Reborn in a Dating Sim: Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game!

Reborn in a Dating Sim:

Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game!

Chapter Thirty-seven

“Lady Diamond Tiara Rich?” a voice said from outside of the cafe, “Ma’am, there is someone asking for you.”

Diamond Tiara looked toward Copper and gave an apologetic smile, “Sorry,” she said as she began to walk, “But it likely has to deal with the festival committee. I’ll do my best to get back and help as soon as possible.”

Copper nodded, “It’s no problem,” he said as he looked at the mostly empty room, “I think we’ll be okay.”

As she left he looked about the room and finished the various settings on the tables with Pipsqueak. The smaller boy seemed determined to get the placements right, and he was glad to see that he’d taken an interest. Of course part of that might be because of the one girl that was kind of a loner. She was heavily endowed, but at the same time she seemed to be a little flirtatious with Pipsqueak. It could be nothing more than her messing with him, but Copper would like to have believed that it was a genuine act.

“So, have you really talked to her yet?” Copper asked his smaller friend, “I mean she seems to be into you.”

Pip’s face turned a shade a crimson, “Ummm, I mean I’ve said hello.”

Artemis, who was standing nearby, walked toward the placement, “Are you talking about the young baroness?” she asked as she helped straighten the table cloth, “She truly does seem interested in you.”

He looked at them both, “I don’t know,” he said as he finished up the last bit of the straightening on the placement, “I mean she’s a nice person, and I find her sweet, but I don’t know if she’s really that interested in me. To be honest I’ve found that most girls really just want to get something out of me, and then they leave. Maybe that’s just experience talking, but I don’t know if I want to get my hopes up, you know?”

Copper watched as Artemis studied him for a moment, “You have a choice,” she replied as she looked at him, “The choice is simple. Do you want to take a chance and get to know her, or would you rather sit back and allow someone else to step in? She is kind enough, seems to like you, and appears to be waiting for you to make a move. However, I believe that most girls will not wait forever.”

The sound of footsteps was met with Sunset Shimmer stepping close, “wait, are you talking about the Bargain girl?” she asked before she looked at Pipsqueak, “Look, I don’t know her that well, but I can say that she seems to be pretty open with how she feels. If she acts like she likes you then she does. So, why aren’t you acting on it?”

He almost seemed to pull back in on himself, “How do I even start a conversation with her? I mean how do I tell her that I’m interested? I’m not the most suave guy that ever lived.”

“That’s an understatement,” Button Mash said from where he was, “Pip, buddy, she obviously likes you. I have no clue why, but she does. However, we both know that all it’s really going to take is Rumble going over there, talking about his family’s new found fortune, and explaining how he can give her things she never thought of before,” he said as he looked at him, “Do you really want to lose to Rumble?”

Sunset studied them, “Wait, who is Rumble?”

Copper groaned, “He’s the son of a Viscount. Rumble’s dad came into a bit of money with the discovery of an island near his domain. From what I understand it’s a wealth of lumber and iron ore. Sure, it’s not adventuring, but it’s enough to rise their ranks. Rumble has been bragging about how his Dad managed to land a large contract with the Capital to supply the wood and iron ore for the next decade.”

Sunset let out a whistle, “Okay, yeah, that’s some income. It’s not chump change, and I can see some mid range noble girls wanting to snatch him up,” she looked at Pipsqueak, “So, go talk to her before this Rumble does. Tell her how you feel, get her interested, and do some nice things for her. Maybe treat her a decent meal, or cook her one. I’ve heard that some girls really like it when their intended cooks for them, and it’s actually a good meal. Hell, invite her here so that you both can see each other.”

He looked at Copper, and Copper nodded, “Go for it. Button and I can watch the cafe while you go and talk to her. By the way, if she does come back with you then sit her at the table near the window. It gets enough natural light to make her feel better, and it will keep the tea warmer for a while. Just a thought.”

With that Pip made a dash toward the door, and Copper watched as he disappeared. He looked to see Button Mash standing there looking uncertain, “Seriously?” he asked as he watched his friend, “You don’t even know if she’s here.”

He seemed to fidget for a moment, “I know,” he replied, his voice sounding uncertain, “But what if she is. We were friends, close, and I’d like to think that if she is here then she should know that I’m sorry I didn’t realize she was missing.”

Copper rolled his eyes, “Go on then,” he said as he watched as Button took off wearing the apron, “And bring her back if she’s here!”

With that he looked at the last three, “Well, that just leaves the four of us,” so what now?”

Artemis gave him a mischievous smile, “Well, my Captain, I can think of a few things, but I believe that they would best be reserved for a time and place where we would not be engaging in free entertainment for those who walked into the room.”

Applebloom looked at her, “Wow, ya’ll don’t waste time, huh?”

Artemis looked back at her, “I feel no need to beat around the bush. I would rather make my declarations clear, and then attack. I find that the results are often well received that way.”

As she talked to Applebloom, Button Mash was running toward the girl’s dorm. The advise that Artemis had given him about asking the administration staff sat on his chest. He should have already done this. There shouldn’t have been a reason for him to have put it off. Instead he’d felt ashamed that he actually thought Sweetie Belle had changed so much. He arrived at the front of the dorm, but he didn’t dare enter. If a boy attempted to enter the girl’s dorm uninvited it ended poorly.

Instead he moved toward the front, and he pulled the small rope outside. For a moment there was nothing, and then finally a slightly older girl moved toward the front. Her pair was a soft color of pink, her skin a sort of a creamy white, and she had the most piercing lavender eyes he’d ever seen. She studied him for a moment, “May I help you?”

He nodded, “Actually, I wanted to know if Sweetie Belle had returned to school. If she had, is she here?” he asked as he looked at her, “I would really like to talk to her, if she’s not busy. I know that you’ve likely got a lot of stuff already going on, and I don’t want to bug you too much, but I really wanted to check up on her.”

The girl seemed to study him for a moment, “Very well, allow me to go and check.”

She turned away, and he stood as the door was left open. There was no way he was entering without being invited inside. There were horror stories about that, and he didn’t want to end up like a single one of them. As he stood there he heard the sounds of movement, talking, and then finally he saw a familiar form. She was moving toward the front, and he could see something else. She looked visibly upset. Her entire body language seemed to indicate that she was nearly broken, “H…hi,” she said after a moment, “Did you come to tell me what else I did?”

He looked at her, “No,” he said as he stepped forward, “I came to apologize. Sweetie, I didn’t realize that it wasn’t you. I just thought that whatever they were doing to get to the girls had gotten to you. I feel so bad that I gave up before questioning everything. If it wasn’t for Viscount Copper Plum Bit’s servant I don’t think that any of us would ever have known what happened,” he said as he held out a hand, “What you went through shouldn’t have happened. You should have never been left alone, and I am so, so very sorry.”

She looked at him, “Everyone’s been telling me the horrible things that the other me did,” she said as she looked at the ground, “I… I said horrible things, I acted horrible, Button, and I was told that I said things to some of the boys that had been my friends. I don’t think that anyone really wants to be friends with me anymore. I feel so alone,” she admitted, before he gently led her to him. What had started with a small gesture ended up with her taking the life perseverer that was being offered. She latched onto him, burying her face in his shoulder, “I’m so sorry!” she began to bawl, “I really am!”

He hugged her, trying to make sense of what was going on, trying to understand the reasoning behind it, and he realized that there wasn’t any reasoning behind it. She was hurting, she had been hurt badly. All of it let to a friend of his that was needing a shoulder to lean on. He’d promised Copper that he’d be back, but he couldn’t leave her like this. She sniffed as she stood there, “Everything’s different back home too. Daddy’s confused, and Mother isn’t really any older than I am. Even Rarity is about the same age as me! I don’t know where I fit in anymore, or anything.”

He held her, “You’ve always fit in with me,” he said, giving the best answer that he could, “I mean it. We’ve been friends, and we’re going to stay friends. Look, I’m helping a friend out with a cafe today, and I thought that maybe you could come over there with me. If nothing else it’ll give you a chance to meet some other people, and maybe see that you’re not alone, what do you think?”

She sniffed, “You think that they’d accept me?”

He nodded, “I’m sure of it,” he said, “Copper’s a good guy, Pipsqueak already knew you before, and he doesn’t hold what happened against anyone, and well I think that you’ll like Applebloom. Even Artemis is pretty decent, although she’s pretty blunt with how she talks. I think that you might like that about her after you get to know her,” he replied, “but, if you’re fine with going then I’ll get you some tea and snacks while you relax.”

She nodded, “O…okay,” she said, and looked at him, “I’m okay with it.”

As they headed back Pipsqueak made his way toward the trading hall. He moved near it to see Baron Dark Bargain working inside of the building. The man was a little intimidating, but he was willing to face him. He was willing to face nearly anything in order to do what needed to be done. He moved toward the door and saw a young girl working. She had gray skin, her dark hair was pulled into a ponytail, and her curves made her look far more mature than he knew she was. He moved forward, uncertain of where to begin, “Succi,” he said, his voice sounding more confident than he felt, “Hi.”

She stopped, and he saw her eyes light up, “Pip!” she squeaked before moving toward him. She caught him in a hug which crushed the two massive mounts she had against him, “I’m so glad to see you!” He stood and took the wonderful hug, “I’m glad to see you too1” he exclaimed, “Ummm… I wanted to know if you could come to our cafe, and I could get you something to drink, maybe a snack, you know something just because I really want to treat you.”

He watched as she looked toward Baron Bargain. The large gray skinned man rolled his yellowish eyes, “Very well,” he replied, his voice firm, “go and enjoy the festival, but daughter, is this really your choice? He is merely the son of a baron. Your life will be very similar to what it is now,” he stated, his eyes appraising Pip, “And to be honest he seems of weaker stock. Are you certain that he will be able to keep up with you? I fear that he may not be able to give you the heirs you deserve.”

Pip felt her slip her hand into his own, “I have chosen, father,” she said, the soft voice was firm, “I have chosen.”

He gave a nod, “Very well, then I will respect, for now, although I expect he will stand for the challenges.”

Pip stood there, feeling her against him, feeling her hand, and somehow looking at the Baron. He wasn’t sure what the challenges were, but damn it he wasn’t going to fail.

“I will,” he replied, “Ummm… Which do you need to finish up anything here?”

Her father walked toward him, “I see someone like you,” he said, his voice hard, “Someone that’s come to lay claim, and yet you take time to ask her questions. Tell me, do you understand the world outside, boy?” he asked as he looked at him, “The things here have changed, the world has changed, and the balance of power has changed. I believe that you don’t fully grasp those things, and I believe it because of your actions. Perhaps that will be good, perhaps not, but for now she is free to go and enjoy the festival. You will have her returned here.”

With that the man turned around, and Pip realized just how tall Succi’s father was. The man was easily two and a half heads taller than him. Still, he stood beside her, and he hoped that he at least appeared to be honest about how he felt. For a moment he considered how to proceed,but he felt Succi’s hand tighten a little. He returned her gesture, and he led them from the school’s trading post. Together they made their way toward the building where the cafe was.

As they walked Artemis was fighting with all of her might to keep from ending the life of the daughter of an Earl that stood before Copper. His face bled from the smashed cup that had been thrown at him. She could see where he’d been burned by the freshly brewed cup of tea, and yet he said nothing. He simply moved to clean the mess, “You should be thanking me for pointing out how worthless your tea is,” the snide remark came from the mouth of the heiress, “I mean, honestly, you’re serving something that isn’t fit for a commoner. Why, I’m doing that little piece of common trash a serious favor by destroying the cup.”

“Y…y’all need ta apologize to ‘im,” Applebloom said, her voice firm, “He ain’t done a darn thing ta ya at all.”

“He hasn’t done anything?” she asked, her voice tight with emotion, “He hasn’t done anything?! Do you realize that there were girls that had to sell their servants’ contracts to pay their debts?! Or did you understand that by his little demi-human bitch freeing those other nobles we’ve been told that things have to change?! He’s destroyed our entire world!”

The girl herself had a golden rod tone to her skin. Her hair was two toned white and lavender. Her purple eyes practically shinned with malicious intent, “Honestly! Trash like him needs to understand his place,” she said as she pressed the heel of her shoe down on his head, “Speaking of which, I don’t have to pay for that garbage, right?”

“You’re going to pay for your tea and snacks,” he said, his voice firm, “I’ll wave the price of the cup, you will pay for the goods your received.”

“You insolent little piece of garbage! I don’t care if you’re going to be an Earl, you’re nothing! Absolutely nothing!”

“Hey, stop it right now!” Sunset shouted as moved toward her, “This ends now!”

The girl struck Sunset, causing her to put a hand to her cheek, “And you, Sunset Shimmer, you were an upstanding daughter of the Shimmer house. You were an heiress, but after your little accident in the labyrinth everyone knows that your family has more or less just left you at school. You’ve embarrassed your father enough that he hasn’t pushed for you to take any more classes to take over the family business.”

The door opened, Artemis looked to see Diamond Tiara leading a woman with blue skin. Her flowing blue hair looked similar to Queen Celestia’s but there was a striking difference in their countenance. It appeared as if this woman was sterner, more demanding, “What is this?” she demanded after a moment, “how dare a daughter of the nobility act in such a manner?”

“Who asked you you ugly old bat?!”

The words seemed to make the woman stand there stunned for a moment, “Because I wish to speak to Viscount Copper Plum Bit I shall overlook your outburst. Simply apologize, and move along.”

The girl, seemingly drunk on her own power, moved toward the woman, and slapped her hard. The force of it enough to make her stumble. The moment it happened Copper stood, “Finally,” he said, his voice sounding mirthful, “Finally, you’ve given me a reason!”

He moved forward, “Oh, you precious little idiot, do you realize what you’ve done?” he asked, his voice sounding giddy, “You’ve struck the head priestess and sister to Queen Celestia. You’ve hit Princess Luna, head of the temple, leader of the kingdom’s true religion, and person who oversees all trials of treason.”

Without a warning he looked at Luna, “Please, give me the world and I will gladly give you their heads!”