Chapter 3: Home Planning
Author's Note:
Okay, this will be an original part of this story that doesn't happen in the TV show where Fire gets his own home. Hope you guys like it. Now just to address any concerns you might have about my character being a Mary Sue, I'm gonna work so that doesn't happen. He may have won last time but he'll without a doubt face some foe that will be able to defeat him. Also, I think he could have the flaw of being a bit of a hot head and irritable as well, he did show some anger when Celestia went missing. Also, he could potentially focus too much on offense and leave himself open to counterattack, just an idea. That happens to me quite a bit in my fencing club. You attack when you see an opening and your enemy gets you at the same time. That would be a weakness for sure. He could also be eager to jump into fights as well in contrast to most of the Mane 6, with the obvious exception of Rainbow Dash at least. But let's just see what happens.
Also, I will be making some changes to the story and might not follow the same format as many of the episodes. You'll see some here with two members of the CMC as we saw in the first episode the three of them hugging each other, with Applebloom acting like she didn't know Sweetie and Scootaloo in their first centric episode. I know it was said those were meant to be different fillies but it was still clearly them. There will likely be more to come, and I will make edits as needed so don't hesitate to tell me of grammar and other errors.
Fire Sword began making the initial designs he wanted his house to look like. He levitated a pencil and began drawing up pictures. He, being a prince, needed to have not only a perfect home to live in while he was here in Ponyville, but also the perfect location on which to build it.
"I need somewhere with a lot of space," he said to himself as he sketched various designs. "But first let's see about the shape."
He drew rough sketches of different kinds of homes.
"A house?" he wondered. "Nah, too small. I need something big befitting a prince!"
While he tried not to act stuck up like his cousin Prince Blueblood, he didn't want to have just a small house that was the common pony home. Still, the quaint little houses around the majority of Ponyville were not bad at all. Regardless, Fire Sword did want to at least display his royal status, but not flaunt… too much.
He drew up another design, one of a mansion with a long exterior and several windows.
"Mansion, could work," Fire Sword said.
He took a look outside, gazing up at the clouds. He saw the Pegasus City known as Cloudsdale up above. Maybe a small castle in the sky?
"Nah, no one but Pegasi would be able to visit me there," Fire spoke.
He had one final idea come to mind.
"A tower!"
He drew a tall cylindrical building that reached high into the sky. First the raw sketch, putting it on a hill, though that might not work out, he would see. There were a few hills around Ponyville that might work. One of them was near Sweet Apple Acres, that could do. Or perhaps one elsewhere? He then made a layout of the inside of the tower, dividing it into several sections. First was the entry, he could have his kitchen and dining room there, then a basement below for storage as well as servant quarters and barracks for guards he might have. Going up he could put in a study, a set of guest rooms, and his own bedroom on the three floors above. That seemed good enough. It would be a good-sized tower with that. With the interior idea drawn on paper he then shifted his attention to what it would appear on the outside, taking some colored pencils he'd brought with him when he returned to Canterlot briefly to get his necessities. Art was an occasional hobby of his, so he kept supplies for that in his room.
He was currently in his rental in the Ponyville Grand Inn, the best Inn in town. He would be staying here while his house was built. As soon as he came up with a plan, he could turn it over to the royal architect to have the building start. The best builders from around Equestria would be summoned to make the home for their prince. Of course, Fire would help where he could. Some royals might feel that building their home was a job for the common workers but Fire felt he should do his share.
He used his pencil to draw the tower once again on a fresh sheet, this time adding more color to the doors and elsewhere. When he was done the image of a lovely white tower with a pair of gold rings around it in the middle and the top was visible on paper.
"Perfect," he said. "This will do nicely. Now I just need to name the place."
It was common practice for pony homes which were often businesses at the same time to be named. Applejack lived at Sweet Apple Acres, Rarity Carousel Boutique, Pinkie Sugarcube Corner, and Twilight had moved into the Golden Oaks library. The only one of Fire's new friends that didn't live in a place that had a name was Fluttershy who had a simple cottage on the edge of the woods. While this might not be a business, it was a royal home and should probably have a name.
He thought back to what he was sometimes called. Celestia's warm hearted son. Then another idea clicked in his head.
"Aha! Warm Heart Tower!"
He wrote the name above the final design. Then another idea suddenly occurred to him.
"I should give the place a flag and hang it over the door!" he said. "Oh, Fire Sword you are a genius! You have your mother's wisdom… or… maybe just creativity. Though that might just be all me."
He chuckled.
"Now, now, let's not compliment ourselves too much," he said. "Okay, that should do."
He got up from his desk and headed outside. He was supposed to meet the others for breakfast at Rarity's place. He soon arrived at Carousel Boutique and knocked on the door. Soon the beautiful unicorn arrived and opened it.
"Oh, good morning, Prince Fire Sword!" she said with a bow.
"Rarity, I think after what we went through with the whole Nightmare Moon thing there's no need for you to call me 'Prince'," Fire said. "You are a… friend after all."
"Um, thank you Prince… um, I mean just… Fire Sword," Rarity stammered with a blush. "I'm honored to have you join me as a guest!"
He looked around and saw the front of her store/home. The dresses were for the moment put away in the nearby closest until the store opened. But there wasn't anypony else here yet.
"Where's everypony else?" Fire asked.
"Oh, they haven't arrived yet. But they should be here any-
"Hello!" a voice called loudly as Rainbow Dash entered the room on her wings.
"Morning Rainbow Dash!" Rarity greeted.
"Hey Rarity," Rainbow waved. "Hope you're ready to eat! Cause I sure am! I need to keep up my energy for all my flying!"
"Breakfast is on its way," Rarity assured her.
Fire looked off to the side where the kitchen was. A pile of toast was visible along with an assortment of fruits and vegetables. Also at a table was a young filly with a white coat like Rarity's, but her mane was a mix of pink and purple.
"Hello!" the filly said looking at Fire. "I'm Sweetie Belle! Rarity's little sister!"
"Sweetie Belle, please make sure to address a guest such as him properly!" Rarity scolded. "This is Prince Fire Sword."
"But he said it's okay not to call him 'Prince'," Sweetie exclaimed.
"That was meant for me," Rarity reminded her. "We went through quite an adventure together so he feels I don't have to address him by his title. Please be polite and keep the formalities."
"That's alright," Fire said, before walking up to the filly. "It's nice to meet you, Sweetie Belle."
He extended his hoof to shake hers. She accepted with a smile.
"Anypony home?" a familiar voice asked.
Twilight entered the room with Spike on her back.
"Yeehaw!" a country voice called out. "My sister and I are here!"
Applejack entered along with another young filly with a light-yellow coat, and red mane with a pink bow in it.
"Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle called, running to the other filly.
"Sweetie Belle!" the yellow filly, Apple Bloom grinned as she and her friend hugged each other.
Soon Pinkie Pie arrived with a box in her mouth.
"Hey everypony!" she greeted.
Then finally, Fluttershy came. "Good morning," she said in a quiet voice that was barely audible.
"Ah that's everypony!" Rarity declared. "Just in time, breakfast is just about ready!"
"I bought us cupcakes!" Pinkie announced as she opened the box she'd carried in. "Made sure to bring lots since there are so many of us!"
They all sat at the table. Rarity had to get out a longer one she normally used for displaying things in her store since there were so many. Rarity divided the large pile of toast which had already been buttered and the fruits among all her friends evenly. The two little fillies meanwhile sat at their own small table.
Pinkie Pie got her cupcakes out and began eating one right away.
Twilight looked at her. "You know Pinkie, you should really eat that for dessert."
"Oh please, I eat dessert first thing every meal!" Pinkie replied. "Don't you?"
Many of them shook their heads and said,
"Nope."
"I don't think so."
"Certainly not!"
"Eh, I just eat normal breakfast."
Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity and Rainbow Dash each replied.
"A pony must eat well," Rarity added. "Meals first and then dessert! Don't you agree, Fire Sword?"
She looked at the prince.
Fire Sword hesitated. "Uh, if I'm being honest, I do sometimes just have a piece of cake for breakfast."
They gaped at him.
"My mom has cake around a lot," he admitted.
"Ooh! I love it!" Pinkie exclaimed. "That's the best breakfast ever I say! Here have a cupcake!"
She slid one of them down to him across the table perfectly.
"Uh, thanks but I'll wait until I'm done with the meal first today," he said.
He ate his toast, levitating it up to his mouth. As his teeth closed around it, he made a soft "Mmm."
"You like it?" Rarity asked, hopefully.
"Like it?" Fire Sword looked at her. "I LOVE it! It's as good as the toast back home! Of course, a certain stuck-up pony would probably not agree with me!"
He could imagine Prince Blueblood spitting the toast out and complaining about it being made of inferior grain.
"Uh! My royal lips have touched common pony toast!" the more stuck-up prince would say as an image of him appeared in Fire's mind's eye.
"Why, whomever do you mean?" Rarity asked curiously.
Fire Sword was about to say but then his mother appeared in his mind.
I know you don't like your cousin Blueblood but you must not say bad things about him. Even if they are true.
"He shall remain unnamed," Fire said as he took another bite of toast.
There was a moment of silence.
"So uh, how's your stead coming?" Applejack asked. "Come up with a plan yet?"
"Actually yes," Fire nodded. "I managed to make a drawing that I really liked just before I came here."
"Oh, I would LOVE to see it!" Rarity exclaimed. "Perhaps after we are finished eating, if you wouldn't mind showing us."
"Not at all," Fire shook his head.
They ate their breakfast, followed by a cupcake or two. Or in Pinkie's case, cupcakes and then breakfast. Fire then led the girls to the inn and showed them the drawing he'd made of his dream tower.
"Oh, it's simply divine!" Rarity said as she admired the sketch at the bottom. "I see you had several ideas. But I think the tower is the most perfect!"
"I could send that to Princess Celestia if you want, Fire!" Twilight told him. "Spike can send it right away along with my letter!"
"Yeah!" Spike agreed.
Fire frowned. "Uh, how can he send it? He's just a baby dragon."
"Oh, didn't you know? I send letters to your mom thanks to a spell she put on me. Any paper that I use my fire on appears in front of her!"
"Oh, so that's how you send those letters that just seem to appear out of thin air!" Fire exclaimed. "Well, alright."
Twilight had Spike write a letter explaining Fire had made a picture of his planned home and they were sending it. They then folded their letter on top of Fire's drawing (after he circled the tower to be sure there was no confusion) and sent it.
"I'll be sending a friendship report later sometime," Twilight said.
"So, have you picked out a spot around Ponyville to have your awesome tower built?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I was thinking a hill, like the one near Sweet Apple Acres," Fire said looking at Applejack. "If you don't mind that is. I think I saw a hill that didn't have any trees on it."
"Oh, not at all. That will be perfectly fine," the cowgirl pony said. "It'll be nice to have a neighbor nearby. Maybe you'd like an apple seed or two as well?"
"That couldn't hurt," Fire said. "I do like apples, I snack on them every now and then actually."
"Ah shucks. Sounds like you'd really like one then!" Applejack said.
"Sure, maybe some grapes as well, I do like those too. Could have a garden around the hill!" Fire said.
"Oh, you must include roses as well! A royal refuge cannot be complete without beauty!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Now hold on Rarity! You need function!" Applejack responded.
"Fashion is far more important! Especially when it comes to royals!" Rarity replied.
"Function!"
"Fashion!"
"Function!"
"Fashion!"
"Girls!" Fire intervened putting up his hooves. "This is going be my house! I'll decide what it looks like!"
"My apologies, Fire," Rarity said. "You are right, it is your house and you should decide what it looks like."
"Yeah, it's gonna be your place." Applejack agreed.
"I was merely offering a suggestion," Rarity put in.
"And it was a good one," Fire replied. "I do want my place to look nice. Some roses would accomplish that, and I can have fruit as well to feed myself, my servants, guards or guests."
"It sounds wonderful," Twilight acknowledged. "Send the letter, Spike!"
The baby dragon blew out and turned the letter into ash. It would soon appear in front of Fire's mother.
"Oh, and I'm sure you will be needing decorations," Rarity said. "I would be honored to make you some if you would permit it!"
"Thanks Rarity," Fire replied looking at her. "I'd be happy to see what you can whip up!"
"Oh, thank you! You know it's always been a dream of mine to be a fashion designer for Equestrian Royalty!"
Fire smiled. "Well, I'm sure if you impress me, I can put in a good word to my mother."
"You'd do that, for me?" she asked.
"Of course!" He said.
"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" she exclaimed.
Then she kissed him on the cheek… twice.
"I'll get to work on something right away!" she said before galloping back to her boutique.
"Hey hold on!" Fire called as he followed her. "Not until the place is at least partially built!"
…
Applejack sniggered as she watched them leave. "Looks like Rarity's got her sights set on him!"
"It was very sweet of her to kiss him," Fluttershy said. "Of course, it maybe just because he is royalty."
"Maybe. She would probably love to marry a royal!" Twilight observed. "It would probably be a dream come true for her!"
Spike made a soft growl as he folded his arms.
"And I'm not royal enough for her, huh?" he mumbled to himself even though he wasn't royal at all. "I'm already a big strong dragon that does lots of work around here!"
"Eh, I don't need that mushy business!" Rainbow Dash said with a wave of her hoof. "Flying with the Wonderbolts would be everything I could wish for!"
"Who knows though, you might find a stallion to match your energy?" Fluttershy suggested.
"See you girls later!" Rainbow said before flying off.
…
Fire soon caught up with Rarity and told her to hold off on making any decorations until after his home was built.
"If you insist, but perhaps I can add them in as its being built? It's probably better to have it all furnished and decorated by the time it's completed."
"That's probably a good idea," Fire agreed. "Thanks a lot."
"Just let me know when you are ready," Rarity requested.
"I will," Fire said grinning softly. "Good day, my lady."
She blushed at him and looked away with red cheeks.
"As you wish my prince," she said with a bow.
Fire chuckled. His heart seemed to skip a beat as he looked at her. She was so beautiful, not only on the outside but the inside as well. She'd given her tail to a sea serpent from what he'd heard and now she was offering to help him decorate his home. She had wonderful taste as well in her love of fashion. Fire had at times disliked shopping when he was a colt, but he'd grown to outgrow that in recent years and could appreciate the style and effort that went into making clothes nowadays.
"Say um… would you…" his tongue began to twist in his mouth as he struggled to form the words he wanted to say.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Would you like to… um… spend some time together later?" he asked. "Just the two of us?"
He couldn't bring himself to say go out. He wasn't quite as shy as Fluttershy but asking a mare out wasn't an easy thing. He'd spent time with plenty of mares like Moondancer and the others, but he'd never quite felt like they were the one.
"Certainly. I would never turn down a wonderful stallion such as you," Rarity said. "Oh, and there is somepony I've been meaning to ask you about."
"Oh, alright," Fire said. "Who would that be?"
"Prince Blueblood of course!" she exclaimed.
Fire's golden eyes widened. "What about him?"
"Well, he is the most eligible bachelor in all of Equestria! I've always wanted the chance to meet him! He is my prince charming!" Rarity put her hooves to her heart. "Handsome, classy, and royal!"
Fire frowned slightly. Oh, she was already head over hoofs in love with his spoiled cousin. He sighed inside.
"Can you tell me about him?" Rarity asked.
Fire hesitated a moment, a sick feeling welling up inside him as he said, "I'm afraid he and I do not get along. I'm sorry but I need to go."
He walked off.
"But I thought you wanted to spend time together?" Rarity asked in surprise. "Have I done something to offend you?"
"No," he said. "It's just I don't get along with Blueblood."
"Oh, well I suppose that might be the case as you both likely grew up together being princes. You must be like brothers!" Rarity said.
At that point Fire's mane lit up with flames.
"We aren't even CLOSE to brothers!" he shouted.
With a single strong flap of his wings he took off into the sky, leaving a bewildered Rarity.
…
She watched him fly off so suddenly.
"Hmm. Royal tensions it seems," the mare said. "I only hope I haven't done any damage to my friendship with him. Perhaps I should apologize later and agree to never bring up my dashing Prince Blueblood again."
She sighed as she went back to her boutique. She thought of the feelings in her heart. There was sadness, as well as a tender feeling she was unsure of. Fire's face kept appearing in her mind. She'd often imagined herself meeting Prince Blueblood when she was one day invited to a special event in Canterlot where he would notice her and ask for her hoof. But suddenly when the same fantasy replayed, Blueblood was replaced with Fire Sword.
"Oh, what's gotten into you Rarity!" she said to herself. "This is the actual son of Celestia herself that you're thinking of! There's no way he would ever want your hoof!"
She hesitated a moment. "Although, if you are willing to try to woo a prince, he is one too! But I'm not sure we're right for each other! What if it doesn't work out? It could mess up our friendship! No, better not to pursue it!"
She looked down. "I just hope this tension resolves itself soon. Although if he and Blueblood really don't get along, will he resent me when I become Blueblood's bride? I hope not. But this is my dream! I must pursue it… or him. Blueblood that is!"
She took a breath.