity quipped. “That’s beside the point, and I didn’t ask you all down here to discuss what goes on behind Fancy Pants’ closed doors.”
“You called us down here?” Applejack asked. “What for?”
Rarity was silent as she stared at everypony present. She swallowed the lump in her throat and took a deep breath.
“I have a confession to make, girls,” she said. “I know I’m not the Element of Honesty, but I’ve been dishonest with myself and with all of you.”
“What do you mean, Rarity?” Fluttershy asked.
“We’ve been the best of friends for years, and our friendship has been tried, tested, and true. Together, we defeated Nightmare Moon and restored Princess Luna, sealed Discord and saved Canterlot from Queen Chrysalis and her Changeling brood.” She got to her hooves and started pacing. “Those large incidents aside, I’ve gotten to know all of you personally, seen you at your best and at your worst, and you’ve all gotten to know me, see me at my best and when I’m at my worst.”
“Go on,” Twilight said.
“The past Hearts & Hooves Days, I’ve tried to find somepony whom I think will suit me, will learn to see me and love me for who I am, but after accidentally mentioning this to Fancy Pants, I think my search is over.”
“Whaddya mean, Rare?” Applejack asked.
Without answering the farm-mare, Rarity levitated a long jewelry box to her. Floating in the air, the lid opened, revealing five red earrings shaped and designed like the diamonds on her cutie mark.
“I had a jeweler fashion these from a rather large vein of red zircon that I chanced upon during one of my jewel-hunting excursions,” Rarity said offhandedly. “Fancy Pants recommended him to me.” She set the box down and the five earrings floated into the air.
“I’ve searched so long for one pony with everything I want that I was totally oblivious to what was before me. You, all of you, are my special somepony. You’ve been with me through good times and bad, through catastrophes and the tiniest of problems.” Each earring floated over to her friends’ left ears and fastened themselves simultaneously. “I don’t see my life with another pony, and yet I don’t see my life without any of you by my side.”
“Rarity, I don’t know what to say,” Twilight said.
“You needn’t say anything, my dear,” Rarity said. “Just know that the earring I put on each of you represents my heart, and that I’m giving it to all of you freely.”
There was a moment of silence before Pinkie Pie immediately got to her feet, strode over to Rarity and gave her a firm kiss.
“Rarity, thank you,” she said with a bright smile. “This is the best Hearts & Hooves Day ever.”